Opinions - The Eastern Echo

Incident with police, neighbor teaches valuable lesson

By Robert Uldricks · Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Last Tuesday, I was in my dorm stalking a nuclear wasteland in a PlayStation game with my roommate, when I heard a gentle tapping at the chamber door. When I went to investigate I saw my suitemate with strangers.

Steubenville highlights bigger education issues

By Jodi F. Bullock · Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Trent Mays and Ma’lik Richmond, high school football stars in Steubenville, Ohio, have been found guilty of raping a 16-year-old girl while she was drunk at a string of parties last fall.

Partisan distrust cycle needs time to overcome

By David Konarske · Wednesday, March 20, 2013

President Barack Obama ended what was dubbed the “charm offensive” by the popular media last week, where he met with Democrats and Republicans in both chambers of Congress to attempt to build trust between the parties. People hoped this would lead to a new period of bipartisan cooperation, but it is more complicated than it seems.

Bloomberg fails to address health illiteracy

By Patrick Seick · Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Every now and then on a long trip, my friends will stop at the nearest 7-Eleven for a drink. I always feel a sense of amusement when one of them comes back with a Double Gulp, a full 50 ounces of Coke. Not so amusingly, in a Jun. 6, 2012 article, The New York Times reported that a Double Gulp of Coke contains 600 calories, or roughly a quarter of the daily recommended calories for an average man.

Memorials should not have a gift shop because it “cheapens the memory it is there to protect.”

Memories should be thoughts, not things

By Leo Romyn Fabbri · Sunday, March 17, 2013

Everything began as normal on the day that changed the world forever. In Manhattan, busy traders, engineers, security guards, fathers, mothers, sons and daughters made their ordinary morning commute. But, as we now know, September 11, 2001 was to become the latter date on nearly 3,000 of our brothers’ and sisters’ gravestones. Three-thousand people brutally murdered in four clouds of fire, destruction and hate.

GOP should appeal to Libertarians

By James Tatum · Sunday, March 17, 2013

There has been much debate over whether or not the Republican Party should reform, and if it does, what should be the result of that reform. New Hampshire and the Free State Project offer an example of a possible end result.

Kilpatrick was a symbol of larger issues.

Kilpatrick was city scapegoat

By Chris Hoitash · Sunday, March 17, 2013

There are a lot of words to describe Kwame Kilpatrick. Corrupt and infuriating are two that come to mind. Then there are a few words that can’t be placed in a newspaper. Still, as disdainful as the man and his actions may be, it seems to me he may have been made into a scapegoat.

Church needs reform; time will tell if new pope does it

By Drew Saunders · Sunday, March 17, 2013

The resignation by Pope Benedict XVI last month has far-reaching implications that will last well into his successor’s reign. Argentinean, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, is the first Jesuit Pope and the first Pope from South America. The new pontiff has an opportunity to right the battered ship that is the Catholic Church while he is in office. Hopefully, for the church’s sake, he can set off a domino effect of positive changes to save the institution.

Eastern forensics team dominant but under-publicized

By Patrick Seick · Wednesday, March 13, 2013

This past weekend, Eastern Michigan University’s most successful program added to an already storied legacy by winning yet another team championship.

EMU should embrace solar power

By Erica Mooney and Catherine Baxter · Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Imagine walking past Eastern Michigan University’s Pray-Harrold building and glancing up to see solar panels harnessing the power of the sun. The reality is, we have a vast untapped solar resource but continue to depend on outdated energy sources like coal, gas and oil that pollute our air and water and drain our natural resources.

Teachers deserve more appreciation

By Jumanah Saadeh · Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Performing artists get their fair share of awards. Between the Grammys, the Oscars, the Tonys and the Emmys, those who contribute to pop culture are presented with hundreds of awards and are recognized regularly for their achievements.

Detroit should tax pollution

By James Tatum · Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Economic development in Detroit will take money the city doesn’t have. A report by The Atlantic showed overall Detroit had $444 million in unpaid taxes and penalties owed to it. Since the crash on Wall Street in 2008, the property tax base has collapsed and state law says municipalities cannot collect sales tax.

Rejection of science makes GOP stupid

By James Tatum · Sunday, March 10, 2013

“We must stop being the stupid party,” said Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana about his beloved Grand Old Party in a speech to the Republican National Committee.

Congress needs to solve budget

By Chris Hoitash · Sunday, March 10, 2013

Sequestration is upon us. Congress has failed to prevent massive federal spending cuts, which is only the latest in its continued efforts to prove a troop of baboons would be more capable of serving as members of the U.S. government.

Reform prison to help minors, mentally ill

By Rose Carver · Sunday, March 10, 2013

The U.S. justice system is harsh when handing out life sentences, and when the convicted criminal is a juvenile, the possibility of an undiagnosed mental illness is common. The atrocious nature of the present prison system subjects the freshly convicted minor to extreme and inhumane treatment, such as solitary confinement, which severs one’s hope for personal growth and development.

Letter to the Editor

By Michael Marotta · Sunday, March 10, 2013

By EMU alumnus Michael Marotta I finished a Bachelor of Science at Eastern Michigan University in 2008 and a Master of Arts in 2010. According to EMU IT policy, my student email account should have been disabled six months later, but I was lucky enough to keep it until January 21 of this year. Why not longer?

Detroit needs care, attention to reform

By Robert Uldricks · Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013

So, it looks like an independent Detroit’s days are numbered. The city is pretty much guaranteed to hire an emergency financial manager soon and everyone is pointing fingers. I, for one, blame Henry Ford. Had he set up shop in Toledo, we could all be complaining about how poor Ohio is while the current Detroit metropolitan area could function as a giant suburb.

Religion should not be defined by its followers

By Jumanah Saadeh · Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013

If I asked you to close your eyes and picture a religious person, who comes to mind? Chances are, it is some angry, judgmental, overbearing person who you dislike immediately.

Detroit needs help from MI to rebuild

By David Konarske · Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013

After the second financial review in recent memory, there are rumors of Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder taking action to appoint an emergency financial manager to fix the City of Detroit.

Challenge Styrofoam use for its damaging effects

By Patrick Seick · Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013

There are many perks to living on Eastern Michigan University’s campus: The people are life-changing, everything is within a 15-minute walk and the squirrels are friendly. Yet one of the biggest and, in my very humble opinion, underappreciated perks is Golden Wall, the Chinese restaurant just off campus at 421 W. Cross St.