Category: News
-
UTD student sentenced to six years in prison for animal cruelty
UTD graduate student Shubhankar Kawle was sentenced to six and a half years in prison on Aug. 31 for torturing two house cats, one of whom had to be euthanized due to severe injuries; the other had a limb amputated and made a full recovery. Kawle was charged with cruelty to non-livestock animals, which is…
-
McDermott Library ramps up security
UTD’s McDermott Library implemented a new card reading system on Aug. 28, requiring students and staff to scan their Comet Cards when entering and exiting to improve building security. At the end of spring 2023, the library required those entering to show their Comet Cards between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. In…
-
Stipend for NSM teaching assistants raised to $2400
Effective fall 2023, UTD increased TA stipends for the School of Natural Science and Mathematics, or NSM, to $2400, a $400 to $600 increase from last year. The decision was made by the Provost’s Office and the Dean of NSM. Last year’s stipends ranged between $1,800 and $2,000, making the change an approximate 20% pay…
-
Why have pest sightings spiked?
With University Housing receiving 117 reports of ants in on-campus housing since the August move-in and more sightings over the summer, The Mercury took a deeper look into the possible causes behind the pest sightings. Matt Grief, associate vice president of Student Affairs, said that it is common for reports to spike in the beginning…
-
Threatened suspension lifted from student
The threat of a two-year suspension toward computer science graduate Cody Hatfield was lifted by UTD on Aug. 18 after an intervention from The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. On April 11, Hatfield received a citation on his car charging him for parking in the incorrect spot. As he drove off campus, video evidence…
-
UTD pre-law center brings on new director Heather Stovall
The UTD pre-law advising program welcomes a new director, who plans to increase externship opportunities with law firms and awareness among students about reaching out for aid with application processes and questions concerning law school. In August 2023, Heather Stovall stepped into her new role as the director of the Pre-Law Advising Center. Stovall received…
-
Exploring the architecture of the Athenaeum: UTD’s upcoming addition
Rendering of the museum near the roundabout. Courtesy of Morphosis Architects. Morphosis Architects — the firm that created the design for the Perot museum in downtown Dallas — designed the first phase of the Athenaeum, which houses part of the Crow Museum of Asian Art at UTD. The 56,407-square foot museum is currently under construction…
-
Millennium Fellowship chapter opens at UTD
The Millennium Fellowship, a four-month leadership development program sponsored by The United Nations Academic Impact, accepted nine fellows from UTD, including two campus directors, electrical engineering junior Sahi Chundu and international political economy senior Margaret Belford. The Millennium Fellowship runs from August to November and is open to undergraduates worldwide. The program aims to help…
-
Paxton escapes looming impeachment, will stay Texas Attorney General
Ken Paxton, Texas attorney general and Collin County representative, was acquitted from 16 articles impeachment, including bribery and obstruction of justice on Sept. 16 and will remain in his position. Paxton stood trial beginning Sept. 5 in front of the Texas Senate, which Paxton has decried as an inciting point for further political polarization after…
-
A world of cuisine less than 20 minutes from campus
Choosing a restaurant around campus is always a hassle, but we can break it up into categories to make the decision extremely simple. Starting with an American classic, the burger: a delicious burger should have great flavor, fresh ingredients and a bun with that slight crunch. The best place around town for all three is…