Category: Featured
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Editorial: Investigative journalism at stake — support The Mercury
UPDATE: As of July 22, The Mercury has raised $3,015 — enough to cover the $2,905 fee for reviewing the public records we requested as well as GoFundMe’s transaction fee. UTD’s Office of Legal Affairs said The Mercury is allowed to take photos and notes of the documents during the review process, which we will…
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New BBS dean appointed
UTD selected Adam Woods as the next dean for the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences. Woods’ term as Dean begins Aug. 15, 2024. Since fall 2023, BBS has operated without a dean, with Margaret Owen overseeing BBS as an interim dean. She will return to her position as faculty beginning fall 2024. Before coming…
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The Mercury faces over $8,500 fee
At 4:30 a.m. May 1, student organizers created the “Gaza Liberation Plaza” encampment to protest UTD’s policy toward Palestine. Less than twelve hours later, UTDPD, Texas DPS officers and other local departments raided the encampment and arrested 21 students, faculty, alumni and community members. The Mercury has extensively investigated the aftermath of these arrests, covering…
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Despite administration’s silence, community supports 21 arrested at ‘Gaza Liberation Plaza’
In a historic first, UTD administration called in law enforcement with riot gear to destroy the “Gaza Liberation Plaza” encampment while arresting 21 students, faculty, alumni and community members. Despite outcry across the UTD community, administration has not responded to demands to drop legal charges and disciplinary action against those arrested. Students for Justice in…
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‘They are just kids!’
Assistant professor of art history Ali Alibhai rushed to protect student protesters from what he saw as a militarized police force armed with weapons and willing to harm the protesters gathered at the encampment on May 1. His efforts to de-escalate and protect students were quickly quashed as police attacked, arrested and later chained him. …
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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Pro-Palestine Comets reject meeting conditions with President Benson after week of protests
At the climax of a nearly 10-hour long demonstration April 23, representatives from Students for Justice in Palestine and UTD’s Cabinet of the President agreed to a meeting to discuss the concerns of Palestinian students. During the meeting April 26, SJP representatives delivered a letter to Benson, refusing to speak with him, before leaving. SJP’s…
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Know your enemy: Comets should direct DEI ban anger at legislators, not just admin
On April 9, UTD President Richard Benson sent a schoolwide email stating that the Office of Campus Resources and Support — created in the wake of Senate Bill 17, which would have continued some of ODEI’s still-legal programs — would be eliminated. Four months into the DEI ban taking effect, students across the state are…