Category: Opinion
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Remix to conviction
In early January, Lifetime aired a documentary series chronicling R&B singer Robert “R.” Kelly’s history of sexual assault and pedophilia, with alleged crimes going back 30 years. In all six episodes, one point was made overwhelmingly clear: R. Kelly’s success is fueled by not only the enablers who continue to support him, but also by…
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Steven Crowder Harms Debate
Even if you’ve had the pleasure of not knowing Steven Crowder — the former actor/comedian and current conservative social media darling — you may have still heard of his video series “Change My Mind,” which regularly pulls millions of views on YouTube. On Jan. 22, Crowder brought his specific brand of infotainment back to UTD…
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In Your Time of Need
Recent campus events underscore importance of knowing where to find support Recent events concerning the Jacob Anderson case and allegations of Chartwells mistreating its employees may leave some of us questioning where to turn in a crisis. For those involved, circumstances were overwhelming, even frightening. For those of us looking on, the impact is nonetheless…
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Jacob Anderson’s been barred from UTD. That isn’t enough.
Editor’s Note: This article has been corrected to mention that Anderson pleaded no contest to unlawful restraint, not rape. The Mercury regrets this error. I saw news of Jacob Walter Anderson’s alleged rape of “Donna Doe” on social media shortly after he was arrested. I felt a sinking feeling in my gut, worried that Anderson…
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I’m baptized, not brainwashed
Brainwashed. Indoctrinated. Believing in a higher power to make myself feel better instead of facing facts. As a Christian, I’ve been either been accused or heard other Christians accused of all these things. At the same time, I’ve heard pastors and orators on my own side of the aisle assert the same about atheists, agnostics…
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DARTing forward
How important is public transit to you? At UTD, we have a large population of students — international students and local residents alike — who do not have cars but need to get around. Their solution? The 100 miles of light rail track and the vast network of busses provided by the Dallas Area Rapid…
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Parking, uncovered
Say the word “parking” to any college student and you will almost inevitably be met with pained expressions, exasperated groans and more than a few colorful testimonies detailing “that time I got a ticket.” But for all its importance on campus, many of the decisions made by the Office of Parking and Transportation are shrouded…
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UTD(iversity)
When you’re walking around UTD, you see people from all walks of life. A Bengali student to your right, a Korean girl in front of you, an Argentinian person to your left and your Indian BFF right next to you. When you’re in your classrooms, you speak to people with different experiences — one story…
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What the people want
Authoritarianism is simply the abuse of authority at the expense of liberty. America certainly has had authoritarian tendencies — from the brutal subjugation of native peoples, the legacy of anti-immigration ideologies, the reluctance in accepting refugees, the heinous system of mass incarceration, to our ever-expanding imperial presidency. Still, over the past 200 years, the civil…
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This election season, don’t forget about health care
A key complaint from students at UTD is the lack of access to mental health counseling services on campus due to high demand. Long wait times force many students to seek these services off-campus in order to get the care they need to be successful students. Fortunately, the protection of pre-existing conditions makes it easier…