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COMMENTARY By John Doyle
I read the Picket every week and I love it. I particularly like the opinion pieces. While I often disagree with some of the conclusions, the factual basis for most opinions is sound. As the late senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan was fond of saying, "everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts." Picket opinion articles regularly follow that dictum. However, In last week's edition there appeared to be considerable misunderstanding (in more than one article) about the proposed annexation of part of Shepherd University by the town of Shepherdstown. I don't have a position on this question because I should not have one. I'm not a resident of the town nor am I connected in some way with the university. Were I to express a position on this question, I would properly be regarded as an interloper. However, since municipal annexation falls under the general heading of "land use," which is one of the three areas of state law I've focused on in the State Legislature, I may be able to help provide some facts. |
Reader Feedback Commentary Features More Commentary Articles Democrats continue to misuse the "race card" Obama's feelings toward gay community unclear Sleeplessness survey reveals more serious health and economic issues in West Virginia Liberal media still spreading myths about the tea party Campus annexation fueled by greed, politics Women in US military battle sexual abuse Obama's avoidance of Fox causes suspicion and anger Why I'm for (and against) gay marriage Social networking sites are guilty pleasure for many Obama deserves patience, but not a prize Grad school prospects seem dim due to lack of preparedness Americans easily deceived by right-wing radical Beck
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Residence Life policies: strict or outright unfair? By Audra Costlow The policies at Shepherd for moving off-campus seem unusually strict. In order to "qualify" for such a move, a full-time, unmarried student without dependents must have completed at least 96 credit hours or must have family, with whom they would presumably be living, within 60 miles of Shepherd's campus. Unless a student meets these conditions, they are required to live in on-campus housing, or they face consequences, which can include mandatory classes and meetings, expensive fines, and holds placed on registration accounts. This policy is absurd, and it reveals a lack of trust on the part of the university. While I can understand the concern of Shepherdstown residents over an influx of students living in rentals and causing noise and messes in town, the university seems solely motivated by money. The costs of housing and mandatory meal plans are a major reason why students move off-campus in the first place, but the prices of these requirements continue to increase alongside tuition. Also, students who get jobs in the area often want to live off-campus to ensure having a place to live year-round, but according to Residence Life, this is not a valid justification for living independently. |
Breast cancer segment causes undue controversy By Audra Costlow
October was
Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and countless organizations and agencies
participated in raising funds and providing education to support this
cause. Unfortunately, controversy arose in our area when news channel ABC
7 WJLA featured a segment on self-examination which showed a nude breast,
nipple included. |
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