UTD Rooms returns for student use

SMRITHI UPADHYAYULA Mercury Staff

As students return to in-person classes once again, so does the UTD Rooms app.

The app was developed by Mithil Viradia, who graduated from UTD in spring 2020 with a degree in computer engineering. It uses data from Coursebook to determine which rooms on campus do not have classes scheduled in them at a given time and are thus open for public use. It also adapts to user feedback, allowing students to mark empty rooms as “open” in real time.

Viradia shut down the app during the COVID-19 lockdown, but brought it back alongside UTD’s return to in-person instruction due to popular demand.

Students use open classrooms for everything from group study sessions, to socializing, to club meetings and some feel that this is an integral part of what was missing while classes were virtual.

The UTD Rooms app streamlines the process of finding an empty room for any of these purposes.

Alison Spadaro, a sophomore mathematics and physics double-major, is involved in a variety of student organizations, holding leadership roles in Student Government and on CV Council. Being able to use classroom spaces has helped her make the most of being back on campus.

“Being back in person has given me the chance to visit buildings I’ve never been to before,” Spadaro said. “Since I’m so busy with classes, a lot of times I don’t have time to attend events or study during the day. The ability to use classroom spaces after hours is definitely a plus in that regard.”

Empty classrooms can be a platform for great times. One of Spadaro’s most memorable experiences at UTD was a crafting and movie night held in a class -