Tag: Jack Sierputowski
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Student Affairs removes Spirit Rocks for platforming ‘extended political discourse’
The Spirit Rocks, UTD’s preeminent platform for student expression, were removed from campus Nov. 20 after “extended political discourse” about the conflict in Israel and Palestine, raising concerns of censorship. According to an early morning email from Student Affairs, recent messages on the rocks “have been inconsistent with their original purpose and guidelines,” and “extended…
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Student Affairs removes Spirit Rocks for platforming “extended political discourse”
The Spirit Rocks, a popular public platform for student expression, were removed from campus Nov. 20 after “extended political discourse” about conflict in Israel and Palestine, raising concerns of censorship. Students have been spray painting the Spirit Rocks with drawings and slogans to express themselves since Student Affairs placed the boulders on campus in 2008.…
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Red Light: UTD Sexual Harassment Policies Threaten Comets’ Liberties
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…
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SG asks Benson to support Israeli, Palestinian students amidst conflict
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…
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Female rage and femme fatales
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,…
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‘Disappointed to be a UTD student’: Benson’s Israel-Hamas statement disrespects grieving Comets
Not only does UTD president Richard Benson’s latest message about the Israel-Hamas war disrespect grieving students, it successfully alienates students with ties to Palestine at a time where Palestinian civilians are suffering one of the worst humanitarian crises in the Middle East, tensions between local groups are heightening and violent hate crimes are on the…
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Comets react to war in Middle East, graffiti spirit rocks for Palestine, Israel
Amid upheaval in the Middle East, UTD students spray painted the Spirit Rocks at least eleven times over three days, alternating between the flags of Palestine and Israel. Between Wednesday, Oct. 11 and Friday, Oct. 13., days after Hamas launched an attack on Israel and Israel launched a counter attack on Gaza, several slogans were…
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Parking prices climb, students dodge the meter
As parking prices increase and space becomes limited, UTD students search for unconventional ways to park without paying. Strategies for avoiding payment include sharing parking passes — parking under another person’s name — or avoiding enforcement crews altogether. The Mercury conducted a survey on parking avoidance with 83 student responses. 34% of respondents said that they…
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Why have pest sightings spiked?
With University Housing receiving 117 reports of ants in on-campus housing since the August move-in and more sightings over the summer, The Mercury took a deeper look into the possible causes behind the pest sightings. Matt Grief, associate vice president of Student Affairs, said that it is common for reports to spike in the beginning…
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Attention Comets: dating is not a conquest
You see the posts on Reddit so often it has become a self-referential meme: how do I get a girlfriend at UTD? But if you are looking for a partner just to satisfy the image of what a relationship should be, you are entering it with the wrong intentions. We often see this as a…