In the spirit of spring cleaning, let’s talk about what is likely buried in the depths of your closet: piles of brand-new blankets, never-opened fluffy socks, random gadgets, a candle that has never been lit.  These items were gifts bought with good intentions by people who care about you. The problem isn’t the intention, though, it’s the habit of buying several things when one better thing would have done more. Continue reading Gift sustainably: nobody needs another gift set

HIV treatment is not a luxury or a political tool. This treatment allows people that suffer from HIV to stay healthy, support their families and live longer, happier lives. Along with these benefits, it heavily lowers the risk of transmission, making treatment a public health priority. This is why any effort to take away or limit access to HIV aid is unethical and dangerous. Continue reading Our View: HIV treatment should not be politicized

Bryan Johnson is a multimillionaire who gained his net worth of $300 million by founding “Braintree,” a company which became what we now know as Venmo and PayPal. But what Johnson is most famous for is “Blueprint.” Blueprint is Johnson’s formula of exercise, vitamins and medical procedures meant to reverse his age. Continue reading Bryan Johnson’s quest for humanity is problematic

Taking a look around the dining hall, the library or even during everyday walks to class, everyone is staring down at their phone. As college students, we have a million tasks plaguing our brains, so we often spend the little  free time we such as free our breaks to eat or our walks to the next class on our phones. Our phones have become such a normal part of everyday life that we barely notice how often we use them. However, phones negatively affect mental and physical health for individuals who use them excessively. Continue reading Our View: You should spend less time on your phone

As a junior and senior in high school, I was one of many students stressed about college decisions. I was constantly comparing my “dream” schools to back-up schools, and at the time, it felt like the decision I made about where I wanted to go was going to dramatically affect my entire life. Everyone around me was in the same boat, constantly talking about college stats and worrying about their applications. Continue reading Choosing a college to attend shouldn’t be stressful

What would you do if you were told that you were inadvertently giving money to an organization that you do not support? Companies often do business with other organizations, and it can be difficult to keep up with what they fund. Nonetheless, it is extremely important to pay attention to what you are supporting so you can place your money into causes you approve of.  Continue reading Our View: Berry must end their Aramark contract

I bet some people have already turned the page, extremely upset at being called out. If you find yourself in a situation where people around you are distraught by a certain political event, and you don’t feel the same way, you are most likely privileged for having your needs met by the status quo. Continue reading Not being politically active is a sign of privilege

Arts and humanities have been the backbone of cultural development throughout history. They preserve our past and help us better our future. Despite this, these subjects are often treated as expendable in educational systems today. Modern-day education often focuses on STEM pathways, especially when it comes to allocating finances. When budgets shrink, it is the music rooms, dance studios, art programs and humanities departments that face the first cuts in funding.  Continue reading Our View: The arts deserve to have more funding

How likely is it that you have a name or nickname that differs from the one you were given at birth? There is a high possibility that you do, as nicknames have been prevalent among various people and societies since humanity’s inception. Continue reading Make sure to respect everyone’s preferred name