Opinion

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Step back, take time to recognize the earth

Aldo Leopold's ""A Sand County Almanac"" seems to pride itself in being unapologetically divisive. Leopold wrote, ""A thing is right when it tends to preserve integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise."" This is as bold a statement now as it was back then, even after decades of environmentalism and green consciousness.

Calling a foul on Duncan

This decade UW-Madison has taken a lot of flak from students, alumni and other frequently frustrated persons for its track record with commencement speakers. And it's not without reason, as the recent list of speakers hasn't really had much of a ""wow"" factor.

Old leaders move on today...

I am incredibly proud of the four years I have spent working at The Daily Cardinal. It is something that has impacted my life in innumerable ways, and I am sincerely grateful for the opportunities I have been given.

Students drown in debt

It's that time of year again, when young recent college grads with little-to-no work experience are set loose, diplomas in hand, on the so-called ""real"" world where one's value is measured in salary digits and employment perks. Recent economic activity, according to those self-proclaimed experts in the ""science"" of the relationship between humans and money, suggests that things are looking brighter out there in the job market. American consumers are feeling more confident, loosening their purse strings and buying shit. And we all know there's nothing Americans love to do more than buy shit. And theoretically, the more shit Americans buy the more jobs there will be. Right?

Ideologue Van Hollen unfit for top cop

Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen has always put his own political image before our state. The 2010 attorney general race is barely underway, and already a recent e-mail flub has demonstrated that.

The Year of Humanities: epic fail

Call us hippies, humanitarians, Dr. Seuss' loving Loraxes if you want, but it was par for the course to hear someone cry out, ""I speak for the Humani‘trees'!"" during this year's Editorial Board roundtables. That's because at the beginning of this academic year, Chancellor Biddy Martin declared this the Year of the Humanities. It was supposed to be a tribute to those still lost and wandering through the halls of the Humanities building and/or jobless with that English degree; i.e., an acknowledgement of the importance of those who prioritize critical thinking skills. One of the oldest and most neglected buildings on campus, Humanities houses a limited supply of TAs who are left to tend to inevitably non-profitable, non-math and non-science majors. These students are then left to preserve pride and appreciation for their field. Yet, Biddy's declaration finally promised vindication—theoretically, that is.

Implications of buying local extend beyond your shopping list

The Dardanelles is a 13-year-old Mediterranean restaurant located on the west side of campus on Monroe Street. You can't order a number three with fries, and the Mahi Mahi doesn't taste like a stuffed Chipotle burrito. It's the perfect symbol for the small-town, local atmosphere of restaurants and shops that fill the area.

New major far too ""liberal

 There might be a new twist in the future when answering the age-old ice breaker, ""What's your major?""

Biking Bad

As much as we love those men in uniform, Madison can't get enough of the jolly fellows patrolling the streets via pedals. Yes, Madison has a love for the diligent and forceful bike police who make it top priority to catch and ticket any criminals illegally zipping through Library Mall at record speeds. This safety squad is just one small portion of Madison's extreme efforts to create and uphold a more bike friendly city.

Space takes a backseat to planet earth

President Obama promised to stand up for what is right, not what is popular. So he can't be very surprised by the chilly reception some are giving his plan to cut a NASA moon-landing program.

Big changes needed for cleaner lakes

I don't know about you, but I can't believe summer is just around the corner. I feel like I'm still getting out of my winter slump (or maybe that's just my junioritis kicking in). And with the warm weather finally settling in for good, Lake Mendota is open for business. But how safe is the water actually? Do you really know what you're swimming in?

Squabbling Democrats nominate gubernatorial candidate in Minnesota

As Scott Walker, Mark Neumann, and Tom Barretteare vying to become the next governor of Wisconsin, an intense political drama is unfolding across the river in Minnesota to replace their governor, Tim Pawlenty. While many Badgers may not necessarily have an interest in the political climate in Minnesota, the events of last weekend's Democratic Farmer-Labor Party convention speak to a larger problem nationally within the Democratic Party. Since the election of Barack Obama, the Democratic Party has struggled to maintain unity as centrist Democrats quarrel with the far left as to who will maintain control of the party. Last weekend's Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party convention confirmed this point.

Williams, Johnson for ASM leadership

The Associated Students of Madison may not be the most exciting topic on campus. Bucky Badger's shapely body is probably more inspiring. But nonetheless, ASM is an integral part of our daily lives as students. The student government is charged with allocating $38 million in student segregated fees and giving students a voice in administration decisions through shared governance, and it is important that the right students are put in charge of that money.

Editorial Cartoon: April 28, 2010

Booze restrictions bad for business

Last week, the Alcohol License Review Committee approved a repeal of a three-year-old provision that has effectively been preventing new businesses from getting a liquor license in Madison's downtown area. Under the 365-day provision of the Alcohol Licensing Density Ordinance, any incoming establishment in Madison's central business district may not apply to the ALRC unless it is located at an address that has held a tavern license within the last 365 days.

Time to dwell on ""her-story

As Lathrop Hall, one of the most historically important structures on campus turns one-hundred years old, it seems a suitable time to reflect on the history, comical ironies and astounding change which has surrounded the record of women on campus.

Americans should be wary of radical rhetoric

Socialist, Nazi, Muslim, terrorist, extremist, baby killer, tyrant, dictator, un-American... and that's just the beginning of a long list of hate-filled words used in political and public conversation when talking about the ""opponent."" There is a reason kids are taught not to use ""bad words."" It is because language does matter and word choice is important. In an era where the F-word has virtually lost all meaning to such an extent that it has become a member of our conversational lexicon, we need to take a step back and realize that the words we use are powerful, charged with meaning, and as such we need to think carefully about how we use them.

Editorial Cartoon: April 27, 2010

Rep. Wood's actions demand discipline

For those of you keeping score in the battle for the state of Wisconsin's reputation, alcoholism increased its commanding lead over responsibility last week.

Keep yourself out of an occupational pickle, take pride in your work

Finally, I have found a way to incorporate one of my most passionate, enduring opinions into a legitimate opinion article.