Op-Eds

Gun control won’t stop the violence, but guns might

Throughout the past year, our elected representatives have pushed for stricter gun control laws. Usually, you will hear about background checks or banning assault weapons. President Barack Obama, Governor Chris Christie, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Senator Charles Schumer, and Governor Andrew Cuomo are among the leading elected officials who have signed into law actions they say […]

Public Safety’s $15,000 name change expensive, unnecessary

To coincide with the official deployment of sworn peace officers next month, UR has decided to officially change and re-brand UR Security as UR Public Safety. While the addition of a new dimension of safety for students is a momentous occasion, we do not believe it warranted the frivolous spending that occurred to simply change […]

Pope Francis’ call to change deserves a listen

Twelve years ago, the Chaplains at the Interfaith Chapel participated in a discussion on faith and spirituality with members of the Pride Network. To be candid, I was apprehensive because I was the new Catholic priest on campus. The divide between members of the LGBT community and Catholic Church was palpable, sometimes bordering on disdain. […]

A sensible solution to gun violence

My heart goes out to those whose lives were shattered and families who were torn apart by the recent shooting in the Washington Navy Yard. It was a tragedy that this country has faced too often, and unless there is some drastic change, it’s a tragedy we will face again. There have been at least […]

UHS should provide a non-judgmental environment

For many students, college is a time to explore one’s sexuality and develop a positive, healthy familiarity with sex. In many cases, this can contribute to a significant increase in both self-esteem and overall well-being. Here on campus, the University Health Service (UHS) is the primary location for students to stop in for flu shots, […]

Hypocrisy, sexism flourish in the world of Buzzfeed

A quick search of the keyword “sexist” in the Buzzfeed toolbar pulls up a plethora of articles about advertisements, runway models, and public behavior. Notably, none of the articles are about men. The articles shame specific advertisements and people that objectify women or demean a woman’s role in society. To its credit, Buzzfeed does this […]

Fresh meat are people too

I was in the line at Danforth, our wonderful local dining facility here at Rochester, when I heard a rather interesting conversation. Two girls were standing behind me talking and one of them said, “Oh my god, this girl totally cut me in line the other day. Obviously a freshman, I mean she had no […]

Military strike not the answer in Syria

The storms clouds of a major Middle Eastern war have been gathering for years. A U.S. attack on Syria would bring that war closer, further destabilizing a region already reeling from violence. It would also have global consequences.  Central to the world order that emerged with the evolution of the modern nation state is the […]

The case for bombing Syria

If there’s one thing everyone agrees on, it’s this: Syria is a mess. Yet most of Syria’s possible futures are even scarier than the present, and the highest chance of avoiding them comes from encouraging the swiftest rebel victory possible. The costs of inaction far outweigh the costs of action. Critics of an intervention often […]

Boston bombings: keep mourning and politics separate

It’s about time we, as a global community, start valuing human life and quit squandering resources on making killing more efficient Read More