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Articles by Jacob Kowalski
Eight Earn All-Conference Honors
Full G-MAC Release Ashland, Ohio- After winning the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championship, Findlay had eight wrestlers earn honors from the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC). The day was highlighted by junior Graham Shore who was named the Wrestler of the Meet after winning the 125 weight class. Shore started the day with a bye before going 2-0 to win the weight class.
Republicans fight climate change progress on every front
Currently the Trump Administration is hoping to roll-back an Obama-era regulation aimed at specialty light bulbs (decorative globes used in bathrooms, reflectors in recessed lighting, candle-shaped lights, etc.). The proposed rule would require these lightbulbs to be more energy efficient, as “standard” bulbs are under a law passed in 2007. It is because of this law that most incandescent bulbs have been replaced with LEDs that are five times more efficient.
AP style, the oxford comma, and communication
A key goal of any newspaper should be communication. There is a reason writers stray from terms that may be unfamiliar to the common reader and attempt to make the ideas they present straightforward. Capably conveying information is a critical component of journalism. It would stand to reason that the grammatical style employed by newspapers would reflect this mission. Journalistic writing is largely governed by the rules of Associated Press (AP) style.
Who should dems put forward in 2020?
The Democratic Iowa Caucus is just under a year away. That means, of course, it is time to speculate on which candidates will/should be the front-runners in the Democratic primaries. Right now, the field is wide open, with more than a dozen candidates already running and even more in the discussion. For the sake of brevity I’ll try and discuss the type of candidate that would be best suited to run in the current political environment, and then move on to who specifically would be a good candidate.
Normalization is a double-edged sword
Normalization, when not being used in the mathematical sense, is the process by which certain behaviors and concepts become normal, or taken for granted, in our society. The term has become increasingly popular in reference to certain repeating events. For example, there has been much talk about how the sheer number of mass shootings in the U.S. has normalized their occurrence for much of the U.S. populace.
Opinion: What does it mean to be a real American?
That is one of the questions asked last December in the Grinnell College National Poll. The polling firm that conducted the study, Selzer & Company, mentioned a number of traits that people commonly associate with being an American. Respondents then rated their opinions on each trait listed in the poll. At first glance this seems like a fairly innocuous question, but while it can be useful to know the importance people place on different traits, the phrasing of the questions is by default divisive.
When anti-intellectualism turns deadly
“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.” Albert Einstein said that, and in the decades since that day there has not exactly been strong evidence to the contrary. In fact, much like the expansion of the universe, it sometimes feels as if the stupidity of humanity has been accelerating.
SCOTUS decision on civil asset forfeiture a win for individuals
It is not often that a unanimous Supreme Court decision makes its way into the national news. While there is no shortage of 9-0 rulings, they mostly concern issues regarded as mundane. The Supreme Court’s most recent decision concerning civil asset forfeiture marks one of the few times in recent memory that a “hot button” issue has resulted in a unanimous ruling. The court found that the Constitution’s ban on excessive fines applies to state and local governments and not just at the federal level.
Opinion: Trump shows the military an astonishing amount of disrespect
Throughout the 2016 presidential campaign and his first two years in office, Donald Trump has presented himself as an ardent supporter of the military. But while he talks a good talk, often describing himself as great for the military, his actions and policies leave much to be desired. Trump has, to be fair, overseen drastic increases in military spending. But these expenditures often aren’t helping the average person serving in the military, or our veterans.
Opinion: The shutdown is over, but how can we prevent such catastrophe in the future?
After more than a month, the longest government shutdown in U.S. history is over. But for weeks on end there were 800,000 federal employees from nine federal departments who didn’t get paid. More than half of those employees were forced to work without pay. Heartbreaking stories about the difficulties workers and their families faced poured in from around the country. But the economic stresses placed on federal workers and their families were just the tip of the iceberg.
Opinion: When bias is only reasonable
The Mueller Investigation into Russian election interference and the possibility of collusion originating from the campaign of then-candidate Donald Trump has long faced accusations of bias from Republicans in Congress as well as conservative commentators.
The importance of STEM in Congress
The 2018 midterms have resulted in the most diverse Congress ever. A record number of women were elected to seats. The first Native American women were elected, as well as the first Muslim women. The new diversity is not just demographic-based, however. Nine new members with STEM-related professions also won election this cycle. Some of their professions include aerospace engineering, biochemistry and ocean science.
Lamont is clearly the better choice for Connecticut
The Connecticut gubernatorial race is one of the closest in the country. With overwhelmingly unpopular Dannel Malloy (D) leaving office the Republican Party has a real shot to win back the Governor’s mansion for the first time in eight years. The two major party candidates vying to replace Malloy are Democrat Ned Lamont and Republican Bob Stefanowski. The candidates have vastly different ideas on how to fix the problems Connecticut faces and the values we should hold as a state.
The importance of a two-marshmallow approach to government spending
Possibly the most difficult part of government, other than forcing through Supreme Court Justices credibly accused of sexual assault, is the allocation of government funding. There are strong ideological differences on what programs and initiatives deserve priority. Some of them are based on what we value the most. Conservatives tend to support things like a border wall and increased military funding because they prioritize security and order.
The contradiction of being socially liberal/fiscally conservative
Ask someone what their take on politics is and you can get a lot of answers. Liberal, conservative, Republican, Democrat, Independent, communist; the list goes on and on. Many express their moderate or independent placing on the political spectrum by saying something along the lines of: “I’m socially liberal and fiscally conservative.” The thinking behind this most likely derives from taking the “best parts” of each party.
Adoption agency laws unfair to LGBT citizens and others
Back in 2015, I really felt like the Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage was a conclusion. In a way, it was. After years of progress on the issue, it was suddenly legal everywhere. Full acceptance of same-sex couples, both socially and legally, seemed inevitable to me at the time. In hindsight I was incredibly naive. Brown v. Board of Education did not lead to instant desegregation or the end of racism and the aftermath of Obergefell v. Hodges is no different.
Which season is the best?
With summer coming to a close and autumn just starting up, many are excited for the coming of pumpkin spice everything, sweatshirts and the vibrant colors we will soon see in the trees. The change also brings with it debate, albeit friendly, about what time of the year is best. Therefore, I figured I’d break it down logically and see if I can determine once and for all which season is the best. To get a frame of reference, let’s look at what people around the country think.
Opinion: Forgiving our enemies is our past. And it should be our future
When I was in France this summer an interesting line of dialogue came up between my friends and the Airbnb host whose apartment we were staying at. I can’t remember exactly how the topic got brought up, but we started talking about France’s relationship with Germany in modern times. We knew that nowadays the two countries were pretty close allies. However, considering this relationship in the context of Germany’s subjugation of France under 80 years ago makes it pretty remarkable.
Opinion: A few things to keep in mind your freshman year
Welcome new Huskies, you made it to the University of Connecticut, and if you don’t know we call it UConn around here than how did you even get in? Now that you’re embarking on the next stage of your lives there are a few things, at least in my opinion, that you should consider as you enter college. For most of you, this will be the first time you are able to vote in an election (yes I went immediately to politics; I write opinion articles sue me).
Opinion: Report undermines Republican orthodoxy on regulations
Anyone familiar with the political debates surrounding government regulations (I know, fascinating stuff) is aware that Republicans hate them. Either they are an unnecessary burden on industry, job-killers or both. There are certainly regulations on the books that can be burdensome (e.g. some complex building requirements), but overall many of the regulations crafted by the government yield substantial benefits for the citizens of the country.
Something needs to change with political debate
As we once again approach election season, it will not be too much longer before we see debates between candidates for governor, senate and other government positions. I won’t lie, I’ve always enjoyed watching these debates. In fact, for my birthday a couple of years back, I had all of my friends watch one of the Republican primary debates with me (thanks again guys). But recently I’ve come to the conclusion that debates, especially the presidential ones, are deeply flawed.
Don’t attack young people for having different religious beliefs
If anyone has ever been on the Internet they probably know that millennials are killing a lot of things, from homeownership (because it was definitely millennials who caused the 2007 subprime mortgage crisis) to fabric softener. Another thing the younger people of this country are “killing” is religion. According to a 2014 Pew Research study, younger Americans are significantly less religious than older Americans.
We must give representation to citizens no matter where they live
Voting rights have long been an issue in the United States. It has been a lengthy (often uphill), battle throughout the past couple of centuries to give all people in the country the right to vote. However, our method of giving a voice to all is still lacking in several areas; certain voter ID laws are used to disenfranchise voters and gerrymandering is used to essentially rig elections for politicians who draw the districts.
Opinion: What Should We do When We Find Life in the Stars
If you’re like me, you were really excited when SpaceX conducted their test launch of the Falcon Heavy last week. As someone obsessed with the exploration of outer space, it was an incredible event to witness (and the juxtaposition of David Bowie’s “Life on Mars?,” a personal favorite of mine, was the icing on the cake).
Opinion: New education bill a blow to inclusion at college
Recently, a new bill passed through the education committee of the United States Congress that could potentially have a strong impact on how certain campuses and student groups operate. The bill, which made it through the committee on a party-line vote, corrects what Republicans regard as hostility toward conservative convictions on college campuses.
Assaults on the media could cause lasting damage to democracy
There are many actions the Trump Administration has taken that have run counter to democratic norms. Appointing his children and their spouses to important jobs in the White House. Attacking our own intelligence agencies and refusing to accept their evidence that Russia had interfered in the 2016 election. Demeaning the office of the presidency by using his power and platform to bully and belittle everyone from United States senators to union leaders.
Opinion: Gerrymandering should be struck down in any form it takes
A panel of federal judges recently struck down the congressional map for the state of North Carolina because of what they say is unconstitutional gerrymandering. Under normal circumstances this would be important but not an incredibly-noteworthy occurrence. North Carolina has had its Republican-drawn district maps thrown out in the past for illegal racial gerrymandering that targeted African-American voters.
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