Northeastern has a tuition problem. This has long been evident to most Northeastern students, but the urgency of the issue was highlighted by the White House’s new College Scorecard, which analyzes the true costs of attending institutions across the nation. To be blunt, Northeastern got an F.
If Congress fails to get it together by tomorrow, the United States faces some pretty significant spending cuts, also known as the sequester – anyone who has turned on CNN in the last two weeks is already probably sick of the word. But what I wasn’t so sure about, and what a lot of the news coverage fails to address, is whether I – a student at a large research university – am screwed.
Last week, President Obama announced that by this time next year, the United States will withdraw half of its troops from Afghanistan. This is encouraging news for those who believe the War in Afghanistan has gone on too long. But will such a significant drawdown result in a reduction of military operations in the country? Intuition says it would, but a highly controversial, often ignored practice leaves this question unresolved. This practice, of course, is that of U.S. drone strikes.
With freezing temperatures, constant snowfall and the T breaking down every five minutes, it is safe to say that many Bostonians are dreaming of a getaway. I am no different. I have been planning a vacation to Jamaica for the past couple months and soon I will be sitting on a beach for a week without a care in the world – hopefully. Not all vacations go as planned, as I and many others have experienced.
One of my goals has always been to be someone who is constantly changing, adapting and evolving as I acquire more knowledge and enter new chapters in my life. I can assuredly say that recently I feel like perhaps one of the most noteworthy transitions of my life is occurring, and I could not be more ready to embrace it. The other day I received a leaflet on campus which elucidated the realities of animal agriculture – it rendered me utterly speechless.
A Community Task Force made up of residents of surrounding neighborhoods – the Fenway, Mission Hill, Roxbury and the South End – is currently reviewing the notification form and will advise on it. The administration drafted the notification form, the community is reviewing it and the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) will have the final word. But there is one key group missing from this equation: students.
Two years ago, the PT Kizone factory in Indonesia that made collegiate apparel shut down after brands including Adidas refused to use a factory where workers had organized. Since the factory closure, the 2,800 former PT Kizone workers have fought to make Adidas pay $1.8 million in severance pay – a benefit that all companies are required to pay under Indonesian law since workers often don't have access to social assistance like unemployment benefits.
This week President Joseph E. Aoun launched a new initiative to promote diversity and harmony at Northeastern, through the Presidential Council on Diversity and Inclusion (PCDI), and a series of events to promote these values. These are certainly laudable efforts; it is encouraging to know that President Aoun and the administration recognize the need to encourage such ideals at Northeastern. The administration, faculty, staff and students alike should work together to carry out this vision.
