Author: The UTD Mercury
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Diversity bans become reality
Governor Gregg Abbott signed Senate Bill 17 into law on June 17, which requires all diversity, equity and inclusion offices in Texas public universities to be dismantled by Jan. 1, 2024. SB 17 prohibits state-funded universities from maintaining DEI offices and programs, thus restricting how universities cultivate diversity, equitable access to education, and inclusion on…
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FROM WEBS TO WORLDS
“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” delivered a visually stunning, musically intriguing film that left audiences begging for more screentime with beloved characters, both old and new. While “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” followed Miles Morales and his early journey into taking on the role of a superhero, the heavily anticipated sequel looks deeper into the personal relationships…
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‘The Little Mermaid’ swims to cinematic success
Combining beautiful cinematography, stunning singing, and a colorful cast of characters, Disney’s live action “The Little Mermaid” far exceeds expectations and will enchant even the sternest of skeptics. The discourse surrounding the release of the “The Little Mermaid” in May 2023 took social media by storm for months prior. Some groups expressed disapproval of Ariel’s…
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UTD dominates American Southwestern Conference with five championships
UTD concluded the 2022– 23 athletic season with five American Southwestern Conference championship titles — the most won titles out of all Division III schools in the conference. The Comets saw major victories in men’s and women’s golf, volleyball, women’s basketball and women’s tennis. Seven of UTD’s sports teams attended the ASC Championship Tournaments this…
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Outdoor calisthenics court established on campus; free and first of its kind in Texas
The UTD Fitness Court Studio is the first Fitness Court Studio to arrive in Texas as a part of an initiative by the National Fitness Campaign to improve health throughout the nation. Introduced on May 4, the double-sided outdoor calisthenics gym is UREC’s newest amenity, free of charge to Comets looking for a quick body…
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From Pawns to Kings: Highlights from the Chess Season
The spring 2023 chess season came to a remarkable end with several moments of brilliance in state tournaments throughout the semester. From the beginning of the year, the UTD Chess Team participated in a series of tournaments, including the Pan-American Intercollegiate, Chess Fest 2023, Southwest Collegiate Team Championship, Texas Woman’s State Championship and the Spring…
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Enchanting Blooms
Spring brings along an assortment of flowers to Texas. UTD is blessed with a great diversity of flora — you can come across blooming plants all over campus. The most iconic campus flowers are the blossoming Magnolia trees along the pavement starting at the Student Memorial Fountain and extending all the way south to the University…
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Powerful page-turners provide perspective into Pride and POC
June marks an important month in the year as it encompasses Pride Month and Juneteenth, both important events that celebrate freedom in different forms. As you celebrate and observe, here are some book recommendations to learn more about the experiences of the LGBTQ+ community and Black Americans. The Stonewall Reader, edited by the New York…
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Legislative Season Review: What’s Coming for UTD
The Texas legislative season ended on May 29, with Governor Greg Abbott signing several higher education bills into law that could impact UTD’s future. Amongst the hundreds of bills approved this session include a ban on programs of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, tenure protection policies, UTSystem changes, bills affecting the transgender community, increased fentanyl penalties,…