What are your professors up to this summer? | July 15, 2024
Three UTD faculty members are researching abroad as Fulbright U.S. Scholars during the 2023-2024 academic year — the most sent abroad by the university since 1978 — pioneering new ideas and bringing back one-of-a-kind experiences for students come fall 2024. Assistant Professor of History Rosemary Admiral, visual arts lecturer Colette Copeland and Professor of Materials […]
Editor’s Desk: critical journalism | July 15, 2024
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 […]
New BBS dean appointed | July 15, 2024
UTD selected Adam Woods as the next dean for the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences. Woods’ term as Dean begins Aug. 15, 2024. Since fall 2023, BBS has operated without a dean, with Margaret Owen overseeing BBS as an interim dean. She will return to her position as faculty beginning fall 2024. Before coming […]
‘A giant among men’ | July 15, 2024
The weather on June 28 is bright and sunny, a perfect fit to commemorate former UTD alumnus and director of the Multicultural Center Bruce August Jr. through a new reflection space near the Sciences building. This wide-reaching community collaboration is a testament to how beloved August was to UTD administration and faculty. Multiple administrative offices […]
Dhunki: a ‘spellbound melody’ of a cappella | July 15, 2024
UTD students travel across the country from California to Atlanta, taking stages bathed in warm lights. This a cappella group, a self-identified found family, doesn’t just belt notes — they blend worlds, creating a fusion of South Asian rhythms and Western harmonies. Dhunki A Cappella, the premier competitive South Asian fusion a cappella team at […]
Opinion: University administration, police target Palestinian UTD alum | July 15, 2024
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 […]
Campus construction update: projects ongoing | July 15, 2024
Several roads and pedestrian paths will be closed from the beginning of June 24 to Aug. 16 because of new developments in construction, altering the usual trajectory of both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Major construction projects have been underway since fall 2023 such as the Performance Hall, SOM Phase III and the new Student Success […]
Editorial: Investigative journalism at stake — support The Mercury | July 15, 2024
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 […]
The Mercury faces over $8,500 fee | July 15, 2024
At 4:30 a.m. May 1, student organizers created the “Gaza Liberation Plaza” encampment to protest UTD’s policy toward Palestine. Less than twelve hours later, UTDPD, Texas DPS officers and other local departments raided the encampment and arrested 21 students, faculty, alumni and community members. The Mercury has extensively investigated the aftermath of these arrests, covering […]
Opinion: ‘Inside Out 2’ delves into your deepest anxieties through film | July 15, 2024
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 […]
73 Questions with your SG executives | July 15, 2024
As the newly elected 2024-2025 executive officers of Student Government, president and philosophy-computer science double major Devin Schwartz and vice president and sociology senior Debopreeta Bhattacharya sat down with The Mercury to shed light on who they are outside of their lofty titles, in the viral interview style of Vogue’s “73 Questions.” Q: How long […]
PHANTOMs mesmerizes with ephemeral performance | July 15, 2024
Correction, Aug. 13: An earlier version of this piece incorrectly stated Dean Terry’s position. He is a professor at UTD. The ethereal realm of PHANTOMs, where reality and performance intertwine, leaves audiences questioning the nature of their own beliefs and perceptions. Art and performance group Therefore took the audience on an unforgettable journey through sound, […]
Letter to the Editor: State-sanctioned violence, a chilling message courtesy of UTD | July 15, 2024
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 […]
DII: Coming to fields near you | July 15, 2024
UTD will begin competing in the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference this fall semester after 26 years in the Division III American Southwest Conference. As a Division II school, UTD is now eligible to offer athletic scholarships. The NCAA announced July 11 that UTD’s petition to move into Division II was approved on an […]