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Posts published in “Opinions”

Tax reform? The rich get richer and the poor get poorer

The Republicans promised us a tax reform that would simplify the code without adding to the nation’s deficit. They began with this argument: they promised to lower tax rates, particularly on corporations while ending tax breaks and loopholes at the same time. 

House-systems and cliques at Smith

One of the conversations I have been a part of at Smith, revolves around the topic of cliques. It is not hard to recognize all the groups on campus, small and large. 

It is also not surprising that they exist on a campus of so many opinions, especially as cliques serve as a refuge for certain groups. As a first-year I believed it was simply a by-product of the social system and how it functions; there will always be groups who bunch together and choose to be labeled as a group, and some of these groups are healthy for the campus and some aren’t. It is unavoidable. 

Letters to the editor

To Affinity Housing Committee,

 

You are correct; I never should have used the term “lynch.” Thank you for drawing this to my attention.

Further, I want to assure you that your concern about having students in the balcony was related solely to fire code regulations; it had nothing to do banners, or with the particular issue of affinity housing. I regret that this was not communicated clearly.

I know you’re not looking for an apology, but I offer one anyway. Thank you again for raising this issue.

 

Sincerely,
Merrilyn Lewis
Associate Director of Events Management Office

Socializing space and party policies at Smith

After a year away, I had nearly forgotten about some annoying aspects of Smith life: The lengthy B43 commute; the pang of hunger at 10 p.m. because you ate dinner five hours earlier; and people forgetting their laundry while you’re trying to do your own, to name a few. 

Halloweekend at Smith

Halloween is an amazing holiday at Smith: gouged out pumpkins appear on every house porch, as house leaders take the opportunity to fulfill their quotas for house events in the form of pumpkin carving sessions.

Is heckling free speech?

Earlier this month, student protesters prevented the President of the University of Oregon from delivering his “State of the University” speech. The group responded to criticism of their actions by saying that free speech is the right of individuals to express themselves without repression. They argued that taking the stage and using it as a platform to air their grievances was an act of free speech, not a violation of it. 

A review of Harvard’s Igniting Innovation Summit

On Oct. 21, the Jill Ker Conway Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center sponsored a small group of Smith students, in which I had the privilege of being a part of, to attend the eighth Annual Igniting Innovation Summit on Social Entrepreneurship at Harvard University last weekend. The conference took up most of the morning, running into late afternoon and aimed to bring student entrepreneurs’ attention to notable entrepreneurs in various fields.