Opinion

More than just too much booze and testosterone

Published November 24, 2003

In my last column, I wrote about the Halloween riot in Madison, Wis., after which at least one reader accused me of glorifying rioters' behavior. Needless to say, no thinking person would even condone...

Fairness in story selection not as easy as keeping a tally

by Amy Hackbarth
Published November 21, 2003

Where is the fair reporting?" one reader asked in response to two Associated Press articles about Palestinian issues printed in Tuesday's Daily. A page four story chronicled the Internet use of Palestinians...

Don’t attack your fellow workers who are only trying to help you

Published November 20, 2003

In response to Michael Teachout's opinions piece in Tuesday's Daily, I'd like to make a few points. First, it is Minnesota law that public sector unions have to have full and fair-share members - not a...

Iron Range coal plant bad for environment and state budget

Published November 20, 2003

State and national legislators are considering the financing and construction of a massive coal-gasification plant near Hoyt Lakes on the Iron Range. This power plant has been conceived as an answer to...

SAT history embedded in elitism and racism

Published November 20, 2003

Eighty years after its inception, the SAT is getting another makeover. Recently, College Board President Gaston Caperton remolded the SAT into a knowledge-based test emphasizing the traditional three R's...

Over-occupancy issue mischaracterized

Published November 19, 2003

Two recent Daily columns on the subject of over-occupancy in the neighborhoods around the University both take the position that the issue can best be resolved by eliminating the zoning restrictions currently...

Spread kindness, and its benefits might spread to you

Published November 19, 2003

Years ago I attended a professional development conference. It was held at a sprawling resort in the Catskill Mountains in New York that had seen much better days. The Homowack Hotel, once richly appointed,...

Dirty hippies and right-wing nuts: Can they be together at last?

Published November 19, 2003

A girl I knew in high school once said, "I could never be good friends with a liberal. They're so out of touch with reality they're just stupid." I was immediately taken aback. How, I asked, could she...

Learning too late elderly health-care changes

Published November 18, 2003

The last day of my grandfather's life was supposed to be the first day of his new job delivering newspapers for the Ottumwa Courier. He died of a heart attack in the middle of the night Nov. 3 - right...

Workers lose more under bargaining than under original U proposal

Published November 18, 2003

Several weeks ago, I lamented that as one of its fair-share workers, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3800 refused me the right to vote on the contract - along with...