Mercury in Retrograde

Student journalists at UTD launched a new, independent publication called The Retrograde Sept. 21 as The Mercury, UTD’s previous student newspaper since 1980, ceased publication. The Retrograde’s inaugural publication released Sept. 30.  

On Sept. 12, UTD’s Student Media Operating Board finalized details for a meeting the following day where Editor-in-Chief Gregorio Olivares Gutierrez would be reviewed for Student Media bylaw violations and potentially terminated from his position. The Mercury’s management team unanimously voted to strike if former Editor-in-Chief Gregorio Olivares Gutierrez was fired. In a 3-1 vote Sept. 13, SMOB voted to remove Olivares as Editor-in-Chief, beginning The Mercury’s strike. 

During the strike, The Mercury paused publication and demanded Student Affairs meet its strike demands, which include reinstating Olivares and reforming Student Media bylaws to allow for fairer termination processes in the future. Student Affairs did not respond to The Mercury’s demands. On Sept. 17, Olivares appealed his termination. The Student Media bylaws required SMOB to decide on Olivares’ appeal by Sept. 19; when the appeal decision was delayed and Student Affairs circumvented having SMOB review the appeal at all, The Mercury’s strike leaders determined Student Affairs was uninterested in meeting the strike demands and instead launched a new, independent student publication to replace The Mercury, called “The Retrograde.” 

In 1980, when UTD students were first choosing the name for the upcoming student newspaper, a Student Government committee reviewed several potential names, including “UTD Esprit,” “UT Dyslexia,” “UT Delight,” “UTD Jack” and “UTD Mercury.” Ultimately, The Mercury was chosen as the official name because of its association with Mercury, the Roman god of communications and messages, and the term “mercuries,” which refer to 17th-century English newspapers. The Retrograde’s founding members chose the new publication’s name in part to honor “The Mercury.” 

Multiple planets, including the planet Mercury, occasionally appear to move backward through the sky when viewed from Earth because of the differing speeds of each celestial body. This optical illusion is called retrograde motion. The planet Mercury experiences retrograde multiple times per year and will re-enter retrograde beginning Nov. 25. Mercury’s retrograde motion is the most culturally significant of all the planets; astrologically, Mercury’s retrograde motion is commonly believed to increase personal problems. The founders of The Retrograde seek to immortalize the difficulties Mercury management and staff endured before launching the independent publication. 

The word “retrograde” can also refer to any kind of backward movement, including metaphorical movement. The name “The Retrograde” seeks to highlight what its founders consider to be backward, anti-student behavior from UTD’s administration over the past year, including ignoring Student Government’s spring 2023 resolution that demanded UTD divest from weapons manufacturers; removing the Spirit Rocks when they became a political activism platform; arresting peaceful protesters during the May 1 encampment; and failing to meet The Mercury’s strike demands. The Retrograde’s founders hope to hold such behavior accountable through the freedom of independent publishing. 

The Retrograde will run as a student publication free from administrative oversight or control, continuing to inform, educate and entertain the UTD student community with news, life & arts and opinion coverage like its predecessor, The Mercury. The Retrograde publishes new articles every two weeks and is currently exclusively online, with plans to begin printing physical papers once it secures sufficient funding. The publication will be overseen by a board of directors staffed by UTD faculty, professional journalists and student media mentors, and operate an advisory council where student organizations and representatives can offer advice, critique and suggestions to The Retrograde’s management team. 

The Retrograde is currently pursuing 501(c)3 nonprofit status and raises money through donations, grants, sponsorships and advertisements. 

Interested in supporting independent journalism at The Retrograde? Consider donating to The Retrograde’s GoFundMe or Patreon.