Butler University welcomed freshmen last week by curtailing their ability to fraternize with other student groups on campus. All Greek house presidents received an email from Becky Druetzler, director of greek affairs and orientation programs, explaining that there were to be no social gatherings of any nature during Welcome Week. While this email claimed to…
Coming up short: The debt ceiling vs. Federal Pell Grants
Recent debt ceiling debates in Congress could have left hundreds of Butler University students $5,550 short in financial aid for the 2011-12 academic year. The childlike debacle that the debt ceiling debate became in Congress this summer was not only tiresome but put college students across the country in a position of possibly having to…
STAFF EDITORIAL | Free advice for new president
Freshmen aren’t the only people new to Butler University this fall. As Butler President Jim Danko starts his inaugural semester, The Butler Collegian would like to offer some friendly advice. Danko has done a fantastic job this summer speaking with and listening to faculty, staff and Student Government Association members. The new president wants to…
Mail Center move still stings
Late last semester, between the joy and agony of the Final Four and finals week, Butler University announced the relocation of the Mail Center. It was the home of sunny Mail Processor Pam Hopkins and the heart of the campus community. But its relocation symbolizes a shift in Butler’s identity. When the move was announced,…
Cents and sensibility: Butler needs to use both openly
Butler Bowl and Hinkle Fieldhouse renovations: $2.3 million. The Howard Schrott Center for Performing and Visual Arts: $13 million. Cost of one semester at Butler, living in Residential College with a meal plan: $21,500. It would take 107 semesters for one student to pay off the changes to the Bowl and Hinkle. As for…
Obama budget filled with job killing taxes
In “The Obama Budget,” an article published in the February 23 issue of The Collegian, I talked about President Obama’s proposed budget for the 2012 fiscal year. Since then, the president has made some adjustments. Unfortunately, I still feel that the president simply does not understand the flaws of his proposals and that major changes…
Air traffic controllers need more sleep, not longer shifts
Last month, an air traffic controller at Reagan National Airport fell asleep as two planes landed on the runway. Although no one was injured, the Federal Aviation Administration flew into a rage. They released press statements saying that air traffic controllers falling asleep was “unacceptable behavior.” While I understand the massive concern that people watching…
Ryan’s political stunt misses target
The Republican majority in the House passed the “lean government” budget championed by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-WI. The proposed legislation focuses on cutting spending with little to no tax hikes. Ryan’s plan slashes the budgets for “sacred cows” like Medicare and Medicaid—what the Republicans are calling necessary sacrifices. The way I see it is that…
STAFF EDITORIAL | Importance of rights at private universities
La Salle University, a private Catholic school, came under fire after its student newspaper published a story on the front page of an April issue about a professor who had used exotic dancers at an off-campus event to demonstrate a point. Head university officials had protested the publication of the story. The newspaper staff placed…
The issue with drug trafficking: Mexico’s crisis is U.S. crisis, too
I’ve heard several people express the idea that if we as a nation are not careful, Mexico’s drug crisis might spill over into the United States. The problem is it already has. There is no uniquely Mexican drug crisis. We are experiencing the American drug crisis. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, recently proposed that Mexican cartels…