Opinions

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It's Never Too Soon

Reinstating Fairness Doctrine is Unnecessary

Prosecution of Berlusconi Justified

Whenever Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is in the news, chances are it won't be for something good.

Letter to the Editor

This school's smoke-free policies claim to be based on respect (Re: "Tobacco-Free Policies Based on Respect and a Balance of Rights", Wednesday). Our policies, however, lack much respect for reality.

Just Some Harmless Punditry

The Spectrum recently published an editorial that reflected on the proposal, made by U.S. House Republicans, to eliminate many restrictions on greenhouse gases, prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating greenhouse gas emissions, and eliminate portions of the Clean Air Act. Republicans argue that such a bill would be greatly beneficial to businesses and corporations that lose money when they are forced to abide by the EPA's regulations. This newspaper has also printed editorials that have dealt with the Republicans' pledge to "repeal and replace" President Barack Obama's landmark health care law.

Resignation The Right Move For Lee

On Wednesday, Western New York was shocked to find out that Rep. Chris Lee, a Republican who represented New York's 26th district, had sent revealing pictures of himself to a woman that he met on the popular website Craigslist. Lee, who is 46 and married, described himself as 39 and divorced, while sending flirty messages to a potential female companion.

Suspicion Justified On Both Sides In Iran Espionage Case

In July of 2009, three Americans were arrested after crossing into Iran through an unmarked border while traveling. After they were arrested, they were charged with espionage.

Tuition Increase Won't Help Budget Cuts

Governor Andrew Cuomo recently unveiled his budget proposal for the next year, and it contained some surprising news for SUNY students.

Star-Spangled Disaster

"O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?" After watching the news, SportsCenter, or YouTube, you must already know that Christina Aguilera botched our national anthem on our country's biggest stage, Super Bowl XLV. But how many of you actually heard her screw up when she did? My Super Bowl "party" knew something was wrong, but we still had to rewind the anthem ? God bless DVR ? twice and pull up the lyrics to see exactly how badly she butchered it.

A Page 3 Column About Page 10

Preface: This may seem a little backward since you probably haven't gone through the entire issue yet, but bear with me as this column will refer to page 10 of today's issue.

GOP Proposal On Greenhouse Gases Goes Too Far

Ever since the Republican Party regained control of the House of Representatives, President Obama has moved to the center on several key political issues. There was his compromise on upper-class tax cuts, and his controversial Wall Street Journal op-ed, in which he stated that he supported deregulation in many important areas. At the time that the op-ed was written, The Spectrum published an editorial in support of the move.

Increase in Spending Encouraging

Ever since the economic crisis of 2008 started, economists have been looking to determine the exact moment of complete recovery. This was never truer than the study published last September, which declared that the recession had ended in June 2009. This study was met with skepticism on both the left and the right.

A Smoking Ruin

It was 1996, and while many of the readers of this column were starting kindergarten, I was beginning the first year of my first attempt at college.

Help! I Can't Think of a Facebook Status!

This article is satire.

"Mubarak Should Step Down, but U.S. Shouldn't Force Him"

For the past week now, the biggest news story has been the revolt in Egypt. Protestors have been gathering in the streets calling for the resignation of Egypt's longtime president, Hosni Mubarak. The story has taken many twists and turns.

Responsibility For Bullying Lies With Parents

Anyone who uses the Internet on a regular basis is aware of the bullying that can occur within its realms.

Americans Need to Lighten Up

Americans are eating themselves to death, and cable television is inviting us to watch. Not that I am complaining. My roommate and I have about five shows that we regularly record on DVR.

MTV Series Crosses the Line

MTV has never been a haven of moral high ground. From Johnny Knoxville's painful antics on Jackass to the juiceheads of Jersey Shore, the network has a long history of glorifying behavior that would not be advised in real life. In spite of this, MTV never did anything that crossed the line of human decency.

Florida Health Care Ruling Purely Political

For the past two years, health care has been one of the most volatile subjects in this country. As the Tea Party movement rose to prominence in 2009, many angry town hall meetings were held about the subject, during which shouting was the order of the day. Then, when the health care reform bill ? known by conservatives as "ObamaCare" ? was passed in March of 2010, it continued to be a lightning rod for political debate.

An All-Star Act of Futility

What could be more entertaining than watching the best players in the world team up in an all-star game? Anything. Every year, professional sports leagues hold all-star games to entertain the fans with what should be the best competition possible.