FOIA allows access to records, students should take advantage of rights
The Freedom of Information Act is one of the most important federal laws in the book.
The FOIA establishes the right for the public to obtain information from government agencies, and we, as United States citizens, have the right to this information.
I’ll be late and it’s too early for chit-chat
I think there are two types of people — on-time, morning people and persistently-late, nighttime people. I am not a morning person and I am definitely not an on-time person.
Unfortunately I have had an 8 a.m. class this semester, and even though it is an art class and I love art, it is so freaking early.
Religion, science: one step closer
Have you ever wondered if humans are really alone in the universe? Or are you one who has never really given much thought to the prospect of life outside of this planet?
Well, the Catholic Church isn’t ruling anything out at this point.
The church is an institution that has a history of being less than hospitable to various scientific theories.
Government is helping students through college
Let’s face it. College students are poor. From part-time jobs that pay minimum wage to going through the money your parents give you on their weekend visits, money is usually tight when going to Husson’s for pizza.
The issue with cable news channels is…everyone can think of at least 100 different things to finish that sentence. For the past few years I have co-hosted the Sowards-Roudebush Report, which was the 2008 national award winner for collegiate talk radio.
Students should attend memorial ceremony for 1970 plane crash
Saturday will mark the 39th anniversary of the Marshall University plane crash that took the lives of 75 people.
Your rights worth standing up for
Picture this: you are walking through Kroger when you hear someone dropping the “f bomb.” They are walking in a small group, laughing among friends and are not near any children. Do you ask them to stop? Do you get the manager to tell them to stop?
Or how about this: you are walking past the memorial fountain when you see someone preaching atheist beliefs. Do you stop them? Do you report them to the administration? Do you become violent?
Take some time for meteors
Meteor showers are incredible events to experience. I once saw a meteor shower that looked like rain back in August of ‘99.
It was the peak of the Leonid meteor shower that year, which produced storms of about 3,000 meteors per hour.
Students should honor heroes more than once a year
On Wednesday the nation honored those who have risked and are currently risking their lives protecting our freedoms. While it is great that we have this day to honor those who are out there making the world a better place, this should not be the only time we honor veterans.
This is the third of a five-part series of The Creeping Nightmare, a short story by the author.
Yesterday was Veterans Day.
I believe that this holiday is one of the most important that our country celebrates. It is the one day out of the year where we are all able to take a step back, pause, and say Thank you to all of the veterans who have served our country.
Instead of going out, try this
If you read the editorial to your left, you will see advice to avoid going out this weekend. Here are a few things that could make your weekend fun anyway:
Police dept. notified of possible gang activity
Students across campus received a text message Tuesday night that the athletic department conducted a meeting with all athletes to instruct them to stay off Fourth Avenue on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, this weekend.
Changes leave students with uncertainty about diploma
If you haven’t heard Marshall University has changed its rules for walking at graduation. There was a time when a student could still walk across the stage and receive a diploma and be recognized even though the student still had less than three hours to complete during summer sessions.
I am so done with G-rated church. Who’s with me?
I attended a women’s conference this weekend in the adorable, southern twang-filled town of Lake City, Tenn., and I heard a whole lot of things that probably would have made your mama blush.
Unless you live in a hole in the ground you know about the tragedy that took place November 5, 2009 at Fort Hood, Texas. The facts that have been released to the public show at least thirteen were killed and many remain in the hospital. These deaths are tragic, but the situation isn’t over yet.
Students should boogie more to help relax
Wednesday, Marshall University students had a chance to participate in a flash mob for a television show that will be nationally televised. As you walked by the student center, you couldn’t help but see the smiling faces and joyous attitudes that surrounded the campus.
We are now closer to the end of the semester than we are the beginning. The peak is behind us. What is left is the journey downhill to the finish line.
Referendum.
That is a word that has been thrown around quite a bit lately. Mainly in regard to the elections held in two states this week.
Afternoon snoozing harmful to student health
According to the University of Michigan Health Service, between 30 and 50 percent of college students take naps.
Students sacrifice sleep at night for studying, working, finishing projects or papers and sometimes even parties. There is this mentality of “Oh, I don’t have class until 11 a.m. tomorrow, so I can stay up until 2 a.m. and then nap after class,” when in all reality, naps are not the same or as effective as actual sleep.
Voting important, fight for beliefs
Elections have always excited me. Something in the air seems to change into a mix of anticipation and doubt and I can’t help but wonder who people voted for as I see them.
The first election I can remember was in 2000, the infamous Bush – Gore election. I was living in Wisconsin at the time and had been hearing things about it for weeks. Finally, after what seemed like years it was election night. I was only 10, but my dad said I could stay up until the winner was announced.
Fond memories while looking ahead
Earlier this week, I made the trip across the river and down the highway to my hometown of Ironton, Ohio.
For those who do not know, Ironton is a small city about 30 minutes west of Huntington, wedged in between a series of hills and the Ohio River, with a population hovering around 9,000.
Student organization looking to bring awareness to war
You see their fliers everywhere on campus that say “Stop a war older than the soldiers fighting it.” This is the message of the nonprofit group Invisible Children. The organization, started by three young men from California, is about helping child soldiers who are fighting in a civil war in Uganda.
A certain amount of me believes we lose creditability when we add the D or R behind our names.
Does being a Democrat or a Republican mean we are like all other Democrats or Republicans? Should we be compared to others in our parties, or are we independents in our own parties?
This past weekend I visited my boyfriend in Savannah, Ga., where he now lives and is attending school. This is possibly the most wonderful city in the nation, and not only because the love of my life resides there.
Health care is important, but so is unity
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi smiled and gave cameras a big thumbs up Thursday, as democrats unveiled a sweeping health care overhaul that would transform the insurance market, create a government-run insurance plan and levy new taxes on the rich.
I have severe issues with bathrooms.
Bathrooms are usually the setting for the most traumatic moments in my life, aside from the gynecologist.
And we ran, Elle and I.
We had our headphones in, each of us dancing to a different song yet running in concurrence. We ran through the streets of a bustling city that was alive with cars and sounds and people. It made running more interesting because it presented a myriad of obstacles. Every intersection was a game. Do we wait for the safety of a flashing light of a figure outlined in perpetual motion or do we grit our teeth and dash for it? We always dashed for it. Elle would zigzag around light poles, trashcans, mailboxes—whatever presented itself on our course.
Grade change issue lacks reaction by administration, alumni
A violation of university policy has been under investigation concerning grade changes and Marshall University President Stephen J. Kopp hasn’t said a word about it.
Neither have any alumni.
Celebrating life-changing literature
I consider literacy to be one of my most valuable capabilities. For me few greater personal joys in life exist other than reading.
I was staring at my bookshelf yesterday, thinking about the books I have read over the course of the two decades of my life. I asked myself what my favorite five books are, and I mulled over the answer for several minutes, finally coming to a simple conclusion: there is no answer to that question.
Students helping the world by reaching out to others
As Halloween season comes around, it’s easy for students to accept things. Whether it be candy for Halloween, a feast for Thanksgiving we accept food, and we all know the story of Santa and Christmas gifts. But lately it seems more and more, many students have begun to accept the concept of giving.
If you thought that we had managed to avoid a swine flu crisis, you were sadly mistaken.
Ahhh. It is getting to be that time of year again, a time that just happens to be my favorite. And no, I am not talking about midterms, Halloween, the approach of the NBA regular season or the final weeks of the college football season, though I do rather enjoy the last one.
Attendance to football games important for support
Where were you Saturday? Not at the game, apparently.
The sparse crowd at Saturday’s game against UAB was pretty embarrassing. There were only 18,878 seats filled in a about a 38,019 seat stadium. If you are a math person, that’s only 49 percent. Not even half. Granted, not every person can attend every single game. But did everyone text every contact in their phones and tell them they weren’t coming to the game, so then those people didn’t go either?
Don’t ask about post-graduation
There is one question I really hate to be asked — “What are you going to do after graduation?”
I hate it.
I know it is just something people ask you. It is one of those staple questions like “How are you?” or “Is school going all right?” It is a generic way to start conversation.
I just want to scream at them “I don’t have time to wash my hair, what makes you think I have the time to sit and ponder my future?”
Government programs essential
There is a reality for many Americans that we do not see on a daily basis. It isn’t that we don’t have a chance to see it, but we choose not to look or think about things that make us feel bad.
There is a constant discussion in politics about social welfare programs vs. charity. Many conservatives do not support government assistance towards those that have run low on their luck or been a victim of terrible circumstances. Many will say it isn’t the government’s job to help in need. Conservatives will say it certainly isn’t right for the government to force us to pay higher taxes to help others. That is our hard earned money going to other people!
University joins forces with town businesses
Starting this week, the Student Government Association distributed student discount cards, which allow students in organizations, discounts at restaurants, salons and many different interest spots in Huntington.
This is the final part of a three part series of a short story written by the author.
This particular column was inspired by blogger BC Woods (dunceuponatime.com) and his post titled Grandpa’s Hands. This is kind of my response to his post, I suppose.
Victim recants abuse story after defendents go to jail
First the balloon boy hoax and now this.
After claiming she was abused in 2007 and ultimately sending six people to jail, Megan Williams, from West Virginia, is backtracking her story.
She made it all up.
Lucky enough to have friends
“Friendship, if somebody holds out his hand toward you, you’ve got to reach and take it...There are too many people alone, and if you’re lucky enough for somebody to want you as a friend, it’s an obligation.”
Katharine Hepburn said that in her 1956 film, “The Rainmaker.”
I consider myself beyond lucky.
Being spontaneous, responsible
I’ll walk.
There’s no way I’m running. That would be too obvious.
Step after step after step. I’m close to the top now. I should run, just up the last couple of steps. No, that would be worse than if I would have just ran all the way up from the bottom of the steps. But, who knows when I’ll be in this position again, and no one here knows me. What to do, what to do? Oh, last increment of steps! Think fast!
Students should think of the friendlier ghouls
A popular concept these days is that everywhere with a scary vibe is haunted. Mashall University’s campus is no different, with reports that many buildings on campus have ghosts and ghouls roaming the halls. With hit movies like the new “Paranormal Activity” scaring the pants off of moviegoers, it seems like ghosts are getting a bad rap lately.
Views on President Obama's current Presidency
Matt Sowards and Jay Roudebush have written a joint column today to discuss President Obama’s time in office and the challenges he faces.
Parents should not have used child as career move
We should have known.
The Heene family succeeded in convincing millions that their little 6-year-old boy, Falcon, had been lifted thousands of feet in the air inside a helium-filled balloon.
Part two: Everything heals with time
Editor's Note:
This is the second of three installments of “The Magic Rain,” a series of short stories by the author.
Several weeks had passed in which time was a whirlwind and I was a hapless kite caught in the invisible currents. My parents, family and friends had all seemed to move forward while I remained.
Cooperation too much to ask?
Last week I wrote to all of you discussing my hope that someday partisanship will lessen to a point where civil cooperation might be possible. I was met with attacks from the Republicans and my fellow Democrats I was informed me that this was far too hopeful for reality.
A recent study from Democracy Corps and Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research showed that it is not racism that pushes the Republicans away from President Barack Obama, but instead it is a desire to see less cooperation and more bi-partisanship. The summation of this report shows that the Republican Party wants Republicans to stop working with Democrats.
Cheerleader controversy sets a bad example for campus
The Golden Rule states: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” From what has been decided in court, some people have forgotten this rule.
I’m a girl. And I like football. Much to my delight, I’m not in the minority.
But why do so many people choose to fawn over this sport? For me, it’s the bestial drama, the heart-wrenching suspense, the manufactured action, the crunchy hits. We eat it up. (Plus it’s a great way to spend weekend afternoons.)
Officials should take responsibility for mistakes
Marshall University administrators were recently investigated under concerns that a professor was asked to falsify the grades of an elected state official’s daughter.
Stress, exhaustion taking its toll
You know those really, really bad days you have sometimes? It’s the type of day where you wake up late, drop your umbrella and your keys, don’t have time for coffee or food, have a million things to do, can’t find any socks, run into an ex, have to work and then have to stay up late because of all the homework weighing down your life, and you feel like you are either going to cry or scream — or both.
Multiply all that awfulness by five and that’s my week. This has literally been the worst week of my college life, and I am convinced there is a curse on the days of Oct. 12 through 16. Nothing good has ever come into my life in the month of October.
Part one: There's magic in the rain
My grandmother looked out the window at the falling rain. She sighed, slowly tilting her rocking chair to the side as she gazed into the glowing light of street lamps shadowed by a darkened sky. Grandma often told me those lamps were steel sentinels that guarded the city from darkness.
She looked at me, smiling. A light flashed across her eyes, fiercely, and it felt like a surge of energy left her body and jumped into mine.
The break up: the Web and me
Dear Internet,
We need to talk. There are several points of our relationship that I would like to bring into the open.
To be frank, I think we need to take a break. Kind of like a Ross and Rachel break, where you cheat on me with other people, and then you cry out of regret because, as Ross, you are the biggest girly-man ever.
College life causes stress, need sleep to recover
These next few weeks are probably going to be awful. It seems like everything is due this week or next, every class is pulling you in six different directions and seriously, do the professors meet up and plan to give tests on the same day? It’s going to get rough, but we all need to remember to rest.
Even though a project, paper and midterm might all be due in the same week, nothing is worth risking our health.
Cut the crap and change your diapers
Political debate is what makes America one of the best places on Earth. As guaranteed by my beloved first amendment, anyone with a point of a view has a right to express it. However, this does not mean that some decorum should be ignored when approaching the political arena.
The health care debates on campus gave an amazing opportunity for Marshall students to express their political opinions in a clearly articulated and civilized manner. The same opportunity was presented in a debate among political parties last semester.
Playboy: pornography or not?
Judging by its most immediate predecessor, Oct. 9, seemed like it was going to be a regular Friday. Nothing spectacular or out-of-the-ordinary, just the normal start to the weekend fun.
But, alas, things are almost never as they seem and any preconceived notion you had about this particular Friday were chucked out the window like a recently revealed cheating husband’s belongings.
There is more partisanship today than any other point in American history. The lines are clearly drawn between the center left and the center right. Most Americans fall in the moderate zone, but it seems like they are being dragged to the fringe of either side by the extremism stances of both parties.
Admittedly, I enjoy the newest genre of reality television, stalking the parents of eight children in TLC’s smash hit “Jon & Kate Plus 8.” It’s good entertainment! Those chubby-cheeked munchkins are just plain irresistible. I even defend my guilty pleasure by telling myself it is a good way to learn child-rearing skills. But I’ve let myself get too attached. I was rooting for Jon and Kate. And now they have let me down.
Tips for taking the big test without losing your cool
We are near the halfway point of the semester and students are dreading one thing: mid-terms.
Mid-terms are a stressful time for students, because they involve all night studying, overdosing coffee, stressing out over little things and learning new ways for procrastination.
The last few weeks of my life have been frantic to say the least.
At times it has felt like I am sinking fast in my workload, smothered by my own to-do list.
Last Wednesday I discovered a rare gem — a couple of free hours in my schedule. Being devoted to this column as I am, I decided to devote that time to writing.
I’m not going to lie: I voted for John McCain. I’m not a racist or a fundamentalist Christian, I just disagreed with a lot of President Barack Obama’s campaign platform. However, there is one thing that I wholeheartedly agreed with: the proposed shield law on the Free Flow of Information Act.
Students should help in fighting homesickness
When most American students experience homesickness, they are just a few hours away from home. But for international students, it is a bit more difficult. International students have traveled thousands of miles to Huntington to further their education at Marshall.
The great society on a hill
Last week the great 800-pound question was answered by the members of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee. This question to which I refer was one that has been the topic of great debate and discussion, including multiple mentions in my weekly columns. That question is whether or not the proposed health reform will include a “public option.” Sadly, the answer was a resounding no.
Reports show Marshall seniors have more enriching experiences than peers
According to a recent survey, Marshall University seniors reported their experiences here as more enriching than their peers at other institutions for two years.
This is proof that Marshall is actually pretty great, despite the comments from all those Negative Neds/Nancys out there.
The civil rights movement never ended. True equality for all people has not yet been reached. At this moment it seems as far off as it has ever been.
Last week, acclaimed director Roman Polanski was finally arrested for the rape of a 13-year-old girl after more than 30 years. Polanski pleaded guilty in 1977 to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor but fled to his native Europe before being sentenced.
In the 32 years since he fled, Polanski continued his film career even winning an Oscar for The Pianist in 2003.
But where should the 2020 games be held?
For the first time in history, the Summer Olympics will be held in South America in the lovely city of Rio De Janeiro. In 2016 the world’s best athletes will head to the second largest city in Brazil. But what about some choices for the next Summer Olympics in 2020. The Parthenon staff has a few ideas.
Soldier tries to fight loneliness
Earlier this week my unit commander informed me it was day 100 of our deployment, which could stretch on to 400 days, according to our active duty orders.
This week, I signed off on my mid-tour leave paperwork, too. With a countdown initiated, Dec. 20 no longer seems like a black hole on the calendar. It seems like time might have enough energy to chug along through October, November and December.
Band finally receives new practice location
With this weekend’s disappointing homecoming game against East Carolina, it’s nice to know the school is thinking about something other than athletics.
The Marshall University Marching Thunder finally, after more than 30 years of going back and forth between locations, has a new indoor practice facility on Level A of the Cam Henderson Center. A dedication ceremony was conducted Friday.
Homecoming perfect way to show Herd pride, have fun
Football. Music. Parade. Floats. Tailgates. Green. White.
All these things add up to a huge deal on a college campus — homecoming.
Last month, my boyfriend moved to Savannah, Ga., to go to graduate school at Savannah College of Art and Design to earn his master’s in graphic design. And just so you know, Savannah is 567 miles away from my house. That’s about 9 hours driving, sometimes 10 or 11 if you swing into six Cracker Barrels and spend 20 minutes in every gas station you stop at. In other words, it’s far away.
I know couples everywhere who have to, in the words of Project Runway’s Tim Gunn, “Make it work” because they are physically separated, but sometimes it feels like I am all alone in this, like I am the only woman in the world who is dealing with this, or that my boyfriend is the only one who has ever dared to move away from his friends and family to better himself.
Why are you here? No, really. Take a minute and assess your reasoning.
Did you come to Marshall to fulfill your dreams or did you come to find them?
I attended a weekend church conference a couple of weeks ago, and heard something so fundamentally true that it made me giggle. I am guilty of it like a majority of the rest of the world, but I was completely unaware until now.
Why do we want to send people to Hell for things we wouldn’t even send them to jail for?
Marshall should focus on retaining freshman
If you ask anyone at Marshall University about enrollment, they will jump at the chance to tell you that full-time freshman enrollment is up for the past year. The increase went up 11.5 percent. The totals went from 1,686 freshman in 2008 to 1,900 freshman this year.
But what many do not hear about is the number of those freshman from 2008 who did not stick around for their sophomore year. Out of those 1,686 freshman, about 17 percent did not return to Marshall. That is over 200 students who did not stay.
Old man in the circle of friends
You know how in a typical group of friends, each person has a certain set of attributes or a personality that sets them apart from all the others? It’s a way of identifying them for people not necessarily within the inner circle, their role in various situations.
Profiting off community service
Disney recently announced an initiative that will give one million free passes to volunteers across the country.
The “Give a day, get a Disney day” program is partnering with HandsOn Network to connect people with volunteer opportunities approved by Disney.
People like to be free — free to live, free to choose, free to work and free to read.
This week is Banned Books Week, which celebrates the freedom to read any book, because once upon a time books were removed from libraries, bookstores or classrooms becuase it contained controversial content.
Anytime there is a hot debate inside D.C., we usually see an outpouring of opinions from both sides of the political spectrum. The ongoing debate on the proposed health reform is no exception to this. Over the course of the month of August, we have seen members of Congress go back to their states and districts in order to sell the idea of health reform. I made reference to these “town hall” meetings in my last column, and I would like to elaborate upon that and tie the two discussions of civility together in this one.
I do not take issue with members of Congress having town halls. It is wonderful when people who are elected to public office take time and go home to speak with those who sent them to Washington. In fact, that sort of dialogue is a fundamental part of our democracy. But what happens whenever this dialoged is interrupted? This is what I take issue with.
A line has been drawn in the sand in partisan politics today. I would offer to you that today the calm or even slightly heated discussion of politics in America today is heading quickly to a point of no return.
If you have kept up with the news you will have seen a rise in hate speech throughout the United States. I would like to point out that hate speech is protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution. People have a right to be filled with hate, bigotry and misguided anger if they have the desire to do so.
H1N1 virus seems to be causing unecessary chaos
All this uproar about the swine flu is getting out of hand.
Crashing through Class III rapids and dodging car-sized boulders in a fiberglass canoe with a bleeding teenager in tow was not the way I had planned to spend my Tuesday afternoon.
A few years ago, I spent the summer as a trip director for Bluestone Conference Center, a church camp in Hinton, W.Va. My charge was to take the older kids on adventure-based trips in the New River Gorge. My biggest job each week was to lead trips down the Upper New River, with me acting as the river guide.
Candy cigarettes. We all knew and loved them as the beloved white sugar sticks that we used to imitate our older friends, parents or favorite movie stars.
Brace yourselves, they’re gone.
Huntington’s downtown landmark is a hidden gem
As you walk downtown on Fourth Avenue there is one thing you will see that just grabs your attention: the big, bright lights of the Keith Albee Theater. You might not have really stopped to see it, or really acknowledge it, but it has always been there.
Fate.
We debate its existence, validity, nature and power. Even those of us who believe it is real still question whether or not it serves to benefit or detriment our lives
This past week, I read something that deeply hurt me — only 29 percent of Americans believe news organizations get “the facts right.”
Actions at game do not give a good impression
Football is the most popular sport at Marshall University. Although The Herd is not a championship team, the sport still brings a lot of money and attention to the school.
