The Mercury 01 17 23

Northside sprinklers make it rain

A series of fire sprinkler bursts on Dec. 24 resulted in water damage in five different Northside buildings, causing thousands of dollars in resident property damage.

Comet basketball breaks records

Comet Women kick off 2023 midseason with record defense play and career bests

Northside recommends students keep the heat in their units set at a safe level, especially while they are away

Close to freezing temperatures in late December caused several water lines in Northside’s fire sprinkler system to freeze, crack and burst. Maureen Omrod, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Balfour Beatty – the company that manages Northside – said the maintenance team performed immediate repairs on Christmas Eve to stop all water leaks. However, much of the cosmetic damage will take longer to fix. While two units suffered severe water damage, surrounding units were only minimally impacted. According to Northside, pipe freezes are a common occurrence during the winter months, and similar incidents have occurred in the past.

“What was rather strange was, when [the water] came to my apartment, it was not coming out like a normal fire sprinkler,” Arianna Meisetschlaeger, an AHT senior and Northside resident, said. “It was coming out where the metal meets the ceiling. So, it’s like it started a chain reaction and they all just broke at once.”

When the pipes burst, building-wide alarms went off, signaling residents to evacuate. In an email inter-

SEE SPRINKLERS, PAGE 9

ACADEMICS

he Comets showed a legacydefining defense in their midseason victory on Jan. 5 before arriving to a neck-to-neck loss on Jan. 7.

The UTD Women’s Basketball Team opened the midseason on Jan. 5 with a victory against Concordia that earned them a ranking of #1 defense in the American Southwestern Conference and a score of 4-3.

Comet Women haven’t seen this strong of a defense since 2002. On Jan. 5, UTD tied its own record for points earned defensively in its January 8, 2002 match against Texas Wesleyan, where the Comets won 103-24.

The Comets’ defense lowered the Tornadoes’ average shooting percentage of 32.5% to a record low of 17.5%. One of the highlight players for the Comets’ defense comes from freshman Kyra Samuels, who made six season-best

One of our strengths is our depth. It can be any person on any given night that gives us that spark, and all 16 kids were ready to roll from the jump.

— Joe Shotland, Coach

rebounds in the first two quarters. Head Coach Joe Shotland said he could not be prouder of his team.

“Everybody was engaged,” Shotland said. “One of our strengths I think is our depth. It can be any person on any given night that gives us that spark, and all 16 kids were ready to roll from the jump ... like I said, the ball doesn't bounce your way every once in a while, but

New study abroad programs take flight

NITHYA ELURI Mercury Staff

The new international education program is seeking to make study abroad more affordable for students by offering a variety of programs at a reduced price.

Dean of Graduate Education Juan

Gonzalez said UTD enhanced its international education program to include 12 faculty-led program options, taking place from May to August. The programs are purposefully curated to give opportunities to students who might not otherwise participate due to financial and degree plan difficulties. Among programs offered include

Moroccan History in Rabat, Morocco, Professional and Technical Communication in Florence, Italy, Medical Spanish Immersion in Seville, Spain, and Molecular Evolution in the Galapagos and Ecuador. UTD faculty who are professionals in their respective fields will lead the courses.

“I took a work trip to Scotland,

which was my first trip abroad,” Gonzalez said. “It opened my eyes; it made me realize my mind was too closed, that there are things in this country that work great but there are things in other countries that work even better than they work here, and that there are

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State-Issued TikTok Ban hits UTD

On Dec. 21, OIT began removing the popular social media platform from all UTD-owned devices and awaits further instruction from the governor for additional changes in early 2023.

“We have gained information about growing threats posed by TikTok that require immediate action to protect our state’s sensitive information and

critical infrastructure,” Abbott said in the order.

As a result, government-issued “cellphones, laptops, desktop computers” and anything with internet connectivity are subject to the ban, as stated by Chief Information Officer

they did a good job. I sure was proud of it.”

Scoring 31.7% of attempted shots and 84.6% of free throws, the Comets started with a powerful offense in the first quarter. The Comets held a near impenetrable defense in the sec third quarter, only allowing two field goals to slip by.

Diane

ARIANNA MEISETSCHLAEGER COURTESY

MANYA BONDADA Mercury Staff

Senior

KATHERYN HO MERCURY STAFF

The women's team came together with a record-breaking defense under the direction of Coach Joe Shotland, UTD's third ever coach of the team.

UV Clubhouse Resurrected

The Phase 8 Clubhouse is no longer in disrepair

Chess Team Holds Steady at Pan-Ams

After a four year closure, the Phase 8 Clubhouse is undergoing renovations and will be available for students during the spring semester.

Setting an enrollment record for fall 2023 with 31,570 students, UTD ranks as one of the fastest-growing universities in the country. Matthew Grief, Associate Vice President of Student Affairs, said there is a need to implement changes that cater to students’ preferences and necessities, one being a prominent interest in increasing community engagement and spaces. As a multi-purpose housing compound, the Phase 8 Clubhouse was a staple location for first-year students to meet peers during Weeks of Welcome and served as a location for anything from group study sessions to Greek Life rush events. However, as the pandemic worsened in 2020, the condition of the Clubhouse did too. In response, the university shut down the complex to undergo various repairs and renovations, which Grief estimates will be completed within the next few weeks. Renovations include reconstructing most of the pool and enhancing the Clubhouse with new furniture and paint.

“During the first process of reconstruction, we found other problems,” Grief said. “So, we had to go through another quoting process, but the most recent work has been replacing the tiling, adding a base coat to the pool and finishing the trim work.”

Most dangerous, an area of the old pool with suspected dangerous wiring was accessible from the clubhouse. Along with the unplanned repairs, housing also faces the challeng of properly timing the renovations. Grief said the housing department must purposefully plan these renovations to avoid interfering with student parking and community spaces.

“Phase 8 Clubhouse is a part of a larger clubhouse renovation that we are doing all over University Village,” Grief said. “We just turned in the purchase of new furniture for all study rooms and facilities in UV. We are also adjusting the building to create more study space.”

Grief said that students are concerned about the lack of initiative to use space within UTD housing that benefits residents. Now more than ever, students want to maximize their time in university, especially after coming back to campus after online schooling during the pandemic. Thus, student organizations and peer advisor staff want community gathering spaces.

“We want to be able to support and reinvest in our buildings,” Grief said.

“We are investing in the apartments in University Village with a heavy focus on how these facilities look and extend their life. We hope to reopen the Phase 8 Clubhouse in the next few weeks in the spring.”

However, housing faces a constant dilemma of whether to allocate funds

The UTD Chess Team secured several key draws at the 2023 Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Championship but failed to qualify for the final four.

UTD Chess competed in the Pan-Ams from Jan. 5 to Jan. 8. in Seattle, Washington.

UTD Team A finished in sixth place with a rating of 2558, Team B in ninth and Team C in thirteenth. UTD Team D, composed of members of the Chess Club, reached ninth place in the U1800 League, even though it was their first time at an internationally rated event. While initially hoping for a position in the final four, the team plans to recover and grow from the loss.

The team’s coach Julio Sadorra said the team was disappointed that they did not make it to the tournament’s final tiebreaker or final four. UTD Team A was narrowly edged out by Saint Louis University, which placed in fifth. However, Sadorra said that UTD held its own against a higher-rated team like SLU, which has two super grandmasters.

“We were pressing against [SLU],” Sadorra said. “Last year, we

lost [to] them. But this time we're not only equal, against them, but we were pressing on three boards, we were pressuring them until the end … and even in the next rounds, we proved that we're a better team.”

To prepare for the Pan-Ams, the team members reviewed theory and worked out physically as a group each Friday morning to improve general wellness. Recent graduate Razvan Preotu — rated 2579 and a member of UTD Team A — drew two different grandmasters: Benjamin Bok in round four and Aleksey Sorokin in round six. He said that prior to the Pan-Ams, he analyzed his past games and focused on preparing openings.

“When you’re facing strong players, if you can surprise them, that really improves your chances, I think,” Preotu said. “Especially to win, because they would feel uncomfortable and if you just understand the positions better than your opponent, you can really gain a lot of time, pressure them on the clock.”

Finance and economics double major Rahul Peddi of Team A — rated 2513 — obtained 4.5 points out of six games played.

Rising Stars Shine Bright on UTD Basketball Teams

Underclassmen bring unprecedented midseason success

As the UTD men’s and women’s basketball teams reach the midpoint of their seasons, rising athletes emerge for each team. Women’s basketball freshman Amanda Crowninshield and men’s basketball sophomore Rob Wade have both been instrumental to their respective team’s successes this year and promise a bright future for their programs. Women’s basketball coach Joe Shotland said the whole team embodies the “rising star” mentality. Sitting at 9-6 on the season, it’s clear that many young players are paving a path of dominance for the women’s team, but none have been more impactful than freshman guard Crowninshield. Playing alongside players like Trystan Clark, an ASC firstteam all-defensive player last season, Crowninshield has been able to develop her skills against the highest

level of competition during practice. These rigorous practices have developed into an incredible first season for Crowninshield with 6.6 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game coming off the bench.

“One of the advantages of coming off the bench is you’re not going in blind,” Crowninshield said. “I’m coming off and I can see what’s going to work and I can see if I’m going to make an impact ... whatever role I need to fill, whether that’s facilitating more or scoring or being a defensive pest, I’m just coming off the bench ready to be there ... I think I’ve already found my role on the team, and I’m just going to continue to fill that.”

With Jordan Maxwell, the team’s starting point guard, graduating in the spring, Crowninshield is in line to step into a larger role by next season. As one of the best defenders in the ASC, Maxwell leaves behind a considerable legacy, but Crowninshield has made it clear that she won’t shy away from the challenge. While Crowninshield continues to impress for the UTD women’s team, sophomore forward Wade has been an equally impressive asset for the men’s team. UTD men’s basketball coach Terence Butterfield

JACK SIERPUTOWSKI Editor-In-Chief

The clubhouse grew dirty during the pandemic, covered by The Mercury on September 27, 2022 (left). As of January 13, 2023 (right), the space looks radically different.

Grandmaster and UTD sophomore Rahul Peddi (left), a member of UTD Team A, won three games and drew three games.

AMANDA CROWNINSHIELD

ZACHARY ROSE Mercury Staff

CLUBHOUSE, PAGE 9

Sophomore Rob Wade has established himself as a team-first player, leading in rebounds and blocks.

UTD ATHLETICS | COURTESY

Student Art Showcase

AKHIL SHASHI | MERCURY STAFF

Vivienne Westwood: A history

When fashion icon Vivienne Westwood died on Dec. 29, celebrities and casual consumers alike mourned her. However, Westwood is immortalized by her rich history and influence on alternative fashion, especially here at UTD.

A surge of individualistic freedom, rebellion and anti-establishment ideology powered the beginning of the punk movement in the ‘70s, rivaling the popularity of disco. A big driver of any era is the fashion, but one mother of fashion wasn’t attracted to the hippie aesthetic that domi nated the industry at the time. Instead she turned to themes of anarchy and sensual femininity that transformed her into a household name for lovers of fashion. Members of UTD fashion club are inspired by many designers and fashion icons, but the passing of Dame Vivienne Westwood left them to reminisce on her legacy.

“I want to emulate those Victorian elements that she incorporates into many of her pieces as well as the vi brant patterns she uses,” fashion club president Mya Casey said. “Most of all I love the fact that a lot of her fashion was used to make a statement and question social norms. I believe that fashion truly becomes fine art.”

Westwood’s brand was built by both her impact on the punk movement and her ad vocacy. Her legacy begins with the disruption of the classicism of British society. The English youths of this era were breaking away from the con fines of posh expectations and expressing themselves through loud and sometimes vulgar trends in music and fashion. Her controversial fashion choices consisted of fetish wear and edgy aesthetics that rivaled the conservative status quo of British fashion.

Matching the shocking nature of her clothes, Westwood's famous King’s Road Boutique “SEX” was one of the first popularized punk shops and the hangout spot for the outcasts that would eventu ally become the Sex Pistols. Her clothes screamed sensuality and pushed for the rebellion that the punk movement strived for and UTD students are following in her footsteps by making con-

troversial and uncommon fashion choices.

“I feel like the graphic art and asymmetry of a lot of Vivienne Westwood’s works — especially in her more punk-focused eras amplified a lot of what punk feels like just by how extravagant and ‘loud’ her designs came off as,” fashion club member Lauren Mangu said.

In the ‘70s, Westwood’s former partner Malcolm McLaren managed a blossoming rock band, the Sex Pistols, leading to her becoming the outfitter for the iconic punks. The band became a symbol of Britain's

easily relate to. One most iconic works was her modern take on corsets and bodices that has been popularized in today’s fashion. Her pieces held onto the spirit of punk while appealing to new generations that adore vintage apparel. College students emulate this vintage aesthetic by thrifting and adding DIY aspects to their outfits to find out where they land on the punk to romantic spectrum of the Westwood eras.

“I feel like romantic and punk styles juxtapose each other in a great way,” Casey said. “This dichotomy that Vivienne and a lot of other designers [and] stylists use gives the traditionally feminine look a lot more character. I like these types of looks because to me it shows the audience that the model is multifaceted in their self-expression.”

Westwood was also an advocate against overconsumption and climate change, despite working in an industry that tends to negatively affect the environment. She urged consumers to invest in long-term pieces as opposed to fast fashion and opted for vegan handbags in her clothing brand. And in 1989, she mockingly impersonated Margaret Thatcher, who was against social welfare.

“We have got to change our ethics and our financial system and our whole way of understanding the world,” Westwood said. “It has to be a world in which people live rather than die; a sustainable world. It could

Romance was not seen as a one dimensional force in Westwood’s eyes, but showed that Rococo and love could be meant for outcasts too. She simultaneously portrayed a disdain for the lack of progress in her country and love for fashion through bold and dreamy color palettes that refused to conform to color theory. Along with beautiful and chaotic color, iconic closet staples for Westwood’s later collections included ribbons, pearls and any jewelry pieces with her iconic logo, the orb. The orb is the sovereign’s orb combined with the rings of Saturn, representing the significance of the past while barreling towards the future. She began her journey with the Sex Pistols and their nihilistic worldview, encouraging an era of punk individualism. In the modern era, her outfits are seen on celebrities such as Olivia Rodrigo, Kristen Stewart, the Hadid sisters and other fashion icons, allowing Westwood to rectly inspire the youth of today.

“I also heard some discourse saying that punk as a subculture was dying and was being absorbed into a general alternative fashion,” Casey said. “Finding out about Vivienne’s death felt like a confirmation of Even in death, Westwood continues to pour a level of whimsy and humor over punk statement pieces, showing that punk doesn’t have to be hateful and dreary. She will be remembered for the lovable spirit that drove the punk subculture, being a person who would spin in a dress without knickers on while meeting the queen and bringing fashion into a world that transcends past and present.

Gossip Girl reuses old tropes, offers nothing new for the series

Welcome back Upper East Siders. It’s that time of year again when a tired TV show tries to redeem itself with a reboot. You guessed it, it’s Season 2 of the new “Gossip Girl.”

The second season seems to reuse “Gossip Girl’s” old tropes rather than adapt them for Gen Z viewers, like the first season of the reboot. Focusing on the original qualities that made “Gossip Girl” so popular robs it of its freshness, and the show still has a long way to go to accurately resemble the venomous lives of the privileged upperclass adolescents of the Upper East Side.

Paying homage to the original “Gossip Girl” series, Season 1 of the “Gossip Girl” reboot is caught mirroring Serena’s entrance, both embodying iconic camera angles, character introductions and filming in beloved landmarks of New York, like the Grand Central. The reboot follows a transfer student earning a scholarship to start a life at Constance Billard — the fictional private school in “Gossip Girl” — in a plot reminiscent to the original “lonely boy”

Dan Humphrey.

We also see the fashion similarities between Jenny from the original series and modern-day Zoya when she shows up to her first day in a uniform nearly identical to the original fashionista. Many allusions and easter eggs from the 2007 series bleed into Season 2, like the iconic frenemies dynamic between Serena and Blair that fans have come to love and dread. We find a similar rivalry with Julien and Monet competing for the Constance throne, an informal title held by the school’s most popular and influential.

The main issue with the first season was its complex and confusing thesis. The director focused more on creating a “new and improved Gossip Girl” with more morally sanitized themes in an attempt to revolutionize the original. However, the original show was marketed as an escape rather than a reality check, drawing audiences in with its emphasis on the corrupt lifestyle of the Upper East Side. The saving grace for the reboot is Monet’s reintroduction to Season 2. The viewers are gifted with Monet landing the throne of Constance all

while rocking the Blair Waldorf headband and persona, reviving the original “Gossip Girl's” hype.

Season 2 on HBO Max stars the same Season 1 cast but focuses more on the initial sidelined characters that lurk in the shadows of Season 1's posse. One of these characters is Monet, who we see develop a cast of henchmen throughout the season in a classic Queen Blair fashion. Her adversary Julien is more on the friendly side, which demonstrates an anomaly to the original plot of “Gossip Girl,” where each character drowns in their toxicity. Although the increased incorporation of sideline characters have added tremendously to the plot, some characters like Obie should have been written out. The second season tries to account for his irrelevance by cutting his screen time, yet his character is too underwhelming in a show that spins off a rollercoaster of repudiating yet wildly entertaining corruption.

Throughout the second season, one can see a similar course of events between Serena and Blair’s battle for the throne to Julian and Monet's own conflict. As time

goes on, the show adds depth to deuteragonist, creating an emotionally gripping face off. While this conflict is a great nod to the relationships in “Gossip Girl” (2007), the knock off characterization and conflict just further prove that the new series lacks the boldness and escapism that fans of drama crave. Hopefully the characters receive

story arcs that make them more than the ghosts of beloved and despised characters, but it won’t be easy replicating the popularity of the 2007 version.

Until next time, Upper East Siders. XOXO Gossip Girl

RIP Dame Vivienne Westwood 1941-2022.

From left to right: Audrey (Emily Alyn Lind), Max (Thomas Doherty), Aki (Evan Mock), Julien (Jordan Alexander), Obie (Eli Brown), Luna (Zion Moreno) and Monet (Savannah Lee Smith) are entangled in a web of romance and deceit.

LANA BARAKAT Mercury Staff

MIA NGUYEN Mercury Staff

KATHERYN HO| MERCURY STAFF

KATHERYN HO| MERCURY STAFF

KATHERYN HO| MERCURY STAFF

ALLY DUONG Mercury Staff

A gem that shouldn’t be missed from 2022, “Sh**ting Stars” — also known as Shooting Stars — is the perfect drama to kickstart your heart for 2023.

The romantic comedy follows top star

SH**TING STARS SHINES BRIGHT

Gong Tae-sung (Kim Young-dae) as he returns to Korea from a year-long volunteer trip, returning to both the cheers of fans and the chagrin of his old frenemy, PR manager Oh Han-byeol (Lee Sung-kyung).

Kim Young-dae’s portrayal of the self-centered but clumsily earnest Tae-sung makes

LOOKISM PERSUADES EVEN THE PRETTY

VAISHNAVI JOSYULA Mercury Staff

The classic series “Lookism” recently became the first Webtoon to receive a web animation on Netflix. As implied by the title, the Netflix series discusses pretty privilege in a way that is persuasive to even the privileged and the pretty.

“Lookism” appeals so widely in part because it offers its viewers ways to learn from the differences in the way the world treats people. The Webtoon, which has received massive success worldwide, with over 684 million views, expanded its outreach to a broader audience on Dec. 8 through Netflix after gaining success from its live-action Chinese television adaptation in 2019. The eight-episode Netflix release, created by Studio Mir, closely follows the comic and does a phenomenal job at satiating both new viewers and existing fans by replicating the tone of the Webtoon — whether it be through voice acting, graphics, aesthetic, fight scenes or the original soundtrack.

“Lookism” follows the story of Daniel Park, a poor, overweight and unattractive high school student who has the ability to switch bodies with a fit, attractive one. When one body wakes, the other falls asleep. The predominantly Shōnen comic exposes lookism, i.e, judgments made of people based on their physical attractiveness. The comic also delves into darker themes like gangs, bullying and homelessness, along with lighter themes like teenage crushes and relationships — all of which are affected by attractiveness.

While a typical coming-of-age story, “Lookism” excels in showcasing pretty privilege, especially through the prejudice held against Daniel and the differences in his male friendships. By having the story alternate between both versions of Daniel, it avoids falling into the “zero-to-hero” trap, as Daniel is constantly navigating relationships in both bodies while trying to reduce bullying by both the popular, attractive students and unattractive “losers” like himself. Daniel’s cognizance of being treated differently in both bodies helps him improve his life. He builds positive relationships with other characters in his new body at school while working a nighttime job as a cashier with his original body to help his mother out.

It is easy to see why the story is appealing to a large audience, teens and young adults alike. Despite revolving around serious, often violent issues, the main character, a self-proclaimed loser, has been given the opportunity to not only erase his title of “loser” but also strengthen his relationship with his struggling but dedicated single mother. What’s better for a loser nicknamed “the pig” except restarting his life in a different, more attractive body? Teens, who are more susceptible to feeling out of place, can empathize with every step Daniel takes to improve his life — from switching high schools to dressing better. While arguably hyperbolic in

every viewer root for the charismatic actor. Side-by-side to our protagonist, the iconic Lee Sung-kyung — who is recognizable from the hit drama “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo" — grounds the star as Han-

SEE STARS, PAGE 9

TOWER OF HOLLYWOOD TOPPLES IN 'BABYLON'

New film directed by Damien Chazelle explores the Wild West of the industry's early days

MIA NGUYEN Mercury Staff

The Mercury spoke with the director and producer of “Babylon,” which chronicles the highs and lows of vintage Hollywood. The film, released worldwide on Dec. 23, won a Golden Globe for Best Original Score, and the film and the actors are nominated for the 95th annual Oscars.

The beginning of Hollywood screams romanticism, filled with shining lights, triumphant underdogs and campy body language only fit for the silent screen. Cinephiles praise the ’20s for introducing stars that continue to entertain even after death, but refuse to acknowledge that the transition into that era was less than smooth. Damien Chazelle — director of hits like “La La Land” and “Whiplash” — and film producer Matt Plouffe pour copious amounts of cocaine and depravity over that rose-colored lens to show how the explosion of the film industry changed the landscape of culture while simultaneously destroying the lives of the people whose livelihoods revolved around the big screen.

The film begins in the 1920s at the peak of the silent film era and brings viewers through several transitions that have shaped modern media. Along with these technological advances came vast changes to society that forced people to either change their moral code or fall under the pressure of the industry. “Babylon” uses characters that ooze sex and charisma, intense cinematography and a

memorable jazzy soundtrack to describe a world that can seem unreal.

“In my experience, the producer is the one telling you to stay in a box and don’t try to upset the applecart too much, and [Plouffe] was the opposite,” Chazelle said. “It was you know, going back to the edit room, just forget there was a box. Whatever you do just make it fucking weird. Just break down those walls and go a little crazy.”

The film has viewers experience this period of overindulgence and chaos through the eyes of Manny Torres (Diego Calva), a man who does the heavy lifting and dirty work behind the scenes of Hollywood’s glitziest and untamed parties. He represents the people who dream of entering the film industry but are stuck on the outskirts of fame. Calva’s performance as Manny is heartbreaking and genuine. You get sucked into the glimmer of hope in his eyes and feel every emotion vividly as he navigates the space between reality and fantasy. Manny is a dreamer, and it is easy to yearn as he does and crumble when he reaches

his breaking points.

“The conception of Manny originally was that he would sort of be this everyman, our axis point as an audience to a world that otherwise is so hard to fathom because it is so insane, so larger than life, so chaotic and fast moving,” Chazelle said. “We needed some sort of a grounded perspective that we could identify with and feel in his shoes that would ideally take us on that journey. And I think in his case he makes the biggest mistake of all. He falls in love with a movie star.”

Love comes in many shades, and it is an incredibly complex love story that Damien wrote. I think the final acts are open to interpretation. It's heartbreaking and absolutely exploding with love. I hope that people will talk about that long after the movie is over.

— Matt Plouffe

Through his eyes, we meet people who are larger than life. One of these characters is Nellie LaRoy (Margot Robbie), who enters the screen with a literal crash, exuding the essence of Hollywood’s Wild West. She demands attention with her fiery personality and easily garners the affection of Manny, who sneaks her into the party he is working at. Robbie carries herself without fear, yet with a layer of sensitivity that shows that Nellie is more than an

untouchable sex bomb. Her performance is brutally raw, perfectly displaying the duality of fame.

“[Nellie is] someone who is sort of destined to always be out of reach,” Chazelle said. “Her nature is to always be moving, to never be still, to be constantly looking for the next party, the next fix, the next whatever. That's something Matt and I talked a lot about when working on the script. Margot and I talked a lot about it, Diego and I talked a lot about it. It actually is a real question — to what extent will she be able to share the love for [Manny]?”

The viewers experience the industry along with Manny, and he acts as a tether to reality in an environment where many characters lose their selfperception through booze, sex and fame.

“In some ways [Manny] wishes that he could kind of control [Nellie], who wishes he could have some say in how the story unfolds, but really he is a bystander,” Chazelle said. “And at the end of the day he does what he can to help, but he does have to learn the hard way that he’s in a situation that is, to borrow another chracter’s phrase ‘bigger than himself,’ and that's where I would say the tragedy comes from.”

Justin Hurwitz composes a soundtrack that is the epitome of LA in the jazz age. His music is at once somber, intense and energetic, ac-

SEE BABYLON, PAGE 10

Hub for Hip Hop in a Dallas Warehouse

RYLEE RUSSELL Mercury Staff

Aspiring artists and music lovers from all over the Dallas area convene every Tuesday night in a decked-out warehouse to share music and network with fellow creators.

The event is called the Dallas Open Mic, founded by visionary Trey-Michael Dae. Typically, Open Mics are reserved

for somber, coffee-shop type music. This is not the case for Dallas Open Mic, as the venue is more suited for up-and-coming rappers or fans of hip hop and R&B. Each artist is given the opportunity to perform

,

NETFLIX | COURTESY

Manny Torres (Diego Calva), the film's everyman, is star-struck on his first Hollywood set. The film is told through set worker Manny's perspective.

Daniel struggles with his self confidence in a conventionally unattractive body.

Gong Tae-sung (Kim Young-dae) and Oh Han-byeol (Lee Sung-kyung) both relish and despise the shared history that brings them closer together.

Dallas Isn't Ready for the World Cup

The 2026 World Cup won't even be held in its named city

While FIFA is branding the World Cup as a Dallas event, it will actually be hosted in Arlington, creating a spiral of issues for the unprepared city of Dallas and unfairly discrediting its true host city, Arlington.

The FIFA World Cup is one of the biggest international events and, on paper, Dallas is one of the 16 North American cities that will host the 2026 games. However, the World Cup will actually be held in Arlington’s AT&T Stadium. With the world thinking the games are in Dallas when they’re actually in Arlington, conflict will breed between the two cities over jurisdiction and transportation.

While Arlington Mayor Jim Ross mentions regional efforts in preparing for the World Cup, Dallas Sports Commission Executive Director Monica Paul seems keen on noting Dallas-only efforts, undermining Arlington.

“From infrastructure and arts to top-level training facilities and a world-class venue in AT&T Stadium, Dallas offers everything that the committee could have wanted in a host city,” Paul said.

In reality, the AT&T stadium is both located in and owned by Arlington. With the dominating direction of the Dallas Sports Commission and other Dallas leaders, Arlington is left overlooked as Dallas overtakes what would be their jurisdiction, but denies the true host city its credit.

So far there have been no public reports of Dallas providing funding for

the AT&T Stadium. All Dallas has provided thus far is making the bid for the FIFA 2026 World Cup to take place in the city. Initially, this seems to suggest that the World Cup would be hosted in The Cotton Bowl like it was in 1994, but that idea was quickly shut down in favor of Arlington’s air-conditioned stadium. And while it may be more ideal

issue. Tourists will want to visit Dallas, but the city doesn’t have a convenient or respectable method of shuttling Arlington tourists and spectators to the city. One glance at a map, and you’ll realize that DART entirely avoids Arlington. Tourists could book a Lyft or Uber ride, but prices are expensive, averaging about $50 to and from Dallas and Arlington, with game day prices likely to spike. Even if Dallas finds an alternative, tens of thousands of World Cup fans will be shuttled off from Arlington to Dallas in the same hour. This rush will crowd polluted streets and already full roads that produced 35,500 car accidents in 2021, an average of approximately 97 car accidents a day.

to tie the marketing to a bigger city, it takes away from Arlington’s name. Dallas must have a way of making a profit if they’re this adamant about using their name for the World Cup. With the mention of FIFA, a city gets partnerships, deals and all the like. But ultimately, when spectators come to the city of Dallas only to realize they’re in Arlington, transportation becomes an

Dallas easily has the resources to send buses and police to help with transportation and crime, but at that point, it’s only Dallas helping Arlington, not Dallas hosting. You’re not a host if you invite guests to someone else’s house. Perhaps there’s an argument that to better prepare North Texas as a whole, Dallas took the lead as the city with the most recognizable name. But truthfully, outside of networking, the real work belongs to Arlington. Dallas hasn’t pledged anything to help Arlington outside networking, but now more than ever they must help support another city both to maintain their image and to clean up their streets. When tourists get curious about what Dallas it really like, they’ll ultimately be disappointed when the limelight is in another city.

Save Our Parking Garages

Students should stop littering in shared spaces

With all the facilities we have on campus, there is no excuse for littering. Comets need to take proper trash disposal more seriously.

UTD is ranked Gold by the Association for Advancement in Sustainability in Higher Education, meaning holistically, the campus is doing well with its green initiatives. With generally clean spaces to congregate in and learn, the campus’s environmental health is evident – until you see the parking garage.

Since coming back from online education, the parking garages on campus have become more and more nasty, with UV being one of the worst offenders. Walk by UV any time of day and you’re bound to see food scraps and loose garbage fluttering in the breeze.

How is it possible to get this comfortable with littering? Sure – there aren’t as many access points to trash cans in the parking garage as there are in buildings. And, sure – it can take longer to find a proper place to dispose of waste, especially for those parked on higher floors. But seriously? With trash receptacles available, there’s no way tossing a greasy hamburger wrapper on the ground in a hurry makes more sense than waiting a few minutes to properly dispose of your rancid trash.

But let’s be honest. Littering is so common because it is physically easy to do, and as painful as it is to say, convenient. It seems to be a reflex for drivers in the parking garage – something insignificant, instantaneous and natural. No harm done. If this sounds like you, then don’t complain about how dirty the UV garage is. The combined effects of this carelessness are damaging and can’t be overlooked.

In 2023, few are unaware of the profound impact littering has on the environment. On top of contributing to

pollution and being difficult to clean, littering can harm nearby wildlife like UTD’s neighboring squirrels and rabbits who could easily ingest trash on the ground and even become trapped in it.

Littering is downright disgusting, unhygienic and disrespectful to our campus. I’m sure you wouldn’t tolerate someone carelessly discarding their trash around your home, nor would you litter your own yard with dirty wrappers. And every walkway in UV is some student’s front yard. So why are you comfortable contaminating a shared space like the parking lot?

At least in UV, students spend some amount of time there and have an incentive to pick up your wrappers. But who lives in the parking garage? As a transitory area, people barely even stop to look at the ground, and all of that effort falls onto the janitorial staff. This makes their job more tedious than it needs to be and takes attention away from more important areas of campus. The bare minimum that an adult can do is clean up after themselves.

It is incredibly easy to recycle and worth the few minutes to walk to a recycling bin. The UV parking garages have both recycling bins and general trash compartments near their entrances. If you need to dispose of dry or clean number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 plastic or cardboard, paper, unbroken glass or aluminum cans, find a recycling bin. Any other type of trash and anything soggy, unclean or covered in grease or food goes in the trash. Even better, bring your food in reusable containers that you can keep with you instead of buying fast food that you’ll have to throw away later.

As we enter the new semester, UTD is making an extra effort to have the campus clean and ready for students. So please, let's keep it that way.

FATIMAH AZEEM Mercury Staff

Parking garages are for Comets to store cars, not old fast food wrappers.

ANUSHKA CHAKRAVARTHI | MERCURY STAFF

Men's basketball holds first in ASC

Comets open up midseason with win, loss, defending ASC tie with East Texas Baptist

AVERION Mercury Staff

The UTD Men’s Basketball Team opened up the 2023 midseason with both a historic first for UTD and their first loss in the American Southwest Conference, which held them tied for first place in the ASC.

The UTD Men's Basketball Team opened up the midseason with a victory against Concordia, continuing their eightgame win streak – a streak Comets haven't seen since 2020.

Comets broke Concordia University Texas’s four-win streak at a home game in the UTD Activity Center. As a result of breaking this streak, the Comets were officially recognized in the D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll, a first for UTD.

The Comets made a higherthan-average 42 out of 72 attempted field goals. Similarly, Comets made an elevated 11 out of 29 attempted three-pointers because of sophomore Caden McKenzie, who scored four game changing three-pointers. The team also broke a season- record with 50 rebounds and 32 assists.

The Comets closed out the first half of the game with a lead of 10 points. In the second half, the Comets consistently broke

the Tornadoes’ defensive perimeter and peaked with a lead of 37 points. In the last three minutes, Comets broke over 100 points.

Freshman Jackson Steele received a standing ovation from spectators with a three-pointer, finalizing the Comets’ score of 107, which is the highest number of points the team has scored all season.

Leading UTD’s offense, graduate student Kyle Poerschke broke his season record by scoring 32 points on field goals and making

six rebounds. With the best overall coverage, senior Hunter Stevens scored 11 points, rebounded four and made a season best of nine assists. Sophomore Luke Kiser delivered seven rebounds and a career record of 12 assists.

January 7: Loss against #18/24 Mary Hardin-Baylor 99-93

The UTD Men’s Basketball Team broke its win streak with a loss against Mary Hardin-Baylor – their first loss in the ASC. Regardless, the Comets remained tied in the ASC to East Texas

Baptist for first place. The Comets faced against Mary-Hardin Baylor’s the Cru (10-4, 5-3 ASC) who the Comets lost games to in the last two seasons. Still, the Comets managed to break season records with 27 free throws, led by Luke Kiser, who scored nine out of 12 attempted throws. However, the Comets also committed 26 fouls, the most they committed this semester, which allowed the Cru to score 29 points from free throws alone.

Sophomore Nick Donnelly brought the Comets five impressive threepointers as guard, setting a career record with 17 points scored in 17 minutes of gameplay.

The Cru quickly made a fivepoint lead in the first half and maintained a close lead into the second half. With a six-point lead, the Cru ran down the clock and forced the Comets into defeat.

Freshman Austin Page tied with his seasonal best with 16 scores, and Poerschke scored the most individual scores, with an above average of 17 points.

ESPORTS

Esports heads leave program

As Brandon “Texhorn” Bingham and Carter “Stellaric” Hawks exit UTD, the respective creator and broadcast leads of the esports program, they leave the program with big shoes to fill.

Bingham and Hawks both graduated in fall 2022. Bingham, who was the Creator Lead for the Content Creator program, joined the esports program in fall 2021 and quickly rose through the ranks before joining as a social media coordinator in spring 2022. Hawks, who was the lead for the Broadcast and Production Team within the program, managed the broadcast of almost every game that the UTD Esports Team hosted on their Twitch platform. With Bingham and Hawks gone, new management will step in to fill their roles and bring new light to the program.

Before Bingham was the content creator lead, he was one of the social media coordinators (SMC) for UTD Esports Twitter. During the time that Bingham acted as a SMC, the UTD Esports account was rated the number one collegiate social media account based on user interaction, by the Twitter collegiate data collection account @Esports_Data. While Bingham’s time as the creator lead for the Content Creation Team was short, he organized a charity event working with Movember, a program that brings attention to men’s mental health. During the runtime of this charity event, Bingham and the Content Creation Team raised over $500. Bingham said the role of Creator Lead has yet to be filled in the Esports Creation Team, but the group will be looking to make positive changes and in due time fill the position Bingham left behind.

“Thank you for the opportunity of a lifetime,” Bingham said. “Being able to explore esports in a more professional environment has not only allowed me to develop relationships that will last long past college but has also allowed me look into a possible future career in a field that I didn't even know existed before joining.” Hawks maintained schedules and streamed games cast by the team of in-house color commentators and play-by-play analysts. The esports program has decided to split Hawks’ job into sections categorized by each game.

The broadcast and production lead for League of Legends and

SEE CREATOR, PAGE 10

Comets exceed in ASC standing

Women's basketball brings back legendary defense, men earn first place

ANDRÉ AVERION

Mercury Staff

winning 77-55 against the Tigers. Both teams will continue onto the American Southwest Conference finals, which are Feb. 23 to 25.

Kicking off the women’s game in the Ornelas Gymnasium, the Comets overwhelmed the Tigers in their own court, reaching a score of 5-3 in the ASC. The Comets broke their season records for both three pointers and free throws, making 22 out of 53 attempted threepointers and 17 out of 19 attempted free throws. The Comets opened the first half of the game with an impenetrable defense and relentless lead, leading to an offensive rampage of 28 points in the third quarter. The Tigers adapted for counter actions in the fourth quarter and scored several layups, but they were unable to catch up to the Comets’ lead.

Cierra Trigg

The UTD women's and men's basketball teams earned exciting victories against East Baptist University on Jan. 12 at their first away game of the year. After losing to the Cru on Jan. 7, the men's basketball team came back with a knock-out victory, winning 75-69 against East Texas Baptist University’s Tigers. Similarly, the women’s basketball team brought back a decisive defense that carried them through the game,

Sophomore Cierra Trigg secured the most scores between both teams, breaking eight personal career records in

this game alone. Most notably, Trigg achieved eight spotlight rebounds and scored three three-pointers in only 35 minutes. This victory brought the Comets to tie for third place standing with East Texas Baptist University and Sul Ross State University. UTD previously lost to Sul Ross State on Dec. 3 and is slated to rematch Jan. 19 in an away game.

The men’s game served as a critical tie breaker between the Comets and Tigers, who were both in line for first place in the ASC. Despite winning by a six-point lead, the Comets actually underperformed in terms of scores, making 28 out of 70 attempted field goals and seven out of 20 three-pointers and 12 out of 18 attempted free throws by the end of the second half.

ANDRÉ

KATHERYN HO| MERCURY STAFF

Guard Jackson Steele (left) received a standing ovations from his concluding three-pointer, which brought the UTD Men's Team's score to 107.

Graduate student Kyle Poershcke

Comets won 107-74 against Concordia and lost 99-93 against Mary Hardin-Baylor.

KATHERYN HO| MERCURY STAFF

TYLER VIATOR Mercury Staff

Brandon Bingham

view with Omrod, she stated that impacted residents were notified of the incident.

“There were limited impacts as a result of this incident,” Omrod said.

“Given the design of the fire sprinkler system, there were impacts [on] both internal and external to apartment units.”

However, Meisetschlaeger said the notification was not immediate for her. Meisetschlaeger stayed at Northside during the fire sprinkler burst

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scored an impressive 13 points in the first two quarters of the game. Hurst also made a new record with six rebounds, two steals and a lead-breaking block shot. Senior Blythe Williams retrieved eight rebounds, helping the teams transition from defense to offense while adding six points to the Comet scoreboard.

Senior Jordan Maxwell provided three essential assists and six points throughout key moments of the game.

“So right now, you know, I

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differences and that we need to embrace those differences. I realized how important this experience is and how important it is to have this experience as early as possible.”

Gonzalez noted finances as the most common concern holding students back from education abroad. To combat this challenge, a key focus of the program is to make it as affordable as possible. Besides annual UTD tuition costs, fees for the May programs will not exceed

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Frank Feagans and Chief Information Security Officer Nate Howe in an email to Comets. Additionally, UTD schools and departments must suspend activities on existing TikTok accounts to comply with the order.

Abbott’s announcement also directed the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) to develop a model plan by Jan. 15, so other state agencies (including public colleges) can address vulnerabilities. UTD will then have until Feb. 15 to come up

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to creating new buildings or renovating current ones. Grief said that as the university seeks to attract high-caliber students, the housing department also strives to be equipped for the future.

“We want to focus on what the student needs and try to

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field insists Wade has established himself as a team-first player despite not playing much as a freshman. This attitude has allowed Wade to make a serious impact this season despite playing primarily off the bench, helping the men’s team secure a 12-3 record. With an average of 5.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 0.2 blocks per game, Wade leads all bench players in rebounds and blocks while also being second on the team in bench points.

"I play really hard and that’s the reason I’m on the court,” Wade said. “I’m always going to crash the board and try to get rebounds and be physical and not back down from anybody and I think that’s something

LOOKISM CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 the comic, recurring themes of abuse, bullying, gang fights and attempted murder leave the reader awaiting new chapters each week to see how Daniel juggles the difference in his treatment and treads each situation to ultimately make friends.

The official soundtrack and background music perfectly complement Daniel’s circumstances throughout the story,

and said she had trouble contacting Northside management about the incident.

“It took me a few weeks to talk to the manager, and I had to go down to the office a total of three times,” Meisetschlaeger said. “And we were told the first few times that we would get a call that day or that we would get a call the next day. We never got a call; we never got an email. I heard nothing. But when I was finally able to talk in person with the manager, she claims she called my guarantor and me and left a message, but nei-

think [Jan. 5] was a really good test for us,” Shotland said. “We tied a school record, defensively holding Concordia at 24 points, and that's pretty outstanding.”

In a neck-to-neck game against Mary Hardin-Baylor, UTD Women’s Basketball lost their first game of the year, bringing their score to 4-4 in the ASC and 8-7 in the overall season.

The women’s basketball team made an effort to keep up with a team currently ranked as second in the ASC. It was a constant rally between both teams, emphasized by eight ongoing ties that

$1,000 while fees for June and July will not exceed $1,500.

Gonzalez also assured that there will be scholarships, which include $1,000 for nonfinancial need students and $2,000 for financial need students.

“We found ways to subsidize some of the costs internally,” Gonzalez said. “So, we're taking care of the faculty salary, travel expenses of the faculty, some other expenses with using the classroom, museums and perhaps buying metro tickets.”

To encourage students to engage with these expanded pro -

with its own policy for TikTok on personal devices.

The announcement comes as an extension of The Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act (LIPA), which was passed in 2021 to prevent Texas businesses and governments from contracting with foreign entities like ByteDance — the owner of TikTok — or individuals tied to the Chinese, Russian, North Korean and Iranian governments over concerns about data harvesting.

“Together, we will defend the state of Texas against a Chinese government that wields TikTok to attack our way of life,” Abbott said

address that as we can. Along with new construction, we are going to continue to renovate and continue to improve,” Grief said. “We spend a significant amount of money turning over units every year in preparation for incoming students so that investment will always be there.”

the team needs. It’s really not what I’m used to doing from high school ball and from my first year, but I just kind of picked up that mentality this year to be a dog ... whatever the team needs is what I’m gonna do.”

With both Crowninshield and Wade playing well this season, their days on the bench are numbered, as both hope to claim a role in the starting rotation next season. In the meantime, both players’ excellent campaigns have helped push the UTD basketball teams to success, and at the midseason mark, both teams hope their stars can keep up their high level of play as the postseason draws near and as expectations continue to grow.

“I think we’re a championship level team. We’ve proved it,” Wade said.

with lyrics empathizing with his situation and melodies setting the mood of each scene. While the art style of the animation is similar to that of the Webtoon, which isn’t super appealing, the graphics — fight scenes, especially— were definitely impressive. The comiclike nature of the animation is apparent through the form of abrupt cuts and transitions, with a few scenes feeling like a slideshow with background mu -

ther of us ever got notifications or left messages...so, I don’t know if people actually got called or not.”

Most of the damage incurred was structural, according to Omrod. Northside requires all residents to have some form of renter’s insurance, so that if a resident did experience property damage, they could file a claim.

“For my personal belongings, that cost almost $4,000 in damage,” Meisetschlaeger said. “But all this considered, it could have been a lot worse… the only big pieces of tech I lost were

never broke beyond a six-point difference even in the final minutes of the game.

“We're right there with the nationally ranked UMHB team, [which] I think if you watch the film again, you're kicking yourself because everybody in the room thinks that we should have won,” Shotland said.

Scoring 31.7% of attempted shots and 26.7% of three-pointers, the Comets were consistently kept outside the Cru’s perimeter, but in the second quarter, they broke three ties with the most points scored in the game.

grams, program leaders strive to increase involvement from faculty. Professors have close relationships with students and can best understand students' preferences and backgrounds. Gonzalez said leaders plan to work with faculty to pitch their ideas for subjects and program locations. He hopes keeping faculty engaged through this process will motivate them to have an extended presence at the university, allowing them to create more meaningful connections with students.

“One thing is going to a class

in the order.

Texas is not the only state to emulate the Senate’s bipartisan bill “No TikTok on Government Devices Act,” which bars federal employees from using the videosharing service on governmentissued devices and was approved by President Biden on Dec. 23. Prior to the federal bill, Texas and several other states enacted their own restrictions on TikTok, including Alabama, Maryland, South Carolina and Utah, according to The Dallas Morning News. The federal bill follows proof of international espionage attempts codenamed “Project Raven.”

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Peddi previously competed in the Pan-Ams in 2022, where UTD Team A made second place. Peddi said that since he joined the chess team, half the original team graduated. This led to several new members joining the team, leading to new members joining and forming a different group dynamic. Since he will not be competing

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byeol with her sharp wit and passion. As they trade quips, sparks follow as old feelings rise to the surface, signaling the start of their chaotic and bright romance. Tae-sung and Han-byeol’s banter provides well-needed relief and an escape from stress, as their chemistry is simple enemies-to-lovers fun. Since their history spans over a decade from college to adulthood, these two feign irritation over their involvement in each other’s lives but secretly indulge in the fact that they know everything about one another. The longing gazes in this drama are

sic instead of a smooth animation. However, the animation style is certainly still watchable. Since the Webtoon is still ongoing with 421 episodes to date, the eight-episode animation only covered up to 27 chapters in the original. Like with many animation adaptations, “Lookism” lost some of its nuance, like the appearance of minor yet important characters, many of whom bring comic relief to the rather dark story and

an Xbox and a TV. You know what, if that’s the worst it’s going to be, then we’re doing okay.”

Omrod said that the burst lines had limited effects on the majority of residential units. As the fire sprinkler system operates on its own water line, there was no disruption to clean water pipes.

“There were two units where water intrusion required resident displacement in order to perform repairs,” Omrod said. “These residents received a rent concession for the time they were displaced.”

From there, it was a constant battle to keep the lead before the Cru mounted crucial points in the third quarter. The Comets started the fourth quarter with a one point lead, until the Cru scored a jump shot, leading to the Comets’ defeat. Despite the loss, Shotland isn’t troubled by how the game turned out.

“The tricky thing about sports is you can do everything right, and the results could not go the way that you wanted,” Shotland said. “On the flip, you can do a lot of things wrong too. Some days, the ball bounces your

for an hour and a half three times a week. Spending four or five weeks with a faculty member in a different country is another,” Gonzalez said. “You get to know that person. You really get to interact. It's a deep connection that will continue paying off as letters of recommendation and extra advice from the faculty member. And I think that is something many of our faculty really want to do. They really want to be engaged at a different level with our students, and this affords them that opportunity to do that.”

Concerns about TikTok’s security have been in the news since early 2020, when the Trump administration attempted to shut down TikTok under concerns of Chinese spying but ultimately failed to appeal to Congress. The topic resurfaced on Oct. 20 when Forbes reported that TikTok parent company ByteDance was capable of tracking and monitoring users’ IP addresses and personal information. ByteDance employs members of the Chinese Communist Party and may harvest data from American users. This was followed by an announcement on Nov. 15 where FBI Director Chris Wray labeled

in the final four, Peddi said he plans to relax and prepare for his next event. “We’ll have to reconsider what we did as a team and what went wrong, and try to work it out,” Peddi said.

Having graduated in December 2022, Preotu is now pursuing a fulltime job in computer science. Preotu said the Pan-Ams was the tournament he most looked forward to because of its focus on team interaction.

charged with dramatic tension that make every watcher aware of their own heartbeat as they wait in suspense for the couple’s next move.

After drawing viewers in for the fun tropes, the drama keeps them glued to their seats by making them truly care for the characters, laughter and empathy go hand-in-hand. The story offers surprising emotional depth for a light-hearted rom-com. The carefully timed backstory makes this show extra bingeable by continuously evolving the plot to keep the audience and characters on their toes. In addition, the love story is made more interesting by red herrings about the main

elevate both Daniel and the audience’s mood. A consequence of the animation having only eight episodes, which many fans are disappointed about, is the rushed pacing, as the loss of nuance made the animation less memorable than the comic. While upsetting to fans such as myself, a positive about losing some nuance is that the animation is not as graphic as the comic when dealing with darker topics like gang fights and ex -

To prevent issues going forward, the Northside team inspected, fully repaired and dried out all units around the compromised pipes. Omrod said the team anticipates to complete cosmetic repairs by Jan. 23. Repairs to the fire sprinkler system and associated water lines are now complete. However, a lingering concern for Meisetschlaeger is mold growth.

“I don’t know how long they were in my apartment to be fair, but I was told as things were unfolding, that they would have to gut the apartment

way and you get out of there scot-free. You have to be humble enough to look in the mirror and say, ‘Hey, we got to do some things to improve.’ You also have to be resilient enough to say, ‘Hey, we did enough to win.’ Now it's time to believe in ourselves and go do it right, and what we've been saying [is] this week is no time to feel sorry for ourselves.”

Sophomore Trystan Clark proved her offensive talent with a career record of 11 points scored courtesy of six rebounds. In this game alone, Clark earned four

However, Gonzalez said the opportunity for reduced cost will only apply if each program has at least 15 students. Students often turn a blind eye to such information as they have preconceived perceptions of studying abroad and its finances. But program leaders are pushing for students to appreciate the affordability of the programs and apply to ones that resonate with them.

“So, I need those programs to make it, to sell it to the administration to make sure that these programs will keep expanding

TikTok a threat to U.S. national security and foreign policy.

“The Chinese government could use [TikTok] to control data collection on millions of users or control the recommendation algorithm, which could be used for influence operation,” Wray said according to Reuters.

The Mercury reached out to UTD’s information security and communications offices who suggested reviewing the governor’s announcement and UTD’s staff guidelines. UTD officials did not wish to comment further until the guidelines from the two Texas departments are released in mid-

“The Pan-Ams is a really fun tournament for us,” Preotu said. “We really bond together as a team, we prepare together for all our matches, we discuss team strategies.”

Moving forward from the PanAms, the team will be competing in the Texas Online Rapids Championship in late January. Sadorra said he stressed the importance of collective responsibility to the team members

characters’ pasts as they and audiences alike find out the true nature of the leads’ feelings for one another.

Even the side characters are charismatic and shine on their own. Lee Jung-shin — who starred in the classic “Cinderella and the Four Knights” — shows off his nonchalant charm once again as the second lead. Rising actor Shin Hyun-seung appears as a lovable rookie actor. He stars alongside Lee Si-woo once again, giving fans more romantic content from their previous drama “Be My Boyfriend.” Almost every character has a romantic plot line, which keeps the plot interesting and ensures that there’s a relation -

tortion, making it more tolerable to newer viewers.

A bigger disappointment though, is that “Lookism” doesn’t distinctly distinguish itself from other Shōnen comics, as the story does not pass the Bechdel test. While the comic and animation are aimed at a male audience and therefore have a male main character, the inclusion of female characters only as romantic interests makes the experience especial -

because it was looking so bad,” Meisetschlaeger said. “And to see them try to avoid that at all costs makes me very concerned because I’m like, how far did the water actually get in.” Meisetschlaeger has family in Dallas and was able to temporarily relocate. Unfortunately, pipe bursts are common during Texas winters and expensive to repair. Northside recommends students keep the heat in their units set at a safe level, especially while they are away for break.

season highs in points made, attempted shots, minutes played and successful field goals. Williams returned as a highlight player, playing for a personal record of 35 minutes and achieving a personal high of field shots made, field shots attempted and three-pointers scored. Williams also earned 11 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Cierra Trigg shined with a midseason best, scoring eight points, and two steals and taking command of the basketball with two spectator-rousing charges.

and going to be here for the future,” Gonzalez said. “My biggest challenge is convincing students that they can afford this, that they can do it, that it is viable and something they should do. They should consider it part of their educational experience.”

Students can find a comprehensive list of all the programs on the Comets Abroad program on the UTD website. To apply, students must complete a short essay question and other travelrelated questions.

January.

“We are following the clear direction of the governor and UT system,” Feagans said over email. “It’s too early to understand what additional steps may need to be taken and, as such, the full impact.”

Howe also said over email that UTD will monitor the governor’s direction and comply with any new plans.

UTD has multiple departments with official TikTok accounts that are affected, such as @utdallasspirit, @utdallasdining and @official_ temoc. The Mercury reached out to the Comet Spirit program coaches and received no response.

and reiterated what makes a winning attitude.

“We've been together, draw together, lose together,” Sadorra said. “So, we are gonna own this. We're not just gonna forget about it. We're gonna take lessons from it. We're gonna analyze the tough games they played and stop blaming this and that … I believe the team’s just gonna get stronger with this experience.”

ship dynamic to appeal to each watcher. Each couple embodies a unique trope and moves at their own pace. For seasoned K-drama fans, there are both famous guest stars and nods to dramas that the actors have previously performed in.

If you liked the romances in “Strong Woman Do Bong Soon” and “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo,” the leads in “Sh**ting Stars” will finally be able to fill that gap in your heart from hoping for season two’s of your past favorite dramas. The show's uncannily in-tune lead couple and lovable cast are sure to crash into your heart like shooting stars.

ly lackluster for female fans. While the animation ends on a cliffhanger, it leaves fans anticipating a new season. The Netflix release makes it clear “Lookism” aims to reach a broader audience as it has taken a step in paving the way for other Webtoons to be adapted into animations on Netflix.

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curately matching the energy of the film. There is both hope and loss in participating in a culture that demands so much sacrifice, and the soundtrack encourages viewers to immerse themselves in that grit and glamour.

“How do you actually articulate the idea that you are a part of something called movie making that is bigger than you and all of us and everyone that loves movies and everyone who has devoted their lives to movies,” Plouffe said. “How do you do that? Damien and I used to say to each other [that] we’ve taken them to the highest highs and lowest lows, and now we want to vault them into the stars.”

Between the visually impactful scenes, moody soundtrack and the big cast of characters, the audience stays stimulated throughout the three hour run

time. Jack Conrad (Brad Pitt), Fay Zhu (Li Jun Li) and Sidney Palmer (Jovan Adepo) have fully fledged personalities and ambitions that made them seem real and they further show the cruelty of the industry through mental illness and the fetishization of people of color. They all have undeniable star power, yet the ways they cope with fame are incredibly different. Throughout the chaos of the film, Chazelle is able to keep the spotlight on multiple perspectives.

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The warehouse itself has been decorated solely with the intention of creating eye catching photo ops. There is a green room meant to look like the inside of a cloud as well as a bathtub repurposed with fake grass. There are no empty walls in the Dallas Open Mic. Sure, the main purpose of the event is to give musicians a platform, but the space itself doubles as a work of art that immerses artists and audiences in creativity.

Open Mic promotes the idea that the space is a judgement free zone. The event’s mantra is ‘Creators Don’t Die,’ a saying plastered all over the venue's walls and on

their social media. The space acts as a way to give their participants recognition, even if big record labels and fame don’t always follow performances.

“We believe in giving artists their roses before they die, which in rap, happens rarely,” Dae said.

The Dallas Open Mic gives creators the opportunity to step into the city’s bustling music scene. The main goal of the event is to bring together local producers, artists and musicians to make way for the next big names in Dallas.

“People like Post Malone came out of Dallas,” Dae said. “We’re just trying to find people passionate about their art like that.”

The event has a $15 entry fee and is every Tuesday night from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. Students interested in attending the event or performing can receive updates on the Instagram account, @dallasopenmic.

PARTH GHUMARE| MERCURY STAFF

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Super Smash Bros Ultimate will be Hrithik “Combo” Ochani.

Avery “Crow” Carter, Grayson “Kludgy” Brewster and Jason “jasonaa” Antwi-Appah will all be production leads for Overwatch, Rocket League and Valorant respectively. With Hawks departing and a

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made a three-pointer within the first five seconds of the game. After the Tigers scored a jumpshot, the men's team built up a 22-point lead by the last three minutes of the first half. The Tigers came back with a 16-point score in the

department

restructure, Carter, who has been working in broadcast for UTD Esports since 2020, is being promoted to the head of the Overwatch Broadcasting Department.

"I’m not really looking to do anything too major," Carter said. "Just looking to continue to buff out my casting resume, help my co-casters do the same

second half but were ultimately unable to overcome the Comets’ lead, as sophomore Luke Kiser scored two free throws in the last second of the game.

Poershcke scored a game high of 25 points with five rebounds. Computer science senior Will Isaac returned to the court to score nine points from field goals, support with

and use the new room to its full potential."

Brewster will also be acting as the broadcast and production manager, overseeing all of the aforementioned sections.

"I'm excited for the future of [production,] especially if we can get better computers to allow us to do cooler things," Brewster said.

nine assists, securing a block in the second half and making a career best with a pair of steals.

While UTD currently holds first place, East Texas Baptist University, the University of May-Hardin Baylor and Concordia University Texas are just behind them in second.

IMDB

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