University financial aid scandal underlines modern selfishness
By Lucas Oswald, Opinions Editor
August 4, 2019
The Illinois Promise is the University's pledge to make college affordable for all of its students. It was instituted in 2005 and has since provided thousands of students with the financial aid needed to complete their degrees. To qualify for I-Promise status, students must demonstrate need: The expect...
Humanities majors are worth more than you’d think
By Matt Hutchison, Columnist
May 7, 2019
Everyone has heard the spiel they ought to pursue a STEM degree if they have the aptitude. Not only are these subjects crucial for developing the economy of the future, but they are the most sensible academic decision, as their earning potential is high and makes up for the financial investment in a c...
Populism wave should be acknowledged, not scorned
By Cole Timmerwilke, Columnist
May 2, 2019
To many political observers, President Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election came as a shock. Professional pollsters and the commentariat were almost unanimous in predicting a landslide victory for Clinton, and although it has been noted by some that the polling lead she enjoyed w...
‘America First’ ends up putting America last
By Andrew Prozorovsky, Columnist
April 30, 2019
Many analysts eagerly consider President Donald Trump’s substantial number of judges nominated and confirmed, courtesy of Sen. Mitch McConnell’s obstructionism at the end of the Obama administration, when assessing the administration’s legacy. However, they seldom consider the lasting damage the adminis...
We need more research on gun violence
By Sandhya Sivakumar, Columnist
April 29, 2019
America’s gun problem is a unique one. Although it’s often proposed we should model our gun laws on those of other countries that have successfully curbed gun violence, it’s unrealistic in practice. Even an outright ban would not cure our country’s gun addiction; in fact, it would most lik...
Why the kids don’t like capitalism
By Joseph Dillier, Columnist
April 29, 2019
Right before the collapse of the Soviet Union, political scientist Francis Fukuyama wrote an article entitled “The End of History.” He claimed the Allies’ victory in World War II had defeated fascism and the collapse of the USSR after the Cold War had defeated Communism. The western-style capit...
‘America First’ forgoes American interest: foreign policy
By Andrew Prozorovsky, Columnist
April 28, 2019
Despite popular opinion within the White House, “foreign policy” does not refer to U.S. relations with Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. It instead relates to U.S. conduct on an international level extending beyond domestic law. To many voters, foreign policy is abstract and has little relevance to themselv...
Ebertfest seeks younger audience
By Tommy Block, Columnist
April 25, 2019
April 13 marked my second trip to Ebertfest, the annual film festival held at the Virginia Theatre in honor of the late movie critic Roger Ebert. Until an announcement during the festival, I thought it would be my last. Before the final screening of the 2019 schedule, festival co-founder Chaz Ebert, Roger...
College culture augments environmental impact
By Hayley Nagelberg, Columnist
April 18, 2019
Earth Day is on April 22. While many University students may choose to celebrate by taking a walk on the quad, that’s not good enough. Earth Day and its focus on general care and concern for the environment is not a new topic, and many of us are familiar with repetitive speeches about how to avoid ...
Scientific method should be used more selectively
By Cole Timmerwilke, Columnist
April 16, 2019
To modern ears, there is perhaps no more hallowed word than “science.” In many quarters, science is regarded with a pious reverence that borders on religious awe. Science is logical, rational and objective: the creator of the modern world. Science is the bringer of light, the mighty torrent by wh...
America needs to resolve its gun problems
By Sandhya Sivakumar, Columnist
April 15, 2019
After 50 people were killed in a tragic mass shooting in a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, the country’s parliament passed legislation banning most semi-automatic rifles and will likely continue to expand the gun ban’s reach, according to Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters. This legislation too...
Trump has not been exonerated
By Agastya Bhatia, Columnist
April 4, 2019
Two years into his role as a special counsel to the Department of Justice, Robert Mueller has finally released his much-awaited report on the Trump campaign. Vaguely summarized by Attorney General William Barr, the document exonerated the president of allegations of collusion with Russia. Barr’s pro...
