Campus needs larger performing arts venue
For a campus that’s growing by 4 percent a year, it is a matter of embarrassment that we don’t have a performance venue on campus that seats more than 500. Larger student organizations like the Indian Student Association, Bangladesh Student Organization and even the International Student Services Office are having...
ATEC alumni developing innovative RPG
Two alumni who are creating a new video game, “Popup Dungeon,” launched a Kickstarter campaign April 3 to raise funds to develop their game. The campaign aims to raise $80,000 by May 18. The game is slated for a summer 2016 release and Kickstarter backers will be able to get...
Decoding Religion: Sikhism
Followers of Sikhism practice philanthropy, community service, advocate for increased exposure for South Asian religion Editor’s Note In an effort to further understand UTD’s diverse population, what follows is the final part in a four-part series exploring lesser-known religious communities, their traditions and their presence on campus. Every Friday, Prabhmanmeet...
2012: A year in review
The Mercury editors took a look back at some of the most significant campus events during the past year and have shared their thoughts on how these important stories affected students and will continue to impact the university during the upcoming year. President Daniel mentions football BK – Don’t expect...
Surviving the sizzle: University copes with record heat
Record-breaking temperatures in Texas this summer have significantly raised electricity and water demand, but UTD officials say the university has been working hard to prevent any disruption to campus life. While Richardson is coping with a water shortage and electricity grids are running at full capacity, other cities in the...
UTD faces ‘growing pains’: Parking, dining struggle to keep up
A significant spike in enrollment this fall has transformed the campus into a hub of student activity but has also created a slew of unforeseen problems for students on campus, university officials recently acknowledged. While the participation in student organizations and groups has increased, lines in the Comet Café have...
Faces of change: from inmates to students
Delivering flowers, supervising prisoners, teaching criminology and now serving as dean to one of UTD’s academic programs — this man has done it all. James Marquart, dean of School of Economics, Political & Policy Sciences, or EPPS, said growing up he didn’t know he was going to be a dean,...
Group connects SOM graduates
As part of a move to initiate better networking among its alumni, the School of Management, or SOM, has an alumni network called “PowerGrid.” “(PowerGrid) came about because the SOM did not have its own alumni networking event that we hold regularly,” said Kyle Edgington, director of Development and Alumni...
Overcrowded housing: Temp housing requests at all-time high
Two major international student organizations are struggling to handle a 33 percent increase in temporary housing requests from new students this fall, resulting in a dearth of short-term accommodation for the new students. Joyee Gao, president of the Friendship Association of Chinese Students and Scholars, or FACSS, said their website...
Craving diversity, less is more when studying overseas
Culture shock in the United States provided opportunity for self-discovery It’s that time of year again when the campus is filling back up, freshmen are moving in and bus loads of international students are stepping onto Texas soil for perhaps the first time in their lives. Watching the sun rise...