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(02/28/11 5:59am)
WE'VE ALL seen "I stand with Planned Parenthood" status updates on Facebook in the past week. These statements are not about abortion or being pro-choice; they refer to recent legislation passed in the House of Representatives to cut Title X of the Public Health Service Act, a government program that provides family planning aid. Called the Pence Amendment, this legislation would stop Planned Parenthood from receiving any federal funding. This amendment is an attack on women's rights and access to basic health care, and therefore should not be passed into law.
(02/14/11 5:32am)
LAST WEEK, for perhaps the first time ever, Dennis Kucinich, D.-Ohio, and Tea Party members of Congress agreed on an issue. In a bipartisan vote of 277 to 148, members of the House of Representatives were unable to secure a two-thirds majority on a measure that would extend three provisions of the PATRIOT Act set to expire at the end of the month. The failure to reauthorize these portions of the PATRIOT Act is a victory on two fronts. First, it means a return to pre-Sept. 11 privacy and civil liberties. Second, the bipartisan nature of the vote gives U.S. citizens hope that members of the 112th House of Representatives are willing to cross party lines to legislate in the best interest of their constituents.
(02/08/11 5:48am)
SINCE 1976, pro-life and pro-choice advocates have come to a truce on one thing: Taxpayer funds are not to be used to pay for abortions except for in the cases of rape, incest and when the pregnancy is dangerous to the health of the mother. Codified in the Hyde Amendment, this compromise mainly pertains to Medicaid funds and must be renewed each year by Congress. But this year, House Republican Chris Smith of New Jersey has introduced the "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act." This House bill not only proposes making the Hyde Amendment permanent, but it goes even further in limiting women's access to federal funds for abortion. This bill is an attack on women's rights, and the passage of such legislation would return women to an era full of inequalities.
(01/31/11 9:09am)
LAST Tuesday night, President Obama delivered the annual State of the Union Address, which was followed by the traditional response from the opposing party, given this year by Congressman Paul Ryan from Wisconsin. But Congressman Ryan's response was not the only one that aired on television Tuesday night. CNN also broadcast a response by Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. Congresswoman Bachmann's rebuttal to the State of the Union was intended to be made public online for the Tea Party Express, but CNN also picked up the response. The intention behind CNN airing Bachmann's response is unclear, but in doing so the news network essentially elevated the Tea Party to the same legitimacy as the Republican and Democratic Parties, showing the growing force and popularity of the Tea Party movement.
(01/24/11 6:11am)
I have finally reached that dreaded point in my life; I am now a second semester fourth-year student, and it's time for me to find a job. With majors in French and Foreign Affairs, I knew this would be quite the chore. Luckily, I have University Career Services on my side. UCS does quite a bit to help students find jobs and internships, including CAVLink, which has new job postings every day, and UCS advisors who are available for resume and cover letter critique and career counseling services. UCS also organizes job fairs, such as the annual Spring Internship and Job Fair, and helps organize transportation to other career fairs, notably the Government and Non-Profit Career Expo at Georgetown University.
(11/22/10 7:08am)
Last week, the University celebrated International Education Week to demonstrate the its commitment to creating global opportunities for students. The week consisted of various events including seminars, an international career panel and even a French play performed in Old Cabell Hall. The events were designed to bring attention to the diverse international opportunities available for students and also to teach students how to incorporate their previous international experiences, such as study abroad, into career opportunities for the global workplace. International Education Week was certainly beneficial for students with study abroad experiences or language skills, but should have been more accessible to all students.
(11/16/10 7:06am)
"One nation, under God." These are words we have all grown up saying. We recited them every day for 12 years in grade school and we often recite them before meetings. But how closely do any of us really analyze what is being said? In a nation that touts separation of church and state as a fundamental tenet of government, religious phrases such as this one have no place in our Pledge of Allegiance.
(11/08/10 7:24am)
The 24-hour news cycle should have earned one of Stephen Colbert's coveted "Medals of Fear" at the Oct. 30 Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear. With constant news from CNN, Fox News and MSNBC, the media often blows news stories out of proportion and sensationalizes current events. While this ever-present media coverage does have distinct advantages, non-stop news also leads to exaggeration, fear-mongering and sometimes even a lack of journalistic integrity on both sides of the aisle.
(11/01/10 5:17am)
In the University's quest for sustainability, Dining Services, the Department of Parking and Transportation and the President's Committee on Sustainability have implemented countless initiatives. Many of these initiatives have contributed to a more sustainable University. Eliminating trays from dining halls, for example, significantly reduced water use, but the new "Sustainability Pledge" is more symbolic. The Committee hopes to prove to students that even individual contributions toward living a greener lifestyle can, in fact, make a difference. "We wanted to develop a mechanism that helps to overcome negativity such as, 'I'm just one person, my actions don't matter,'" said Ida Lee Wootten, Community Outreach and Communications Subcommittee chair. And although many sustainability programs address the idea that one person's actions do not matter, no program tries to do this more than the UVA Green Challenge.
(10/25/10 5:56am)
The first time I watched "Sister Wives" on TLC, I thought to myself, "How can people that seem so normal be so weird?" For those of you who have not seen the show or its promotional advertisements, it follows a modern, polygamist family - the Browns - who live in Utah. They wear jeans and T-shirts, curse and even encourage their daughters to finish college before they marry. How exceedingly ... normal. I have since realized that the Brown family confronts the negative stereotypes and stigmas associated with plural marriages and also present the positive side to a debate that society has long ignored. State governments, in examining the equality and justness of marriage, should not only debate same-sex marriage, but plural marriage as well.
(10/18/10 6:03am)
During a three-week span beginning last month, five students - Tyler Clementi, Raymond Chase, Seth Walsh, Billy Lucas and Asher Brown - committed suicide because of bullying brought on by their sexual orientation. That their ages ranged from 13 up to early 20s shows that bullying and victimization does not stop after high school. Even students at the University are not exempt: A student was assaulted on the Corner last month allegedly because of his sexual orientation. Attacks and victimization based on sexual preference is unacceptable and action must be taken to ensure no more lives are lost to bullying.
(10/04/10 5:20am)
The University is always searching for new, "green" initiatives. For instance, we have biodegradable and reusable to-go containers at the dining halls. Last year, the University introduced Zipcars, and U.Va Recycling is a driving force on Grounds that helps organize large University-wide events, such as Earth Week. Most of the University's sustainability efforts are targeted toward students, but NuRide - the latest initiative introduced by University Parking & Transportation - is not only for students. Faculty and residents in Charlottesville and the surrounding counties can benefit from the program, as well.
(09/27/10 5:44am)
The Democrats are in trouble. The economy still isn't booming, and an NBC poll shows that only 53 percent of Americans support President Obama's healthcare reform policies. And we haven't exactly seen the "change" we were promised. Luckily, it seems the Republican Party has developed pity for the Democrats and has nominated some extremist candidates for the upcoming midterm elections. It turns out these candidates may be difficult for the public to elect.
(09/20/10 7:20am)
When I think of Lady Gaga, one of the first things that come to mind (after her insane wardrobe and catchy lyrics) is gay rights. All of her little monsters know that it is a subject she is truly passionate about, so her choice of guests at the Video Music Awards should not have surprised anyone. Gaga arrived with four former servicemen and women on her arm - all discharged from the military for being gay. Gaga called for a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and encouraged everyone to call his senator. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid responded via Twitter that there will be a Senate vote on the issue this week, and he said, "Anyone qualified to serve this country should be allowed to do so." I must say, I agree.
(09/13/10 6:18am)
Performing lines from acbeth on the stage of Shakespeare's Globe Theater. Eating gelato beside the Trevi Fountain. Riding a donkey up the side of a cliff in Greece. Swimming in the Mediterranean. Climbing up the stairs of the Eiffel Tower - all in the course of a semester. No big deal.
(12/04/09 5:04am)
I think we all remember how tough not having a car on Grounds was first year, and some of us (me included) as upperclassmen still don't have the luxury of having a car to drive whenever we need to go to Barracks or anywhere down Route 29. But on Nov. 17, the University's Department of Parking and Transportation introduced a new program to help out all of those car-less first years and upperclassmen. The new Zipcar program allows students to rent cars on a daily or hourly basis, and is a cost-effective, environmentally conscious alternative to having a car on Grounds.
(11/23/09 6:34am)
In 2006, controversial photos depicting detainee abuse in Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison were released to the public. Now, Defense Secretary Robert Gates has barred more photos of this same nature from being released. These photos have been at the center of a lawsuit brought up by the American Civil Liberties Union, which argues that not releasing these photos goes against the Freedom of Information Act. The Obama administration (and the Bush administration before it) clearly does not want these photos made available to the American public, but the ACLU is right in that blocking these photos undermines the Freedom of Information Act. The White House's actions in regards to this issue prevent guilty parties from being held accountable, and are contradictory to President Barack Obama's initial promise of greater transparency.
(11/13/09 6:04am)
A YEAR ago, Student Council launched a new initiative called the "Lighten' Up" Campaign. This initiative aims to provide more lighting for off-Grounds housing to alleviate safety concerns voiced by students. To install these lights, requests must be made by students either online or in Student Council's Newcomb Hall office. After a request is made, a crime prevention officer then evaluates the lighting situation at various times throughout the night to determine if more lighting is needed in the area. Since The Cavalier Daily reported on the new campaign last October, coverage and promotion of the initiative has been lacking. In light of recent safety concerns at the University, Council should redouble their efforts to promote this helpful campaign, and University students should take advantage of the initiative and request the installation of lights in under-lit areas off-Grounds.
(11/10/09 5:03am)
On Oct. 17, Morgan Harrington was denied re-entry into the Metallica concert at John Paul Jones Arena. That night, she disappeared. This disappearance could possibly have been prevented - if she had been allowed back into the venue, there's a chance she would not have disappeared. In light of these recent events, JPJ, along with numerous other arenas and concert venues that have this same no re-entry policy, should reconsider this potentially dangerous policy, and adopt more lenient ones that could potentially prove much safer for concert patrons.
(10/30/09 5:50am)
In the 23rd Congressional District of New York, the Republican Party is in trouble. This district in upstate New York usually goes red, and some areas have been run by conservatives since the 1800s. On Nov. 3, a special Congressional election will be held to determine Republican John McHugh's successor (McHugh resigned from office to become United States Secretary of the Army). Instead of the typical election with two candidates neck and neck to win the seat, this election features a third, independent candidate nominated by the Conservative Party of New York - a party independent of the Republican Party, who usually simply endorses the Republican candidate - who is also very much in the race. This special election is demonstrative of a growing rift in the Republican Party, not only in upstate New York, but throughout the entire nation, that could prove harmful to its success.