First day floods at Capella Hall | September 3, 2024
The fourth floor of Capella Hall, formerly Residence Hall North, experienced significant flooding in a hallway and multiple dorm rooms Aug. 19 after a major valve broke during a water shutoff for a shower repair. A TikTok video posted by marketing freshman Livy Ker of her dorm and hallway flooding has accumulated over 2.3 million […]
50 shades of “PINK!” | September 3, 2024
Fuchsia, coral, peach, bubblegum, magenta, blush — countless different shades of pink can be found in the SP/N Gallery’s “PINK!” exhibition, which debuted Aug. 23. “PINK!” presents viewers with a dizzying array of pink artwork and performance, encouraging viewers to reconsider their feelings and presuppositions about the color by presenting new perspectives. “PINK!” was curated […]
Comics & Activities 09/03/2024 | September 3, 2024
Boba: The Elixir of Life The Duality of Dogs Dearly Beloved DIY Slingshot Student Showcase: Is Pinata Sudoku “The Punchline Is…” Key 08/19 Sudoku Key
Letter to the Editor: In response to the editor’s disclaimer on Aug. 19 LTTE | September 3, 2024
Disclaimer: Mercury policy prohibits censorship as a requirement for publication. Editors provide suggestions on opinion editorials and letters to the editor, which the author can choose to implement. The onus falls upon the author to provide evidence and sourcing for all claims made within an opinion. Opinions with insufficient facts or sourcing can implicate The […]
Undergrads pioneer UTD’s first law review | September 3, 2024
From welcoming a new pre-law director to debuting a new legal curriculum for literature students, UTD’s pre-law programs have kicked into high gear over the past year — the latest addition being the university’s first-ever undergraduate law review. The journal, student-run and organized, launched fall 2024. It aims to provide students across all degree paths […]
Opinion: Olympics cyber harassment underscores misogyny | September 3, 2024
What happens when an athlete is so good at a sport that they are accused of lying about their sex? Algerian boxer Imane Khelif faced accusations of being a man after her win against Italian boxer Angela Carini in the 2024 Summer Olympics, because she wasn’t a conventionally attractive, white woman. Following her gold medal […]
Opinion: Manny Jacinto deserves better than a canceled show | September 3, 2024
Correction, Sept. 6: A previous version of the article incorrectly stated which character Qimir restrained with The Force. The correct character is Mae. Despite my loyalty to the Star Wars franchise, I’ve never really understood the fanfare for Sith Lords. Anakin Skywalker is a genocidal maniac. Kylo Ren is a wannabe of the aforementioned genocidal […]
Cosplaying on a college budget | September 3, 2024
Anime, TV show and video game enthusiasts are no strangers to cosplay — the art of dressing up as a beloved fictional character. But while countless fans dream of cosplaying at a fan convention or for a photoshoot, getting started, especially when in college, can be daunting and expensive. Comet Cosplay held its fall cosplay […]
Humanizing homeless people: Does awareness really matter? | September 3, 2024
“Humanizing the Homeless” is an art exhibit showcasing close-up portraits of the homeless community curated by Canada-based artist Leah den Bok, Associate Dean of the Arts Jonathan Palant and Southern Methodist University professor Willie Baronet, which aims to emphasize unhoused people’s humanity in a society that frequently disregards it. “I certainly shared the common opinion […]
Lunar rover to the moon | September 3, 2024
Correction, Sept. 6: A previous version of the article incorrectly spelled an instance of “Comet Aerobotics.” Comet Aerobotics, a new branch of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics at UTD, became the first UTD team to compete in NASA’s 2025 Lunabotics Competition by building a lunar rover that could help advance NASA’s Artemis moon […]
Benson announces resignation | September 3, 2024
President Richard Benson sent out a schoolwide email Aug. 26 announcing the UT System has accepted his resignation and is beginning to look for a new president. Benson, who became UTD’s fifth president in 2016, said in the email he expects the search to take “the better part of the 2025 academic year.” He will […]
Esports’ biggest championships come to Dallas | September 3, 2024
The Rocket League World Championship and Fortnite Battle Royale Global Championship will bring the best players in the world to the DFW metroplex to compete for millions of dollars. The Fortnite championship — also known as FNCS – and Rocket League championship will be held at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth from for two weekends […]
Editor’s Desk: “Business decisions” | September 3, 2024
The Mercury takes pride in its reporting and journalism and constantly seeks out new opportunities to develop its skills. We collaborate with and learn from local journalists, including everyone from independent reporters to groups like the Dallas Morning News, and regularly attend student journalism conferences to connect with other student publications, advisors and mentors. But […]
Fighting pain through the gut microbiome | September 3, 2024
The Gut, Brain, Pain Lab, an on-campus research lab, is tackling the problem of treating chronic pain without relying on addictive substances like opioids. The lab, run by BBS professor Kate Sadler and staffed by eight undergraduate, graduate-level and Ph.D. researchers specifically works to address the pain caused by sickle cell anemia — a disease […]
Spikes in western racism are affecting everyone, even UTD students | September 3, 2024
As anti-immigration and anti-Muslim riots erupted in the UK and hate against Black and Arab individuals escalate in the U.S., UTD students speak about their experience with marginalization. ABC reported that after false information about the suspect in a stabbing spree being an “Islamist migrant” spread online and resulted in anti-immigration riots, Nura, a mother […]
Editorial: Benson’s resignation leaves bitter legacy | September 3, 2024
Richard Benson announced his departure from his position as UTD’s fifth president Aug. 26, saying in his resignation letter that, “Reflecting on all that has been accomplished over the last eight years, and all that has been set in motion, I feel that this is a good time to pass the leadership of UT Dallas […]
Opinion: “Alien: Romulus” on AI: protector or enemy? | September 3, 2024
Discussions about artificial intelligence’s role in our society are becoming inescapable as we grow more accustomed to its presence. The AI doomers, what I like to call those who fear the death of humanity thanks to highly intelligent and superior computerized robots, always make the same points about the harm that AI can do. However, […]
Opinion: DFW traffic is about to become even more decadent and depraved | September 3, 2024
Traffic: the textbook definition of damnation as it applies to modern American society. The utmost first-world, puerile complaint that entrenches our day-to-day lives. The only thing that could make it worse is the elimination of safety inspections for vehicles, which would cause a multitude of car crashes, deaths and ultimately more traffic under the guise […]
Opinion: We need more freaks behind the camera | September 3, 2024
A razor slices across an eyeball. Thin clouds move through the moon; jellied insides spilling out of a lamb’s eye. When the world needed weird movies most — they disappeared. “Un Chien Andalou” has a striking opening scene that heralds an infinitely more confusing short film. Co-created by Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí, painter of […]