Maria Shaikh | Acting Editor-in-Chief

The Academic Senate, which represents UTD’s faculty in front of administration, voted 23–4 to support Student Government’s decision to “resolve the situation pertinent to The Mercury.”  

SG president Devin Schwartz, student members of the Student Media Operating Board and former Mercury Editor-in-Chief Gregorio Olivares Gutierrez spoke at the Sept. 18 Academic Senate meeting regarding The Mercury’s decision to strike. The Office of Student Affairs did not present at the meeting. Speaker of the Academic Senate Michael Kesden said the resolution was an important symbolic show of support for UTD students. 

On Sept. 17, Student Affairs prohibited SMOB from hearing Olivares appeal his termination, instead directing the appeal directly to Jenni Huffenberger, senior director of marketing and student media, which circumvents the Student Media bylaws’ appeal procedures. Student Affairs and the Office of Communication declined to comment on whether the Academic Senate’s motion will have an effect on Student Affairs’ decision to circumvent the bylaws. 

As of publication, Student Affairs has not scheduled a meeting for Olivares’ appeal hearing and Olivares has been unable to reach head of Student Affairs Gene Fitch by phone or email. Per the Student Media bylaws, the evening of Thursday, Sept. 19 is the final day for SMOB to make a decision about the appeal.