Party system encourages division over good governance
Although election politics and debate is to be expected with any type of democratic process, the two-party system in the United States has only worsened political gridlock and party rivalries. By ascribing themselves to one of two groups, voters adopt an identity as a Democrat or Republican. Party members cheer on their candidates in elections, […]
What’s in a name?
When I came to VCU in August 2010, I entered as a freshman into the School of Mass Communications. Since I’ve been here, it has always been called just that: the VCU School of Mass Communications.
The social and historical roots of the Haiti earthquake disaster
Jeff Lassahn Contributing Writer “A crisis is a terrible thing to waste,” Georges Sassine, president of Haiti’s manufacturers association, told the Washington Post. “This is what the earthquake is today—an opportunity, a huge opportunity,” added Reginald Boulos, described by the Post Monday as the owner of a “small empire” of supermarkets, a hotel and a […]
U.S. Supreme Court gave us bad corporate medicine, two congressmen propose a remedy
Eric Hill Opinion Editor As an American citizen I have First Amendment rights allowing me a full range of political speech, protected in public places, print, radio, television and the internet. If I join a trade union, or an association or a company then I am in essence becoming a part of a larger entity […]
The airport hassle, why it could be unnecessary
Colin Hannifin Contributing Writer Many challenges face Americans these days. In these hard economic times, people are turning to whatever they can to save money and stretch a dollar. But, even as jobs are harder to come by, there are benefits to be had. Prices of hotels and resorts around the world have dropped as […]
Royal Flush: The fashion industry after McQueen
Royal Flush: The fashion industry after McQueen Erika Wilkins Spectrum Editor Four days ago, the fashion industry lost one of its brightest stars. Lee Alexander McQueen’s death means the loss of one of the last couturiers of the 21st century and is a source of strife for all who bore witness to his irrefutable genius. […]
Snowed in and underreported
Eric Hill Opinion Editor Recently this editor has fallen into the trap of doing what so many do in the editorial business: writing an opinion that sounds like a parrot. I like to think that I make my own opinions, and I do think for a reasonable period of time about subject matter before putting […]
Tancredo loco
Zack Budryk Contributing Writer Last week, the first convention of the so-called “Tea Party” (motto: “Proudly Scaring Americans into Maintaining the Two-Party System) was held in Tennessee, and it was about as nakedly insane and hateful as you would expect it to be. Much of the ink regarding the first annual Tea Party Convention has […]
Bin Laden goes green, the eco-fatwa cometh
How do you find Osama bin Laden? Look for recycling bins in the Afghan desert. In the latest tape released by the infamous religious extremist, he claimed, “All of the industrialized countries, especially the big ones, bear responsibility for the global warming crisis.” The tape, which was given to the Al Jazeera network for release, […]
State of the Union address doesn’t hit reset button, president needs to get angry
Eric Hill Opinion Editor Wednesday night’s State of the Union address was like a dish of Indian food: it had a lot of flavors. I can’t necessarily say I liked it, but it certainly tasted different than the giant heap of status quo we’ve been eating these last few months. The most significant point President […]