Author: The UTD Mercury
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Bruce August Jr: beloved director of MC in memoriam
A leader, a mentor and a friend, Bruce August Jr. was a pillar in the UTD community for cultural representation and school spirit. The director for the Multicultural Center, founding president of the Black Faculty and Staff Alliance, a former director for the Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education Board, a District 4…
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Why are housing prices increasing?
Price increases are linked to renovations, utility inflation, existing debt and general trends in the real estate market. Going into 2023-24, University Housing prices increased at a cumulative average of 6.9%, compared to 3.2% in the prior year. 1×1 floor plans are still the most expensive, but also saw a much larger jump in price…
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Student Government calls on UTD to ‘DIVEST FROM DEATH’
Student Government passed a resolution calling on UTD to divest funds from five weapon-manufacturing companies on April 4 as a push against militarism and for corporate responsibility. S.R. 2022-40, or “Divestment for Militarism,” recommends that UTD divest its shares in the University of Texas Investment Management Company, or UTIMCO, which manages UTD’s investments and endowment…
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UTD Esports to split from Athletics
The Department of Student Affairs and Student Union Administration have recently made the decision toseparate the UTD esports program from the athletics department, allowing it to have its own highermanagement instead of falling under the SU. While discussed by both Student Affairs and the SU Administration, the final decision was made by GeneFitch, the vice…
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Texans battle fentanyl crisis
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and in recent years has been implicated in overdoses linked to laced drugs. Sheila Elliott, the supervisor for the UTD EMT Department, said that while Richardson has not been affected by the crisis by direct cases, it has spilled over into Carrollton.…
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UTD MUN celebrates success in the Big Apple
Model UN wrapped up their last conference of the year in New York from April 2 to April 6, representing 15 countries and receiving 24 awards. The New York conference spanned five days, with the UTD team representing Bosnia and Herzegovina–Serbia. This year, members have received seven position paper awards, 11 committee awards, two Outstanding…
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UTD student wins Tiktok scholarship
Cindy Aguirre, a junior international political economy major, was awarded the $500 normandiealise National Scholarship Month TikTok Scholarship as the only one of 10 finalists in the nation to win. Organized by Bold.org and awarded by Normandie Alise Cormier, a scholarship strategist who founded the educational enterprise XollegePass, the scholarship aims to raise awareness and…
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Richardson City Council Agenda Q&A
Student Government and student advocacy group Comets for Better Transit hosted a town hall meeting for Comets to ask Richardson city council members questions about their priorities for the next term. Mayor Paul Voelker and council members Bob Dubey, Jennifer Justice, Janet DePuy, Joe Corcoran, Ken Hutchenrider and Arefin Shamsul all attended the April 6…
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Students protest anti-LGBT bills
A group of UTD students made their voices heard at the state capitol, where lawmakers voted on several controversial bills targeting the LGBTQ+ community. The UTD chapter of advocacy group Texas Rising bused a handful of students on March 28 to the capitol for support of H.B. 970, a bill that would repeal laws that…
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Loved law advisor retires
After five years at the helm of UTD’s Pre-Law Advising Center, Director Barbara Kirby will retire at the end of the semester. Although she made a name for herself in corporate law, Kirby found her true calling in teaching and mentoring students. “I have come to believe that we need good lawyers now more than…