Author: The UTD Mercury
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UTD adds service learning classes
UTD is joining the nationally growing trend of service learning in the classroom. This semester, the university is offering 10 classes centered around service. In 2017, UTD received $1 million through the University of Texas System to incorporate community engagement into the curriculum. Since then, the school has offered a variety of classes, from helping…
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Chess team hires new coach
Since the start of February, the UTD chess team has been working with its new head coach after the retirement of long-time coach Rade Milovanovic. Julio Sadorra, a UTD alumnus who graduated in 2013 with a degree in business administration, assumed coaching responsibilities on Feb. 4. While at UTD, Sadorra was part of the chess…
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Former Richardson mayor convicted for bribery
After a two-week trial, a former Richardson mayor was convicted for bribery charges connected to her affair with a land developer. Laura Maczka served as mayor of Richardson from 2013 until 2015, when details of her affair with a local real estate developer led citizens to demand she step down from a newly-elected term in…
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City applies for federal funding for proposed Cotton Belt Trail
The Richardson City Council has applied for federal funding to cover the segment of the proposed Cotton Belt Trail that services UTD, which is the fourth and last portion of the trail in Richardson that has yet to be funded. The Cotton Belt Trail is a 26-mile long hiking and biking trail that will be…
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Cockroaches found in Student Union eatery
Richardson Health Department officials performed a surprise inspection at the Student Union’s Chick-fil-A after a receiving an anonymous complaint and video of cockroaches in the food pick-up area. The video’s metadata confirmed it was taken at UTD. In the video, a worker opens a cabinet to reveal a box with supplies for the Chick-fil-A location.…
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Former chemistry department officer indicted on theft charge
A former administrative officer in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is facing one charge of felony theft after being accused of embezzling $130,000 from the university. Former staff member Linda Heard, who started working at UTD in 1991, was indicted for theft of property, a second-degree felony, on Feb. 26. Her first court appearance…
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The Price of Interference
Why US Intervention in Venezuelan politics promotes imperialism Juan Guaido, who did not receive a single vote in Venezuela’s elections, swore himself in as president of Venezuela on Jan. 23. Guaido’s declaration follows the controversial elections in May 2018. The elections were originally scheduled for December but were pushed up to May. In response, United…
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Whatcha Eatin’? Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is an extremely important holiday for Chinese people and is celebrated worldwide. It’s based on the Chinese lunar calendar, which existed since 14th century B.C., and lasts about 15 days, from the end of January to the end of February. Each year is represented by one of 12 animals which rotate every…
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Letter to the Editor: Recent op-ed inconsistent with position on open discourse
I organized and supervised the Steven Crowder event on Jan. 22 and thought it went quite well. Outside of a couple of protestors, I think a lot of students would agree with me. One such protestor was Nicholas Provenghi, who wrote an op-ed in the Jan. 28 issue of The Mercury titled “Steven Crowder harms…
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Men’s Basketball Takes ASC Title
Team brings home championship victory for first time since 2014 season The men’s basketball team became four-time ASC champions after taking home an 88-74 victory against Hardin-Simmons University in the final game of the conference. The Comets competed in three games from Feb. 21-23, where they earned double-digit wins against McMurry University, Concordia University-Texas and…