Column

Why removing dictators doesn’t guarantee peace or democracy Seven years ago, hope resonated through the Arab world. In what became known as the Arab Spring, millions of people took to the streets of their towns and cities and demanded change. These demands usually revolved around desires for democratic reforms and an end to political corruption […]

A coping mechanism supported by well-known authors From my own experience, writing has been a significant coping mechanism. Someone once told me that writing is for those who can’t articulate, and those words have stuck with me. Writing is a way to let the suffocating thoughts out of my head. Most of the time what […]

Despite what the DOI says, walruses can’t save themselves Last month, Pacific walruses were among the 25 animals to be denied endangered species status by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Although environmental groups have petitioned for the walruses’ protection, the U.S. Department of the Interior defended the decision: “While the Pacific walrus will experience a […]

The party can come together in opposition against the president Just last week, the Democratic Party successfully won various elections across the country, especially in Virginia and New Jersey. In both states, the governor’s race ended with resounding majorities in favor of the Democrats. The tide now seems to be turning against the Republican Party, […]

Solely flaunting the flag shows insecurity, not unabashed patriotism A few months ago, over summer break, I was walking through my neighborhood when I saw a raised flatbed truck with filthy exhaust streaming out the back end. As it turns out, this is not uncommon to find in Arizona suburbs. Often packaged with, well, a […]

UC administration fails to address UC Riverside’s new counseling employee contracts On the UC Davis campus, students are offered access to Counseling and Psychological Services. These services can help with a variety of mental health concerns, from academics and relationship concerns to depression and anxiety. Types of services include individual counseling, group counseling and eating […]

The Bay Area must invest in alternative sources of drinking water Have you ever looked out over the Yosemite Valley and thought, “Somebody should cut down all these trees and fill this puppy with water — because I’m thirsty”? No. So why do we allow Yosemite’s lost Hetch Hetchy Valley to remain underwater? John Muir, […]

The digital age has shifted the reading discourse At the corner of Speedway Boulevard and Wilmot Road, a certain store awaits shoppers as they brave the stifling heat to browse its wares. After entering through the sliding doors, these shoppers will eye rows and rows of red-orange shelves, stacked high with an assortment of goodies. […]

What it’s like to be part of an online gaming community “Why can’t you be racist in a game that is set in the Civil War?” I’ve heard this question many times in the gaming events that I have attended. These organized events take place in a mod called “North and South” — an alteration […]

Despite litter statistics, our everyday choices still matter A flyer posted in the Davis bathrooms last year asked students to reconsider using red solo cups. It argued that plastic produces negative environmental impacts and suggested that students ban single-use cups. For the umpteenth time, I asked myself: “If we all know plastic is bad, why […]

One of life’s universal feelings is surprisingly tricky to define I’m no expert on love. Only one person has ever received the love of this guy, your columnist. Yeah, just one. But taking that love-mobile for a spin revealed something intriguing. I began wondering about the word “love” and all its puzzling connotations. And that’s […]

In an era seeking to fight injustice and inequality, nonviolence seems weak Worldwide social movements have struggled with the dilemma of whether to employ violence to get results. Most historical movements have come with some mixture of nonviolent and violent means. This doesn’t affect their success. However, in the context of recent violence in Charlottesville […]