Opinions - The Eastern Echo

Rand Paul's policy platform still problematic

By Andrew Kocis · Sunday, June 7, 2015

Rand Paul scored a big victory in Congress, as he led a successful filibuster over the renewal of key provisions of the Patriot Act.

States should abolish the death penalty

By Alison Basley · Sunday, June 7, 2015

On Wednesday, The New York Times reported that Nebraska became the 19th state to abolish the death penalty, along with the District of Columbia.

Column: EMU Soccer is better than the "Power Three"

By Robert Sherman · Saturday, June 6, 2015

When it comes to the athletics program at Eastern Michigan University, Mid-American Conference regular season wins, titles, appearances in MAC tournaments and championships are the most important goals for the respective teams. And no team at Eastern Michigan University has exemplified and attained these goals in the past five years more than the Women’s Soccer team, led by head coach Scott Hall.

EMU's smoking ban is a good thing

By Hannah Saul · Sunday, May 31, 2015

According to the American Lung Association, “smoking is the number one cause of preventable disease and death worldwide.” Not only does smoking and tobacco use affect those using it, but the results from secondhand smoke are just as bad.

Smoking ban infringes upon individual rights

By Jacques Vorves · Sunday, May 31, 2015

While smoking cigarettes certainly is an unhealthy habit, the idea of banning its use on a public campus infringes upon our rights as individuals.

Petition's wording perpetuating transphobia

By Jane Mandley · Sunday, May 31, 2015

The other week I was scrolling through social media when I came across this page a friend of mine had liked.

Media affects behavior and self-image

By Andrew Kocis · Sunday, May 31, 2015

The TV and movies we watch, the games we play and the music we listen to form a big part of our identity.

Millennials changing societal norms

By Jane Mandley · Sunday, May 24, 2015

If I’m being honest, I’ll admit that I appreciate a full, well-trimmed man-beard. While some people might see a man’s unshaven face as rough and barbaric, I know I’m not alone in viewing a well-kept beard as a sign of maturity, authority, and having a general indie-hipster persona.

Blame the poor, save the rich

By Jacques Vorves · Sunday, May 24, 2015

In 2013, according to the United States Census Bureau, about 45 million people were living in poverty.

Be the change you want to see

By Corson Nikkel · Sunday, May 24, 2015

In times of economic recession and political failure, it is up to the citizenry to alter the course of history, as we must all be the change we wish to see in the world.

Geothermal energy is the next step

By Jane Mandley · Sunday, May 17, 2015

When people talk about the oil industry in the United States, conversations tend to spiral downhill as we hope for a greener future, but expect no immediate changes.

Why you should vote for Bernie Sanders

By Jacques Vorves · Sunday, May 17, 2015

In a time when the wealthiest people in the nation have more wealth than the bottom 90 percent combined, when they hold more influence than those in office, and when the voice of the people has virtually no effect on the policies being put into place, it is entirely evident that we need a major change in the ways we think and do things.

Risks of e-cigarettes

By Hannah Saul · Sunday, May 17, 2015

Every day I see it more and more frequently, students walking around or standing outside classes puffing away, not on traditional cigarettes, but on Electronic Cigarettes.

Marvel films are sexist

By Andrew Kocis · Sunday, May 17, 2015

The comic book film industry has a huge problem with how it portrays its female characters – in that it doesn’t.

Why government spying should disturb you

By Alison Basley · Sunday, May 17, 2015

Right now, the government is collecting the metadata – the digital trail you leave on your electronic devices – of millions of Americans and storing it in huge data-mining facilities across the country.

Bernie Sanders the candidate we need

By Andrew Kocis · Thursday, May 14, 2015

On April 30, Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont, officially announced that he would be running for the Democratic nomination for president in 2016.

What caused Michigan's earthquake?

By Jane Mandley · Sunday, May 10, 2015

From shortly after noon on a Saturday earlier this month until later that night, it seemed that all anyone could talk about was the earthquake that hit us.

Corruption is drowning the American public

By Jacques Vorves · Sunday, May 10, 2015

A study was recently conducted by two professors of Princeton University and Northwestern University, Martin Gilens and Benjamin I.

'American Sniper' has no place at an institution of learning

By Chris Deboer · Sunday, May 10, 2015

Having recently watched the film myself, I can safely say that “American Sniper” gives a simplistic and myopic view of Muslims, as there are no attempts to distinguish between actual terrorists and peaceful Arabs or Muslims.

Why realism and compromise trump police intervention

By Corson Nikkel · Sunday, May 3, 2015

I believe that a realist perspective is required to solve the qualms of conflicting ideologies. When amid a public relations disaster you must focus on the practical, pragmatic and probable, not the ideological, as this may add fire to the flame with further political foolishness.