Category: Editorials
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Editorial: Benson’s resignation leaves bitter legacy
Richard Benson announced his departure from his position as UTD’s fifth president Aug. 26, saying in his resignation letter that, “Reflecting on all that has been accomplished over the last eight years, and all that has been set in motion, I feel that this is a good time to pass the leadership of UT Dallas…
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Editor’s Desk: new semester, new Mercury
Welcome — or welcome back — to campus. For many, this will be your first year at UTD, so you have the great pleasure of learning how to navigate this labyrinthine compound of a university. Our returning students also have the pleasure of charting new paths around campus as parking shifts around because of the…
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Opinion: Sanctions, reflections
Editor’s Note: Student X is one of nine students of the “UTD 21,” the 21 students, faculty and community members arrested at the May 1 encampment. Student X is currently facing both academic and legal litigation because of their arrest. Due to the exceptional circumstances they face, The Mercury has granted their request for anonymity…
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Editor’s Desk: critical journalism
In its 44 years of publication, The Mercury has typically focused on hyper-local journalism: things which affect the UTD community and local DFW area instead of state or national-level coverage. In the wake of student protests and the events of May 1, however, the scope of our coverage has had to expand to include global…
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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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Editorial: Meet the admin
State troopers slammed our own students and faculty into the ground, aiming to destroy not just their encampment but their spirit. The administration’s response to the “Gaza Liberation Plaza” on May 1 normalizes military-grade violence against student expression, leaving a bloody specter over all future student protests and expressions on UTD’s campus. Students arrested, administration…
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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…
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Vote for the future: vote green
College often feels like extortion — between skyrocketing tuition prices, fees and housing costs, choosing to increase how much you pay may sound insulting. But the small financial commitment of the “Green Fee” is a charge you should support, as it will make campus more sustainable, give power to student voices by giving them the…
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Antisocial Campus? Try Sports
Embracing sports culture at UTD will bring Comets together and invigorate campus UTD’s lack of a sports culture is a direct culprit for the school’s lack of a social scene. Luckily, this is something Comets can easily change by stepping outside their comfort zone and giving sports a try. It’s no secret UTD has a…
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Abbott’s failures unmask the facade of “school choice”
School voucher programs siphon money away from public education, and UTD could become collateral damage The Texas Legislature’s fourth special session is underway, with the House committee advancing the school voucher bill after the previous special session saw stalemate on the issue. Despite Gov. Greg Abbott’s relentless crusading, the legislature’s hesitance to pursue voucher programs…
