Archive for May, 2009
CA Bailout: Terminating Budget Dysfunction
California likes to think it’s the coolest state. We do everything better and sooner. Our vehicle emission standards are tougher, our beaches better. We funded stem cell and other cutting edge research while the other states were still debating whether intelligent design ought to be taught in schools. Until Proposition 8, we were one of the best states for gay and lesbian couples to live in. We were using “green,” “sustainable” and “organic” before they became ubiquitous. Our buzzwords are better than yours. California isn’t just in the future … we are the future.
Letter to the Editor
Student with Airsoft Rifle Apologizes to Campus
Put That in Your Pipe and Smoke it
The battle over marijuana took a significant turn as the Supreme Court left California’s Compassionate Use Act, which allows the use of medical marijuana, intact by refusing to hear a suit filed by the San Diego and San Bernardino counties. Local officials in the two counties would not allow their residents to use cannabis as part of their treatment plans and had hoped that the United States Supreme Court would support them. Now, the counties must distribute cards allowing for medical marijuana use.
Public Transit: Driving for a Better Commute
Driving from Irvine to Los Angeles is hardly an enjoyable experience. Even when traffic is light, it is tough to make the drive to L.A. in an hour, and when there is rush hour traffic, one can generally kiss a big chunk of an afternoon goodbye.
Sexism in the Media: I am Woman, Hear Me Roar
At around this time two years ago, the presidential elections were underway. I was rooting for my candidate Hillary Clinton, as I thought she would be the easy shoo-in for the job. Well, we all know what happened — “yes, we can.” It was quite the interesting experience to follow the campaign through its longevity, even though it was only on TV.
Sponsor Pull-outs Mar Muslim Student Union Events
Two weeks ago, the Muslim Student Union (MSU) held its annual anti-Israel week, an event notorious for its controversial presentation and inflammatory rhetoric.
The Plight of the Persian Baha’is
A faith that is established on the foundations of unity and a universal truth among all religions is staring persecution dead between the eyes. A faith that fosters the equality of men and women and peacefully promotes the elimination of all forms of prejudice has been condemned by a government that views its teachings as a threat to the Islamic Republic. A faith that has remained steadfast when faced with adversity and has continued to promote the oneness of mankind, despite all the afflictions and vexations suffered, is tiptoeing around the policies of a country that fails to recognize its existence.
What’s Old is New Again: Digital Glass Ceiling
When you think of gizmos, gadgets and Microsoft Windows, the first thing that probably comes to mind is a white male geek. It’s a common stereotype that a white male geek or some male technologically-savvy Asian will have far superior knowledge and involvement in technological fields than others. However, that may not be the case, as studies by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press show that women actually outnumber men when it comes to use of the Internet.
The 17th Annual UCI Screenwriting Festival
Often, films and television shows are praised for their directing style, actor performances, cinematography or special effects. Yet, many individuals often overlook the fundamental foundation that makes a film or TV show possible: screenwriting. Without a script, these other elements would not be possible. From “Good Will Hunting” to “Juno,” screenwriting has been a key aspect that has defined a performance or produced those memorable lines that you can’t help but say at the opportune moment.
Going It Alone With ‘Gabby’
Most drama productions put on at UC Irvine are either directed by faculty members or graduate students. In some cases, a handful of undergraduates are invited to direct plays called workshops. In almost all cases, however, UCI funds the entire play: the lighting, rights to the script, costumes and even stage costs. That is, all cases except one.
