Category: Opinion
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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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Letter to the Editor: State-sanctioned violence, a chilling message courtesy of UTD
To the current Editorial Board and readers of The Mercury, One thing is clear to me after reading The Mercury’s recent coverage of the Gaza Solidarity encampment: administrators’ horrifying response on May 1 was undoubtedly a show of power. The university tries to justify sending in the state troopers with assault rifles and riot gear…
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Opinion: ‘Inside Out 2’ delves into your deepest anxieties through film
Struggling with confidence and the crushing feeling of “I’m not good enough” is an all-too-common adolescent experience, perfectly portrayed and overcome in Pixar’s “Inside Out 2.” The original “Inside Out,” released in 2015, was one of the most loved animated films of the decade for its beautiful animation and complex story. With an audience rating…
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Opinion: University administration, police target Palestinian UTD alum
On June 26 at 2 p.m., a state trooper in Denton County targeted and arrested recent UTD graduate and former president of Students for Justice in Palestine, Mousa Najjar. UTDPD authorized his arrest with the backing of Dean of Students Amanda Smith and university administration for protesting the ongoing occupation of Palestine and genocide in…
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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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Opinion: Hiding in plain sight — how administration obfuscates its intent
UTD administration had 21 students, staff, alumni and community members arrested, but not once has the administration pointed to a specific part of UTD or UT System policy that the arrested individuals violated. Administration has fundamentally failed to listen to its students and has instead established a grossly restrictive and prescriptive policy. The UTD Office…
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The protester’s polemic
As Gaza solidarity encampments pop up across the U.S., UTD’s own are among those protesting the involvement of their academic institution in what the International Court of Justice has called a “plausible genocide.” As Gov. Greg Abbott pushes for Texas to respond violently to campus protests while suppressing student activism through executive orders, it is…