Opinion

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The fight for transparency and why public records matter for students too

This is an opinion piece from The Western Front Editorial Board.

Mailbag: Letters to the editor for the week of Feb. 19, 2018

Directors of Western resources respond to op-ed about lack of funding

Mailbag: Letters to the editor for the week of Feb. 12

Your article "Cultural appropriation at Western and how it can be avoided" (Feb 7, 2018) has finally moved me to speaking out about an issue that has bothered me ever since I joined Western almost 13 years ago. It's the name of our newspaper, "The Western Front". As most people are aware, it's a crude play on the title of the anti-war novel "All Quiet on the Western Front" ("Im Westen nichts Neues" in the original German) by Erich Maria Remarque.

Opinion: Lack of funding for critical resources failing students

In-state tuition and fees are around $8,000 a year, and for out-of-state students, it’s around $22,000 a year. A dorm room and meal plan adds on an extra $10,000. With these exorbitant costs, students should be receiving the resources they need. 

Letter from the editor: The Western Front has messed up, but we're committed to being better

We had our reporters ask how you think The Western Front can improve as part of our effort to better serve you. Consider taking our survey to have your voice heard.

Mailbag: Letters to the editor for the week of Jan. 29

"ICE in their Veins," a poem by Inga Elvrom, American Cultural studies major

Opinion: Western highlights diversity, but forgets about inclusion

For a university which claims to be inclusive, it’s time for Western to start practicing what it preaches. The Western Front editorial board would like to start this opinion piece by saying we are not intending to speak for students of color on this campus. They have shared their voices clearly, including last week, when the Oceanic Student Association issued a statement regarding Western Athletics’ proposed “Hawaiian Night” basketball game. We agree with OSA that students of color have been burdened with the uncompensated labor of education and making campus welcoming to diverse students. Our intent is to stand behind the work of students of color and ask Western to commit to their promises of inclusion.

Submission: A letter from the daughter of an undocumented immigrant targeted by ICE

Submission: Let's get prepared for the big earthquake

Mailbag: Letters to the editor for the week of Jan. 22

Letters to the editor are not the opinion of The Western Front. The Western Front is committed to publishing letters to the editor from the community, as long as they meet the paper's editorial standards. For more information on letters to the editor, or to submit a letter, contact westernfrontonline@gmail.com

Opinion: This year's Bham Women's March missed the point

Photo from the People's Movement Assembly on Sunday. // Photo by October Yates

Mailbag: Letters to the editor the week of Jan. 17, 2018

Letters to the editor are not the opinion of The Western Front. The Western Front is committed to publishing letters to the editor from the community, as long as they meet the paper's editorial standards. For more information on letters to the editor, or to submit a letter, contact westernfrontonline@gmail.com

Opinion: ADUs can bring some relief to housing crisis

Illustration by Mathew Roland.

Silencing opposing views erodes principles of free speech

Veterans Day from their perspective

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, 1918, marked the end of World War I. Armistice Day was created with the hope that one day there would be no more war. Our country has since fought in numerous conflicts and now we call it Veterans Day.

Graduation rates should not be dictated by bottlenecks and course restrictions

Western’s lax punishment for perpetrators of sexual assault solves little

Defining antisemitism can help put an end to it

Letter to the Editor

To the editor and editorial board of The Western Front, Several of The Western Front’s recent articles were about campus safety in case of active shooters. Others have been about the safety of the neighborhood from burglars and voyeurs. With the increase in attention given to public safety and the dangers of insecure homes and classrooms, I believe it is time to rethink Western’s weapon policy. Currently, only law enforcement officers, authorized contractors, or permitted members of U.S. government agencies may carry firearms on campus, according to WAC 516-52-020, which is available to view on Western’s website. I believe that rule should be reexamined with current events in mind and evaluated by professionals to determine whether or not licensed students should be allowed to carry firearms on campus. If students are to be allowed to carry on campus, proper safety measures should be taken. Mental checks, registry with campus police and demonstration of firearm handling should be prerequisites for students to carry a weapon. If firearms are still to be restricted, I believe it should be encouraged for students to carry nonlethal self-defense measures such as pepper spray or Tasers. These are easy to use, easy to carry and can serve as a deterrent and defense against burglaries, personal assault or other threats. In any case, self-defense awareness and readiness should be encouraged in order to prevent harm to oneself and one’s property. People may accuse me and other self-defense advocates as alarmists who contribute to a culture of fear on campus. I believe that the news points to a need for readiness and that it is better to over-prepare than to underprepare. Instead of a culture of fear on campus, I advocate for a culture of empowerment and preparedness.   Sincerely, John Simmons