Dear Students:
This has been an intense week for our university. Protests against fee hikes have occurred on our campus and throughout the system. The reasons for the protests are clear: the promise of an affordable UC education for all is under siege, victim of a state and nation reeling in the midst of a historic recession.
There is a new energy within the UC student movement. Throughout the state, students are marching, occupying and joining together in solidarity against the fee increases. But the movement is not just about the fee increases. Although the protest at UCLA was certainly a wake-up call for many of us, the movement did not begin there.
As Thanksgiving passes and Christmas nears, the spirit of giving should drain out all ears. Yeah, I’m not quite sure what that was supposed to mean, but what I do know is that we need money.
Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perceptions Index report listed Iraq and Afghanistan in the top five most corrupt countries. Both countries are on the receiving end of billions of dollars in foreign support, mostly from the U.S. Putting aside Taliban strongholds, the official Afghan government works closely with the U.S. — not surprising given common foreign policy and security issues, American financial contributions, and the ongoing military procedure in Afghanistan. Yet despite this partnership, which is professedly for the furtherance of democracy in Afghanistan, recent developments have revealed widespread fraud originating from current President Hamid Karzai.
We work too damn hard for our keep, both as students and as Americans. That is the real pretext behind these student protests, isn’t it? Sure, the flyers and picket signs might have pithy puns about repealing the 32 percent fee increase, about impeaching Mark Yudof — hell, even about abolishing fees and debts altogether, but the real meat of our outrage is over our work.
At the start of each quarter, many students tell themselves, “This will be the quarter where I don’t procrastinate!” Friends, I admire your optimism and tenacity, but I also won’t fault you if you find yourself scrambling yet again.
The holiday season is now upon us as we begin our hunt for the perfect tree, snuggle up with someone special next to the fire, eat gingerbread cookies and take pictures with the mall Santa.
There are a ton of perks to studying abroad: meeting new people, learning a foreign language, eating delicious new food, and so on. But one of my personal favorites has been the ease and affordability of traveling to other countries during my stay in Lyon, France.
Protesting Students march around the campus, including in the Biological Sciences III lecture hall. They barged into the hall to protest budget cuts and...
What do Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and I all have in common? A love for Hello Kitty, of course. The loveable Japanese kitten’s famous face is as internationally recognized by school girls and adult fashion-lovers alike. Just the sight of the big red bow and sugary pink clothes can make a grown woman squeal like a little girl.
The sheer mention of a Greek row triggers images of “Animal House” worthy parties, out-of-control frat boys and keg stands. Greek row is just a venue for celebrating Manic Mondays, Twelve-Pack Tuesdays, Thirsty Thursdays and holding beer pong tournaments, right?
I’m going to go against the grain here and say that college students are healthier than is popularly believed.
Our diets? Nutritious and balanced. We eat from every part of the food pyramid — chips and fries (starches), dehydrated carrots in instant noodles (vegetables), strawberry sundae topping (fruits), and meat, meat and more meat...
