Court-appointed lawyers said they have been unable to find parents of 545 children who were separated at the U.S. border with Mexico.

One person was taken to the hospital and a second person has non-life threatening injuries.

The 2020 general election is nothing short of historic. In just one week, early voting turnout in Texas hit a record high in several counties. More than 4 million Texas residents have cast a ballot as of Sunday, according to an analysis by the U.S. Election Project. While it may seem like voter registration efforts are paying off, turnout for local election turnout lags far behind that of presidential elections, especially among college-age voters. The key to boosting voter turnout among younger generations lies with college professors. At UT, student organizations like TX Votes provide professors with informative resources every semester, including a Canvas module that educates students about when, where and how to vote for all upcoming elections. To encourage students, particularly first-time voters, to habitually participate in local elections, professors who teach classes to freshmen should offer TX Votes’ module for extra credit every semester –– even when there isn’t a presidential election. This semester, chemistry faculty Kate Biberdorf, Stacy Sparks and Brian Anderson offered the module in lieu of the in-person presentation they offer every semester. Students who complete it can earn up to two extra points on the final exam: one point for registering to vote and one for submitting proof that they voted. An alternative assignment is offered to students who are not eligible to vote. “Part of our job is to teach freshmen students how to be adults,” Biberdorf said in an email. “I've talked to students about how to do laundry, how to wash dishes and also how to vote.” According to Biberdorf, the module was a success. Seventy percent of Biberdorf, Sparks and Anderson’s students completed it — that’s 1,939 students who are now prepared to vote in all upcoming elections in Texas this semester. Currently, few professors at UT incentivize voting. “Only one of my other professors put up information about voting,” said Amelie Perez, biology freshman and first-time voter. “Besides my chemistry professor, none of my professors have offered a module for extra credit.” If most professors who teach classes to freshmen followed Biberdorf’s example, nearly every voting-eligible freshman would have the information they need to register for and vote in any local elections in Travis county or their home county that semester. Their newfound familiarity with the voting process would also encourage them to participate in future local elections. Additionally, offering the voting module supplements student-led efforts to inform fellow Longhorns about voting. As the former president of TX Votes, chemistry and public health senior Anthony Zhang helped educate countless students about the voting process. With many freshmen living away from campus, he believes that professors should share this responsibility because they’re able to reach students  more easily. “Freshmen are younger, so most of them probably have not voted before,” Zhang said. “In a year like this where people are all over the place, it's even more important (to inform freshmen about voting) because county-by-county, there are some nuances in the voting process.” Amid the chaos of the pandemic, first-time voter confusion could dissuade freshmen from participating in local elections. However, as the chemistry faculty’s use of the module demonstrated, a desirable incentive encourages students to stay democratically engaged during these trying times. “I would encourage any professor to consider using the module in the future because the students found it to be very informative,” Biberdorf said in an email. “There were even pieces of information that were new to me, and I've been voting for 16 years!” Like TX Votes, many student organizations work hard to promote democratic engagement on campus. It’s time professors do the same within their classrooms. Harwood is a public health freshman from Houston, Texas.

There are over 1,100 UT student organizations on campus that promise their members a tight-knit community united by shared passions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, student organizations have become a much-needed lifeline for students who feel isolated and anxious about finding their niche within the greater UT community.  By the same token, getting rejected from student organizations is now even more disappointing.  Students should ask for feedback to gain insight into how to better their applications for the future or merely move on with some peace of mind.  After being rejected, asking for an explanation may be the last thing on your mind. In fact, my first instinct when faced with rejection is to simply try to move forward and dismiss the entire interaction. However, there is so much insight to gain from taking the time and energy to reflect on rejection. Ainsley Dorsey, government sophomore and co-director of Hook the Vote, encourages students to ask organizations for application feedback.  “I think it would be an awesome opportunity to grow,” Dorsey said. “A benefit would be (that) you know what to do for the next interview.”  By receiving concrete feedback about ways to improve applications or interviewing skills, students are better prepared for future application processes. Asking for feedback may also lead to future opportunities because willingness to forego personal discomfort and pursue personal growth shows a level of maturity. Electrical engineering freshman Austin King emphasized the importance of getting concrete insight. “It's nice to know why,” King said. “You can know exactly where you can improve for the next time around.”  It’s easy for students to come to their own conclusions about the reasoning behind the decision, but they can never be sure unless they ask.  For example, there are many variables taken into account during an application process. Students who do not ask for application feedback will not know where they were lacking and might mistake one of their strengths for a weakness. After being rejected without explanation, asking for feedback is the best way to get answers and much-needed closure.  Dorsey advises students to consider the long-term benefits of rejection from organizations, as it allows students to explore the many diverse organizations and opportunities available at UT. “Keep trying, (and) keep applying to different organizations,” Dorsey said. “Perhaps you can fit into another organization on campus. ”  By asking for feedback, students may learn something about themselves, such as why a specific organization wasn’t the right place for them or how they can improve their application for the next semester. It can also just help them move on with some peace of mind. Regardless, after being rejected, there is nothing to lose and so much to gain from reaching out for feedback.  Butler is an undeclared freshman from Austin, Texas.