OPINION

---

College is what you make of it, and that includes SHU

“Oh my god! Seton Hall is third in unhappiness for colleges? I knew I hated this school. Why did I ever decide to go here? This school makes me so sad.”

Journalists are under no obligation to apologize for reporting

On Nov. 12, it came to light that editors at Northwestern University’s independent student newspaper, The Daily Northwestern, apologized last Sunday for their coverage of student protesters.

We don’t know how to listen to each other anymore

In a world constantly buzzing with social interaction, proper communication is essential in daily life. We communicate everyday – whether it be through face-to-face interaction, social media messages, body language, you name it. We are a very social civilization.

Demanding doctor’s notes is classist and childish

Listen up, professors. We all have respect for what you do. Teachers are some of the most dedicated, hardworking professionals in the world, and they deserve this respect and recognition. Aiming to educate and disseminate information to the younger generation is one of the most noble professions that exists. No one is denying that.

International film festival shows ‘slice of life’

____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>One of the biggest issues in America right now is how we deal with social issues, like LGBTQ rights and gun laws. Anyone can type a rant in 280 characters or less. It takes a different type of dedication to call legislators and force them to get a bill passed. [caption id="attachment_28833" align="aligncenter" width="547"] Photo via Wikipedia[/caption] I used to be uninformed when it came to politics because the jargon can be off-putting. Here we welcome the filibuster, an antiquated facet of our government that undoubtedly staunches progress in politics. The Congressional Research Service defines a filibuster as any tactic aimed at blocking a measure by stopping it from becoming a vote. In recent Democratic Presidential Debates, we hear about the amazing bills that each candidate will sign if elected. The unfortunate part of that is none of the bills are likely to pass because they must go through the Senate. Arguably, the biggest recent bill passed through the Senate, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, was almost a decade ago. Gaining the necessary 51 votes to pass a bill in the Senate is nearly impossible due to increased partisanship in today’s political climate. Many advocates for the filibuster say the original idea is what the Founding Fathers wanted it to be: the “cooling saucer” that forces the two parties to work together. The risk of getting rid of the filibuster means that the side you agree with will not always be in power. Abolishing it would make it easier for everyone to pass things. For example, it would no longer be possible to filibuster judicial nominations, most recently seen in the 50-48 Brett Cavanaugh ruling. I think it is a risk worth taking. While it is good to give the minority party a voice in the Senate, it should not come at the expense of getting something passed. You can argue whether you agree with a bill or not depending on which end of the political spectrum you fall on. What cannot be argued is the lack of progress being made on either side because of the filibuster, along with other issues that plague our government today. While we cannot reverse the use of technology and use of social media, we can do something that has a stronger impact than a post. Call your representatives, have your voice heard and do your small part in advocating for justice. Evando Thompson is a senior journalism major and German minor from Atlanta, Ga. He can be reached at evando.thompson@student.shu.edu.

It’s perfectly okay to still be a kid sometimes

I’m learning to care about politics, and you should too

I grew up in a household where my father would come home from work, turn on the television and flip back and forth between FOX News and CNN until he decided it was time to call it a night and go to sleep.

It’s important to indulge your parents if you can

This week’s Voice is for you, seniors. We’re over halfway through the first half of our senior year. For some of you, graduation may only be a short seven weeks away.

Maybe you should cut something out of your schedule

In the last decade, awareness about the importance of taking care of your mental health has gotten more attention than it ever has. Between dozens of articles, countless self-help books and even celebrities beginning to come out and discuss their own internal struggles, the stigma that surrounds mental health is slowly, but surely, diminishing.

Your feminism isn’t feminism if it’s not intersectional

As of Sept. 27 of this year, 18 transgender women have died according to The New York Times. The violent deaths of these women and the lack of attention their deaths have received are a reflection of a society that does not care about transgender women of color.

Halloween is not an excuse to be insensitive to others

Halloween is this month and I wanted to take the time to remind everyone to avoid cultural appropriation. I love Halloween as much as the next person, but it’s important to remember that someone else’s culture should be not be your go-to choice for a Halloween costume.

Public officials have an obligation to speak with the press

Corrections: This editorial incorrectly conflated Booker’s 2020 campaign with his official U.S. Senate office. The Service Academy Day event that the reporter attended was hosted by Senator Booker’s official U.S. Senate office and was in no way affiliated with his 2020 campaign. Also, due to uncertainty in scheduling, Booker’s team did provide the reporter with an exclusive statement from Booker for The Setonian that answered the questions she had.

Ignoring politics is a privilege, not a personality trait

When I sit down to write The Voice every week, I try to not only think of a topic, but I also attempt to think of a way I can relate the topic to not only Seton Hall students, but also the entire SHU community.

The fight against gun violence is just as pressing as vaping

Do you ever find yourself nervous at a movie theater, scared sitting in class, or vulnerable in public? For some, this worrisome attitude increases as a result of an increase in mass shootings in America. According to Gun Violence Archive, as of Sept. 1 there have been 283 mass shootings in America.

We should all question presidential candidates

The 2020 presidential election is still 14 months away, but with the constant political coverage, you’d think it was happening in just two months.

Here’s why you should try to meet someone in person

We live in a world where the majority of us always wants to be connected with someone else through some sort of channel, whether it be through social media, text messaging or dating apps.

What we can learn from the Newark water crisis

Our front page story this week discusses the water crisis that is currently affecting about 10% of homes in New Jersey’s largest city, Newark.

Student journalists are real journalists and should be respected

Late Monday night a three-alarm fire broke out in North Philadelphia, engulfing a four-story abandoned building in flames and forcing firefighters to evacuate the block. The order to leave subsequently displaced several Temple University students living in nearby buildings.

To the Seton Hall community: Welcome Back!

Welcome back Seton Hall University! Hopefully you all had a restful yet productive summer vacation, and you’re all looking forward to starting your respective school years.

To the Class of 2023, welcome to Seton Hall!

Welcome, incoming Pirates! If you’re reading this, it means you’ve made it to Pirate Adventure – the first step in your Seton Hall journey. You’re likely excited, nervous or some combination of both and we at The Setonian would like to take the time to not only welcome you but to offer some advice for your freshman year.