Author: The UTD Mercury
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Esports team introduces dedicated coach
The UTD esports program hired its first-ever esports coach and is currently recruiting students to join the esports team in the next few weeks. Greg Adler, a music education graduate from Kutztown University and avid gamer, was hired to become the official esports coach for the “League of Legends” and “Overwatch” teams this August. After…
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Q&A: Hollywood alums
UTD alums VJ (BA’02) and Justin (BA’06) Boyd took risks after graduating by moving to Los Angeles to pursue their dreams of screenwriting and producing. Since they moved, the brothers have gone on to work on series such as “Justified,” “S.W.A.T” and “Channel Zero” alongside industry veterans including Shemar Moore (“Criminal Minds”) and Rutger Hauer…
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Alumnus, student start self-funded gaming company
A UTD student and UTD alumnus founded a startup company creating games using virtual and augmented reality technology. Software engineering senior Brian Hoang and alumnus Marwan Kodeih co-founded their company, Immosis, in December 2016. Hoang and Kodeih created the VR horror game “Amelia’s Curse” in their time running UTD’s Virtual Reality Society and Artificial Intelligent…
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Students, police learn to use life-saving drug
The Center for Students in Recovery at UTD has recently been promoting overdose awareness by providing a new training program. Since the start of the summer, the CSR has begun an initiative to train campus police, students, staff and other community members on what to do in case of an overdose. The Collegiate Recovery Manager…
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New rail line to be built near Northside apartments, campus
Dallas Area Rapid Transit is working closely with UTD to develop a new rail line that will run adjacent to the Northside complex. The new line, called Cotton Belt, is due to start construction in 2019 and will begin welcoming riders in December 2022. Mark Ball, a DART Media Relations representative, said the project has…
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Pete Sessions’ campaign finances under scrutiny
A Texas representative responsible for the congressional district including UTD is currently in a congressional race and has caused controversy after an external news outlet investigated his political finances. On July 20, The Texas Observer published an article delving into congressman Pete Sessions’ political action committee, People for Enterprise Trade and Economic Growth. The article…
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7-Eleven to open at Northside
Slurpees, taquitos and other snacks will soon be available at Northside after a new convenience store opens later this month. The 7-Eleven chain will expand to UTD on Aug. 23, bringing with it Amazon lockers, extra slurpee flavors and a refrigerated room for beer. The store, located on the western corner of Northside Phase 1…
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Payment change causes concern
University Housing has begun preparing for the transfer of management of certain on-campus housing properties from American Campus Communities to the university. But while university officials attempt to ensure a smooth handover, students are expressing concern that the change could do more harm than good. When University Housing announced it would be taking over the…
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No cause for celebration
A graduation ceremony is the pinnacle of collegiate success. It is the opportunity to gather together friends and family to commemorate years of hard work and the end of an important chapter in life. It is the first official return on the investment of time, money and willpower put into earning a degree. And yet,…
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Alum creates 3D sensors
Researchers at UTD are looking to nature to advance sensory technology through electronic whiskers. UTD alumnus Jonathan Reeder began working on the project in 2013 while completing his doctorate in materials science and engineering. The sensors, which resemble whiskers, are made of shape-memory polymers and change shape in response to heat. Reeder said this response…