Opinions - The Eastern Echo

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.

The Baltimore riots are not the problem

By Andrew Kocis · Sunday, May 3, 2015

On April 25 peaceful protests over the Baltimore Police Department’s murder of Freddie Grey turned violent, escalating into riots that lasted through the night.

American religiosity in politics is terrifying

By Jacques Vorves · Sunday, May 3, 2015

Religious fundamentalists who believe that the Rapture is coming should not be elected to public office. It’s evident that U.S.

Society is not as inclusive as it should be

By Jane Mandley · Sunday, April 19, 2015

A news story came out of Midland, Michigan earlier last month about a woman suing Planet Fitness over having her membership revoked after she complained about a transgender woman sharing the women’s locker room.

Congress should not have a role in negotiations with foreign nations

By Andrew Kocis · Sunday, April 19, 2015

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee unanimously passed a bill last week that would require Congressional approval of any agreement made with Iran.

'American Sniper' glorifies violence of war

By Hannah Saul · Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Chris Kyle was the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history with over 160 confirmed kills. He was honorably discharged from the military in 2009 and went on to write an autobiography about his experiences.

Hillary Clinton unfit for presidency

By Jacques Vorves · Wednesday, April 15, 2015

The presidential elections are coming, and once again we’re wrought with a colossal number of candidates who have enveloped themselves in the flames of fundamentalism, extreme conservatism and globalist-capitalist rhetoric.

Letter to the Editor: Timely Warnings

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Dear Editor, The March 29 column in the Eastern Echo headlined “Are we getting all the Timely Warnings we should?” offers a good chance to clarify when the Eastern Michigan University campus community will receive such a notification and the circumstances that prompt such a message to be sent.

Religious liberty does not justify bigotry

By Jacques Vorves · Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act has been the subject of many heated debates across the country lately.

Rand Paul is right on Iran

By Alison Basley · Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Republican presidential candidate for 2016 Rand Paul presents a realistic and pragmatic position on Iran.

Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act protects rights of business owners

By Thomas Bieszk · Monday, April 6, 2015

By now I’m sure you’ve heard about the happenings in the state of Indiana. But in case you haven’t heard yet, the state legislature of Indiana passed a bill stating business owners have the right to refuse service to individuals based on religious beliefs, or more specifically, refuse service to homosexual consumers. The aftermath has created outrage and has spawned campaigns to “Boycott Indiana.” The campaign has been spreading like wildfire over social media. I support the state of Indiana on this legislation. At around the same time Indiana created the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a florist in the state of Washington faced a lawsuit after she refused to provide flower arrangements for a gay wedding. According to ABC News, Barronelle Stutzman was fined by the state of Washington for $1,001 after a judge ruled she violated the state’s Consumer Protection Act, which protects the consumer against acts of discrimination by businesses, after declining to provide flowers for a gay wedding.

Do we really have 'free will'?

By Andrew Kocis · Monday, April 6, 2015

Free will is something we all presume we have. It is a key concept in many religions and philosophies.