Uniting Through Mind, Spirit and Body | June 27, 2023
In a vibrant celebration of the International Day of Yoga, Hindu YUVA organized a rejuvenating and restful event at The Plinth. Uthsaha Ramesh, a UTD alumni, practitioner of Ashtanga Vinyasa, and 200-hour certified yoga instructor, led a group of 30 enthusiastic participants through an immersive and transformative yoga experience. Under Uthsaha’s skillful guidance, participants delved […]
UTD commemorates black freedom through Juneteenth celebration | June 27, 2023
On June 15, several UTD organizations took part in a celebration for Juneteenth, which was made a federal holiday in 2021. Featuring food, music and dance along with volunteering and tributes, the event honored the history of black Americans. The day started off with a service project hosted by the Office of Student Volunteerism and […]
Pack it up, Paxton | June 27, 2023
Former Attorney General Ken Paxton was impeached by the Texas House as of May 27 causing a rift between lawmakers in Austin and Collin County residents that had once supported Paxton. Paxton is observed as a controversial figure for his engagements with anti-abortion law, supporting several anti-immigration bills including the “Muslim ban” anti-climate change provisions […]
Students develop AI-poweredchat bot to aid ECS students | June 27, 2023
A group of UTD students created an AI chatbot that can act as a virtual advisor, answering questions related to the School of Engineering & Computer Science. ITS junior Nehanth Narendrula, computer science sophomore Yeshas Nath and computer science junior Hamza Zulquernain created the ECS chatbot as part of their pledge project for Kappa Theta […]
AHT renamed to Bass School after $40 mil donation | June 27, 2023
In honor of a $40 million donation from the Harry W. Bass Jr. Foundation, the School of AHT has been renamed the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology. As part of the New Dimensions campaign, the donation will be used to expand the Bass School and construct Phase 2 of the […]
Diversity bans become reality | June 27, 2023
Governor Gregg Abbott signed Senate Bill 17 into law on June 17, which requires all diversity, equity and inclusion offices in Texas public universities to be dismantled by Jan. 1, 2024. SB 17 prohibits state-funded universities from maintaining DEI offices and programs, thus restricting how universities cultivate diversity, equitable access to education, and inclusion on […]
FROM WEBS TO WORLDS | June 27, 2023
“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” delivered a visually stunning, musically intriguing film that left audiences begging for more screentime with beloved characters, both old and new. While “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” followed Miles Morales and his early journey into taking on the role of a superhero, the heavily anticipated sequel looks deeper into the personal relationships […]
‘The Little Mermaid’ swims to cinematic success | June 27, 2023
Combining beautiful cinematography, stunning singing, and a colorful cast of characters, Disney’s live action “The Little Mermaid” far exceeds expectations and will enchant even the sternest of skeptics. The discourse surrounding the release of the “The Little Mermaid” in May 2023 took social media by storm for months prior. Some groups expressed disapproval of Ariel’s […]
UTD dominates American Southwestern Conference with five championships | June 27, 2023
UTD concluded the 2022– 23 athletic season with five American Southwestern Conference championship titles — the most won titles out of all Division III schools in the conference. The Comets saw major victories in men’s and women’s golf, volleyball, women’s basketball and women’s tennis. Seven of UTD’s sports teams attended the ASC Championship Tournaments this […]
Outdoor calisthenics court established on campus; free and first of its kind in Texas | June 27, 2023
The UTD Fitness Court Studio is the first Fitness Court Studio to arrive in Texas as a part of an initiative by the National Fitness Campaign to improve health throughout the nation. Introduced on May 4, the double-sided outdoor calisthenics gym is UREC’s newest amenity, free of charge to Comets looking for a quick body […]
From Pawns to Kings: Highlights from the Chess Season | June 27, 2023
The spring 2023 chess season came to a remarkable end with several moments of brilliance in state tournaments throughout the semester. From the beginning of the year, the UTD Chess Team participated in a series of tournaments, including the Pan-American Intercollegiate, Chess Fest 2023, Southwest Collegiate Team Championship, Texas Woman’s State Championship and the Spring […]
Enchanting Blooms | June 27, 2023
Spring brings along an assortment of flowers to Texas. UTD is blessed with a great diversity of flora — you can come across blooming plants all over campus. The most iconic campus flowers are the blossoming Magnolia trees along the pavement starting at the Student Memorial Fountain and extending all the way south to the University […]
Powerful page-turners provide perspective into Pride and POC | June 27, 2023
June marks an important month in the year as it encompasses Pride Month and Juneteenth, both important events that celebrate freedom in different forms. As you celebrate and observe, here are some book recommendations to learn more about the experiences of the LGBTQ+ community and Black Americans. The Stonewall Reader, edited by the New York […]
Legislative Season Review: What’s Coming for UTD | June 27, 2023
The Texas legislative season ended on May 29, with Governor Greg Abbott signing several higher education bills into law that could impact UTD’s future. Amongst the hundreds of bills approved this session include a ban on programs of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, tenure protection policies, UTSystem changes, bills affecting the transgender community, increased fentanyl penalties, […]
UTD student accused of stabbing banned from campus | February 27, 2023
University officials banned a UTD student accused of a stabbing from campus while she awaits trial. Business administration junior Nika Nikoubin – also known as Nika Borouj or Boroujeni – is accused of stabbing a man in a hotel near Las Vegas in March 2022. In a bodycam video shared by 8 News Now, Nikoubin […]
Student witnesses illicit water dumping in University Village Phase 1 | February 27, 2023
A student witnessed an employee from Carpet Tech, a carpet cleaning company contracted by UTD Housing, dumping used cleaning water down a UV Phase 1 storm drain. Carpet Tech was hired by UTD Housing to maintain the UV apartments. According to their website, the water they use to clean carpets is cleaner than tap water, […]
Leaks bring down Canyon Creek ceiling | February 27, 2023
On Feb. 2, 2023, Canyon Creek Heights South experienced flooding from rain and snow, causing unsafe living conditions for several Comets, including criminology Ph.D. student Yeonjae Park and finance senior Raaghav Ramji. Park is currently navigating an uncomfortable living situation, lacking access to a kitchen or her belongings, which has caused her routine to fluctuate […]
Over 50,000 dead, students send support to Turkey and Syria | February 27, 2023
Over 50,000 lives have been lost in the earthquakes that hit Syria and Turkey, but members of the Turkish Student Association and faculty are working hard to send aid for rescue and recovery. Cries for help woke the world on Feb. 6 as the deadliest seismic disaster in Turkish history took thousands of lives in […]
Black student athlete spotlight | February 27, 2023
Junior Sarah Lewis and sophomore Cierra Trigg have established themselves as cornerstone members of the softball and basketball teams respectively. With the spring season progressing for each team, Lewis and Trigg hope their impressive play can help lead their programs to a championship. This February, in honor of Black History Month, The Mercury wanted to […]
UTD professors defend teaching CRT in class | February 27, 2023
Despite media controversy around critical race theory being taught in schools, two UTD professors believe it is an important topic to discuss in the classroom. Critical race theory, or CRT, is a theoretical framework developed in legal studies during the late 1900s. It is an approach to understanding how race and racism operate within society […]
Congress funds ECS wind research center | February 27, 2023
The Wind Energy Center at UTD — UTD Wind — has received $1.6 million from Congress in an initiative to foster research and development at UTD. Director of UTD Wind Mario Rotea said that the center was funded with help from Colin Allred, the representative for the 32nd congressional district of Texas. These funds will […]
LOV Task Force strives to support minorities | February 27, 2023
UTD faculty and administrators form task forces to increase outreach and support the needs of students from diverse backgrounds. After the murder of George Floyd in 2020, a group of students led by UTD alumnus Tamara Havis contacted University President Richard C. Benson regarding racial equity on campus. This led to the creation of the […]
Art history class treats ChatGPT as friend, not enemy | February 27, 2023
Amid debate about AI chatbots’ role in the classroom, Professor Mark Rosen incorporated AI into an assignment to experiment with chatbots’ educational potential. The Office of Community Standards and Conduct has stated that “the use of ChatGPT or any similar AI programs” is considered plagiarism, and machine generated language detectors are already in the works. […]
SG elections and women in leadership | February 27, 2023
iWeek Celebrations UTD will celebrate International Week, or iWeek, from March 6-10 to recognize cultural diversity on campus through showcases of food, dance and art. SG will have a booth at the Passport to the World event on March 6 at 1pm at the Plinth representing the United States. There will be additional events throughout […]
#VOICED tackles social issues, represents social media generation | February 27, 2023
UTD seeks to bring awareness to the polarizing discussion around social media through “#VOICED,” a multimedia play written by Janelle Gray and directed by Tinamarie Ivey that highlights struggles like parental pressure, racism, immigration, religion and mental health. “#VOICED” focuses on the lives of six seniors that voice their concerns in the Lamont High School […]
Minor focused on African American and African Diaspora Studies promotes equity on campus | February 27, 2023
A year has passed since the institution of the African American and African diaspora studies minor, or AAADS, which has provided a platform for historically underrepresented students and positively impacted student’s coursework. The AAADS minor was formed in summer of 2020 to address justice and racial equity issues on campus. The course of study focuses […]
Speakers and Musicians Commemorate Black History Month | February 27, 2023
The UTD Multicultural Center concluded Black History Month on Feb. 23 with the annual Big Dinner, an event that combined good food with guest speakers and musical performances. The theme for this year was resilience, with guest speaker Dionne Kirby talking about her struggles as a black woman working in an industry that did not […]
Crow museum flexes UTD connections | February 27, 2023
As construction on the Athenaeum continues on the southeast side of campus, the Crow Museum of Asian Art unveiled two new exhibits at their Dallas location. Both exhibits allude to the museum’s budding partnership with UTD and the anticipated satellite museum set to open on campus in fall 2023. “Cast,” the first exhibit, provides an […]
The Fix: Karmic Grounds | February 27, 2023
No student should miss out on Karmic Grounds, a triple threat cafe with the perfect study ambience, hangout spot and high-quality coffee and tea. With two locations in Frisco, Karmic Grounds is popular with students in the area and serves as a productivity hotspot as well as a coffee and tea studio. The closest one […]
King Of Chomp Delights Comets | February 27, 2023
Campus life can be a monotonous, a seemingly endless cycle of lectures, classes and exams. After weeks of watching the campus squirrels for entertainment, what better to add excitement to your campus walks than a bright orange T. rex? Briden Perrington began visiting campus at the beginning of the spring semester to spend time with […]
A Day In The Life: Tobor | February 27, 2023
It’s no secret that students adore the sight of Starship delivery robots on campus, but what exactly do these robots do from the wee hours of the morning to the late hours of the night? Starship robots — known affectionately to students as “Tobors,” or “robot” spelled backwards — carry out automated food deliveries from […]
UTD needs better social life | February 27, 2023
Comets often complain that UTD is largely a commuter school and lacks a social life compared to other Texas universities. However, both the administration and students are to blame for the antisocial culture. According to US News, 78% of UTD students live off campus. While not living in the dorms has its benefits, developing friendships […]
Free resources for students | February 27, 2023
Students should be more aware of free campus resources to help with — and potentially prevent — midterm burnout. By the time you’re reading this, it’s already week seven or eight of the spring semester. We may be halfway done, but before we get to that sweet spring break vacation, we need to make it […]
More students need to learn CPR and AED | February 27, 2023
Not enough students are actively learning basic life support, or BLS, which is easy to learn and has immense positive potential. People may require resuscitation when they go unconscious due to a variety of health issues. Being away from home, college students are even more prone to forgetting medications, taking the wrong dosage or even […]
Dear Boomers: please stop writing Gen Z characters | February 27, 2023
As newer TV shows like “Euphoria” and “Never Have I Ever” air on popular streaming platforms, young people are constantly seeing how characters our age are portrayed inaccurately, and, frankly, offensively. HBO Max is well known for having shows like “Euphoria,” “Pretty Little Liars” and “Gossip Girl” depict teenagers as using vulgar language at least […]
We are Asian Americans. We are not a foreign threat. We are not the enemy. | February 27, 2023
One out of five Asian Americans will experience a hate-related incident, and with rising tensions between China and the United States, we will not be silenced when the next round of Asian scapegoating comes for us. The publication “Stop AAPI Hate”reported last year that hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders — or AAPI […]
Women Win Championship | February 27, 2023
Two teams returned to the court Feb. 25 to claim the championship title for the American Southwest Conference, also known as the ASC. The Comets, who previously beat the undefeated No. 8/9 Hardin-Simmons in the semifinals, made a blazing 63-57 victory against the East Texas Baptist Tigers. The women’s basketball team earned the program’s fifth […]
Men’s basketball coach reflects on successful season | February 27, 2023
With the men’s basketball season off to a close, Coach Terry Butterfield reflected on the past year. The Comets wrapped up the 2022–2023 season with a loss at the American Southwestern Conference semifinals against East Texas Baptist on Feb. 24. In the end, the second seed Comets won 20 games in the regular season and […]
Women defend home court on homecoming | February 27, 2023
After a striking victory against Concordia, the Comets returned to the Activity Center to dominate the Feb. 16 and Feb. 18 homecoming games. The women’s basketball team now holds 12 wins and six losses in the conference season, bringing it to fourth place before the Feb. 21 ASC quarterfinals. Joe Shotland, the head coach for […]
Best friends depart from ball life | February 27, 2023
The Comets celebrated a successful season and paid homage to seniors at the Homecoming game on Saturday, Feb. 18. This senior bunch includes best friends Kyle Poerschke, Hunter Stevens, James Curtis and Will Isaac. Beyond their love for the sport, the seniors agree that the friendships they made with each other and the team are […]
Comet Men burn out again to ETBU in ASC championship home stretch | February 27, 2023
Fresh off a homecoming loss against East Texas Baptist, the Comets faced defeat at the hands of the Tigers at the semifinals, ending their season abruptly and cutting their championship run short. The Comets (20-6, 15-2 ASC) faced the number three ranked Tigers (22-5,14-4 ASC) for a shot to advance to the championship game on […]
Comets face international masters at ChessFest | February 27, 2023
UTD students competed in a chess simultaneous exhibition on Feb. 20 in the SU against two international masters. A simultaneous exhibition, or simul, is where several players all face one advanced player. The advanced player moves from board to board, making a new move in each game one by one. At the Feb. 20 event, […]
Varsity VALORANT team prepares for NECC bracket | February 27, 2023
After losing at the semifinals of the Red Bull Campus Clutch event last semester, UTD’s varsity VALORANT team plans to work together and learn from its mistakes in preparation for upcoming competitions. The Comets ended up in fourth place at the event last fall, which was their first season as a varsity team. The team […]
Queens of the basketball court commemorated at homecoming game | February 27, 2023
An audience of over 680 fans gave seniors Jordan Maxwell, Maddie Edler, Diane Hurst and Lauren Fulenwider a standing ovation in their final season with the women’s basketball team. Maxwell and Edler have both played for the Comets for the last four years. Coach Joe Shotland said that he hopes these leaders leave UTD knowing […]
Women’s tennis team crushes Crusaders, sweeps court in early season games | February 27, 2023
The UTD women’s tennis team started the 2023 season strong with a win against the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders on Feb. 11 at the Yvonne Li Tennis Center and continued scoring important victories in the following days. The Comets won all their singles and doubles, reaching a 9-0 victory against the Crusaders. Tennis coach […]
‘The Menu’ bites off more than it can chew | February 27, 2023
Biting, poignant and funny, “The Menu” is a unique thriller that attempts to serve a full course meal of entertainment with a critique on elitist food culture. However, the movie bites off more than it can chew and leaves the audience hungry for more. “The Menu” follows food enthusiast Tyler (Nicholas Hoult) and his cynical […]
Dramatique: revenge has never been so sweet | February 27, 2023
Don’t start reading “Marry My Husband” before midterms, or those class notes will be set aside for this addicting webtoon. Though it is categorized as a romance, there is much more to the story than the synopsis reveals. The fast-paced plot of “Marry My Husband” centers on Kang Jiwon’s second chance at life and her […]
Mia Goth tackles gender roles with violent absurdity in ‘Infinity Pool’ | February 27, 2023
Many horror movies draw viewers in with unique concepts that have audiences thinking days after watching. Lately, modern horror has put an emphasis on the female psyche, bringing the revival of seductress and femme fatale trope back to terrify men and empower women. No actress embodies feminine rage and terror more than Mia Goth, and […]
“Twenty-Five Twenty-One” navigates adolescence in the 90s | February 27, 2023
College students can get a taste of some much needed escapism from social challenges and find solace in characters pursuing their far-fetched dreams in “Twenty-Five Twenty-One.” For anyone with hopes that feel distant, this K-drama will give you the perfect motivational boost. The show follows the rise and relationships of relatable heroine Na Hee-do from […]