Opinion

Opinion

College culture needs overhaul

By Charlie Szold | February 5

The longer I stay in college the more I fear for humanity. Let me out of this place - now! Tuesday night - drink; Friday night - drink; Saturday night - drink. Not that I'm not above it. I'm not. I drink, I party, I can throw down too. Ask me about that time I peed on my best friend's basement wall.

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Opinion

Corrections for Feb. 2

February 5

Two corrections from The Eagle's Feb. 2 issue.

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Opinion

Growing pains and pleasures in Pa.

By Kate Matthews | February 5

My little sister thinks I am her hero. Ann is a 12-year-old 7th grader who struggles with middle school politics, popularity and ponytails. I am a 22-year-old college senior, who struggles with some of the same things every day. Last year before spring break, two friends and I drove home to Gettysburg, Pa.

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Opinion

Bad blood mars Founders' Ball

February 5

Drama has continued to unfold as those directly and indirectly responsible for planning the Founders' Day Ball have traded endless recriminations with one another. 600 tickets originally available sold out within hours of going on sale, forcing almost 200 students onto a wait list.

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Opinion

Letter to the editor: Who died and made Knepper king of culture?

By David Grossman | February 5

I can't believe I missed the meeting where everyone declared Alex Knepper the sole arbiter of culture. Before he declares an entire medium dead, perhaps he can be bothered to research modern poetry, as opposed to just Googling Elisabeth Arden. I'll even give him a couple tips - Derek Walcott or Mary Jo Salter.

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Opinion

A poem without thought is no poem

By Alex Knepper | February 2

Poetry is dead. It's hardly a contested point anymore: the most casual of observers can discern that poetry is that odd, rare art practiced by more people than observe it. It is not dead because there is nothing more to be contributed to the art form, it's dead, rather, due to a cultural decline into a society that worships self-expression and instant gratification above excellence and merit.

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Opinion

Op-Ed: "Shiny Objects" column isn't in on PETA's joke

By Mark Devries | February 2

The Jan. 29 column by Ben Moss and Brittany Meyer was right about at least one thing. PETA's "attempt" to change the word "fish" into "sea kittens" sounds like a joke precisely because it is one. It's a big joke, but it has an even bigger point lurking behind it.

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Opinion

AU's construction secrets

February 2

In recent years, the university has embarked on a construction binge as it expanded the Kogod School of Business, renovated the bridge and front steps of Mary Graydon Center and began construction on a new School of International Service building. It is not these projects that are troublesome; in fact, many students will agree that the renovations have added a nice new aesthetic to campus.

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Opinion

U.S. war criminals are still criminals

By Jacob Shelly | February 2

For eight years George Bush's lackeys took America's moral compass and discombobulated it with the magnets of torture, extraordinary rendition and so many other excesses that were seemingly justified just because they appeared alongside the words "War on Terror.

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Opinion

Correction for Jan. 28

February 2

In "AU discusses Gaza conflict," The Eagle incorrectly reported that Emily Siegel and Irene Nasser were graduate students in SIS. In fact both have already graduated from the university. The Eagle regrets the error.

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Opinion

PETA's campaign smells fishy to us

January 29

In its latest ploy since asking ice cream powerhouse Ben and Jerry's to make Cherry Garcia from human breast milk, the prominent animal rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, wants to change the way we think about fish. How? By calling them "sea kittens" and fishing "sea kitten hunting.

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Opinion

Thumbs Up ... Thumbs Down ...

January 29

Thumbs Up To... AU's snow removal - Thanks to the diligent and hardworking staff who helped dramatically reduce the number of us who fell unceremoniously on our butts. Eagle staff experience with busting up ice proves that it is no cakewalk. It takes hard work, time and effort.

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Opinion

AU's Web site stays stuck in the past

By Carl Seip | January 29

I'll be graduating in a few months. But before I leave, I thought it'd be interesting to be a prospective student again - to relive my own introduction to AU in the modern day. The natural starting point was american.edu. I'm from Seattle, and the AU Web site was integral in my application process since I was unable to visit east coast schools before I applied.

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Opinion

Trapped in a tunnel

January 29

For the vast majority of the nearly 2 million people who crowded the National Mall for President Obama's Inauguration, the event was memorable for the powerful speeches, performances and imagery that accompanied our nation's 44th peaceful transition of power.

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Opinion

Obama faces torturous questions

By Joe Wenner | January 26

Through all the debacles associated with the previous administration, there was always that puzzling 25 percent of Americans who insisted Bush was a decent head of state. But with Barack Obama inaugurated as president, the remaining 75 percent, including myself, are expecting a significant shift in substance and policy.

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Opinion

Buy online to pressure bookstore

January 26

Every student and professor at AU has a personal horror story about the campus bookstore. Some students complain about waiting hours for their pre-ordered package to be found. Others complain about finding their orders completely cancelled after weeks of waiting for an important book.

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Opinion

Letter to the editor: RAD for men coordinator lays down challenge to Eagle staff

By Sgt. Dale Booth | January 26

I am writing this article to clear up a few misconceptions that were perpetuated in last week's "Staff Editorial: Male RAD class needs retooling." RAD Systems, and the RAD for men program, was founded and developed by Larry Nadeau. Nadeau holds a 3rd degree Black Belt from the International Hapkido Karate Association (IHKA) and among many other things, is a nationally recognized police defensive tactics instructor.

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