Opinions - The Eastern Echo

Virgin Airlines looks to reclaim lost style, class

By Chris Hoitash · Monday, May 6, 2013

Good news, folks: 1950’s style is coming back, whether you like it or not.

Can genes be patented? High court’s latest question

By Patrick Seick · Monday, May 6, 2013

An NPR article from April 15 explains that in April, the Supreme Court began hearing arguments surrounding one central question: Can human genes be patented?

Your major really doesn’t matter

By Jodi F. Bullock · Wednesday, April 24, 2013

“What’s your major?” is a classic campus icebreaker—a fail-proof question you can bust out in any small talk scenario. If you hate small talk, as I do, the question provides the perfect opportunity for the other person in the conversation to do all the talking. It is the college equivalent of the adult dinner party mantra “What do you do?” but without all of the baggage.

Space could solve water problems

By Robert Uldricks · Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Have you ever tasted saltwater? It’s not very refreshing. In fact, drinking more than a few cups worth can kill you. According to the United States Geological Survey, about 97 percent of the water on Earth is saltwater; the rest is in lakes, rivers, glaciers and aquifers underground.

Many of us lacking professionalism

By Jumanah Saadeh · Wednesday, April 24, 2013

With graduation upon us, many will be entering the workforce or going on to graduate programs. And this begs the question: Are we ready to be there?

24-hour news over-covers Boston bombing

By David Konarske · Wednesday, April 24, 2013

On April 15, a horrifying event took place when a pair of terrorists set off two bombs at the Boston Marathon. The 24-hour news outlets covered it all day, reporting on updated death tolls and the like, which was understandable.

The woes of being an Englishman

By Leo Romyn Fabbri · Sunday, April 21, 2013

“Oh my Gawd, I love your accent.” This phrase has, and will always, induce a mixed bag of emotions that wrestle with each other inside my awkward British mind. It is, in every way, a sweet and sincere compliment.

Student loan rates set to double over summer

By Chris Hoitash · Sunday, April 21, 2013

College: spending tens of thousands of dollars to get a job to pay off those tens of thousands of dollars.

Michigan below average with organ donor percentage

By James Tatum · Sunday, April 21, 2013

We are all Homo sapiens, but for many economic theories and models we are also Homo economicus—the perfect economic men and women. All of our decisions with money are rational and we shop and sell with complete efficiency—or at least that is the theory.

Background checks needed for gun buyers

By Rose Carver · Sunday, April 21, 2013

Another gain was won for anti-gun control lobbyists when a compromise amendment that would expand background checks to cover Internet and gun show sales was rejected by the Senate this week.

Tan skin not worth the risk

By Rose Carver · Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Tanning your skin is a luxury that countless white women in the U.S. indulge in on almost a weekly basis to fit an arbitrary standard of beauty, but one should be careful. Overusing such powerful ultraviolet rays can turn the glamorous into cancerous.

Be ‘pro-law’ on abortion

By David Konarske · Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Last week, there was a pro-life exhibit on Eastern Michigan University’s campus. I could write an article about the intolerance that causes some people to call pro-life arguments anti-science. I could write about the idea that calling pro-life advocates “anti-woman” would be like calling “pro-choice” advocates “pro-death.” I could even write about the fact that abortions are disproportionally performed on people in poverty, but I will not.

Letter to the Editor

By Justin S. Johnson · Wednesday, April 17, 2013

People looking for information on Eastern Michigan University turn to one thing first: www.emich.edu, the university website. And boy, do they get an eyeful of the some of the worst EMU has to offer.

Keep control of stress levels during finals

By Robert Uldricks · Wednesday, April 17, 2013

As we, the people of Eastern Michigan University, approach finals with minds poised for everlasting academic victory, stress becomes the dominant force in our lives. To an extent, this is a good thing. We sense the impending doom and work to prepare ourselves.

Let sleeping dogs lie: When politicians die

By Leo Romyn Fabbri · Sunday, April 14, 2013

In the small hours of April 8, ex-British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher drew her last breath. As an 87-year-old who had battled with ill health for some years, news of her last moments were cause for little surprise.

Economy falling short, government adds to problem

By David Konarske · Wednesday, April 10, 2013

According to an April 5 Reuters article, the Department of Labor reported the nation created 88,000 jobs in March, far short of the market’s prediction of 200,000 jobs. Another Reuters article from the same day said the economy has barely been able to keep up in creating jobs. The article said the unemployment rate would have gone up if so many people hadn’t dropped out of the labor force. This month may be a blessing in disguise, because it adds an exclamation point to the economic complaints present in the media for a while now.

Students fall for scams

By Robert Uldricks · Wednesday, April 10, 2013

We all need money for college. Most people try to get a job to relieve the financial pressure the nation’s exceptional education system places on their bank accounts. But too often, college students get roped into pyramid schemes and other get-rich-quick scams.

TV distorts reality

By Jumanah Saadeh · Wednesday, April 10, 2013

“I wish real life was a musical,” I lamented to my brother, who proceeded to look at me like I’d sprouted another head.

Boston College: Condoms violate policy

By Jodi F. Bullock · Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Since 2009, Boston College Students for Sexual Health—an unofficial student group at Boston College—has regularly distributed free condoms and sexual health information near campus. But according to an April 8 article in The New York Times, last month The BC administration sent the group a letter ordering it to stop distributing condoms as the act violates university policy and goes against the values of the Jesuit college.

America nothing like Greece

By James Tatum · Sunday, April 7, 2013

The U.S. federal government is approximately $16.8 trillion in debt, according to the Department of the Treasury.