Category: Opinion
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‘Heartstopper’ makes minorities tokens
To justify queerness to heterosexual audiences, queer media loses its nuance and limits exploration of other topics besides sexuality. This stems from new queer media treating queerness as a political concept rather than what it actually is: human expression. On March 20, Netflix announced several new titles coming to the platform in 2024, including a…
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Flooding in UV: UTD needs to do better
Any resident of UV knows that after a rainstorm, it’s best to take the long way around and avoid the sidewalks. Whenever there is even a small amount of rainfall, housing areas become impassable quagmires full of water and mud — but does it have to be that way? University Village’s foundational issues with the…
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Trains over towers: Why DFW desperately needs the high-speed rail plan
If demolishing the Reunion Tower is necessary for implementing intercity high-speed rail in Texas, then it is critical we do it to help combat congestion while improving local communities. Comets should petition their officials and mobilize in support of sustainable public transportation projects. In 2023, Amtrak announced support for Texas Central’s plans of creating a…
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Abbott’s age verification order spells Internet doom
Texas’ recent attempt to restrict access to pornography intrinsically fails to actually protect minors and legal consumers of porn while exposing them to new data risks. The Texas legislature passed HB 1181 June 2023 with the intent of limiting the access Texas citizens have to “sexual material harmful to minors on an Internet website” by…
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Save Reunion Tower: in defense of Hunt Realty
The proposal of a bullet train between Houston and Dallas is long overdue, but it cannot come at the cost of removing 46 years of city symbolism and sustainable housing for an already struggling community. Comets should petition their officials in support of further study of sustainable public transportation projects, otherwise we will continue creating…
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Actors might wear ceasefire pins, but they aren’t your heroes
Despite modern Hollywood films often featuring provocative political messaging, especially at the 2024 Oscar Awards, major Hollywood actors fail to speak on political issues explicitly and don’t deserve to be credited for social progress. When looking for an actual cultural hero, look among yourselves, especially fellow students, as they call for political action more effectively…
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Student Government: stop hiding from students
Over half of SG’s senators ignored their promise of transparency to students when they hid away to discuss a high-stakes resolution at a public meeting. Meaningfully participating in SG means facing the public eye, even if there’s backlash. And if senators can’t handle the scrutiny, then SG is not the place for them. SG passed…
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Films should respect naked bodies, not stigmatize them
Hollywood blockbusters suggest nudity can only exist to invoke a sense of sexuality or for shock value, and given how affected we are by the media we consume, these sensationalizing portrayals could be affecting your personal relationship with nudity. Save yourself by opting for an indie film instead. 2024’s Vanity Fair Hollywood profile did, for…
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Riccio: playing with fire
Between iWeek, Biryani Night and Lunar New Year, UTD is well-acquainted with beautiful and thoughtful events highlighting diverse traditions. Unfortunately, not every cultural event can be a success, and nothing proves that quite like Thomas Riccio’s stomach-twisting “Dragon Eye” video exhibit. “Dragon Eye,” which showcased the lifestyles of people from China’s Miao ethnic group, was…
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The tragedy of the carts: skipping the corral puts us all in a cage of selfishness
Unreturned shopping carts in parking lots are society’s barometer for how much people care about others. And with a tiny bit of effort, you can make sure that barometer reads right and help workers, pedestrians and the whole community by putting your shopping cart where it belongs — in the corral. Picture this. It’s Friday…