Vox Populi: What May 1st means

Devin Griggs

Opinion Editor

Across the globe, the first of May brings demonstrations, parades and celebrations. Why is that, you might ask? May 1 is the traditional “Labor Day” for just about everywhere in the world outside of Canada, Japan and the United States, all three of which celebrate Labor Day in the fall. Known around the world as “International Labor Day”, “International Worker’s Day”, or simply “Labor Day”, May 1 commemorates the fight for the eight-hour workday and the killing of workers that protested for the eight-hour day (among other things) at Haymarket Square in Chicago on May 4, 1886 (following arrests made of striking workers on May 1, 1886). … Continue Reading

Letter to the Editor: 05.04.12

Bill Zingrone
assistant professor of psychology

Steven Herr’s response to my reply stemming from my original editorial “Religion is not the answer” cites some research from psychology and psychiatry that religious belief may have some potential benefits for the life of the individual doing the believing. And that may well be true. But the focus of my editorial and my response to Professor Goggins was the not merely potential but very tangible negative effects of religious thought on our individual personal freedoms, as believers of all stripes mistakenly think, since they claim to understand what some god intends for all of our behavior, they get to impose it on the rest of us. … Continue Reading

If you really want it fight for it

John Walker
senior from
Nicholasville, Ky.

The coming increases in tuition for students leaves the competency of higher education systems of this state in doubt. The students of this system are already stretched to their financial limits, so it is a wonder how they can afford to raise tuition once again. … Continue Reading

Our View: Standing up for ourselves

Friday’s emergency meeting of the Board of Regents yielded the tuition increase that was expected. The Board of Regents raised tuition fees, as well as fees for student meal plans and residential housing plans for the upcoming semester. … Continue Reading

Vox Populi: Investing in our future

Devin Griggs
Opinion Editor

You don’t have to look far to read about the impending or ongoing crisis in education. Whether it’s primary, secondary or higher education, chances are there’s something going wrong somewhere. This is inevitably followed up with the condemnation of teachers for ‘allowing this to happen’. … Continue Reading

Letter to the Editor: 4.27.12

Caina Lynch
senior from
Fulton, Ky.

One of my favorite things about the spring and summer season is finding produce locally at the local farmer’s markets. Calloway County’s two farmer’s markets will be opening in May. Local farmers, producers and vendors gather together to sell their products to the locals at either the court square or at the fairgrounds. … Continue Reading

Letter to the Editor: 4.27.12

Steve Herr
assistant professor of education

To the best of my understanding, one of the hallmarks of enlightened thinking is a willingness to broadly engage the topic at hand, which is why I was surprised that Professor Bill Zingrone’s recent missives have focused on the shortcomings of religion but made no mention of its virtues. … Continue Reading

Tackling the deficit and weathering the storm

Tamara Sandberg
non-student with the
Kentucky Association of Food Banks

Deficit reduction is an important U.S. national priority, vital to our long-term economic opportunity and security. But just because it’s important doesn’t mean that it can be undertaken without regard to our national values.

Unfortunately, the House Agricultural Committee left values on the sideline this week when it moved forward with a shocking proposal to cut food assistance for our nation’s hungry by over $33 billion. That it was done in the name of deficit reduction does not excuse the fact that cuts to anti-hunger programs at a time when need has never been greater are both reckless and short-sighted. … Continue Reading

Wrather is an exhibit all its own

Paige Graves
senior from
Barlow, Ky.

People often ask me where I work, so I tell them. The response is usually: “Wrather Museum?  There’s a museum on campus?”
I maintain the oldest building on campus and half of the time no one even knows it exists.  It’s pretty unbelievable considering the events I have assisted in scheduling for the past fiscal year.   … Continue Reading

Tuition a student burden

The staff editorial is the majority opinion of the editorial board of The Murray State News.

As goes the nation, so goes Murray? For years, Murray State University has prided itself in making an affordable education a possibility for the young men and women of this state and this country. Comparatively speaking, Murray has some of the lowest tuition rates in the state and in the surrounding area, especially compared to schools outside of Kentucky. … Continue Reading