UTD’s students need a (balanced) return to in-person instruction
Not going back to full density is ill-advised and illogical; UTD should prioritize educational outcomes while maintaining what flexibility they can grant students
Last week, there was a Change.org petition suggesting that UTD return to fully online learning for the semester. While that particular suggestion doesn’t seem to be getting serious attention, Student Government is polling students about a resolution to extend de-densification, and a vocal segment of Comets have been campaigning against...
Performative activism distracts from real issues
Slactivism pervades political discussion, creating outrage but hindering true change
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s 2021 Met Gala dress exemplifies how individuals use performative activism to gain social capital rather than actively promote change. Performative activism typically entails fruitless and pointless actions from celebrities and influencers that take away from the voices of people with less social or political influence and overshadow their...
Beautiful space comic embodies creative spirit
Wandering Star is so much more than a different take on intergalactic warfare
“Wandering Star” by Teri Sue Wood centers around Cassandra, a big deal space-war hero. But Wood’s visuals, themes and opening scene make it immediately clear that this series is no generic war hero’s narrative. The series starts with Cassandra being interviewed about her time fighting the main antagonists of her...
Hidden Heroes Among Us
Many unheralded campus personnel kept UTD running during the pandemic
On March 30, 2020, UTD resumed classes after an extended spring break – and everything about being a college student instantly changed. From attending class to engaging with faculty and friends or even taking exams, college life was suddenly unfamiliar for both students and faculty. What students did not know,...
I have a Comic 4 U!
A dark comic to explore the dark side of childhood
For those who prefer something with a bit more edge than a light-hearted story when venturing into a new genre or media, a good starting comic might be Ted Naifeh’s series “Courtney Crumrin.” In short, “Courtney Crumrin” is about a child moving into a relative’s house in a new town...
Loot boxes should be regulated
“Pokémon is a game for adults and kids have no business playing it.” Does that statement seem bizarre to you? Not according to PEGI, the European video game rating system that will now rate all games teaching gambling as mature. But while certain children’s games like Pokémon may come with...
Fire and Adjust
Americans must learn from senseless bloodshed of Afghan war
Our nation’s mortified exit from Afghanistan has wrenched open barely mended wounds; among its old conscripts, refugees and young veterans of war, there is a terrible feeling that our nation has done it again: sustained continued bloodshed for nothing. When Afghanistan’s regional capitols began falling to the Taliban last month,...
I want YOU to get vaccinated!
Herd immunity is essential to return UTD to normalcy
As the semester kicks off to a crowded “de-densified” start, we predictably see our phones notifying us every day of a new long list of COVID-19 positive students. In order to ensure the true safety of the UTD community and surrounding areas, it’s really no question at this point: all...
I have a comic 4 you!
Lighthearted series "Amelia Rules!" is a great introduction for new comic readers
There are many misconceptions about comics, the main two being that they are only about superheroes or are just there for the Sunday funnies in newspapers. So, to divorce you from any misunderstandings that you have about the comic medium, my first recommendation and review are for a series called“Amelia...
Athletes struggling with mental health need our support
Stigma surrounding mental health discourse in athletics must be erradicated
Simone Biles’s decision to withdraw from the Olympics emblemizes the need to be more empathetic toward athletes who are focusing on their well-being and promote open discussion of mental health in sports. Simone Biles and her extraordinary achievements increasingly put her in the spotlight. The entire sports world constantly scrutinizes...