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Hakim looked at me like a deer caught in the headlights of a Mack truck barreling down I-57. Half of my glass of wine was now on the conference room floor. He was waiting for me to play the part of the angry American, but before I could assure him I wasn't upset, he had muttered several apologies and had disappeared into the crowd of international students to grab me another drink.… Post the First Comment

This week finds President Bush in several nations on the African continent. His visit, ostensibly to reaffirm and to strengthen ties with those nations, is really just a visit from the world's favorite bagman. Show up, drop off the dough, and then beat it; that's what the world wants from us, and sadly we give it to them.… Post the First Comment

It was one of those quiet but persistent rumors; a piece of gossip that was traded in the secrecy of a small town café or Bible study. "The preacher's kid is an alcoholic," they said. "He's getting out of control." And as dirty little secrets like this are prone to do, it developed a life of its own until it ruined another's.… Post the First Comment

I believe I am a true-blooded American. Despite how I feel about our preempted wars, horrible international business practices and general ethnocentric attitudes, it pains me to say that sometimes, but like every true American, I could not survive without my car.… Post the First Comment

The weatherman said it was the "storm this generation has never seen." I don't know if I would be so melodramatic, but it was a catastrophe for those of us living in the country. The ice and snow of last week put my family out of power for three straight days, which was why I didn't have an article in last week's paper.… 1 Comment

A legend can be defined as a person or thing coming down from the past that inspires a story. The most recent school shooting, which occurred at our northern brethren's university, has left many in shock. For some, the violence has become almost numbing because it seems like there is a new school shooting every week.… Post the First Comment

In northern Arizona there is a tourist attraction known as Barringer Meteor Crater. It is a giant hole, measuring some 4,000 feet in diameter and 570 feet deep. It was formed about 50,000 years ago when a nickel-iron meteorite slammed into the plains going somewhere between 30,000 and 45,000 miles per hour.… Post the First Comment

A huge plastic bag sagged over my head. It hovered three or four feet to my north, with dust its only inhabitant. I wondered why it was there. Probably to catch bricks. There is one bathroom. And in that bathroom, there is but one working stall. And in that stall, there is no ceiling.… Post the First Comment

It was an event that was heard around the world. A relic of the Cold War and an icon of leftist revolutionaries gave up the throne in communist Cuba. For more than 50 years, Fidel Castro, the ruler of Cuba, has been a thorn in the sides of 10 U.S. administrations.… Post the First Comment

Thumbs Up to SIU for giving in to Mother Nature and closing school last Thursday and Friday. When there is a thick layer of ice on the ground, closing school should be a no-brainer. It's good to see that whoever makes the decision to call off school finally came to his senses.… Post the First Comment

Walking around campus on what started off as a sunny Sunday afternoon, I spotted this pail a couple hundred feet ahead of me behind the Life Science II building. I moseyed my way over out of pure curiosity to see what this pail held inside. To my utter disgust, I found dozens of smoked-out wet cigarette butts and an empty cigar pack.… 2 Comments

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On Thursday, nearly 200 countries of the world will be celebrating International Mother Language Day, an event aimed at promoting linguistic diversity and multilingual education. Many may not believe that about half of the 6,000 languages spoken in the world are in danger of extinction.… Post the First Comment

Libraries are projected as a safe haven for anyone, especially children, seeking a quiet place to read and learn. Vigilant librarians shush patrons as they replace novels on shelves. Most voices are set to whisper. The occasional ruffle of pages or hum of air conditioning give background noise to the otherwise silent landscape.… 1 Comment

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In light of Eating Disorders Awareness Week, it seems appropriate to take the time to clear up some of the misconceptions about eating disorders and disordered eating, which abound on a college campus. Most articles about eating disorders might begin with some statistics, such as the facts that nearly 20 percent of college freshmen have some type of disordered eating, 78 percent of college females have reported binge eating.… 2 Comments