The Mercury 09 05 22

A NEW SU?

Comets will determine whether new SU, athletics facilities built in referendum vote

FATIMAH AZEEM Managing Editor

Students will have the opportunity to vote for two referendums to support a new SU building and expand the athletics department from Oct. 4 -6.

The referendums propose raising the Student Fee from $60 to $100 per semester, and the Intramural and Intercollegiate Athletics Fee from $45 per semester to $7 per semester credit hour. Vice President of Student Affairs Gene Fitch said the raised Union fee would primarily go towards a new SU complex which would be large enough to support 35,000 students, and the athletics fee would go towards a multitude of department enhancements including building a new track and field complex open for athletes and the public alike, expanding coach and staff offices, and adding a strength and conditioning facility.

If passed, the fee would go into effect in fall 2023, and the University would begin breaking ground on the new SU and track complex as soon as possible, which Fitch said is likely summer 2024. In terms of financial aid, the fees would be considered a school cost, and it wouldn’t affect students on the guaranteed tuition plan.

The referendums come at a critical time in student growth. The University is expecting to enroll nearly 32,000 students this fall and expects to exceed 35,000 students in the next three to five years, making the school one of the fastest growing in all of Texas. The Association of College Unions (ACU-I) recommends university unions allocate 10 sq ft of space to each student, meaning UTD’s current 100,000 sq ft building is too small. To put it further into perspective, enrollment has increased by 153% since the last time the Union fee was raised in 2001, and the athletics fee hasn’t been raised since its conception in 2008.

“There’s never a good time to come to students and ask them to support a fee increase, but if there were, this is probably that time,” Fitch said. “Once this happens, you're looking at three to potentially four years before a building is up and operational. So, the longer we wait, the more space constrained we become, and we're not getting any smaller. We have 400 student organizations, all of which need space, and we're all fighting for the approximately eight meeting spaces we have now, including the Galaxy Rooms.”

Among new amenities and spaces in the new SU master plan, are updated

McDermott library aims to create inviting space

MANYA BONDADA Mercury Staff

The McDermott Library is currently undergoing various renovation projects to enhance UTD students’ study experiences and create a more welcoming and open environment.

For the past few years, as UTD has drastically increased in physical size and population, several additions have been made to improve the library’s academic aura. The library is using grant money to improve its educational amenities and upgrade technology so that a greater number of students can study comfortably. Much of this grant money is going towards the creation of more smart study rooms, upgrading technology in the instruction

Referendum Rundown

Union Fee

Current: $60/sem

Proposed: $100/sem

Supports:

• New SU facility

• Esports Lounge

Current: $45/sem

Proposed: $7/ credit hour

Athletics Fee Supports:

• New Track & Field Complex

• Larger Athletics Offices

Editorial Vote 'yes' for the fee referendum

Vote ‘Yes’ to the upcoming student fee referendum vote on October 4.

If you’ve ever been inside the Student Union at peak hours, you understand just how crowded the current building is. Peak lunchtime lines go up to an hour waiting for a Chick-fil-A sandwich, and once you get the food it’s hard to find anywhere to sit. The Galaxy rooms are constantly booked and busy, snapped up by every club that can get their hands on the best meeting room. Anyone who’s been at UTD for any significant amount of time knows that it’s high time that more space was made for students to eat, interact and be merry.

New student facilities benefit everyone, and increasing student fees to being on par or lesser than most other institutions in the state is a reasonable cost for making them. So when the email comes in October 4, we urge students to vote yes, for the sake of both the current population and all students to come.

As VP of Student Affairs Gene Fitch said in the article above, “There’s never a good time to come to students and ask them to support a fee increase.” But the proposed increase for both the Student Union Fee and the Athletics fee is long

overdue. It’s been over 20 years since the SU fee was increased, and the athletics fee hasn’t been increased since it was instituted.

UTD has grown significantly. And while some students don’t participate in student life, there is a large amount that do. Over 400 clubs and organizations now exist that are officially registered with

the Student Organization Center, and every single one is vying for meeting locations inside and out at all times of the week. The newly proposed SU building offers more meeting rooms, dedicated spaces for SG and the Graduate Student Assembly to meet, dance studios for club reservation and much more.

And even if you don’t participate in any student clubs at all, the new building will have plenty to offer you. With its new study spaces, more food options, more places to hang out with friends in between and after classes, the proposed building provides something that has been sorely lacking in recent years: space.

Above is a rendering of what the exterior of a new Student Union could look like. The new Union would be located where Green Center is currently, and would be large enough to support 35,000 students. Below on the left is a concept of an outdoor amphitheater in the Union for live performances from student groups. Below on the left is how a track and field complex open for both athletes and the public alike could look.

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& Arts Editor Mia Nguyen life@utdmercury.com

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UTDPD Blotter

August 21

• Students under legal drinking age were found in possession of alcohol and issued a citation at Residence Hall West at 12:53 a.m.

August 23

• Burglary of a motor vehicle was reported at Residence Hall West at 10: 18 p.m.

August 25

• A hit-and-run was reported outside of UV Phase 9 at 9:13 a.m.

August 25

• A student reported that he was assaulted by another student at the Student Union at 5:03 p.m.

Contributors

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.

From The Mercury Archives: Sept. 22, 2003

UTD launches to Mars

UTD Professor Hoffman will participate in 2007 NASA Program

John Hoffman eagerly awaits funding to build a mass spectrometer as he and other scientists around the country prepare for the 2007 NASA unmanned Mars Scout mission.

Hoffman, a physics professor and program head, will work with a team to assemble a mass spectrometer. This machine, like others Hoffman and his co-workers have launched in previous space expeditions, will work with other devices to determine the mineral content of Mars, he said.

The main scouta mobile unit that will traverse the Martian terrain - will dig Mars debris from the top three feet of the planet’s

surface and feed it into tiny ovens. As the minerals heat and evaporate, the spectrometer will determine the composition of the evaporated gas and search for traces of water, he said.

“Since water vaporizes at a relatively low temperature, the spectrometer will be able to easily detect the water vapors,” Hoffman said.

NASA’s recently initiated Mars Scout program allows scientists the unique opportunity to completely design and control the mission. According to Hoffman, principal investigators lead teams of scientists, who then build and control all of the equipment used in the mission.

Hoffman said he

was selected by two of four final teams NASA evaluated last August to build the mass spectrometer. The Phoenix team, selected by NASA for the mission and based out of the University of Arizona in Tucson, asked Hoffman and his crew to design and build a mass spectrometer similar to those that Hoffman and other space scientists from UTD have sent up to the moon, Comet Halley and Venus. This mission will be the first to Mars in which UTD has participated, he said.

According to Hoffman, the spectrometer also will be used to analyze the atmospheric composition of Mars with help from the Phoenix scout.

“We will look at the ratio of the isotopes in the

elements and ‘compare it to the ratio on Earth,’” Hoffman said.

The team will analyze the atmosphere of Mars and evaluate its evolution in hope of discovering

clues to Earth’s future atmosphere, he said.

“We want to get the students involved in the analysis of the data,” Hoffman said.

The team will

MICHAEL SEELIGSON Mercury Page Editor

Model of a mass spectrometer sits in the physics department next to a photo of the same on the moon which UTD sent with the Apollo 17 NASA mission

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Manya Bondada

9.6 CROSSWORD

ISABELLE VILLEGAS MERCURY STAFF

CASEY RUBIO | MERCURY STAFF

ANDREW PETERS MERCURY STAFF

THAOVY NGUYEN | MERCURY STAFF

RACHEL ASAFU-ADJAYE | GUEST ARTIST

9.6 SUDOKU

"Bodies, Bodies, Bodies" imagines influencers as murderers

JACK SIERPUTOWSKI Opinion Editor

“You hate-listen to her podcast.” If you are Gen Z, this might sound like a lighthearted joke, even when made by a friend. But what if that friend was accusing you of murder?

Every generation has their version of the classic “cabin in the woods” trope. A group of twenty-somethings go away for the weekend, and somewhere along the line, people end up dead. A24’s new horror comedy—“Bodies Bodies Bodies”— follows the same plot. Paranoia ensues, and one by one, people meet their end. By subverting this classic film trope, “Bodies Bodies Bodies” finds a balance between horror and comedy that shows a nuanced understanding of Gen Z culture.

We are the first generation to grow up

"Law School" grants a motion for enjoyment

Legal school k-drama comes with a murder mystery to delight pre-law students

completely immersed in social media, and the effects are obvious. While technology connects us, inside, we are more disconnected than ever. This is seen through the film’s themes of isolation and alienation. The plot is primarily told from one of the main character’s points of view— Bee—who is an outsider to the rest of the group. She is working class—not fabulously rich—and she has never met her girlfriend’s friends before. While Bee and Sophie’s relationship is the core of this story, there is always an element of youthful awkwardness to the way they interact with one another. Their navigation of relationships feels very realistic to the way our generation acts—after all, we learned to navigate romance through a screen. Though these two women want to be vulnerable with one another, there is always a

little black mirror in the way—an escape from even constructive forces of embarrassment or social anxiety.

Every character in this movie has a cutting, sardonic wit and it’s not always clear what their intentions are. Is it a lighthearted read, meant to show love? Or a true verbal attack? The stakes aren’t quite as high in “Twitter discourse,” but when deadly weapons enter the mix, misplaced intentions become more serious. A twofaced character can be catty by day but murderous by night.

The combined effects of both alienation and uncertainty produce a tension that is gripping. Both the movie’s cinematography and audio design lend themselves to its claustrophobic atmosphere. The film-

"The Sandman" brings US the dream tv adaptation

Neil Gaiman helps make the perfect retelling of his work

"Law School" is the perfect combination of drama, thriller, romance and comedy wrapped into one legal school k-drama.

With law school applications opening at the beginning of this month, pre-law students must have a lot on their minds.

So, why not unwind with a K-drama that gives you a false sense of productivity instead of watching “Criminal Minds” for the thousandth time?

“Law School” follows a group of eight students from a variety of backgrounds as they navigate their tumultuous first year of law school. Along with the pressure of exams and cold calls, the students take matters into their own hands when a

professor is killed in the middle of class, investigating to uncover the truth behind the murderer and their fellow classmates. Everything and everyone are more entangled than meets the eye, and to ensure their futures, trust quickly becomes as valuable as an A+ as the semester goes on. Though the overall genre of the show is a mystery thriller, the heart of it all is the development of different dynamics and friendships (plus a teased romance) between the students. Cultivated through earnest and comedic scenes, these relationships alleviate the stress of the main investigation for the characters and the

audience. The drama has so many relatable and accurate moments of student life that it’s almost painful to watch as the characters study at the library until their eyes can barely stay open, delicately traverse the perils of group projects and search for the perfect study group as finals descend upon them… all while solving a murder. You will stay on the edge of your seat not only for the mystery, but the fate of the beloved characters who charm you instantly. The drama is also told in intricate detail

MIA

Everyone has had dreams they didn’t want to wake from. From the mundane to the imaginative, these dreams can provide escapism from the monotony of the modern world. But where do dreams come from? Award-winning author and screenplay writer Neil Gaiman, answers

COURTESY NETFLIX

this question in his graphic novel and Netflix series, "The Sandman," with beautiful world building and an enticing blend of mythology and horror. Unlike the fading influence of Greek gods and goddesses, “The Endless” are beings that can exist beyond the bounds

SEE LAW, PAGE 8 SEE SANDMAN, PAGE 8

COMET COMMENTS

What's the best eatery in and around campus?

“Halal Shack.”

“Starbucks got some awesome coffee, and… everything is really awesome at Starbucks.”

- Tanvi Kiran Mate, Business Analytics, Graduate

Why?

“Because it’s Halal.”

- "Spider-Man", Biochemistry, Junior

"I like In N Out Burger. It’s not on campus, it’s off campus… but on campus? I like Panda Express” Which one is better in your opinion?

“In-and-Out, probably.”

- Lauren Anderson, Computer Science, Freshman

“Off campus probably has to be Freebirds. Worth the price, and better, in my opinion, better than Chipotle. It’s off Campbell, the other way from Coit.”

- Aaditya Vittal, Biomedical Engineer, Senior

“I haven’t really had the chance to try anything out, but the first thing that comes to mind is Chick-Fil-A. I feel like that’s everyone’s answer.”

Gaby Crawford, Marketing, Freshman

“My favorite place to eat isn’t on campus- it’s Bagel Cafe 21. I love Bagel Cafe 21, I talk about it all the time. The best thing to get there is the Hasher breakfast sandwich on an Asiago Bagel. They gave me a punchcard, and if you got 10 bagels you get a free one, and I’ve gone through three puncards. I go there like twice a week.”

- Karen Curtis, International Political Economy, Junior

“On campus would be the Dinning Hall West, because it has a lot of options there. [The Student Union] is fine, but Dining Hall West is closer to where I live. So I can just walk back to my home if I wanted to.”

- Steven Thalathoty, Supply Chain Management, master student

“It’s either Halal Shack or the poke place.” If you have to recommend one or the other, which one and why?

"Poke, I just like it better.”

- Kalyani Valath, Information Technology and Systems, Freshman

"Bodies, Bodies, Bodies" takes the classic cabin in the woods horror formula and mixes it with modern day social media culture

COURTESY | A24 PICTURES

Amandla Stenberg (Sophie), Maria Bakalova (Bee), Chase Sui Wonders (Emma), and Rachel Sennott (Alice) are all trying to survive a murderer and find themselves.

COURTESY | NETFLIX

ALLY DUONG Mercury Staff

Jenna Coleman (Johanna Constantine) and Tom Sturridge (Dream) star in a masterful retelling of Neil Gaiman's "The Sandman," with modern day adaptations.

NGUYEN Life and Arts Editor

"Chicago" remains relevant 20 years later

The 2002 musical reflects 2022's struggles with themes of corruption, influencers and the fleeting nature of fame.

pedro pascal delivers as daddy once again

As we enter the early years of the 2020s, we are one century distant from one of the wildest times in American history, the Roaring Twenties. There is no better time to revisit the movie “Chicago,” which is set in the 1920s and recently celebrated its twentieth anniversary.

Not only does “Chicago” still impress with its visuals and music, its artful splicing of movie with musical laid the groundwork for most of the “movie musicals” to follow. What’s more, “Chicago” is a brutal satire of American politics and culture that feels even more relevant today than it did in 2002. Following the themes of fame, manipulation and corruption, “Chicago” explores the stories of two women who commit cold-blooded murder and game the system to come out scot-free and more successful than ever. As the two protagonists—Roxie and Velma—navigate sensationalist reporters, slimy lawyers, and dirty prison wardens, the entire American understanding of justice is made out to be a “three-ring circus.” No anniversary could be more apt.

The fabric of the plot is woven from timeless themes: performance and the fleeting nature of fame. As with today, a person might go viral one minute, take the reins and rule the world, and in the next, be forgotten and purposeless. It is left to the rest of us “normal people” to deal with the fallout. Even politicians act this way—spreading rumors and conspiracy theories through social media in shallow attempts to hold onto power. They do not give a single thought to the profound damage that comes when we lose a sense of objectivity. Still, paranoia often dominates our sources of information. Just as in “Chicago,” controlling the press means controlling the narrative, and the social media landscape of today sometimes feels as corrupt as the puppet reporters from the movie’s marionette act.

One of the reasons “Chicago” was groundbreaking is because it reformatted the movie to incorporate musical numbers in an innovative way. Most of the musical numbers are not physically happening in the universe; they are all representative of the protagonist Roxie’s fantasies. Each is an imitation of a popular genre of vaudeville act, and their psychological purpose varies. Some are to romanticize Roxie’s future, and some are careful innuendo to help Roxie cope with the threat of death. Through artful cuts and sound design, the movie Chicago achieves a blend of daydream and reality not seen before.

The movie’s innovative style of narration also serves to communicate an important theme, one that still feels relevant even

today: manipulation. The direction consciously places us in the seat of “audience” by asking us to view the plot as a spectacle as over the top as vaudeville itself. Interestingly, the movie’s plot is formatted to be slightly more sympathetic towards the protagonist than the original stage production, almost creating doubts about her guilt. But not even unreliable narration can hide the truth about these characters.

Critics have complained that there is not a single redeemable character in this narrative. Roxie and Velma are both cold-blooded killers—envious, narcissistic, and callous women. Bille Flynn is the caricature of a greedy, slimy lawyer. However, the lack of a likable protagonist seems a tiny bone to pick. We are not asked to like Roxie any more than we are asked to like one of the Real Housewives, in their infinite tiny skirmishes for attention. We are simply asked to regard her as a source of entertainment, the way that the audience does --the way that Roxie sees herself.

Roxie could not even be called an antihero. As smart as she is, she lacks the substance of character or true drive to be given that title. Her one goal, her one desire, is to be seen. Roxie wants to be “loved,” in the cold, calculating way that she understands that word. Roxie’s transformation in this movie is that of a normal housewife to a fame-obsessed lunatic. She does not change fundamentally—rather, it is her life circumstances and the substrate of yellow journalism that reveal the oozing darkness inside her.

At times, the movie’s aesthetic approaches high camp. In this version of Chicago, “you can’t beat fresh blood on the walls/” In this town, “murder is a form of entertainment.” Laughter, merriment, and excess are juxtaposed against depictions of gruesome violence and death, contributing to the structure of this anachronistic satire. In the wild jazz age, the innocent are put to death, and the guilty walk free—thanks to a corrupt and fame-crazed justice system. What could be more relevant to today’s world?

The public perception of “influencers” is often that they are soulless or manipulative, using public power to their own advantage.

James Charles, Harvey Weinstein, R Kelly…it is accepted as a fact that the rich and famous often escape consequences completely or avoid them for too long. “Chicago” invites us to question whether that will ever change, or if it is endemic to the culture of this country. Simply sitting in the seat of “audience” can make a viewer of this film feel guilty. Roxie and Velma address this idea of complicity in the movie’s final act, a thought that rings true in 2022.

“Me and Roxie would just like to say thank you. Thank you! Believe us, we could not have done it without you!”

“The Last of Us” is next in line to take over HBO’s flagship series “House of The Dragon” with new footage that promises to expand the franchise. So far, it looks like the perfect step for the franchise—if it maintains its core values.

In April I shared concerns about “The Last of Us” HBO series–specifically, how it needs to tread carefully to avoid controversy. In a recent showcase of several different trailers, HBO shared its first few moments of the series. Fans saw exceptional dialogue and impressions from both “Game of Thrones” actors Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, who stuck to the source material remarkably well. Based on what little footage we have, I have soaring hopes for the series. Based on just 23 seconds, I believe we can expect a love letter to the source material.

I’ll be honest, when I saw back in 2021 that Pedro Pascal would portray Joel Miller, I was disappointed. At first, I was under the impression he’d be an inappropriate casting choice for Joel, as his performances in previous shows like “Game of Thrones” and “Mandalorian” were a far cry from the tonality of “The Last of Us”. As it turns out, Pascal has a nearly perfect impression of Joel’s original voice actor—Troy Baker—and fits his mannerisms and clothes extraordinarily well. Bella Ramsey as Ellie and the surprising choice of Nick Offerman as Bill also embody the personalities of their characters, even if they don’t look exactly like them. It is exciting to see them in the iconic scenes of the game. It is just as thrilling to see wildlife taking over the abandoned cities that Joel and

Ellie must traverse. These overgrown landscapes are replicated and seemingly upgraded to generate more claustrophobia and more dynamic perspectives, as the camerawork does a great job of instilling the thrill and adrenaline that the games induced. While it seems that the stealth and general horror of the originals might suffer in this new medium, the camerawork provides a hint that it won’t be completely forgotten. It seems as though the action will be more focused on evading the Infected rather than mowing them down “Resident Evil” style— which I am excited to see. It is about time a video game adaptation took itself seriously enough to try to replicate what the game produced. By staying true to the source material, HBO smooths the transition between video game and television for an engaging and loyal experience.

Fan reactions to the footage seem overall positive, in spite of the trailer’s many missed opportunities. For one, it neglected to show off the Infected, the threat that drives much of the story. Displaying some of these Infected will be incredibly difficult technically—for example, the enemies called “Clickers,” whose bodies are torn up by massive protruding fungal growths. Combining the difficulties of prosthetics, makeup and coordinating large groups of extras, it won’t be easy to

recreate a pop culture staple as large as the “zombie”. Considering this difficulty, it is disheartening that the trailer was not confident enough to show off the Infected that are so important to its success. Critical to the emotional core of the story, the trailer also failed to deliver on the chemistry between Pascal and Ramsey. The interactions between Joel and Ellie and their budding father-daughter relationship carry the series, remaining some of its most memorable moments among players. While Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey are both in “Game of Thrones”, they haven’t shared screen time together. It is imperative that Joel’s protective nature and care for Ellie translate to the HBO series. This is especially important considering the seeming lack of this care was one of fans’ main criticisms of the original game’s sequel, “The Last of Us Part 2”.

While I am confident that HBO Max can deliver on both the technical aspects of this story and its emotional core, there is a lot riding on “The Last of Us.” All signs are pointing in the right direction—that this series could change the narrative on television adaptations of video games. However, if HBO Max fails to adequately recreate this world-renowned game, video game adaptations are better left buried and forgotten.

"The Last of Us" (HBO Max) has big shoes to fill technically and emotionally

ANDRE AVERION Mercury Staff

Pedro Pascal (Joel) and Belle Ramsey (Ellie) need to form the emotional core in the TV adaptation that is central to the game.

ANDRE AVERION| MERCURY STAFF COURTESY HBO MAX

COURTESY | MIRAMAX FILMS

Renée Zellweger (Roxie) uses sensationalist media to manipulate public opinion.

JACK SIERPUTOWSKI

| MIRAMAX FILMS

Katherine Zeta Jones (Velma) performs her Vaudeville show with vigor after murdering her husband and sister in cold blood. She helms the movie alongside Roxie.

The trailers have disappointingly not yet shown any of the key enemies of "The Last of Us" such as the Clickers. How well they execute the Infected is key to the show's potential success.

COURTESY | NAUGHTY DOG STUDIOS

food and dining options, more recreational table-top gaming spaces, lounge and study spaces both for recreational use and club meetings, an art gallery, performance areas for dance and spirit groups, a banquet space that could hold up to 600 students, improved Student Government and Graduate Student Assembly parliamentary quarters and an outdoor amphitheater for live entertainment. Fitch said it’s likely the new facility would be built where Green Center is now, while all classes and the Honors college would be moved to the Student Success Center. While priority would go to creating this new SU, Fitch said the Union fee might also help enhance parts of the current Union. The fee could help maintain the upcoming gaming lounge renovation and would provide Student Media and FSL with larger spaces for operation. For the athletics fee, priority would go to building a new track and field complex for athletic and recreational use where Lot J is. To accommo -

makers provide just enough clues to keep the audience guessing, and the details are laid out masterfully. Hints that you thought were foreshadowing suddenly become disproven, and you will think and rethink your own theories just as much as the characters on screen.

Another prominent theme of “Bodies Bodies Bodies” is the prolonged identity crisis many young people find themselves in. Characters “play the victim” to stabilize their own self-image or public perception. People will simply repeat what they have heard before, without any deep thought or understanding. Buzzwords abound—"trigger,” “gaslight,” “narcissist,’ “toxic,” “PTSD,” “psychopath.” I wish I could call it an exaggeration, but we’ve all heard these words

LIBRARY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

room, a mindfulness room, and upgrading worn out furniture.

The most popular study rooms in the library are two smart study rooms where students can connect their devices via Bluetooth to a large display screen and practice for presentations, conduct group study sessions, and more. An additional six smart study rooms are under construction and will be opened to students by the end of September to make more space for collaborate studying.

“We also got money to redo what we call our instruction room, that’s where groups of students come from a class to learn more about the library,” Ellen Safley, the Dean of Library Services, said. “That room is in the Southwest corner of the second floor. It has laptops in it, and all the presentation software and hardware will be replaced.”

Along with improved study spaces, a mindfulness room will be added and used as a meditation, prayer, and silent

EDITORIAL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

If you’re an outgoing senior, you can vote to benefit students in the future. If you’re a freshman, you will likely see the results of the referendum in full by your junior or senior year. And if you don’t think you’ll get to see the benefits of the fee increase anytime soon, you will, as The Pub renovation into a multi-floor gaming lounge with-

date for the lost parking space, the University will build a new parking garage – but until that’s finished, students will be redirected to park in Lot U and PS4. The athletics fee would also help expand coach and staff offices, renovate the current baseball and softball stadiums, and support a new strength and conditioning facility.

Fitch said it’s important to note though, that these enhancements wouldn’t start immediately after the University collects votes -- the student vote is part one of a two-step fee passage process. If the majority of students voting support the fee increase, the University will go to the Texas state legislature to propose changing the semester athletics fee to a credit hour fee and raising the 60$ Union fee cap to 150$. This doesn’t mean the University could immediately charge students 150$, though. Fitch said they’d start with their voted upon 100$ change -- increases past that would be incremental and would span over years; anything more than a 10% increase will warrant another trip to the state legislature for approval.

used completely out of context. In trying to prove their innocence, most of these characters come off as vapid or ridiculous—and it isn’t always clear whether it’s an act. Fittingly, one of the first things we are asked to consider about these friends is whether they are as “nihilistic as they look on the Internet.” The story is as much of a “whodunnit” as it is a “who is she,” and it is in these existential themes that the depiction of Gen Z seems most realistic. We all struggle to understand ourselves and the world amidst a cultural upheaval, and our strange slang and behavior is just one symptom of the desire to “fit in.”

While technology is a prominent part of how these characters experience the world, the core of any story is people, and “Bodies Bodies Bodies” is no exception. The

study room. Currently, this project is experimental, and may or may not be continued depending on how students interact with the space. The room will become available within the next month.

“It will be a study room that won’t have furniture in it except a place to put your shoes, and you can check out [the room] for about an hour… so people can find a quiet place to think or pray,” Safely said

The library has also made several changes to it furniture layout. The library is structured such that the higher floors are reserved for quiet study whereas the bottom floors are for collaborative study. To preserve quiet study spaces, more comfortable selfstudy tables and cubicles were added on the third floor.

“[On the third floor], we had very collaborative furniture, like open tables, that encouraged students to sit together, and to no disparagement, [students] would talk, and this was supposed to be one of our more quiet floors,”

Chris Edwards,

the Head of Research Services, said. “So

in a year will already provide a glimpse of changes to come.

The athletics fee increase will also address the ongoing issue of space. A new track and field facility, expanded locker rooms and training facilities are all to be supported by the fee increase. This will open up new opportunities for Comets across campus to take advantage of bigger and better athletics facilities, as the new track and field stadium

“Think back to 14 or 20 years ago,” Fitch said. “If the students then hadn’t looked to the future and understood what UTD could be, we wouldn’t have the SSB, the SSA, the current Student Union, or our Athletics facilities. None of those would’ve existed if students didn’t look to the future and have a vision of what UTD could be. We are in that same place now –we’ve got to look to our future. And that’s not to say that you can’t come back and enjoy these facilities when you’re an alumni or a parent of a future student. These spaces will still be available and a welcoming to you.”

Students will get to vote for or against the referendum through an online ballot that the University will email out on October 4. Until then, Comets can learn more about the referendum by visiting the Student Affairs website and attending open forums hosted by Fitch, Athletics Director Angela Marin, and Student Union Director Dan Goodwin, on Sep. 9 from 2:30 – 3:30 pm, Sep. 15 from 2 – 3 pm, Sep. 22 from 3 – 4 pm, and Sep. 28 from 2 – 3 pm in the SSA Auditorium.

beginning, drive and conclusion of the movie all center on the relationship between two main characters—Bee and Sophie. Their drive to protect each other leads to most of the plot progression. But trust is difficult to restore, and the events of the film will place a wedge between these two women just as much as the doubts sowed by social media.

At the beginning of this movie, it isn’t totally clear whether these choices are intentionally satirical or just a misunderstanding of Generation Z. It is—by design—a thin line. But by the end of the film, the truth becomes clear. “Bodies Bodies Bodies” is a perfect balance of horror and comedy and an encapsulation of the soul of the social media age.

that furniture was moved and we ordered more furniture to match a quiet study space.”

Using gate counters attached to the library’s security gates, the library is able to keep track of the number of students entering the building through its West and East gates. The gate counters show that the 20182019 fiscal year had almost 1,300,000 people entering the library. However, the library’s usage heavily decreased with only about 100,000 people entering the building during the 2020-2021 fiscal year. With the pandemic dying down and students reentering campus for in-person learning, new library renovations hope to support a greater student population and create an increasingly conducive academic atmosphere.

“Overall, our goal is to make it so that more students can use the library more comfortably…we’re always trying to shift and adjust to what our students want right now,” Edwards said.

won’t be gated to only the athletics teams.

New student facilities benefit everyone, and increasing student fees to being on par or lesser than most other institutions in the state is a reasonable cost for making them. So when the email comes in October 4, we urge students to vote yes, for the sake of both the current population and all students to come.

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with flashbacks interspersed throughout. This back-andforth could get messy and hard to follow, but the revelations are timed perfectly, allowing the mystery to unfold naturally with each step. Though, this still doesn’t mean that the investigation will be solved easily by keen-eyed audiences or the beloved characters. Even with the clues presented carefully, this storytelling technique will utilize all of the exercise your brain has done while studying for the LSAT for those that are applying to law school this cycle or the universal experience of just trying to get through the first few weeks of classes.

The cast is star-studded and filled with nuanced actors that not only nail the fun comedic moments but also the heavy emotional scenes. Ryu Hye-

of human belief. These metaphysical entities are the personifications of a variety of human traits and actions such as Dream, Desire, Death, Despair etc. The Sandman” mainly follows Dream, also known as Morpheus, after his capture during an occult ritual in 1916. After escaping 105 years of captivity, the King of Dreams harbors a vengeful spirit and apathy for humankind but embarks on a journey to restore his kingdom of The Dreaming.

The show is the most faithful adaptation of a graphic novel that has graced the small screen, which can definitely be attributed to Gaiman’s direct contributions to the script and casting. A lot of the dialogue from the show is pulled from the graphic novel, and many of the iconic visuals of the book are transferred to screen as accurately as possible.

Additionally, the cast completely encapsulates the beloved characters. Tom Sturridge was an actual dream; he stayed true to Gaiman’s Sandman while adding a layer of vulnerability that shows that Morpheus is alive and has a deep admiration for humanity. His raspy voice sounded as deep and ancient as I would expect Morpheus to sound, and his micro-expressions spoke a

young plays the main character, and she’s already proven her comedic timing skills in the acclaimed K-drama “Reply 1988,” but audiences can really see her talents shine in this story as she perfectly balances stressful moments with heartwarming (sometimes back-to-back) as the main character becomes the heart of her circle of friends.

Kim Bum who you might know from “Boys Over Flowers” (a classic and if anything, it looks like he’s aged backwards since then in “Law School”) stars as a charismatic genius who bickers with our lovable main character. Other amazing actors like Go Youn-jung who is currently in “Alchemy of Souls” and Lee Jung-eun who you’ve surely seen somewhere with her prolific career (“Parasite” being one of many spectacular works she’s in) create the captivating characters of “Law School”.

Though sometimes it may be

language beyond the dialogue. Morpheus is not the most expressive character -- he’s moody, reserved and sullen -but Sturridge conveyed the entire cosmos in just his eyes and facial expressions. It was hard not to believe that he was an all-knowing eternal being.

Tom Sturridge literally has sizzling chemistry with EVERY other actor in this show, and it makes the fantasy seem rich and alive. His sad, wet cat energy is heavily rivaled by other dynamic personalities, and undergoes significant character development when paired with figures that help him further experience humanity. Figures like Johanna Constantine, an exorcist for hire with a sense of sardonic humor, or Death, a member of The Endless with a surprisingly cheerful disposition contrast with Morpheus so much that it makes his development apparent and believable. Most characters are so lovable you can’t help but be affected by them.

This is not an ordinary fantasy series though. There are unpredictable layers of horror and shock to prove that at its root, “The Sandman” is about the true nature of humans. The diner episode begins following a happy-go-lucky waitress, and leads to group mutilation and the uncovering of horrible truths and the darkness of human nature. Unfaithful -

necessary to pause and take in the heaviness of the mystery and the uneasiness of the murder investigation, this drama is one to come back to because of the character’s magnetic pull. They’ll live in your head until you find out if they get their happy ending and long after. Even though it's officially classified as a mystery thriller, its charm lies in its comedy where fans still find themselves watching MV's and clip compilations months later when they’re feeling down. This drama will definitely toy with your emotions and brain. “Law School” is the perfect K-drama to watch in order to manage the stress of law school applications this cycle. And even if you’ve watched it before, it’s worth a rewatch to find any hints that you may have missed in the past and comfort in the characters’ stories.

“Law School” is streaming on Netflix.

ness, murder, lies, deceit, are all uncovered at the cozy diner. It doesn’t end there, from mentions of abuse and a serial killer convention, this show was thrilling.

While the cast is filled with incredible actors like Jenna Coleman, Gwendoline Christie, David Thewlis, Kirby Howell-Baptiste and Mason Alexander Park, the introduction of the character Rose Walker is where the show falls flat. The show loses it’s dreamlike quality because Walker’s actress, Kyo Ra, is an awful actress in comparison to the star-studded cast. Her performance was not convincing, she mumbled through half her lines and every piece of her dialogue seemed corny and ineffective to the storyline. Her character was unfortunately very unlikeable, which is a shame because she had more screen time than many others. Hopefully, she develops as an actress if Season 2 is greenlit, because her performance alone made me want to set my TV on fire.

Outside of Rose Walker, the show is a great piece of media. Gaiman’s masterful storytelling is wonderfully translated on screen, and Morpheus is a protagonist that an audience will crave more screen time with. Until a cancellation or Season 2 announcement, I will be dreaming of “The Sandman”.

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