THE UTD MERCURY

Category: News

  • Volunteering under quarantine

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    The UTD Mercury
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    OSV provides list of remote volunteer opportunities Though in-person volunteer opportunities have been dwindling with the rise of COVID-19, the number of remote volunteer opportunities have expanded. Even before COVID-19, there existed remote volunteering opportunities such as translating for Translators Without Borders and being an online emotional support listener for 7 Cups. Now, virtual volunteering…

  • SUAAB holds virtual events for rest of semester

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    The UTD Mercury
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    Following UTD’s transition to online classes, the Student Union & Activities Advisory Board canceled all of their remaining in-person spring semester events. Responsible for various campus events, including live shows featuring musical artists and comedians on-campus, SUAAB is now hoping to bring the same experiences to the student body through digital means.             Upon receiving…

  • Undergraduate lab courses mitigate online shift

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    The UTD Mercury
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    Virtual simulations, data analysis help instructors with web-based teaching Laboratory coordinators are using various methods to transition traditionally in-person lab courses to an online format. A bioengineering major takes about four to six lab courses in their undergraduate career. Shalini Prasad, professor and department head for bioengineering, said she and her colleagues worked over spring…

  • Gunman dead after hijacking DART bus in Richardson, wounding three officers

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    The UTD Mercury
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    At about 11 a.m. today, a gunman boarded a DART bus in Richardson, opened fire and led police on a multi-city chase. Three officers were wounded and the gunman was killed. The driver of the bus was ordered at gunpoint to drive to an undetermined location. According to a report by NBC, there was only…

  • Students face monetary losses after study abroad cancellations

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    The UTD Mercury
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    University officials recently made the decision to suspend all international travel through the calendar year due to the coronavirus pandemic. This policy change cancelled all summer, fall and winter 2020 study abroad programs, according to a university-wide email sent by the Education Abroad Office to all prospective students traveling internationally. “We understand that this may…

  • Texas Gov. Greg Abbott aims to reopen state

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    The UTD Mercury
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    Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed three executive orders on April 17 in an effort to reopen the state amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first order, Abbott established the “Strike Force to Open Texas,” a team of medical experts, private and public leaders who will advise the governor on the safe reopening of Texas. Abbott…

  • Local businesses face coronavirus pandemic head-on

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    The UTD Mercury
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    How owners, managers are keeping their stores afloat With  a statewide order mandating social distancing in Texas, local businesses are losing valuable foot traffic and income. Even with federal assistance in the form of payroll protection and loans, businesses are having to make tough decisions to make it through quarantine. Businesses, from restaurants to game…

  • Comet Cupboard continues to operate despite physical location closing

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    The UTD Mercury
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    Volunteers prepare boxes of food to distribute to students on first-come first-serve basis The Comet Cupboard’s campus location shut down indefinitely due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. Despite the shutdown, the Comet Cupboard staff is continuing to distribute food to the UTD community by packaging and handing out boxes through food donation drives. Staff members…

  • Student counseling center continues therapy services online

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    The UTD Mercury
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    Staff adjusts to online switch amidst coronavirus pandemic UTD’s Student Counseling Center has transitioned to online teletherapy in response to the spread of the novel coronavirus. Without a clear date for their return to in-person operations, the counseling center has begun creating more online resources, adjusting to better serve the student body remotely.             Following…

  • Accessibility in online classes

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    The UTD Mercury
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    How professors can accommodate disabled students amidst online shift With the switch to online learning, the Office of Student AccessAbility and faculty members are having to make different adjustments in order to accommodate students with disabilities. Clinical associate professor Kenneth Brewer said that in some ways, it’s actually easier to accommodate some students, as blind…