Opinion

Opinion

Common sens: Intrusive regulation undercuts freedom

By Charlie Szold | October 29

In 2003, when France refused to support our plan to invade Iraq, Americans started calling french fries "freedom fries." This is ironic because our "freedom fries" are now anything but free. Recently, the federal and state governments of our wonderful country have been banning trans fats and other artery-clogging oils from fried foods.

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Opinion

The people vs. Roddy Flynn: 'Moral neutrality' plagues politicians

By Roddy Flynn | October 29

Americans are given the runaround on many issues during campaigns. Candidates try to appeal to everyone everywhere, avoiding any kind of firm stance so that they can bobble-head their way to appeasing the "average voter." This, I suppose, is OK with issues that don't really affect society.

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Opinion

Letter to the editor: CR funding not a big concern

October 29

I was appalled to read that Will Haun is once again whining about the loss of funding for his precious College Republicans. The College Republicans have complained year after year about their lack of funding despite the fact that they are one of the most generously supported clubs on campus.

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Opinion

Staff editorial: Holiday drunken driving

October 29

Despite the rather disparaging Halloween drunken driving statistics, The Eagle staff is pleased to hear that District officials, working with the Washington Regional Alcohol Program, still maintain SoberRide, a program established in 1993 that provides intoxicated people 21 years old and up free taxi rides home, provided the trips cost less than $50.

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Opinion

Op-ed: AU Abroad story misrepresents office

October 29

I am writing to respond to your article and editorial regarding my office in the Oct. 25 edition of The Eagle. Having spent many hours of my time being interviewed by your reporter, I have to say I am disappointed in the "spin" The Eagle chose to put on these two reports, which focus on the results of your most "unscientific" survey (by your own admission) of a very small proportion of AU students.

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Opinion

Letter to the editor: 'Econ Sense' makes no sense

October 29

For too long I have stood idly by while Eagle columnist Dorian Key has waged a reactionary holy war on our "latte-liberal university campus," while hiding behind some skewed semblance of "economics." What he espouses in his Oct. 23 editorial amounts to greenwashing.

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Opinion

Correction for Oct. 22, 2007

October 25

In the Monday photo spread headlined "Dalai Lama awarded medal of honor," it was incorrectly identified that the Dalai Lama was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor; he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. The Congressional Medal of Honor is a military honor; the Congressional Gold Medal is a civilian honor.

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Opinion

Staff editorial: Study abroad survey results

October 25

More than half of AU students will study abroad at some point in their academic careers - at least 65 percent did in 2006 - yet, as an independent survey conducted by The Eagle showed, students are generally dissatisfied with the services the AU Abroad office provides.

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Opinion

Life in the District: Turning legal is awesome for a day

By Olga Khazan | October 25

Perhaps the single most unifying goal among college students, aside from having health insurance after graduating, is turning 21. After you turn 17 and are able to get into R-rated movies, fantasizing about 21 is all that gets you through those negligible intermediary years.

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Opinion

Letter to the editor: Glitter ban simply 'sucks'

October 25

The netherworld commonly referred to as "heck" has reached the freezing point; for once I agree with our Department of Athletics. As a spectator, having to endure the crass verbal assault upon my eardrums of thousands of students viciously denigrating another athletic team is simply and purely offensive.

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Opinion

Staff Editorial: Blue light response times

October 25

Although the results of Public Safety's most recent blue light response time test are a little disturbing, perhaps they speak to a much larger issue. First, it's commendable that Public Safety conducted the tests with the help of the Student Government, Women's Initiative and the Residence Hall Association.

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Opinion

Student Bill of Rights

October 22

It is safe to say that a Student Bill of Rights is long overdue. Despite being one of the most politically active and socially conscious campuses in the country, AU students have very little in defense of their own interests and college experiences. While the SG's first draft of such a bill of rights is a major step in the right direction, The Eagle offers these four key recommendations: A privacy policy that respects students and is clearly publicized Under the current guidelines, the university retains the ability to monitor students' computer use, from bandwidth access to search records.

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Opinion

Progressive point: Hypocrisy anchors the Hillary lifeboat

By Jacob Shelly | October 22

The anvil of conservative malfeasance has walloped the average American so many times now that it's perhaps understandable that pollsters find so many voters crying not "uncle" but "Hillary." The tentative "Anyone But Bush" slogan of 2004 crescendoed in 2006 and now, gathering momentum every news cycle, is poised to launch the famous first lady back into the White House.

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Opinion

Life in the district: D.C. no haven for fast-food junkies

By Olga Khazan | October 22

Texas is a heinous place. Its family values obsessed, abysmally closed-minded culture made for a rather painful childhood for me. Our yearly school field trip was to the Petroleum Museum, and in high school, one of my teachers told us that China wasn't allowed in the United Nations because it is communist.

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Opinion

Staff editorial: Commemorating ignorance?

October 18

While the student organizers at Georgetown and George Washington universities will soon join nearly 100 other schools in commemorating Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week, the normally socially active voices at AU have decided to remain silent. With the exception of a few counterdiscussions on race and religion, AU will not participate in the conservative event sponsored by David Horowitz's Freedom Center.

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Opinion

Staff editorial: Promoting local GLBT equality

October 18

In honor of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender History month, it is important that we reflect on what our campus and community have done to better the living environments of GLBT residents. One of the most revolutionary pieces of legislation to emerge from the District was the Human Rights Act of 1997.

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Opinion

Universe holds key to global progress

By Josh Levitz | October 18

Space exploration is no longer an unattainable fantasy relegated to science fiction. It has become one of the most important issues of our time, and it will continue to be so indefinitely. NASA recently unveiled its newest long-term plans, which include a return to the moon by 2020 with the intent to develop a base there shortly afterward, as well as manned missions to Mars.

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