Opinions - The Spectrum

OPINION

Heartfelt on the hardwood

By JON GAGNON | Apr. 3, 2013

Sunday's Elite Eight matchup between Duke and Louisville won't go down as a historic basketball game in the NCAA Tournament - but anyone who witnessed the injury to the Cardinals' Kevin Ware will never forget that moment. CBS focused on Duke's Tyler Thornton as he trotted back to the defensive end after hitting a 3-pointer and my friends and I asked: "Why is he making those funny faces?" Then, as CBS's Clark Kellogg announced Ware had suffered a gruesome injury, the network showed multiple Louisville players curled into a ball (some were crying) - unable to even bare the sight of their teammate. I chose not to look at the replays; the players', coaches' and commentators' gut-wrenching reactions were disturbing enough.

OPINION

Prescribed anxiety

Apr. 3, 2013

Recent data released from the Center for Disease Control and Protection has revealed that 11 percent of school-age children in the United States have been medically diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

OPINION

We're watching you

Apr. 2, 2013

In the aftermath of an elated undergraduate student atmosphere during the Student Association election last week, the question that should remain on students' minds is: How will those who have been elected actually make a difference in their lives? The goal of SA is both very clear and very broad in its constitution: "to provide a better university experience [for] all undergraduate students by representing students." Now that Nick Johns and the Spirit Party have received an overwhelming embrace of their campaign platform, resulting in an across-the-board victory for next year's executive board, they will have to shift their focus toward definitive objectives if they want to have any hope of playing a legitimate role in achieving the promise of the association they have been elected to represent. The emphasis now needs to be on politics of the possible. The frustration for many students is a sense of irrelevance; SA really doesn't make much of a difference in many students' college experiences.

OPINION

Five promises: My return as The Spectrum's sex columnist

By KEREN BARUCH | Apr. 2, 2013

What makes next semester at The Spectrum different from this past one? I'm back and better than ever!

OPINION

It's the size of the fight in the dog

By OWEN O'BRIEN | Mar. 28, 2013

It's big brother vs. little brother, but beyond the driveway. David vs. Goliath, with millions of viewers are watching live. Florida Gulf Coast has the opportunity of a lifetime Friday night. The Cinderella story of the 2013 NCAA Tournament (and potentially the history of college basketball) is set to take on the undisputed powerhouse in its state - the Florida Gators. Florida GC has an enrollment of around 13,000 students while Florida is almost four times larger with nearly 50,000. Florida's head coach, Billy Donovan, makes roughly $3.3 million.

OPINION

Six weeks and a heartbeat

Mar. 28, 2013

With the power of one signature, the abortion argument has reared its ugly head once again. Rewind back to the campaigning stages of Election 2012 when the discussion kept making frequent appearances, much to the candidates' chagrin.

OPINION

A lost soul

By ALYSSA MCCLURE | Mar. 26, 2013

Recently, I've felt lost. Not an "I ended up in NSC when my class is in Clemens because I was daydreaming and haven't eaten in 24 hours and got three hours of sleep last night" kind of lost. And that's OK.

OPINION

2013 SA Elections: The Spectrum's official endorsements

Mar. 24, 2013

President and vice president: We're moving forward with Ciggia and Andzel. The Forward Party ticket of presidential candidate Carson Ciggia and vice presidential candidate Christian Andzel is the perfect combination of experience, leadership and drive.

OPINION

Bacon bikinis

By MEG LEACH | Mar. 21, 2013

In the desire to fit into the beauty constraints put forth by our media culture, I've started a diet to get "beach body ready" for summer.

OPINION

The burning end

Mar. 21, 2013

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been busy. For the last couple years, the New York City politician has been pushing for policy to limit the sale of 16-ounce soft drinks that was supposed to take effect last week before a judge put a stop to it.

OPINION

Would you rather?

By NICHOLAS C. TURTON | Mar. 20, 2013

"Would you rather share a room with one of your siblings or move your room to the basement?" my stepmother asked me over winter break.

OPINION

Commuting to college

By LISA EPSTEIN | Mar. 20, 2013

During my freshman year of college, I tried to have what I thought would be the complete college experience: I lived in a dorm with a less-than-ideal roommate, dealt with loud neighbors, ate sub-par meals and read texts for countless hours at my small, poorly lit desk. And I did all this while living in the same town I grew up in. I know it probably sounds strange that I paid to dorm at school when I could easily live at home and save money.

OPINION

"I like living in the heights, want to fight about it?"

By LYZI WHITE | Mar. 20, 2013

I've lived in the University Heights, willingly, for the last three years. I've dealt with hordes of students running through the streets on their way to parties.

OPINION

Dormoralizing

By Rebecca Bratek | Mar. 20, 2013

During my senior year of high school, my math teacher begged those who were staying local for college not to dorm. He told us it was a moneymaking scam that universities would tout as essential to the "college experience" and that you weren't missing out if you commuted the 15 minutes from your house to campus. Because I was a stubborn 18-year-old who thought she just had to live on her own, I decided to dorm for the first two years of my college career.

OPINION

Commuting to college

By LISA EPSTEIN | Mar. 20, 2013

During my freshman year of college, I tried to have what I thought would be the complete college experience: I lived in a dorm with a less-than-ideal roommate, dealt with loud neighbors, ate sub-par meals and read texts for countless hours at my small, poorly lit desk. And I did all this while living in the same town I grew up in. I know it probably sounds strange that I paid to dorm at school when I could easily live at home and save money.

OPINION

Nothing Was The Same and that's OK

By Brian Josephs | Mar. 19, 2013

Drake is a hip-hop artist who's won the Grammy for Best Rap Album (Take Care), released two platinum-selling albums and earned multiple Billboard-charting singles.

OPINION

Comme des Carson

Mar. 7, 2013

Editor's note: This article is a satire piece. It is not to be taken literally. 'Carson' is a pen name. Dear Carson,

OPINION

"Byron Mulkey, Ohio and a daunting juxtaposition "

By AARON MANSFIELD | Mar. 7, 2013

It is not normal to play four years of college basketball, no football, and then try out for the NFL two years after your basketball career has ended.

OPINION

Admiration for 'Cuse nation

By JON GAGNON | Mar. 7, 2013

I am a die-hard Syracuse Orange basketball fan. I was born and raised in 'Cuse and am proud to say one of the happiest moment of my life was in sixth grade (2003) when the Orange won the National Championship. Lately, I haven't been so happy.

OPINION

Practice what you preach

By SAM FERNANDO | Mar. 7, 2013

I think we all can agree on this: covering up a series of sexual abuses is not only inexcusable, but also a serious matter that needs to be dealt with immediately. Apparently, the Catholic Church makes exceptions. Earlier this year, The Los Angeles Times revealed a sexual abuse cover up by Cardinal Roger Mahony of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles that spanned over 25 years. In private memos that were recently released to the public, it's clear Mahony made an effort to conceal child molestation by priests from law enforcement, even going so far as moving priests outside the state of California to avoid litigation.