Author: The UTD Mercury
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Chess team comes up short in Collegiate Super Finals
The UTD Chess Team flatlined in the 2023 Texas Collegiate Super Finals, placing fourth and fifth amongst six teams on the Sept. 16 and 17 competitions in Brownsville, Texas. The Texas Collegiate Super Finals is one of the biggest collegiate tournaments in Texas; this year’s tournament was an extension of the Feb. 25, 2023 Southwest…
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You Shouldn’t Care About Nika Nikoubin
Infamous UTD felon Nika Nikoubin’s new autobiography “Who is Nika Nikoubin? A Bloody Las Vegas Hotel Story” is larger than life, dramatically illustrating the high-profile March 2022 attempted murder for which Nikoubin was recently sentenced to probation. Despite its theatrics and tell-all detail, however, this book sports flaw after crippling flaw. Unless you like atrociously…
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Support Maui natives instead of vacationing
The Hawaiian firestorm on the island of Maui on Aug. 8 is one of the worst disasters in the archipelagos since the 1944 West Loch explosion, and as corporations take over the indigenous land of thousands and tourism reopens Oct. 8, natives need help now more than ever. The Maui disaster was the deadliest American…
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Letter to the Editor
For an article that landed itself on the front page, “McDermott library ramps up security” says very little. Ten paragraphs. Twenty sentences. A front page article, and those were the words given to discuss the library’s new policy. I certainly understand if The Mercury chooses not to focus on investigative journalism — it takes time,…
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UTD student sentenced to six years in prison for animal cruelty
UTD graduate student Shubhankar Kawle was sentenced to six and a half years in prison on Aug. 31 for torturing two house cats, one of whom had to be euthanized due to severe injuries; the other had a limb amputated and made a full recovery. Kawle was charged with cruelty to non-livestock animals, which is…
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McDermott Library ramps up security
UTD’s McDermott Library implemented a new card reading system on Aug. 28, requiring students and staff to scan their Comet Cards when entering and exiting to improve building security. At the end of spring 2023, the library required those entering to show their Comet Cards between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. In…
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Stipend for NSM teaching assistants raised to $2400
Effective fall 2023, UTD increased TA stipends for the School of Natural Science and Mathematics, or NSM, to $2400, a $400 to $600 increase from last year. The decision was made by the Provost’s Office and the Dean of NSM. Last year’s stipends ranged between $1,800 and $2,000, making the change an approximate 20% pay…
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80s Night!
Strings Attached channeled the electric spirit of the 80s at their premiere concert of the year, 80s Night! This musical era, a harmonious blend of new wave dance vibes and the timeless rhythm of the 70s, boasts iconic tracks that resonate with class and nostalgia. The setlist celebrated legendary bands and artists including Tears for…
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Why have pest sightings spiked?
With University Housing receiving 117 reports of ants in on-campus housing since the August move-in and more sightings over the summer, The Mercury took a deeper look into the possible causes behind the pest sightings. Matt Grief, associate vice president of Student Affairs, said that it is common for reports to spike in the beginning…