Opinions - The Eastern Echo

Winter weight gain

By John Keeth · Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014

As we endure another Michigan winter, many of us are watching the number on our scales climb higher and higher.

Have you noticed how often simplistic solutions are offered, and generally accepted by the public, for even the most complex problems? “Cap ‘n Trade” for climate change, “austerity” for economic depression or “tests” for troubled schools, for example.

Stop and frisk mainstream

By Anthony Alaniz · Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014

A bona fide national stop-and-frisk program is now sanctioned by a variety of governmental agencies.

Assets being seized from innocents

By Anthony Alaniz · Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014

Law enforcement officials across the country are using a new tactic to line their coffers: asset forfeiture.

Multitasking more difficult than you think

By Quinn Ellison · Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014

Time management is a tough job for college students. Scheduling and effective study habits are learned skills, and students that have not had a lot of practice juggling so many time-sensitive tasks may not have fully developed them yet. Students who work a lot of hours outside of school and students with children or other outside obligations can also struggle with time management.

Stereotypes can be harmful, problematic

By Jumanah Saadeh · Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014

Humans naturally have the inclination to categorize the world around us, whether we are determining shapes, sizes, colors, fruits or people. While it is a natural cognitive process, it becomes problematic when the classifications become stereotypes.

Diversity, understanding includes religion as well as race

By Fatma Jaber · Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014

In this article, I would like to exemplify that the plight that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. peacefully battled did not just focus on the complexion of one’s skin.

Ypsi going 'nowhere' until fiscal health restored

By James Tatum · Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014

Earlier this month Eastern Michigan University, hosted many events in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Where are African-Americans in punk?

By Kimberly Lewis · Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014

One of the coolest styles of the past fall season was punk. With tattoos, piercings, body modification and colorful, messy hair, punk style was back on the mainstream circuit.

College degrees no longer guarantee high-paying work

By Anthony Alaniz · Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014

A new study released by the Economic Policy Institute says low-wage workers have far more education than they did in 1968, yet they comparatively make less money.

Gentrification’s effect on low-income individuals

By Anthony Alaniz · Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014

Gentrification is the process of restoring run-down urban areas usually accompanied by the influx of middle-class or affluent people that results in the displacement of low-income residents. This is an issue plaguing New York City and San Francisco in different, varying degrees.

How we talk about mental illness needs to change

By Quinn Ellison · Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014

When I was growing up, it did not take me long to learn that common mental health problems such as depression and anxiety disorders were not exactly taken seriously by most of the adults in my life. I have a history of anxiety and depression going back to my early teen years.

2014 should be a year of social innovation

By Professor John G. Fike · Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014

Great possibilities lie ahead this year. We need this to be a year of social innovation – overcoming the ill effects of the corporate world’s focus on technological innovation over the last two centuries.

Michigan needs to save surplus

By James Tatum · Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014

Good news, finally. The State of Michigan is projected to have a budget surplus, between $971.1 million and $1.3 billion in fiscal year 2014. Followed by this news has been an appropriate question: “What do we do with this money?”

Verizon threatens ‘net neutrality’

By Anthony Alaniz · Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014

The D.C Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled in Verizon v. FCC that the Federal Communications Commission lacks the legal justification to impose the Open Internet rules, better known as net neutrality, on Internet Service Providers. This could be a crushing blow to net neutrality and Internet freedom.

‘Selfishness’ not generational

By Quinn Ellison · Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014

It’s a new year, but I doubt the journalistic trend of pontificating on the personality flaws of Millennials is going to stop anytime soon. I would argue that this trend of thinking that the young people are wayward and self-involved dates back to approximately every generation that has ever existed, but let’s focus on the “Me Generation.”

Snow days, all grown up

By Laura Merz · Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014

Rewind your life about 10 years. Remember what school in January was like as a middle-schooler? Anxiously listening to the radio for school closings was probably up there on your top-10 list of exciting activities. Remember running over to the speaker every five minutes to see if your district was added to the bill of winners?

Voluntary fatherhood bad for women, children

By Mandy Grenier · Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014

Proposed voluntary fatherhood rights will allow men to opt out of parenthood, leaving millions of children without the necessary financing for proper care.

Relationships have value

By Jumanah Saadeh · Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014

Sometimes it’s overwhelming to think of all the things there are to do: complete undergrad, go on to grad school, start a successful career, spend time with family and friends, eat well, find the time to work out (Work out? No one has time for that!) and a million other things on the list.

Zero tolerence schools lead to racial disparities, youth in prison

By Anthony Alaniz · Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014

Imagine yourself getting in trouble at school for a simple dress code violation, like an inappropriate hoodie. You’d think the last thing to happen to you would be a ride to jail, yet for many in this country, it is a reality they must fear everyday.