Author: The UTD Mercury
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Tax Bill may reduce campus donations
The rate of small donations to UTD is expected to decline this year because of the passage of federal tax cuts. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 doubled the standard tax deduction, and Kyle Edgington, UTD’s vice president of development and alumni relations, expects a decrease in the number of donations made to…
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Students bet on blockchain
Bitcoin gained international attention in early December when it experienced a meteoric rise in value, quickly followed by a nearly 50 percent drop. While one UTD professor has written the currency off as a speculative bubble waiting to burst, a UTD organization is capitalizing off the cryptocurrency boom. Computer science senior Michael Lewellen is president…
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University Village switches to semesterly payment policy
Starting next semester, residential students living in all university housing facilities will be required to pay their housing expenses by semester instead of monthly. With the on-campus housing renewal and sign-up process for next semester beginning on Jan. 23, students can expect a change if they choose to live on campus. Instead of bringing a…
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More than just a video game
Major Grant spent hours playing the popular multiplayer online video game Overwatch. He played daily during the summer and into the semester, sometimes neglecting his homework or assignments. “All I was doing was waking up, going to work, coming back from work, playing a bunch of Overwatch and going to sleep,” he said. As his…
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Smoke-free campus?
Editor’s Note: Joseph’s identity was kept anonymous so he could speak freely about colleagues who reguarly violate the tobacco ban. A UTD policy aimed at ending the use of tobacco products on campus was met with mixed reactions from students and faculty. Since “Breathe Easy” went into effect, tobacco use on campus remains prevalent, but…
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Students create startup app to track local events in real time
A UTD student partnered with a friend to create an app that keeps track of nearby live events, open restaurants and entertainment centers. The app, called TheHAPS, shows different events occurring in the city and useful information, such as user-made hashtags, live reviews and the ability to post on Twitter from the app. Events such…
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Students turn blind eye to tragedy
A recent viral video showing a Libyan slave market auctioning African refugees led to international outrage, but was met with silence at UTD. Student organizations have mobilized to help Syrian refugees in the past, so their inaction during this crisis is both unwarranted and unacceptable. Muslim Student Associations at several Texas schools, including UTD, made…
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Rape survivors need support, understanding from community
Editor’s note: This op-ed author’s name has been changed to protect her identity. I thought my freshman year of college was supposed to be the most exciting year. I was in a new city, meeting amazing friends and taking classes I wanted to take. I couldn’t have been more wrong, however: about halfway through first…
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How important are college sports?
Sports at UTD is radically different from that of other universities. It’s not that there aren’t enough sports, but more like a lack of attention given to them compared to other aspects of the campus culture. College athletics, while it may not be a priority for some, is important and should receive attention from students…
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Activity Center Upgrades
With the new year, University Recreation plans to improve the gym workout area with renovations this summer. Tricia Losavio, director of UREC, said they plan to replace the two-decade-old floor and update the lighting in the workout area. “Right now, only the free-weight area has a (mat) … and the rest of space has carpet.…