Opinion

OPINION: The difference of a dollar

By Liam Britt | December 1

The Whatcom Transportation Authority proposed a fare increase to buses in the county, raising prices from $1 to $2. While this would be the first increase since 2008, there’s concern over what this change could mean for riders. 

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Campus

OPINION: Ditching the degree

By Melody Marichalar | November 18

With rising tuition costs, students are being forced to think more critically about their future and if they’re the right fit for a college setting. There is not one learning style that fits all, and it’s important to assess if the college schedule is meant for you. 

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Opinion

OPINION: If the club you want doesn’t exist, create it

By Sarah Zieger | November 14

Clubs are a catalyst for community, academic growth and professional preparedness; if the Club Hub doesn’t offer what you’re looking for, start your own. 

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Opinion

OPINION: It's hard to keep up: The hidden costs of poverty in Bellingham

By Myla Balser | November 13

Being poor in America often means paying more for the basics of survival. From unaffordable housing and overpriced groceries to overdraft fees and payday loans, the cost of simply existing without wealth is nearly impossible to escape. 

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Opinion

OPINION: How digitalization is changing WWU

By Liam Britt | November 5

Students were pushed toward digital learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the return to in-person learning four years ago, classwork, homework and studying have all remained widely connected to technology.

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Opinion

OPINION: The ‘Fishbowl’, exacerbating gym anxiety since 2003

By Sarah Zieger | November 4

Entering a gym as a newcomer is already an intensely anxiety-inducing experience; the design of the weight room at the Wade King Student Rec Center exacerbates this issue, especially for women.

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Opinion

OPINION: Deleting social media is an act of resistance

By Sarah Zieger | November 4

If you spend enough time on the internet, you can almost believe that the world is composed entirely of young people. Social media disproportionately rewards the attributes of youth: beauty, adventure and frivolity. Gen Z spends an average of five hours a day immersed in these skewed priorities. 

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Opinion

OPINION: When thrifting stops being sustainable

By Myla Balser | October 30

There was a time when thrifting was a quiet act of necessity. A place where affordability met sustainability before either was fashionable. But today, thrift stores have been rebranded, and what was once a lifeline has become an aesthetic. 

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Opinion

OPINION: The wrong questions at the wrong time

By Sarah Zieger | October 24

Conspiratorial ideas are often less about trusting a competing explanation and more about a fundamental skepticism toward all accepted truths. This pervasive distrust acts primarily as a distraction from an increasingly fraught political landscape.

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Opinion

OPINION: Vendor’s Row brings a touch of local where it’s needed most

By Liam Britt | October 21

Outside of the Viking Union, students and buses pass throughout the day. Rarely is there not a buzz of people, each following their own schedule to and from classes. Among the bustle sits Vendor’s Row, one of the only opportunities for local businesses to consistently market themselves on campus.

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Opinion

There’s no shame in asking for food help

By Devin Green | October 20

With the increase in costs of housing and meal plans at WWU, along with inflation running rampant, students are now forced to confront the not-so-embarrassing reality of asking for help. 

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Opinion

OPINION: Bellingham will never be a renter’s market

By Liam Britt | October 14

Bellingham’s average rent has increased by 71.5% since 2015, largely due to an increased demand for housing. With an uncertain future for U.S. economics, there’s worry about the affordability of living in an area like Bellingham.

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Opinion

OPINION: Books teach us to hear, censorship teaches us to fear

By Janessa Bates | October 13

From fiction to non-fiction, books challenge our interpretation of the world and remind us that other people’s stories are how we learn to understand one another. Across the country, this tool is under attack. 

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Opinion

OPINION: Bellingham reclaims its backyard

By Devin Green | October 9

After two summers of closure, Samish Park is open again. The North Bridge reopening reconnects Bellingham residents to one of Whatcom County’s most cherished outdoor spaces, reminding us why protecting public parks matters.