It doesn't take a genius to figure out what cuts in state funding for Penn State will mean for students.
This weekend, should you manage a momentary escape from the usual miscellany -- the grilled grub, percussive fireworks, et cetera -- spare a thought for the holiday's significance. I don't mean historically. Enveloping yourself within a patriotic reverie about Thomas Jefferson and America's forefathers is well and good, after all, but can become rather hackneyed. Rather, consider Independence Day in the complex context of our nation today. With numerous trials at hand, perhaps foremost the financial tempest, where do those ideals established in 1776 stand now, and how can we surpass the turbulence and retain them?
This weekend the United States will be celebrating its 233rd birthday where we celebrate our freedoms and democracy. As fellow Penn Staters enjoy the upcoming weekend with barbecues and fireworks, a particular part of the world is suffering greatly due to American support. America's largest recipient of American foreign aid and artillery is being supplied to a country, Israel, which commits atrocities in Lebanon, West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Israel continues to commit crimes throughout its 61 year history and its ongoing occupation of other people's land is such behavior where Israelis are asking for future trouble and it will regrettably come to them in one form or another, surely. Nobody objects to Israel's right to defend itself, the question is: What is Israel doing illegally occupying Arab land? Amnesty International reports, "The Israeli army has subjected the inhabitants of Gaza to an unremitting blockade, preventing virtually all movement of people and goods in and out of the territory and stocking a growing humanitarian catastrophe." Basic necessities such as cement, glass, toothpaste, crayons, and macaroni (just to name a few) are prevented from being imported by the occupying Israeli Army. President Jimmy Carter, who visited Gaza two weeks ago, called the imposed blockade a "crime and atrocity" where the Palestinians there are "treated like animals." Israel has to stop occupying countries because that is the cause of terrorism, imperialism and interventionism. If you want to end terror you stop it the same way the English did in Palestine, the French in Algeria and the Russians in Afghanistan -- that is, get out of the lands they occupy.
I was absolutely shocked at the results of human stupidity two weeks ago. I had pulled my brother aside and asked him to wake up with me -- in what's become a tradition since freshman year -- to order my Penn State football tickets. This year would have been my legacy year at Penn State. Unfortunately, what I did not plan for was human stupidity -- the second year in a row!
I'm writing because college students and young adults were screwed by Washington. An amendment to cap usury interest rates was defeated by the U.S. Senate, and President Obama signed the reform legislation without the capped interest rate amendment.
Everybody knows Penn State loves money.
Three years ago, I hated freshman move in day.
The fat cat scalpers are sobbing, soaked from their factory-mint Penn State jerseys to their Abercrombie jeans in greasy tears.
"The dual mission of Collegian Inc. is to publish a quality campus newspaper and to provide a rewarding educational experience for the student staff members."
Given that, it's awfully tough to justify the abrupt firing of longtime Daily Collegian news adviser John Harvey.
Journalism is all about capturing moments.
Read more in the opinions section
