42 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(05/17/18 9:28pm)
I joined The Cavalier Daily on a whim. My first year, several of my friends wanted to attend the paper’s open house, so I tagged along. I wasn’t particularly interested in journalism. I loved reading the newspaper but I didn’t feel the need to be the author of the stories that were printed. I mostly just joined the Copy section because I wanted an interesting activity. On that day, I never could have predicted that I would still be a faithful member of The Cavalier Daily staff after four years.
(04/09/18 5:27am)
Stories about the data scandal involving Facebook and Cambridge Analytica have dominated the news recently. On April 4, Facebook announced that the data of up to 87 million of its users may have been shared with the political data firm Cambridge Analytica. These events have resulted in public outcry because, while Facebook allows researchers to harvest data from its users for educational purposes, Cambridge Analytica used the data to further its business interests. Fortunately, this controversy began a public conversation about how Facebook handles the data of its users and how well users understand the ways in which online companies use their data.
(03/26/18 5:02am)
The University plans to undertake a massive renovation of Alderman Library beginning in 2020. The library, which was opened to the public in 1938, needs these renovations because its plumbing and heating technologies are outdated. The University hopes to also upgrade Alderman to be a more accessible and environmentally friendly facility. These upgrades are needed and will be useful for students and professors who spend extended periods of time in the building, but they may come at the expense of the library’s true purpose.
(02/19/18 5:41am)
In recent years, education scholars and students alike have called for the abolishment of the examination-based educational system at colleges and universities around the nation. These scholars cited a number of reasons exams should be abolished, including their lack of post-graduation relevance. Phil Hedayatnia, a researcher at Rice University, recently argued that the skills students use for examinations are not useful to their future employers. Furthermore, he proposed that higher education as a whole should seek to change its formula and focus more on preparing students for the workforce. Though this criticism may be correct for certain examinations, students gain practical skills from their university examinations that will carry them through years of post-graduate work.
(02/05/18 4:43pm)
This semester, it seems as though some of the most impactful news stories about the University have related to the use of space on its historic Grounds. At the end of last year, the University began a long-slated project to increase on-Grounds housing options for upperclassmen by demolishing existing buildings on Brandon Avenue to build a new residence hall. Students returned to Grounds to find increased construction in this area. The goal of the project is to offer more student housing in a highly-trafficked area in order to entice upperclassmen to continue living on-Grounds.
(01/17/18 5:54am)
On Dec. 29, YouTube celebrity Logan Paul posted a video to his channel depicting a trip into Japan’s Aokigahara forest, best known for the frequent number of suicide attempts which occur in the midst of the lush landscape. Paul proceeded to discover a dead body and interact with it on video, in what Paul believed to be a humorous stunt. Though the video received many views — as Paul aims to do with his stunts — it rightfully ignited an outcry against the YouTuber for his disrespect and inappropriate behavior. Paul eventually removed the video from the site and issued an apology, but his antics and those of other similar YouTube stars bring up important questions about the online behavior of users, both young and old. Paul’s video also serves as a dangerous example of the invincibility many users feel online and the consequences he will face should caution users against the belief that rules — both moral and legal — do not apply to online behavior.
(12/04/17 6:50am)
On Nov. 29, NPR reported on the Trump administration’s plans to roll-back certain regulatory reforms in the trucking industry made under former President Barack Obama. The reforms under threat include a measure requiring that truckers be tested for sleep apnea and a plan to mandate speed-limiting devices in all large trucks. Several other technological projects to improve the safety of trucks themselves were also halted by the Trump administration. Though truckers call their industry one of the most over-regulated in the United States, safety requirements should not be pushed aside. Truckers are certainly not always to blame when it comes to accidents on U.S. highways, but the large size of their vehicles provides the opportunity for considerable damage in the event of a small mistake. For this reason, the current group of regulations should be kept in place and technological research on road safety should be prioritized.
(11/13/17 5:04am)
The University’s Resident Advisor application for the 2018-19 academic year recently opened. The selection process is competitive, but once a student is selected for an RA position, they can remain a part of the program throughout their time at the University. Additionally, as compensation for their work, each resident advisor receives a rent-free room in one of the University’s dorms and a 50 swipe meal plan with $130 worth of Plus Dollars for each semester. While these benefits may seem great, for the amount of work an RA does, more benefits are well deserved. Compensation through a meal plan is well intentioned, but the 50 swipe meal plan is not enough to last an entire semester — the University is shortchanging its RA staff.
(10/24/17 3:09am)
On Oct. 16, President Donald Trump found himself embroiled in yet another scandal when he asserted that previous U.S. presidents did not personally call or contact the families of fallen service members during their terms. The statement was a response to allegations regarding Trump’s phone call with the wife of a U.S. soldier who died while on a mission in Niger. On a phone call with the widow of Sgt. La David Johnson, Trump reportedly said: “He knew what he signed up for … But when it happens, it hurts anyway.” By attempting to take the heat off his own comments, Trump drew executive response to Gold Star families into partisan politics. The sacrifices of Gold Star families should not be dragged into political conflicts, and all Americans should respect the families of fallen soldiers.
(10/11/17 3:24am)
Following Hurricane Maria’s devastation of Puerto Rico, the lack of widespread knowledge about United States territories was clear. Despite Puerto Rico’s status as a U.S. territory — whose inhabitants are born U.S. citizens — concern about the disaster among the general public was low. Additionally, few United States citizens are aware of the rights and status of the territory’s inhabitants. According to recent polling, only 54 percent of Americans know that Puerto Ricans are born U.S. citizens. Additionally, the same Morning Consult poll found that when Americans were informed of Puerto Rican’s citizenship status, they were more likely to support aid than when they were unaware. These polls indicate that disaster relief efforts are hindered by the lack of knowledge of the general populace. This is troubling in the least, and demonstrates that the U.S. educational system needs to prioritize civics. All American citizens should be knowledgable about U.S. territories, and this will only come from a reformed civic education curriculum.
(09/11/17 2:34am)
As students finish settling in at the University this semester, many first-years are likely dedicating their first semester to complete general requirements. For students in the College of Arts and Sciences, the requirements include completing specific math, science, history and social sciences credits, among other courses. Additionally, unless deemed exempt, first year students must complete the first writing requirement, a course intended to help students develop their writing skills. However, the first writing requirement is an umbrella course offered to students of varying skill levels which could be improved by splitting students into more specialized classes, based on either their SAT reading and writing subscore or pre-submitted portfolios.
(08/30/17 2:36am)
In the wake of the recent alt-right rally in Charlottesville, which attracted hundreds of neo-Nazis and white supremacists, cities and organizations around the United States have begun taking steps to remove public monuments of Confederate soldiers. However, ESPN removed a “Lee” of their own from his assigned position. Robert Lee, an announcer for the network who was slated to cover the University’s home football opener, was reassigned to cover a different game “simply because of the coincidence of his name.” Though the network stated that at the that moment “it felt right to all parties,” ESPN’s pre-emptive public relations strike related to commentator Robert Lee was a mistake and created avoidable negative press for the organization.
(06/02/17 2:04am)
This fall, University Programs Council will host its annual Welcome Week. In the past, the event has served as an alternative to Block Party and has featured musical acts such as J.Cole and Smallpools. The musical guests serve as a way to persuade students to spend their first Saturday night at a safe, University-sanctioned social event, rather than the unpredictable environment of Block Party.
(04/24/17 5:19am)
Last week, fellow Opinion columnist Alex Mink argued that colleges are leaving students ill prepared for their entry into the workforce. Mink claimed that, while students feel confident in their skills when entering the workforce, employers see serious deficiencies in students skills in, “organization, leadership and personal finance, as well as street smarts.” Mink’s argument places full responsibility for students deficiencies on the colleges and universities in which they are educated. However, I would argue the responsibility falls to students to take the initiative in developing skills needed to present themselves as competitive applicants following graduation. Furthermore, the University provides key resources to students to prepare them for the job market — it is simply up to students to take advantage of them.
(04/10/17 4:04am)
When one considers the most underrated professions in the United States, of the many that come to mind, few are so vital to the American public as that of the family farmer. There are two million farms in the United States, and 99 percent of those farms are run by families. Additionally, family farms around the world produce three-quarters of the world’s food supply. In spite of these figures, many Americans continue to undervalue farmers. The stereotypical image of a farmer as a “middle-aged, uneducated white men with beer bellies” is lampooned in films and contributes to the lack of respect for the profession. In truth, farmers work long hours, are often well-educated and provide a service to the American public and the world which should not be overlooked.
(03/27/17 4:04am)
Last week, The Cavalier Daily’s Editorial Board argued in favor of social media as a way to make causes visible for social activism. The board asserted that social media “expediently disseminates information and effectively unites people for a single cause.” This argument is valid, but the board greatly overestimates the impact of social media as a singular tool for change. Though it is a tool that can bring citizens together, it is not an omnipresent way to automatically start a social movement. Additionally, the board championed social media as a way to turn “local news into global news.” By presenting an overly broad argument about the effects of social media on activist movements, the board undercut the complexity of activist movements and overestimated the ability of the average person to make change using social media.
(03/20/17 4:17am)
Saudi Arabian leaders made headlines last week when they launched the nation’s first Girls Council in Qassim province. The Council is meant to, “open up more and more opportunities that will serve the work of women and girls,” according to Prince Faisal bin Mishaal bin Saud, the governor of Qassim province. When photos of the event were released, Internet users were quick to point out that the photo of the launch of the Qassim Girls Council contained no girls or women. At an event which was supposed to support growing opportunities for women, the female leadership of the committee was noticeably absent. They were in another room, viewing the ceremony via video to maintain strict compliance with Saudi Arabia’s law that unmarried men and women cannot be in a room together. The lack of female presence at the event, as well as the compliance with the nation’s strict gender segregation laws shows the committee will likely make little difference in the lives of Saudi Arabian women without making changes to the nation’s oppressive legal system.
(03/13/17 4:01am)
President Donald Trump’s immigration policies have ignited debate in recent weeks. Much of the controversy surrounded Trump’s ban of immigrants from several predominantly Muslim nations including Iran, Sudan and Yemen. Trump will also temporarily stop the expedited processing of H-1B visas, which skilled workers need to maintain employment in the U.S. The current expedited processing of these visas is completed in 15 days. However, under the Trump administration’s new plan, it could take up to 6 months. Many foreign medical students seek visas through the Conrad 30 J-1 visa-waiver program to work in America in areas short of medical professionals. The program combats doctor shortages around the country to keep hospitals well-staffed, particularly in rural areas. The maintenance of this program is essential to the medical care of Americans. The Trump administration should designate H-1B visas through the Conrad 30 Program as essential for national welfare and consequently expedite their processing.
(02/20/17 5:01am)
Last week, fellow columnist Ryan Gorman wrote an article where he proposed eliminating traditional family structures in America in order to eradicate inequality. Although Gorman clearly did a great deal of research on the topic and brings up some interesting points, his argument is entirely faulty. Gorman states, “the driving force of American plight is not the free market, nor is it the clash of regional values or the structure of our quasi-federal government; it is the American family — the culture of decentralized guardianship that necessarily breeds context-based inequalities.” However, Gorman completely ignores the positive social, cultural and behavioral effects that parental nurture has on children. Moreover, if a plan like Gorman’s became law in the U.S., citizens would be discouraged from having children because they would be unable to take an active role in their upbringing.
(02/13/17 5:01am)
Last semester, I wrote an article encouraging the University to destigmatize mental health issues on Grounds. Though my article focused on increased mental health awareness during exam weeks, I implored the University to make mental health a priority and make students comfortable with acknowledging mental health issues. Last week, the organization Active Minds hosted a panel regarding mental health on college campuses. University professors and deans spoke about mental health resources on Grounds and the efforts to destigmatize mental health on Grounds. Panel discussions like these are a positive step towards helping college students with mental health issues and Active Minds should be commended for hosting a discussion on the topic. Additionally, the University should host panels and events like these on a more regular basis to continue destigmatizing mental health on college campuses.