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Baylor weighs in on abortion ruling

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Baylor students and Waco residents alike have strongly differing opinions about Tuesday’s Supreme Court ruling concerning Texas abortion laws. Some celebrate the national and local effects of the upholding of Texas abortion restrictions, while others look ahead in anticipation of the progression of a lawsuit by Planned Parenthood opposing the restrictions.

Lariat Letter: Hobby Lobby rights should not supercede Obamacare

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As much as I agree with the spirit of Danny Huizinga’s Nov. 19 column titled “Employer religious freedom at risk with Obamacare laws,” his argument is difficult to swallow. “Since when are business owners not allowed to make the decisions for their company?’” Huizinga rhetorically asks. The answer is that business owners have never had free reign over their companies.

Viewpoint: Employer religious freedom at risk with Obamacare laws

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The Supreme Court just heard arguments for Greece v. Galloway, a case about legislative prayer and religious freedom. But the debate shouldn’t stop there. The court should also agree to hear Hobby Lobby v. Sebelius, a high-profile case that carries widespread implications for religious business owners across the country.

Lariat Letter: Conservative stance on death penalty acceptable

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In response to Danny Huizinga’s Nov. 12 column titled “Some conservatives amiss on death penalty,” Conservatives Concerned About The Death Penalty is just a regular anti-death penalty group calling itself conservative. It uses the same deceptions as all of the regular anti-death penalty groups because they are one.

Viewpoint: Some conservatives amiss on death penalty

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Typically, support for the death penalty comes among Republicans and conservatives, the groups known historically for being “tough on crime.” But a new coalition aims to give a voice to those conservatives who feel otherwise.

Viewpoint: Women should not be criticized for staying at home

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Imagine a stranger coming up to you and saying, “I’m not trying to insult you, but you’re ugly.” Wouldn’t you be upset? The example may sound farfetched, but it’s exactly what two Baylor Lariat columnists have done over the past two weeks. In her column “Ring-by-spring stereotype goes both ways,” Lariat staff writer Maleesa Johnson implores readers to “please do not read this [article] as me demeaning housewives,” but she then proceeds to do exactly that.

Viewpoint: Government shutdowns can be prevented in future

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The conclusion of the shutdown episode has brought a flurry of analysis and harsh criticism of Congress. But there’s something missing in it all. As tempting as it might sound to fire all of our elected leaders, it isn’t just Congress who needs to step up to avoid another government shutdown. It’s our responsibility too.

Viewpoint: Sustainability efforts filled with flaws, hurt the poor

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Sustainability can be beneficial. But obsession over sustainability can lead to a sacrifice of common sense, blinding one to the possible harmful effects of these policies. It is for this reason we must refuse to sacrifice our critical thinking when tempted with alluring phrases such as “clean energy” and “sustainable development.” Though both of these policies can have merit, they are not exempt from the rules of economics.

Lariat Letter: Class regulation a bad idea for BU

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As with any university, there are likely some classes or professors at Baylor that are not conducive to excellent learning. However, the Oct. 17 Lariat editorial, “Regulated curriculum helps BU,” prescribes a vague solution that could very well do more harm than good. The Lariat is correct in articulating the importance of professor reviews. Thoughtful, honest feedback can be extremely useful to professors and department heads. But if the goal is to facilitate the best possible learning process, it is illogical to argue that “courses should be regulated for leveled experience.”

Viewpoints: Wall Street becoming less powerful; job-seekers move on

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“The lesson of Buffett was: To succeed in a spectacular fashion you had to be spectacularly unusual.” That’s Michael Lewis, well-known financial journalist, in his book, “The Big Short.” Wall Street has always drawn the bright, ambitious and creative, but the finance industry is now struggling to fight battles on multiple fronts.

Viewpoint: Debt limit becoming another pawn in political game

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Another round of political theater is coming, and it will undoubtedly distract from the worrying financial future of our nation. If you thought the government “shutdown” wasn’t enough, just wait until the next round of financial debates. In the next few weeks, the debt limit will be the new catchphrase digested by the media ad nauseam.

Viewpoint: Conservative conference reflects current political attitude

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It’s the last thing most Americans care about. But still, a group of the faithful made the trek to St. Louis this weekend for a regional version of the Conservative Political Action Conference. Compared to the three-day CPAC conference in Washington last March, the St. Louis event was notably more low-key.

Viewpoint: Cruz’s filibuster admirable, doesn’t help Republicans

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Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, recently concluded an impressive 21 hours and 19 minutes speaking through the night about the “Defund Obamacare” initiative that has taken flight in conservative circles. It’s a worthy cause ­— Obamacare is on track to become a bureaucratic nightmare for both doctors and patients. However, one can’t help but question the strategy.

Viewpoint: US shouldn’t privatize post office just yet

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This week, Britain announced that it would soon be privatizing its postal service, the Royal Mail. Estimated to be worth nearly 3 billion pounds ($4.8 billion dollars), the Royal Mail will begin selling shares of stock to potential investors sometime in the next few weeks. While it remains to be seen whether or not this is a smart move for Britain, the United States should think twice before following its lead.

Viewpoint: “We the people” should celebrate the Constitution

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“We the people, in order to form a more perfect union...” They are words most of us are familiar with. Akhil Amar, a Yale professor and constitutional expert, says these words were “the most democratic deed the world had ever seen” in his book “America’s Constitution: A Biography.” Today marks Constitution Day, the 226th anniversary of the signing of our nation’s Constitution. But there’s a question worth asking — why is our Constitution so special? What distinguishes our government from other similar democracies?

Viewpoint: United States should avoid involvement in Syria

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The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Except for when they’re not. Siding with one of two forces hostile to American interests will not strengthen our foreign policy. What do most Americans know about Syria? It’s a country on the other side of the world, someone may tell you, and that’s often the extent of their knowledge. Others will accurately recognize that our relationship with the Syrian regime led by President Bashar Assad is not friendly.

Viewpoint: “Yes” vote good for students, alumni

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What does “Baylor Forward” mean for us as students? It means that, finally, students will be included in a unified alumni network that reflects the unity of our student body. For years, there has been a tense conflict between the administration and the Baylor Alumni Association. As a current student, I want to ensure that my friends and I will be included in a global network that cares about every one of us.

Viewpoint: Politics may annoy, but its importance is undeniable nowadays

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We tend to complain a lot about politics. There is an incredible amount of pessimism that persists in every discussion. We perceive Congress and our government to be a constant source of pointless bickering, trickery and sycophancy. To a point, we may be right. Sometimes, however, I think those in public service deserve more credit.

Viewpoint: Drug tests for welfare recipients: Consider again

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The Texas Senate unanimously passed legislation to mandate drug tests for welfare applicants, demonstrating the widespread support behind a measure that appears common-sense to many. According to the bill’s introducer, Texas Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound): “We found common ground to support a plan that makes sure state resources aren’t used to support a drug habit, while at the same time making sure children continue receiving benefits.”

Viewpoint: Learning from the myths of Columbine

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The 14th anniversary of the Columbine shooting occurred last Saturday. As we remember the tragic massacre, we should remember it as it was and avoid perpetuating myths. Dave Cullen’s book “Columbine” demonstrates the consequences of media misinformation. The book’s glowing reviews and awards from many sources are a testament to his extensive research.

Dia performer leaked on Twitter

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Five for Fighting will perform as the headliner during next week’s Diadeloso, Baylor Chamber confirmed Thursday night. The news was leaked after students noticed a tweet from Five for Fighting singer John Ondrasik, which said “Just locked in a last minute gig at @Baylor next Thursday Apr. 18th. What Up Bears? #54F.”

Chamber waits to reveal headliner

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Banners promoting the event are up around campus, but no announcement has yet been made as to who will headline Baylor’s Diadeloso celebration. With Diadeloso coming up in less than a week and no headliner announced, students are left wondering what their entertainment will be.

Viewpoint: We must fight for a free press

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Last week, the Associated Press deserved the criticism it received when it adapted the official AP Stylebook to exclude the phrase “illegal immigrant.” Arguing the world “illegal” can only describe an action, the AP instead mandated writers use “living in or entering a country illegally or without legal permission.” The change affects hundreds of newspapers across the country, as AP Style is the industry standard for journalism.

Viewpoint: Message: love applies to all – Take organization’s example and serve

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For most people, this past Easter weekend was composed of celebrating Jesus’ resurrection, connecting with old friends and family and enjoying a delicious Easter dinner. It was an uplifting opportunity to focus on our gratitude for God’s everlasting love.

Viewpoint: NEA hinders education reform

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Education reform may be one of the few political issues that appears to have bipartisan support. That being said, solutions so far have failed to achieve encouraging results. Especially alarming is the fact that increased funding seems to have no effect on solving the problem. Since 1960, real (inflation-adjusted) education spending per student has more than tripled. However, test scores and graduation rates have not seen any improvement.

Viewpoint: Combs envisions goal for government transparency

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Government transparency may often seem to be an elusive ideal. Texas Comptroller Susan Combs, however, is leading the way toward achieving this goal with common-sense solutions and a bold vision.

Viewpoint: Olasky Gives Advice on “Political Rapids”

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I recently had the opportunity to hear a lecture by Dr. Marvin Olasky entitled “Rafting the Political Rapids,” hosted by the Institute for Studies of Religion at Baylor University. Olasky is editor-in-chief of the World News Group, the Distinguished Chair in Journalism and Public Policy at Patrick Henry College, and Dean of the World Journalism Institute. He has written over 3,000 articles and 18 books and is credited with a substantial influence on the policies of George W. Bush, later known as “compassionate conservatism.”

Viewpoint: CPAC suffers setbacks on forward-looking message

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In just over a week, thousands of conservatives will gather at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel and Convention Center at National Harbor in Maryland, just outside Washington. The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) moved this year to the new location to accommodate more guests after record-breaking attendance last year. The conference will feature most of the forerunners of the conservative movement, providing an opportunity for potential presidential nominees to test the waters.

Viewpoint: Independent voters need to get informed

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I recently had the pleasure of seeing “Born Yesterday,” an intellectual comedy directed by Jessi Hampton at the Baylor Department of Theatre Arts. The play was written by Garson Kanin and first performed in 1946. Set in Washington, D.C., it follows the story of Billie Dawn, mistress of the rough junkyard tycoon Harry Brock. She is taken advantage of by Brock’s bribery and corruption, completely unaware of the consequences of his actions. The play documents Billie’s education in the realms of politics and history as she learns to understand Brock’s unethical actions while discovering the beauty of a democratic system. Becoming politically informed allows her to stand up against the injustice in politics.

Viewpoint: Grading scale is not unfair

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On Feb. 18, the Lariat wrote an editorial advocating a standardized grading scale. In general, the article argued that Baylor should not allow professors to require a percentage higher than 90 in order to receive an A. The basis for the argument comes primarily from a feeling of unfairness. According to the article, a professor “should be able to lower the threshold to earn an A,” but raising it “is deceiving and can really affect students who work hard.”