Government misses the mark on Family Smoking Prevention Act

Dann Fry
November 1, 2009
Filed under Opinions

Earlier this year President Barack Obama signed into existence the toughest new laws ever placed on the tobacco industry. He cited his own struggle to quit the cigarettes he took up as a teenager and praised the new Family Smoking Prevention Act for providing "critically needed protections for future... Read more »

America’s absurd obsession with lawns

Sean Simonson
October 26, 2009
Filed under Opinions

As the settlers began moving West, they reportedly encountered purple mountain majesties and amber waves of grain instead of immaculate, ankle-high, waste-of-two-hours-of-my-Saturday that is often referred to as a lawn. But the problem is not just my lawn; it’s the 23 million acres of lawns in... Read more »

Skip-a-Final should be based on grades

Emily Busch
October 25, 2009
Filed under Opinions

We all know that skip-a-final has been canceled because of the flu. Rather than letting the skip-a-final policy dissapear into oblivion, this is the perfect opportunity for the administrators to edit and revise the skip-a-final policy. A new skip-a-final should be based on grades not on perfect attendance. ... Read more »

Spring break trips too expensive

Alana Profit
October 21, 2009
Filed under Opinions

Spain's got delicious tapas and exotic flamenco dancing, India has the Taj Mahal and the Lotus Temple, and let's not forget the fabulous gelato and rich Catholic roots of Italy. Sounds like a fun opportunity for Spring Break, right? Wrong. The reality is that these trips, costing anywhere from $3,000... Read more »

Drug legalization

Dann Fry
September 30, 2009
Filed under Opinions

Our culture is saturated with drugs, whether political bodies wish to acknowledge the fact or not. One sixth of the US population reports having used marijuana, with users of harder substances also in the millions; indeed, the cash in your pocket has a 90 percent chance of being contaminated with cocaine. Presently... Read more »

Wellness: A Waste of Time

Katie Hoesley
September 12, 2009
Filed under Opinions

During the most stress-filled time in most high schoolers' lives, senior year, the few spare minutes we can muster up to do homework, work on college applications, or occasionally relax are becoming exceedingly difficult to come by. Luckily, tradition has held for years that students have at least... Read more »

Don’t flaunt your views against religion

Evan Bakker
May 19, 2009
Filed under Opinions

The student body at Benilde-St. Margaret’s is a vast pallet of different religious beliefs and cultural influences. However, some students, whether they be atheists or students who consider themselves staunchly against organized religion, have put on an aura of arrogance and degraded religion in general. Throughout... Read more »

Overcleanliness is actually dangerous

Shannon Cunnien
May 8, 2009
Filed under Opinions

Moms drenching their children in antibacterial Febreeze, couches and chairs covered in germ-free plastic sheets, sanitation rooms as the entry to every building -- this is the future we're coming to if the prevalent fear of germs continues to grow. Anything to an extreme, in excess or in lack, can... Read more »

Media overreacts to Swine Flu, scaring all

Meredith Gallagher
May 6, 2009
Filed under Opinions

Swine flu. Swine flu. Swine flu. Swine flu! It’s impossible to turn on the TV or log onto the Internet or even walk down the hallway without hearing some mention of the spreading sickness. Yes, it is a serious issue, but people need to get their facts straight before they start overreacting. The... Read more »

Teachers cram material close to AP week

editorial staff
May 5, 2009
Filed under Opinions

Teachers unload five projects at one time while students lose time to study for their AP tests. This is a paradox that needs to stop. As we approach the end of the year, AP teachers should recognize the stress and importance of AP tests. Upperclassmen have tried to cram as much information for the coming... Read more »