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Manas Gautam '12: Everybody hit the floor

The minimum wage is defined as the lowest wage that an employer is legally allowed to pay. This concept was first brought to power by the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1938 and has been enforced ever since. Currently, the minimum wage for Rhode Island is $7.40 per hour and most employers, including the ...


Opinions

Ethan Tobias '12: B.S. about B.A.s

Will Wray's '10 column ("B.A. — D.O.A.", March 5) makes the case against higher education for those who cannot afford it and are not brilliant enough to deserve merit-based financial aid. He argues that a B.A. is essentially an overpriced tool for businesses to screen applicants, and dismisses ...


Opinions

Andrea Matthews '11: Safer sex on a Saturday night

A disturbing opinions column ran in the Daily Princetonian on Feb. 22 ("The real ‘Sex on a Saturday Night' " by Iulia Neagu). The thesis was that a girl becoming significantly intoxicated is "equivalent to agreeing to anything that might happen to her while in this state," and that a serious injustice ...


Opinions

Tyler Rosenbaum '11: No physicists need apply

Phi Beta Kappa is a prestigious collegiate honor society. In fact, it's the oldest one in the country. According to its Web site, Phi Beta Kappa "celebrates and advocates excellence in the liberal arts and sciences." Its chapters invite America's "most outstanding arts and sciences students."


Opinions

Adrienne Langlois '10: Life after Brown

It's about that time of year again. As the days until June fly off the calendar, students are rushing to find summer internships and post-graduation jobs in a still relatively weak economy.  With so many possibilities and so little time, finding something to do when classes end can be a daunting, ...


Opinions

Mike Johnson '11: The death of democracy

Senator Evan Bayh's recent decision to retire instead of seek re-election is an indicator of a larger trend in American government today — democracy is slowly dying. It's not a pretty death; rather, it's more like the long, protracted, gruesome death of a Western movie character. Shane isn't turning ...


Opinions

Andrea Matthews '11: In which I bite the hand that feeds

A few weeks ago, I attended a standard gathering of The Brown Daily Herald opinions writers and editors to lay down rules and explain the ways of the Herald world. Given that I seldom keep track of my fellow columnists, I was excited to see who else was writing. As I scanned the room, I couldn't help ...


Opinions

Emily Breslin '10: The hypocrisy of moral relativism

Conservative activist James O'Keefe laments that college students are "drowned in relativism." This is a fairly common criticism of academia, but it is not exactly precise. It is fair to say that American universities are generally socially liberal and that many students and professors value tolerance ...


Opinions

Hunter Fast '12: Steal this newspaper

In the past, when Brown received complaints from media conglomerates that students were using file-sharing networks for purposes of copyright infringement, the administration would react by sending a simple e-mail to the offender. The e-mail demanded that the student delete the copyrighted ...


Opinions

David Sheffield '11: What could Brown do for you?

Online universities are growing. They can provide an education cheaply and from any place on the globe. Even brick-and-mortar universities are providing content, courses and degrees over the Internet. Universities like Edinburgh and Oxford are offering graduate degrees online.


Opinions

Sarah Yu '11: Clean the mess, save the world

During my shifts working as a cashier at Josiah's, my heart swells with joy every time a customer asks for a reusable green canvas bag or water bottle to be added to his or her purchase of mozzarella sticks. Each student I see getting a mug refill or drinking tap water (especially without taking the ...


Opinions

Sean Quigley '10: Muckraking in the Bayou and beyond

James E. O'Keefe III is an unlikely lightning rod in investigative journalism. Whereas I might draw cries of reaction and looks of astonishment for my anarchy-cum-monarchy tendencies, O'Keefe is rather conventionally conservative. He may have a biting take on the bureaucratic enclave that is the Beltway, ...


Opinions

Anthony Badami '11: I hate Glenn Beck

In an effort to squeeze out negative energy (new year, new semester, new outlook, you know the drill), I must take this conspicuous opportunity to lay open my feelings against a most conspicuous man. He is someone who absorbs more attention than he will ever deserve. He is a man capable of and culpable ...


Opinions

Ben Bastomski '10: Partying (f)or charity

The ongoing crisis and relief efforts in Haiti have rightfully captured our close national attention. But as the acute phase of the disaster fades and relief rather than rescue becomes the order of the day, an important opportunity arises for self-examination. It may be uncomfortable, but the circumstances ...


Opinions

Michael Fitzpatrick '12: Thank you for not smoking

The first time I smelled marijuana smoke, I distinctly remember thinking what an odd odor it is. Wood smoke has a crisp, full odor. Cigarettes give off a fainter aroma, light, but sharp. Marijuana is more difficult to describe: sharp like a cigarette, but distractingly sweet-and-sour. It's an unpleasant ...




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