Issue 10 30 23 | October 30, 2023

‘Benson you can’t hide’: Hundreds of protestors denounce violence in Gaza, call out Benson | October 30, 2023

Hundreds of students marched from TI Plaza to SSA at 2 p.m. Oct. 25 in response to UTD President Richard Benson’s statement expressing sympathy for Israeli casualties without acknowledging Palestinian casualties in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. At least ten groups helped organize the march, including Students for Justice in Palestine and the Muslim Student Association. The […]

SG asks Benson to support Israeli, Palestinian students amidst conflict | October 30, 2023

Student Government passed a resolution on Oct. 24 calling on President Richard Benson to amend his Oct. 16 statement about the Israel-Hamas war and acknowledge the suffering of both Israeli and Palestinian students. S.R. 2023-06 passed with overwhelming support; out of the 65 senators present, 62 were in favor and none opposed. Three senators abstained […]

CannibiSenS: testing saliva for weed | October 30, 2023

Much like a breathalyzer with alcohol, the recently developed CannibiSenS can determine how much THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, is in a consumer’s body. The CannibiSenS, a device that measures THC levels through a saliva test, was developed earlier this year by a group of researchers at UTD, including biomedical engineering Ph.D. student Nathan […]

Overwatch tops out collegiate tournament | October 30, 2023

UTD’s Overwatch team finished in the top 16 out of over 200 teams in the Overwatch Collegiate Homecoming tournament on Oct. 20 after making it to the play-offs for the first time since spring 2022. The Overwatch Collegiate Homecoming tournament is one of the largest developer-supported Overwatch competitions and occurs every semester, with hundreds of […]

‘I credit everything that I have in my life to chess’ | October 30, 2023

From recruiter to chief science officer and from player to self-founded academy president, UTD’s chess program has taken Comets to places they never imagined possible. In commemoration of the program, on Oct. 7, staff and student alumni gathered to recount how UTD chess has led them to personal and professional highs. At the Chess Alumni […]

Sex offenders on campus: what do students need to know? | October 30, 2023

The UTD student body currently includes seven registered sex offenders. The Mercury decided to take a deep dive into their presence at UTD, what this means for student safety, campus affairs and criminal background’s impact on education as a whole. Texas is the state with the highest number of registered sex offenders at a total […]

Comics & Activities: 10/30/23 | October 30, 2023

Chess Pacman! Shape-Making Edition  Rules: Black to move. Use the Black knight to take all of the white pawns one after another, without touching an empty square.  

Female rage and femme fatales | October 30, 2023

From femme fatales to Lizzy Bordens, women have long struck a chord of fear in the public with their own unique brand of rage. The Mercury decided to take a tour through our favorites, just in time to fill your Halloween watchlist. The horror and thriller genres are a catalyst for the rawest human emotions, […]

This Halloween, kick the overrated costumes and get original | October 30, 2023

When we think of horrifying, we imagine ghouls, beasts and other devilish creatures, but in reality there is nothing spookier than having a basic costume! As Halloween approaches, students reveal the most overrated costumes that horrifies them. Despite Oct. 31 being a great escape from the mundane — the one day where slathering yourself in […]

Nightmare on Rutford Avenue | October 30, 2023

On the night of Thursday, Oct. 26, Residential Life dressed up Residence Hall South with decorations, food and activities for Halloween. On the first floor, PA’s served popcorn and desserts, which students decorated with special seasonal toppings. The second floor was the main attraction, where an entire classroom was converted into a haunted house. Students […]

Vibrant visions: Latin American art exhibition unveiled | October 30, 2023

“La Frontera: The Border Exhibit” — a campus pop-up installation curated by Jorge Baldor — highlights the struggles, dreams and challenges of undocumented immigrants crossing the southern border into the U.S. This free exhibition will be available for all students until Oct. 31 in AHT. “La Frontera” was inspired by the death of Carlos Padilla, […]

A discussion with Domee Shi | October 30, 2023

Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself, your background and how you got into filmmaking. So my background is, I was born in China, and I immigrated with my parents to Canada when I was two years old. And I grew up in the city called Toronto. I felt really lucky in that Toronto […]

The Fix: Okaeri Cafe delights | October 30, 2023

Searching for a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of student life? Okaeri Cafe may just be the haven you’ve been seeking — this delightful Japanese cafe offers a vibrant atmosphere and a diverse menu of dishes and refreshing drinks, all wrapped in a cute and cozy ambiance. Located off Greenville Avenue, Okaeri cafe […]

Comets light up UTD at Garba | October 30, 2023

On Oct. 21, the Multipurpose Field was aglow with red, green and blue electronic lights as hundreds of students danced their hearts out to upbeat traditional Indian music. At Garba Night, hosted by the Indian Student Association, the warmth and friendliness of Indian culture inspired Comets to dance in huge circles and connect. Garba is […]

The emotional challenge of emotional support animals | October 30, 2023

Emotional support animals, or ESAs, are accommodations offered to UTD students who rely on their pets to help them function due to issues stemming from mental health or disabilities, though the process of registering an animal on campus can sometimes be difficult. Legally registering a pet as an ESA on campus requires documentation of a […]

ROTC program expanded to better serve Comets | October 30, 2023

As of Oct. 13, UTD has been certified as a Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps Provisional Extension Unit, which will make ROTC membership easier and more fulfilling for Comets. In the past, Comets interested in pursuing a military career would have to rely on UTD’s partnership with UT Arlington or the University of North Texas […]

Mental health text line to debut | October 30, 2023

“Comet Support,” a mental health text line developed as a partnership between UTD’s Office of Information Technology, the Wellness Center and the Student Counseling Center, is set to provide students with preliminary mental health help and connect them to campus-specific resources. Newly redesigned since The Mercury’s coverage of the app in 2022, Comet Support will […]

Tuition insurance now available to UTD students | October 30, 2023

UTD has partnered with GradGuard since fall 2022 to offer students tuition insurance that entitles them to a refund in case they must withdraw completely due to chronic illness, unforeseen injury or mental health conditions. Students interested in registering for insurance for the spring 2024 semester must do so before the first day of classes, […]

Homecoming crowning a win for LGBT+ Comets | October 30, 2023

In a true embodiment of a comet, the UTD student body has fabulously soared above the standards of the Texas government by electing Margaret Belford and Cristy Lopez Aguilar as homecoming King and Queen respectively. This comes in the wake of the 88th legislative session of the Texas legislature which began on January 10. During […]

Comets show out for homecoming | October 30, 2023

On Oct. 20, Comets and their families gathered in Parking Lot J for UTD’s Homecoming/Family Day. Activities included free food and bubble tea, bull riding, caricature drawing and a pop up farmers market. UTD students took part in the chalk art drawing competitions, and SUAAB declared the homecoming king and queen before hosting their Sub-Radio […]

Cigarettes After Sex brings smokey smooth sound to DFW | October 30, 2023

During their highly anticipated 2023 North American tour, Cigarettes After Sex delivered a soothing and enthralling performance on Wednesday, October 18., turning The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory into a dreamy oasis. The stage was decorated in a simple setup with minimal equipment as the crowd eagerly waited with quiet conversation for the scheduled start […]

Claire’s ‘Just Because’: a raw journey through adolescence | October 30, 2023

In a blend of retro-blues and psychedelic tones, Claire Rosinkranz’s music style takes a tour across a wide genre of music as she explores and creates a soundtrack that can only best be described as one of bedroom pop. “Backyard Boy” was Rosinkraz’s hit soundtrack when it first came out — however, she is not […]

Saw X revives franchise with gruesome horror | October 30, 2023

This year has been lackluster when it comes to the quantity and quality of horror films, but one classic has returned yet again for another installment of its franchise. “Saw X” was released Sept. 29, bringing back the gory, torture-filled flick that horror fans have been anticipating. The Saw franchise is widely known for its […]

The Eras Tour is just as “Enchanting” on screen | October 30, 2023

This past year, Taylor Swift has taken the world by storm, selling out American football stadiums for multiple nights and raking in $14 million in nightly ticket revenue. And now, with the release of the full The Eras Tour experience in theaters, Swifties can relive the best 2 hours and 48 minutes of their lives […]

The Mercury retracts article about overcrowding | October 30, 2023

The Mercury has retracted an article published on Oct. 2 in light of new information regarding false statements in the piece. The story was about overcrowding in classrooms and the potential reasons for overcrowding. Following publication, a staff member and member of administration raised concerns of falsified statements and misattributions about Andrea Croasdale Woudwyck, Ingrid […]

TikTok banned on Wi-Fi, devices | January 30, 2023

Chief Information Officers Frank Feagans and Nate Howe informed all Comets via email on Jan. 17 that UTD would block TikTok on devices connected to the university’s “wired and Wi-Fi networks.” After banning the app on state devices in December, Gov. Greg Abbott asked all public universities in Texas to present their policy on TikTok […]