Author: The UTD Mercury
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Hypocrisy of Democracy
How Joe Biden’s cult of personality harms women As Joe Biden’s political campaign was resurrected just over a month ago, so were conversations about his inappropriate touching. From YouTube compilations to firsthand accounts, the stories are impossible to ignore. But that’s exactly what the Democratic party and his supporters are doing. The allegations against Biden…
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott aims to reopen state
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed three executive orders on April 17 in an effort to reopen the state amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first order, Abbott established the “Strike Force to Open Texas,” a team of medical experts, private and public leaders who will advise the governor on the safe reopening of Texas. Abbott…
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Local businesses face coronavirus pandemic head-on
How owners, managers are keeping their stores afloat With a statewide order mandating social distancing in Texas, local businesses are losing valuable foot traffic and income. Even with federal assistance in the form of payroll protection and loans, businesses are having to make tough decisions to make it through quarantine. Businesses, from restaurants to game…
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Lights, Camera, Asian American
Why Asians in Hollywood movies need to move past token characters I’ve always wondered what it’s like to be a casting director for a movie. Do they merely cast minorities to appear racially progressive for ratings? How do they decide what characters minorities play? Casting in movies and television shows has always been met with…
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Financialization: A Tragedy
When profit takes precedence, students suffer Cranes, orange street signs, dirt and neon yellow jackets have all become sights UTD students see while making their way to class while walking and riding on the few roads left untouched by construction. Many try to imagine how the new buildings will blend in upon completion, while others…
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Shelter-at-home(less)
Why supporting homeless shelters is critical during quarantine While many of us are safe within our own homes during the novel coronavirus pandemic, these times have become especially difficult for those who do not have a place to shelter in. Throughout the country, homeless shelters have been hit hard by this unexpected disaster. Since COVID-19…
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Pro-sex, anti-love
How porn degrades women, distorts the mind “Abby” — we’ll call her — has what you might call the ideal husband: loving, intelligent and attractive. But no matter how hard they try in the bedroom, Abby cannot become sexually aroused. “It’s not like he’s only willing to try a handful of mundane things … and…
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Positivi-tees
Senior creates brand of T-shirts with QR codes that prompt comforting stories, funny videos An engineering student aiming to lift moods and brighten days recently launched a business to bring his idea to fruition using T-shirts. Computer engineering senior Bishesh Manandhar sells shirts with graphic designs on the front and QR codes on the back…
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Comet Cupboard continues to operate despite physical location closing
Volunteers prepare boxes of food to distribute to students on first-come first-serve basis The Comet Cupboard’s campus location shut down indefinitely due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. Despite the shutdown, the Comet Cupboard staff is continuing to distribute food to the UTD community by packaging and handing out boxes through food donation drives. Staff members…
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Good Life Versus Long LIfe
‘Being Mortal,’ rethinking end-of-life care Unfortunately, you’re going to die. However, through modern medicine, that can be postponed — risk of death from common infection, injury and disease has become much more manageable. This holds true until we reach old age, where surgeon and writer Atul Gawande argues the medicine currently being practiced can act…