In defense of American power and its applications

By Rita Koganzon / January 28, 2005

At the recent “Imperilment of Democracy” panel, Professor Andrew Arato complained that the fundamental problem with American foreign policy is that “the United States is an unbalanced hegemon.” In fact, the same argument—that the primary cause of (what these scholars view as) a misguided foreign policy stems from the very pre-eminence of the United States...

cMore should doMore

By Maroon Editorial Staff / January 28, 2005

Last Friday’s Student Government Committee on Academic Concerns meeting allowed representatives to voices complaints to University Registrar Thomas Black. In light of the recent decision to set a flat fee for all requests for an individual’s student transcripts, Committee members decided to strike while the iron was hot. The primary suggestion from students was to...

Bring back da Noyes

By Maroon Editorial Staff / January 24, 2005

Sometime between late Friday night and early Saturday morning, the portrait of the revered Mrs. Ida Noyes was snatched from Ida Noyes Hall. A gift from her husband that was given to the University more than 80 years ago, the portrait has graced the wall of Ida Noyes, welcoming students as they venture into the...

“Freedom Speech” leaves out gay Americans

By John Gabriel / January 24, 2005

Inaugural hypocrisy: Who would have expected anything less? From an administration that enjoys flashy displays of insincerity, this event was just another installment in an unfortunate chain of events. Yet because the inauguration carries so much lasting symbolic importance, it is almost appropriate that the President’s address continued the legacy of hypocrisy that will long...

Helping the U of C see green for the future

By Adam Weissmann / January 24, 2005

While hurriedly scuttling between classes, meetings, and events, many students fail to notice the beautiful flora on campus. We at the University are truly blessed to be surrounded by such a diversity of plant life. In 1997 our campus was officially designated a botanic garden, and it has long been a priority of the University...

From zero to $100,000

By Maroon Editorial Staff / January 21, 2005

From modest beginnings as a fledgling RSO, Blue Chips has evolved to become an organization that inspires the confidence to have given a $100,000 gift. A handful of students with a dream and an interest in investment have turned their club into a serious organization with a mission to provide students with the experience they...

Religious rhetoric isn’t bad; hypocrisy is

By Andrew Hammond / January 20, 2005

President Bush’s inaugural speech was like all of his other presidential speeches: It was filled with religious rhetoric. Bush’s speechwriter, Michael Gerson, has unabashedly admitted to intentionally employing that tradition in presidential addresses. Many liberals believe that this practice is disrespectful to those Americans who are not part of a particular religious affiliation. They believe...

Inauguration: like a leap year, only cooler

By Leila Sales / January 20, 2005

January 20, 2005—It is Inauguration Day and I am all set to report to you, live from my bedroom. I’ve got my TV on and a bag of candy by my side. Originally the plan was to eat a chocolate every time someone referenced God, but we’re 10 minutes into this event and already I’m...

We, not history, will judge Bush & Co.’s legacy

By Ashley P. White-Stern / January 20, 2005

So Condoleezza Rice is our new secretary of State, replacing Colin Powell. It was to be expected, I suppose. It is not, however, any less worrisome for having been anticipated. Indeed, some of my fears were voiced by Barak Obama in his statement to Rice during her interrogation on Tuesday and Wednesday. I, like Obama,...

An A by any other name

By Maroon Editorial Staff / January 18, 2005

First there was the watered down Core, then increased class-sizes, then the colorful Max Palevsky. And now, Chicago, once touted for its relative grade stability, has succumbed to a trend that affects most other peer institutions: The average GPA of our collegiate students has increased steadily over the past 30 years. While the rise in...

Iraqi elections: What about the Jewish vote?

By Adam Weissmann / January 18, 2005

As the January 30 Iraqi elections draw closer, a new debate is brewing—in Israel. In an article in last Thursday’s Ha’Aretz (“Israelis of Iraqi Origin Can Vote in Iraqi Elections,” 1/13/05), journalist Yoav Stern reports that the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI) will allow Iraqis living abroad, including their children, to participate in the...

Big media and the left: A shameful parternship

By Laura Hamilton / January 18, 2005

Before European colonists came to the New World, American Indians had mastered the art of warfare with the bow and arrow. A favorite strategy—and one that worked well for them—was to encircle the opposing army and to shoot from all sides. Then the Europeans came and introduced the musket. According to legend, the Indians continued...