Day: February 15, 2021
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Sensitive topics need a second take
Film production companies bank on compelling and entertaining storylines for high ratings that often don’t portray reality. Unfortunately, these bingeable plots are often written at the cost of romanticizing harmful issues that can negatively impact audiences and normalize unhealthy behaviors. For many of us, our first encounter with sensitive topics like drugs, abuse and suicide…
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Scrutiny of leaders is key
The Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riot and its aftermath are a reminder that we must be critical of our political leaders – especially the ones we might favor – to avoid blind allegiance and knee-jerk reactions. Post-election and pre-Capitol riot, former president Donald Trump gave speeches on how the election was fraudulent, speeches that appealed…
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Editing with (more) care
Op-eds can be dicey, to say the least. Remember last summer when The New York Times published an incendiary editorial by Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton advocating military intervention to curb BLM protests? The decision to print that authoritarian garbage was so ill-advised that the newspaper’s opinion editor resigned and the outlet’s op-ed process was overhauled.…
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It’s time to stop crunch time
As students enter the game industry, it is important that they recognize their responsibility in advocating for more sustainable industry labor practices. Every year ATEC enrolls upwards of 1,800 students in its various undergraduate and post-graduate programs. In a technology hub like Dallas, it is not surprising that many ATEC students hope to break into…
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‘To the moon’ with a Comet
Bolstered by discussion within subreddit r/wallstreetbets, political science junior Eduardo Pasaret is one of a few UTD students who bought in early to the online insurgency against Wall Street. Pasaret sold the entirety of his $3000 stock market holdings in Tesla and other companies to invest in a declining GameStop stock. Consensus on the subreddit…
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Provost appoints new NSM dean
Following the departure of the former dean in January 2020, a new non-interim dean has been appointed to the school of Natural Sciences and Math. Appointed on Feb. 1, David Hyndman comes from Michigan State University, where he was a professor, academic advisor and hydrogeology researcher. Hyndman succeeds Associate Provost Bruce Novak, who was dean…
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And the band plays on…virtually
The COVID-19 pandemic brought a variety of challenges to UTD’s art programs; however, the university’s band and orchestral ensembles – known collectively as the Comet Symfonique – have adapted and found a way to continue making music. The ensembles are among the few classes on campus continuing to regularly meet in person. Adron Ming, director…
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Campus land enhancement: how far it’s come, where it’s going
The UTD campus has had ongoing construction for over the past decade, and the pandemic has allowed the current construction to move at an accelerated pace – soon to result in the completed Rutford promenade and more newly-planted trees. The Campus Land Enhancement Project started in 2007 and is currently in Phase III. In Phase…