Opinion

Voices from outside Pelican Bay hunger strikes On July 1, an estimated 6,600 prisoners at the Pelican Bay State Prison, a supermax California prison near the Oregon border, went on…

When we last spoke, the Syria situation looked grim.

One thousand three hundred government protesters had already died at the hands of the oppressive Ba’ath Party regime headed by Bashar al-Assad. The opposition movement that demanded his downfall was vulnerable and leaderless. The call for democracy had yet to take hold in any major cities. And Hama, the ideological center of the opposition movement, while still relatively untouched by the Assad Regime, lived under the shadow of Syrian tanks on the horizon.

When we last spoke, the Syria situation looked grim. One thousand three hundred government protesters had already died at the hands of the oppressive Ba’ath Party regime headed by Bashar…

For years, women have been given the responsibility of taking their birth control. Currently, all forms of birth control, except condoms or vasectomies, are designed for female use only. Forms of male birth control have been discussed and developed, but many are still undergoing testing due to the potential side effects of hormone-based solutions.

Now, a doctor in India has developed a new form of birth control for men. The method has been used on humans, but is still considered experimental. The procedure is known as Reversible Inhibition of Sperm Under Guidance (RISUG). The procedure starts out like a normal vasectomy, but instead of cutting, the doctor injects a polymer into the vas deferens, which causes the sperm that travel through the tube to be chemically altered, rendering them unable to impregnate a woman.

When people think of libraries, what comes to mind? Books? Journals? Dust and shelves and tables?

How about laptop computers?

Portland State’s Millar Library announced last month the availability of a new laptop checkout program for its students. Yes, that is exactly what it sounds like. A student can, like with any reference material, check out a laptop for use in the library, free of charge. The laptops are available for non-renewable checkout for up to three hours at a time and are equipped with everything a student might need.

The fair trade movement has grown exponentially since 2005, rising from $15 million in sales a year to $48 million in 2011. From textiles to produce, to coffee and tea and jewelry, fair trade certification is making its black-and-white mark in more and more places every day.

Oregon legislators are moving out of the courthouse and into the henhouse. Over the last few months, there has been some trouble brewing at the Capitol. There has been much discussion regarding the state’s regulations on what is considered humane when it comes to egg-laying chickens.

For many people in the United States, the outcome of the Casey Anthony trial inspired outrage and disbelief. Casey Anthony, on trial for the murder of her two-year-old daughter Caylee, was declared not guilty by a jury on all counts of murder and child abuse. The evidence against her seemed overwhelming, and the court of public opinion had long since declared her guilty. The actual legal verdict left many Americans crying foul at the justice system.

Portlanders are currently at risk of losing one of the city’s valuable landmarks. While many may not have stepped foot inside In Other Words, the northeast bookstore was the setting for the famous bookstore sketch in the local hit series Portlandia.

The grand opening of Casa Latina at Portland State has inspired fierce debate among members of the community regarding its goals. There are people who will point out that Casa Latina will lead to a separatist attitude among Latina and Latino students, and is therefore counterproductive. It is the same argument used by those concerned by immigration and assimilation in the United States.

Portlanders are known for two things: their love of all things hoppy and brewed and their love of bicycles. Recently, several bicycle-friendly pubs have opened throughout the city. Additionally, the Portland Pedalounge, a 14-person bicycle, will soon take to the streets to guide Portlanders on tours from bar to bar. Simultaneously, new laws are emerging that punish bikers who cycle under the influence. Is condoning such an activity good for Portland’s cycle culture?