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July 29, 2019
THE MERCURY
UTDMERCURY.COM
E M A I L S C A M S TA R G E T C A M P U S CO M M U N I T Y
New security measures include upgraded filtering software, incorporating two-factor authentication
STORY BY: EMAAN BANGASH | MANAGING EDITOR GRAPHICS BY: RYAN MAGEE | VIDEO EDITOR
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n the past month, multiple posts have been made by students on the UTD subreddit about scam emails offering prestigious job opportunities and linking to suspicious websites. University officials said that the messages were linked to compromised university emails, and a new filtering software that has been in the works since December was recently put in place to help further prevent issues like this. Chief Information Security Officer Nate Howe said that around 85% of scam emails were filtered using the now-outdated filtering software Cisco Email Security, and the 15% that weren’t filtered can contain scams from compromised email accounts belonging to professors, faculty or students. “It comes from an internal location and you automatically trust it, like if it’s from a professor or student, and those are valuable accounts,” Howe said. The UTD Information Security Office implemented a new email filtering system, Microsoft Office 365’s Exchange Online Protection on July 19. Howe said the office is also looking to incorporate two-factor authentication through the Duo app into many of UTD’s most-used programs including Box.com, Galaxy and PeopleSoft by the end of the calendar year. “But it’s not going to be 100%, I don’t think we’ll get to
→ SEE SCAMS,
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University launches new brand campaign ‘SpeedofBright’celebratesUTD's50thanniversary, increasesvisibilityinDFWareathroughadvertising
RYAN MAGEE | MERCURY STAFF
Construction recently began on various Student Union eateries such as Subway (pictured), which will be replaced by Firehouse Subs.
Construction begins on Student Union eateries
New restaurants to open in Fall 2019 include Firehouse Subs, Halal Shack RUHMA KHAN Mercury Staff
UTD will be replacing three of its dining locations with new options. Subway, Ben and Jerry’s and Za'tar will be replaced by Firehouse Subs, Smoothie King and Halal Shack respectively. UTD director of Auxiliary Services Carrie Chutes said the additions will be part of a new project known as the Comet Cafe. “It’s going to be each of the three concepts being replaced by something new as well as a refresh in the common area, so where folks line up, new drink stations, new light fixtures,” Chutes said. The Comet Cafe will also be renovated with mobile ordering in the near future, Chutes said. “We’ll be replacing something that might not be quite as visible and certainly not edible, a whole new point-
of-sales system. We’ll be implementing that over the winter break. We’ve talked about possibly doing a refresh of the dining hall over a winter break,”Chutes said. “Other things that we’ll be working on over winter with the new pointof-sales system is mobile ordering. We’ll be building those pickup locations into our structure.” Steven Goodwin, the resident district manager for Chartwells, said that the renovations are part of a complete dining services master plan along with a new ten-year contract between UTD and Chartwells. “Effective January 1, UTD entered a continued relationship with Chartwells. It’s part of phases of our new contract with projects happening every summer between now and the end of the contract to further enhance and build on the program that we’re developing here with the growing needs of
our students,” Goodwin said. “As you see, Halal Shack specifically speaks to our demographics and some of the things that our students are asking us for during our survey season.” The current renovation and updates to the Comet Cafe will be completed in time for the first week of classes, Chutes said. Other possible renovations and updates will take place between semesters over the lifetime of the contract. “Smoothie King has been requested for years. We listen entirely to our surveys that are conducted. We have monthly meetings with the food service advisory group and discuss those options,” Chutes said. Chutes said students were recently involved in a tasting at Firehouse Subs to judge the quality of the product. “We always seek student feedback
→ SEE EATERIES,
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UTD OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS | COURTESY
The university's new brand campaign, headed in part by UTD President Richard Benson (pictured), aims to celebrate its progress over the past 50 years. ANIKA KOTARU Mercury Staff
In early June, university President Richard Benson, along with the marketing team in the Office of Communications, launched a new brand campaign to celebrate UTD's 50th anniversary. The idea is meant to highlight the university’s mission and increase its visibility in the community. “There’s something that has started to frustrate me: I cannot count the number of times people have said to me, ‘UTD is Dallas’s best kept secret.’ Of course, they mean it as a compliment, but I don’t want it to be a secret,” Benson said. “We designed this campaign to get the word out. We are coming into a celebration of our 50th year, so we were looking for a number of ways we could celebrate. I sometimes wish that the university’s founders could come back and gaze upon UTD and see the students that are here. It was really bold and daring, what they attempted to do back in the 1960s. We’ve grown into such an impressive university.” Before the university was founded, it was a private research center titled
the Graduate Research Center of the Southwest. This was established by Eugene McDermott, Cecil Green, and Erik Jonsson in 1961. Eight years later, it became part of the UT system. “It’s just a nice time. We are still a very young university. If you look at the schools we compete with, a great majority of them were founded 150 years ago,” Benson said. Kent Best, the senior director of marketing,alsohelpeddevelopthecampaign. “The marketing team had begun this about a year ago,” Best said. “We wanted an advertising tagline that would be tied to the 50th anniversary of the university. We brainstormed possible taglines that would be fitting to UTD and we focused on the smart nature of our students, faculty, and staff.” The campaign’s primary purpose is to raise awareness for UTD through means of print advertising and social media. Ads are posted in both DFW and Lovefield airports, as well as billboards around the Dallas-Fort Worth area. “I think it’s about getting the name
→ SEE BRIGHT,
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July 29, 2019 | The Mercury
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THE MERCURY UTDMERCURY.COM Volume XXXVIV No. 45
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July 10 • A student reported his cell phone stolen from the basketball courts near Lot J between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
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July 26 •Astudentreportedtheirheadphones stolen at ECSS at 2:34 p.m.
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July 28 • A student was arrested at Lot T afteratrafficstopforpossessionofdrug paraphernalia,possessionofmarijuanaandunlawfulcarryingofweapons.
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July 29, 2019 | The Mercury
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NEWS
Graduate helps police train with virtual reality
SURVIVR | COURTESY
Brian Hoang, CEO and co-founder of the company SurviVR, formerly known as Immosis, demonstrates the SurviVR virtual reality software with Rowlett police officers. MARCO SALINAS News Editor
A recent graduate is changing the way police departments train officers to handle real-life situations through using virtual reality technology. Brian Hoang, a software engineering graduate, is the CEO of SurviVR, a virtual reality company that he cofounded with computer science graduate Marwan Kodeih. The company produces a training simulator for police departments in the DFW area. SurviVR originally started as a virtual
reality software and consultancy company named Immosis. Immosis was founded in December 2018 while Hoang was at UTD. Hoang makes the process sound easy: speaking casually about getting the startup off the ground, but admits that a substantial amount of work went into Immosis and SurviVR. Hoang said 80-hour work weeks were not uncommon. “(Balancing school and work) was definitely a unique challenge. I had a full-time engineering load, but at the same time I was responsible for looking after the well-being of the business and
our team,” Hoang said. While CEO of Immosis, Hoang was invited to a radio show to speak about the company, where he met Robert Griffin, a retired police officer of 12 years from Las Vegas, Hoang said. “(Griffin) goes on to tell us about the constant liability that law enforcement faces. And how they’re always looking for better ways to train their officers so that they can go home at night and help keep our community safer,” Hoang said. “We liked the impact that we could make with this and we found, from talking to … police departments
that there is an opportunity here.” Hoang said that after winning first place at the Big Idea Competition, he decided to do SurviVR full-time. One of the features, Hoang said, that differentiates SurviVR from other virtual reality police trainers is their use of realistic firearms. “A lot of companies will use a standard VR game controller, which is not good because that’s not how police officers train,” Hoang said. “You can’t even holster a game controller like you could a real firearm. So we spent a lot of months on an engineering effort to get realistic guns to function in virtual reality.”
CVS vending machines to open on campus Convenience machines will stay open late, offer hygiene products to students starting Fall 2019
In addition, Hoang said SurviVR is working on allowing officers to walk in place in virtual reality so that they can traverse long hallways in virtual reality inside of a 10-by-10 foot space. Currently, SurviVR is conducting a pilot program with multiple DFWarea police departments. Three police departments are currently in the pilot program, but two more will be added, Hoang said.The program allows departments to use SurviVR’s software and hardware and encourages departments
→ SEE VR,
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New Title IX senior director appointed Officeplanstoimproverelationship with community
UTD TITLE IX OFFICE | COURTESY
Marco Mendoza, former director of institutional equity and Title IX coordinator. ANIKA KOTARU Mercury Staff
AMINA HUSSAIN | MERCURY STAFF
This is one of the two CVS vending machines that will be operating in the Fall 2019 and is located at the bottom floor of the Student Union.
ELLIS BLAKE HIDALGO Mercury Staff
At the start of the fall semester, two CVS vending machines will begin operating on the UTD campus. The machines will provide another avenue for students to get personal care items after campus shops close down. Carrie Chutes, director of Auxiliary Services at UTD, began working on the project after receiving suggestions from Student Government. Seeing the student needs that could be addressed, she said she hoped to expand on the
student services her office already provides. “We have a bookstore vending machine in JSOM and one of the testing centers where we sell pens and pencils and blue books, earbuds, chargers, flash drives and things like that,” Chutes said. “So, I think that committee saw a CVS vending machine and thought that would be a great idea.” Chutes said she sees the machines as another convenience the university provides.With the rapid pace students move at, she said she hopes having a quick way to access a pharmacy will be beneficial.
“This is just a different way to offer some basic needs,” Chutes said. The two machines, located in Dining Hall West and the Student Union, will provide a range of pharmacy items, such as personal care and hygiene products, all sold at the same prices found at CVS locations. “(They’re) personal care products, so it’s not just medicines,” Chutes said. “There’s peripherals — technology peripherals — feminine hygiene products and things like that.” The machines will stay open late, with the SU location remaining open
until midnight, and the DHW machine closing down at 1 a.m. With only two machines currently on campus, this year will test their viability and level of student need. Depending on their success, the project may expand and bring in new machines in coming years. “Obviously we’ll be getting reports as to the activity they’re getting and sales reports,” Chutes said. “So we’ll see if there’s a need and we’ll continue to ask students what they think, and
→ SEE CVS,
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The UTD Title IX office recently appointed a new senior director of institutional equity and Title IX initiatives. The new appointee, Marco Mendoza, hopes to increase the transparency and efficiency of the reporting process as well as improve the office’s relationship with the campus community. Mendoza was appointed on April 22, 2019, and has worked with UTD since 2013 as director of institutional equity andequalemploymentopportunity,Title IX coordinator and other roles. Mendoza received his bachelor’s degree from McMurry University and completed his master’s in public affairs at UTD. Before starting at UTD, he worked in human resources at the UNT Health Science Center in Fort Worth. Institutional equity is meant to provide students at a university resources for equal opportunity, affirmative action and nondiscrimination responsibilities. This relates to Title IX by providing the
→ SEE TITLE IX,
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LIFE&ARTS
July 29, 2019 | The Mercury
CHIAMAKA MGBOJI | GRAPHICS EDITOR
Sophomore starts grassroots club IncomingstudentpromotesDemocraticcandidateAndrewYang,politicalinvolvementfor2020electionthroughnewgroup CINDY FOLEFACK Editor-in-Chief
In the midst of a 2020 election saturated with 24 democratic candidates, one incoming UTD sophomore has settled on a candidateshebelievescangettotheovaloffice,and recentlyfoundedaclubtospreadawareness among students. Finance sophomore Kennedy Logsdon got involved with Dallas for Yang, a volunteergrouptosupportpresidentialcandidate Andrew Yang, after moving to the DFW area fromNebraska.Uponrealizingthatthegroup neededmoreoutreachamongcollegestudents, Logsdon decided to start a club at UTD. “It seemed like he had a lot of policies that got both people from the aisle in, and hereleasedhisdonorlistandtherewereno corporations that were supporting him,” Logsdonsaid.“Itwasgrassroots,thepeople thatweresupportinghimwerejustpeople, so… it felt good to see something that a lot of people supported.” Logsdon said some of her favorite policies include Yang’s carbon tax, which would impose a $40 per ton tax on carbon, and ranked choice voting, where voters would list their top three candidates. Yang’s most famous policy, Universal Basic Income, would give everyAmerican$1,000permonthandwould befundedthroughtaxestotechgiantssuchas GoogleandAmazon,aswellasothersources suchasthecarbontax.Logsdonsaidthatcriticismsoftheplan,whichclaimthatitsgoalsare unrealistic, are inaccurate. “I was on SNAP and food benefits my whole life, and if there was a flat tire, you were out of luck for that,”she said.“So the criticism ofpeoplesayingwecan’taffordit,butknowing that there are ways to pay for it, we’re already spending this money, and things like the carbon tax go directly into that, I just don’t think there’s room to criticize it.” Logsdon added that current systems like
CINDY FOLEFACK | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Incoming sophomore Kennedy Logsdon (left) started an Andrew Yang political action club shortly after moving to Dallas from Nebraska.
SNAPandotherfoodbenefitshavetheirflaws, which she saw firsthand growing up. “My family was on (SNAP) for the first 10 years of my life, and there are a lot of things that you miss out on. There were still nights wheremymomwouldn’tgettoeatdinner,but mysiblingswould,”Logsdonsaid.“Eventhen,
itdoesn’tcoverclothes.Whathappenswhen yoursneakersarewornthrough?Youcan’tgo toschoolbarefoot.Whathappenswhenyour car breaks down and your mom can’t make it to work? It’s just a lot of things that food stamps don’t cover.” Logsdonsaidthatbeingnewtotheuniver-
sity made the process of starting a club more difficult,butshewrotetheclub’sconstitution herself before finally announcing the club’s creation on the UTD subreddit. The club will beginhostingsocialsandrecruitmentevents asmembershipgrows,Logsdonsaid.Despite Yang’s current polling numbers, which put
him at 1-3% of the vote, Logsdon is confident in his ability to win the election. “I think he’s doing very well as far as a grassroots candidate would go,” she said. “Especially seeing how many more people around thenationaregettinginvolved,Ithinkhedoes have a good shot.”
July 29, 2019 | The Mercury
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‘Yesterday’ should stay in past Movie review: Say ‘Hello, Goodbye’ to this romantic comedy MARCO SALINAS News Editor
“Yesterday” brings together two Britishfilmmakingheavyweightsfora filmthatfeelsmorelikeasophomore slump than a dream team. Directed by Danny Boyle (“Trainspotting,” “Slumdog Millionaire,” “127 Hours,” “Steve Jobs”) and written by Richard Curtis (“Four Weddings and a Funeral,” “Notting Hill,” “Love Actually,” “Pirate Radio”), “Yesterday” is a low point for both filmmakers. The gimmick of“Yesterday”is that Jack Malik, played by Himesh Patel in his first film role, is involved in a freak, global blackout that erases the successandpopularityofTheBeatles. Malik,anapathetic,strugglingsingersongwriter,istheonlypersonwhoremembers the band’s songs. EllieAppletonisanadoringroadie andpersonality-lackingloveinterest
played by Lily James. Her character could have been any number of things, just so long as she falls in love with Malik by the end. Appleton's background as a teacher does nothing to move the plot — it only adds a gimmicky punch to the ending.We learn that Malik and Appleton are closechildhoodfriendsand,inoneof thefilm’sbettermoments,gettoseea 14-year old Malik performing“Wonderwall” at a school talent show. Thefilmlacksthesoulanddepthto stayinteresting.Itmanagestostretch its gimmick out to a run-time just shy of two hours. The film is loaded with montages. There are montages for Malik playing his original compositions to empty venues, Malik playing Beatlessongstoemptyvenues,Malik recordingmusicinEngland,MalikarrivinginLosAngeles(withobligatory palmtreeshotsevenBritishaudiences must find cliché), Malik recording
more music in Los Angeles and so much more. Ed Sheeran plays an uninspiring versionofhimselfwhodiscoversMalik andbringshimontourasanopening act, where we meet Kate McKinnon’s character, Debra Hammer. McKinnonseemsrightathomeasSheeran’s obscenely American, despotic manager and Malik’s manager-to-be. Another smart casting decision was Joel Fry as Malik’s replacement roadieanddrunkensidekick,Rocky. His character lends punches of awkward humor to every scene he’s in and lightens lots of the forced feelgood moments. At one point, a character tells Sheeranhedoesn’tlikeSheeran’srappingandto“leaveraptothebrothers.” Sheeran chooses not to listen, and in light of his recent “No.6 Collaborations Project,” he would have been wise to heed this advice.
With the constant montages, we get very little time to see any meaningful interaction between Malik and Appleton. But by the third act, “Yesterday” doubles down on its rom-com intentions despite having ignored James’character for the better part of an hour and a general lackofbelievablechemistrybetween Appleton and Malik. Although gimmicky and cheap, “Yesterday’s” best moments are when it reminded the audience of their first time listening to John, Paul, George and Ringo; its worst moments were when it relied too heavily on tired rom-com tropes. If you were sold on watching “Yesterday” from a single trailer, you may enjoy the film. But if you needed to read a review before watching, it should be available as complimentaryin-flightentertainment soon enough.
→ TITLE IX
todealwiththeamountofinvestigation that comes into the office, and torespondtothemmorepromptly,” Mendoza said. “I want to make the processmoretransparentbyputting information on our website that explains the process not in a policy format, but in a more visual format. I think that is something that could beveryhelpful,sothat’ssomething that we are already working on. In August,specifically,themonthisfull of outreach efforts.” Mendozaplanstospeakwithstudent groups around UTD, such as meetingwithsororityandfraternity lifeandallthechapterpresidents.Additionally, he will meet with Student Government representatives, who attend Title IX group meetings and give their input to the Title IX office. The office will also be present at the
block party that kicks off Weeks of Welcome.Thegoalistohavepeople around UTD not just view them as Title IX, but to have more of a relationship in the campus community. “I think that it’s a responsibility of making sure that we have a campus thatisproactiveinaddressingmatters ofsexualharassmentanddiscrimination. I want it to be something that people are not afraid to talk about. When I think of the role, I don’t think of it as something that I am solely responsible for. It’s an institutional responsibility.We’re a departmentthathelpspeopleunderstand what Title IX is and what institutional equity means,”Mendoza said. “We’re responsible for the process, but the culture that we’re trying to createwouldbetheresponsibilityof all of our campus community.”
SARAH BESSERER | MERCURY STAFF
→ VR
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to “break” the software to find errors and provide feedback to the SurviVR team, Hoang said.
→ CVS
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ifthere’sanotherlocationthatmight work, like the Visitor’s Center.”
“It’s a training simulator that can affect the way that they train and therefore the decisions they make in real life, whether or not they or someone else gets to go home at night,” Hoang
said, “so we’re taking this very seriously. We want to make sure we devote enough time to perfecting the product and getting it to a reliable state before we release it.”
While no other ideas for similar machines are currently being developed, Chutes expressed her office’s efforts for innovation in student services.
“We’re always open to new technology,” Chutes said. “I think UTD being the techy school it is, it’s in our interesttolookandseewhatthelatest and greatest retail avenues are.”
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resourcestostopdiscriminationand sexual harassment. “A lot of what we are focusing on for the Title IX side is outreach to thecommunityandtheentirecampus,andmakingsurepeopleunderstand that we are here and there’s a process for reporting allegations,” Mendoza said. Headdedthatthedepartmentis trying to make it easier for people to go to the website and determine what the process to file a complaint looks like, walking people through theinvestigationprocessfromstart to finish. “Part of what I wanted to do when I came here was (to) make sure that we had the staff to be able
Bedroom to rent in a home within short walking distance to the UTD campus. The right female candidate will have use of bedroom and the rest of the home, to be shared with owner, a caring young working grandmother. Call/email for interview. (214)632-5059 piedmontcrest@yahoo.com
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July 29, 2019 | The Mercury
GENIE IN A BOTTLE
NEGATIVE BALANCE
COMICS
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LIKE TEARS IN RAIN
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UN-BEE-LIEVABLE
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ACTIVITY
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OPINION
July 29, 2019 | The Mercury
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This land is your land Proposed U.S. asylum policy too restrictive
ELLIS BLAKE HIDALGO Mercury Staff
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s with most issues in American politics, immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border has divided the nation. Debates over policy have continued, and with the election of President Trump, the subject has taken a life of its own. However, in examining the existing immigration system, asylum policy should stand far above debates over illegal immigration and border security. Its existence should serve as a beacon for those seeking asylum at our border. As the strength of our asylum policy shrinks under the current administration, it becomes increasingly important to address its necessity and why the U.S. needs a sensible and humanitarian asylum policy. Modern America stands proud as one of the wealthiest nations not only of our time, but in human existence. With nearly unparalleled resources, it is our moral obligation to stand firm as a humanitarian haven. In 2018, an estimated 92,959 people claimed asylum at the southern border, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protections. This number is unprecedented not only because of its scale, but also due to the number of women and children pleading for asylum, as reported by the USCBP. This situation has put the U.S. at a moral crossroads, one demanding action the USCBP can’t handle. Acting secretary of Homeland Security, Kevin McAleenan, at a press conference near the border, described migrants held in detention camps as having to “live with fear and uncertainty for years at a time because the system is broken and over-
COMET COMMENTS
whelmed.” The Office of Inspector General’s Report on Rio Grande Valley detention camps is especially chilling, describing how“most single adults had not had a shower in CBP custody despite several being held for as long as a month,” or how they’d found “spoiled and moldy food in kitchen refrigerators, as well as food past its expiration date.”Regardless of one’s beliefs on immigration policy, there is no way to justify the unmistakably inhumane way detained migrants are housed. Some may write off Central American refugees as ‘not our problem.’ However, while the refugees seeking our help might not be ‘our problem,’ we are theirs. Much of the drug con-
The Trump administration's actions don't reflect a serious take on this crisis, rather a cold indifference towards the fate of those suffering and begging for the same inalienable rights we take for granted. sumption feeding the gang activity and destabilizing the region is coming from the U.S. Approximately 90% of imported cocaine makes its way from South America, through Central America to Mexico, before entering the U.S. through ports of entry according to The Washington Office of Latin America. The cartels responsible for these shipments, both through overt sponsorship and unintentional assistance, have shifted Central American power, allowing organized crime. Further, the deportation of gang members back to Central America
led directly to the growth of gang activity in the region. In deporting undocumented gang members, we guaranteed a rise in organized crime and the upheaval of many of Central America’s peaceful residents, the ones now seeking asylum. All things considered, it’s important that we recognize our collective responsibility in creating this crisis. For the time being, without a short-term solution for American drug use, it is imperative that the U.S. take in the refugees that its citizens have played a part in creating. The process through which we handle asylees is becoming more controversial by the second, with President Trump’s new policy that took effect July 23, preventing anyone from claiming asylum status if they’ve passed through another country where they could’ve claimed asylum on their way to the U.S. unless they can prove they’re a victim of human trafficking. Beyond moral questionability, it has unsurprisingly brought on legal action through a lawsuit filed by the ACLU, which argues that the act stands in opposition to the Refugee Act of 1980, which rules that the U.S. may not discriminate against refugees standing at a point of entry according to their country of origin. The Trump administration is adopting a policy of ‘faux’ discrimination, setting the bar of entry out of reach for most refugees. Doing so intentionally excludes many potential asylees and completely undermines the life-threatening and entirely valid reasons many have had to flee their homes. The remaining option for any potential refugees would
How do you feel about the new on-campus dining options?
be for them to have first sought asylum in any third party country they passed through on their way to the U.S. Beyond the fact that such an exemption excludes Mexican refugees, it also doesn’t do much service to Central Americans either. I agree with (what I hope) the White House is trying to do here. The U.S. should not be held solely responsible for the refugee crisis, and other countries in Latin America who are capable of assisting should play a major role. However, many of the same reasons causing migrants to flee their
→ SEE ASYLUM, PAGE 8
Comets and Craters Starbucks at Northside
“I’ve recently not been to the dining places because I usually eat out off campus, but I would have loved that when I was.”
“I usually don't eat on campus.”
“The Smoothie King could be cool, if people were interested.”
Anurag Kumar Computer Science Graduate
Shubhangi Khandelwal Computer Science Graduate
Rajeev Alladi Computer Engineering Senior
A new Starbucks location is coming to Northside. The location will be among the shops at the apartment complex and is planned to open by late fall.
Dumpster catches fire AdumpsternearBuilding28inUniversityVillagecaughtfireonthe night of July 27. The cause of the fire is unknown.