Opinion

Wear a condom to save U.S. health care

Let's talk about sex, D.C. We're guessing an opening like that is destined to get some attention. Only this week, we need to address a startling and unfortunate side of sex that can downright take the fun out of making that sweet booty music. A report released last week crowned this great city as an HIV/AIDS haven with the highest infection rates in the country.

Amoral judges jailed kids for cash

Pennsylvania judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan can hardly be described as honorable. Despicable is the word of choice. Last month the two pleaded guilty to federal fraud and conspiracy charges. But theirs is no ordinary crime. Here's how the particularly disturbing scheme worked: Conahan ordered the closure of local state youth detainment center in 2002, citing poor facilities.

Idiotic vandals crash fundraiser

Well ... big surprise. A bunch of drunken idiots took a good thing and turned it bad. The Relay for Life event held this Friday and Saturday in Bender Arena should have been remembered for the $24,000 raised for cancer research. Instead it is remembered for three vandalized urinal dividers and other assorted hi-jinx.

Eagle Rants

NO MORE LATE NIGHT CHANTS/SINGING IN THE QUAD PLEASE! Seriously, what is UP with The Eagle? OMG. Like, what is with the design for the Eagle Rants section? "*@#!2*%!"? Where the hell does the "2" come in? Redesign, Eagle, and save us the headache, thanks.

Keep AUTO vans tethered

The lumbering AUTO van is a ubiquitous presence on the AU campus. Mention the vans to almost anyone and chances are you'll get some sort of story detailing the "cozy" interior and familiar musky aroma of the cushions. Used widely by many clubs on campus, these vehicles perform a vital service to students and clubs looking to get out of D.

Correction for March 19

Due to a printing error in the March 19 issue of The Eagle, the articles "Economy changes abroad plans," "AU seat vacant in local commission" and "Stimulus package may help AU students" did not jump to their assigned pages. Full versions of all three articles are available online at www.

Consensus sought on touchy subject

Suppose some politician responds to a question on gay marriage by answering "I passionately support civil rights of individual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans, but I also strongly support preservation of traditional marriage." How would the interest groups react? Both conservative and liberal groups would likely accuse him of political inconsistency or worse, outright moral hypocrisy.

Don't stop believin' in AU basketball

With 40 seconds left in AU's March 8 Patriot League semi-finals game versus the U.S. Military Academy, everyone in Bender Arena was on their feet. Brian Gilmore had just scored a three-pointer to tie the game, 60-60, and most of us were suffering minor heart palpitations.

Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down

Thumbs up to ... ... daffodils. These cute and cheery blossoms bring joy to even the coldest, most desolate heart. The girls love them, and the boys love what happens after they give them to the girls. Springtime at AU has never been so endearing. ... the Rude Mechanicals' production of "Romeo and Julian.

Eagle Rants

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Eagle is not responsible for any of the statements made in any Eagle Rant. I've been at this school for three years. In that time, I have never seen a more inept Student Government than the Cutter administration. Does anyone know what he has been doing/accomplished? 2Fix doesn't.

AU unrepresented

The Advisory Neighborhood Commission is best known on campus for being that group that slows down construction on campus by introducing endless layers of extra red-tape. Of course the Ward 3D commission is a bit more than that. Made of small sub-districts within D.C., there are multiple commissions throughout the city - each responsible for giving residents a more direct say in their government. Too bad AU students have no representative in our local commission.

Letts lockdown

The double swipe system recently installed in Letts Hall was installed to keep bad people out of residence halls. Instead, it only kept a few students with physical disabilities from getting to their rooms. The students, unable to swipe their AU identification cards at the second swipe terminal in Letts, would have been forced to wait for assistance to get through the locked doors.

Correction for March 2

Due to an error in The Eagle's printing process, a portion of "Former Miss America speaks on body image" did not appear in the March 2 edition. A full version of the article is available at www.theeagleonline.com. The Eagle regrets the error.

Letter to the editor: More balance for Israel-Palestine reporting

I would like to bring to the attention of The Eagle as well as to the AU community certain comments that were made in The Eagle's article "Prof questions U.S.-Israel bond: Harvard author discusses book at AU." A student commented in the article that "'A lot of people in the club [Students for Justice in Palestine] don't think that Israel has the right to exist,' he said.

Letter to the editor: Knepper refuses to let his straw man die

Some of your readers may recall a letter that I previously sent to your paper in reply to an Alex Knepper column. In it, I take him to task on the straw man that he sets up, which stated that liberals cared less about victims of bigotry in non-Western countries than about the comparatively less severe discrimination in the West.

Editorial cartoon

Awkward little sis comforted by family

I love my little sister. I have loved her with wild protection since before she was born. But, would I be her friend if she were the new kid in class? Ann doesn't have many friends at school. She does not go to giggly sleepovers; she is not invited to the movies.