Opinion

Opinion

Obama needs to be more than a celebrity

By Jong Eun Lee | October 2

If there is one word to summarize the message of Obama's campaign, it is probably "change." Obama has repeatedly proclaimed in this election that Americans have had enough with old style politics and it's time for change. It certainly is a good message; Americans like change and they are quite impressed by the meteoric rise of this charismatic, genuine candidate who seeks to bring innovation and optimism to U.

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Opinion

China's economy poses U.S. problem

By Michael Cartier | September 29

In 1933, Winston Churchill knew that Nazi Germany was on the rise and that the world would soon see its darkest days. But his colleagues considered him a fool. The very thought of another world war was ridiculous. After all, Germany was a peaceful nation and was economically dependent on the rest of Europe.

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Opinion

Holiday Inn Shuttle

September 29

Housing and Dining sent a series of e-mails this past summer to offer incentives for returning students to give up their on-campus housing as a way to better deal with the massive influx of admitted students. First, it offered gift cards sufficient to furnish an off-campus apartment and assistance in finding alternate housing.

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Opinion

Thumbs up...thumbs down

September 29

Thumbs up ...to Tina Fey. Her hilarious Sarah Palin impression gives at least one reason to watch "Saturday Night Live" again. The jury's still out on which one is actually hotter. ...to the Mets being eliminated from the playoffs. Those whiny, self-pitying dunces had it coming to them.

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Opinion

Both VP picks leave much to be desired

By Jacob Shelly | September 29

Republican presidential nominee John McCain and Democratic nominee Barack Obama must both wish they could call a mulligan on their vice presidential selections right now. If Obama had convinced New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to join the ticket, his lead in the polls would probably now be approaching the size of the financial bailout.

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Opinion

Smoking bans go too far

September 25

Fourteen of Pennsylvania's state universities' recent decision to ban smoking on campus is the continuation of a persistent problem. College administrations are increasingly taking the role of campus mother and enforcing unwanted regulation on students. In this case, the universities selectively interpreted a law on "clean air" to mean their whole campus.

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Opinion

Federal regulation needed for tech waste

September 25

By now, it's safe to assume that most college students have gone through our first and maybe second computers. But when it's time to upgrade to the next big thing, what's a consumer to do with the old one? One option, dropping it in the trash, just doesn't sit well with us.

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Opinion

A little courtesy could go a long way

By Jen Calantone | September 25

As college students, we all share some of the same misfortunes - empty pockets, caffeine addictions and the occasional really, seriously crappy day. And on one of those days where mom doesn't pick up her phone, your best friend just broke up with her boyfriend and your roommate is passed out drunk somewhere - sometimes your best bet is within a stranger.

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Opinion

Bon Appetit does good

September 25

Bon Appetit, the catering firm in charge of the Terrace Dining Room, is gearing up for its annual Eat Local Challenge. It challenges TDR staff to cook foods with ingredients grown and produced within a 150-mile radius of AU's campus. TDR chefs and staff will travel around the area to procure provisions for their own recipes, which they will present on Sept.

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Opinion

More focus needed on Gov. Palin's politics

By Rachel Lincoln | September 22

There is more to Sarah Palin than just a pretty face. The nomination of Gov. Palin, R-Alaska, as John McCain's running mate certainly caught everyone's attention, yet she remains relatively unknown - except for her lipstick joke, designer glasses and hot new action figure.

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Opinion

Letter to the editor: Knepper proves himself ethnocentric

By Kristopher Pengelly | September 22

Alex Knepper provides readers with little evidence to believe that "the West has won." I take issue with his opinion on two critical areas. First, while Western values might espouse cultural elements of tolerance, secularism, equality and reason, it is hardly synonymous with the achievement of these ideals.

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Opinion

Student Metro discounts

September 22

Recent progress towards a discounted student Metro pass is good news for all D.C. area college students. After years of talk and limited action the idea gained traction when student governments from many area colleges started working together towards this common goal.

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Opinion

Letter to the editor: Knepper sets up straw man

By Barnaby Yeh | September 22

Columnist Alex Knepper sets up a straw man when he claims that liberals are concerned more with gay marriage in the West than anti-homosexual persecution in other countries such as Iran. He ignores the numerous causes championed by the left long before they were mainstream, such as genocide in Darfur, torture in former Soviet states, and child trafficking in Southeast Asia.

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Opinion

Letter to the editor: Inferiority is in the eye of the xenophobic

By Doug Paddock | September 22

Alex Knepper's Sept. 18 opinion demonstrates an ethnocentric, xenophobic, and dare I say it, racist attitude. His article serves no purpose other than to denigrate and alienate other cultures and create an "us versus them" mentality. His assertion that "the West" is somehow "superior" and that other cultures are "inferior" is outrageous.

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Opinion

Letter to the editor: Knepper's analysis of multiculturalism is 'distorted'

By Mihkail Romanov | September 22

In his Sept. 18 column on multiculturalism, Alex Knepper puts forward a distorted analysis of the ideology behind the policies of multiculturalism. Knepper's claim that multiculturalists "pretend that all cultures are equally valid in the struggle towards progress" is a slap in the face - to anyone that has studied the subject.

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Opinion

Letter to the editor: Staff editorial needs to focus on AU issues

By P.W. Brusoe | September 22

Dear Editor: I am writing to you about the opinion piece published by this paper on Thursday September 18th, 2008, entitled "Palin Wiffs on Abstinence only Education." The issue of abstinence-only education versus "comprehensive sex education" is a good policy debate, and one that we as Americans should engage in.

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Opinion

The Eagle needs to improve reporting

By Carl Seip | September 22

Last Thursday, The Eagle reported that Housing and Dining is in the development stages of a new program named EagleEye, which "will gather information about resident students' personal life, academics, social life and overall AU experience that AU officials will then track.

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