The COVID gambit
Chess team takes to online tournaments this spring
The UTD Chess team has been consistently ranking high during online tournaments this semester. Due to COVID-19, the Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship was held online for the first time ever from Jan. 3-6. Traditionally, this competition consists of six games with players allotted 90 minutes each, a format known...
Possible side effects include: misinformation
Medical advertising harms public perception about health more than it informs
“Common side effects can include dizziness, fatigue, nausea, problems with memory and even death.” Statements like this are often attached to promotional ads for medicine and drugs on television. While marketing advantages exist for pharmaceuticals, their advertisements require more regulation and transparency to really benefit the public. Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) advertising...
UTD alum allegedly participated in Capitol riot
Class of 2012 Chris Grider has been in federal custody since Jan. 21
UTD alumnus and former military officer Chris Grider currently awaits his trial under federal custody after his alleged participation in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Chris Grider graduated from UTD in 2012 with a master’s degree in fine arts. In 2014, he and his wife opened their own winery –...
Ask Sophie: how to avoid student burnout
Maintaining balanced schedule means checking in with yourself, moving away from competitive mindset
As college students, we are fixated on individual productivity, and we often equate our self-worth with academic success. Yet, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is pushing us to let go of our unrealistic expectations on productivity. Let’s be honest: last semester was a nightmare. The endless stream of eLearning notifications, Teams...
Switching up degrees takes a major plan
Changing majors: what you need to know
With increased student interest in exploratory major advising, two people familiar with the process share their advice for students who are considering changing their major. According to fall 2020 UTD enrollment statistics, out of 3,601 freshmen, only 92 were undeclared. But data from a study published by the US Department...
Beefing up a student business
Student finds meaningful connection through start-up jerky business
For business administration and marketing junior Johnathon Jones, his beef jerky business – Jerky Jones – is more than just a side gig: it’s a connection to family and his place in the military community. Jones grew up with his father in the military, which meant frequent moves and substantial...
Minecraft, blind dates, a relationship app – oh my!
Students get creative by socializing online
This spring, a Minecraft server, a virtual blind date project and an app dedicated to friendship-forming are just three of the newest ways UTD students can stay connected amid the pandemic. Campus esports and the African Student Union are implementing new, experimental virtual projects intended to boost social interactivity this...
Testing Testing – for COVID-19
Breakdown of COVID testing results on campus at start of semester
As North Texas sees more than 2,000 new cases of COVID-19 per day in the DFW metroplex, the results of UTD’s proactive testing program are encouraging. Vice President and Chief of Staff Rafael Martín – head of the COVID-19 Task Force at UTD – said that while testing capabilities were...