Opinions - The Eastern Echo

COLUMN: This is the year for the Tigers

By Andrew Mascharka · Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014

1984 – Tigers fans remember that year. It has been a while since Tigers fans could say they were the champions. Years have passed since the days of Kirk Gibson, Jack Morris and Alan Trammell and there have been some good and some not-so-good years since, but one thing has remained the same – they still haven’t won the big one.

Apple iPhone 6 is a disappointment

By Lamaria Reed · Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014

The iPhone 6 is finally here, after a year since the last iPhone was unveiled. Talks of a bigger screen, being able to FaceTime with multiple people, wireless charging and a swipe keyboard had iPhone users worldwide ready to get their hands on one.

Term limits: Good or bad?

By David Konarske · Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014

Much is made about term limits in government.

Detroit and the people it owes money to

By David Konarske · Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014

The media has painted the bankruptcy of Detroit as a case of the evil rich versus the defenseless, poor citizens and retirees.

Michigan and Middle Eastern Refugees

By C.A. Joseph Peters · Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014

Michigan is the best candidate to accept Iraqi and Syrian refugees, not because of its railroads and factories, forests and rivers, or even because of its system of government, but because of Michiganders themselves.

Detroit and Democracy

By James Tatum · Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014

On Sept.

Everyone deserves a college education

By Lamaria Reed · Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014

Every individual in the U.S. is entitled to an education. No matter our race or ethnic background, an education is one thing that is promised to us.

Controversial sweater crosses line

By Sydney Stuck · Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014

Would you be willing to protest against one of your favorite stores if their product became offensive on multiple accounts?Lately, owner of Urban Outfitters, Richard Hayne, hasn’t had the best of luck when it comes to people loving the products coming out of his stores.

Internship program beneficial

By Marcus McCray · Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014

The top concern for students at Eastern Michigan University is job placement. Fears about unemployment, financial security and how student loans will be paid back are valid in a state with an unemployment rate of 7.4 percent.

Predicting Detroit's future

By John G. Fike · Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014

In my last column I described the key elements that brought Detroit to the point of bankruptcy. In this article I will suggest what I think the future holds for the city and its people.Will Detroit be transformed by the bankruptcy proceedings?

How Kwame Kilpatrick gambled away Detroit's money

By James Tatum · Monday, Sept. 22, 2014

On July 18, 2013, Detroit filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy after decades of social and industrial decline.

Hitting children not the right way to discipline

By James Tatum · Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014

Adrian Peterson’s criminal indictment on child abuse charges has created another debate around violence, but in comparison with the reaction to Ray Rice’s suspension from the National Football League, people have decide that his actions are far more acceptable.

Predicting Detroit’s future: The beginning

By Prof. John G. Fike · Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014

As Judge Steven W. Rhodes of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan ponders how best to make Detroit’s debt manageable and restore urgently needed city services, it is appropriate to look ahead to see what the future might hold for the city and its people.

Domestic violence: Why stay?

By Lamaria Reed · Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014

An estimated 42.4 million women in the U.S. have experienced rape or physical violence by an

COLUMN: Assault should not be treated differently for athletes

By Al Willman · Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014

This past week was an absolute nightmare for the National Football League and its commissioner Roger Goodell. It started Monday when a video surfaced of Ray Rice - who was indicted in March when he knocked out his wife Jenay, who was his fiancée at the time, in the elevator of a New Jersey hotel – physically knocking her out.

Nonprofits make strong business partners

By Prof. John G. Fike · Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014

In my last column, I suggested that business enterprise is not a suitable partner for governmentagencies delivering public services. My argument was that Big Business is oriented toward money, shareholders, hierarchy and authority.

Natural hair: Is it appropriate?

By Lamaria Reed · Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014

Afros, twist-outs, dread locks and flat twist have become increasingly popular within the last couple of years, primarily in the black community.

Have racial slurs lost their power?

By Lamaria Reed · Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014

“If you can say it, then why can’t I say?” This question has been posed to me on many different occasions, when people from different races hear black Americans using select terms in their vocabulary.

Change now or suffer later

By John G. Fike · Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014

A hotly debated topic these days is whether we can change human behavior in time to avert climate catastrophe. But let’s look first at why we say “catastrophe.” Isn’t that a little strong?

Lobbyists, big business are bad for government

By John G. Fike · Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014

Ronald Reagan got a lot of things wrong. But one of his more outstanding errors was to suggest that “government is the problem.” As with many utterances from Republicans these days, he got it backwards: politicians in bed with corporate managers and wealthy billionaires make business the problem. This is not a new problem.