Opinion

Dear Aggie Readers, Due to mounting budget losses,The California Aggiehas found it necessary to make several mid-year cuts.The most visible of these is our decision to cease having a print edition of the newspaper on Fridays.Articles that would have run in the Friday issue of the newspaper will be posted online at theaggie.org.For those devoted readers of The Lineup,it willbe moved to the Thursday issue.

There is a myth.And like the myth that Columbus had the intention or effect of showing that the earth was round,it is discredited,yet repeated.This myth holds that the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA),Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and “unnecessary government intervention“ are to blame for the financial meltdown; that government forced otherwise righteous and omniscient financial institutions to make subprime loans,and then securitize,tranche,leverage and triple-A rate those loans for sale to each other.

As mine is the last opinion column that is published each week,I assumed that everyone would be sick of hearing about President Obama– man,does it feel good to see those two words together! I considered various topics,but I found I could simply not disregard this momentous occasion and what it means for every man,woman and child in this great nation.This country is going through a major change,and the American people have a new spirit as we venture into this new chapter in our history.

As most of you are college students, by nowyou’ve probably all had the “drug conversation” with your friends. This stimulating discussion usually starts off when one of your friends just tried shrooms and won’t shut up about it. After he pontificates about how his whimsical journey with the drug made him a better person, the discussion digresses towards drugs-taking in general. Some conclude that they must try a hard drug at one point in their lives – others vow never to do so. Eventually, an interesting point is brought up: Is it bad to receive happiness solely from a drug?

President Obama at times appears less a person than a phenomenon – through a unity of acuity,poise and elegance,he captivates and inspires.For all his skills,accepting the presidency of the United States is not just accepting the toughest job in the world,but the collective weight of history and the aspirations of the world all at once.And,in reality,he couldn’t have been more prepared,because Obama embodies the character and spirit of modern America.

If you were to ask me at this very moment what I think the second-cutest thing in the world is,I would tell you,straight-up,that it’s bromance.The first,because I knowy’all arewondering,is Knut the German polar bear.

The article “Concealed weapons at UC Davis? Looks unlikely” in the Tuesday,Jan.20issue ofThe California Aggie discussed whether or not students should be allowed to carry concealed firearms on campus.Students for Concealed Carry on Campus is a nationwide grassroots organization that promotes the idea of students being allowed to carry concealed weapons on campus because,according to their website,they can do so in other,more public places and want to be able to do so on school grounds,too.Members of the organization quoted in the article cite the school shootings across the United States as another reason for college students to be allowed this right.

Last week the University of California Board of Regents voted19-2to cutthis fall’s freshman enrollment by2,300students,a move that will likely be as ineffective as it is unfair. The decision will make it more difficult for2,300of today’s high school seniors to get into a campus of their choice in an already record-breakingadmissions year.More students will be deferred to UC Merced,even without applying there,apparently in hope that they will decline the offer and go outside the UC system.

Last week,I was interrupted during a work shift at the ASUCD CoffeeHouse by two students (Justin Gold and Gianni Rosas-Maxemin) who asked if they could take my picture for a political science class project. As a student with many class projects myself,I complied. They asked me to hold a piece of paper with the letters “ACT” printed on it.I smiled and thought nothing more of it.

To whom this may concern, On behalf of ACT,we would like to apologize for any misunderstanding there were with any individuals involved in the ACT video.It was never our intention to misuse the image of or mislead anyone who voluntarily participated in its production.

Dear Richard, Thanks so much for covering the new writing minor both in last Friday’s front page article and in today’s editorial.It’s great to get the word out so that students can start taking advantage of it.

UC Davis is losing its Gender Education program due to budget cuts. According to the Women’s Resources and Research Center website, the program consisted of “professionally staffed presentations addressing links between sexism and the continuum of violence against women, and self-defense training through women-centered physical education and Rape Aggression Defense classes.”