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11/30/2018 ‘I just thought I was broken’: How UT student copes with bipolar diagnosis | The Daily Texan

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‘I just thought I was broken’: How UT student copes with bipolar

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Published on November 28, 2018 at 11:33 pm

Last update on November 29, 2018 at 3:29 pm

BY KAYLA MEYERTONS (/AUTHOR/KAYLA-MEYERTONS)

For Andrea Garza, being diagnosed with bipolar II disorder her first year at UT was a blessing in disguise.

“I just thought I was broken. I just thought there was something wrong,” said Garza, an advertising junior. “It

was just so relieving to finally feel like … my life doesn’t have to be like this forever’... I can be, quote

unquote, normal.”

Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental illness characterized by extreme highs and lows in mood behavior known

as episodes of mania or depression, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. These periods can last

weeks, months or even years at a time.

The institute reports that 2.8 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older experiences bipolar disorder.

Symptoms normally become prevalent between the ages of 15 and 24, often when students are in high school or

college, said Julie Fast, a world leading mental health expert and the author of several bipolar books.

“It makes sense that if your average bipolar starts in mid to late teens that we would have our first really big

episode at college,” Fast said.

To be diagnosed bipolar, one has to experience at least one episode of mania or hypomania, the less

severe version of mania, in addition to depressive episodes. Bipolar I and II are distinguished by the severity of

their respective “up” episodes, mania and hypomania, according to Jorge Almeida, director of the UT Health

Austin Bipolar Disorder Center.

Manic episodes of extremely elevated moods result in frantic activity, grandiose thoughts of self, impulsivity,

lack of sleep, talking very quickly and high risktaking behavior, such as spending a lot of money and having

reckless sex, according to the National Institute on Mental Health.



“It has gotten me in trouble before,” Garza said. “I’ve definitely purchased tickets to Paris before without

having the money for it, but my depressive episodes are definitely a lot worse.”

Depressive episodes of bipolar are marked by extreme sadness, low energy, feelings of worthlessness, difficulty

concentrating and even suicidal thoughts. With her depressive episodes, Garza said she has struggled to attend

classes and study.

“Every task is an impossible task,” Garza said. “Getting out of bed is just the worst …. I can’t even process the

thought of showering or eating.”

Before her diagnosis, Garza had shown symptoms of bipolar her entire life. Born in Brownsville, Texas, Garza

grew up in the Rio Grande Valley and had her first manic episode in elementary school. Her episodes got worse

and more frequent as the years went on.

“In high school, I self medicated with alcohol,” Garza said. “I would actually bring a glass water bottle to

school filled with vodka. I used to be drunk 100 percent of the time from freshman year of high school to junior

year. It was really bad.”

Still, Garza graduated ninth in her class thanks to the productivity of her hypomanic episodes and finally sought

professional treatment in the fall of her freshman year at UT.

What It's Like to be a Bipolar Student



The exact cause of bipolar is unknown, but genetics and environmental factors, such as substance abuse, stress

and lack of sleep — all wellknown to college freshmen — can contribute to disease onset, Fast said.

“College is extremely stimulated and filled with drugs and alcohol,” Fast said. “You sort of got a chicken and

an egg. So no, college does not create bipolar disorder, it just happens to be an environment where at the right

age, plus some triggers, it is very common to have a first episode.”

If left untreated, bipolar mood swings can be so intense that daytoday life becomes nearly impossible to

maintain, said Fast, who was diagnosed with rapid cycling bipolar II at the age of 31 after living for more than

a decade without treatment.

“I know this is boring for college (students), oh my god, but signing up for disability services and sticking to a

regimented sleep program is the biggest two secrets. No question,” Fast said.

To assist students diagnosed with bipolar disorder at UT, the Counseling and Mental Health Center offers both

individual and group therapy for bipolar patients, as well as psychiatric services for medicationbased needs,

according to Katy Redd, associate director for prevention and outreach.

Garza first visited the CMHC her freshman year for therapy but was then referred to a CMHC psychiatrist who

diagnosed her with bipolar disorder.

“The main takeaway is give us a call, and we’ll help you figure out which of our services are a good fit for

you,” Redd said. “You don’t have to call and know what you need. Just call.”

Services for Students with Disabilities also offers testing and attendance accommodations to students with

psychiatric disabilities, including bipolar.

The UT Bipolar Center specializes in treating unstable individuals ages 16–35 with bipolar disorder, but

collegeaged patients will be referred to the center from CMHC depending on the severity of their symptoms,

Almeida said.

In the midst of making new friends and adjusting to college life, being diagnosed with a lifelong mental illness

is far from easy for the collegeage bipolar population.

“My first year was very hard,” Garza said. “There was a whole month and a half that I didn’t go to classes at

all. I would get my work done, but I just didn’t attend classes.”



Mood stabilizers are used to treat people diagnosed with bipolar disorder, said Marisa Toups, psychiatry

assistant professor and practicing UT Bipolar Center psychiatrist.

Garza was on an antipsychotic for two years until she decided this August to switch to another drug with

significantly less side effects. After two weeks of extreme withdrawal symptoms and new side effects, Garza

stopped medication and therapy completely. After two weeks, a manic episode hit.

“I happened to be in Houston with a bunch of my friends when the manic hit, so I was like ‘Fk yeah!’ … You

feel like nothing bad could happen to you,” Garza said. “Everything was all fun and dandy in manic world,

until it fell immediately.”

Garza said she then crashed into a depression rather than hitting a stable neutral, which is common after

abruptly stopping medication.

Bipolar has one of the highest suicide rates of any psychiatric disorder, with as many as 15 percent of those

with the disorder who die by suicide, according to National Institute of Mental Health data. Garza said

medication is the reason she survived her last suicide attempt in February.

“I’m positive that if I wasn’t on medication, I would be dead right now,” Garza said. “Medication saved my

life. It helps in a way that is incredible but also puts you at a certain flat level.”

Garza now limits her drinking to one night a week in the presence of friends. She has since returned to her

therapist and plans to restart start medication soon.

Through her struggles, Garza believes people with bipolar should continue to be accepting and open with

others.

“Don’t push people away, and don’t be ashamed,” Garza said. “It’s not your fault.”

10/31/2018 A UT student tries to commit suicide. Now what? | The Daily Texan

http://www.dailytexanonline.com/2018/10/10/a-ut-student-tries-to-commit-suicide-now-what 1/7


A UT student tries to commit suicide. Now what?


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Published on October 10, 2018 at 12:27 am

Last update on October 10, 2018 at 12:32 am


Red, white and blue lights flashed outside of Natalia’s apartment, as she voluntarily got into a cop car, pulledout her phone and loaded UT Canvas to notify her professors of her suicide attempt.

“I guess I kind of thought that was my responsibility to tell them because it was my fault I was going to thehospital,” Natalia said. “… I didn’t know what UT would do for me just as a person (and) as a student. I didn’tknow how far they extended their reach.”

Natalia described her episode as a “fullon, unprovoked mental breakdown,” due to severe depressioncombined with work and relationship stresses. As Natalia was getting ready to go through with the attempt, afriend intervened and told Natalia to call the cops.

Natalia was admitted to a mental hospital on March 18 and received treatment for one week. Natalia has askedThe Daily Texan to withhold her year, major and last name for anonymity purposes. She is currently a studentat UT.

If a student attempts suicide and is hospitalized, professors will be notified by Student Emergency Services thata medical emergency has taken place, as with any other type of student hospitalization. UT students have tonotify their professors of a suicide attempt on their own unless the student asks to sign a release of informationwith Student Emergency Services, allowing the office to inform professors for the student, said Sara Kennedy,spokesperson for the Office of the Dean of Students.

It is up to faculty discretion as to whether or not to excuse the student for the missed class dates due to theattempt.

This blanket notification to professors is in place to protect the confidentiality of survivors who don’t wish todisclose the details of their attempts to their professors, said SES director Kelly Soucy.

“We leave it up to the individual student to tell us how much they are comfortable with sharing,” Soucy said.“If a student wants us to help them have that conversation with a faculty member, we’ll do what we can tosupport them.”



SES can be notified of a student’s mental healthrelated emergency by Austinarea hospitals and emergencyrooms, the University of Texas Police Department or UT’s Counseling and Mental Health Center, CMHCDirector Chris Brownson said.

April Foreman, licensed psychologist and board member for the American Association of Suicidology, said it isperfectly legal for a university to offer an optional release of information for students seeking to tell professorsabout a suicide attempt.

“What we would want is a policy that respects their confidentiality,” Foreman said. “Then also, we would wantpractices that respect their autonomy and talks with them about what they need relative to their suicide attemptand their recovery and the best way to go about it.”

Natalia said she met with SES the day she returned to class after being released from the hospital but didn’tunderstand what counseling services were available following the meeting. After her initial week back to UTafter being in the hospital, Natalia said she didn’t hear from the University again for any followups on hersuicidality.

“I don’t want to feel like a statistic,” Natalia said. “What I’ve noticed is the stress of (the time) after a suicideattempt just kind of makes it worse because you start thinking, ‘Oh, if I had been successful, none of thiswould’ve been happening.’”

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students. Brownson said about three students at UTwill commit suicide every year. Nationally, 8 percent of undergraduate students and 5 percent of graduatestudents have attempted suicide at some point in their lives, according to the CMHC website. Suicide attemptrates present a research challenge, because they are selfidentified by the individual, Brownson said.

“The period after a hospitalization, for example, is one of the highest risk periods for suicide,” Brownson said.“It is very important that students are getting connected with the help that they need after an attempt.”

Foreman said, ideally, the student counseling center should have a point of contact trained in suicide care tohelp readjust survivors back to daily life.

“You don’t write that necessarily down in a policy,” Foreman said. “What you do is you have a practice. Yourpolicy says who’s going to follow up with the student, but the practice is how you behave in a variety ofcircumstances that honor basic ethical principles.”



At the University of Illinois, students recovering from an attempt are mandated to attend four weeklyprofessional assessments of their suicidality upon returning to university. A hospital visit may excuse one ofthese assessments, but the policy is in place for support.

“Around 80 percent of students who die by suicide never had contact with a counselor,” said ChristopherLofton, care manager at the University of Illinois counseling center. “If people on our campus are in contactwith students who might be going through something, we want to make sure that the student at least knowsabout the counseling center and is connected to us.”

UT is one of the few university counseling centers that has an active relationship with a nearby hospital,Brownson said. Seton Hospital sends two staff members to UT to host an intensive outpatient program forrecovering students to opt in to.

“Intensive outpatient programs are typically three hours of psychotherapy a day, four days a week,” Brownsonsaid. “That’s a way we can keep students in school so they are less likely to have to drop out and still gettingthat kind of treatment and support that they need.”

‘Be That One’ is UT’s suicide prevention program that aims to prevent suicide on campus by raisingawareness, empowering faculty, staff and students and ensuring the University is supportive of students andtheir mental health needs, said CMHC spokesperson Katy Redd. CMHC offers a 24/7 confidential crisis line forUT students to speak with trained counselors about urgent needs, similar to the National Suicide PreventionLifeline.

Natalia had to drop an online class and is retaking another class because she failed the test the week aftercoming back from the hospital. Natalia said she thinks she is going to have to take an extra semester due to herattempt.

“It’s OK to get help,” Natalia said. “I don’t know why there’s this stigma about getting help …. Getting help isthe best thing you can do. (Suicide) might end your grief, but it just extends it on your friends and family.”

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4/30/2018 UTPD identifies suspect in on-campus stabbing | The Daily Texan

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UTPD identifies suspect in on-campus stabbing




Published on May 2, 2017 at 12:13 am

Last update on May 2, 2017 at 10:13 am

BY CATHERINE MARFIN (HTTPS://WWW.DAILYTEXANONLINE.COM/AUTHOR/CATHERINE-MARFIN),KAYLA MEYERTONS (HTTPS://WWW.DAILYTEXANONLINE.COM/AUTHOR/KAYLA-MEYERTONS)

Update (10:12 a.m.):

Contrary to many social media rumors yesterday afternoon, investigating authorities have found no evidencethat the suspect in Monday afternoon's oncampus stabbing was targeting individuals with Greek lifeaffiliations, according to the Austin AmericanStatesman. (http://www.statesman.com/news/crimelaw/stabbinglinkedmentalhealthnottargetedattacksourcessay/oCmhqRtxH14NhpHtvlcEJM/)

Law enforcement officials said the suspect, biology junior Kendrex White, may have been suffering frommental health issues. They have yet to uncover any motive for the attack, which left one student dead and threeothers injured.

White has a previous arrest record. Less than one month ago, he was arrested and charged with driving whileintoxicated. White told officers he had been prescribed “happy pills," according to the Statesman.

White has not been formally charged in the stabbing incident but is expected to be later today.

Orignal Story: Screams echoed across Speedway Plaza on Monday afternoon as students fled from anindividual assaulting students with a large, Bowiestyle hunting knife outside of Gregory Gymnasium.

The UT Police Department received reports of the incident at 1:49 p.m. Two minutes later, UTPD arrived onthe scene and had taken the suspect, biology junior Kendrex White, into custody. Of the four student victims —three white males and one Asian male — one was pronounced dead on the scene. School district officials inGraham, Texas, identified UT student Harrison Brown as the fatality victim. A memorial mass will be held inhonor of Brown at 8 p.m. at the University Catholic Center.

Photo Credit: Chase Karacostas (https://www.dailytexanonline.com/author/chase-karacostas) | Daily Texan Staff



White was taken into custody almost immediately, UTPD Chief David Carter said. The injured victims have notbeen identified and are receiving treatment at Brackenridge Hospital.

“I ask that our entire community come together to support the victims and their families,” UT PresidentGregory Fenves said in a statement to the UT community Monday night. “They are suffering, and we all mustbe there for them.”

Krishant Dania, psychology and government freshman, said he was sitting outside of Gregory Gym when hesaw one of the victims and ran over to help.

“I clapped my hands over his wound,” Dania said. “I told people, ‘Run, he has a knife!’ And everyone lookedat me like I was stupid, and then I was like, ‘Get out of here,’ and then everyone ran. Then it was just me, theguy who I was helping and the guy with the knife. (White) kind of looked at me, and I was like, ‘Oh my god,I’m gonna die.’ Then (White) just kept walking toward Speedway.”

Business honors freshman Sarah Teng said she was starting homework at the picnic tables outside of GregoryGym when she saw the suspect stab one of the victims at the table in front of her.

“I just didn’t really know how to feel,” Teng said. “It happened so quickly, and the thing is, (White) was socalm about it, and he was so unchanged by all of his surroundings — he didn’t say anything, he didn’t yellanything. I didn’t hear him say one word the whole time. It was just really hard to know what was going on,and that’s why people didn’t realize the situation until way later because it seemed like nothing washappening.”

University spokesperson J.B. Bird said the University is primarily following law enforcement in this situation.

“There have been rumors that have not been credible,” Bird said. “In a rapidly changing situation, you need tofollow law enforcement.”

Brandon Frausto, a friend of White from Killeen High School, said the incident was unexpected.

“I think it was a total shock, just what happened,” Frausto said. “There’s nothing I can think of that would evenslightly indicate that he was a violent person.”

The Austin Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety will be sending their officers to helppatrol campus and areas west of campus.



UTPD said social media rumors that circulated after the incident, many of which claimed fraternities in WestCampus were being targeted, were not credible. An APD public information officer additionally confirmed thatrumors of other stabbing incidents near 24th and 26th streets were also unfounded. However, APD is currentlysearching for a suspect in a stabbing that occurred on the 2600 block of Nueces Street on Monday afternoon.This incident is not related to the oncampus stabbing, according to an APD public information officer.


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Erica_Blair • a year ago

Thank you, Krishant, for doing your best to help. You're a hero.3△ ▽

• Reply •

Parth • a year ago> Erica_Blair

Absolutely! Only bright spot in this mess are the heroes involved!△ ▽

• Reply •

trebor1159 • a year ago

24 hours and we still don't have the names of the 3 victims that survived.2△ ▽

• Reply •

Ethan Haweknot • a year ago> trebor1159

It's against the law to release victims' names without their consent.△ ▽

• Reply •

error401commentersnotfound • a year ago> trebor1159

A bit obnoxious△ ▽

• Reply •

desu • a year ago

Kendrex White was a black male who targeted white students. Typical of DT to share racialinformation of everyone BUT the murderer when it doesn't fit the narrative5△ ▽

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4/30/2018 Campus mourns loss of Harrison Brown | The Daily Texan

https://www.dailytexanonline.com/2017/05/03/campus-mourns-loss-of-harrison-brown 1/5


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Published on May 3, 2017 at 12:47 am

Last update on May 3, 2017 at 1:27 am


Harrison Brown, 19, wasn’t only a UT student — he was a musician, a son, a brother and a kind friend.

On Monday afternoon, Brown, an undeclared freshman, was killed in an oncampus stabbing outside GregoryGymnasium. Three other students were injured in the incident.

Austin bishop Joe Vásquez led a memorial mass for Brown, a practicing Catholic, at the University CatholicCenter Tuesday night. All members of the UT community were welcome, filling the church to capacity withsome standing at the back.

Radiotelevisionfilm freshman Kate Salkowitz, a close friend of Brown’s, said he was always a force ofpositivity.

“He had the goofiest smile,” Salkowitz said. “He was always the one in a room with a lot of people whereyou’re trying to tell a story and no one was listening, (but) he would lean out and poke his head around peopleand be so excited to listen to what you were saying.”

Born in Graham, Texas, Brown was a passionate musician who played numerous instruments. A video ofBrown singing and playing the guitar to “I’ll Be” by Edwin McCain has hit more than 500,000 views onFacebook.

Neuroscience freshman Andre Ribeiro said he met Brown on the first day of class last semester, and the twobecame friends instantly.

“Whenever he walked into a room, even if the mood in a room was sad, he would just turn it aroundcompletely,” Ribeiro said. “I could hear his laugh from across the room. I didn’t have to know he was there. Hewas just like a presence that filled the room.”

Photo Credit: Juan Figueroa (/author/juan-figueroa) | Daily Texan Staff



Physics freshman Stephen Wilhelm said Ribeiro introduced Brown to his friend group, and they became closefriends this past semester.

“If you had to give him a spirit animal, it would be a golden retriever puppy,” Wilhelm said. “He was justalways excited about literally everything … (and) he was genuinely one of the nicest people I’ve ever met.”

Radiotelevisionfilm freshman Ryan Wright said Brown consistently cared about how his friends were doingand how their days went.

“Harrison was the most caring, positive and optimistic guy I have probably ever met,” Wright said. “It’s justsuch a shame because he did not deserve anything like this. What he stood for is just pure love and pure care.”

Wright said he and Brown had similar interests in music and clothing.

“I’m going to miss (him singing) the most,” Wright said. “He would just go on random tangents of him singing…. He was definitely going to make it big one day.”

A GoFundMe account created Monday for the Brown family surpassed its goal of $100,000 on Tuesday,reaching $112,180 from 3,584 donors at press time.

Both Ribeiro and Wright said Brown always seemed to have bad luck, but he remained optimistic abouteverything.

“He was always wrecking his moped and losing his wallet or keys,” Wright said. “(But) it would never matterto him.”

Ribeiro said Brown was never concerned with material things that most people worry about.

“He was worried about making relationships with people and being the kindest person I’ve ever known,”Ribeiro said.

Larry Rice, director of the University Catholic Center, said the oncampus tragedy has shaken the UTcommunity to its core.

“Our friend and our brother, Harrison, joined us here at the Lord’s table during his toobrief of time with us,”Rice said. “Our connection to him (and) our unity with him as part of the body of Christ, we believe, is



something that endures from today into eternity.”




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• Reply •

kid_you_not • a year ago

Denton Ward was attacked by Blacks at A&M - no outrage. Haruka Weiser raped and killed by aBlack guy. Yet no outrage from the media or institutions. But let a non-White be OFFENDED andthe reaction is enormous. This needs to end.1△ ▽

• Reply •

kid_you_not • a year ago

Where are the calls to end the preaching of hatred towards Whites? And should members of a racistgroup called the "Black Health Professionals Organization" be allowed to be doctors? How manymore will kill Whites while under their care?1△ ▽

• Reply •

gregregreg • a year ago

I'll be your cryin' shoulder I'll be love suicide I'll be better when I'm older I'll be the greatest fan of your life The greatest fan of your life The greatest fan of your life△ ▽

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4/4/2017 Students and faculty walk out in protest of Trump’s inauguration | The Daily Texan

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Students and faculty walk out in protest of Trump’s inauguration

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Published on January 20, 2017 at 4:17 pm

Last update on January 21, 2017 at 4:55 pm


The words “Fuck Trump” reverberated through the air Friday morning as a group of masked individuals

chanted at the Tower steps in opposition to the inauguration of President Donald Trump.

The protest was led by a coalition of students and faculty called the antiTrump J20 organizing committee, a

group that has emerged in the wake of Trump’s presidential nomination, according to the J20 UT Walkout

Facebook page.

The protest at the Tower lasted from noon to 1 p.m., after which the march continued through campus.

One of the groups in the protest, the Revolutionary Student Front, handed out pamphlets stating the

organization is a group of revolutionary anticapitalist students who want to ensure education is in the hands of

students.

The J20 Walkout Facebook page urged students and faculty to leave class at 12:15 p.m. on Friday morning and

convene in front of the Tower at 12:45 p.m.

At 12:15 p.m., about fifty individuals were seen in front of the Tower, but it’s not clear how many were

students who had skipped class for the walkout or were just passersby. By 12:45 p.m., the crowd had grown to

roughly a hundred students, faculty and nonstudent protesters.

UT spokesperson Cindy Posey said in a statement that the University has been in contact with student

organizations in the protest.

“As with previous demonstrations, the University will protect the free speech rights of the UTAustin

community and work to ensure public safety,” Posey said.

Posey also commented on the classroom walkout, saying individual faculty members have set expectations for

attendance.

Government freshman Vanessa Rodriguez, member of the University Leadership Initiative, stood on the steps

of the Tower and said many of those standing with her fear for their safety.



“As we gathered here today, it’s important that we acknowledge why we are standing here,” Rodriguez said.

“We are here not simply to skip class. We are here not simply to waste time. We are here not simply to obtain

attention. We are here because we fear.”

The demands of the protesters include: a $15/hour minimum wage, nationwide free healthcare access,

cancellation of student debts, the repeal of UT campus carry laws, the end of transphobic “bathroom bills” and

a ban on allwhite nationalist platforms on campus, among many others.

Student body president Kevin Helgren, neuroscience and psychology senior, said he doesn’t want to be the

main voice of the protest, and instead wants to allow those most affected by these issues to speak on their own.

“I am a huge advocate for anyone standing up for what they believe in and what they don’t believe in,” Helgren

said. “I think the University is trying to create an environment in which people regardless of where they fall on

the political spectrum feel comfortable to express those types of viewpoints. As long as things stay safe and

peaceful, I am a huge proponent of it.”

Civil engineering sophomore Jenny Liu said she is behind most aspects of the protest’s platform.

“They do say, “Fuck the police” which I don’t agree with because I do think at the end of the day we do need

them,” Liu said. “The other thing is I still think we need a president.”

The Revolutionary Students Front came into several small conflicts with other protesting parties, including

bystander Austin Beaty, who came to observe the protest.

Beaty, 27, from Friendswood, Texas, was called a “Nazi” and “fascist” by RSF when he stood on the steps with

a sign that read, “Legalize it. Make America great again” and proceeded to smoke from a pipe. RSF ripped his

sign in half and knocked his pipe out of his hands.

“I’m a big dude, and I wasn’t really ever fearful, but at the same time it was so much hostility,” Beaty said.

“For what? What were they directing it? And all of a sudden they started calling me a Nazi and a racist, and I

had a sign that just said, ‘Legalize it.’”

Another group of students rallied around economics and finance junior Mack Dowdall for his satirical

“Legalize Ranch” platform.

Jeff Dory, former student and Revolutionary Student Front supporter, said the platform led by Dowdall took

away from the inauguration protests.



“(The Legalize Ranch supporters) have an agenda to undermine this,” Dory said, referencing the RSF protests.

“It’s nihilistic, it’s insignificant and has nothing to do with what’s real.”

Geoscience freshman Spencer Czerniak said he’s surprised by the protests.

“It’s not going to change anything by rallying against him at this point,” Czerniak said. “You’re just going to

make a fool of yourself by showing your incredible hatred toward the new president of the United States.”

Czerniak wore a “Make America Great Again” hat Friday, but said he was nervous.

“I was kind of afraid, honestly by all the people here who do not support Donald Trump,” Czerniak said. “I just

decided today is the big day so why not show support?”

After a confrontation in which one participant held a knife, UTPD temporarily detained the individual before

releasing him after discovering the knife was legal, according to UTPD spokesperson Cindy Posey.

The protest is en route to Auditorium Shores, where they will merge with the One Resistance protest. RSF has

still declined to comment.

4/4/2017 Big Bite restaurant closes in West Campus | The Daily Texan

http://www.dailytexanonline.com/2017/02/14/big-bite-restaurant-closes-in-west-campus 1/4


Big Bite restaurant closes in West Campus Tweet 08.2K

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Big Bite, which was known for its famous greasy “fat” sandwiches, closed its doors for the last time thismonth.Photo Credit: Emmanuel Briseño (/author/emmanuel-brise%C3%B1o) | Daily Texan Staff



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Published on February 14, 2017 at 12:08 am

Last update on February 14, 2017 at 12:32 am


College students have flocked to the greasy sub shop on 24th and Guadalupe streets known as Big Bite for the

last eight years — until the store unexpectedly closed this month.

Owner Joseph Elghoul said he had to shut down the business when the lease expired at the end of December,

and American Campus declined to release the location.

“They wouldn’t give me a lease unless I got them a franchise,” Elghoul said. “Whoever’s going to come here,

they’re not going to last. Look around you, look around campus. The only franchises that survive around

campus is Whataburger and Chipotle. Everybody else that opens — they open, they close.”

A latenight hotspot, Big Bite opened in January 2009 after Elghoul moved to Austin from New Brunswick,

New Jersey. The fastfood restaurant is famous for its greasy “fat” sandwiches laden with meat, and Elghoul

said UT students constituted 75 to 80 percent of Big Bite’s customers.

“I’m a fastfood chain, like Whataburger, Burger King,” Elghoul said. “We catered to kids who were drunk or

high, and most of it was like the sponge of alcohol food.”

Elghoul said he approached American Campus early last May regarding the lease to renew and did not receive

a final answer until late January.

American Campus did not return requests for comment.

Elghoul said business was doing well at Big Bite in the months preceding the end of the lease, and he had

intended to expand to other colleges, such as Texas State University and Texas A&M University.

“I said, ‘You know, Big Bite is one of the few restaurants that’s been open for eight years and had a solid

business and kicking ass around campus,’” Elghoul said. “And you’re willing to give that up because you want

to make $1,000 extra a month.”



Big Bite delivery driver Marc Boukal came to America from the U.K. five years ago and said working at Big

Bite for the past four years was an incredible experience.

“(Joseph) is the greatest boss I’ve ever had,” Boukal said. “He cares about his people, (and) he cares about his

business. But unfortunately, with the Castilian, the big fish eat small fish in this country sometimes.”

Finance sophomore Clipp McKeen said he never had a better meal past 1 a.m. in his entire life than when he ate

at Big Bite.

“The sandwich creations were probably the most unique of any sandwich place I’d ever been to,” McKeen said.

“It’s going to be very sad to not have one of those delicious sandwiches ever again.”

A food fanatic, Elghoul said he is going to start from ground zero to open an authentic Middle Eastern food

trailer in Austin in the next few months.

Elghoul helped open the grease truck RU Hungry? at Rutgers University in New Brunswick in the early 1980s.

In August 2004, Maxim magazine rated the “Fat Darrell” the best sandwich in America.

The replacement for the Big Bite location has not been announced.

1 Comment The Daily Texan Login1



• Reply •

Professor M • 2 months ago

Blame Urban Outfitters (aka "hipsterplex"). They are paying a ridiculous amount of money to lease

space that consistently loses a ton of money, just to expose their brand in Austin. Other landlords

see those numbers and foolishly think they can get that sort of cash too. Margins in the restaurant

business are too slim for any to survive, once they have to renew their leases.

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4/4/2017 SG President-elect Alejandrina Guzman plans for more inclusive UT | The Daily Texan

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SG President-elect Alejandrina Guzman plans for more inclusiveUT

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Alejandrina Guzman shattered a glass ceiling March 9 when she became the first Latina student body president

at UT, as well as the first physically differently abled student body president in the Big 12 — and she’s ready to

build a legacy for her successors.

“It’s a domino effect,” said Guzman, a MexicanAmerican studies and government senior. “I think about the

past and all the people that have worked so hard for people in the future like me to even get an opportunity to

do this.”

Guzman knew she wanted to make a difference when she wasn’t accepted into a sorority in fall 2014. Guzman

said she heard the organization couldn’t handle someone wheelchairbound. A year later, Guzman rushed the

sorority again, dropping the day of her acceptance, and was invited to join the Hispanic Student Association

three days later.

“That was kind of eyeopening because that was discrimination,” Guzman said. “The thing that hit me the most

was both fall 2014 and fall 2015 (semesters), because I felt devalued, I felt like I wasn’t good enough, and from

then, I was like, ‘I don’t want other students to feel like that.’”

Guzman said she plans to set the tone of openmindedness and inclusiveness on her first day in office.

“We want to make sure that on that first day, we publicize a lot of all the support that’s out there,” Guzman said.

“This will inspire and motivate other students to go for it and to pursue their passions, know their dreams are

absolutely valid and that they’re not alone.”

Student vice presidentelect Micky Wolf, Plan II and business honors junior, said Guzman’s personality, her

ability to uplift others and the way she spreads positivity are her most unique aspects.

“The way that she carries herself while still carrying such a weight is unbelievably impressive and inspiring,”

Wolf said. “She understands it’s not about her. It’s about everybody that down the line will hopefully have a

greater opportunity because of the foundation she’s going to lay, and I think that’s huge.”



Guzman is involved in Orange Jackets, Hispanic Student Association, League of United Latin AmericanCitizens, Disability and Inclusion Agency for Student Government, Latino Community Affairs and FriarSociety, the oldest honor society at UT.

“Looking at all the stuff I’ve done now, I think it has guided me and (taught me) how to speak up and know thatsilence is also a stance,” Guzman said. “The different walks of life that I’ve been able to interact with — I thinkthat’s been the best part of it all.”

Advertising senior Erasto Renteria, director of operations at the Multicultural Engagement Center, sent Guzmanthe Facebook invitation to join the Hispanic Student Association in fall 2015. Renteria said Guzman is one ofthe most dedicated, hardest workers he has seen at UT.

“The work she puts in, the late nights, all the things she really wants to implement is a testament to her hardwork,” Renteria said. “She’s just like a ball of empowerment, the way she talks to her peers and to our friendsand people in general and students. … Somehow she can do it very easily.”

Guzman said she hopes to work in student affairs and education policy later in her career.

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