Columns - The Eastern Echo

The Water Street Development Project is a disappoinment

By James Tatum · Wednesday, March 12, 2014

It’s already been written that the city of Ypsilanti will not declare bankruptcy, at least not in the foreseeable future. That does not mean there are not lessons to be learned from other localities that have sunk into insolvency.

People should focus more on how to reach their goals

By Kimberly Lewis · Wednesday, March 12, 2014

One of the most common questions that a 5-year-old is asked is, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” In order to answer such a question, a 5-year-old needs time to think and consider their options, so probably about 10 or 30 seconds. The answer is always impulsive – they usually say the first thing that comes to mind. Their favorite person, their favorite cartoon character or their latest obsession could influence their answer. Whatever the answer is, it is quick, decisive and they are absolutely confident in it.

Executive representation

By John Keeth · Sunday, March 9, 2014

For 225 years, the citizens of the United States have elected one person to serve as their president – one person to serve as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and to serve as the chief executive. Considering the amount of power that someone in this position holds, the United States would be better served by electing a federal council with seats divided up between political parties based on popularity in the voting booth similar to the system used in Switzerland.

More pieces of democracy go into the wastebasket

By John G. Fike · Sunday, March 9, 2014

While we were away on winter recess, some more pieces of democracy have been trashed or made ready for disposal. We’ve already seen how the Supreme Court has allowed whoever has enough money to buy elections, just as corporate lobbyists buy legislative favors. Now, more of our rights as citizens are being thrown in the wastebasket.

Fix our roads!

By James Tatum · Sunday, March 9, 2014

From casual observance our roads appear to be worse than ever. Which is why I am (and you should be) utterly perplexed as to why our state Legislature intends to waste money to cut taxes rather than fix our roads.

Stop minimizing verbal abuse

By Quinn Ellison · Wednesday, March 5, 2014

The fact that emotional abuse has negative effects on people who are abused is not a new revelation. It is apparent that this is the case from the experiences of people working in the mental health and social work fields, from psychological research and most importantly, from the lived experiences of people who have survived abuse.

A tax cut for Detroiters

By James Tatum · Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Detroit should cut taxes. More specifically, it should eliminate its income tax of 2.4 percent. As part of the city’s plan of adjustment, a formal outline for solvency that was submitted to the federal bankruptcy court in February, it appears the city has other ideas. Namely it intends to collect income taxes from residents known as reverse commuters – people who live in the city but work in other areas. Former Mayor Dave Bing estimated $142 million in income tax revenue went uncollected in 2009, and the city wants that money.

Start listening

By Jumanah Saadeh · Wednesday, March 5, 2014

“Are you listening?” This is one of the most common questions that someone will be asked during their relationships, whether familial, romantic or professional. Our efficiency in communicating is very poor. We focus on talking, not listening.

Universal Income

By Anthony Alaniz · Sunday, March 2, 2014

Switzerland will soon vote on a radical new law that will guarantee every citizen receives $2,800 a month regardless of whether they are working or not. While it may seem okay for the generally socialistic Swiss to even consider such a bill, having such a program in America, where we value the one over the many, could have great benefits.

Race keeps U.S. from caring

By John G. Fike · Sunday, March 2, 2014

Don’t you think it’s curious that while the rest of the developed world has created significant social safety nets, policy makers in the U.S. are still mired down in old-fashioned ideas that those who are poor or ill or old bring their misfortune on themselves?

Opportunity cost, opportunity lost

By James Tatum · Sunday, March 2, 2014

“Colorado Expects to Reap Tax Bonanza From Legal Marijuana Sales” was a headline which appeared in the New York Times over Winter break.

Interracial dating

By Kimberly Lewis · Sunday, March 2, 2014

I was 15 and participating in a program that included all kinds of students from the Midwest. We stayed in Marquette, Mich. for an entire summer going on field trips, taking summer classes, camping and, of course, dating. A group of students were having a conversation about race and dating; Jim, a group advisor, chimed in on the discussion sharing his experiences and explained how college was an eye-opening time for him. Jim said he had never met what he referred to as a black-haired person, a person outside of the Caucasian race, until he went to college.

Eastern is on the right path with reflection rooms

By Jumanah Saadeh · Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014

Stress is an inescapable part of life, but its accumulation is detrimental to our health. Its toll on our bodies, however, could be eased if only there was a place where students could get away from the hubbub of life and just enjoy the blessed silence.

Is it time to end the death penalty?

By Anthony Alaniz · Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014

America has always held itself to a higher standard than the rest of the world, yet the continued practice and use of the death penalty is just one example of how our country morally lags behind two-thirds of the world that has already abolished capital punishment. We, as a country, should be able to take the higher road than we are now.

Bisexuality misunderstood

By Quinn Ellison · Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014

Attitudes towards people who identify as bisexual seem to be lagging behind the growing acceptance of gay and lesbian-identified people.

Attention Deficit Disorder is as much about nurture as it is nature

By Jumanah Saadeh · Sunday, Feb. 16, 2014

At one point or another, many of us have joked about having the attention span of a goldfish. The joke “I’m ADD, attention deficit dis… hey look, a butterfly!” and others like it make light of what is actually an overall culture of distraction.

Informed voting can help prevent bad politics

By John Keeth · Sunday, Feb. 16, 2014

When people try to pay attention to politics, they are often put off by the arguments that seem to go nowhere, the problems that never seem to get fixed and the steady stream of contradictory information coming from both sides.

Lokale Wirtschaftsentwicklung seminar on economy enlightening

By James Tatum · Sunday, Feb. 16, 2014

On Feb. 14th, in room 421 of Pray-Harrold, students from the University of Applied Sciences, Kehl, Germany presented their research on local economic development.

Teach For America helps to inspire students

By Tiffany Williams · Sunday, Feb. 16, 2014

I knew I was exactly where I needed to be when Stephanie looked up at me after finishing her math exam and said, “I did it.” I had challenged my students to grow two grade levels in math in one year – undoubtedly a significant feat that I knew would be difficult to attain. But for Stephanie, it wasn’t enough. Even as a sixth-grader, her focus was on completing the same problems her cousins in high school were working on. Her passion was math, and she pushed me, her mother and her grandmother to set the bar even higher. It was my first year of teaching special education students in Philadelphia as part of the Teach For America program, and Stephanie was one of the dozens of bright, young kids that I had the pleasure of working with each day.

We must ensure separation of church, health care

By Anthony Alaniz · Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014

When you rush to the hospital in excruciating pain, the last thing you would expect is to be sent home untreated. Well, that is what happened to Michigan resident Tamesha Means in December 2010 – twice.