When the Bill of Rights was ratified more than 200 years ago, it established the basic freedoms most Americans take for granted today. Our First Amendment rights allow us to express ourselves, share ideas, and collaborate freely. While we know that freedom of speech is a fundamental part of our…
Category: OPINION
Letter from the Editor
Over the past twenty years, the internet has evolved from a foreign and highly technological concept to a staple part of our everyday lives. Before the popularization of social networking sites, blogging, and other forms of virtual communication, interpersonal interactions held a whole different meaning. Life without the virtual world…
February 11, 2014
By Taylor Nichols The 2014 Sochi Olympics have generated controversy and resulted in a flood of criticism aimed at the Russian government. From the indiscriminant killing of stray dogs all over the city to the unjustifiably expensive preparations Russia made for the games, many of which are still in progress,…
When we lack compassion
By Zachary Kemp Have you ever felt defined by a certain characteristic? Maybe you evaluated someone based on the way they looked, acted, or spoke? First impressions play a bigger role than we realize. It takes each of us only seven seconds to make up our mind about someone new….
Global surveillance sets dangerous precedent
By Andrew Edwards It seems like every day there is a new report on just how pervasive the National Security Administration’s (NSA) domestic and international spying has become. It’s been known for a while that the agency has been recording phone calls and internet histories of citizens of the United…
Whatcom Voices: Which modern object would you take back in time 1,000 years to convince people that you are a powerful wizard and why?
Whatcom Voices Which modern object would you take back in time 1,000 years to convince people that you are a powerful wizard and why? “Probably as cell phone, it has enough technology to essentially bewilder them.” “A chart of lunar eclipses, because a…
January 28, 2014
By Taylor Nichols In American culture today, moments of silence are few and far between. Silence is frequently interpreted to mean nothing, when in reality it can communicate far more than words could ever express. Having nothing to say can cause people to perceive that you are dumb, rude, or…
December 3, 2013
By Taylor Nichols The American prison system is in dire need of reform. A functional and effective prison system keeps us feeling safe in our day-to-day lives, and without it we would have little incentive, save our own morality, to refrain from acting in a way that could have serious…
Unfair assumption could cost canine lives
By Anna Browne Discrimination does not focus solely on the human species; it is also found in relationships between humans and animals. One of those victims is the dog breed American Pitbull Terrier, often accused of being monsters with bad temperaments and unnecessary aggression. This ignorant assumption has become so…
The new meaning of Thanksgiving: rampant consumerism
By Greg Lane I grew up believing Thanksgiving is the one holiday that can’t be commercialized like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Halloween have been. Thanksgiving is a time of family, friends, good food, and reflection on the joy that exists in our lives. But this year I’ve seen the reality…