Column

How the Arab Spring contributed to Syria’s downfall A boy lies face down on the sand, as the waves of a beach in Turkey wash over him. A police officer looks the other way, hollering at people we cannot see. The water moves back and forth, back and forth, but the boy lies still on […]

How the president endangers and strengthens journalistic practice Donald Trump’s animosity toward the press has been well-documented throughout the election campaign and his current presidency. From accusing the media of falsely reporting the size of his inauguration crowds to evicting reporters from the White House press room, President Trump has made one thing clear: he […]

Meet the man assiduously recording Berkeley’s past and present weirdness Should it ever strike your fancy to Google the terms “bowling balls as lawn art,” “enormous dachshund sculptures,” “a pyramid made of birdhouses” or “a house in the shape of a tardigrade,” you’ll be delighted to find that all these oddities exist in the city […]

Why it’s beneficial for countries to set their sights on reaching Mars That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind. It’s been more than 40 years, but these words remain a testament to how far countries will go to prove their superiority and how far the human race can go when […]

YES — Taryn DeOilers   The ongoing battle between alt-right firebrand Milo Yiannopoulos and left-leaning university students encapsulates the national debate on whether hate speech should continue to be safeguarded in the United States. While it’s critical to denounce the vile sentiments Yiannopoulos belches out on campuses across America, the preservation of free speech for […]

Checks and balances help ensure one branch of government not too powerful Since it was ratified in 1788, the United States Constitution has served as the bedrock of our nation’s democracy. As the supreme law of the land, it’s what our country turns to in times of turbulence when the way ahead seems unclear. As […]

The Academy Awards reflected this year’s culture in a typical political fashion Following the results of the presidential election, this year’s awards season saw many celebrities taking advantage of the spotlight to speak out against America’s divided political climate and its leader, President Trump. In early January, Meryl Streep made headlines when she used her […]

The environmental movement can take advantage of its lost political power Environmentalists have good reason to be sullen these days. This dear planet is tumbling unimpeded towards phosphorous depletion, ocean acidification, warmer climate and mass extinction. Developing countries are unable to tackle high birth rates and inefficient resource use. Our country, with the world’s largest […]

New HIV, AIDS treatment has broad implications for health care A research team at the University of Nebraska Medical Center recently discovered a new pathway to open cell storage areas in the body to store antiviral drugs. The breakthrough, which uses LASER ART technology (long-acting slow effective release antiretroviral therapy), could revolutionize the way we […]

How companies are staking out a political stance in their ads You only need to watch this year’s Super Bowl commercials to see that product ads have become increasingly political, particularly to speak out against President Trump. Corporations seized one of sport’s biggest stages to let their political preference be known. Considering that CBS charges […]

A new lawsuit aims to strip crucial funds from teachers unions Teachers unions are threatened once again thanks to a new lawsuit that aims to eliminate “agency fees,” a crucial source of funding that unions often make mandatory for non-members they represent. If the lawsuit were to succeed, teachers unions would lose a significant amount […]

The current administration poses a unique threat to American public education Betsy DeVos’s narrow confirmation as Secretary of Education, in which Vice President Mike Pence had to step in to break a tie, has stirred up unexpected controversy for a position that has historically been confirmed without much opposition. As a department considered less important […]