Category: Opinion

Justin Marinelli

Writer

(Warning: Spoilers ahead)

Deep down, we all want to be able to do whatever we want without having to worry about the consequences. Daenerys Targaryen, of “Game of Thrones,” is a symbol of this. For this reason, liking her is essentially an escapist fantasy. She herself may be a poorly-written and obnoxious individual, but at a subconscious level we all desire the ideal that she stands for.

The thing I admire most about this show is that it has a rigid, unyielding logic, in that you simply have to be the most cunning, treacherous, amoral individual possible to get ahead. It is survival of the fittest on a brutally Nietzschean level, and any deviation from this path results in harsh punishment, usually in ironic ways.

Daenerys seems to be exempt from these rules. She is somehow one of the more popular figures on the show, and I think I’ve finally figured out why. No matter how many tactical errors or outright missteps she makes on her path to the throne, she rarely gets punished for them the way another character would. Whenever she trusts the wrong person, she lives, whereas for others, this mistake is usually fatal.

She is unique in the show because she fundamentally doesn’t have to deal with the consequences of her actions. She skates by on the fact that she has both competent advisers (whom she rarely listens to) and dragons, the former of which do their best to clean up after her, and the latter of which are a complete Get Out of Jail Free card. In addition, several plot twists seem engineered just to keep her around, such as when an assassin sent to kill her decides to fight for her instead because he thinks she’s cute.

Some would say Daenerys is an important character in the show because she gives people hope. She lets those who know they can never be a Tywin Lannister or a Roose Bolton feel that they too can be special in their own way. I personally think that such fantasies are childish, but I suppose that I’m willing to let all the untermenschen out there have their fun.

I look forward to the next season, in the hope that balance will be restored and Daenerys will finally get her comeuppance at the hands of a more competent commander. Given how necessary her character is to keep the hopeful, escapist dreamers watching the series though, I wouldn’t bet on it.

Caroline Schaeffer

Writer

For many University students, the first few weeks of sophomore year are characterized by high anxiety, no free time, and overall exhaustion. These are the symptoms of sorority/fraternity rush, and with bid day finally behind us, everyone can begin to relax a little more. Since rush is delayed until sophomore year, many students who may be on the fence about the whole recruitment experience have plenty of time to think about it.  If you’re like me, you will continue to debate between “yes” and “no” until you drive yourself insane. Is it really worth it if you’re not completely sold on the Greek system? My answer in the end (having just rushed myself) is a definite yes, but with a note of caution.

Recruitment is hard on everyone. It’s tiring, long, and—at some points—emotionally taxing. That’s reason enough for some people to just avoid the recruitment situation entirely. But if you’re on the fence about it, even if you have a marginal interest in Greek life, I say go for it. What’s the harm in trying? Although my recruitment experience wasn’t all sunshine and laughs, it taught me important lessons about dealing with rejection and keeping a positive attitude. It’s really just about having an open mind—toward rushing in the first place and to the different Greek organizations on campus. It’s easier to start recruitment, decide it’s not for you, and then drop out of the process than it is to realize (as you’re watching hundreds of ecstatic girls run screaming through Smith Quad) that you should have at least given it a shot.

In my opinion, the positives of the experience outweigh the negatives. Even just going through the process, I met so many people who previously I hadn’t even known went to this school. The stress and anxiety of the experience actually helps everyone bond, and it gave me the chance to meet amazing people who I might have never had the chance to meet otherwise. You also get the chance to test out your “small talk skills” which, though painful, can definitely be helpful in future situations like job interviews.

Most importantly, going through recruitment taught me that you can’t judge a book by its cover. Going into recruitment, certain sororities definitely had concrete reputations in my mind, so I was surprised to find that every sorority has different types of people. Without rushing, I think I would have remained ignorant to this fact.

There is really no harm in trying—you might even find the perfect place for you! Give it a shot, even if halfway through the process you decide that it’s not for you. If you never try, you’ll never know.

Tom Bonan

Contributing Writer

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is one of the most striking achievements of the Obama Administration. It ensures that everyone will receive some form of health insurance coverage and helps prevent discrimination based on pre-existing conditions.

Obviously this law signals significant reform in the convoluted area of health care in the United States, but other than the aspects of the law that are championed by progressives, and the erroneous constitutional arguments against the law levied by conservatives, many consequences of the act have not entered the mainstream discussion in the country.

The ACA really does not address the rising cost of insurance, which is the core of the health care issue in the United States. Costs were rising between 6.5 percent and 9 percent per year between 2000 and 2010, while inflation was somewhere between 2-4 percent per year over the same time period. The United States also spends the most amount of money on healthcare compared to other industrialized countries, reaching 17.9 percent of GDP in 2011.

As a part of health care costs, the ACA patients will still have to go to doctors that are “in network,” risking their coverage if they do not go to an accepted hospital. Health insurance will still be managed by for-profit companies, which is another uniquely American approach compared to other industrialized countries. Finally, the law doesn’t address the issue of how health insurance is meant to treat patients after they get sick, and how it is not meant to be preventative for illnesses such as Type II diabetes, heart disease, or obesity.

In most instances of ineffective legislation, it is symbolic because it represents a step in the right direction. This is true with the ACA for the few points I mentioned earlier, but ultimately the law adds to already prominent issues in the health care industry. Conditionality is a significant part of the law, resulting in an even more complicated system.

Currently, doctor’s offices have 25-35 minutes of paperwork for every hour of patient visits. After the ACA is fully implemented in 2014, the amount of bureaucratic work could increase by 10-15 minutes for each hour of patient visits. This seemingly small increase will result in millions of hours of extra paperwork, making the already lethargic health care process even worse.

Allowing people with pre-existing conditions and allowing dependents to stay on their parents’ plan until age 26 are great steps in the direction of health care reform, but this bill is ultimately change for change’s sake. The achievements attained by this law are overshadowed by the insidious reinforcement of structural issues in the current healthcare system. To really change the system, a dramatic overhaul of the entire industry needs to occur, either through a public option or single-payer system, both of which were barely discussed when drafting this bill. The drafters of the ACA mean well, but for all intents and purposes it is a Band-Aid covering a wound that requires stitches.

El McCabe

Writer

Now that recruitment is over and all sororities and fraternities are welcoming their new sisters and brothers, independents may be feeling like they are “missing out” on part of the college experience. Watching your friends go through the recruitment process and coming out with bids is without a doubt difficult, even though you are excited for them as well. What many students fail to realize is that there are indeed perks to the God Damn Independent (GDI) lifestyle.

On the surface, sorority and fraternity life appears to be the be-all and end-all of sophomore year and your entire college career, but there are so many fantastic things about not being part of a Panhellenic organization. First off, you have so much more free time to try new things, catch up on sleep, hang out with non-Greek friends, and get your work done. Time not spent at recruitment events, chapter meetings, and other Greek duties adds up in the end, and will leave you less stressed out. Another bonus to being independent is not worrying about what the outside world thinks about Greek organizations and their members. Fraternities and sororities are often stigmatized in the media and consequently not as well-respected in the outside world. When I was considering going through recruitment, I was certainly judged by my outside friends because they had heard of all the negative stereotypes. Though these stereotypes often do not apply to most Greek organizations, they are still prevalent and I appreciate not having to worry about them as an independent.

Being independent makes you eligible to be the perfect date for your single friends at date parties and formals! Not having an affiliation with a particular fraternity or sorority makes it much easier to attend any date party you are invited to. Finally and most obviously, the amount of money you save by remaining independent is incredible. First-time members of a sorority must pay a fee of approximately $400-600 and then about $250 each semester after that. In the least expensive sorority, dues come to about $1,650 for your college career. That is a lot of money that can be spent or saved somewhere else.

While being a GDI can be hard at times, there are many covert and overt benefits to not identifying with a Greek organization. Once students realize that Greek life is only a small portion of the huge array of activities, events, and clubs our school has to offer, these benefits will become clearer. The University relies on independents to bring diversity to the social scene and to balance out the Panhellenic influence on campus. Remember that not being Greek does not make your college experience any lesser. You can be happy on either side of the spectrum, and what is most important is finding the right place for you.

Gillian Feehan

Writer

The series of events that unfolded in Boston over the last week and a half is almost unbelievable. What started as a horrific bombing at the Boston Marathon quickly turned into a manhunt for suspected bombers, Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, that shut down the city of Boston and caused widespread fear.

Slowly, the city of Boston and its people are beginning to recover. Blocks of Boston that have been closed since last Monday are beginning to reopen, and the residents of Boston are beginning to return to their daily routines. Although things are returning to normal, a quiet sense of fear, disbelief and disappointment is lingering. No doubt, many are wondering what kind of people would attack innocent civilians, and why?

Unfortunately, I don’t think Americans will be satisfied with the answers to any of their questions. Instead of focusing on the unanswered questions and horrors of the past week and a half, I think it’s important that all Americans focus on all the good that has come out of this tragedy.

First, we should concentrate on the response immediately after the bombings. Stories have come out of marathon runners—who must have been terrified of the events that were unfolding—who continued to run past the 26.2 mile mark, straight to nearby hospitals to donate blood. These people no longer cared about the fact that they just finished a marathon and were completely exhausted; their focus went straight to helping out those harmed in the explosions.

There were also the first responders and the Boston Police Department who sacrificed their safety to help the people of Boston. When an explosion happens, a person’s immediate response is to run away from the danger. Instead, first responders and members of the BPD who were at the marathon ran towards the danger. For all they knew, another explosion could have occurred, but they put their safety at risk to help those who were injured. The BPD also faced more explosive devices and shootouts while seeking out the Tsarnaev brothers, but they continued to confront the danger to protect the citizens of Watertown, Mass.

The reaction and support from people hundreds of miles away from Boston was also remarkable. People from all across the country have donated over $20 million to the One Fund Boston, which was set up to help those injured in the bombings and the families of those killed. There is also a fund set up to replace the boat that Dzhokhar was found in, which was ruined while the suspect was being captured. Even the Yankees paid tribute to their rival team, the Red Sox, by adopting a Fenway Park tradition and playing “Sweet Caroline” during the game held the day after the bombings.

The events that occurred in Boston were undoubtedly a huge tragedy for the families of the victims, Boston and the entire United States, but in this time of recovery, it’s important to remember the unity and good that Americans have shown in the aftermath. The number of Americans who risked their lives, donated blood and money and simply sent out their support far outnumbers the two people responsible for this tragedy. Americans have the ability to unite in the face of tragedy, and if we continue to do so, terrorism will never win.

Dylan Yuska

Contributing Writer

Social media has been under fire for years. Kids and adults alike have used it to spread hateful messages, waste valuable time or even stalk “friends.” Fortunately, there is a silver lining and last week we all witnessed it. On April 15, Twitter and Facebook demonstrated their greatest value to society.

When the Boston bombers struck, social media exploded. News of the attacks hit Twitter and Facebook seconds after the event and the news never slowed down. Before news channels could even get a story together, Twitter and Facebook users were already debriefed with live accounts of the bombings. Clearly, this was a positive use of social media, but overall it presents some advantages and disadvantages that were definitely seen in the aftermath of a disaster like the Boston bombings.

Among the various Twitter “trending” topics on April 15, #Muslims trended all day. If anyone explored this hashtag, all they saw were hateful generalizations about the Muslim people, assuming that the bombings were a terrorist attack. Two days before the FBI even had suspects, the Twitterverse had already concluded Muslims were the root of the evil and should thus be electronically assaulted.

Truly hateful and senseless tweets dominated this hashtag for hours after the attack. This is a definite drawback to social media in terms of events like these. Anyone can spread anything in an instant. One twitter user claimed “North Korea is beginning its attack on America!” While another reflected “Why don’t we just bomb the Middle East already?” Raw emotion, uninformed opinion and unlimited space coalesced into a jumble of junk.

The winds died down and balance was restored. By the end of the day, #Muslims was trending again. This time people of all ethnicities fought against the wave of assault on the Muslim people in a truly inspiring manner. This counter wave of support for the Muslim community was only the beginning of the support that followed for the victims of the Boston tragedy and the city itself.

#BostonStrong is now a loaded statement. For nearly a week, it seemed like anyone who has a social media account had sent their thoughts and prayers to Boston. Remembrance posts of the victims, relief funds and general support dominated people’s news feeds. Boston was suffering and America held her arms wide open. America proved why she is such a great country even through the use of social media. People reposted pictures and videos of the suspects in a communal effort to aid law enforcement. The Boston Police Department was retweeted nearly 61,000 times in a post about remembering the victims. Even as a Jets fan, I am rooting for Patriots wide receiver, Danny Amendola, to catch as many passes as possible since hearing of his pledge to donate $100 for every catch this upcoming season to “whatever ‘Boston Marathon Relief Fund’ there is” according to his Twitter.

We saw two faces of America through social media immediately following this disaster. Thankfully, one was short lived while the other was genuinely inspirational. Maybe it’s just the nationalist in me speaking, but few other countries come together like America. We are a divided people at times, but when one of us is threatened, we all fight back together. Social media over the past couple weeks has demonstrated America’s vulnerability and injustice at times, but ultimately its compassion, resilience and solidarity. Reading some of the posts on Facebook and Twitter made me truly proud to live in a country where we can unify in the face of calamity. As a friend put it (on Facebook), “I love my country. I love my city. Stay strong, Boston.”

Justin Marinelli
Senior Writer

You would have to be a monster to support the Tsarnaev brothers, and you would have to be evil yourself to defend their actions. Yet, to a certain degree, I can sympathize with them through the loyalty they displayed to one another. All brothers and siblings should try and live out these values, and I can at least sympathize with this part of their story.

When I had pieced together that the bombers were two brothers and that one was dead after leaving behind his brother to suicide-charge the police, I knew what had really happened there. Tamerlan sacrificed himself for his younger brother. He told Dzhokhar what was going to happen and told him to get away, no matter the costs, no matter what.

Why? Because that is what we as older brothers do. We may make fun of our younger brothers, beat them up, disparage and degrade them, but at the end of the day, we love them and will do anything to protect them. When push comes to shove, those of us who are older brothers will do anything for our younger brothers.

We protect, take care of and mentor our younger brothers, and in return they look up to us, take advice from us, and emulate us. Whether said brother is younger by four years or four minutes is irrelevant. It is our responsibility as older brothers to guide them toward making the right choices and in this regard, Tamerlan strayed from his responsibilities as the older brother. Because of this violation of brotherly duty, Dzhokhar had the right to void his obligation in this dynamic, but out of loyalty for his older brother, he chose not to and hence he devotedly followed his brother on their mad crusade.

I want Dzhokhar to talk. I want him to spill his guts. I want him to tell us everything. I want that for the sake of the dead, the wounded and the families affected. I want him to lay out the whole story so that we can have justice for Krystle Campbell, for Lü Lingzi, for Martin Richard and for Sean Collier. The American people are owed an explanation.

Yet at the same time, for that to happen requires the destruction of the loyalty and bond between two brothers. Dzhokhar would have to betray Tamerlan. I’m not sure I can support that. I am fully in favor of killing him, throwing him in prison to rot and even torturing him until he can’t even remember his own name. He’s earned all that. But to force him to betray his own flesh and blood? He may be a monster, a villain and the scum of the earth, but I cannot wish that upon him.

Loyalty is one of the most noble virtues mankind can aspire to, and one of the values I personally believe is supreme above all. Like all virtues, it cannot exist through words alone, it must be proven through deeds. The brothers Tsarnaev are evil human beings. Yet despite everything else, they believed in each other and were loyal to the end. They refused to break their ties of brotherhood, their unbreakable bond birthed in blood. Although it pains me to say this, I must admit that they are a fine example of brotherhood and loyalty, and I can begrudgingly respect them for that.

Mary Morris

Writer

The second the weather reaches 70 degrees (even if only for an hour), summer seems to be on the horizon. And with the season of beach bods upon us, some people choose to get a head start on their bronze glow with fake tanning.

This is a trend that I cannot understand. In essence, everyone should be a little discolored from the winter season–it’s natural. Orangutan orange is not; fake tanners end up looking like overgrown oompa loompas or Snookis. No one is expecting you to be the perfect shade of tan yet, so why all the hassle for a fake tan?

Okay, you can’t stand your pasty glow, but are you really willing to increase your chances of getting skin cancer instead? It’s no secret that increased exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is linked to increased risks of cancer. Lying in a sweaty booth made for the purpose of directing UV radiation at your body for a sustained amount of time is the kind of activity that can leave you riddled with melanoma and even a nice lobster burn.

If being pale really bothers you that much, then I would at least recommend opting for the spray tan or picking up a bottle of Jergen’s. While you may turn out orange or battle streaks, with some practice, the appropriate color can be attained and the application technique perfected.

Mary Morris

Writer

The topic of creationism versus evolution has been in debate for decades. Religion and science just don’t seem to be able to get along. As the Huffington Post reports debates over repealing Louisiana’s Science Education Act, I have found myself vying for the incorporation of creationism in education.

While I am not the best at attending church or abiding by religious ritual, I don’t see the problem with teaching creationism alongside evolution in schools. In my opinion, education should provide students with information from all perspectives so that individuals can be well-rounded and develop their own beliefs.

We can argue that creationism is not science or that science is ignorant of religion, but I don’t think that is the point of teaching one or the other. Some people believe that God created all things in seven days and we all stem from Adam and Eve. Some people believe that creatures developed through survival of the fittest and Darwinian theory. Others believe in a hybrid of the two theories, that God created evolution. The point is not who is right and who is wrong; the point is to be open to different perspectives and to respect each other for those perspectives.

The education system is responsible for developing the knowledge and decision-making skills of young students. If we choose to censor certain perspectives, then we are limiting students’ abilities to be open-minded and to think for themselves. Just as both Democratic and Republican philosophies on government are taught in the classroom, creationism and evolution should also be given the same treatment.