Opinion

Opinion

When good men do nothing: Youth vote too wavering to predict

By Shane Carley | March 3

The youth vote has always been unpredictable. It seems that every election cycle, there is always a candidate that "energizes," "invigorates" or "electrifies" youth voters. A big fuss is made, said candidate is usually declared to be the frontrunner (see: Dean 2004 and Obama 2008), and there are the inevitable 92 prime-time specials about how "this time, the youth vote will be the difference.

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Opinion

What a travesty: Respect, support District's homeless

By Travis McArthur | February 28

"Could you spare some change?" Anyone with more than a few city outings under their belt has been faced with this question. It is often an uncomfortable encounter that instantly erases any notion we have of the United States being a classless society. More importantly, it is an instance of one person asking another person for a helping hand.

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Opinion

Life in the district: Dreading the Great Research Paper

By Olga Khazan | February 28

Ah, senior year. A time to take classes you enjoy, make your younger friends swipe you into TDR for old times' sake and generally get your fix of college before they kick you out (you graduate). Unless, of course, you're in the Honors Program. In that case, as payback for four years of free cake in the Honors lounge and discounted tickets to "A Christmas Carol," Honors takes little pieces of your soul through a behemoth known as the Capstone.

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Opinion

Staff editorial: Revisiting the Cuba embargo

February 28

The foreign-policy cynics among us certainly rejoiced this week over Cuban President Fidel Castro's resignation. At the isolated nation's helm for almost 50 years, Castro had done little to satisfy the needs of the people he claimed to represent in his January 1952 coup d'état, so the change in leadership was certainly long overdue.

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Opinion

Letter to the editor

February 28

All students, staff, faculty and visitors who use the AU shuttle deserve greater reliability and service. Transportation Services continues to fall short of its obligation to serve disabled members of our school community. Don't get me wrong, Transportation Services has made great leaps in the past few years, and for this, they should be commended.

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Opinion

Corrections for Feb. 25, 2008

February 28

In "Prospective SG candidates begin campaigning," the article incorrectly stated that SG election was scheduled for March 4 and 5. The election is actually March 5 and 6. In "A-Tec students struggle to be heard," the front page photo was not credited. The photographer is Traci Brooks.

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Opinion

Capitol blues: McCain's GOP nod buys time for Dems

By Lisa Petak | February 25

For a few months, there were several middle-aged white men vying for the Republican spot on the November ballot, but now it is down to two - and one of which mathematically cannot close the gap in the delegate count, let alone win the nomination. It is all but done: Sen.

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Opinion

Common sense: An open letter to worried voters

By Charlie Szold | February 25

Dear Democrats, Can you feel it? Are you starting to get a little antsy? Nervous? Perhaps even a little worried? You must never have thought this election would have been anything but a cakewalk. The real election was supposed to be your Democratic convention in Denver.

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Opinion

Staff editorial: An audible inadequacy

February 25

Despite the program's many accolades and successes, it is undeniable that that university has shortchanged its Audio Technology students. The program - more affectionately referred to as A-Tec - lacks crucial resources and ample practice space, as well as deprives dedicated students of the opportunity every AU student should have, regardless of their field of study.

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Opinion

Corrections for Feb. 21, 2008

February 25

In The Scene's Oscar Preview, The Eagle mistakenly referred to "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" director Julian Schnabel as a French director. Though the film is a French production, Schnabel is American. In "SG considers smoking rules," the article said that the new bill would create a new, special Public Safety smoking hotline.

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Opinion

Letter to the editor

February 25

On June 16, 2007, my fiancé, James, was in a car accident in Freeport, Ill., on his way home from visiting a friend. He had a torn aorta, ruptured diaphragm, three fractures in his pelvis, three cracked ribs and his stomach was in his chest.. James had emergency surgery to repair his aorta and diaphragm, had a tube put down his throat to help him breathe, spent four weeks in the Intensive Care Unit, had a tracheotomy to replace the breathing tube and spent another three weeks in physical rehabilitation.

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Opinion

Letters to the editor

February 21

Staff editorial's argument flawed I have some concerns about your staff editorial, "A sick system." Your argument for requiring students to purchase health insurance is that without the requirement, few would do it. By that logic, we should require all members of the Class of 2011 to wear beanies - complete with propellers - since I, for one, have never seen anyone at AU do that voluntarily, either.

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Opinion

In my humble opinion: Ahead of election, SG needs new voices

By Peter Brusoe | February 21

Oftentimes, in my column, I advocate a policy change or critique an administrative policy. Yet, to paraphrase Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. or Gov. Deval Patrick, D-Mass., my column is mere words, and words never changed anything. However, you, the reader, can by running for a Student Government position.

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Opinion

Staff editorial: Where there's smoke...

February 21

As much as some of us despise the cloud of smoke that often hovers above the entrances to campus buildings, the Undergraduate Senate's newest proposal to "protect the health of the AU community and foster understanding" amounts to little more than a criminalization of smoking.

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Opinion

In our own words: Excessive drinking: Time to grow up

By Patricio Chile | February 21

My first month at AU, the news broke of a former student who had fallen off a balcony to his death. The cause of his fall was determined to be excessive drinking. I remember thinking this to be an unlucky tragedy caused by a rare mistake. Why would anyone drink themselves to the point of losing common sense and their regard for safety? Unfortunately, three years at AU have proven to me that there are plenty of students too stupid to learn from such unfortunate accidents.

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Opinion

Progressive point: GOP's 'maverick': Already dead?

By Jacob Shelly | February 18

Don't vote against John McCain for president because you think, as Chuck Norris does, that the 71-year-old might die during his first term. Vote against John McCain because he's already dead. The petulant straight-talker of 2000, the fiery candidate who sought to bring dignity back to the Republican Party, has croaked.

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Opinion

Staff editorial: Destination: Nigeria

February 18

We couldn't be happier that AU students now have the opportunity to study at the American University of Nigeria. AU's African studies program, which duly boasts of a reputable and knowledgeable faculty, lacks the depth and variety that the other regional programs in SIS offer.

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