Author: Eric Soble

By Chris Giglio

Opinions Editor

A court decision in September not to grant an alleged victim of torture a trial is disappointing. The specific case involved Binyam Mohamed and addressed the C.I.A.’s practice of seizing terrorist suspects and moving them to foreign countries for interrogation.

The court feared a trial would expose too much classified information. Maybe some of the information should be kept secret, but there are details that need to be heard in court.

Details such as Mohamed’s allegation that he was handed over to Moroccan authorities and exposed to torture techniques such as having his penis cut with a scalpel. I wonder how that would go over in court.

People talk of the grey area between human rights and national security, but at some point we have to stand back and look at ourselves in the mirror. These are not actions we said “yes we can” to and these are not actions the United States should ever be associated with. Moving prisoners to other countries that do allow torture is no way for us to clean our hands of such actions.

It is time Obama make good on his promises of change and his continual rhetoric that respecting human rights is a fundamental difference between terrorist organizations and our country.

In the past, presidents have expanded executive secrecy powers to keep information out of court. But let’s be honest: terrorism is not a conventional enemy. Torture or no torture, terrorism is not going to be defeated anytime soon. When we do finally eliminate it, it will not be solely through military coercion, but through acts of compassion such as investment in economic development and the building of trust.

Until that day comes, we should not live in a country where the trampling of individuals’ human rights is accepted. But the responsibility to end these violations of human rights doesn’t just rest on Obama’s shoulders. It is the Supreme Court’s constitutional obligation to check Obama’s current abuse of executive secrecy powers. A similar case to Mohamed’s was brought to the Supreme Court in 2007 but was not granted an appeal.

I hope this time the Supreme Court and the American people realize the implications of allowing these abuses to continue: we stain our image around the world, we compromise the core values of our nation and we cross a moral boundary that should never be overstepped.

By Pranav Sehgal

Contributing Writer

As Americans in the 21st century, we like to think we are tolerant of other religions, cultures and ethnicities. We like to think we are a liberal, open-minded nation that places no judgment on people because of their background. This notion is certainly not true.

Recently, Terry Jones, a pastor of a tiny church in Gainesville, Florida, gained worldwide attention for his plan to burn more than 200 copies of the Koran to mark the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks and to protest the construction of an Islamic center near the World Trade Center site.

As one can imagine, this proposal sparked a great deal of controversy and widespread opposition to Jones’ plan from American officials, including General David Petraeus and President Obama. Petraeus, the top American commander in Afghanistan, argued Jones’ plan would “endanger the overall effort in Afghanistan” domestically and overseas.

I believe President Obama said it best when he stated such a stunt would result in a “recruitment bonanza for Al-Qaeda” and would endanger Americans domestically and abroad. Jones’ actions and comments have even resulted in the State Department issuing a worldwide travel alert, warning U.S. citizens “of the potential for anti-U.S. demonstrations in many countries.”

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the leader of efforts to build an Islamic center near the World Trade Center site, said proposed plans to burn the Koran by this small Florida Church would “strengthen the radicals,” “enhance the possibility of terrorist acts against America and American interests” and result in disaster. Demonstrations have already started taking place in Islamic countries such as Afghanistan, Indonesia and Pakistan. Recently in Afghanistan, a violent protest orchestrated by the Taliban in an effort to disrupt government elections left dozens of people injured in Kabul.

After weeks of threatening to burn Islam’s holy book, Jones backed off and stated the event would not happen. If the United States is to connect and continue our reconciliation with the Muslim world, I believe we have to be tolerant, understanding and above all, respectful.

Although I realize Jones’ beliefs and opinions account for a very miniscule portion of public sentiment, Americans should use this incident to reflect on how we can better understand a people with whom we have had conflicts.

The media is also at fault for escalating the situation and giving so much attention to this one intolerant, misguided and uninformed person. If the media gave so much attention to everyone with such a radical idea and incendiary thoughts, our world would be filled with chaos. Americans, the media and citizens of the world must realize that to create a harmonious world, we must learn to not get lost in the hype of these events.

How well does Bucknell Student Government (BSG) communicate its agenda to the student body?

“How do they communicate with us? Poorly. I mean, I don’t know what they do, so they could definitely improve.” – Alex Larkin ’12

“As co-director of Common Ground, I’ve had a very positive and personable relationship with BSG.” –Andy Pascual ’11

“I don’t know anything about BSG, who they are or what they do.” –Sarah Jane Abbott ’12

“I don’t really pay close attention, but I’d say they do very little to communicate to the student body. Who’s even in BSG?” –Michael Driscoll ’11

“I guess not great, because I don’t know anything they do.” —Will Ludgate ’13

By Jessica Rafalko

Contributing Writer

Throughout my public school education, I encountered several teachers who sent their own children to private school. This practice has never sat well with me; it seems tantamount to a humble cobbler buying his kids’ shoes from Payless. It goes beyond a conflict of interest—it is in itself a criticism of the public school system. The implication is, “I will teach here, but I will not have my children learning here.” If these teachers cannot show enough faith in their own system to send their kids to public school, how do they expect other parents to make that leap?

Most kids in the United States attend public school—in 2007, roughly 72% of kids were taught at a public school in their district (an additional 15% of students were given the option of choosing a particular public school in their area). Public schools are expected to educate the majority of young Americans—ideally to prepare them for college, a vocation or military service upon graduation.

While public schools are sometimes referred to as great equalizers, that equation varies from district to district. As a general rule, students in more affluent areas have greater funding to draw on, and therefore more effective public schooling. Because schools are funded primarily by property taxes, areas with less expensive costs of living may also have less desirable conditions in their public schools.

I spent a lot of time as an adolescent watching teenage comedies or MTV reality shows, and what always struck me about the high schools I saw portrayed in the media was how nice they seemed compared to my own school. They were multilevel structures with sprawling cafeterias and wide halls, theater programs and varsity athletics. My own school, a small building constructed about 40 years ago, had a tiny cafeteria and crowded halls, a measly annual school play and a laughably bad football team. These differences, though mostly cosmetic or superficial, made me realize the only thing I enjoyed about my own school were the teachers. They challenged me, aided me, entertained me.

Though a sturdy building and myriad afterschool activities are important, the true equalizers in our public schools are our teachers. A dedicated teacher can overcome the deficiencies of the district they teach in; teachers provide students with the opportunities they need to be successful.

This is why those teachers who sent their kids to private schools always struck me as Benedict Arnolds: they surrendered to the common belief that public schools are limping, bleeding vestiges of a past time when teachers truly wanted to teach, when they believed in their own profession. If we can restore our teachers’ faith in public education, we will be able to restore it in taxpayers, voters, parents and most importantly, students.

By Pranav Sehgal

Contributing Writer

For the past two years, Americans and University students alike have felt the effects of the recession.

During its peak, the recession affected the world’s richest and elite. According to CBS News, Warren Buffet lost $25 billion, bringing his net worth down to $37 billion, while Bill Gates lost $18 billion bringing his new worth to $40 billion. I’m sure during this time even billionaires had to cut down to some degree. Maybe swap their G6 jet for a more modest G5, maybe sell one of their hundred-plus foot yachts in the Mediterranean, or even possibly sell a couple of their real estate holdings in Dubai or St. Tropez.

Approximately a year after the recession’s peak, many of the world’s elite have rebounded. According to Forbes, Warren Buffet’s net worth has increased to a more comfortable $47 billion while Bill Gates has risen to $53 billion. For those of us who aren’t billionaires, it seems the recession may still not be over. We’re still going to have to save up for our favorite fall clothing line.

If you ask a Wall Street executive and a coal miner in West Virginia whether the recession is over or not, you will probably receive completely different answers.

According to a Bloomberg survey taken in July, only seven out of 10 Americans think we are still in a recession and only one in six Americans think they are financially better off than they were 18 months ago. While the public’s perception of the economy seems rather gloomy and negative, there is evidence to suggest otherwise. First-quarter corporate profits were up more than 33 percent from a year earlier and the S&P 500 stock index has grown more than 36 percent since President Obama has taken office, according to Bloomberg News.

The world’s elite and wealthy may have recovered from the recession: Russia’s Roman Abramovich is a case in point. He has achieved new feats of gaudiness by building the world’s largest and most expensive yacht, costing $1.2 billion and measuring 560 feet. It’s easy to see that “recession” is not in some people’s vocabulary.

While the expectations and profits of Wall Street and corporate America seem to be growing, it seems the remnants of the recession are still widely felt in the majority of Americans’ personal lives.

By Chris Giglio

Opinions Editor

The immigration laws enacted in Arizona this past April follow a misguided notion that illegal immigration is dragging America down. The law, SB 1070, requires any alien in the state of Arizona to carry his or her immigration papers at all times. This opens the door to increased racial profiling, as police are now given the authority to “determine the immigration status” of anyone suspected of being in the country illegally.

The broad support this bill has received comes from the beliefs that illegal immigration is a drag on our economy, that it increases unemployment for American citizens and that it is diluting our very culture. These beliefs are only partly true and disregard the enormous benefits legal and illegal immigrants are provide to the U.S.

An influx of Mexicans into the U.S. is not diluting our culture. Where I’m from in California, around 36 percent of the population is Hispanic. If anything, I should be seeing this so-called dilution first hand. In fact, living and working alongside Mexican immigrants, I’ve seen quite the opposite. Indeed, at first these immigrants are faced with a language and cultural barrier but like the Italians, Chinese and Irish before them, they have slowly integrated into our society.

I’ve met ranch workers who take every chance to practice their English, encountered Mexican children who idolize Barry Bonds and Neil Young and seen the American flag waving from the porches of Mexican households. I’d argue that the individualism, resourcefulness and hard work Mexican immigrants have continuously shown embody some of the most important American ideals. In this way Mexican immigration is a rejuvenation of the American spirit.

I similarly take issue with the idea that illegal immigration is greatly increasing unemployment. These immigrants are competing for low-skilled jobs that only a small number of American citizens are looking to occupy. For the most part, Mexican labor complements the higher-skilled service and manufacturing jobs Americans pursue. As our native labor force continues to decline with the flattening of birthrates, the importance of Mexican labor will only increase.

The most compelling argument of the anti-immigration movement is that illegal immigrants drain many of our resources. This occurs as illegal immigrants use our public schools and health systems without paying proper tax requirements. The solution is not to pursue some major crackdown on illegal immigration, but to expand legal immigration to those that are most needed. Today roughly one million immigrants are admitted to the U.S. annually. Of these million, 43 percent are admitted due to family-based preferences of American citizens, according to migrationinformation.org. Perhaps expanding employment-based immigration would stem the adverse effects of illegal immigration and allow immigrants to continue playing their vital role within the U.S.

By Leah Rogers

Contributing Writer

If you haven’t already noticed, the bookstore has moved to a brand-new location in downtown Lewisburg. The old bookstore was conveniently located in the Elaine Langone Center, right in the middle of campus. The new downtown bookstore is bigger and more modern; it has everything, including miniature escalators. But is the new bookstore too much?

It has plenty of positives. It is much bigger and more aesthetically pleasing than the old bookstore, featuring classy dark wood floors, a cool atmosphere, mini-escalators and even a Starbucks for those who need a pick-me-up after making the trek from campus. “It’s the biggest college bookstore I have ever seen. It has escalators, so it’s awesome. It has everything you need, all in one place,” Katie Perez ’14 said.

There is much more space, and having three floors makes for a much better selection of merchandise. The second floor is a sea of blue and orange clothing and other items. Students can get everything they could ever want emblazoned with the University logo, ranging from sweats and t-shirts to shot glasses and baby clothing.

Downtown Lewisburg also appreciates the new bookstore. Having the bookstore off campus will cause more students to go downtown, which means more business for restaurants and shops. Citizens of Lewisburg can now visit the bookstore easily, increasing the bookstore’s profit and helping citizens feel more connected to the University.

The new bookstore’s biggest drawback is its location. Having the bookstore downtown may be good for business, but it is very inconvenient for students. Students who live downhill can enjoy a relatively short, easy walk downtown. For students living uphill, things aren’t so simple. The walk takes about 15 minutes, but it feels like years walking back uphill with bags full of books.

Shuttle buses take students from campus to downtown, but nobody ever seems to know what the exact schedule is. Instead of waiting around for a bus to show up, students just make the hike downtown to save time. “Although the bookstore was moved further away, I feel like it’s worth the walk because of all the improvements that were made,” Mike Kehrli ’13 said.

The bookstore also did a poor job of stocking textbooks during the first week of classes. Students’ books were backordered, making it hard to do classwork on time. Nicole Mastrodomenico ’14 felt the burden. “I had to return a bunch of times to get all of my books. I didn’t appreciate the long walk back, and I couldn’t figure out the shuttle schedule,” she said.

Although the new bookstore might be a tad over the top—maybe we could do without the escalators—it was definitely worth the upgrade. If the shuttle schedule were better known, the bookstore would be more accessible, and students could enjoy it with citizens of downtown Lewisburg. Overall, the new bookstore is a great improvement and the positive outcomes will continue to grow as we use it in the years ahead.