Brazil's wiretapping scandal likely to shield da Silva
By Courtney Ring
In the United States, where privacy rights remain somewhat ambiguous, debating the merits of wire-tapping citizens is one thing, but in a country like Brazil, where the constitution explicitly guarantees the privacy of telephone communications except per court order, it's something completely different. This week, as the illegal wiretapping of top officials within the Brazilian government came to light, rumors of possible action against President Inacio Lula da Silva were also heard in the background. If the wiretaps can be traced back to President da Silva, he could face impeachment charges. Still, at this point Mr. da Silva can't be ... Read More
Stock market down, but hope should remain
By Courtney Ring"Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night!" Bette Davis once intoned.Well, it's been a long series of bumpy nights for investors on Wall Street for the past two weeks, and it doesn't look like the turbulence is over yet.The spectacular see-sawing of the stock market along with the crumbling of major Wall Street players Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch and America International Group, Inc. (AIG) indicate a complete reshaping of the structure of the American financial market. Still, despite very valid concerns over the state of the economy, the time to panic hasn't yet come. At the bottom ... Read More
Government bail-outs hurt economy world wide
By Courtney RingLast week, Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson and Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke announced their plan to rescue Wall Street from its self-inflicted heartburn. Their idea? Have the government purchase $700 billion of the bad debts that have snarled up the financial system. The point of the exercise would be similar to a blood transfusion: take the worthless debts out of the system and replace them with good solid capital. At the same time, manifold voices clamor for bigger and better regulation. But does this massive bail-out really solve the problem when decades of bail-outs and ineffective ... Read More
Good Samaritan Policies should be mandatory
By Courtney RingConsider this: While at a campus party packed with underage students, one of your friends who has been drinking but is not 21 passes out. Knowing how much alcohol they've consumed during the night alarms you and you wonder whether or not to call for help despite the harsh penalties for your friends and yourself. Do you call the ambulance anyway, regardless of the consequences that may ultimately fall on you, or do you stay mum and hope that your friend snaps out of it? Changing the vignette slightly, if you knew that you wouldn't get in trouble, or that ... Read More
Youth voters making their voices heard
By Courtney Ring
Maybe the real test of this election's historicity is whether or not young people will continue to vote in larger numbers in the long term. According to research groups, youth participation has increased over the past three elections-something that hasn't happened since the 26th Amendment lowered the voting age to 18 in 1971. But will this upswing continue once the excitement over the presidential race and disgust over Republican mismanagement dies down?Despite comments about this generation's lack of interest in the world, young people really do care about the economy, the war in Iraq, the environment, college tuition, and healthcare, ... Read More
SGA's endorsement of slots is bad news for Maryland
By Courtney RingLast week our very own Student Government Association voted to endorse the slots initiative in Maryland, joining many in the education establishment who look to slots to provide extra revenue for education as the economy sinks into recession. If you think that slots hold the key to lifting Maryland out of its budget mess, don't hold your breath. Politicians used the same sort of scare tactics last fall to ram the largest tax rate hike in Maryland history down the throats of voters promising that it would end Maryland's fiscal trouble. It didn't, and voters should be wary of the ... Read More
The fundamentally flawed nature of national polling data
By Courtney Ring
A new poll released this week from the Associated Press shows Senators John McCain and Barack Obama running in a virtual dead heat less than two weeks out from Election Day. However, the Washington Post-ABC poll shows Senator Obama leading by nine points, and the Pew Research Center shows an even larger 14-point margin in favor of Obama. We'll know who is right come Election Day, but until then it's important that no one take any outcomes for granted.Looking first at the AP-GfK poll, two reasons for caution emerge. First of all, people identifying themselves as evangelical Christians comprised 44 ... Read More
Stevens' indictment may prove fatal for Palin
By Courtney Ring
During Senator Ted Stevens' corruption trial, when the prosecuting attorney asked him why an expensive fish statue intended for his memorial was stationed on his front porch, Mr. Stevens replied sternly, "Ms. Morris, I have not died yet." We'll know soon enough whether Mr. Stevens truly has died (in the political sense) next Tuesday and whether he will manage to resurrect his career. Many of his Republican colleagues seem to hope this resurrection doesn't take place, among them Governor Sarah Palin. Despite calling for Senator Stevens' resignation however, Palin still found time to express her sympathy, calling Stevens' conviction "a ... Read More
In California the majority speaks - Proposition 8 passes
By Courtney RingThousands of protesters turned out in the streets of Los Angeles and San Francisco this week to protest the passage of Proposition 8 on Tuesday. This amendment to the California state constitution defines marriage in terms of one man and one woman, effectively prohibiting homosexual couples from obtaining marriage licenses. City attorneys from San Francisco and Los Angeles, along with the ACLU, have already filed briefs requesting that the state Supreme Court overturn the Proposition. Is this course of action appropriate? In this case, I think not.Homosexual activists claim that the passage of Proposition 8 deprives them of a fundamental ... Read More
Auto company bailout gives Democrats chance to provoke change
By Courtney Ring
The bigwigs on Capitol Hill appear poised to wave their collective magic wand over the economy once again in an attempt to cure what ails us. This time, Detroit's triumvirate of automakers hope to receive the anointing of federal fairy dust in the form of ready cash to rescue their floundering businesses. Having already fleeced taxpayers once to rescue the financial industry, Congress should not so readily attempt the same maneuver.Why the sudden clamoring for help from the auto industry? As the credit crisis deepened during the fall and access to easy cash dried up, the Detroit car companies found ... Read More
Rising tuition costs and the stagnant quality of education
By Courtney RIng
Concerned about home foreclosures? Worried about the state of the job market? Does the seemingly endless stream of government bailouts keep you up at night? Well now you can add rising tuition costs to the list. According to a report released by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, the combination of rising tuition costs and static or declining family incomes may soon put secondary school out of reach for many middle to lower-class families. According to the report, college tuition has consistently outpaced inflation over the last 25 years. This growth in costs raises two important questions: ... Read More
Rhetoric and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
By Courtney Ring"No situation can have a nature independent of the perception of its interpreter or independent of the rhetoric with which he chooses to characterize it," writes Dr. Rick Vatz, professor of rhetoric at Towson University. This statement seems particularly apt in light of the coverage of the Israeli attack on Hamas in Gaza. Whether justly or not, international media coverage insinuates possible atrocities committed by the Israelis against innocent civilians. This rhetorical interpretation of the events surrounding the Israeli invasion, however, seems counterproductive at best and disingenuous at worst.The coverage of the war in Gaza, thus, is a particular interpretation ... Read More
Maintaining the tuition freeze the best step in helping higher education in the state of Maryland
By Courtney RingFor those who find UMBC tuition on the expensive side, be glad you don't live in New York where students received a 14 percent midyear hike in the cost of their education. So far, students attending Maryland public universities have avoided the painful price increases going into effect around the country, and if Governor Martin O'Malley gets his way, will continue to avoid them. The Governor's proposed budget for FY2010 includes a continuation of the tuition freeze that has been in effect for the last three years in the state of Maryland. At this point, such a measure seems a ... Read More
Stimulus packages does more harm than good
By Courtney RingWith the economic crisis in full swing in America, Congress is working on a stimulus package that will hopefully help stave off impending doom. President Barack Obama has thrown his weight behind the bill, calling delay on the part of lawmakers "irresponsible." Average citizens, meanwhile, just want relief from the economic woes threatening to overwhelm them. The desire for rapid and decisive action notwithstanding, the public is being pushed into this deal too rapidly and should more thoroughly examine this economic Trojan horse rumbling through the gates.One of the odd things about this bill is that the "stimulus" it provides ... Read More
Proposed ban on texting while driving the most-effective measure?
By Courtney Ring
Despite an ignominious track record of failure, legislators in Annapolis are again considering a bill to outlaw text-messaging while driving. This time a combination of impassioned testimony and several studies ranking cellphone use on a par with drunk-driving gave many supporters reason for hope. Personally, I would love to see this habit banned, but even though I'm for it, I doubt such a law would ever work. First, there's the issue of enforcement. In 2005, the Maryland General Assembly passed a law curbing cell phone use among drivers under the age of 18, joining a handful of other states with ... Read More
Reassessing the value of an increased student activity fee for students
By Courtney RingAs an incoming freshman, I vividly remember being told how easy it was to start a new student organization. Underwater yodeling? Great. Find at least four other like-minded people and a staff member willing to sponsor your application, and you could receive university funding for your new organization. That funding comes primarily from the Student Activities Fee, a cost that the Student Government Association is proposing to raise this year. In a lot of ways this makes sense. The fantasy of the free lunch is dying, and if students want to continue enjoying all the extra-curricular opportunities at UMBC, they ... Read More
Refocusing recycling priorities at universities across the country
By Courtney RingEvery year across the country, college campuses compete to see who can recycle the most waste. After snagging several second-place awards last year in the annual Recyclemania program, UMBC has signed up to participate for a third year, allowing every student at the university an opportunity to get personally involved. This program that encourages students to take an active role in stewarding the resources on campus has played a strong role in increasing the profile of recycling at UMBC, but room for improvement on the part of students and staff still remains.Thanks in part to Recyclemania, perhaps the easiest place ... Read More
Stock market slump mirrors growing concerns
By Courtney RingIn the fairyland of Wall Street, the Chicken Littles have officially proclaimed the fall of the sky as the Dow Jones Index fell below 7000-revisiting levels not seen since 1997. Panic rhetoric aside, the deeper story here is what this slump signals about investors' attitudes towards the recession and the government's plan to save the market. At least part of this ongoing horror story is the fact that intensive government intervention has repeatedly exacerbated a situation that could take care of itself, if allowed to do so.In addressing the cause of the drop in the prices of stock, a confluence ... Read More
Forgiving student loans a viable proposition?
By Courtney Ring
A Scottish lord wrote to an American friend in 1857: "A democracy...can last only until its citizens discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury."Americans these days seem to have discovered with a vengeance that, given enough influence, they can purchase public bounty for themselves. One of the latest requests for aid comes from graduated students saddled with massive school-related debts. If the government really wants to stimulate the economy, then forgive student debt that keeps students from investing and spending. As attractive as it sounds, this idea is not really justified.The main argument used by apologists ... Read More
XXX-rated pornographic film opens Pandora's box at local MD university
By Courtney RingApparently, when University of Maryland, College Park decided to allow the showing of a XXX-rated pornographic film on campus last week, they didn't realize they were stepping into a hornet's nest. State Senator Andy Harris went so far as to propose an amendment that would pull state funding from College Park if they showed the film, a move that provoked outraged cries of First Amendment violation. But do students really have a constitutional right to watch hard-core porn in university buildings maintained with public money? I doubt it.Despite the worry that this sort of intervention constitutes a bad precedent for ... Read More
Immigration compromise merely a drop in the ocean of immigration reform
By Courtney Ring
Maryland legislators this week breathed a sigh of relief as they passed a compromise on drivers' license legislation and avoided having to stay in Annapolis for a special session. The compromise would allow illegal aliens to renew their Maryland drivers' licenses through 2015, bringing Maryland into compliance with a federal law called the Real ID Act of 2005. However hard fought, this compromise still doesn't resolve the fundamental issues of immigration policy in Maryland. If voters want a real response to immigration, they will have to pressure the federal government to get involved.Although the MVA's issuance of Maryland drivers' licenses ... Read More
Erickson school downsizing has become a necessary step for now
By Courtney Ring
Although the name Erickson decorates the field right outside the library and one of the nicest dorms on campus as well as UMBC's School of Aging, the Erickson school remained mostly invisible to me until this week, when it announced staff and faculty cuts due to budget strictures. The School, unique on this state-funded campus, does not receive money from the government. Rather, it relies on donations and tuition from enrollment. As the economy has contracted, donations and enrollment have also diminished, leading to the belt-tightening seen this week. This raises the idea that perhaps the Erickson School should receive ... Read More
A tuition freeze for the next academic year will have future repercussions
By Courtney Ring
This week, the Maryland Board of Regents voted again to freeze tuition levels, and Maryland residents attending state universities breathed a sigh of relief. Graduate and out-of-state students didn't fare quite so well—their tuition will increase in 2009. Although the freeze provides some much appreciated relief, this move hardly solves the underlying problems of rising tuition costs. In the next year, politicians and university officials need to develop ways to lock in affordability—and not just for in-state students.Just four years ago, Maryland tuition ranked as the sixth most expensive in the country. As a result of four successive tuition freezes, ... Read More
Around the country, students try to be the change they want to see in the world through protests
By Courtney Ring
If many people view the 1960s peace riots as iconic of student protest movements, recent nationwide campus unrest seems to be raising the specter of those boisterous days. Beyond the specific issues addressed by recent demonstrations though, these protests raise some interesting questions about the methods of and reasons for protesting.The two most notable of the recent protests took place at the New School in New York and the University of North Carolina. In New York, students forcibly occupied a school building and called for the university president's resignation. Their greatest quibble seems to be with the financial transparency of ... Read More
Good Samaritan Policies should be mandatory for all
By Courtney Ring
Consider this: While at a campus party packed with underage students, one of your friends who has been drinking but is not 21 passes out. Knowing how much alcohol they've consumed during the night alarms you and you wonder whether or not to call for help despite the harsh penalties for your friends and yourself. Do you call the ambulance anyway, regardless of the consequences that may ultimately fall on you, or do you stay mum and hope that your friend snaps out of it?Changing the vignette slightly, if you knew that you wouldn't get in trouble, or that the ... Read More
Colleges and universities beware of suing graduates
By Courtney Ring
In a world where you can sue for almost any dissatisfaction, perhaps it was only a matter of time before someone sued a university in an attempt to reclaim their tuition money. Setting this new trend, 27-year-old Trina Thompson of New York City claims that her alma mater, Monroe College, did not do enough to help her find a job after graduation. But will suing really help her chances of finding a job? Probably not.The kernel of validity lying at the heart of Thompson's argument is that, although a college degree does often increase a job candidate's marketability, a piece ... Read More
UMBC still has a long way to go before achieving perfection
By Courtney Ring
As an incoming freshman, the prospect of spending my undergraduate years at UMBC did not particularly enthuse me. A small state school virtually unheard of outside the state of Maryland did not really fit my grand dreams of college. My attitude might have been different had I known that two years later, UMBC would rank among the top four universities in the nation for undergraduate education (if you look at the list, we even outclassed Harvard). Or, as one friend said with a touch of irony, "We are the cheapest place of awesome!"Looking back at my two years at ... Read More
Public debate resorts to personal attacks
By Courtney Ring
Once upon a time, the rules of public debate held that he with the most persuasive and well-constructed argument wins. Now, as we are rapidly finding out, all one must do is shout as many offensive names as possible, as loudly as possible, until one's opponent is drowned out or reduced to embarrassed silence. The last few months alone have spawned an entire political lexicon of dirt for one citizen to throw at another. The problem with this name-calling is that it distracts from the real issue at hand and ends up stifling genuine public debate.The first big issue with ... Read More
Extended hours unlikely to improve academic performance
By Courtney Ring
At the end of last semester, every student on campus breathed a sigh of relief to see that the library offered extended hours during finals week. Talk even floated around campus that the extension in library hours might become permanent. Alas, no. However, with state budget crises around the country, leaving public universities hard up for cash, giving up some extra time in the library seems like a small sacrifice to make in order to save some money.Although it seems kind of rough on students, the decision not to extend library hours makes sense from the point of view of ... Read More
President Obama is put to the test in terms of missile defense
By Courtney RingThis last week, President Obama visibly reinforced one of the major pillars of his platform-nuclear arms control and disarmament. At the United Nations (UN), Obama appeared front and center, addressing the entire UN body and heading up a special session of the Security Council designed to deal with disarmament. More tangible, however, was the decision to remove long-range missile interceptors from Poland and the Czech Republic, a move calculated to sweeten strained U.S.-Russian relations. The tight-lipped Russian response so far has led, however, to fears that such concessions may simply leave the U.S. and its European allies vulnerable in the ... Read More
Bringing banking bureaucrats together one step at a time
By Courtney RingLast weekend, the G-20 proved its adroitness once again at producing little besides comedic farce, a skill attested to by the fact that police treatment of the handful of protesters received as much, if not more, coverage than the conference itself. Ostensibly convened in order to coordinate the economic response of the world's largest economies to the current crisis, little more than self-congratulation and wispy promises emerged. But then, who expected anything less from a meeting of bureaucrats?One of the most notable steps (forwards or backwards, time alone will determine) taken consisted of a resolution to enact more regulations concerning ... Read More
Law against animal cruelty creates more problems
By Courtney Ring
Michael Vick, dogfighting, PETA. Apart from child abuse, few things arouse as much ire as cruelty to animals. Most people unequivocally support protections for animals against such maltreatment. But what if a law designed to protect animals inadvertently came into conflict with First Amendment protections of free speech? The Supreme Court finds itself faced with this somewhat bizarre scenario as it deliberates the fate of a 1999 law designed to stop the sale and distribution of cruel videos. Does this situation pose an unresolvable dilemma between protecting either free speech or animals, or is the solution simpler than apparent?The original ... Read More
Fox News versus the White House: the battle heats up
By Courtney Ring
In a somewhat puzzling move for an administration that has repeatedly called for greater transparency and openness, White House communications director Anita Dunn this week condemned Fox News for its "war" on the Obama administration, calling into question its legitimacy because of its opposition views. No matter what one thinks of Fox News or President Obama, this quarrel seems counterproductive on a number of levels.First of all, such an accusation distracts from the larger issues with which Obama has to deal with and reduces the strong, conciliatory image so far projected by the Obama administration. With health care, the economy, ... Read More
Falcon gets to fly: the thrilling adventures of Balloon Boy
By Courtney Ring
In the midst of the consternated finger-pointing, head-shaking, tongue-clucking and hand-wringing surrounding the not-so-amazing adventures of "Balloon Boy," one question recurs to my mind: Why? Why is everyone so amazed and outraged at being taken in when we live with a media system that created the conditions for such a stunt?In a world of media that thrives on the horrific and the bizarre and offers a chance of instant celebrity as a reward for bad behavior, it really was only a matter of time before someone cooked up an elaborate hoax to feed to a receptive public. Outrageously salacious tales ... Read More
Economic forecast has a high chance of recovery
By Courtney Ring
After months of living in the shadow of the specter of the Great Depression, everyone can breathe a sigh of relief that the economy grew at a rate of 3.5% over the last four months. Many view this surge in growth as the herald of the recession's end, but does the growth really presage a return to normal?If the economy has truly turned the corner, it certainly doesn't mean that the United States will return overnight to the ebullient economic atmosphere of pre-2007. Even as the economy recovers, joblessness may continue to linger around the 10% mark for a while ... Read More
Close encounters on Russian public transportation
By Courtney Ring
The ever-shortening days remind us constantly in St. Petersburg of the rapid approach of winter. Most days, hazy, wispy clouds drape themselves over the city, stifling the sun and muting the colors of the palaces bordering the banks of the Neva River. Nothing, however, dampens the bewildering vitality of the city, as the streets teem with people at all hours of the day. At rush hour, the trolleys, buses, metro, and trams all resemble so many cans of sardines. It is truly spectacular to watch as an entire group of people shifts simultaneously in order to allow the passage of ... Read More
Gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey
By Courtney Ring
When President Obama and his fellow party members came to power last fall, many pundits predicted a long-term redrawing of the political map in the United States. The gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey, along with several other elections around the country this week suggest a slightly different picture. At this point it's hard to tell whether these elections actually say anything about the upcoming midterm elections next year, with their focus on local issues and idiosyncrasies, but it does set up an interesting landscape for the future.The ability of Republicans Chris Christie in New Jersey and Bob McDonnell ... Read More
Afghanistan's elections cause quite an uproar
By Courtney Ring
The fragility of the Afghan state during the last few weeks has been on full display amid an election marred by allegations of fraud and several dramatically deadly bomb blasts which killed international civilians as well as Afghanis. In the face of this, the Independent Election Committee decided this week to cancel the scheduled run-off and simply declare Hamid Karzai-already almost guaranteed victory-the winner. This decision, made in the name of self-preservation, seems dangerous.In the first place, the run-off would have given President Hamid Karzai a clear mandate to govern, putting to rest any doubts about stolen elections or legitimacy. ... Read More
Fall break in Europe's largest city: Moscow
By Courtney RingWe ushered in the week of Fall Break with a three-day excursion to Moscow-the largest city, not only in Russia, but also in Europe. Red Square, the Kremlin, St. Basil's Cathedral, everything iconically Russian blitzed past us in a dazzling whirl before we all parted ways for a week of rest and travel.Thursday night we dragged our gear down the platform in St. Petersburg toward the waiting train that would take us, overnight, to Moscow. Arriving at 7 a.m. the next morning, we stumbled off the train and onto the waiting buses. Driving north, the pre-dawn grayness gradually lifted, raising ... Read More
Russian government infringes on the rights of its people
By Courtney Ring
At the end of the Russia-European Union summit this week, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt issued an insipid statement of concern on behalf of Europe over Russian abuses of human rights. Many news sources reported that Russian President Dmitri Medvedev "chose not to respond to this critique." Indeed, given Russia's position vis-a-vis the rest of Europe, President Medvedev can afford to ignore such rhetorical barbs even as Russia seems prepared to slide increasingly toward repression of civil liberties.The key to Russia's diplomatic invulnerability lies in the fact that, according to one news source, "the European Union depends on Russia for ... Read More
Global warming all hot air? Obama pushes full speed ahead at Copenhagen summit
By Courtney Ring
The escalating Internet hubbub over the e-mails released from Great Britain's Climate Research Unit in East Anglia has been matched by near silence in the mass media. Why is that? Is it because these e-mails have the potential to force us to rethink the entire global warming scenario in several different ways?The first thing to think about is the information on which the global warming platform is founded. The research from the Climate Research Unit was one of the four major sources relied on by the pivotal United Nations report dealing with man-caused global warming. If that information proves to ... Read More
Campaign finance: show me the money
By Courtney Ring
With a 5-4 ruling last week in Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission, the Supreme Court changed the rules of campaign finance against a backdrop of hand-wringing, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. But has the apocalypse of political corruption truly beset us? What did the Supreme Court decision actually do? Will corporations now have unbridled power over the conduct of elections?During the 2008 primary election, a conservative advocacy group, Citizens United, produced a film attacking Hillary Clinton's ability to lead as President of the United States. Barred by the Federal Elections Commission under the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform law from ... Read More
Valentine's Day: the week-long sequel
By Courtney RingFor all those who just can't get enough of the holiday of flowers, chocolates, and promises no one intends to keep, Governor O'Malley has devoted the entire next week to the celebration of Valentine's Day. Whether your response falls into the giggle or groan category, the responsibility lands squarely on the twin abominable snow monsters that engulfed the entire state last week. According to Governor O'Malley, "Maryland citizens have been busy dealing with the unprecedented snowfall this past week. Planning Valentine's Day activities, such as ordering flowers, buying gifts, or booking restaurants and overnight getaways, might not have happened." It ... Read More
Dr. Amy Bishop and the Alabama Shootings
By Courtney Ring
The iconic halls of academe, the one place where (we congratulate ourselves) violence gives way to the power of science and reason. Every once in a while, however, someone breaches the wall of the ivory tower as Dr. Amy Bishop did last week when she allegedly emptied a 9 mm handgun into her colleagues during a faculty meeting at the University of Alabama, Huntsville. Already, her lawyer seems to be laying the groundwork for an insanity plea as lurid descriptions of a violent past emerge. But who is Amy Bishop? Was she a brilliant professor with an undiagnosed mental imbalance ... Read More
On-campus parking and the new Fine Arts building
By Courtney Ring
As a commuting student, it's a sickening feeling when, with only a few minutes to spare before class, driving around the campus parking lots yields no spaces. Since my first semester as a freshman, I have resorted to...but that would be telling. Undeniably, the competition for parking on campus is fierce and about to intensify as plans for a new Performing Arts and Humanities Building will deny students and faculty access to about 700 spaces at the north end of campus. Recognizing the fact that with any change there are trade-offs, commuters will have to make some adjustments. But what ... Read More
Just send money
By Courtney Ring
Angry college students took to the streets in droves last week under the ostentatiously verbose banner of "Strike and Day of Action to Defend Education" in order to protest cuts in state funding and tuition hikes. Invoking the idealism of the 1960s, the students claimed that they rallied to protect their "right" to education from the utilitarian machinations of the state. But was this an idealistic protest, or simply a collective temper tantrum? Although there were scattered protests around the country, California was the best-organized (and publicized) protest, so we'll stick with that one. So, what are the facts? In ... Read More
Abortion and unintended consequences
By Courtney Ring
Why is it that the vast majority of abortion clinics are located in poor, predominantly minority neighborhoods? Why is it that black women form a small percentage of the population, yet have almost 40% of abortions? A new documentary entitled Maafa 21 that is currently being distributed by pro-life groups seeks to tackle these questions. Even if you dont agree with all the conclusions reached by the documentary, it does offer compelling reasons to re-examine some of the value judgments that we, as a society, have made about the worth and quality of life. The film, the outgrowth of an ... Read More
Bikers, funerals, and free speech
By Courtney Ring
"I detest what you say, but I will die for your right to say it," Voltaire once declaimed. The families of dead soldiers today are finding that statement to be literally true, as a group from the Topeka, Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church travels the country picketing their funerals. One soldier's father decided to sue the protesters, and won...at first. Last fall, though, an appellate court tossed out the verdict on First Amendment grounds and ordered the father to pay the protestors' court fees, amounting to about $16,500. Was this fair? First off, a little back story is necessary. In Westminster, ... Read More
Are jobs really getting easier to find?
By Courtney Ring
As the end of the semester approaches with the frightening rapidity of an oncoming freight train, many students' thoughts turn to summer employment. For those graduating, the task is particularly daunting given a weak economy. Lots of economic reports have recently focused on rumors that the economy is perhaps exiting the recession. Will this translate into an easier job search for those of us graduating in the next few years? Although there are some very hopeful signs for future strong growth, at this point it seems a little too early to declare the recession officially over. First, the good news: ... Read More
Staff Ed : Get involved before you complain
By Courtney RingFor those who like to complain that there is not enough school spirit and that students are disconnected, here's something you can do about it. This last week, the winners of the imPROVE It competition were announced in the midst of the buildup leading to Quadmania. This and the SGA elections this week are a perfect reminder to students that they have more opportunity for input than they perhaps realize. To start with, the SGA's imPROVE It program actively promotes student involvement in the campus. If students see a need, or have an innovative idea that they would like to ... Read More
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