Category: ICYMI
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Here comes ‘Big Momma’
UTD celebrated the groundbreaking for its student success center and student union complex Aug. 12. Members of UTD administration, state and local government and the local community gathered in the Founders Atrium to celebrate UTD’s most ambitious construction project to date. In spring 2024, UTD demolished the Green Center, Calvin Jamison, vice president for Facilities…
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Smoothie King deposed, boba shop takes throne
Aug. 12 marked the soft launch of TeaCo in the Student Union. The newest addition to UTD’s dining facilities will provide students with boba tea on campus for the first time in UTD history. TeaCo Royal is a family-owned and operated tea shop that offers milk tea, smoothies, coffee and fresh tea with seven different…
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Students arrested May 1 face denial of degree, deferred suspension, continued legal charges
The nine students arrested at UTD’s May 1 “Gaza Liberation Plaza” encampment face academic and post-graduate challenges as UTD pursues denial of degree, deferred suspension procedures and academic and disciplinary hearings, which endanger the academic careers of the arrested students. On Aug. 6, three months after the arrests, UTD’s Students for Justice in Palestine and…
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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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UTD professor reflects on arrest, experiences of ‘UTD 21’
While attempting to reduce the tension between encroaching police and student protesters, UTD history professor Ben Wright was arrested alongside two other colleagues on May 1 at the “Gaza Liberation Plaza” encampment. Wright spent over 20 hours in Collin County Jail alongside the rest of “the UTD 21” — the 20 other professors, students and…
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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…