Opinion

Opinion

Take the emotion out of gun debate

By Jong Eun Lee | December 4

Way back, during Pennsylvania's Democratic presidential primary election, many publicly admonished now President-elect Barack Obama for his comments that some people "cling to their guns and religion." Perhaps even more than other social issues like abortion, the right to bear arms has been a very sensitive issue for Americans.

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Opinion

Mandatory survey for AU students a bad idea

By Jeff Deutsch | December 4

Carl Seip's "Mandatory survey needed for a better AU," however well intentioned, is problematic. People should not be forced to do surveys. Not only is it wrong, but we probably don't want the responses of people who weren't otherwise interested. (That's also why we don't require voting: If you would have to be forced to take an active interest in politics - please stay home on Election Day!) If participation is too low, AU can do what marketing companies across the nation do every day: offer positive incentives, like maybe entrance into a drawing to win something or even a small gift just for participating.

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Opinion

Women's Issues column weak once again

By Ashley Evans | December 4

Writing about the issue of sexual assault can be a positive step forward in addressing stigmas and myths that still surround the issue, but it is important to describe campus resources and events accurately. Unfortunately Ms. Lincoln's lack of research again weakens her well-intentioned column.

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Opinion

Correction for Nov. 25, 2008

December 4

In "SUB director resigns," The Eagle incorrectly reported that Tré Matthews became SUB director in the spring. Student Government President Seth Cutter nominated Matthews for the position Aug. 6. The Eagle regrets the error.

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Opinion

Only men can stop rape from happening

By Rachel Lincoln | November 24

Last spring, AU celebrated national Men Can Stop Rape Week here at AU. It was a moving experience for a number of students and shed light on a topic that I would hope most of us have not experienced! But instead of Men Can Stop Rape "Week," maybe the "week" should be left off.

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Opinion

Mandatory survey needed for a better AU

By Carl Seip | November 24

At the most politically active school in the United States, students like to give their opinions - whether protesting on the quad or debating the great issues of our time. And every semester, we give feedback to the registrar to evaluate the performance of our professors.

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Opinion

AU grading needs standardization

November 24

A recent study USA Today reported on found 20 percent of college students do not do all of their assigned homework - and still manage to pull As. The study itself is shaky and it doesn't even attempt to answer many of the questions it brings up. Nevertheless, the overall theme of its finding is solid - college students often do only enough to get by, and professors are often all too willing to reward them with As.

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Opinion

Quick buck not worth risks

November 24

With President-elect Barack Obama's Jan. 20 inauguration looming nearer, D.C. is preparing itself for record numbers of tourists. District officials have projected as many as 4 million people could turn out on the National Mall to witness the historic inauguration of the nation's first black president.

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Opinion

WMATA needs to do more for bicycle commuters

By Ryan Lee | November 20

As an AU student who travels throughout the D.C. area for jobs, internships, dining, general sightseeing or the occasional class in lieu of participating in one of the previously mentioned activities, I was pleased to hear of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's decision to expand and improve the Metrorail system.

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Opinion

President Bush could not please everyone

By Jong Eun Lee | November 20

After eight years, George W. Bush's administration is finally coming to an end. As someone who has both respected and criticized President Bush throughout the years, I have been thinking for some time how I will judge his legacy. While Bush's presidency will continue to be controversial, for me these eight years have demonstrated Bush's failure at centrism; a seemingly strategic amalgamation of policies across the political spectrum has led to an unsustainable, circumscribed political philosophy that perhaps manifested the worst of both political ideologies.

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Opinion

Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.

By Alex Knepper | November 20

Now that he no longer has to pretend to be a tax-cutting, corruption-busting, lobbyist-defying, bipartisan agent of reform, our illustrious president-elect, Barack Obama, has decided that he's more interested in bringing together a team of people who will ensure that he doesn't do anything stupid than he is in bringing about any sort of fundamental change.

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Opinion

JAMS policies need clarification

November 20

Recent AU administration attempts to communicate the university's alcohol policies are admirable but are in no way sufficient. The Student Advocacy Center hosted several administrators from various AU offices Tuesday in an attempt to address the issues. According to reports from the event, attendance was sparse.

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Opinion

GOP needs to change with the times

By Jacob Shelly | November 17

After a historic route, the Republican Party seems to have been reduced to a few dead-enders in the South. As a partisan Democrat, I might be out of line offering advice to my ideological opponents.

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Opinion

Haun's argument on vegetarianism is "illegitimate"

By Josh Loigman | November 17

The Nov. 11 op-ed by William Haun that appeared in The Eagle denouncing Bon Appetit for participating in peta2's vegetarian-friendly campus contest was conveyed as an expression of concern with regards to AU's decision-making. In reality, it was little more than a quasi-concealed attempt at vilifying vegetarianism and animal rights in general.

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Opinion

Obama ed. policy needs nuance

November 17

President-elect Barack Obama recently announced some specifics regarding his education plan. Among marked reforms to the primary and secondary education systems, Obama has proposed a $4,000-per-year credit for students who attend public universities, provided they commit to and fulfill 100 hours of community service that year.

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Opinion

Politics for the post-partisan president

By Charlie Szold | November 17

During George W. Bush's presidency, the Republican Party has done what political parties have been doing since their formation shortly after the ratification of the U.S. Constitution - they clawed, scratched and attacked members of the opposing party. In this way they were no different than Thomas Jefferson, who used public money to employ a newspaper editor who attacked George Washington for his monarchist tendencies; or from Alexander Hamilton, who used his prolific pen while serving as secretary of the Treasury to attack James Madison, Thomas Jefferson and all other "Republicans" for their slave-holding hypocrisy.

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Opinion

Corrections

November 13

Correction for Nov. 10 In the corrections from the Nov. 10 issue, The Eagle incorrectly corrected the listing of organizations that co-sponsored the Nov. 4 Election Night Extravaganza. The organizations that co-sponsored the event are: The Student Government, AU College Democrats, AU College Republicans, AU Students for Obama, AU Students for McCain, SAVE, Alpha Nu Omega, Inc.

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