34th Street Magazine's "Toast" is a semi-weekly newsletter with the latest on Penn's campus culture and arts scene. Delivered Monday-Wednesday-Friday.
Free.
I welcome the free flow of expression and ideas at Penn regardless of where they fall on the political spectrum. But the best debate is an open and honest one. The best debate is one in which people speak freely and do not actively obscure their true beliefs.
Frank Luntz’s talk to campus was the first major speaker event that the College Republicans have held in over two years. The mistreatment and disrespect of such a well-respected individual reflects shamefully on this institution and on its students. A courteous and curious student body should welcome speakers of any political affiliation.
As much as I’d love to write my farewell column using only Wharton memes, none of these tidbits caught my eye as much as this gem: Write a piece of semi-autobiographical detective fiction.
Writing personal essays is more like diving into the crowd, grabbing people out of their seats and making them dance with you. This is where I feel at home.
I do keep a journal, sort of. I can look back on it with minimal discomfort, and I don’t have to search through memorabilia boxes to find it. It’s my Facebook profile.
As part of its ongoing Real Beauty campaign, Dove posted a YouTube video last week that has over 19 million views. I find the overwhelmingly positive response to this video troubling — especially the praise from within the Penn community.
We must add our voices to those demanding that we value all lives by speaking out against violence in all of its forms. But we must do more. The best way to honor those whose lives are forever changed by violence is to become data-driven advocates to reduce violence in our communities.
As vice president of College Republicans, students are quick to disagree with me. I heard tougher jests during the campaign season on campus than “working for the Devil” can encapsulate. But that is the beauty of being a member of the so-called opposition.
As our world widens in our college years, the idea of “stranger danger” needs to modify its meaning as well. If we carry the idea unchanged into adulthood, we’ll miss out on getting to know interesting people.
While this bill was not a large step, it was progress, it was momentum, it could have been precedent. With it, we could have moved forward — still together — and talked about what more we could do. The fact that we can do nothing is just ridiculous.
An innocent life is worth just as much as any other innocent life, whether it’s my own, an American’s, an Italian’s, a Saudi Arabian’s or a Pakistani’s.
If the legislation had passed the debate on gun control and gun violence would have been over. The momentum that had built up since Newtown would have diminished.
This has been a stressful semester, capped by an emotionally charged week of national tragedy. With classes coming to an end and finals approaching, you may find yourself feeling anxious or overwhelmed, or you may struggle to focus. These feelings are common. We are here to listen and assist.
We’re not saying underage drinking is not a crime and that certain persons are above the law. We are saying that the police weren’t enforcing the law — they were enforcing Fling.
Before I get chastised for my literary apathy and irreverence for the canons, I’ll have you know that I am capable of reading a book from start to finish. But with a constant influx of titles, it doesn’t seem worth the commitment.