Opinion

Julie Steinberg | Protecting the right to vote

We've all seen the celebrity-ridden awareness campaign that's been recently circulating online. "Don't vote," Ashton Kutcher and Courtney Cox tell us gravely. "It's not like it's the most important election we've ever had." In case we didn't get the message, Penn Leads the Vote made its own version of the clip featuring campus bigwigs.

Meredith Aska McBride | Reading the fine print

My refrigerator's not working. It's more like the outlet next to the refrigerator; for some reason it only works two days a week (seriously) and keeps blowing some circuit. The refrigerator before this made a lake on my floor every day for a month until it was replaced.

Editorial | Streamlining services

The Next Great City of the 21st century has a 19th-century municipal park system. In 1867, state law established the Fairmount Park Commission to deal with the maintenance and preservation of the 9,200-acre Fairmount Park. But the City also has a Recreation Department, which helps manage public recreation facilities.

Opinion Art | Alicia Puglionesi

Alicia Puglionesi is a College senior from Havertown, Pa. Her e-mail address is puglionesi@dailypennsylvanian.com.

Ryan Benjamin | Lend them your ears

When was the last time you Democrats listened to Sean Hannity? Pat Buchanan? Anything you disagreed with? Shame on the politicians and shame on us for exacerbating a culture of intellectual self-appeasement. It's abundantly simple to believe what you hear and in turn seek out more sources - and more people - who confirm your beliefs.

Editorial | Tougher laws, safer streets

A new law will force criminals to think twice before shooting. Recently, Gov. Ed Rendell signed a bill imposing a mandatory 20-year sentence on anyone who shoots or attempts to shoot at a police officer. We commend the governor for endorsing this legislation.

Jacob Schutz | Creating a more useful calendar

This last week, I read about 30 e-mails about events occurring on campus, received a dozen or so Facebook messages and had countless awkward confrontations on Locust Walk. Then there was the PennPortal calendar of events, the Fisher-Hassenfeld (where I'm a Residential Adviser) Web site of House events and SPEC's combination of posters and e-mails.

Dani Wexler | Reading rubbish

I read trash. Or at least according to some people I do. An article in Monday's issue of The Daily Pennsylvanian reported the plummeting rates of pleasure reading among college students. In it, one student said that "what college students typically read is not helpful at all to improving literacy rates anyway" and highlighted books such as the popular Twilight series as premiere examples of literary garbage.

Emily Fox | Masking our economic fears

Franklin Delano Roosevelt once claimed the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Yet with many Americans spooked by the economy, this fear is translating into an altogether perplexing economic phenomenon. According to a report put out by the National Retail Federation, more people plan to celebrate this year's Halloween than ever before - despite the frightening fall of stocks, savings and financial security.

Opinion Art | Alex Jacobson

Alex Jacobson is a College junior from Los Angeles. His e-mail address is jacobson@dailypennsylvanian.com.

Your Voice | Letters

Domestic terrorism isn't free speech To the Editor: The petition that Penn faculty and students signed in support of William Ayers is totally off the mark. The petition suggests Ayers is being criticized for "voic[ing] perspectives and advanc[ing] questions that challenge orthodoxy and political power" and that this criticism "casts a chill over free speech . and the spirit of democracy.

Lisa Zhu | Destroying democracy

With so much media attention focused on the upcoming presidential election, it's easy to forget that Congress is also turning over. That's just as well, since rampant gerrymandering has severely reduced the competitiveness of many congressional elections in Pennsylvania, leaving voters with few real choices or decision-making influence.

Opinion Art | Jennifer Lesser

Jennifer Lesser is a College junior from Minneapolis, Minn. Her e-mail address is lesser@dailypennsylvanian.com.

Editorial | Humane science

Activists are rattling the University's cage about animal experimentation. A small protest last weekend on the corner of 34th and Walnut streets reiterated complaints that community members have with the University's research methods. The protestors echoed the concerns of Stop Animal Exploitation Now (SAEN), an animal-rights group, which claims that Penn is one of the worst universities when it comes to animal research.

Judith Kim | America can't afford to abandon New Orleans

In his Oct. 3, 2008 column, Mordechai Treiger raises a very valid question: "Why save New Orleans?" He claims that New Orleans, because of it precarious geologic location, is in danger of succumbing to the forces of nature and therefore will unavoidably be destroyed.

David Kanter | A double standard toward scalping

For all those diehard Phillies fans out there, this coming week should be special. For the first time in 15 years your Phils are back in the Fall Classic. But if you want to make it down to Citizens Bank Park to watch the Series in person, it's going to cost you - listings on the ticket resale Web site StubHub.

Editorial | Giving us options

Massive bulk packs are a necessary evil. Many Penn classes require students to purchase these packages of notes, which can contain upward of 500 pages. Printed and bound bulk packs can be expensive, often over $50. With the economy in the trash and textbook prices ever-rising, this cost can put a significant dent in the Penn student's wallet.

Christina Domenico | The more the merrier

We're nearing the end of October, Fall Break has come and gone, so that can only mean one thing - it's almost Halloween! That may be the first event which comes to most students' minds - my own costume is waiting impatiently to make its debut - but before Halloween week rolls in, some students find themselves playing host to mom and dad.

Opinion Art | Janice Dow

Janice Dow is a College sophomore from Los Angeles, CA. Her e-mail address is dow@dailypennsylvanian.com.

Opinion Art | Amira Fawcett

Amira Fawcett is an Engineering senior from Houston, Texas. Her e-mail address is fawcett@dailypennsylvanian.com.