Interests on loans too much for students
No student in America should have to forgo higher education for the lack of financial resources. There are scholarships for students offered by universities, colleges and many for profit education institutions such as DeVry. But what about students who are not able to get the limited number of scholarships or...
Gubernatorial candidates mum on marijuana issue
An outspoken Perry forces the issue as decriminalization gains steam in U.S. Wendy Davis and Greg Abbott are keeping mum regarding their stances on marijuana policies as the primaries of what will be one of the most watched gubernatorial races looms closer. On Jan. 8, one day after the Dallas...
Healthcare.gov needs more coverage options
The new year loomed around the corner and so did the deadline to apply for healthcare insurance, which was extended to Dec. 31 at 11:59 p.m., if a person wanted to be covered on Jan. 1, 2014. Having seen abhorrent medical bills from one visit to the ER in the...
Lessons from Mandela’s legacy
Working with opponents key to resolve polarized debates, enable changes It is funny how you always tend to remember where you were and what you were doing when news of someone famous passing away hits you. I remember where I was when I learned of Princess Diana’s death 16 years...
Green campus in reach, if only sprinklers reached green grass
CLARISSA POLLACK Art and performance senior | 0 comments The rainy weather of late has helped our area out of drought. Fields are greener than they’ve ever been since I started at UTD, and it’s refreshing to watch that change grace Texas. Unfortunately, one thing has not changed: UTD continues to waste an...
Surveillance helps keep country, individuals safe
A lone gunman besieged Los Angeles International Airport on Nov. 1, opened fire on a TSA officer and killed him. In addition to casualties, the terminal was shut down and flights were delayed, people were emotionally traumatized and needless to say there was a significant loss of revenue for all...
404 Page Not Found: University erases Ulbricht
The University of Texas at Dallas is attempting to shove Ross Ulbricht down the memory hole. Official university pages that reference the accused alumnus have been edited to remove all mention of him, or have been deleted altogether. While we on The Mercury editorial board understand that this action is by...
From freshman to graduate: Six-year Comet offers advice to newcomers
I first stepped foot on UTD soil in 2007 as an 18-year-old kid with a slight interest in mathematics and computers. At the time, I had only spent three years in the United States and most universities appeared identical to me — giant stadiums, frantic fans, fraternities and parties —...
$1,000 rebate, easy money for needy seniors
At the end of July, AffordableCollegesOnline.org published a study revealing the colleges in Texas that provide the best return on investment. UTD placed fifth out of 49 schools, behind familiar foes including our sister school in Austin and Texas A&M’s College Station campus. Finishing fifth is great, but UTD’s yearly tuition is...
UTD must aim high, yet forge unique identity
For several years, administrators, student leaders and others have made sure that UTD’s excellence is known by dubbing it the “MIT of the South.” In fact quite a few universities have adopted this colloquialism, including the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Alabama in Huntsville — I guess...