Opinion - The Daily Cardinal

OPINION

Letter to the editor: Sometimes climate change is a good thing

By Dr. Lori Reesor, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs | Feb. 7, 2019

Dear students, On February 11, you’ll receive an email invitation to participate in the Association of American Universities (AAU) Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct Climate Survey to gauge UW-Madison’s environment of sexual violence. Sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence impact our campus community and—with your input—we can work together to make UW-Madison a safer space.

OPINION

Avra Reddy will bring progressive representation to Madison City Council

By Avra Reddy | Feb. 4, 2019

Madison is unique in the fact that it has a history of youth activism and engagement with politics. There are so many opportunities afforded to students and young people that help them get involved in the political process, and I’m lucky that I have been able to take part in them and help push for change.

OPINION

Mitnick will bring dedication, empathy to Madison City Council

By Spencer Johnson | Feb. 1, 2019

It goes without saying that college is a balancing act. Students have to cram classes, coursework, jobs or internships, extracurriculars and some semblance of a social life into a 24/7 schedule. For most, it’s ultimately manageable, but nonetheless a massive headache. Of course, everyone has that one friend that somehow goes the extra mile. For me, that friend is Matthew Mitnick.

OPINION

A message to young people: Get back in the driver's seat

By Jack Armstrong | Feb. 1, 2019

The greatest fear of the Ancient Roman government for much of its existence was popular revolt. To keep the people docile and controlled, the Roman government would provide entertainment in the form of gladiatorial combat and rations of free bread. This solution, commonly referred to as the “bread and circuses” tactic, distracted the public from a pressing sense of civic duty.

OPINION

A treatise on jackets

By Molly Mapstone | Feb. 1, 2019

As temperatures continue to drop in Madison, students seek warmth from harsh Midwest weather conditions, unsurprisingly, in winter jackets. For many students this means wearing the same jacket they’ve had since high school, for others it means buying their first winter jackets and for some it’s a chance to purchase a really expensive jacket that, knowingly or not, serves as a visual reminder of their privilege at this university.

Many students who receive services from the McBurney Disability Resource Center require the use of laptops in class, which can lead to a lack of privacy in a class that does not allow the use of technology.

OPINION

No-screen policies endanger students' right to privacy

By Izzy Boudnik | Jan. 30, 2019

Syllabus week — the best time of the semester for many students who welcome the opportunity to zone out in lecture, skip discussion and go out without any next-day consequences. next-day consequences. Oftentimes, professors repeat the same policies we’ve heard before. No, I don’t know yet if the final will be cumulative. No, you cannot use your laptop in this class.

OPINION

Student journalism essential for community, hands-on learning

By Sammy Gibbons | Jan. 30, 2019

A couple weeks ago, an editor from Calvin College in Michigan called me hoping to get my thoughts on student journalists working in this era of media distrust. We talked about it for several minutes — how our office has taken extra safety measures in the wake of what our government says about news media, how our content falls under extra critical eyes.

OPINION

The overuse of, like, filler words

By Owen Olson | Jan. 25, 2019

An epidemic has rampaged through every nook and cranny of American dialogue, with no sign of ceasing its havoc upon public discourse. Indeed, the malevolent word ‘like’ has infiltrated every other sentence spoken by young adults in today’s new era of conversation, and I am merely here to shine a beacon of awareness upon the matter, not to unwield a vitriolic slew of insults and jeers at those who misuse the filler word. Full disclaimer: in no manner am I attempting to portray myself as ‘woke,’ considering that I once pitchforked these speech irregularities into my daily linguistic habits, far more than those who presently do. And yes, I am fully cognizant that I sound similar to a Gen Xer ripping on every facet of millennials and younger generations, but there is some substance to this argument.

OPINION

Dept. of Education proposes changes to Title IX that will harm all students

By Billy Welsh and Laura Downer | Jan. 23, 2019

Instead of empowering survivors and holding perpetrators accountable, the proposed Title IX changes introduced by the Department of Education in November 2018 create additional obstacles in an already fraught process.

OPINION

Use of the 'r-word' ignorant, unnecessary

By Gaby Vinick | Dec. 16, 2018

A boy living on my floor freshman year laughed as his friend called him “retarded” for missing the point to his joke. Retarded is a word loosely used in American society, often suggestively linked with other derogatory words like “idiot” or “stupid.” Somehow, many people don't realize the extent of the harmful damage their ignorance creates.

OPINION

Female comedians deserve to be heard

By Dana Munro | Dec. 15, 2018

Let’s play a game. Name all the late night TV comedians you can think of in a minute. How many were women? Just one: Samantha Bee (if she even came to mind at all). Late night comedy shows are one of the most-viewed comedy platforms in America and almost all the hosts are men. So men must be funnier than women, right? If all of America’s favorite satirists are men comedy must just be a “man’s thing.” Like sports, carpentry and being seen as first-class citizens.

Matthew Mitnick is a freshman running for Madison City Council and deserves your vote on April 2.

OPINION

Letter to the editor: Matthew Mitnick is the right candidate for District 8 Alder

By Matthew Mitnick | Dec. 8, 2018

How can our local leaders directly help those they govern? This is a question that I have heard time and time again from students in District 8. I have also heard that I am not the right person to answer these questions because I am an 18-year-old male freshman. I seek to dispel this notion. I will help students by working tirelessly to improve our community.

OPINION

Why the holidays are good for our mental health

By Dana Munro | Dec. 4, 2018

For many people, besides perhaps Ebenezer Scrooge and the Grinch, the holidays are the most heavily anticipated time of the year.

OPINION

Making the most out of your frustrations

By Dana Munro | Nov. 20, 2018

So I have some bad news for you: in your life there will always be people that frustrate you. This rude awakening came to me a few weeks ago when I decided that I wanted to start a coat collection for the homeless on State Street and someone on my floor stole the collection bin and everything in it that had been donated.

By being open about her working-class upbringing, Congresswoman-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez brings much needed economic diversity to Congress.

OPINION

Why Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's economic 'struggles' matter

By Izzy Boudnik | Nov. 19, 2018

Combine a willingness to accept her identities with social media savvy, and the Democratic Party has itself a new darling. Honestly, it’s hard to resist: Ocasio-Cortez combines the razor-sharp wit of a millennial with political smarts (enough to topple Joe Crowley, the fourth-ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives) so well that it’s hard to tell whether you want to be her best friend or if you want her to be president.

OPINION

The real history of Thanksgiving

By Kavitha Babu | Nov. 19, 2018

Ah, yes. Temperatures are dropping, turkeys are gobbling in the distance, and the smell of pumpkin pie lifts the spirits.

OPINION

Real-time election day emotions from a college student

By Kavitha Babu | Nov. 9, 2018

6:36 PM. Some of the first polls on the east coast have closed. The anticipation of the Blue Wave is high tonight.

Congress is now comprised of more women and racial and religious minorities, making it more representative of the country's population as a whole.

OPINION

Diversity won the midterms

By Dana Munro | Nov. 9, 2018

I will never forget the moment Trump was elected. The disbelief permeated through red and blue districts alike.

OPINION

Political engagement is a group effort

By Ben Schulte | Nov. 8, 2018

Is my voice heard? In a country of 325.7 million people, a state of 5.8 million and a school of 43,820, how powerful can I honestly be?

Voters in Wisconsin are required to show photo identification before they can vote. However, UW-Madison students cannot use their Wiscards as a proof of identity.

OPINION

Voter ID laws unfairly impact students

By Gaby Vinick | Nov. 8, 2018

Voting should be easier. This is a commonly held belief, yet there isn’t a consensus as to how to amend the problem. The United States fares poorly in voter turnout compared with other countries to an embarrassing extent. According to U.S.