Opinions - The Eastern Echo

Action needs to be taken to improve voter turnout

By Andrew Kocis · Sunday, March 22, 2015

Voter turnout in the 2014 election was historically low. According to data collected by the Institute for Democracy Electoral Assistance only 33.4 percent of the voting age population voted in the midterm elections of 2014, which is the lowest turnout since 1942.

Animal testing in science a necessary evil

By Jennifer Kirby · Sunday, March 22, 2015

In 2012, The Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness declared that animals are as aware of their immediate surroundings as humans are.

Christian members of the LGBTQA community deserve visibility and acceptance

By Jane Mandley · Wednesday, March 18, 2015

I had written last week of the struggle for straight allies to embody both their support of LGBTQA peoples and their faith in the sight of most modern day Christians.

No more hate-speech laws

By C.A. Joseph Peters · Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Opinions Columnist “There is nothing more terrifying than the absoluteness of one who believes he’s right,” wrote Libba Bray.

Republican actions over Iran talk irresponsible

By Andrew Kocis · Sunday, March 15, 2015

The United States has been participating in talks with Iran in order to come to an agreement over Iran’s nuclear program.

Psychology behind terrorism

By Jennifer Kirby · Sunday, March 15, 2015

Terrorism is a universal problem that has been in the news for a long time. There have been conferences held and protests lead against this kind of violence, but nothing has worked effectively enough to eradicate it completely.

Lammily: Perfectly Imperfect Doll

By Hannah Saul · Sunday, March 15, 2015

Self-esteem problems and not feeling adequate are a gloomy reality for most women. Everywhere, we are faced with pictures of stick-thin models and ads for the latest and craziest fad diets.

Will 'End It Movement' fuel change?

By Jane Mandley · Sunday, March 15, 2015

Earlier this week I saw a picture on my Instagram feed of two friends of mine. They had large red X’s drawn and colored on the backs of their hands.

The Changing World and Church

By Jane Mandley · Sunday, March 15, 2015

Of all of the controversies circling through the media, the war between the Christian Church and same-sex marriage is vying for one of the top spots.

Problems with 'meninists' and 'equalists'

By Andrew Kocis · Sunday, March 15, 2015

Feminism has become something of a dirty word over the past few years. Men, and even some women, have rallied against the term, seeing feminists as aggressive, men-hating, women-supremacists.

Facebook and Depression

By Natalie Rogers · Sunday, March 15, 2015

Social media outlets have been paving the way for a new age of constant communication with one another since the early days of AOL Instant Messenger and MySpace.

Obamacare and the Republican's plan are the same

By Andrew Kocis · Sunday, March 15, 2015

On Wednesday, March 4, the Supreme Court began hearing oral arguments in the King v. Burwellcase, which is the latest court case challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

Why Email Scandal Matters

By Alison Basley · Sunday, March 8, 2015

“How stupid do they think we are?” MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough asked the most important question we should be asking of 2016 presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton and her former president spouse in the wake of the newest 21st century Clinton scandal.

Stop Drinking Bottled Water

By Jacques Vorves · Sunday, March 8, 2015

I recently watched a documentary from 2009 called “Tapped” which talks about the controversies surrounding the bottled water industry and how it is virtually free to do as it pleases and that the water it sells is actually unsafe to drink.

Higher education "harshes my mellow"

By Marianne McCreight · Wednesday, March 4, 2015

I never realized how appropriate the saying “ignorance is bliss” was until I decided to get my bachelor’s degree.

Definition of freedom

By Jacques Vorves · Wednesday, March 4, 2015

In English, “freedom” is a word often used to describe the literal or mental state of being free, free from worry or utilizing your right to free expression.

Veto the Keystone Pipeline

By Andrew Kocis · Sunday, March 1, 2015

On Jan. 29, in one of their first acts, the Republican-controlled Senate approved the Keystone XL Pipeline by a 62-36 vote, and GOP lawmakers in the Senate have called passing the Keystone XL pipeline a “top priority,” according to U.S.

Tumblr and oppression

By Natalie Rogers · Sunday, March 1, 2015

If anyone ever wants a slice of social justice and animated pictures of cats and TV shows, the website Tumblr is the place to go.

The psychology behind 'The Dress'

By Jennifer Kirby · Sunday, March 1, 2015

Unless you haven’t been on the Internet in the past few days, I’m sure you’ve seen “the dress that made the Internet explode.” There is a dress that looks distinctly different to different people.

Short Hair and Feminism

By Jane Elizabeth · Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015

A couple of weeks ago, my fellow opinions columnist, Andrew Kocis, wrote an article about how similar our generation, the Millennials, is to the post-WWI “Lost Generation.” It was about this same point in history where the controversial “bob” haircut grew in increased popularity and I can’t help but compare it to the pixie-cut trend that’s going around today. Smack in the middle of these two generations was the super long, straight hippie hair of the 70s.