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UTD's student-run newspaper since 1980

The UTD Mercury

UTD's student-run newspaper since 1980

The UTD Mercury

UTD's student-run newspaper since 1980

The UTD Mercury

Anika Sultana | Mercury Staff

Bring our rocks back!

December 4, 2023

“Censorship.” “Cowardly.” “Bring our rocks back.” These were the sentiments expressed by students the morning of Nov. 20, when UTD administration removed the Spirit Rocks from campus. Admin...

Photo By André Averion | Mercury Staff

Student Affairs removes Spirit Rocks for platforming ‘extended political discourse’

December 4, 2023

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...

Photo Courtesy of Mercury Staff

A week of protests for Spirit Rocks

December 4, 2023

Hundreds of impassioned Comets participated in a week of events protesting the Spirit Rocks’ Nov. 20 removal, organized by the Progressive Student Coalition. The coalition, also known as PSC, was...

Student Government passes resolution demanding Spirit Rocks return

December 4, 2023

With a nearly unanimous vote and resounding applause, Student Government passed S.R. 2023-08 on Nov. 28, a resolution demanding UTD reinstate the Spirit Rocks. UTD admin removed the Spirit Rocks from...

Photo By André Averion | Mercury Staff

Student Affairs removes Spirit Rocks for platforming “extended political discourse”

November 20, 2023

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...

Graphic By Anika Sultana | Mercury Staff

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...

Pictured above are over 300 students gathered at TI Plaza preparing to march across campus in solidarity with Palestine and in protest against an email sent by President Benson on Oct. 16 about the Israel-Hamas war. Below on the left is a Palestinian student who said 12 of her distant cousins, uncles and other family members were killed from airstrikes between Oct. 15 to Oct. 25. "There was a circulating video of a doctor in my family who could not keep his composure at a hospital after finding out his brother and father were murdered," she said. On the right is one of the leaders of the march chanting. All Photos By Surjaditya Sarkar, Jason Sadanandh| Mercury Staff

‘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...

Photo By Surjaditya Sarkar | Mercury Staff

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....

Anika Sultana | Mercury Staff

‘Disappointed to be a UTD student’: Benson’s Israel-Hamas statement disrespects grieving Comets

October 20, 2023

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...

TPUSA hosts Riley Gaines, LGBTQ+ Comets celebrate Lia Thomas

October 16, 2023

Graphic By Turning Point USA | Courtesy Graphic By Galerstein Gender Center | Courtesy Promotional materials for the Thursday night events, as shared on Instagram. Turning Point USA hosted conservative...

Student for Justice in Palestine's powerful poetry night drew in a crowd of over 200 people and $2,000 raised for children in Palestine. Photo By Shamail Qureshi | Courtesy

‘I’m a tourist.’ ‘I’m just passing through these lands.’

October 16, 2023

Aromatic food stalls, pounding music and cheering lit up the Plinth on Thursday Oct. 12 at Students for Justice in Palestine’s annual poetry night fundraiser. More than 200 people attended at the event...

Graphic By Rainier Pederson | Mercury Staff

Climate Corps won’t save us

October 16, 2023

President Joe Biden’s new American Climate Corps program, announced Sept. 20, plans to put thousands of young Americans to work in the “clean energy economy” to combat climate change. But despite...

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Maria Shaikh