opinions – The Columbia Chronicle

OPINION: Fewer aldermen means lack of representation

February 3, 2019

Chicago has long been viewed as a center of political corruption. Now, federal extortion charges against longtime Ald. Ed Burke (14th Ward) and the subsequent fallout impacting other politicians has ren...

Stop jumping into relationships

By Halie Parkinson

October 29, 2018

Whether you swipe right on Tinder, scroll through social media or tackle the hook-up culture, the concept of dating surrounds us.We are constantly watching celebrities leap into new relationships, the ...

EDITORIAL: Recognizing discrimination can help end violence against trans people

October 22, 2018

Ciara Carter, a transgender woman of color, was killed in Garfield Park Oct. 3. She was the 22nd trans person known to have been murdered this year and the second trans woman of color killed in Chicago s...

EDITORIAL: Arming teachers makes schools more dangerous, not safer

By Editorial Board

September 4, 2018

A student opens their backpack on the first day of school to find textbooks, highlighters and pencils. Somewhere in a classroom, a teacher opens their desk drawer to find a gun. This may become our reality. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is considering allowing states to use federal funds to buy guns for educators, as reported Aug. 22 by The New York Times. Because weapon purchases are not specifically prohibited in the...

OPINION: McCain stood up to Trump, but did not stand up for the marginalized

By Jay Berghuis

September 4, 2018

In the wake of John McCain’s death from glioblastoma Aug. 25, headlines have defined his legacy: a “maverick,” according to Rolling Stone; a man with “a rare sense of honor,” according to NBC;...

Politicians are supposed to unify, not divide

North Dakota journalism students are missing out

November 6, 2017

A Native-American professor at the University of North Dakota resigned after his multiple lecture series proposals about the controversial Dakota Access pipeline were shot down, stripping away exceptional educati...

Early education is a worthwhile investment

May 9, 2016

A recent study from the Stanford Center for Education Policy Analysis highlights how students’ socioeconomic status and race relate to their educational development, according to an April 29 New York Times article.The study indicates that students low on the socioeconomic spectrum perform as much as three grade levels behind where they should be. It also revealed race-related disparities in grade levels even among stude...

Illegal gun trading is not a right

May 9, 2016

Legislation that was due to be introduced in the Illinois House the week of May 2 could significantly decrease illegal gun sales and trade in Illinois, according to an April 28 Chicago Tribune article.The legislation is backed by Democrats in the Illinois House and Gabby Giffords, a former Arizona Congresswoman who survived a 2011 assassination attempt and is now a major advocate for restrictions on gun trade and sales. It is...

Good afternoon, good evening and goodbye

By Arts & Culture Editor

May 9, 2016

How can you sum up four years of college in one column? It’s not easy; I’ll tell you that much.I’ve thought a lot about what to say, but I’m not really one for sentimentality. Sure, I’ve cried watching “Her,” but who hasn’t? I figured in the end, I’d just write something funny and make some inside jokes like I usually do. But as the anxiety of stepping into the real world starts to creep in, I felt like I...

My farewell address

By Jeff Lyon

May 9, 2016

As many of you know, I will be leaving Columbia this June after 28 years. The memories I am taking with me are mostly good ones. I estimate that I have touched the lives of some 2,000 journalism students in that time, a source of great satisfaction to me. Many of them have gone on to successful media careers, and I hope I’ve played at least some small role in that success. Conversely, some may have gone into other prof...

The bittersweet ending of my college career

By Multimedia Reporter

May 9, 2016

If someone told me a few years ago that I would be preparing to graduate from Columbia now, I would not have believed them. I did not even know I would attend Columbia until I discovered my interest in journalism during my senior year of high school. Still, walking through Columbia’s doors was surreal to me, especially since I grew up on the South Side of Chicago and lived there my entire life. Downtown Chicago’s peac...

Minimum wage increase cannot be business-focused

April 25, 2016

On April 14, minimum wage workers in Chicago and nationwide gathered to advocate for a $15 minimum wage, as reported April 18 by The Chronicle. The Fight for 15 movement, as it is called, has gained traction throughout the labor movement, and states such as California and New York have adopted plans to raise the minimum wage to $15 over a number of years.Chicago’s minimum wage is set to increase from $10 to $10.50 on Jul...