UTD students arrested for kidnapping and robbery of elderly couple | November 13, 2023
Biology senior Jeffrey Stayns Fernando and ITS graduate Akash Tyagi were arrested Nov. 9 as suspects in the kidnapping and robbery of an elderly couple in Midlothian, Texas. Midlothian Police Department investigators identified and charged Fernando and Tyagi with two counts of aggravated kidnapping with a deadly weapon, two counts of aggravated robbery, and one […]
Freddy Fazbear Comes Alive in “Five Nights at Freddy” Film | November 13, 2023
Most of Gen Z remembers the thrill of watching their favorite gamers attempting to make it through the night at Freddy’s Pizzeria, or even playing the iconic horror game themselves — and delighting in its extensive lore and terrifying jump scares. The Oct. 27 film adaption of the game remixed series lore, giving the movie […]
Hoops for hearts: UTD basketball hosts fundraiser for local children | November 13, 2023
UTD Athletics partnered with Jamie’s Heart foundation Nov. 8 to host the second annual teddy bear toss during UTD’s first men’s basketball game. The goal of the event was to provide emotional support to children currently in the ICU through stuffed animals, and in the first time-out of the game, Comets threw over 100 stuffed […]
Farmer’s Fridge: fresh food in a vending machine | November 13, 2023
Convenient and fresh, the Student Union’s newest vending machine, Farmer’s Fridge, gives Comets an option for grab-and-go foods as a healthier alternative for on-campus dining. Located between The Market and Halal Shack in the Student Union, Farmer’s Fridge allows students to choose from a variety of packed salads, bowls, wraps and snacks that are nutritionally […]
Halloween hole in wall: car crash in UV leaves three students displaced | November 13, 2023
It is Halloween night — students are returning from classes and getting ready for the holiday in University Village. Computer science sophomore Angie Landin is preparing food in her apartment when a red Tesla suddenly accelerates and crashes directly into her kitchen wall. Around 6:20 p.m. on Oct. 31, 2023, a Tesla driven by the […]
Abbott’s failures unmask the facade of “school choice” | November 13, 2023
School voucher programs siphon money away from public education, and UTD could become collateral damage The Texas Legislature’s fourth special session is underway, with the House committee advancing the school voucher bill after the previous special session saw stalemate on the issue. Despite Gov. Greg Abbott’s relentless crusading, the legislature’s hesitance to pursue voucher programs […]
Antisocial Campus? Try Sports | November 13, 2023
Embracing sports culture at UTD will bring Comets together and invigorate campus UTD’s lack of a sports culture is a direct culprit for the school’s lack of a social scene. Luckily, this is something Comets can easily change by stepping outside their comfort zone and giving sports a try. It’s no secret UTD has a […]
Red Light: UTD Sexual Harassment Policies Threaten Comets’ Liberties | November 13, 2023
UTD should amend its Student Grievances policy to match the definition of sexual harassment in its Sexual Misconduct Policy. While firm anti-harassment policies are important and necessary, inconsistent and extrajudicial definitions of sexual harassment threaten students’ constitutional right to free speech. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting free speech […]
Grounded: Art exhibit at SP/N gallery north of campus highlights fragile relationship of humans with environment | November 13, 2023
All Photos By Gregory Binu | Mercury Staff The “Grounded: Art Exhibition” at the SP/N Gallery at UTD, curated by Marilyn Waligore, professor of photography at UTD’s Bass School, captures the urgency of humans’ fragile relationship with the environment. “Grounded” offers a compelling reflection on our environment through the lens of photography and video. The […]
“Newsies” Production Reflects Life of Modern Students | November 13, 2023
UTD’s theater produced and directed the “Newsies” Broadway Musical on campus from Nov. 1 to Nov. 5. Its brilliant acting and gorgeous visuals brought to life an inspiring story of workers taking on powerful corporations and winning despite the odds. “Newsies” is set in New York City and follows Jack Kelly, a rebellious young newsboy […]
To Mars and Beyond: Students Design Tools for Mars Exploration | November 13, 2023
“Comet to Mars,” a team from UTD with no aerospace background, defied expectations in NASA’s Mars XR 2 Global Challenge — a science design competition — coming to a 13th global rank and second in the Americas out of nearly 4,000 competitors. The team consisted of four ATEC majors — seniors Andrew Duarte and Michael […]
Does Temoc Belong on a Calendar? | November 13, 2023
Temoc is a constant presence on the UTD campus, bouncing between his glass prison in the Visitor Center, freshman orientations, graduations, seasonal parties and more. However, one place Temoc has yet to appear is on a calendar. Calendars have been in use for at least 10,000 years, according to the archeological discovery of an ancient […]
Sofia Coppola Puts a Bow on Female Isolation In the Heart of Graceland | November 13, 2023
A bold, jet black cat eye, a full set of false lashes and a comically voluminous bouffant hairdo is how the world came to know Priscilla Presley. Queen of female isolation, director Sophia Coppola dissects a lonely woman’s life and marriage and forces audiences to view a timeless icon as a beast through the piercing […]
Dia de los Muertos Symposium Explores ‘Emotional Nepantla’ to Bridge Cultural Gaps | November 13, 2023
The “Dia De Muertos Symposium: ‘Emotional Nepantla’,” a two-day event presented by the Center for U.S.-Latin America Initiatives, or CUSLAI, highlighted the internal struggles of living between two cultures as an American Latino in the United States. The symposium included a storytelling event on Nov. 1 and a CUSLAI community digital archive project breakfast with […]
The Roses ‘Dusk to Dawn’ Tour Lights Up Texas | November 13, 2023
K-rock band The Rose delivered an electrifying performance on Nov. 5 at the Texas Trust CU Theatre in Grand Prairie, Texas, leaving their devoted fanbase spellbound as part of their sensational Dawn to Dusk US/Canada tour. The Rose continues to be a fast-rising group on the music scene, with a Nov. 5 attendance of over […]
“The Marvels” Soar to New Heights with Leading Women Trio | November 13, 2023
The Marvel Cinematic Universe refreshes their fifth phase with empowering storytelling for new generation of fans “The Marvels” brilliantly rings in a new era of Marvel films that reignites the heart and joy of the franchise in a way that has been missing from recent releases. The Marvel Cinematic Universe, or MCU, is a groundbreaking […]
The End of a Season: Volleyball Highlights for November | November 13, 2023
Comet volleyball’s 2023 season came to an end on Nov. 8 with no. 5 standing in the American Southwest Conference. The season started rough with a seven game losing streak, but through a trail by fire, the women’s team changed the competitive scene and attitude during the midseason and end semester, making for an impressive […]
UTD chess players place highly in Texas Intercollegiate Rapids | November 13, 2023
Two UTD students placed highly in the Texas Collegiate Rapids Championship Nov. 4, one making No. 2 overall and the other No. 1 out of players under 2200 ELO. The Rapids Championship was an online chess tournament where 40 players from seven schools faced each other individually; 14 students from UTD participated. The tournament consisted […]
Omega Strikers Place First | November 13, 2023
UTD Esports’ Omega Strikers team is currently ranked No. 1 in the Collegiate Corestrike League after seven wins in the fall 2023 tournament which began Sept. 20. With 56 teams competing in the league, UTD Esports is left with one final game to secure their position as national champions. Omega Strikers is a 3v3 game […]
Women’s soccer team knocked out of ASC | November 13, 2023
After executing an almost flawless season, the women’s soccer team was knocked out of the American Southwest Conference championships after suffering a 3-0 loss to McMurry in the quarterfinal tournament on Oct. 31. The team drew against McMurry on Oct. 28, securing their spot in the championship. Outside of their quarterfinal loss, the women’s soccer […]
Men’s soccer claims ASC title after mixed season | November 13, 2023
The team took home the title for the first time in four years and are heading to the NCAA Division Championships The UTD men’s soccer team came back from a season of mixed performance, securing their spot in the NCAA national tournament after winning the ASC conference championship on Nov. 4 in a narrow 6-5 […]
Comets gather for largest hackathon in Texas | November 13, 2023
HackUTD returned to ECSW on Nov. 4 for the competition’s 10th installment HackUTD is a weekend-long event where participants are given different challenges to solve by expressing themselves through technology. The 2023 hackathon included 1,001 people from 18 different countries. The total pool of prize money was $62,000, the largest amount HackUTD has distributed so […]
Students Across Disciplines Team Up to Solve Global Health Problems | November 13, 2023
Two students launched UTD’s first-ever Interdisciplinary Global Health Case Competition, a contest where students across different schools come together to solve health crises affecting society. The competition, pioneered by policy junior Nandita Kumar and finance junior Avinash Chivakula, drew over 140 people, three times more than expected. Student teams were given a case on a […]