The Mercury 04 25 22

With Holocaust Remembrance Day coming up on April 27, the UTD Theater’s spring play sheds light on an often-overlooked part of the horrors of Hitler’s regime: the persecution and murder of gay men.

History is not kind, here, and neither is director Chris Treviño’s staging. The show’s listed content warnings—including but not limited to assault, nudity and suicide—are accurate; proceed with caution. Cal Thompson, a visual and performing arts senior who plays the character Uncle Freddy, still found positivity in the show’s overarching positive message and representation, however.

“It’s a very heavy piece. It deals with a lot of very intense subject matter. As a queer person, having to deal with that and being in an environment where some people are hearing about it for the very first time can be very difficult,” he said. “But it is also a very gratifying play. Most of the characters in it—except for the Nazis—are queer.”

Playwright Martin Sherman’s “Bent” is set in late 1930s Germany, touching on Berlin’s underground LGBTQ+ scene and subsequent repression during World War II. The play opens just after a period known as the Night of the Long Knives, during which Hitler ordered the murder of critics and political opponents in order to consolidate the Nazi Party’s power. Protagonist Max is nursing a hangover with his lover Rudy and a guest from the night before when Nazi Stormtroopers force their way into the apartment, looking for their guest, who turns out to be a former Sturmabteilung trooper on the run. While Max and Rudy escape, Wulf (played by philosophy junior Daniel Underwood), is not so lucky. The pair swiftly go into hiding, but they are ultimately unable to leave Germany.

One of the highlights of this production is its deft tonal shift between comedic character interactions and the grim reality of their situation. Max and Rudy’s morning banter is just short of necessitating a laugh track, and watching Wulf realize Max is not the wealthy ticket out of Germany he’d been drunkenly promised the night before is excellent…until it ends with spilled blood. The switch that flips

Comets 'Bent' on remembering Holocaust

The UTD Theatre production brings to life play exploring WWII-era homosexuality, humanity and hope on stage

when a Stormtrooper opens the door instead of the couples’ expected nagging landlord is palpable. That wasn’t the first time I was lulled into a false sense of security by lighter scenes, either; by the end of the show, jokes just made me more nervous for the other shoe to drop. Still, the levity provided a powerful contrast to the show’s darker themes.

“Martin Sherman… hooks you in with the romantic comedy at the beginning, and then slaps you in the face with the end of that,” Underwood said. “From there, you've already grown attached to Rudy and Max and their dynamic and you have to witness everything that happens to them as the people in their life make their choices around them and what they're forced to do. I…it's just a whole deal.”

Gay men during the Holocaust isn’t an easy subject to cover. Moreover, Tthis play, furthermore, was one of the first to do so, originally opening in 1979, so it’s of historical note itself. Some of the revolutionary nature of , debuting at a time when homosexuality in the U.S. itself wasn’t yet decriminalized—let alone accepted—is lost to time, but the context remains all-too-relevant. Director Chris Trevino worked with the cast to fully research and understand the show’s historical background before performing.

“We did a couple weeks of table work on the show, wWe watched ‘Paragraph 175,’ ” a documentary interviewing gay Holocaust survivors, Trevino said. “My assistant director, Hayden Lopez, did a compendium, a lot of research…so we're saying it the right way and we know who we're talking about.” Trevino said.

Trevino, Thompson, Underwood, and other cast members all commented on the enduring relevance of the play. Murder rates of transgender BIPOC in particular are “alarming,” Trevino said, and anti-gay legislation such as Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law is a persistent problem.

“I've heard a lot of people talk about how heavily timely it is because of what we're dealing with,” Thompson said. “And they seem surprised by it, but for a lot of queer people, this has always been the reality…I It's very real, and it's gratifying to have other people finally take it seriously.”

SEE BENT, PAGE 8

Comets report alleged food poisoning at Dining Hall West

A Richardson health department inspection in early April found no major health violations in the facility

Several Comets reported becoming ill after eating at Dining Hall West. UTD denied food poisoning allegations, however, and campus facilities passed the City of Richardson’s subsequent health inspection.

The Mercury spoke with three students who became ill after eating at Dining Hall West on March 29, though many more filed reports of sickness. The source of the illness is not clear, but all three became ill within 12 hours of eating either the chicken or the pasta. Computer science freshman Jack Hoggard attributed his sickness to the pasta.

“I had pizza, and pasta and some garlic bread, I think it was,” Hoggard said. “It started around midnight. I remember kind of an uneasy, like queasy feeling, and I thought: ‘Oh, I’ll just go to bed, it’ll go away.’ And I remember waking up at probably three in the morning, and I was just in and out of the bathroom—throwing up and then turning around immediately and having diarrhea.

How Comets observe Ramadan

It was just kind of that cycle over and over again… until like 11 in the morning.”

UTD Dining said that the health of their guests is extremely important, and they commit to investigating all reports of issues immediately. Dining denied that Dining Hall West’s food was behind the reports of illness.

“UTD Dining was made aware that several students had stated they felt ill after eating a meal at Dining Hall West,” said Pam Stanley, director of Food &Retail Services with UTD Auxiliary Services, citing an emailed statement from Chartwells. “Then on April 7th, Dining Hall West received a visit by the local health department. Temperature logs, preparation steps and the equipment used were provided to the inspector. After a thorough inspection, the health inspector did not find any reason to believe the food would have been a cause of illness.”

The City of Richardson Health Department confirmed that Dining Hall West re-

SEE DINING, PAGE 8

Inside: Comets dress up for gala and reprom

FATIMAH AZEEM Opinion Editor

As the soulful call to prayer sounds, signifying sunset, healthcare freshman Siham Awel sinks her teeth into a chewy, sweet date—the first bite of sustenance she’s had in 16 hours.

Awel and a sizeable contingent of Muslim Comets abstain from eating and drinking from just before sunrise to just after sunset for 30 days during Ramadan. Ramadan, which shifts back by about a week and a half to two weeks every year to follow the lunar calendar, is fully during the school semester this year. During Ramadan, Muslims fast, read the Quran (Islamic scripture), pray special nightly prayers called tarawih and generally practice their best behavior to observe the month they believe the Quran was brought down to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The 30 days of Ramadan conclude with the full moon and a three-day celebration called Eid-alFitr, the largest Islamic celebration, which bears similar levels of importance to Easter for Christians.

“It’s one of the core pillars of Islam, so we should participate, [and] also it’s a time of year where I find myself able to reconnect with my faith,” Awel said. “Sometimes, more often than not, we

kind of drift away from our faith, especially within the settings we live in and all the different worldly things around us. So, I like that Ramadan helps recenter us. My spirituality has given me willpower, so the fasting part is not challenging. And generally, fasting is not very hard after you’ve done it a few times and get used to it.”

While the act of fasting itself is not difficult for Awel, she said that scheduling her day around suhoor or sahari, the meal consumed just before daybreak to prepare for fasting, and iftar, the meal consumed just after sunset to conclude the day’s fast, mildly complicates her schedule.

“It’s been very interesting for me and a lot of student Muslims to say the least, because Ramadan is 100% within the spring semester this year and school is in-person. My sleep schedule is a bit chaotic, given the fact that we have to wake up before the crack of dawn for suhoor before I sleep again for my classes in a few hours, but it’s manageable…It’s a bit of extra work, but

I’m not out of wack or anything, and it’s absolutely worth it,” Awel said.

Awel usually breaks her fast after a long day of classes with a date, a sweet nutritious fruit which Muslims are encouraged to begin iftar with in the Quran. The remainder of Awel’s iftar consists of ethnic foods such as samosas, light pastries and various curries she prepares with her family, but really Muslims can eat anything for iftar as long as it is halal, or “permissible”— a concept similar to “kosher” in Judaism. Among foods that aren’t halal are pork, alcohol and any sort of animal product in which the animal wasn’t slaughtered humanely.

— Siham Awel

Sarah Baig, CS senior and the event coordinator for the Muslim Student Association on campus, says halal foods are offered at MSA’s Iftar Dining Service. Partnered with EPIC Masjid, Muslim students can grab a hot box of food from EPIC’s daily iftar feasts in Dining Hall West thirty

A series of brilliant cast performances from Mitchell Horn, Cal Thompson, Curtis Gerstner, Fahad Ahmed and others brings Treviño’s vision for the play to life on stage. "Bent" will run 8 p.m. shows on campus through April 30.

It's one of the core pillars of Islam...it's a time of year where I find myself able to recconect with my faith.

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Corrections/ Clarifications

Bring factual errors or innacuracies to the attention of The Mercury’s staff by emailing editor@ utdmercury.com or calling (972) 8832287 and a correction will be published in this space in a future issue.

UTDPD Blotter

April 12

• A person unaffiliated with UTD reported a sexual assault at 6:12 p.m.

April 18

• An unknown person stole a baseball glove and baseball bat from the Activity Center locker room at 4:42 p.m.

April 19

• A phone charger was reported stolen on campus at 12:51 p.m.

April 21

• At 8:32 p.m. a student reported damage on his vehicle in Lot D while it was unattended.

Service Dogs embark upon new journey

UTD Service-dogs in Training prepares to graduate two pups on to off-campus professional program

Despite a “ruff” year in quarantine, service-dogs-in-training Ohana and Winnie are set to graduate from the UTD SIT (Service-dog In Training) club this week and matriculate to a professional pathway with Canine Companions. For outgoing SIT president and business administration senior Aubrey Rowan, it’s a bittersweet occasion.

“Ohana’s the second puppy I raised,” Rowan said. “When our dogs graduate…we usually do a celebration here on campus with our students in the club so [they] can say hello one last time before they head off.”

This is both Ohana and Rowan’s last semester at UTD. Rowan’s first puppy, Colby, was released on medical leave and is now training to become a licensed therapy dog.

UTD SIT has been raising dogs on campus since 2016, bringing them to club meetings and classes alike. With their unusually calm demeanor indoors, university faculty and staff remember Ohana and Winnie fondly—even from

their puppy years.

“They're like the best-behaved pets you're ever going to have in university housing. Most of the professors like having them in class—you don't notice them, which is the goal,” Rowan said. “They're better at class than I am sometimes.”

Kristen Lawson, an assistant professor in the School of Management, had both of Rowan’s dogs—Colby and Ohana— during her first semester on campus. She wished the pair of graduates the best in the next phase of their training journey.

“Both Colby and Ohana were great to have in class, never disruptive to me, Aubrey or the other students (although I do remember at one point hearing one of the gently sighing at a particularly boring point in my lecture, which seemed like an apt criticism),” Lawson said over email. “I love this program and am so glad we have it at UTD.”

Evidently, causing disruption is not so much a concern from the dogs as it is from the people around them. “Driveby petting” (when passers-by don’t ask permission before petting dogs on duty) and students calling to them can be com -

Retrograde Reads: 'Well'

Maybe this book hit me so hard because I read it while violently ill, but I’d like to believe it’s more due to Sandro Galea’s sheer skill as a writer. Between a veritable horde of academic citations, clear explanations of a dizzyingly complex subject matters and an incredibly wellconstructed argument for reforming the American healthcare system, “Well” is one of the most persuasive books I have ever read.

First things first, the author’s name alone is a big draw. Galea is one of the most cited authors in social sciences for a reason: he knows his stuff. Don’t let that STEM focus scare you away, though. “Well” stands out in this kind of nonfiction text for its persuasive use of narration and stories in advocate for healthcare reform, drawing on data and lived experiences alike to make his case.

And what a case it is! The thesis of this book is a complete restructuring of the way we define and approach medicine as a discipline. America tends to focus in on “sick-care” rather than “healthcare,” Galea argues, with reactive measures like cures research and medication to address symptoms rather than preventative actions that would prevent sickness from arising in the first place. Asthma is treatable, for example, but rates continue to skyrocket, including that of childhood mortality. “Well” asks a question I’ve never considered before: why aren’t the regulatory loopholes allowing pollution in residential areas and school zones considered part of this problem? If we widen our definition of healthcare and preventative medicine, we can address the environmental causes of asthma to bring down rates, rather than produce more and more inhalers.

“To be truly healthy, we must understand what produces health, follow where the data lead and then be clear-eyed about enacting the measures that address these forces,” Galea writes. “If we do this with the same vigor reserved for, say, taking antibiotics when we have an infection, there's no limit on where society can go from here.”

He doesn’t stop at considering environ-

mental pollutants either. Each chapter of “Well” is dedicated to different facets of this shift towards preventative medicine, including social bonds, economic inequality and political processes. There’s an in-depth discussion of LBJ’s wheeling and dealing to create Medicaid/Medicare, for instance—and there’s another green flag for quality in citing Robert Caro as the authoritative source on the former president—and what’s changed in the political landscape since then.

It’s important to note that “Well” was penned pre-COVID-19. It’s certainly aged well, with a prescient mention of vaccine hesitancy, although Galea understandably doesn’t spend too much time on it. Even his prophetic abilities are limited. Still, overall, the points he makes have aged incredibly well, and you don’t have to imagine Galea shouting in vindication: he is. Last fall saw the publication of his pandemic-focused sequel, “The Contagion Next Time.” This book’s critique of public health infrastructure makes good company with Bill Gates’ 2015 TED Talk on the world’s lack of pandemic preparedness Galea does walk close to that cliff’s edge of covering too much. It can be tempting, writing something like this, to get carried away, and lose the central thesis in a “Book of Everything.” Miraculously, however, he pulls back from the pit, refocusing on tangible improvements to the American medical system. So bear with him through the discussions of philosophy and Auden’s poetry—it will not only come back to the point shortly, but be made relevant to the central point. Galea has a thesis, and he sticks to it in succinct and persuasive prose. Emphasis on “succinct.” I don’t know what magic he did to cram all this in 210 pages, but it kept me hooked throughout.

If ever there were a book to put on every medicine or politics-adjacent major’s reading list, this is it. When Galea manages to make statements like “Health is other people” and “We must love one another or die” between quantitative data and concrete proposals for improvement, I can’t help but recommend it to anyone looking for “Well”-ness in today’s world.

mon distractions for the service-dogs-intraining.

“A dog is a piece of medical equipment for these people, just like a wheelchair, and you wouldn't just go up to someone and pet their wheelchair,” Rowan said. “You can't do that to a service dog either… it’s not there for you; it’s there for the person it’s working for.”

That’s one thing that’s gotten better over the pandemic: Rowan says that social distancing may have contributed to making people a little more hesitant to approach without permission. Still, trainers and their classmates are “excited to be back in-person,” with successful events showcasing the dogs held throughout the semester and many more ahead. Biology sophomore Madison Ibe, the incoming SIT president, hopes to expand SIT’s public events moving forward.

“I’d love to do some more work with the [Office of Student AccessAbility],” Ibe said. “And, of course, increasing events and stuff—hopefully with more puppies we’ll be able to do a little bit more.”

Indeed, more dogs are set to enter the

program next year—meaning more future graduates if all goes well. Although Rowan came into college with prior knowledge on dog-raising, SIT itself doesn’t require members to have experience to start learning how to train dogs.

Ibe will be welcoming her first puppy on campus—Fawn—sometime next month.

“I’m pretty excited, I’m a little nervous. I haven’t raised any puppies…but my co-raiser has, and I have a great support system with the club,” Ibe said. “I'm happy to get to do something that helps the medical community and can really impact somebody's life someday.”

SIT will celebrate Ohana and Winnie at a public party on April 28. Club tradition dictates that graduating dogs choose between food bowls labelled with different career paths, followed by, of course, copious amounts of treats and playtime as a final send-off before graduation.

Finally, they will be “turned-in” to a professional trainer at Canine Companions and move into the next stage of the service training process. And after that, for these two beloved Comet pups, the paws-sibilities are endless.

dunn brothers coffee

This unique version of the midwestern coffee chain has a few positive differences

Since it is partnered with a climbing gym, beer, wine and a bouldering room are present alongside the coffee at Dunn Bros.

Yet another northern coffee chain has transplanted itself into DFW in the last few years, but our particular local branch of Dunn Brothers Coffee arrived with some unique circumstances.

Just down the road from the Walmart on Coit Road, Dunn Brothers looks an awful lot like an upscale Starbucks at first glance. Take a few moments to take everything in, though, and the differences become clearer. A bouldering training room attached to the same building? Naan pizzas and Red Bull infusions? A beer and wine selection? Why is this Dunn Brothers the way that it is, and why does that make it better?

The Richardson franchise of Dunn Brothers opened in 2019 as part of the Summit Climbing complex across the street, under that facility’s ownership. It’s open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and offers booze as a part of its dedication to the climbers from across the street. This features in the design of the coffee shop as well; the café takes up about half the size of the SU Starbucks and has a bouldering training room connected to it. Another part of the design arethe large windows that make up the majority of the outside-facing walls, which assistant general manager Jacob “Goose” Ostrander said was part of the intentional design, alongside the alcohol.

“[The owners] wanted the kind of space where people could come in, sit and work. It’s the same reason why there’s so many big windows that just kind of fit around the entire area, because it gives an open space… It gives you the room to have the privacy to work,” Goose said.

The café does feel open, and it has a great free internet speed of about 274.3 Mbps down and 38.4 Mbps up. But how does the coffee shape up? Well, a product primed for direct comparison is the Vanilla Iced Nirvana (a nitro vanilla cold brew that Dunn Brothers offers). It is not unlike Starbucks’ own Vanilla Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew. I originally thought that “nitro” was some marketing buzzword, but I was pleasantly surprised to be find that it meant that nitrogen was spun into the drink to give it a frothy texture— and it feels amazing. When you drink Dunn Brothers’ nitro cold brew, it starts with a bubbly froth before going smooth down the throat. It’s the best texture that I’ve had so far from a coffee, whereas the Starbucks offering might as well have been a differently named latte.

“But Ben, I don’t drink Starbucks because it tastes nice and feels good to drink; I drink it for the caffeine!”

Well, theoretical Starbucks fanboy, Dunn Brothers has them beat on that front, too. The “Infinite Black” brew they use not only has a

great flavor (while its exact blend is a secret, it reminds me of a different Brazilian blend) but also packs quite the caffeine punch. As a caffeine addict myself, Starbucks’ cold brew lasted me until about 3 a.m., which is when I normally sleep anyway. Dunn Brothers’ involuntarily kept me awake until eight in the morning. At a similar price point (you can actually remove the nitrogen to shave off a dollar as well), Dunn Brothers has good-tasting caffeine. Why choose between caffeine and flavor when you can have both?

If you’re feeling upscale for lunch, the menu offerings are made to order and taste great, with the naan pizza being sized and priced for solo consumption. Approximately $10 will get anything food-related on the menu, but the coffee by itself is worth the visit— though I do recommend the chicken pesto pizza to lunchtime visitors.

While Dunn Brothers is an invasive species from the north, like Starbucks and Dutch Bros before it, its offerings of competitivelypriced and flavorful coffee combined with an open working space make it a compelling alternative to the SU Starbucks. And, if you become a member of the Summit Climbing Gym across the way, you’ll get a 10% discount. So, Dunn Brothers provides a nice alternative way to get your latest fix— and a workout— near campus.

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ADI DOMINGUEZ | MERCURY STAFF

“The Gala has been a blast, let me tell you. One of the best UTD events I’ve gone to. We came in here, a beautiful orchestra playing – like Beethoven, Bach level. And then we go to this fashion show – oh my, let me tell you. The production was so clean, the models looked beautiful, gorgeous, stunning, stellar! I can’t describe it anymore than just: woah! Everything was so aesthetic – 10 out of 10, couldn’t have asked for a better performance. And the interpretation dancing was amazing, flawless – there were many ways to see it, it opened my eyes wide open.”

Eric Cao, Junior Computer Science

“It’s always been my dream since middle school to do modeling. When this opportunity to model at the AIGA fashion show came up, I had to try it. And it was such a great experience -- I had so much fun. This is something to look back on further in the future… My designer was really good designer, she treated me very well, got makeup artists, and people to do my hair. She just took care of me and I love her – I couldn’t ask for a better designer or a better experience.”

Vivian Nguyen, Sophomore Computer Science

COMET GALA

The weekend of April 15th marked a barrage of red carpet outfits and sensorial spaces. From a cascading curtain of handmade cranes, to student art displays and local vendors, AIGA UTD's first iteration of the Comet Gala provided a night for Comets to witness the creativity of their community. The following night, XAI crowned their Moon and Sun Celestials at their annual Re-prom, where members of the diaternity and guests could dance and enjoy themselves in a safe space. Music from Radio UTD and student-run activity booths made for a luminous night to remember.

“XAI’s re-prom theme is Safe Space, as a lot of queer people do love the celestial theme and space. Queer people can come in comfortable as they are, coming with who they want to come with. The biggest thing for me is being able to celebrate tonight with my partner. Honestly, 99% of spaces, we can’t just be together in that way. Tonight’s a night where we can feel safe in each other’s arms in front of everyone.” --

Natasha Rahman, Senior Mechanical Engineering

Calisthenics parks provide missing UTD fitness solution

Outdoor

The UTD gym does not provide enough space for students. This crowding problem will only get worse as the university grows, but all hope is not lost. Consider the idea of using the outdoor space already available on campus, instead of the hundreds of thousands of square footage involved in building a new facility. This space would then be home to a few pull-up bars and dip bars. What we have is a cost effective and timely solution: a calisthenics park.

UTD is a fast-growing university. In 2008, the student population was approximately 14,000. Today, the student population is just over 29,000 Comets. With this in mind, it makes sense that the school’s largely unrenovated gym facilities can no longer accommodate students properly. The Mercury article, “More waits than weights” explores this capacity issue in more detail. Naturally, it would be nice to have another gym; if only it were so simple. A project for a new facility could take years to generate funding and approval. It would cost a lot of money to build, as well. As an example, Texas A&M recently approved the construction of a new recreation center, with an estimated cost of $35 million. Even if there were sufficient funding for a similar project at UTD, the facility has to be filled with treadmills, weight racks, weight plates, dumbbells, barbells, kettlebells, cable machines, benches and bicycles; all of which would be very expensive. By comparison, a calisthenics park would be much less expensive and significantly quicker to build.

First of all, it would be a waste not to take advantage of UTD’s beautiful campus and nice weather. An outdoor environment encourages people to interact. The calisthenics parks that I have visited always have a friendly, open vibe. There is a strong sense of community and willingness to learn from each other. These parks are also accessible to all levels; from advanced athletes doing planches to those just learning pull-ups, everyone is welcome. It is all about using the environment to make the workout challenging for you. This is one of the most unique and beautiful

things about this sport.

Calisthenics parks come in all shapes and sizes. An ideal calisthenics park, such as the ones in Europe, have large monkey bar-like structures for pull-ups and a long dip bar. However, a good workout park does not need to be that fancy. A simple pull-up bar and a dip bar is all that is necessary, with the addition of more bars to accommodate more people. A great thing about calisthenics is how easy it is to share with others, because one does not need to occupy a station for a long period of time. The sport also benefits from group trainings, circuits and similar routines. Besides, even a crowded park feels much more open than a closed, stuffy gym.

Activity Center expansion

An ideal location would be in the Student Union courtyard. This space is open and in a perfect meeting spot. This area is generally noisy anyways, so a workout station would be a good fit. I can just picture students working out there; having fun, blasting music, and getting food afterwards. The only downside is that this area is sometimes used for UTD events, so it could get in the way. However, a simple station shouldn’t be too intrusive, and it is a large area.

Alternatively, the patch of grass right behind the area, around the food truck park and ECSN, is also a fantastic spot. A few trees may need to be removed to make a more open space, but this area is otherwise unused. It perfectly accommodates a few pullup bars, a dip bar and maybe even a pushup bar. A small, simple calisthenics station would be ideal here, right in the heart of the UTD campus. Only the squirrels and rabbits would be bothered.

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TYLER BURKHARDT Editor-In-Chief

would have the possibility of working out in the fresh air, an excellent alternative to the crowded gym. Busy students could even complete a few sets to stay active between classes. The environment of the park would allow for people to train together and motivate each other. There is even potential for unofficial competitions organized by students.

Building a calisthenics park does not cost millions of dollars and takes far less time to build than a new recreation facility. If UTD were to have a top-tier calisthenics park, the best of the best quality, it would probably cost at about $10,000.

If UTD built a calisthenics park, students

Lights, Camera, Play!

'Last of Us' TV show must learn from second game's plot issues and controversies

ANDRE AVERION

Mercury Staff

HBO’s highly anticipated “The Last Of Us” TV show is leaking details like spores in a zombie outbreak. With its all-star cast, legendary source material and ludicrous budget, it could easily be the show to revitalize the series, but I believe only if it takes notes from the backlash to “The Last of Us: Part 2,” which divided the fanbase.

Starring impressive talents such as “The Mandalorian'' actor Pedro Pascal as the gruff Texan Joel Miller and “Game of Thrones” actress Bella Ramsey as the LGBTQ icon Ellie Williams, this 2023 adaptation promises to invite fans back to a lush apocalypse of cordyceps zombies in the footsteps of the initial game. Personally, I couldn’t be more excited. The 2011 Naughty Dog game was a universally acclaimed staple of legendary storytelling that masterfully executed the human elements of each character. Seeing the

many leaks of the environment and costume designs, it looks like HBO will deliver on bringing that to small screen. However, the controversy of its 2020 videogame sequel still haunts the series, and if HBO wants any future success beyond the initial wave of novelty-driven interest, they need to start dealing with aspects of the sequel in the show’s plotline immediately.

“The Last of Us: Part 2” switched genres from a beloved thriller about a father-daughter relationship during the apocalypse to a teeth-gritting story about revenge, and its execution divided fans. Despite a review embargo, critics praised the game for a world of stunning visuals and revolutionary gameplay that I personally did enjoy. However, the loudest fans delivered a year-long tirade of criticism over the plot that I could also agree with. As a member of the fandom , my expectations were frustratingly subverted when well-established characters acted completely out of character to drive the plot. Some argue

SEE LOU PAGE 8

It would not be too difficult for the UTD campus to accommodate a workout park. You simply need a nice, open area, ideally already with grass (setting up turf would add expenses and be tedious). The location must also be able to tolerate noise, and should be in a recognizable spot for students to find: the courtyards outside the new Sciences building or the residence halls and spaces near the Classroom Buildings and Activity Center, for example.

Building a calisthenics park does not cost millions of dollars and takes far less time to build than a new recreation facility. If UTD were to have a top-tier calisthenics park, the best of the best quality, it would probably cost at about $10,000. That is how much a custom setup by BarManiaPro, a company that builds custom workout parks in Europe, costs. A pre-designed park would be cheaper— Fit-Trail, for example, offers sets ranging between $6,000 to $9,000. There are dozens of YouTube videos of people constructing DIY calisthenics parks in their yards using basic hardware supplies, as well; that has the potential for student involvement. Regardless, even the most expensive workout stations are still far cheaper than a new gym. The cost could add up if various spots are built on campus, but one park alone can make a difference.

Ultimately, a calisthenic park is viable alternative to expanding the gym and would provide students with more options in the short-term. An outdoor park can be a place for students to stay healthy, challenge each other, learn skills, share passion, have fun, and make connections. UTD should explore opportunities for incorporating such a structure into well-situated places on campus.

Where did the year go? The pages of our academic calendars have flown by at a breakneck pace, propelled as if by an occult hand, and now we’re within a month of summer. It’s a good reminder to those of us who aren’t graduating this semester (they’ve already learned this lesson): your time in college goes by quick. So, Comets, take advantage of your time on campus and get involved as frequently as you can. College presents a rare opportunity to be surrounded by 25,000 other precisely agebased peers. And yes, while schoolwork is both challenging and a primary priority—we’re students, after all–it is not all-consuming. We tend to have time for the things we choose to make space for. Plus, some Department of Education research indicates that teenage students regularly participating in extracurriculars may be up to three times as likely to have a 3.0 or better!

The benefits don’t stop there. Extra-curricular activities have been shown to facilitate problem-solving abilities, enable better adaptability and expression of emotion, enhance students’ general wellbeing and contribute to the development of improved interpersonal skills. But most importantly, they create an outlet for you to plug into different aspects of the Comet community. Extracurriculars aren’t just transactional chores to complete in order to improve your GPA, mental wellbeing, and career prospects—they’re also meant to be fun, as strictly voluntary associations.

So, join a weekly trivia group, play intramural sports, or if you’re looking to improve your written communication, perhaps apply to write for The Mercury. Find your niche here, and if it doesn’t exist yet, leave your own mark on the constantly growing list of more than 400 student organizations. UTD provides countless opportunities to connect with peers and bond around common interests, hobbies, or professions before you move into the comparative isolation of adulthood. Don’t miss it.

SG? Never heard of 'em

BEN NGUYEN Managing Editor

Students have long stopped caring about Student Government, and with the conclusion of this spring’s elections, it doesn't look like student government cares about themselves either.

Oh, haven’t you heard? The Student Gov-

ernment elections took place about a month ago, from March 28 to March 30. You can be forgiven for potentially missing out on the elections, as even though a reminder was pumped into every student’s email multiple times, less than 5,000 students voted for representatives for the “important” positions of all the various senators, the president and the vice president. If you didn't, you're part of the 80% of students who didn't notice or care.

This issue of apathy is so long-running, this isn’t even the first Mercury op-ed to mention it. Seven years ago, former editor-inchief Esteban Bustillos wrote a heartfelt plea to the student body to start caring about Student Government. After attending a Student Government debate in the Student Union that was largely ignored in favor of pool games and conversations, Bustillos said that The Mercury would support the candidates, even though they didn’t endorse any.

“That will sometimes mean praise, that will sometimes mean criticism. But more than anything, it means caring. Unfortunately, it sometimes feels like we’re some of the only people who do,” Bustillos said.

Seven years later, it almost feels like betrayal of that legacy for me to not care at all about SG. But if I didn't get drafts in my inbox about once a month with the SG report, not even I would be able to really tell you that SG exists.

This is largely because Student Government doesn’t do itself any favors. The meetings may be open, but who would want to attend them? Isn’t the whole point of electing a representative being that the students then don’t have to spend a significant time thinking about issues? There are no posters about significant meetings or resolutions, only eight tweets this semester and other social media posts were mostly about elections or events that SG happened to help organize. How are people supposed to know what this organization does?

Times have changed. In order to connect with the student population and learn what they want, they have to leverage social media and in-person events. It's not 1992 or 2016: a recurring writeup in The Mercury is not

SEE SG, PAGE 8

'Seconds' highlights dangers of obsessing over past mistakes

better way to move on from it.

SIHANYA ROCHA Mercury Staff

Many of us wish we had the power to go back and change things. “Seconds” by Bryan Lee O'Malley explores that natural urge to alter past regrets, with the twist that our protagonist uses the powers of a house spirit to go back and change those small regrets we all obsess over. There are greater consequences to getting a do-over, however, showing that facing the aftermath a of a bad decision might be the

“Seconds” follows a talented young chef named Katie, who runs a successful restaurant and is pursuing her dream of opening another one where she’s head owner. Despite things going well for her, as always, life happens. Progress on the new business starts to get delayed, her ex-boyfriend reappears, the fling she's been having with another chef starts to go downhill and to top it all off one of her waitresses gets badly hurt due to said fling. If there were ever someone needing a do-over, Katie was it.

Now, here is where things get interesting. In the middle of night after the

incident with the waitress, a mysterious girl appears to give her a chance for redemption. Yet, as we see Katie and the mysterious girl—who turns out to be a house spirit—start to develop a tumultuous back-and-forth relationship, we learn that there are rules to the magic where this “second chance” comes from, and Katie quickly gets in the habit of abusing it. By using the folklore of house spirits as the vessel for this time-altering magic, O'Malley creates a situation where we are made to see how our actions and decisions don’t just affect ourselves but also those around us in ways we might never

equipment is an easily-implementable, cost-effecient stopgap until eventual

BEN NGUYEN | MANAGING EDITOR

An outdoor calisthenics park would be a relatively affordable way to give Comets more spaces in which to practice bodyweight exercises, like pullups.

DANIELLE BELL | MERCURY STAFF

Through its main character, Max, “Bent” engages a fascinating discussion of masculinity and gender norms, as well. ATEC sophomore Mitchell Horn’s portrayal of Max’s inner conflict throughout the show is riveting, especially when placed in contrast to biology senior Fahad Ahmed’s compelling choice of a Rudy that is more comfortable with feeling and femininity. Both are foiled by Horst, a fellow

DINING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ceived a visit from an inspector on April 7. According to a public database maintained by the city of Richardson Health Department, the Dining Hall has received inspections twice a year since 2017 and regularly scores 90 out of 100 or higher. Dining Hall West has previously lost marks only for issues with handwashing facilities.

“No hot water is provided at hand sink in pizza station,” an

RAMADAN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

minutes to an hour after iftar. Meals through this service are free for those on a meal plan and come with a fee for those that aren’t. Additionally, students can register to attend iftar at EPIC Masjid if they want to pray tarawih at the mosque after they eat.

“We want to try and accommodate all of the Muslim students that live on campus. I live on campus myself and I know how hard it can be living alone during Ramadan. When you’re already tired after classes, it’s hard to cook for yourself and some people don’t have cars to get food. So, our plan was to bring the food to students, to a location that’s accessible… and easy for them to benefit from” Baig said.

MSA provides a plethora of other programs to help Muslims students feel connected to their faith this Ramadan. Included are weekly male and female Quran circles, religious workshops, culturally-themed if-

that character changes are natural given the seven-year gap between the games, however, contextually we weren’t given enough explanation for the sudden change of pace to be anything beyond poor taste or shock value. During the 2020 launch, similar fan outcry was heard at every corner of the internet for several reasons, such as the unceremonious and unconvincing death of Joel, and the choice to force story players to see through the eyes of his killer Abby Anderson, the antithesis and antagonist of Ellie. As critics and developers heavily campaigned to promote game positivity, while simultaneously calling opposing fans “bigots,” they created a rift among the fanbase between whether the plot was masterful or infected with poor storytelling. It’s been two years since the game became a center of controversy, but that doesn’t mean that the TV show is safe whenever they reach that plot line.

If HBO’s adaptation doesn’t start introducing– and re-

SG CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

prisoner in Dachau, played brilliantly by finance junior Curtis Gerstner.

“Playing Max has been one of the best experiences I have ever had,”

Horn said. “Not only is this play written beautifully, but the time I have spent with the cast and crew has been more than I could have asked for. This is a story that needs to be told.”

“Bent” will be running for a second weekend on April 28, 29 and 30, with shows starting at 8 p.m. in the University Theatre. Tickets are $15.

inspection report from Feb. 2022 said. “Water temperature measured at 95 degrees F. Repair sink to provide hot water of at least 100 degrees F.”

UTD Dining encouraged any students experiencing illness to immediately report their symptoms to Dining Services, which will then conduct a detailed investigation into other complaints of illness and the status of the location, remaining food supplies and the supplier. Dining stressed

tar gatherings and speaker panels, among many other events advertised on MSA’s Instagram, @msautdallas. “Ramadan is about building that feeling of community. It’s a month you want to interact with people, especially this year since last year we were all isolated and virtual. [So,] we’re trying to facilitate that environment of community…,” Baig said. “Something people might not know is that you can still fast during Ramadan even if you’re not Muslim to show support for your friends. So, you know, while a lot of our educational programming is to help Muslims strengthen their faith, nonMuslims are also welcome to come and learn new things about Islam and their peers.”

In addition to student groups like MSA, the University itself has several accommodations Muslim students can make use of to practice their faith. The Reflection Rooms on the bottom floor of the Student Union serve as a designated praying space with separate male and female

solving– aspects of “The Last of Us: Part 2” within the narrative of their show early, then later seasons will suffer the same backlash. We have seen that it doesn’t matter how good a game or show in this case) is when it come to taking the brunt of the controversy. However, HBO has all the notes they need to succeed: the IP’s source material alone will revitalize interest in the series. It wasn’t too long ago when the internet blew up over Pedro Pascal taking the role of Joel and they have both the actors and budget to pull off a convincing rendition of the overgrown world that fans first fell in love with.

The game already played like a movie, but since the thrill of its gameplay will be limited to cinematography alone, the show will need to expand beyond the initial narrative that’s already been told. HBO should focus on adding new details and changing elements to be more dynamic for television, such as exploring more about Abby and her motivations, the death of her father or how Joel– whose hallmark

the most effective way to engage with the student populace. One of the most effective SG efforts was a new iteration of the Blank Space Project that people at least saw in the high-traffic SU and participated in the event launch for. But they have to do more than that. SG has to show the student body that they care if they want the student body to care, and thus lend legitimacy to their own voice.

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be aware of. While her waitress was hurt, for example, that accident gave Katie the chance to get to know someone who had been desperately wanting to talk with her. That opportunity wouldn’t have come about without the mistake.

Or that chef Katie’s romantically involved with: fixing her past mistakes would preclude her learning about his respect

The Thursday, April 28 performance will feature a post-show discussion on “Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the Arts” available in-person and on Youtube. There will be a teach-in on LGBTQ+ history on Microsoft Teams at noon Friday, April 29, as well.

“This show is incredibly important. I hope everyone can come see it,” Underwood said. “From the bottom of my heart, to everyone that comes to see the show: you will enjoy it.”

that it has a strict program for food safety, including training for all Dining Managers and regular food safety inspections.

“UTD Dining is committed to consistently serving the best quality food, and serving this campus community safely is our top priority,” Stanley said. “Again, we encourage any student who is feeling ill to contact the UTD Student Health Center and report their issue to UTD Dining here: foodservice@utdallas.edu.”

praying areas. This room is open as long as the SU is open, which covers the time for at least four of the five daily prayers Muslims must complete. The SU also has foot wash stations in both the male and female SU bathrooms nearby for students to perform “wudu,” a cleaning ritual that includes washing the feet before prayer. Lastly, as for all religions, Muslim students can request accommodations from their professors for Ramadan or Eid following instructions in their undergraduate or graduate school.

“I want to say that Ramadan is [in] no way a burden to me or any other Muslims,” Awel said. “It’s something we partake in voluntarily and it’s really a beautiful month where we all find ourselves getting closer to our religion and finding ourselves more charitable and trying to be kinder to one another and just trying to better ourselves as people. Hopefully, people are able to see those aspects of Ramadan and not just the fact that we’re not eating or drinking.”

characteristic is caution– came to trust armed strangers. This would be a perfect time to insert preparation and foreshadowing for “The Last Of Us: Part 2,” so audiences will be more immediately accepting and appreciative of the plot’s turn. By all accounts, this feat is achievable with 2019 “Chernobyl” writer Craig Mazin and original “The Last Of Us” lead developer Neil Druckmann heading up the 10-episode script that will surely get a second season. A season the franchise and fans definitely deserves, as well, if they prepare fans for the inevitability of what’s to come.

Arguably, the controversy of “The Last of Us: Part 2” is testimony to how powerful the initial narrative was to invoke that level of emotion, even if it did come at the bitter expense of a divided fanbase. If HBO wishes to produce the same legendary narrative, they need to start preparing for what brought backlash last time to avoid repeating history. Fans deserve better, and so far the leaks of the show indicate that it will do just that.

But that’s the sad part. It’s not even that the student body is apathetic. It feels like SG itself is apathetic towards its own existence. Three days to not only figure out the candidates, but also to vote? Unlike local elections, SG has the entirety of campus and a whole semester to put up highly visible flyers and posters, run events in guaranteed high-traffic areas and ingrain themselves in the ethos of the student body long before elections. Instead, they stripped the process down to a three-day window,

for her and desire to become friends and equals. None of this would have come to light because she was too obsessed with fixing past mistakes and wasn’t taking the time to slow down and focus on the good things around her.

O’Malley also creates a situation where the rules to the magic are beyond our comprehension, forcing the reader to just accept that this is an ancient thing that has always been around and not

Crossword Answers

marketed by a sparsely-attended third-party presidential debate that went live on YouTube mere hours before the election closed at 4 p.m.—which is also a terrible deadline for students used to 11:59 p.m. deadlines.

This apathy is also apparent in how many people run. There are empty positions galore, so much so that AMP's web editor ran for one of the graduate senator seats as a joke and won because they were unopposed. SG simply feels like a do-noth-

try to force logic into it. Katie’s unpredictable journey is all a metaphor for the phrase “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.”

In terms of art style, if you didn’t recognize the name Bryan Lee O'Malley already, you might recognize his style from the “Scott Pilgrim” series. In “Seconds,” O'Malley’s art style

ing entity—few people run, campus participation is minimal and nobody knows what in the world they do.

It greatly amuses me that seven years after Bustillos’ letter, I could hardly care less about the unintentionally hidden institution of Student Government. It saddens me to consider that seven years down the line, somebody on the next editorial board might care even less than I do.

is still the whimsical and cartoony style many fell in love with, but his use of panels and fourth-wall breaking is a bit more tame and intimate. As in “Scott Pilgrim,” O'Malley talks to the audience directly, but also to our main character, creating this rapport with Katie where readers can forget that it is him talking and not Katie’s subconscious or intrusive thoughts. This intimacy through fourth wall breaks is created by the

way he chooses to organize his comic panels and text. For example, by having a lot of these fourth wall breaks with him in the margins and Katie within the panel, we see how there’s a continued back-and-forth between her as a character and him as the writer.

the present. Along with that, we must accept that there are things we cannot change– the past being a definite example of what’s unchangeable. As satisfying as it can be in the moment to reminisce over lost possibilities, there is a grace to acceptance that we must learn to embrace.