The Spotlight https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn Independent student journalism — campus news, opinion, and culture. Women's Volleyball Opens Season With Five-Set Comeback Win https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/sports/sports-volleyball-opens-season-with-comeback-win/ https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/sports/sports-volleyball-opens-season-with-comeback-win/ Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Down two sets to none, the team rallied to beat a ranked conference opponent in front of a sold-out home crowd. Dining Services Workers Authorize Strike Vote Amid Contract Dispute https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/news/dining-workers-authorize-strike-vote/ https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/news/dining-workers-authorize-strike-vote/ Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Members of the campus dining workers' union voted 89 percent in favor of authorizing a strike if a new contract isn't reached by mid-September. Mandatory Meal Plans Punish the Students Who Can Least Afford Them https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/opinion/opinion-mandatory-meal-plans-hurt-off-campus-students/ https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/opinion/opinion-mandatory-meal-plans-hurt-off-campus-students/ Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Requiring every underclassman to buy a full meal plan, regardless of housing situation, treats a convenience for some as an unavoidable cost for everyone. New Shuttle Route Cuts Off-Campus Commute Times in Half https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/campus/new-shuttle-route-cuts-commute-times/ https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/campus/new-shuttle-route-cuts-commute-times/ Tue, 25 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT The revised Blue Line schedule, launched this week, adds two buses and a direct stop at the graduate housing complex. Board of Trustees Approves Five-Year Housing Expansion https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/news/board-of-trustees-approves-new-housing-plan/ https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/news/board-of-trustees-approves-new-housing-plan/ Mon, 24 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT The plan adds two residence halls and phases out the East Quad dormitories, which administrators say no longer meet fire-code standards. Student Engineering Team Wins Regional Robotics Competition https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/science-technology/science-tech-student-team-wins-regional-robotics-competition/ https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/science-technology/science-tech-student-team-wins-regional-robotics-competition/ Sun, 23 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT The five-person team's autonomous rover, built over eight months in a converted lab space, took first place in a field of eleven university entries. Inside the University's Only Food Pantry, Demand Has Tripled in Three Years https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/features/features-inside-the-universitys-only-food-pantry/ https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/features/features-inside-the-universitys-only-food-pantry/ Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Run entirely by student volunteers out of a converted storage room, the campus pantry served 40 students a week in 2023. This spring, it served more than 130. The Return of the Midnight Film Series, and Why Students Keep Showing Up https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/culture/culture-the-return-of-the-midnight-film-series/ https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/culture/culture-the-return-of-the-midnight-film-series/ Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT After a two-year hiatus, the student-run midnight screening series is back, and packing the campus theater on a Thursday night. Main Library Will Stay Open 24 Hours Starting Two Weeks Before Finals https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/campus/library-extends-24-hour-hours-during-finals/ https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/campus/library-extends-24-hour-hours-during-finals/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT The extended hours, funded by a one-time grant from the Student Activities Fee committee, begin this December. Senior Thesis Exhibition Opens This Week in the Union Gallery https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/arts/arts-senior-thesis-exhibition-opens-this-week/ https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/arts/arts-senior-thesis-exhibition-opens-this-week/ Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Eighteen visual arts seniors present a year of independent work, from large-format textile pieces to a room-scale sound installation. Office Hours Are Broken, and Everyone Knows It https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/opinion/opinion-office-hours-are-broken/ https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/opinion/opinion-office-hours-are-broken/ Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT The format assumes students can show up whenever a professor happens to be free. For students working part-time jobs, that assumption is the whole problem. Club Rugby Secures University Funding After Years of Self-Financing https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/sports/sports-club-rugby-secures-funding-after-years-of-advocacy/ https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/sports/sports-club-rugby-secures-funding-after-years-of-advocacy/ Sun, 16 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT The team, self-funded through player dues since its founding in 2019, will receive its first university budget allocation this fall. The Adjuncts Teaching a Third of Your Classes Don't Know if They'll Have a Job Next Semester https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/features/features-the-adjuncts-teaching-a-third-of-your-classes/ https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/features/features-the-adjuncts-teaching-a-third-of-your-classes/ Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT A Spotlight review of course listings found that adjunct and non-tenure-track faculty now teach roughly 34 percent of undergraduate credit hours, most on semester-to-semester contracts. New Undergraduate Research Lab Opens in the Science Building https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/science-technology/science-tech-new-lab-opens-for-undergraduate-research/ https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/science-technology/science-tech-new-lab-opens-for-undergraduate-research/ Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT The 3,000-square-foot space is dedicated entirely to undergraduate-led projects, a first for the university's science departments. The Best Late-Night Food Near Campus, All Under 10 Dinars https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/culture/culture-campus-eats-the-best-late-night-food-under-10/ https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/culture/culture-campus-eats-the-best-late-night-food-under-10/ Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Our culture desk's running guide to where to eat after the dining halls close. Student Government Election Sees Highest Turnout in a Decade https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/news/news-student-government-election-turnout/ https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/news/news-student-government-election-turnout/ Tue, 11 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Nearly 38 percent of eligible undergraduates voted, more than double last year's turnout, following a contested presidential race. Men's Basketball Adds Two Transfer Guards Ahead of Season https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/sports/sports-mens-basketball-adds-two-transfer-guards/ https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/sports/sports-mens-basketball-adds-two-transfer-guards/ Mon, 10 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Both players started for their previous programs and are expected to compete immediately for rotation minutes. What to Know About Orientation Week, Class of 2030 https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/campus/campus-orientation-week-schedule-2026/ https://magazine.thespotlightmag.tn/campus/campus-orientation-week-schedule-2026/ Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT A first-year's guide to move-in, advising sessions, and the events actually worth your time.