Category: Columns

Democratic Party needs to shift away from Pelosi

Nancy Pelosi, current house majority leader in the U.S. House of Representatives, is in the running to succeed Paul Ryan to become the next Speaker of the House. Before I go any further, I want to clarify that I am neither a democrat nor a republican. While I don’t associate with either party, every American… Continue reading Democratic Party needs to shift away from Pelosi

Whether big or small, know your college

UTM is the smallest school in the UT system in both campus size and student body. Even though a degree from UTM will say “The University of Tennessee” just like a degree from Chattanooga or Knoxville, the experiences students have over four years will differ greatly whether they’re a Moc, Vol or Skyhawk. Martin is… Continue reading Whether big or small, know your college

Is Vaping the Safe Alternative?

Ever since the publication of the Surgeon General’s report on cigarettes in the 1960s, America has been fighting a protracted war for the hearts and minds of millions of smokers to turn them away from tobacco use. The adverse health effects of smoking cigarettes are now unquestionable and the government’s efforts to curb the smoking… Continue reading Is Vaping the Safe Alternative?

How sports can kill fans through emotion

Sports are interwoven into society not just in the United States, but all over the world. People attach themselves to sports teams for a variety of reasons, not just financially by buying merchandise or paying to go to games, but also emotionally. When we root for a sports team, we’re emotionally attaching ourselves to their… Continue reading How sports can kill fans through emotion

Quarterbacks are still football players

Football is evolving, mostly for the better, but the NFL seems to be forgetting that quarterbacks are still football players. First and foremost, all football players are human beings, so of course a priority should be keeping them safe as best they can. Having said that, football is a contact sport. From players to people… Continue reading Quarterbacks are still football players

Is Facebook Seeking to Stifle Alternative Media Sources?

On Thursday, Oct. 11, with just a month to go before the midterm elections, Facebook announced that they had purged around 800 pages and accounts tied to alternative media sources due to their “inauthentic behavior,” mostly related to spam and click-bait, which Facebook said was against their user guidelines. While the initial storm has died… Continue reading Is Facebook Seeking to Stifle Alternative Media Sources?

Natural disasters can play a big role in politics

The phrase “everything is political” is not an exaggeration; something as non-political sounding as a natural disaster can take a political twist. Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes and so on, can play a role in affecting the reputation of a politician. A key function that the government should be responsible for is protecting its… Continue reading Natural disasters can play a big role in politics

You see, I see, we all see Josi as Pred’s captain

In hockey, the role of team captain is more than just a ‘C’ on a player’s jersey. A player wearing a big ‘C’ on the front of their jersey is supposed to be a player that can lead in the locker room and rally the troops towards greatness. This doesn’t mean that the captain is… Continue reading You see, I see, we all see Josi as Pred’s captain

Championship-induced hangovers

Athletes and sports fans are often times very superstitious. Trends like “The Madden Curse,” and jinxing are often prevalent concerns. But are “championship hangovers” real and if so, how concerned should we be for our teams? A championship hangover isn’t the typical sort of hangover someone would get after a night of drinking. This particular… Continue reading Championship-induced hangovers