Author: The UTD Mercury
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Band-Aid fixes won’t make game development a safe space
The pending lawsuits concerning Activision Blizzard illuminate longstanding issues within the game development community and remind gamers and game developers that we have to do more than just condemn the studio’s actions; we must create safer and more welcoming spaces for women developers at all levels of game development and game culture. The AAA studio…
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True neutral: The college civics professor
The burden of having to give the most coherent, objective and unbiased information in the vast works of American government is put on the shoulders of today’s civics professors. Their job at the basic level is to educate, but they must also moderate discussion. In the age of trigger warnings, safe spaces and microaggressions, it’s…
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University encourages masking
In response to a spike in COVID-19 Delta variant cases, UTD is encouraging Comets to wear masks indoors and in large gatherings, regardless of vaccination status. The mask guidance applies to all University facilities on campus – including classrooms, labs, common areas and offices – and complies with CDC guidelines which say mask-wearing maximizes protection…
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New VP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
After nearly a decade of service, Vice President for Diversity and Community Engagement George Fair will be replaced by a new Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) this fall. Set for induction on Aug. 23, Yvette Pearson comes from Rice University where she served as Associate Dean of Engineering. While at Rice, Pearson…
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Comet Cab Comeback
Following an extended suspension of regular campus transportation, the Parking and Transportation Office is preparing for Comet Cabs to return to full functionality by the end of the upcoming semester. Assistant Director of UTD Parking and Transportation Elena Galli Grant, one of the administrators in charge of this process, said that the plan currently is…
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Sensory overload
A UTD professor created low-cost air sensors that track pollutant levels in local communities and detect increases in air pollution in real-time. Physics professor David Lary aspired to conduct a project that would make a mark on the world. 10 years ago, he established the Multi-Scale Integrated Interactive Intelligent Sensing (MINTS) initiative: a set of…
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Easing into intramurals
As Comets return to the reality of in-person schooling, a plethora of other opportunities present themselves – including the potential for in-person sports. In the words of Assistant Director of Competitive Sports Chris Gormley, “We’re back!” As with just about any post-COVID program, the intramurals will not look identical to their pre-pandemic counterparts. However, Gormley…