Corporate political contributions should be stopped
Idealists used to believe that candidates play fair and idealistically in every presidential election. Senator John McCain (R) made a public-finance option in his failed 2008 Presidential campaign, while then-Senator Barack Obama asked the big guys on Wall Street, like Goldman Sachs and CitiGroup, to finance his successful campaign. One of Obama’s goals to change […]
Stigma prevents adequate treatment of mental illness
In this rapidly advancing age of science and technology, researchers are hurtling forward the field of medical investigation and discovery. Our knowledge of the human brain and diseases afflicting this central organ is expanding exponentially, yet mental illness remains a dated social taboo. In fact, according to a survey conducted by Time to Change, an […]
Lack of promotion in schools prevents lacrosse from achieving full potential
In Columbia, there is one girls lacrosse team. It is an expensive, unsanctioned and widely unknown group of athletes. The anonymity of womens lacrosse in the center of the state harshly limits the size of the team as well as the fan size. The failure of RBHS to recognize the girls lacrosse team as an […]
New field turf necessitates reconstruction of track
Recently Columbia Public Schools announced that they would replace the playing surface at Wayne Sells Field at RBHS. FieldTurf, the type on Sells Field, was found to be defective around the time RBHS installed theirs. While I’m always in favor of upgrading facilities to ensure we have the best available for our athletes, the new […]
Science education in U.S. lacks adequate hands-on activities
Six times a year, students get up early on a Saturday morning and make the commute to school to take the American College Testing exam, otherwise known as the ACT. The test consists of an English, mathematics, reading and science section, in that order. The last section, though, seems to be the most challenging for […]
Guns necessary to deter violence
Two weeks ago, a gunman entered a mall in Maryland with explosives and a gun, killing two workers and killing himself as well. One response to the shooting would be to blame guns. However, if the government prohibited guns, it wouldn’t mean there would be fewer murders. Marijuana, for example, is illegal, but usage has […]
Disruption at Global Village fashion show baffles, disappoints
Ever since I was a sophomore, I’ve looked forward to the Global Village fashion show. Every year, I start planning my outfit a month in advance and lay it out the night before so I’m ready to go in the morning. The thrill of leaving class and getting dolled up with my closest friends is […]
NCAA regulations forbid assistance to athletes
Walking out of his classroom following his morning public speaking course, a University of Missouri football player set out in the pouring rain to his dorm somewhere across the Francis Quadrangle. A daily venture he makes has recently been impeded by a broken leg, suffered in the previous week’s practice. Wobbling out the door, he […]
Positive attitude ensures success even in most negative situations
There is a very fine line between a good day and a bad day. A little rainstorm, a bad haircut or even a slightly negative comment is all it takes to turn a day upside down for some. However, think about how insignificant these little events are compared to our entire lives; it would seem […]
Raise in minimum wage leads to greater employment
At the beginning of this year, the state of Missouri raised the federal minimum wage by 15 cents to $7.50 an hour. While aimed at a singular portion of the population, a raise is actually given to each individual over sometimes vast amounts of hours per worker. Such a raise and any like it in […]
Lack of solid opposing claims necessitates legalization of marijuana in Missouri
When Chris Kelly introduced a bill in the Missouri legislature last week, it opened the door to make Missouri the third state to legalize marijuana for recreational use. If legislatures pass the bill as proposed, the law would impose a 25 percent tax on pot, set up a system for licensing growers and retailers but […]
Photo ID at polls complicates voting
Fifteen dollars, the average cost of a government issued photo identification, may not seem like a lot of money, but for the majority of Americans, it adds up to a lot of their monthly paycheck. The median paycheck for working age Americans is $2820 per month, not including rent, food, utilities, transportation and other expenses. […]
Poverty, economic inequality poses problem
In 1964, after the death of John F. Kennedy, President Lyndon B. Johnson stood up on the capitol and declared war on poverty in the hopes of increasing the welfare state of Americans. According to the National Public Radio in an interview with Robert Caro, a Johnson biographer, the constant humiliation Johnson faced during boyhood motivated him […]
Virtual learning supplements snow days with continuous education
Once the red font appears across the banner on the Columbia Public Schools website, students instantly anticipate a day of relaxation, sledding and perhaps some hot chocolate. With the announcement of a snow day, both students and teachers take a break from learning for however long the cancellation lasts. In the recent week-long stretch of […]
Oversimplified U Matter campaign lacks concrete results
In 2008, Columbia Public Schools started a program known as U Matter. The program’s main goal is to prevent youth consumption of drugs and alcohol. Before its start, the organization gathered surveys and opinions from students to prove the unpopularity of consumption and change students’ overall social perception. Not only did they hope these surveys […]
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