Author: pjs040

By Amanda Ayers

Contributing Writer

During this past January, gunman Jared Loughner unsuccessfully attempted to assassinate Arizona’s democratic Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford in Tucson, Ariz. This debacle sparked debate about gun-control laws in the United States, as many who advocate for stricter legislature

One of the major arguments for people in favor of added gun-control legislation is that the second amendment was only meant to guarantee states the right to operate militias. The number of militias and their effectiveness has diminished since the 18th century, which leads many to the conclusion that the amendment is now moot.

If you read some of the writings of our founding fathers in addition to the second amendment, there were ulterior and perhaps more significant motives for protecting the American peoples’ right to bear arms. Thomas Jefferson said, “the strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.” These leaders founded our nation on the principle that if a government infringes on our rights, it is the duty and right of the governed to stand up to it.

I do not think that this event will change the gun-control debate since there is no proof to suggest that more gun control would have prevented this shooting.

Gun-control advocates were quick to criticize the second amendment, the Tea Party and the right wing for Loughner’s actions. Loughner was rejected from enlisting in the Army in 2008 due to drug use and asked to withdraw from his community college because the administration saw him as a mentally unstable security threat.

It was not the weapon or lenient firearms laws in Arizona that killed six people. It was this deranged young man’s actions. Measures are already in place to block criminals and mentally unstable people from purchasing firearms. Further restrictions will only prevent law-abiding citizens from protecting themselves, as framed by the second amendment and in writings of the founding fathers.

Thomas Jefferson said, “Laws that forbid the carrying of arms . . . disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes . . . Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.”

The fact of the matter is that if more gun control is put into place, there are more chances that law-abiding citizens will be victims. These precautions will not stop criminals from obtaining guns, as there will always be a thriving black market for trade of guns and firearms.

An example of this can be seen in Washington, D.C. where for 32 years gun owners were not legally permitted to own or carry a handgun within the district’s territory. Crime rates actually increased, showing that these strict gun laws did not alleviate the problem.

In June 2008, the Supreme Court ruled five to four that the district’s law was unconstitutional. Writing for the majority, Justice Antonin Scalia observed that regardless of whether violent crime is a problem, “the enshrinement of constitutional rights necessarily takes certain policy choices off the table … Whatever the reason, handguns are the most popular weapon chosen by Americans for self-defense in the home and a complete prohibition of their use is invalid.”

Gun control will not prevent gun violence anyway, so we should not allow fear to get in the way of our second amendment rights.

By Erin Kircher

Contributing Writer

Several times in the past few weeks I have been called out for my speedy texting abilities. “Wow, you have some of the fastest thumbs I’ve ever seen” has become my most frequently received compliment. The first few times I heard this I just laughed it off, but the more I heard it, the more my embarrassment grew. It occurred to me that this skill of mine was just a testament to how outrageously addicted I was to my cell phone.

We are so overloaded today with new and exciting technological devices that often it seems almost painful to pull our attention away from them.

Todd Gitlin, author of “Media Unlimited,” notes that “for growing numbers of people, the world is a multiplex, chock-full of electronics: an arcade of amusements.” Whether it be the seemingly urgent, endless text messages of a friend or the new Facebook friend request from that cute boy or girl you met at last night’s party, technology constantly entertains us with new information.

Of course, this steady stimulation does have its downsides. “The freedom to be incidentally connected is not uncomplicated,” Gitlin says. “It goes with being incidentally accessible, which amounts to being on-call and interruptible everywhere.”

Being accessible anywhere at any time can be exhausting. Our hectic lives are already packed with the demands of schoolwork and extracurricular activities. Add to this the responsibility of answering texts, phone calls, e-mails, Facebook chat messages or wall posts and updating your Twitter. It’s no wonder many of us depend on multiple cups of coffee a day. We are expected to always be alert, available and reachable. This can really wear us down.

I’m not suggesting that you completely retreat from all technological temptations. In many ways, technology has greatly added to society’s progress and being so connected does have its benefits. What I am suggesting is that you find some time for yourself, even if it is for just 20 minutes. People are not built for this overstimulation and therefore should take an occasional break in order to stay balanced.

A quick session of meditation might be particularly beneficial in relieving stress. A recent study at Massachusetts General Hospital showed that mindfulness meditation causes structural changes in one’s brain. The press release stated: “Participant-reported reductions in stress also were correlated with decreased grey-matter density in the amygdala, which is known to play an important role in anxiety and stress.”

Meditation can also help people to be more aware of their surroundings. The distractions technology can cause may lead us to neglect what is happening around us. For instance, on your way to class, you might be texting rather than observing the new fallen snow blanketing the campus or waving hello to your friend passing by. Practicing meditation can train us to return our thoughts to the present moment.

The first time I tried meditating, I found myself fidgeting and ruminating on how much time had passed. What seemed like 15 minutes of silence turned out to be four minutes.

Hesitantly, I had turned off my phone and any background music playing on my iTunes, determined to disconnect myself and experience true serenity. I must admit, this silence lead to some anxiety at first. What if someone was trying to reach me? Even more distressing was the fact that I was completely alone with my thoughts which kept circling around the worries and stressors I had pushed to the back of my mind.

Once I persevered through this initial discomfort, I found myself looking forward to meditation. I could really see an impact that it had on my outlook from day to day. If I ever became overwhelmed, I reminded myself to return my focus to my breath, as I did in those quiet moments meditating. I’m pretty sure all that work on my amygdala really paid off.

In this fast-paced society, it is important to take the time to stop, relax and appreciate life’s fleeting moments. Maybe you can follow my lead and turn off your cell phone for a little while, sit cross-legged in your room and repeatedly chant “om” until you experience a peaceful state. Maybe you can go on a run and clear your head. You might even just want to try going to a party and dancing your heart out to Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite.” Whatever your style, try to occasionally pull yourself away from technology and enjoy the present moment.

While I still might be spotted around campus occasionally texting at a furious speed, I do hope to stop the comments about my fast thumbs. I want my life to consist of real, authentic moments, rather than an overload of brief, abbreviated conversations via text.

By Leah Rogers

Contributing Writer

For the entire first semester, students wandered downstairs to the Bison Café and mailroom, walking by the temporary walls put up for construction and wondering what lay beyond them. The student-painted murals added some temporary flare to the downstairs Elaine Langone Center (ELC), but students were awaiting the final product. Well, as many of you have already seen, the construction is finally complete and the new student lounge is finally open. The new lounge is a great addition to the ELC and will benefit students for many years to come.

The lounge includes a variety of comfortable seating, from couches and comfy chairs to swivel chairs and tables. Students can go to the lounge to hang out with friends and watch TV on the nice flat-screen. They can sit and do homework in the student lounge for a change of scenery from the library and their dorm room. They can even eat there, with its convenient location right across from the Bison Café, students can bring food over and eat in a more comfortable setting.

“The lounge is that much-needed halfway home for all students to hang out, take a nap, study or send out mail!” Hannah Bohr ’14 said.

The new hang out spot is also home to the campus post office. The mailroom is right next door, so students no longer have to check their mail in one place and then make the trek over to Marts Hall to get stamps or send mail. The new location is much more fitting. Also finding its new home in the student lounge is the Campus Activities and Programs (CAP) center, formerly located on the third floor of the ELC. For many lazy students, walking up three flights of stairs could be quite the hike, so having the CAP center on the first floor is much more convenient.

Students can now more easily purchase tickets and sign up for events on campus on their way to check their mail or after eating at the Bison.

Students have been waiting for the lounge for a long time. The ELC holds the Bostwick Marketplace and the Bison Café, but there was no real place for students to just hang out and relax with friends. The new lounge gives students a place to do this.

“It’s very bright and inviting for anyone looking to rest and relax,” Joe Pagliaro ’14 said.

Students can kick back and enjoy free time they have between or after classes and on weekends while still being close to all of their necessities.