Sept. 30, 2019
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Students strike against climate change PATRICIA MATHU Mercury Staff
THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM
Two environmentally-focused clubs at UTD headed to downtown Dallas to participate in a global protest to draw attention towards climate change. On Sept. 20, the Environmental Conservation Organization and the Citizens Climate Lobby took part in the international global climate strike. With an estimated 4 million people striking globally, UTD students participated in the international discourse about climate justice and sustainability. The global climate strike, also known as the
Global Week for Future, was a series of strikes from Sept. 20-27. The international culmination of events that took place on Sept. 20, including the strike UTD students attended in Dallas, made world history as the largest protests about climate change. Inspired by figures like 16-year-old environmental activist Greta Thunberg, the Facebook page advertising the strike said it “is about much more than emissions and scientific metrics — it’s about fighting for a just and sustainable world.” Global business senior Helia Alaghemand, who serves as ECO’s president, said
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SARINA MAK | COURTESY
Two UTD organizations marched in the global climate strike in Dallas on Sept. 20.
Leukemia patient inspires UTD team Volleyball players honor child during fundraiser for pediatric cancer
MINH NGUYEN | MERCURY STAFF
Mechanical engineering senior Greta Suchy began going barefoot in her freshman year of college, saying the practice helps her feel closer to nature.
DOUGLAS FEJER | COURTESY
A volleyball game was held in honor of leukemia patient Kaitlyn Johnson (left). MARCO SALINAS
How one student has spent the past few years of her life almost completely barefoot
News Editor
The Comets volleyball team honored nineyear old leukemia patient Kaitlyn Renee Johnson with their third straight sweep at the fifth annual Gold Game against LeTourneau. Johnson has been with the team since the fall of 2015, when the first Gold Game was played in September, which is childhood cancer awareness month. The game served as a fundraising event to help those with childhood cancer. Volleyball head coach Marci Allison said adding Johnson to the roster helps keep the game in perspective. “Over these five years we’ve just kind of tried to figure out ways to incorporate her more and include her more and share her story with our players, not only that were there then but (that) have come along since we have had Kaitlyn with us,” Allison said. Between sets, Johnson and her fellow Royce City Bulldog cheerleaders performed their routines for the roaring audience of 545 guests, the largest for a home game this season. For their part, the Comets landed 49 kills to LeTourneau’s 24. Leading the Comets in kills was freshman outside hitter Catherine Croft with 12 kills and one ace. The Comets finished the game 25-17, 25-17 and 25-16. Since 2015, the Gold Game has grown in number and in support, Allison said. Kaitlyn’s father, James Johnson, said that having her at the Gold Game helps to promote awareness and brings the issue of childhood cancer close to home. The team has also been supportive of Kaitlyn, Johnson said. “There was a time when Kaitlyn got pretty sick one day and several of the girls showed up and — even including their dog — came (to) hang out with Kaitlyn for a little while just to
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No shoes, no problem STORY BY: AYOUNG JO | LIFE & ARTS EDITOR PHOTOS BY: MINH NGUYEN | MERCURY STAFF
U
niversity students have the freedom to wear anything they like, from pajamas to tuxedos. Every day, rain or shine, one UTD student traverses the campus with no shoes. Mechanical engineering senior Greta Suchy has been living the no-shoes lifestyle for three years now. Growing up homeschooled, Suchy said it was natural for her to walk barefoot inside and sometimes outside of the house. The first time she went without shoes in public, Suchy said, was when she attended a community college while in high school. “There was one day that I was late for the bus or something,” Suchy said. “I was like, ‘Hey! I could save two seconds by not putting these shoes on,’ and I thought it was kind of fun.” Suchy said she wore shoes for the first several months of being at UTD. However, that changed on Halloween of her freshman year, when she
dressed up as Bilbo Baggins, a character from “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings.” “It wasn’t like an elaborate costume or anything, but I didn’t wear shoes for that, and I was like, ‘Hey, this works!’” Suchy said. “And basically after that, I didn’t wear shoes.” Suchy said she chooses not to wear shoes for several reasons, but one of the biggest reasons is that she likes being barefoot and feeling different textures on her feet. “I just like the way it feels, especially when it rains,” Suchy said. “I think some people don’t like wet feet, but I just like to feel more connected with nature.” Suchy said walking barefoot has also allowed her to meet different people on campus, which is another reason she continues to do so. “I enjoy the random times when people would stop me and ask why I’m not wearing my shoes,” Suchy said. “I get a chance to talk to random peo-
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CHIAMAKA MGBOJI | GRAPHICS EDITOR