Opinion

Opinion

​YAHNIAN: Private prisons are breaking family ties

By Ben Yahnian | October 29, 2015

The FCC has acknowledged the often unheard voices of inmates burdened by an old and manipulative system. As FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn notes, no one should pay “$500 a month for a voice-only service where calls are dropped for seemingly no reason, where fees and commissions could be as high as 60 percent per call and, if we are not careful, where a four-minute call could cost a whopping $54.”

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Opinion

​LOPEZ: Pobre Puerto Rico

By Carlos Lopez | October 29, 2015

In its relationship with Puerto Rico, the United States has had a tendency to address the issues that are of concern to the Puerto Rican people — but only when these issues are certain to draw the attention of the international community.

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Opinion

​EVANS: Introducing the Clean Power Plan

By Will Evans | October 28, 2015

This piece grasps at these uncertainties by exploring what the CPP entails for the University and Virginia at large, addressing obstacles the state faces in fulfilling its federal requirements. Of equal importance is the role our University can play in the state compliance process. And finally — as stakeholders in a cleaner, more efficient energy economy, University students ought to be attuned to this discussion moving forward.

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Opinion

​MINK: The crisis in the emergency room

By Alex Mink | October 28, 2015

The emergency room’s position as the nation’s healthcare safety net makes it more vulnerable to mistakes, and the high-stakes, high-speed nature of the care it provides makes these mistakes more dangerous to patients.

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Opinion

​BERMAN: Republican infighting is stalling progress

By Jesse Berman | October 28, 2015

The Republican Party has recently fought amongst itself to the detriment of the American people on two crucial issues: the House Select Committee on Benghazi and the upcoming selection of a Speaker of the House to replace Rep. John Boehner.

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Opinion

WINESETT: Next steps for the pro-life movement

By Matt Winesett | October 27, 2015

If the pro-life movement wants to reduce the over 300,000 abortions Planned Parenthood performs each year, they should start by eroding Planned Parenthood’s popular support by loudly and consistently rebuking the 3 percent and mammogram myths.

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Opinion

​RAs should have coverage on Thursday nights

By Managing Board | October 27, 2015

While a 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. shift more than bookends a general socializing timeline and certain extra days are built in to this system, it is insufficient to hold coverage on Friday and Saturday nights, and not on Thursday nights.

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Opinion

​ZIFF: Stop binge-reading

By Tamar Ziff | October 27, 2015

There is a considerable amount of crap produced in the publish-or-perish hyperactive anxiety of online journalism, that humming gerbil wheel of digital production. This absence of time online allows for the pervasiveness of the nerve-wracking “in case you missed it” or ICYMI section, where articles from past days or weeks are featured.

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Opinion

​PATEL: The peril of political dynasties

By Sawan Patel | October 27, 2015

While I respect the rights of citizens to choose who they want to represent them, it is detrimental to public policy and the proper functioning of democracy when a small group of families holds so much control over certain regions or states.

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Opinion

​Sullivan’s report card

By Managing Board | October 26, 2015

When considering Sullivan’s leadership, it is important to take into account the entire context of her presidency, which has only lasted five years so far. Sullivan’s leadership has seen highs and lows — and, largely due to chance, more lows than highs.

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Opinion

​DOYLE: The perils of two presidencies

By Bobby Doyle | October 26, 2015

Why is U.S. foreign policy so unresponsive to public opinion? It all lies in the fact that effective foreign policy power is held by the executive branch.

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Opinion

​ADAMES: Accessible excellence

By Alexander Adames | October 26, 2015

Many lower-income and first-generation college students never complete their degree because they end up dropping out of college even if they receive significant financial aid. Why does this happen?

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Opinion

​RUSSO: Dr. King and the shadow of Stone Mountain

By Mary Russo | October 23, 2015

Developments at Stone Mountain raise questions of how physical space should be altered when its history is problematic. However, erasure or removal of historical monuments or spaces which evoke painful and dark moments in history is problematic.

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Opinion

​KHAN: Stop skimping on mental health resources

By Hasan Khan | October 23, 2015

Some administrations have attempted to skirt the issue altogether by actively kicking out students who show signs of mental illness under the guise of “extended medical leave.”

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Opinion

​FISHER: Increase guest columns

By Julia Fisher | October 23, 2015

A strong slate of guest columns also helps cement a newspaper’s role as a hub of public discourse. If your friend has written a column in today’s paper, you’re more likely to read and discuss it.

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Opinion

​YAHNIAN: Bring free Uber rides to Grounds

By Ben Yahnian | October 22, 2015

With a University program sponsoring free Uber rides, the administration would eliminate the financial barrier between students and a safe, quick and effective ride home.

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Opinion

​LOPEZ: End tipping at restaurants

By Carlos Lopez | October 22, 2015

The most important factor one really does consider when giving a tip is the amount of the check, and not how attentive the server was. If tips are not completely related to service, what are they based on?

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Opinion

​Promoting diversity should include physical accessibility

By Managing Board | October 22, 2015

One element of the University that makes inclusion particularly difficult is the physical layout of our school; for students, faculty, administrators or visitors who have accessibility needs, navigating the University’s terrain can often prove difficult.

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Opinion

​ALJASSAR: Promoting equitable law enforcement

By Nazar Aljassar | October 22, 2015

We as students may not have the power to effectuate change within local law enforcement systems. But we can use our resources to make other members of the community safer by making them more aware of their legal rights when encountering police officers.

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Opinion

​GORMAN: Moving beyond the ADA

By Ryan Gorman | October 22, 2015

Upper extremity conditions often create a necessity for automatic functionality, as simple tasks — such as opening a heavy door or operating the various knobs and handles in a bathroom — can become practically impossible for those whose conditions have seriously limited their strength or dexterity.