Climate Change and green energy will have impact on economy

04/25/2019 By Alexander Wolfe | Staff Columnist  I’m signing up to take a biology class, and it’s not just because my best friend is a bio major and I want to understand her when she says mitochondria are more than the powerhouse of the cell. Rather than just taking astronomy or an easier natural science requirement, I’ve committed to gaining an elementary knowledge of how … Continue reading Climate Change and green energy will have impact on economy

Christmas Capitalism unfair to workers, buries true meaning

11/15/2018 By Ollie Gratzinger | Opinions Editor  The halls are decked, the stockings are hung, the mochas are minty and it isn’t even Thanksgiving yet. ‘Tis the season, I suppose, but every year, the season comes sooner. Malls were adorned with ornate bulbs and towering trees as early as Nov. 1. Stores sent out their holiday catalogues weeks ago, and towering signs for “holiday collections” … Continue reading Christmas Capitalism unfair to workers, buries true meaning

Black Friday is a cultural tradition, albeit a problematic one

11/15/2018 By Zoe Stratos | Staff Columnist In 2017, more than 70 million people participated in the busiest shopping day of the year: Black Friday. However, with all of the discounts, clearances, price tags slashed and doorbusters up for grabs, is the tradition really worth all the trouble braving sale-crazy crowds? After factoring all of the fine print, thoughtless buys and rip-off sale prices, the … Continue reading Black Friday is a cultural tradition, albeit a problematic one

Possible Toys R Us comeback sparks controversy, outrage

10/18/2018 By Ollie Gratzinger | Opinions Editor Over the summer, childrens’ retail giant Toys R Us announced that it would be permanently closing the doors of about 735 U.S. locations as a result of bankruptcy claims dating back to the previous September. We packed up our childhood memories, watched as storefronts became vacant lots and bid farewell to Geoffrey the Giraffe. But now, the brand … Continue reading Possible Toys R Us comeback sparks controversy, outrage

Healthcare epidemic brings up complex, layered issues

10/11/2018 By Charles Megginson | Contributor  There’s no such thing as a free lunch – and if there’s no such thing as a free lunch, there’s definitely no such thing as free healthcare. America is facing a crippling healthcare epidemic, fueling intense political debate over the direction we, as a nation, should go in guaranteeing quality, affordable healthcare. With costs skyrocketing, public support for government-subsidized … Continue reading Healthcare epidemic brings up complex, layered issues

Access codes raise textbook prices; limit accessibility

09/06/2018 By Ollie Gratzinger | Opinions Editor Yes, I’ve ranted about the obscene and ever-rising price of textbooks in the past. Yes, I’m going to do it again, because surprisingly (not), it’s still a really big problem. I’d be willing to wager that this issue specifically unites college students all around the country, no matter how deeply other differences might divide them. I’m definitely going … Continue reading Access codes raise textbook prices; limit accessibility

“Heartwarming” stories reveal societal agonies

08/30/2018 By Ollie Gratzinger | Opinions Editor “Teachers donate 100 sick days to colleague with cancer.” “Best baby shower gift: Paid time off for new parents.” “Watch a mother and her child reunite after 55 days.” “HEARTWARMING: A teacher breaks down in tears after the mother of a student buys her a car so she can get to work every day.” We’ve all seen the … Continue reading “Heartwarming” stories reveal societal agonies

Civil Service undervalued

04/12/2018 By Alex Wolfe | Staff Writer When Attorney General Jeff Sessions opted to fire Andrew McCabe two days before his planned retirement, depriving him of a full pension, nearly 10 million federal employees hung their heads in despair. For the first time in decades, a career public servant had been dealt an incredibly severe punishment for the sake of partisan politics. In the days … Continue reading Civil Service undervalued

Facebook comes under fire for selling identities

03/22/2018 By Duke Staff Online privacy may be a new oxymoron. News broke this week about Facebook’s involvement with the far-right Cambridge Analytica data firm that showed the world that social media sites don’t much care about your privacy. A user, to Zuckerberg or any other data analyst, is just some point that can be packaged and then sold or shared. It’s a social network … Continue reading Facebook comes under fire for selling identities