opinions » oped
'Plugging in' isn't detrimental
By Arthi Vijaykumar | May 29, 2015, 1:39 p.m. | In Op/Ed »
As the number of new computer technologies increases, it's clear that our digital lives will become a much larger part of our overall lives. Rather than trying to hide from this fact, every person needs to figure out what balance of "real" and digital life works for them personally.
Privatized schools are a public problem
By Eleanor Linafelt | May 24, 2015, 1:33 p.m. | In Op/Ed »
Charter schools are pushing the widespread movement for the privatization of education. But the effects are not better. In many cases, they're much, much worse.
Unplugging from our phones, reconnecting with ourselves
By Ellie Struewing | May 23, 2015, 8:19 p.m. | In Op/Ed »
Digital technology can do just about anything. It is a pathway for procrastination and a blocker of boredom. But it's also a distraction from life itself.
Driving humans away
By James Sleigh | May 13, 2015, 7:19 p.m. | In Op/Ed »
Driverless transportation is projected to phase out human-driven transportation in the near future. However, with the move towards automated mobility, entire sectors of the U.S. economy will crumble.
Gender-segregated tables in Media Center cross a line
By Maximillian Foley-Keene | May 12, 2015, 1:31 p.m. | In Op/Ed »
Although the Media Center staff separated its tables by gender for the good intent of creating a more peaceful and learning-conducive environment, the tables lead to gender discrimination and stereotyping.
Misrepresented
By Zewde Ingram | May 6, 2015, 9:21 p.m. | In Op/Ed »
Despite Lubitz's horrifying act, news outlets continue to grant him an aura of humanity – a luxury black criminals, let alone black victims, typically do not receive in the U.S. This polarization in representation of whites and minorities is a testimony to the white privilege that permeates our society.
The monotony of monogamy
By Nicholas Shereikis | April 27, 2015, 1:03 p.m. | In Op/Ed »
In the wake of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) movement in the U.S., legalizing polygamy actually seems like the obvious next step.
County budget closes gaps, opens projects
By Abir Muhuri | April 27, 2015, 12:57 p.m. | In Op/Ed »
While the overall county budget increase for 2016 is minimal at 1.1 percent, new projects coupled with a major effort to close the budget gap ensure sufficient growth. A slow economic recovery and reduced state assistance merit the proposed conservative budget as highly appropriate and beneficial for the coming fiscal year.
Save the planet: Have fewer children
By Maximillian Foley-Keene | April 22, 2015, 3:11 p.m. | In Op/Ed »
Overpopulation is a critical and under-discussed issue. To address it, humankind needs to undergo a cultural and biological shift. We need to stop having so many children.
The Madness behind NCAA's Morals
By Divya Rajagopal | April 19, 2015, 12:32 p.m. | In Op/Ed »
There seems to be something quite un-American about the notion that the people who are working the hardest during March Madness are also the ones who don't receive any gain. College athletes deserve monetary compensation for their hard work.
#TransLivesMatter
By Sarah Trunk | April 15, 2015, 1:19 p.m. | In Op/Ed »
Around the world, transgender people are murdered, bullied to the point of suicide, denied human rights, kicked out of their homes and ignored. There needs to be more awareness of transgender problems in order to give them back their basic rights.
DC's legalization battle
By James Sleigh | March 25, 2015, 1:35 p.m. | In Op/Ed »
On Feb. 26, Washington D.C.'s city council semi-legalized marijuana after a long battle with Republican-controlled Congress.The whole saga reveals continuing issues with D.C.'s statehood.
"50 Shades of Grey" breaks the wrong boundaries
By Ellie Struewing | March 23, 2015, 2:15 p.m. | In Op/Ed »
"50 Shades of Grey," the movie based on E.L. James's wildly popular book, is taking the world by storm. While some people enjoy the movie and find the story entertaining and sexy, they are dismissing a glaring problem: "50 Shades” is a glorified example of abuse.
Socioeconomics and the SAT
By Divya Rajagopal | March 19, 2015, 1:45 p.m. | In Op/Ed »
The SAT was introduced during the Progressive Era with the purpose of eliminating test bias. Unfortunately, following the boom of the testing industry and the dramatic increase in competitiveness for college admissions, the SAT has done exactly the opposite.
Fracking in Maryland needs to be stopped before it begins
By Robert Pfefferle | March 16, 2015, 5:14 p.m. | In Op/Ed »
After conducting a three-year long study concerning the potential effects of fracking on Maryland, former governor Martin O'Malley declared the state fit to frack just before leaving office. His successor Larry Hogan also expressed his desire to start drilling in the very near future.
Muslim lives matter
By Zewde Ingram | March 15, 2015, 11:20 a.m. | In Op/Ed »
On February 10, Craig Stephen Hicks shot and killed Deah Shaddy Barakt, Yusor Mohammad and Razan-Mohammad Abu-Slaha, over what Chapel Hill authorities say was an ongoing dispute over a parking space.
You want the truth? Part two: ISIS obsessed
By Rohan Oprisko | March 11, 2015, 4:41 p.m. | In Op/Ed »
Although the American media's attention to ISIS is not unjustified, as a result, the average American remains ignorant of other extremist groups and conflicts currently happening all over the globe.
If you want to play, you'll have to pay
By Eleanor Linafelt | March 10, 2015, 11:07 p.m. | In Op/Ed »
Musicians spend hours of time, thousands of dollars and immeasurable amounts of passion and energy to record a handful of songs to release to the public. And more often than not, the very people who call themselves fans of the artists are the ones who choose to download their songs illegally.
Picking a SMOB
By Maximillian Foley-Keene | March 10, 2015, 6:24 p.m. | In Op/Ed »
As MCPS students prepare to vote on the nest Student Member of the Board (SMOB), we should consider the most important issues that will face them. In evaluating our choice for SMOB, we should consider how they will address the achievement gap, PARCC and other standardized testing, and communication between the SMOB and the student body.
You want the truth? Part One
By Brian Le | March 5, 2015, 3:23 p.m. | In Op/Ed »
Boko Haram has been devastating parts of rural West Africa. Where is the coverage?
Don't walk in the PARCC
By Maximillian Foley-Keene | Feb. 24, 2015, 5:16 p.m. | In Op/Ed »
Common Core and PARCC will undermine education at Blair, Montgomery County and states across the U.S. In order to prevent such an educational fiasco, Maryland should drop out of the PARCC consortium.
Selma's snub: egregious, but unsurprising
By Neida Mbuia Joao | Feb. 22, 2015, 1:49 p.m. | In Op/Ed »
In true Yeezus fashion, I feel I must make a controversial declaration: Hollywood does not like black people. The problems with diversity are not new to the film industry; they've been around since its inception in the early 20th century.
There's no I in 'measles'
By Sarah Trunk | Feb. 15, 2015, 10:19 a.m. | In Op/Ed »
Basic safety precautions should be taken to eliminate the spread of infectious, dangerous diseases.
The chance to grow up bilingual
By Amalia Chiapperino | Feb. 9, 2015, 2:05 p.m. | In Op/Ed »
With the exception of the few immersion programs available in the county, schools are making it more difficult for kids to become proficient in the language they're learning by waiting until middle school to introduce foreign languages into the curriculum.
Am I Charlie?
By Divya Rajagopal | Jan. 21, 2015, 1:21 p.m. | In Op/Ed »
In the field of political satire there is an implicit barrier between satire and browbeating, between free speech and libelous hate: a barrier that Hebdo crossed a long time ago.
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