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(02/06/17 5:03am)
During the 2016 presidential election, political coverage was heavily influenced not only by big ticket issues such as immigration but also by the increasing presence of celebrities in politics. With Donald Trump’s history as a reality television star and celebrities like Beyoncé, George Clooney and Tom Brady publically endorsing and campaigning for candidates, this election season proved to be one for the stars. However, the election brought up criticisms about the liberal nature of Hollywood and the role that celebrities should play in political activism. Many believe that, since celebrities are being paid to sing, dance, act or compete, they should limit their behavior to promoting these fields. However, celebrities should be able to express their political views as they see fit without others chastising their political involvement, particularly since their fame offers a conduit to create positive change.
(01/30/17 5:04am)
Kellyanne Conway, senior advisor to President Trump, made headlines Jan. 22, when she coined the phrase “alternative facts.” The phrase was used in response to Press Secretary Sean Spicer’s incorrect reporting of crowd sizes at Trump’s inauguration. Conway asserted Spicer had not lied, but rather used “alternative facts.” While Conway was swiftly criticized by “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd, who explained that “alternative facts aren't facts, they are falsehoods,” the statement has ignited a controversy over how to determine factual information and what the use of “alternative facts” means for the future of America. Though the use of the phrase may seem like a simple twist of words, it could have far more dangerous effects. The belief that there are alternative facts in every situation removes truth-telling from journalism and everyday life.
(01/24/17 5:00am)
With the recent election and inauguration of President Donald Trump, his policies have been heavily debated by citizens and academics alike. One plan that has ignited significant discussion is President Trump’s plan for American school systems. The President and his pick for Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, are both proponents of voucher programs which, in many states, provide low and middle income families with partial scholarships to private schools. This funding is often contingent on the student’s home school being a “failing” public school. Instead of funneling tax dollars into independent educational organizations, though, state and federal governments should use the money to rejuvenate the American public school system, particularly those deemed “failing.”
(12/06/16 5:00am)
On Nov. 29, CNN published an article regarding the cut off age for women to receive mammograms in the United States. The article questioned the validity of the cut-off age in place for patients who receive mammograms. Currently, doctors debate whether regular mammogram screenings are beneficial or harmful for women over age 75. Though the risk of contracting breast cancer increases with age, all women risk false positive results during screenings, so medical professionals in the United States use discretion when recommending the procedure to women in this age group. This age cutoff is fairly standard around the world. However, studies in recent years have illustrated the benefits of regular mammograms for women of all ages, so doctors should generally endorse the procedure to any woman over the age of 40.
(11/21/16 6:02am)
On Nov. 17, The New York Times reported that Brendan Dassey will be released after the appeal to his overturned conviction is settled. Dassey, along with his uncle Steven Avery was the subject of the highly touted Netflix docuseries "Making a Murderer". In 2007, Avery and Dassey were found guilty of the sexual assault and murder of Teresa Halbach. The documentary brought up questions regarding the validity of Avery and Dassey’s convictions and created a national dialogue about America’s criminal justice system. Viewers of the program submitted a petition to the White House to have Avery and Dassey pardoned in the wake of the evidence presented by the show. Along with true crime podcast Serial, "Making a Murderer" has tremendous power to interest citizens in the criminal justice system and marks a shift from the traditional conditioning to support “tough on crime” policies that crime shows usually present.
(11/07/16 5:10am)
On Nov. 2, my colleague Eric Xu wrote an article encouraging the University to promote third-party scheduling platforms, particularly to first-year students. He espoused the effectiveness of alternatives to the Students Information System, such as Lou’s List and theCourseForum. Though Xu’s argument brings up important issues with the efficiency of course scheduling, his proposed plan creates more hassle than help. Instead of working to promote several third-party entities, the University should modify SIS and create a more efficient scheduling body. Systems such as Lou’s List that have proved popular with students could be used as models for a more efficient SIS. By streamlining and improving their own database, the University could ease the stress of student scheduling and keep all information within their own system.
(10/31/16 11:17am)
On Oct. 16, Donald Trump tweeted, “Watched Saturday Night Live hit job on me. Time to retire the boring and unfunny show. Alec Baldwin portrayal stinks. Media rigging election!” Though Trump’s Twitter account has provided far more controversial snippets than this selection, he used the tweet to further his ongoing narrative about media bias. In recent weeks, Trump’s denial of the validity of electoral results has rested on his claims of media bias. When he attacked “Saturday Night Live,” though, Trump brought up the often discussed question of the show’s influence on political results. Some of SNL’s most memorable characters include the show’s portrayals of political figures. Their sketches starring Tina Fey as Sarah Palin in 2008 were credited with tanking Palin’s favorability ratings ahead of the election. SNL provides interesting satirical commentary on political issues, but its ability to change the minds of voters using comedy is unlikely.
(10/25/16 11:40am)
The mental health of college students is an increasingly prevalent issue in recent years, due to several publicized suicides on college campuses. This has prompted universities to up their resources in assisting students with their mental health, but many programs are still lacking. The University lacks programming to help students manage the stress at the close of the semester. Particularly during exam weeks, many of the University’s resources struggle to provide for such a large student body. For this reason, the University should offer additional programs — beyond those already offered through Counseling and Psychological Services during exam weeks — to help students manage stress and anxiety.
(10/10/16 10:35am)
For many students, college is the first tentative step into adulthood. New York Times columnist David Brooks explains students use their college years to build relationships that they eventually leave when they take on the job market. Furthermore, he states that when students leave college, they are unsure about how to get a job, let alone perform basic skills without the assistance of their parents. One of the basic skills young adults struggle with is where to get their food. Cooking one’s own food holds not only financial benefits, but also positive physical health effects. It is a worthy skill that can be learned in college or before.
(09/26/16 4:40am)
This month, the federal government published a 15-point checklist about the safety of self-driving cars. Uber recently released self-driving vehicles on the streets of Pittsburgh as part of a pilot program to test the technology. The prospect of self-driving cars sounds like a major breakthrough, particularly for those with disabilities that keep them from driving, but the technology should not be championed until automotive companies address the safety issues related to the way by which self-driving vehicles navigate the flow of traffic. Additionally, self-driving cars have to potential to harm laborers around the world who derive their income from piloting automotive vehicles.
(09/12/16 4:05am)
When Pokémon Go was first released in early July 2016, it was lauded by Fusion for positively affecting the gaming community. The game’s interactive nature seemed to encourage social meetups between players, and many players improved their fitness simply by walking around and looking for Pokémon. However, as the game became more and more popular, several incidents showed Pokémon Go was less of a positive breakthrough and more of a hazard. Pokémon Go players became involved in car accidents and encountered dead bodies; many just fell down because they were paying attention to the screen rather than the real world. Though the physical benefits of an interactive game are much higher than those of more traditional, stationary video games, Pokémon Go has shown that the single-minded focus involved in gaming can be dangerous when taken to the streets.
(09/05/16 5:21am)
A week ago Sunday, Alicia Keys attended the annual MTV Video Music Awards. She spurred headlines for foregoing makeup on the red carpet. Though many supported Keys, she received considerable backlash via Twitter for her decision. Women and men alike tweeted at Keys to tell her she looked unprofessional and just plain bad; some even went on to suggest makeup products that she could use to improve her appearance. Keys is one of many celebrities who have decided to not wear makeup and have been criticized for it. Her decision raises many debates regarding the status of makeup in relation to professionalism and beauty standards in America, but ultimately the choice of whether to wear makeup should be a woman’s own and societal pressures should have no impact on her decision.
(08/29/16 4:20am)
On Aug. 8, Eli Capilouto, president of the University of Kentucky, announced the school’s decision to sue its student newspaper, the Kentucky Kernel. The Kernel’s plan to publish documents related to the investigation and subsequent charging of Associate Entomology Prof. James Harwood in the sexual assault of two female students prompted the lawsuit. The Kernel won the right to see the documents by appealing to the Kentucky Attorney General's office, but the university says the documents should be kept private in order to protect victims’ rights. However, the Kernel had planned to publish the documents with all identifying information redacted to protect the privacy of the complainants. Given this, the university should drop its lawsuit — which would have negative implications for upholding the First Amendment for student newspapers everywhere.
(04/25/16 5:09am)
In early January, Oral Roberts University announced incoming freshmen would be required to wear Fitbit bracelets as part of a physical fitness requirement. The Oklahoma university had previously required that students document their aerobic workouts in a journal. This policy ignited controversy, however, from critics who stated requiring students to track their workouts could be harmful for those struggling with eating- or exercise-related disorders. The use of the technology has the potential to help students, but it also has dangerous potential in terms of health and security. Therefore, purchasing and wearing the device should not be a requirement for students at Oral Roberts or at any other college.
(04/19/16 6:10am)
The Lawn is the center of the University, but the role of the space has drifted further and further away from Thomas Jefferson’s original vision. He intended it to be an educational center but expansion of the University over the years has turned the Lawn solely into a historical site rather than an educational area. The area is steeped in tradition and history, but it has also become steeped in elitism because the Lawn is associated with the prestige that comes with living in a Lawn room or a pavilion. Only the “best” students are selected to live on the Lawn, which is what has made the space more elite in recent years than it was at its conception, when all students lived on the Lawn. The prestige associated with the space can be intimidating to students because only the best of the best are accepted to inhabit the hallowed area. This sense of history does not have to be entirely associated with elitism, though, because the University has the potential to harness the historic nature of the space in a positive way to create a more accessible Lawn environment.
(04/19/16 6:06am)
The Lawn is the center of the University, but the role of the space has drifted further and further away from Thomas Jefferson’s original vision. He intended it to be an educational center but expansion of the University over the years has turned the Lawn solely into a historical site rather than an educational area. The area is steeped in tradition and history, but it has also become steeped in elitism because the Lawn is associated with the prestige that comes with living in a Lawn room or a pavilion. Only the “best” students are selected to live on the Lawn, which is what has made the space more elite in recent years than it was at its conception, when all students lived on the Lawn. The prestige associated with the space can be intimidating to students because only the best of the best are accepted to inhabit the hallowed area. This sense of history does not have to be entirely associated with elitism, though, because the University has the potential to harness the historic nature of the space in a positive way to create a more accessible Lawn environment.
(04/13/16 4:46am)
Last week, Opinion columnist Sawan Patel wrote a piece arguing students should have more freedom in determining test dates. Patel contended that having multiple tests and essays with overlapping deadlines can be a cause of stress that “doesn’t prepare students for the real world.” This, paired with his view that instituting such flexibility could be done with “relative ease,” led to his conclusion that it only makes sense to get rid of our current system of test scheduling. While this idea is sympathetic to the emotional needs and welfare of the student body, it fails to recognize the long-term benefits of having multiple deadlines overlap with one another and the logistical challenges that implementing such a testing schedule would present. Patel’s idea of more flexible testing dates should not be instituted.
(04/04/16 4:39am)
In early March, Chicago White Sox player Adam LaRoche retired from professional baseball because the organization attempted to limit the amount of time LaRoche’s son could spend in the clubhouse. LaRoche disagreed with this request and retired, citing the fact that his family was his most important priority. His statement has ignited controversy in the media and in the White Sox organization. The decision to quit is LaRoche’s only, but his situation created an unrealistic expectation for the role of children in the American workplace.
(03/28/16 6:15am)
Much of the American public has been following major news outlets for information on the spread of Zika virus. It has run rampant, particularly in South American countries such as Brazil and Colombia, whose tropical climates lend themselves to the proliferation of mosquitoes and, therefore, the spread of the disease. Brazil is scheduled to hold the Olympic games this summer; many — including New York University bioethicist Art Caplan — have called for the cancellation of the games due to the Zika outbreak, but the International Olympic Committee has stated that it does not plan to cancel the event. Given the prevalence of both Zika virus and dengue fever, the only safe course of action is to cancel or relocate the sporting event. At the very least, a contingency plan is necessary in the event the Zika outbreak worsens.
(03/22/16 5:22am)
Though women make up more than a third of the viewers of major sporting events such as the Stanley Cup finals and the World Series, it is unlikely they see other women on television covering the action. Only 14 percent of sports reporters are female. And in 2012, The Associated Press released a Sports Editors Racial and Gender Report Card; overall, the field of sports journalism received an “F” for gender representation. Most editors, columnists and reporters are still male, though the field has seen small improvements. Additionally, though there are female columnists and correspondents, in most cases women do not appear in the booth on major sports broadcasts. Sports reporting has always been a male-dominated field, but it’s disappointing that this hasn’t shifted in this century.