Opinion

As most of you are college students, by now you'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 know y'all are wondering, is Knut the German polar bear.

The article "Concealed weapons at UC Davis? Looks unlikely" in the Tuesday, Jan. 20 issue of The 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 voted 19-2 to cut this fall's freshman enrollment by 2,300 students, a move that will likely be as ineffective as it is unfair.

The decision will make it more difficult for 2,300 of today's high school seniors to get into a campus of their choice in an already record-breaking admissions 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."

Breathe deeply. Do you feel that? It's change. It's not effluence from the air Obama used to make his inaugural address, nor is it pollution from Chinese refineries creeping its way across the Pacific. It's evidence of a nascent social organism that we're all helping daily to build. Change is coming on this day and every day from the goodness in all of our hearts.

Over 150 people attended the Jan. 13 Davis City Council meeting to take part in a public discussion of a resolution calling for peace in Gaza. The resolution called for "an immediate, durable, fully respected ceasefire" and a "lasting humanitarian truce." Dozens of community members who attended spoke their mind on the issue, some arguing for it and others arguing against it. This public comment session took almost four hours.

Washington, D.C. is smitten.

Over two million people from every imaginable walk of life have made the journey to the capital to witness the swearing-in of the first African-American president. America's cornucopia of current problems has left American morale teetering between hope and despair, but we finally found a reason to smile.

One of the most common issues I get from my friends when they complain about their significant other is how much they hate the group of friends that come along with their girlfriend or boyfriend. In all these stories I'm told, three very common characters show up that I'd like to say a few words about, just in case you guys didn't know about them. So let your reading capabilities take it away!

Human beings, when faced with the unpleasant prospect of the truth, will often cling to feelings of cynicism and doubt rather than admitting that they are wrong. Such was the case when Galileo first claimed the sun was the center of our solar system, or when Columbus fought the notion that the earth was flat. Despite the ignorant opposition, these men stood by their beliefs, effectively showing that one stubborn man can change the minds of millions.

Beginning fall 2009, the University Writing Program will offer a 20-unit Expository Writing minor.

The minor will consist of four upper division writing classes and a four-unit writing internship. Courses are organized into three categories - Writing in Academic Settings, Writing in the Professions and Theory, History and Design - students take one course in each area and an additional course of their choice.