Browsing: Opinion

Editorials and opinions from the Lariat staff and readers.

Recently, I was watching television and a commercial came on the screen. Pictured were mothers watching a television screen of the video game being played. They expressed their disgust at the horrific nature of the game.

On Jan. 1, the Hungarian media was given more to talk about than just what’s to come in 2011. A new law enacted at the first of the year by the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban now requires all national media outlets — including bloggers — to register with a government-approved media authority and be subjected to government scrutiny.

“Friday’s article states that the Texas House Bill “could require Baylor to allow licensed students to bring concealed weapons onto campus.” An additional important point is that it would also allow licensed faculty to carry concealed firearms onto campus. Since the minimum age to get a CHL (concealed handgun license) is 21, it is plausible that more faculty might carry than students.”

There is little denying that Generation Y is one of constant communication. You want to reach someone from Gen Y? Pick your poison: Will you call them? Maybe shoot a text message off? You could reach them by email, possibly to two or more e-mail addresses. Perhaps you will use Facebook chat or send a message? Maybe both? If you wanted to get really creative, you could even tag them in a tweet.

A new spring semester brings a new round of elections for current members and hopeful candidates of Baylor’s student government. Each election process seems to be the same: Candidates submit their applications and are reminded to comply with the electoral code, which sets general rules about campaigning policies.

Higher costs, less learning and increased apathy — those are the afflictions of higher education. Scholars have begun to delve into these problems and the findings are astounding. Yet still, the people within academia aren’t reacting because money is still flowing in and college is still enjoyable. We have to alter the system and we should start now.

An article from Publisher’s Weekly reported earlier this month that a university professor and a book publisher have agreed to edit and print a revised version of Mark Twain’s classic novel, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.”

As Andrew Hacker and I began researching our book, “Higher Education?” we were struck by how few questions parents raised when considering the quarter-of-a-million-dollar investment that four years at a private college or university could cost them.

On Jan. 4, fans at the Louisiana Superdome were treated to an exciting Allstate Sugar Bowl game as Ohio State beat Arkansas, 31-26. It was a big night for several Buckeyes; quarterback Terrelle Pryor, running back Dan Herron and receiver DeVier Posey all racked up the yards and accolades that came with being the 2011 Sugar Bowl champions.

On Jan. 1, the Federative Republic of Brazil made history. Brazil’s first woman president, Dilma Rousseff, was officially sworn into office. Brazil, the largest country in South America, set the pace for a new political era for itself and this region of the world.

Little can be said to ease the pain resulting from the horrible tragedy of the Tucson, Ariz., shootings on Jan. 8 in which six people died and 14 more were wounded. However, much can be said to bring more pain to the people of the community, especially from the thoughtless actions of media-hungry protesters.

Baylor’s Executive Vice President and Provost Elizabeth Davis has issued this statement; “Our specific call, at this critical moment, is to employ our collective imagination to determine the next steps to which our commitment and purpose point. The stakes are very high. … We must use all of our creativity to chart the many ways Baylor University can, and should, connect its commitments to its purpose to serve both church and world.”