Columns - The Eastern Echo

The Blue Wave Was a Success

By Austin Elliott · Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018

The Democrats have, so far, flipped 32 House seats. It’s estimated the total will climb to 38 seats once all votes have been counted. Democrats have also flipped seven governorships, including in Kansas, which is typically a ruby-red state. I’d call that a wave.

How to Fix the Corrupt Influence of Money in Politics

By Austin Elliott · Monday, Nov. 12, 2018

The road to a democracy that works for all Americans includes complete transparency of political donations from individuals and groups, public financing of campaigns that empowers small donors, and overturning the disastrous Supreme Court decision Citizens United.

Money in Politics is the Most Important Issue Facing America

By Austin Elliott · Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018

Money in politics is the most important issue facing our country because it creates a disconnect between what is best for the people, and what is best for the politician. It also is involved in every issue facing America, from healthcare to climate change.

We will prevail, 2022: Satirical Essay

By Jacques Vorves · Sunday, May 29, 2016

President Donald Trump spoke today about the conflict in China and how the recent bombing raid on Hong Kong has paved the way for American victory. “The Chinese don’t have any clue what hit them,” he said.

EMU's wasted money on football is appalling

By Jacques Vorves · Wednesday, May 4, 2016

I didn't get to see the Real Sports HBO special that aired Tuesday, April 19th, about Eastern Michigan University's spending on sports (I was too busy thinking about how I'm going to pay off my student debt), but I've read enough about it to know that my university has spent $52 million in the last two years on sports, according to the show.

Don't vote for Hillary Clinton just because she's a woman

By Jacques Vorves · Sunday, April 17, 2016

I understand the significance of electing a woman president, but Hillary Clinton is not the right woman for the job. It won’t come as a surprise to anyone that Hillary Clinton is a woman, especially if you pay attention to politics (and if you didn’t know, just watch the next democratic presidential primary debate, where she will assuredly remind us of that fact any time she feels like she’s losing traction among audience members), and, in all honesty, it’s getting a bit tiring constantly hearing about her gender, as if it has some sort of bearing on her ability to govern.

The case for taxing churches

By Jacques Vorves · Sunday, April 10, 2016

The primary reason churches in the United States have been tax-exempt thus far is due to the protection granted to them through the separation of church and state.

We're all responsible for Donald Trump

By Jacques Vorves · Sunday, April 3, 2016

Donald J. Trump officially announced that he was running for president on June 16th, 2015. Speaking from Trump Tower in New York City, the then newly-announced candidate opened with a no-substance quip about the supposed idiocy and gutlessness of the other candidates saying, “How are they going to beat ISIS?

Politicians, generals and the businessman-politician

By C.A. Joseph Peters · Wednesday, March 30, 2016

As a rule of thumb, because the offices as so similar to each other, Governors have tended to make better presidents than, say, first-term Senators.

DC Comics is going dark (and that's bad)

By Joel Miller · Sunday, March 27, 2016

This past weekend is the weekend the highly anticipated “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” finally hit theaters.

Obama's visit to Cuba is momentous

By Jacques Vorves · Wednesday, March 23, 2016

The United States’ record with Cuba since the 1960s has been rough and downright scary at times, and although my generation — the Millennials — never experienced the same fear as our parents did of nuclear war looming over our heads, we understand how incredibly significant Barack Obama’s visit to Cuba is. My mother used to recount her experiences at school and how her and her classmates would perform drills in case of a nuclear attack.

Only Trump has any chance at winning the Republican nomination

By C.A. Joseph Peters · Sunday, March 20, 2016

Hillary Clinton, as many analysts say, faces an uphill battle against Bernie Sanders now that the Southern primaries are over.

The true meaning of feminism (and how some in my generation are ruining it)

By Jacques Vorves · Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Over the past few years, I’ve noticed a disturbing trend among millennials who refer to themselves as “social justice warriors.” A trend which, despite its noble origins, has become not only a danger to society, but a blemish on real social justice.

It's time to stop worshiping the Founding Fathers

By Jacques Vorves · Sunday, March 13, 2016

In 1776, the Second Continental Congress declared independence from Great Britain and established the country we know today.

We need to stop saying 'boys will be boys'

By Leaha Dotson · Sunday, March 13, 2016

He’s teasing you? That means he likes you. He pulled your hair because he’s trying to get your attention and doesn’t know how to?

Trump is unifying the Republican Party

By C.A. Joseph Peters · Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Four years after his even more impressive but nevertheless unsuccessful independent run in 1992, Texas billionaire and Reform Party founder Ross Perot won more than eight million votes in the 1996 presidential election.

We need to pay attention to teen pregnancy

By Micaela Stevenson · Sunday, March 6, 2016

According to the CDC, the United States has the highest rate of teen pregnancy of all countries in the western world.

Students should not have credit restrictions

By Micaela Stevenson · Sunday, March 6, 2016

As students, we’re all aware that our school has a credit hour restriction. For underclassmen, the restriction is 19 credit hours.

Students should be heavily graded on attendance

By Micaela Stevenson · Wednesday, March 2, 2016

In high school, I was often told that coming to class mattered a whole lot. Teachers may have rounded grades at the end of semester, but only if they saw you in class frequently or participating.

Rape is not a joke

By Micaela Stevenson · Wednesday, March 2, 2016

I was talking with a friend Saturday night and he told me he felt like he was raped by a class. Looking back on the class, it was extremely difficult.