Archive: Sep 2007
Life changed by service trip
When I returned to the States from Malawi, I found myself answering one of two questions: (A) So, what were you actually doing in Malawi? or (B) Name your top five best moments from Malawi.(A) was answered with general statements. I usually started with: "It was really incredible." Sometimes, I replaced "incredible" with "awesome" or […]
Letter to the Editor: Recent alum rejects suggestion
In Ben Wrobel's editorial, "New name could boost fame," he suggests we change the name of our school to Eastman University. While I can definitely understand his annoyance at people confusing UR with RIT (and even RPI, in my experience), the name is not the problem. First, as a current grad student at Washington University […]
Letter to the Editor: Reader frowns upon choice
I, too, like Steven Burnett, the author of "Comedy Central's Birbiglia Jazzes Up The Weekend," enjoyed Mike Birbiglia's performance during Yellowjacket Weekend. Then I read his review of the show. I was appalled by the lack of taste and class Burnett demonstrated to the University community by highlighting a line used by Birbiglia, which contained […]
Letter to the Editor: Pork enthusiast bolsters
Mr. Brenneman, we hear your pain. A day without the possibility of bacon cheeseburgers is a day without much hope of Meliora (the pursuit of betterment). Instead, we have arrived at bitterment. In my effort to improve the world before I finally leave the campus (die), I pledge a pound of bacon if you can […]
Men should be rejecting their gender roles, too
I've noticed a trend in the last few years among the men I know. It might have something to do with my location (urban areas, one of which is San Francisco). It might have to do with the places where I spend the majority of my time (gay bars and college campuses). It might have […]
Tasing has political implications for Sen. Kerry
After a 21-year-old student was tased at the University of Florida last week, many questions remain about right and wrong. But what about political repercussions?The incident that occurred at the University of Florida last week has been creating a lot of ethical friction. Andrew Meyer, 21, was the student who stood up to question Senator […]
Colin backlash
On Monday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke at Columbia University, an event that provoked strong feelings from many in the academic and journalistic communities. The main controversy was whether it was appropriate for Columbia to invite Ahmadinejad - the leader of a country purported to be part of an "axis of evil" who has expressed […]
Dining responds
On Monday, UR Dining Services stepped up to the plate, reinstating many of the services students were so upset to see taken away. As promised in the town hall meeting, breakfast options such as bagels and cereal have - while not during breakfast hours - returned to the Pit, drinks that are able to be […]
Amsterdam lights up summer
If a man buys hallucinogenic mushrooms over the counter and nobody is there to arrest him, does it make a sound? That is (sort of) the question tourists from the United States and around the globe ponder if they venture to the mother of all vice cities: Amsterdam, Netherlands, home to legalized marijuana, legalized magic […]
Efforts to curb warming aren't without pitfalls
I didn't intend to write this article. It merely "jumped out" at me while perusing the popular scientific literature in the Carlson basement. I always keep an eye open for climate change articles and, in the past years or so, have been extremely pleased by the abundance of items addressing the issue with an inspiring […]