Opinion

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Academic pride still necessary

UW-Madison once had a colorful reputation as a university on the forefront of social justice through activism. In February of 1960, over 500 students gathered on Library Mall in support of the Civil Rights movement. Throughout the 1960s and ’70s, thousands of UW-Madison students were deeply involved in educating the nation daily about the perils of the Vietnam War. In July 1981, more than 1,500 students rallied on Bascom Hill in support of abortion rights. 

The United States of America: Welcome to oligarchy

Oligarchy is a word you better get used to; because that’s the system of government we have in America today. It’s been a long time coming, and we’ve been far too apathetic to its toxic approach. A government of the corporation, by the corporation, and for the corporation is what we have now. Oligarchy isn’t a pretty picture, unless you enjoy the idea of corporate slavery. Say goodbye to worker’s rights, women’s rights, student’s rights and certainly prisoners’ rights. Keep your mouth shut about the broken system, and don’t question authority! Disregard the principles of physics, because with oligarchy, it’s not gravity that makes the world go round; it’s unfortunately money.

Gender is an oppressive social construct

There was an article circulating on the Inter-webs this past week regarding sexism in our society, which I think warrants some response.

Letter to the Editor: UW needs to cut contract with Jansport

This Thursday, April 24 marks the one year anniversary of the infamous Rana Plaza factory collapse that claimed 1,132 innocent workers’ lives. This incident was the largest industrial workplace disaster that has ever happened. In the last two years alone, over 1,500 workers have died due to preventable factory fires and building collapses.

Action Project: Making a more sustainable future the priority

What can we do to ensure a blueprint for tomorrow? Create a GREENprint. And by that we mean environmentally sustainable plans that will propel us into a prosperous future.

Action Project: Local Langdon district could push Madison in 'greener' direction

If you take a walk up East Gilman Street or North Pinckney Street, you have surely taken note that most of the houses you pass have greater historic character and continuity than some of Madison’s other downtown neighborhoods. The city’s decision to make the Mansion Hill neighborhood a locally designated historic district in the 1970s is the key reason why the neighborhood today has the highest concentration of historically significant residences in the city. 

Action Project: Cities can serve as blueprint for sustainable living

 A recent article on BBC explored the role cities play in efforts to combat global climate change. Cities are immediately described as “carbon criminals” since they account for “three quarters of global energy consumption and for 80 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.” True that may be, however cities are far from “carbon criminals.” Instead they’re keys to saving us from our own self-destructive tendencies. 

Letter to the Editor: PAVE promotes awareness of sexual assault

Many people may not know that April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), and one group on campus is here to change that. PAVE (Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment) is a student organization that aims to educate the public about sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking on campus. Considering that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men will experience sexual assault in their lifetime, these are topics that need to be addressed in the campus community. That’s what PAVE is here for, especially this month.

Democrats still alive in 2014 midterms

The war in Afghanistan was not in vain

Many Americans view the presidency of George W. Bush as a disastrous failure. While the war in Iraq and the handling of United States citizens’ privacy rights are issues that have received some of the harshest criticisms of the Bush administration, the war in Afghanistan is starting to show that the effort and lives lost in order to help the Afghani people rid themselves from the tyranny of the Taliban through democratic elections were not in vain.

The Daily Cardinal's Third Action Project

The Daily Cardinal is proud to announce its third and final Action Project of the year that will hit stands on Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22, 2014. The third installment centers around environmental sustainability issues, zeroing in on those that are particularly relevant to the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus community as well as the city of Madison.

Iranian ambassador deserves US visa

According to the United States Constitution, Article II, Section 3, “[The President] shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers…” This means that the president of the United States can either accept or deny the incoming ambassador of a foreign country. However, in accordance to the 1947 agreement that the United States signed, the United States is obliged to grant entry visas to representatives of United Nations member states. Thus, the United States and more specifically the president of the United States, has no right to deny a visa or entry to the country. Nor does the U.S. have the right to pass a bill that blocks entry if the individual is an incoming ambassador of the United Nations.

Self-identity breeds marginalization in issues like same-sex marriage

I feel like ninety-five percent of the things that one can possibly say about the debate on same-sex marriage have been said too many a time, and will be repeated over and over again. And like most things in American politics ( or all politics in general), the debate on same-sex marriage in Utah has a glaringly obvious, commonsensical answer that really isn’t as difficult as everyone is making it out to be—just legalize it.

Student-athletes should lead the way in collective action

The headlines are Northwestern University and unionized college sports, but the storyline is universal and highlights an opportunity for us all. Forget the fretting pundits who conjure up endless what ifs. The truth is, the football players at Northwestern understand the power of collective action and the meaning of a fair deal. We’d all be better off understanding the same.

US has moral obligation in providing foreign aid

In 2000, the United Nations adopted the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), a set of eight humanitarian missions to be completed by 2015. The goals included eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, universal primary education, gender equality, reduction of child mortality rates, improvement of maternal health, combatting diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria, ensuring environmental sustainability and the creation of a global partnership for development. Each of the goals was also set with specific numerical milestones to track the project.

Central African genocide could be the next Rwanda

Monday marked the 20th anniversary of one of the world’s most horrific tragedies after World War II—the Rwandan Genocide.

University of Wisconsin-Madison lacks initiative in diversity planning

Although it is my exceptional privilege to be on a scholarship that covers my cost of education here at UW-Madison, I often feel that this campus has cost me much more than the $26,000+ in tuition I would otherwise have to pay. Following my heart and pursuing my student community’s rights has literally cost me my health. I’ve witnessed students of color with beautiful dreams and intentions be bullied by malicious people at this institution and on multiple occasions be pushed to withdraw or drop out of this university.

Wisconsins' prisons racial disparities must be fixed

It may come as no surprise to many that the United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world. Even more unsurprising to some might be the racial disparities in our prison system (black men are more likely to be sent to prison than white men in this country).

Affirmative Action does not reinforce discrimination, but enhances diversity

In my piece "White Privilege Continues To Plague American Progress," I outlined the systematic failures responsible for the racial injustices we see in our country today. I cultivated an opinion, but more importantly, I used facts to support my opinion. It is my firm belief that this is necessary when discussing issues as sensitive and complex as modern racial disparities. In last Monday’s opinion piece criticizing affirmative action—a piece where both of the writers, I would like to point out, have white privilege—there were a lot of close-minded thoughts expressed and zero substantial solutions offered to tackle the current problems of education inequality in this country.

Letter to the Editor: Is labeling "targeted" minority students discriminatory?

The recently approved Regent Policy Document 14-6, “Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation,” raises troubling questions as UW-Madison formulates its new minority plan, “Forward Together: UW Madison’s Framework for Diversity and Exclusive Excellence.”