Things are looking up, and now it’s time to move ahead. Or at least, that’s what you would have gathered from President Barack Obama’s second inaugural address.
Sandy Hook: wrong priorities
Sandy Hook’s students are back in school, Clackamas Town Center reopened within the week, and the man responsible for the Aurora shootings is on trial. America seems to be recovering and moving on from last year’s mass shootings, but we still don’t seem to be learning from them.
No war on Christmas here
Celebrating without the faith
This time every year, stories start popping up about the “War on Christmas,” and we get a sense that there’s some sort of inherent tension that comes with religious holidays. There shouldn’t be, though. Celebrate your holiday however you want and reasonable people won’t be offended.
The good, the bad and the ugly
Looking ahead: What the 2012 election results signify
After what felt like years, the 2012 election is finally over. Though disappointed by some outcomes, I’m hopeful for the future.
Broke? Sell plasma
Pros and cons of donating plasma
Being in college means being broke from time to time. This was me recently, so I thought about donating plasma. While it can’t replace a regular income, it can be a good way to supplement it.
Big Bird and binders full of women
Given his reelection campaign, does Obama deserve to win?
This time next week—barring recounts—the madness will be over, and we’ll know who our president will be for the next four years. I voted for Barack Obama, which probably isn’t surprising. But based on the campaign he ran, I’m not sure he really deserves to win.
Loving and hating The Walking Dead
The flaws and successes of AMC’s zombie drama
AMC’s The Walking Dead has earned a reputation as the show fans love to hate. Each episode is full of potential, but many people seem to feel that it’s failed to reach that potential.
For the good of the public
When does public education stop being public?
Forty or 50 years ago, it was possible to go to college in most of the U.S. for free or without loans. You could work a summer job and pay for a year of college.
The way a debate should be
Policy and argument, not rhetoric and respectful disagreement
The presidential and vice-presidential debates this year have received a shocking amount of attention, with record-breaking views and hours dedicated to analyzing them.
Making room for class
PSU classrooms in need
Recently the Vanguard ran a piece on the new classroom in the School of Business Administration, and it made me jealous because, for the most part, Portland State’s classrooms are terrible. The business school has its own operating funds, but I wish the rest of the university would follow suit and bring its classrooms into the 21st century.
Oregonians for higher education autonomy
New PAC would end Oregon’s higher ed system as we know it
In a world where Citizens United is so powerful, seeing super-political action committees run rough-shod over our political process is pretty common. It’s been rare to see it in Oregon, but we’re going to get to see them in action soon.