Author: The UTD Mercury
-
From the ground: Gaza Liberation Plaza
As Palestinian solidarity encampments pop up across dozens of U.S. college campuses, UTD’s own Gaza Liberation Plaza joined a long running student-led campaign of activism calling for cease-fire and divestment. On the same day Gaza Liberation Plaza was created, state troopers and local law enforcement arrived on campus, destroyed the encampment and arrested the students,…
-
Solidarity: letters in response to May 1 encampment arrests
The following are letters, emails and petitions that were written in response to law enforcement’s raid of UTD’s “Gaza Liberation Plaza” encampment, where 21 individuals were arrested. These documents have not been modified or edited by The Mercury. This article will be updated as new signatures are collected or additional letters are published. Table of…
-
Collin County Jail releases detained protesters, families rejoice
As of 4:30 p.m. May 2, all 21 individuals arrested and detained at Collin County Jail after Texas law enforcement’s May 1 raid of UTD’s “Gaza Liberation Plaza” encampment were released. The arraignment process began around 9:30 a.m. May 2 and the first detainee — Associate Art History Professor Ali Asgar Alibhai — was released…
-
Comets, community members demand return of 21 individuals detained overnight at Collin County Jail
Nine students, three professors, one alum and eight community members were arrested after state troopers and local police stormed UTD’s “Gaza Liberation Plaza” encampment at 4 p.m. May 1. Officers transported the detainees to Collin County Jail, where they remained until the evening of May 2. Protests demanding the release of the 21 individuals began…
-
Law enforcement raids pro-Palestine encampment, arrests students and faculty
Less than 12 hours after pro-Palestine student activists formed the “Gaza Liberation Plaza” encampment in UTD’s Chess Plaza, local police and state troopers stormed the event, dismantling the tents and barricades constructed throughout the day and arresting student and faculty protesters. At 4:30 a.m., a coalition of student groups including Students for Justice in Palestine,…
-
Comets create encampment in solidarity with Gaza
Students established a solidarity encampment with Gaza at the Chess Plaza, surrounded by walls made of cardboard, plywood and tires with a sign reading “Free Palestine: all the walls will fall.” State and local police forces arrived 4 p.m., tearing down the encampment and arresting at least 16 students and three professors less than 12…
-
Student Government’s ‘Take Back the Night’ honors sexual assault survivors
A crowd gathered around flickering candles arranged next to the Reflection Pool the night of April 23 as representatives from rape crisis centers and UTD student organizations stood in honor of sexual assault survivors. The event, called Take Back the Night, took place from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Chess Plaza and consisted…
-
Comets blaze past opponents as they enter finals
The UTD women’s tennis team crushed Hardin-Simmons 8-1 on April 12 before repeating the feat against Concordia Texas by winning 8-1 two days later. They ended the regular season with another win at East Texas Baptist 7-2 on April 19, followed by a victory against LeTourneau April 27 in the ASC semifinals to advance to…
-
Intramurals celebrates the blunders and brilliance of UTD Chess Team
UTD Chess celebrated the end of an eventful season by playing in the Intramurals, its last tournament of the semester, against fellow Comets in the Founders Atrium April 20. The Intramurals is a UTD affiliated 7-round Swiss tournament with 5-minute time controls and 3-second increments per move. Koustav Chatterjee, Andrei Macovei and Ivan Schitco competed…