University Of Texas

AUSTIN, Texas -- The University of Texas tower, symbol of the nation's largest campus and the bullet-pocked landmark of tragedy, could soon be opened to the public for the first time in almost 24 years.Under a proposal made this week by university President Larry Faulkner, the tower's 231-foot-high observation deck could be reopened by late spring. His recommendation goes to the Board of Regents, which ordered the tower closed Jan. 31, 1975, in response to several students' suicide leaps.

The Supreme Court chose yesterday to stay out of the continuing controversy over the use of race in university admissions, leaving campuses across the nation uncertain about the legality of their selection processes.Two justices said that the issue had "great national importance," but the full court voted, apparently without dissent, to turn down a Texas appeal seeking permission to give some preference in law school admissions at the University of Texas to blacks and Mexican-Americans.The court's refusal to hear the case has left public universities and private colleges that receive federal funds in doubt about their affirmative action programs.

AUSTIN, Texas - Who's stealing the art? That question has gripped many here in recent days after a string of thefts at galleries, Persian-rug dealers and high-end clothing stores culminated in the theft July 27 of two Picasso prints from Austin's most exclusive gallery, the Russell Collection. In each case, the thieves' method has been primitive: smashing glass windows and doors with a large rock, then fleeing with the stolen goods. Detectives at the Austin Police Department have estimated losses from each of the eight incidents at from $10,000 to more than $120,000.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- As Orioles middle relievers were clobbered repeatedly in the season's opening weeks, a career journeyman became an unexpected source of hope. "Maybe when Todd comes back," became a catchphrase in manager Sam Perlozzo's daily analysis of the club's relief woes. And right-hander Todd Williams has lived up to the billing, pitching 4 2/3 scoreless innings in four appearances since returning from shoulder and calf soreness. "It's getting more comfortable," Williams said.

Reading Time, Two Minutes:Disquieting note from a coach whose team played against Shaquille O'Neal and LSU a couple of times: "He's 40 or 50 pounds overweight. He can't jump at that weight [300] and he doesn't have any stamina right now. He has to take two steps before he can get off the floor. He doesn't do a lot of things offensively, always turning to his left and that's about it. Orlando's going to tie up millions in Shaq and it's not going to get nearly as much out of him as it thinks."

WASHINGTON -- John B. Connally, who died in Texas the other day at 76, was one of the most vivid and compelling, if controversial, figures in American politics a generation ago.He was a larger-than-life political leader whose brains, drive and charm seemed to equip him ideally for a presidential candidacy. Ironically, political historians will remember him most for his one spectacular failure, his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in 1980. Disdaining public financing, Connally raised some $11 million from private contributors -- but still captured only one delegate to the national convention that nominated Ronald Reagan.

AUSTIN, Texas - It's time to connect the dots. If you think the government is having a connection problem on the national security side, you should take a look at the starburst of dots on the economic side for a really stunning scandal. When you start to connect the dots on the business side, you will notice that we're being stolen blind. One of the best interviews I've read in a long time is in the current issue of The Texas Observer with Bill Black, a name that will bring back fond memories for those who followed the savings-and-loan scandals closely.

In 1836, Col. William Travis called his band of exhausted men together inside the Alamo walls and drew a line in the dirt with his sword.Their situation was hopeless, he said; there were fewer than 200 Texans against 4,000 well-equipped Mexican soldiers. Their choice: Flee the old mission or cross the line and stay to fight for the freedom of Texas.Only one man, a mercenary, left. Three days later, the 182 men fought until none were left alive. Davy Crockett died in the Alamo. So did Jim Bowie.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Heeding the decision of a federal court, Texas has ended affirmative action in college admissions. But on the sprawling University of Texas campus, a place roused more often by football than by politics, the end has not come quietly.Minority enrollment in professional schools has fallen. A law professor outraged the campus with his observation that minority students "are not academically competitive." A thousand noisy protesters occupied the law school.The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson on Tuesday drew an overwhelmingly white throng of 5,000 repeating his chant, "I am somebody."

Towson University will receive $2 million in state and private grant funds to start a new program designed to increase production of math and science teachers. The initiative will be based on the 15-year-old UTeach program, which more than doubled the output of math and science teachers at the University of Texas in Austin and is widely regarded as a model for training teachers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. UTeach offers financial incentives for math, science and computer science majors to train and enter the workforce as teachers.