abby seitz – The Columbia Chronicle

Statute for teen sexting necessary

By Opinions Editor

November 23, 2015

Young adults were once scolded for making out at drive-in movies, but now middle and high schoolers have smartphones and social media offering new ways to explore sex at a younger age. Teenagers who distribute or obtain nude photos of peers and sexual partners who are under the age of 18 can face child pornography charges. States each have their own penalties, but child pornography possession, distribution and production ty...

Universal high-quality preschool pays off

By Opinions Editor

November 2, 2015

Presidential campaign education platforms primarily focus on college tuition and student debt. However, both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders support the implementation of universal prekindergarten education, which would increase access to high-quality preschool education to families of all socioeconomic backgrounds. In the past, preschool has been out of reach for lower-income children, as private preschools are expensive...

Western, secular violence just as destructive as religious violence

By Opinions Editor

October 19, 2015

Mental illness, video games and lax gun laws are frequently blamed for mass violence on American soil, but when violence occurs overseas, many are quick to point the finger at religion for condoning extremism.In his 2007 essay “Does Religion Cause Violence?” William T. Cavanaugh proposed that pitting “rational and irrational, secular and religious, Western and Muslim is not simply descriptive, but helps to create the opposition ...

Controversial college admissions platform has vague intentions

By Editorial Board

October 9, 2015

More than two million high school seniors are expected to apply to college in the next few months, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nearly half of those students will use the Common Application togain admission.. However, the Coalition for Access, Affordability & Success, composed of more than 80 public and private colleges and universities, plans to introduce a new application and “recast the college admissio...

Art + geocaching come to Columbia’s library

By ARTS & CULTURE REPORTER

October 5, 2015

Columbia’s geocachers can now scavenger hunt indoors at the college library and exchange artwork with their peers.The Aesthetics of Research, housed in the library at 624 S. Michigan Ave., launched an interactive geocaching exhibit called “ARTCACHE” as part of Chicago Artists Month. The event, sponsored by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, began Oct. 1. The exhibit starts at the first floor circ...

Lack of religious absence policy inexcusable

By Opinions Editor

October 5, 2015

For those raised in Christian traditions, religious holidays are typically joyous occasions that entail a break from school and work and the chance to celebrate with loved ones. From kindergarten through college, school breaks are conveniently designed to provide students and staff time off around Christmas and Easter. However, for students of other religions and cultures, holidays that overlap with class or work can be stressful...

‘Assassination Theater’ educates and entertains

September 28, 2015

Author, journalist, and playwright Hillel Levin spent seven years extensively researching declassified documents pertaining to the 1963 assassination of former President John F. Kennedy to piece together t...

Smartphone tracking app Class120 detracts from college experience

By Opinions Editor

September 21, 2015

Helicopter parents no longer have to cease their over-involvement when dropping their children off at college—the smartphone application Class120 now allows parents to track whether their college kids are attending class.Apps like Family Tracker, Find My Kids and Sygic Family Locator have allowed parents to track their children’s whereabouts for years. However, Class120 is specifically designed to allow parents to monitor...

‘Pink Viagra’ not a feminist victory

By Abby Seitz, Opinions Editor

September 8, 2015

Sexual arousal disorders were first recognized in the inaugural edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1952. Within one year, the Food and Drug Administration approved Delatestryl to treat erectile dysfunction in men. However, there was no treatment for women struggling with a low libido until August 2015, when the FDA approved flibanserin. The drug is expected to be available nationwide as e...

Mary Blinn, former assistant to the chair of the Music Department, was known for her work as a poet, songwriter, singer and visual artist.

College saddened by death of Music Department’s Mary Blinn

July 6, 2015

The college has announced the death of Mary Blinn, former assistant to the chair of the Music Department.Blinn died suddenly on June 25 after having taken a medical leave at the end of October 2014, which la...

Dogs, humans exchange oxytocin rushes

By Sports & Health Reporter

May 11, 2015

Dogs are known for being a man’s best friend because of the close bond many dog owners share with their pups. This bond is solidified when dogs gaze at their owners, according to a study published in the April 17 edition of the journal Science.Researchers at Azabu University in Japan have found that when dogs and humans exchange gazes, both experience rushes of oxytocin. Oxytocin, often called the “the love hormone,” is...

Featured Athlete: Kent Leng

By Sports & Health Reporter

May 11, 2015

Kent Leng, a senior business & entrepreneurship major, grew up with two passions: baseball and snowboarding. While he participated in both sports throughout his childhood, he ultimately chose to focus on snowboarding during his sophomore year of high school. After graduating high school in 2008, he spent a year in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and two years in Salt Lake City, Utah, producing snowboarding videos. Leng’s pass...