Columns

Using migrants as political pawns is cruel

Last week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis flew about 50 asylum seekers to the Massachusetts island of Martha’s Vineyard without informing any local or state officials in advance. According to one of the...


Columns

Halle Bailey's casting as The Little Mermaid should inspire more representation

Halle Bailey, an African-American singer and actress, is starring as Ariel in Disney’s live action remake of the timeless classic “The Little Mermaid.” Previous animations portrayed the mermaid as white with fire...


Columns

Grunge Rock addresses themes that are relevant today

For those of you who do not know, grunge was a distinctive sound born out of the cold desolate scene of Seattle in the early 1990s. Its heavy reliance on sludgy power...


Columns

The deaths of Mikhail Gorbachev and Queen Elizabeth II mark the end of the 20th century

England’s Queen Elizabeth II and the Communist Party of the former Soviet Union’s General Secretary, Mikhail Gorbachev, have died within two weeks of each other. Neither figure’s death in and of themselves...


Columns

Playlists co-opt artists’ creative visions

The playlist versus album debate has been a topic of discussion on online blogs and music forums since the digitization of music and the rise of music streaming platforms. Meanwhile, many fear...


Columns

The left should increase pressure for medical and utility debt relief

After months of talk about student loan forgiveness floating around the West Wing, millions of current and former college attendees had their nervous anticipation come to a close on Aug. 24 when...


Columns

Recent legislative wins increase midterm odds for Democrats

It is a nearly impossible feat for the incumbent party to perform well during low-turnout special elections before midterms. But in a really bizarre twist, especially considering U.S. President Joe Biden’s low...


Columns

Carbon offset is an insidious lie

Ever heard a company advertise that they’re going “carbon neutral” in the near future? If you’re reading this column online, you probably have. Carbon neutrality is a popular new marketing phrase that’s...


Columns

Viewers fail to understand real-world relevance of "Black Widow"

For the past decade, Marvel has owned the movie box office, producing blockbuster after blockbuster. But since their Infinity Saga ended with Avengers: Endgame, many of their productions have been controversial to...


Columns

Media should emphasize environmental progress

The tremendous weight of how hopeless humans feel toward saving their planet overpowers any desire to act. Thinking back to news stories I have seen addressing environmental issues, there is almost always...