Opinion - Page 128

People speak and judges listen

The United States Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, 572 U. S. ____ (2014) that invalidated aggregate contribution limits has been denounced by activists across the political spectrum. However, some critics have an unthinking response and might change
April 17, 2014

A more complicated truth: understanding fat justice

The fat justice workshop on March 30 discussed the historical evolution of the oppression of fat people today in the U.S. Nicole Sullivan and Cora Segal outlined the ways in which white supremacist and patriarchal ideologies, many of which culminated in eugenic
April 17, 2014

The problem with Crum Creek Meander

Public art is always contested — it would be preposterous to think that a community of more than 1500 students, let alone faculty, staff, and visitors to campus, could ever agree on the aesthetics of a large-scale, public artwork. However, the Crum
April 17, 2014

A unique treatment of humanity and violence

This past Sunday night millions of viewers of “Game of Thrones,” including those at a Sci 101 screening, regaled in the death of — well, I’ll try to make this column spoiler-free. The death of a certain antagonist who had it coming
April 17, 2014

Are commencement addresses where ‘free speech’ ends?

Another year, another college commencement controversy. This time, however, it’s not at Swarthmore. Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a women’s rights advocate and critic of Islam’s treatment of women, was disinvited from speaking and receiving an honorary degree at Brandeis’ commencement this spring. You
April 17, 2014

I’m your own worst critic

I am of the opinion that personal expression as well as the public appreciation and consumption of art in all of its various forms is important to a society. Expressing ideas, feelings and concepts through art is a good thing, and simply
April 17, 2014

In support of campus activists

Swarthmore College’s mission statement reads, “Swarthmore seeks to help its students realize their full intellectual and personal potential combined with a deep sense of ethical and social concern.” Nowhere is this mission more fully realized than in the practices of student activists,
April 10, 2014

Dialogue needed on mental health

Earlier this semester, I had the opportunity to speak with Barry Schwartz, professor of psychology, about his take on mental health in the Swarthmore community. During our conversation, we spoke about the increasingly stressful environment at Swarthmore since the beginning of his
April 10, 2014

Understanding a generation’s growing distrust of finance

The Great Recession of 2009 has fostered a deserved and growing distrust of the United States’ financial sector over the past half-decade. In light of enormous scandals like Worldcom’s bankruptcy, Bernie Madoff’s ponzi scheme and Enron’s colossal audit failure, the aversion is
April 10, 2014

A monastery as a model for effective communication

At 7 o’clock this morning, seventeen men started their day with Matins — the burning of incense, a reading from the Gospel and a few pages of chanted psalms. These brothers follow the Holy Offices (five daily services that follow the cycle
April 10, 2014
1 126 127 128 129 130 219
The Phoenix