Over 75 years ago Woody Guthrie wrote one of the most seminal pieces of Americana ever produced, “This Land is Your Land.” While not a discourse on “American exceptionalism,” the song celebrates the vast beauty of this nation. Every day I hear my peers discuss how they can’t wait to escape the United States, that…
Networking — it’s a dreaded word. Every time I hear the words “networking opportunity,” I am forcibly reminded that adulthood is coming up quickly, and with adulthood comes awkward conversations with people you don’t know. But that’s part of life, and if you look at it the right way, it’s a really cool part of…
In the 1970s, Steve Prefontaine and other Olympic athletes fought for a change in the rules about amateurism so they could make a living for themselves as athletes. It has been forty years since those changes, and the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) is still fighting against its own athletes. The goal of the Olympics should…
“Discrimination is simply the act of choice.” This opinion is used by free market economist Walter Williams to advocate for an individual’s right to discriminate against others. It seems off-putting that someone could promote such a horrible practice. It becomes more alarming when you realize that Williams is a black man. Despite having experienced discrimination…
Lying in bed nauseous and coughing. Reluctantly grabbing my computer, and typing that awful message to my professor: I’m sick. I can’t make it to today’s class. I’m so sorry. The Irish Catholic guilt takes hold as I fall back into a NyQuil induced set of strange dreams. Missing class, what will my professor think?…
St. Bonaventure University’s lack of proper accessibility for differently abled individuals is an affront to our Franciscan values. The lack of accessibility is shameful and disrespectful to the entire community of non-able bodied people. The best I can say is that Bonaventure does have elevators in most of its buildings, but the majority of them…
Years from now, long after graduation, when we look at the diploma hanging on the walls of our offices or sitting on the shelves in our homes, we look at one of the few tangible items that will remain from our college careers. However, a St. Bonaventure diploma means much more than simply that 8½”…
Hillary Clinton, Presidential hopeful and longtime pro-choice activist, caught the attention of both pro-life and pro-choice advocates last week after her controversial comments on abortion. In an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, news anchor Chuck Todd asked Clinton when an unborn child has constitutional rights. Clinton responded that “under our laws currently, that is…
Many people are terrified of the potential effects of global warming; I would guess a typical Bonaventure student is not going to complain. A shorter, milder winter means more time in both semesters for students to enjoy the great outdoors and all that entails. Any student who has been through at least one academic year…
During last week’s 12th Republican debate, Ohio Governor John Kasich did the extraordinary by confessing the ordinary. “I do believe we contribute to climate change.” Now for someone who has gone through middle school science, this might not seem like much of a story. “Presidential candidate professes belief in science,” said no news headline ever.…
We, as a country, are not within a time period where feelings matter over facts, but in a time where facts are reflecting feelings. As of March 16th, 2016, 217 people have been killed by police officers within the United States, according to The Counted, an ongoing investigation by The Guardian about people killed by…
Celebrity death always seems to leave a hole in the world’s collective conscience. Take the death of David Bowie earlier this year; celebrities from Lady Gaga to Olympic snowboarder Shaun White paid him tribute, while others left flowers at a memorial to him in Brixton. George Martin didn’t get the same fanfare following his death…
Growing up it seemed like every little girl wanted to be a princess, and of course every princess that college students knew growing up had a prince. Having a boyfriend almost became mandatory when playing house and then somewhere between middle school and high school popular authors like Nicholas Sparks and Stephanie Meyers defined what…
“The police are damn thugs.” That is, according to a recent episode of ABC’s family sitcom, “Blackish.” The episode focuses on the Johnson family watching a fictional court case unfold on CNN which involved police brutality and an unarmed black teenager. When a grand jury decides not to indict the police officers involved, “violent” protests,…
March is officially the National Irish Heritage month in the United States, and this year it is packed with celebration. Not only do we have the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day and the consumption of shamrock shakes from McDonald’s, but on Easter Monday the people of Ireland will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Easter…
Political disputes are never pretty, but in South Dakota a new controversial beast is rearing its ugly head. Last week, a bill was passed through the state Senate which requires students in public schools (K-12) to use the restrooms and locker rooms which correspond to the sex that they were assigned at birth. The bill…
Rape. A subject, it seems, everyone is uncomfortable with. But a subject that desperately needs to be talked about. Uncomfortable? Get comfortable. One incidence of rape has broken the Internet this week, pertaining to pop star Kesha. The star has not produced new music since 2013. Why? Because she’s been locked into a contract with…
This week, President Obama finally announced formal plans to shut down the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, fulfilling promises he made to the country years ago, proving it’s never too late for a good thing. This announcement came mere days after Republican nomination candidate and renowned television clown Donald Trump voiced his support for torture techniques.…
It’s a pretty typical scenario: a professor poses a question to the class, and the students stare back blankly. The room stays silent for a few moments until the professor, in a deflated sort of way, either gives up on the question, answers it for the students or calls on a random student, forcing that…
Voting: It’s your civic duty – that’s what I’ve heard people say. Until recently, I brushed them off along with those who swear they can save the planet one recycled bottle at a time. They are nice sentiments, but how realistic are they? I guess I never thought my vote really counted among the hundreds…
