DART Riders Get the Best Seat(s) on Campus

Students trekking to and from campus with heavy books, laptops and other supplies can now rest their weary legs on shiny new benches as they wait to catch a DART bus. 

The green benches, which feature the word “Comets” across the backrest, were installed recently thanks to a dedicated group of former students. They now sit at several stops along the campus bus route. 

“We thought the seats would be a great way to promote school spirit and get people interacting with the community and each other,” said Zac Cox, a 2008 UT Dallas graduate and member of the entering class of 2004 McDermott Scholars, who were instrumental in securing the benches. 

Tradition dictates that each year the senior class of McDermott Scholars completes a capstone project for the community or campus.  According to Cox, the ’04 scholars chose the benches for three reasons:  to endorse use of the bus service for environmental preservation, for interaction within the UT Dallas community and for the advancement of school spirit.  

The class purchased the benches with both their own personal money and with the help of the Alumni Student Grant Fund, which supports programs and projects that directly benefit students at the University.

“We hope the point that people take from this project is that you can give back to the school without too much effort or cost,” Cox added.

Molly Seeligson is director of the McDermott Scholars program.  The entering class of 2004 includes:  Laura Anderson, Zac Cox, James Fickenscher, Hannah Frank, Lelia Gowland, George Graham, Alessandro Gregorat, Holly Kwan, Iris Kwong, Rachel Markowitz, Erica Neiser, Alexander Raw, Liam Skoyles, Benedict Voit, Kerri West and Jordan Youngblood.