Opinion - The Daily Cardinal

OPINION

South Korea’s history is getting standardized

By Hae Rin Lee | Oct. 25, 2015

Oct. 12, South Korea decided to implement a new nationalized Korean history textbook starting in 2017. As a South Korean and a history major, this is one of the most shameful downplays of historical study. This textbook applies to all South Korean public institutions from elementary to high schools. George Orwell emphasized the importance of history itself: “Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.” History has to be studied and narrated by different sources and viewpoints; if not, then we will only harvest unripe and foul misunderstandings.

Chancellor Blank frequently speaks on the topic of the negative effects of excessive alcohol consumption by the student body.

CAMPUS NEWS

Peer pressure is an unspoken danger to students on college campuses

By Natalie Maczuga | Oct. 21, 2015

Irecently came across a quote saying “don’t choose being ‘cool’ because it doesn’t mean anything outside of high school.” My knee-jerk reaction was “what a load of crap.” Middle school and high school were overwhelming when it came to peer pressure. Not only were you trying to figure yourself out, but so was everybody else and the melting pot of moldable identities did not really aid you in finding your own. However, after four years of college, I can say that college is just a more expensive version of high school, boiling over with even more peer pressure than ever before.

CAMPUS NEWS

Cardinal View: UW falls short in clarity of sexual assault policy

By Cardinal View | Oct. 21, 2015

We have a sexual assault problem.

The University of Wisconsin Police Department has recently come out against campus concealed carry.

CAMPUS NEWS

Concealed carry on campus is dangerous

By JoEllen Amato and Samantha Wilcox | Oct. 21, 2015

Campus shootings are a horror that are unfortunately becoming a common occurrence in today’s society. Within 2015 alone, there have been 53 campus shootings across the country, killing 30 and injuring 53 people, according to The Kansas City Star. There are multiple schools of thought on how we can overcome this problem: increased gun control, improved treatment of mental health issues or fighting fire with fire by making it easier to defend oneself with a gun. This is the option that Wisconsin lawmakers want to make a reality on University of Wisconsin campuses, with state Rep. Jesse Kremer,R-Kewaskum, and Sen. Devin LeMahieu, D-Rostburg, proposing a bill to the state Senate that would allow students and faculty to conceal carry weapons on campus.

OPINION

Writing is a tough job, but is worth all the hard work

By Jon Spike and Ben Miller | Oct. 20, 2015

For the past hour, I’ve been staring at a blank Google Doc page. My fingers are lying motionless at the helm of the keyboard. My mind is wandering into space. Not a single idea is coming to mind.

OPINION

Cybersecurity steps into the spotlight

By Jack Kelly | Oct. 20, 2015

Last month in the White House Rose Garden, President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping stood side-by-side and hosted a news conference on the topic of corporate cyber attacks. In the news conference, President Obama stated that both China and the United States would refrain from cyber attacks aimed at pilfering company intellectual or trade secrets for commercial advantage. However, events following the news conference are raising questions on whether this agreement is going to be upheld.

OPINION

The UW anthem doesn't represent campus

By Eli Radtke | Oct. 20, 2015

The class clown; not the cool one that has the good jokes or even the one that does stupid stuff that makes everyone laugh. No, I speak of the sub-variety of this personality that sits in the back of the class and has a comment for everything. Someone you want to tell to take a long walk off a short pier, but you know they thrive on any attention. So, you are forced to grind your teeth, smile, and watch as the second hand crawls across the clock face, leisurely strolling towards your freedom.

OPINION

Taylor Swift’s criticism of Apple Music maintains relevancy and validity

By Marisa Bernstein | Oct. 19, 2015

I recently downloaded Apple Music, and let me tell you, I feel like Ryan Seacrest. For nine bucks a month, I can bump Drizzy while I’m runnin’ through the six and croak along to The Weeknd until I can’t feel my face (I’m proud of that joke, let me have it).

OPINION

Breadth requirements stifle education

By Jon Spike and Tim Heinzel | Oct. 19, 2015

As high school seniors search for colleges to apply to, it will be difficult for them to find one that doesn’t have some sort of “general education” or “liberal studies” requirements. The idea that colleges must produce a well-rounded individual by means of mandating breadth in course selection is almost universal. While it would be nice if it was possible to instill knowledge into students by implementing general education requirements, knowledge is something that you have to want to have. After all, it is entirely possible to get through every liberal studies course you take with the grade you want if you memorize enough information and dump it on the exam, or write a good enough essay on a topic you don’t care about. The flaw in mandated liberal education is the idea that forcing students to complete a set of classes will make them acquire and retain a certain set of skills or amount of knowledge.

OPINION

Putting the Apple funds to good use

By Sebastian van Bastelaer | Oct. 18, 2015

Apple Inc. was recently ordered to pay the University of Wisconsin $234 million for infringing on a patent. Although this is far lower than the original reported $862 million, it’s still a substantial sum. Much of the money will presumably go back to the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and be reinvested in research. But why not consider some more fun options.

OPINION

Webb’s comments reignite veteran mental health debates

By Sergey Fedossov and Tom Walsh | Oct. 14, 2015

Last night at the first Democratic debate, we had an opportunity to see what the potential nominees for the Democratic Party’s presidential candidacy were good for, and what their weak points were. Lincoln Chafee, the former governor of Rhode Island, was immediately outed for his spotty party affiliations and records, and was even grilled by CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer later on when he planned on ending his “futile” presidential bid. Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton each caught flak for their actions, statements and past voting records, but came out without significant damage. Slow-talking Martin O’Malley had the heat turned up on him for his emotional appeals and lack of serious answers regarding the delicate state of Baltimore due to recent civil unrest. However, former Sen. Jim Webb suffered less for his unique stances and speaking style at the hands of debators than he did later at the hands of social media users.

OPINION

Media creates an uneven playing field for Democrats

By Sergey Fedossov | Oct. 14, 2015

As far as I know, there’s no class here at UW that teaches students about current events or day-to-day politics in election cycles, and for good reason.

OPINION

Falling in love with autumn weather

By Cal Weber | Oct. 13, 2015

Break out your Gap coupons and treat yourself to a new jean jacket because fall is officially here.

OPINION

Lawmakers propose anti-transgender bill

By Samantha Wilcox | Oct. 13, 2015

This year has been a year of great progress for the transgender community. Caitlyn Jenner coming out has not only brought positive light to the community, but has also opened the floodgates to the conversation on gender identity and how we, as a society, can be more accommodating for people who fall in different places along the gender spectrum. Education is key when it comes to understanding and conquering equality in transgender issues.

In the wake of recent tragedies, arguments about gun control have become a hot topic.

OPINION

Arguments for gun control fall flat

By Tim Heinzel | Oct. 12, 2015

Arguments over gun control revolve around one of two things: trying to maximize or minimize a certain set of statistics or hoping to establish a specific set of individual rights. Those who attempt to maximize or minimize societal outcomes advance a utilitarian argument; those who advocate for establishing individual rights in relation to gun ownership rely on their own arbitrarily-defined belief system.

OPINION

Stop Internet activism

By Sebastian van Bastelaer | Oct. 11, 2015

This [insert problem] is a big issue that needs to be solved! We need to take real action to make a change in the world!

OPINION

The Japanese constitutional change may lead to an abuse of power

By Have Rin Lee | Oct. 11, 2015

Sept. 19, 2015, added another pivotal moment to Japanese history. Despite the fierce nationwide protests, Japanese parliament led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe passed legislation to allow Japan to participate in international defense operations. This nation was bound in the military peace for a long 70 years after the Allied countries imposed a pacifist constitution after its wartime aggression in 1945. It was to “allow the Japanese military, known as the Self-Defense Forces, to cooperate more closely with the militaries of allies like the United States, by providing logistical support and, in certain circumstances, armed backup in international conflicts,” according to a Sept. 17 article in The New York Times.

OPINION

It's OK to treat yourself to a weekend at home

By Dawn Schueller and Marisa Bernstein | Oct. 11, 2015

Recently, I spent a night doing the following: I came home from a long day of classes, did some online shopping, made myself some dinner, finished up some homework assignments and was in bed by 11 p.m. Pretty standard weeknight right? That is if this scenario had occurred on a weeknight. But, my fellow Badgers, this was on a Friday.

CAMPUS NEWS

The rise of collegiate Quidditch

By Ben Miller | Oct. 7, 2015

It’s an overcast Sunday morning in Madison’s Brittingham Park. Out of the calm atmosphere comes a loud, “Brooms up!” Two hordes of college students charge each other at full speed with narrow PVC pipes between their legs. Dodgeballs whiz through the air. Juking out opponents left and right, one player throws a volleyball through a large hoop as his team celebrates their score.

CAMPUS NEWS

Flu shots are vital in keeping campus healthy

By Matt Fox and Sarah van Orman | Oct. 7, 2015

Sneezing and sniffling classmates, germy doorknobs, public restrooms—it feels like getting sick is impossible to avoid. Each year, influenza affects the campus community and students miss significant amounts of class time and work. To limit the effects of the flu on the student population, University Health Services (UHS) offers a flu shot, free of charge, to every UW-Madison student through November 20.