Opinions

In response to the March 10 article on women in Engineering titled “A Strong Support System”, I would like to begin by saying that I was one of the female engineers who took the survey asking if I felt that I had been treated differently in the college because of my gender.

Hold the door for her. Walk her to the doorstep when you drop her off. When the garage door opens, jump off the couch and carry in the groceries. These are just a few of the actions my dad instilled in me as a child. There were no ifs, ands or buts about it in his presence; I was to be a gentleman.

When I was young watching Saturday morning cartoons, I never dreamed that Scooby Doo would join forces with the likes of Cruella DeVille, the Joker and Barack Obama to form... the Evil Empire.

Indeed, this was the one of the main topics covered in a leaked fundraising presentation put together by the Republican National Committee.

Today, The Daily Illini is launching a new section of our Web site that allows readers to view and examine some of the data we have used in our stories. We are conducting more in-depth stories to provide a deeper understanding of issues affecting the University. We want to make sure the information from these stories is available to everyone in a searchable, electronic way.

It is easy to take the election systems we have in place in America for granted. Even grade-schoolers are used to voting — perhaps on what to name the class pet or which game to play during recess. At our University, all voting requires is to follow a link e-mailed right to our inboxes. State and national elections take place at various campus residence halls and other polling places where the sound of mortar attacks does not accompany voters to the ballot box. Yesterday, Iraq held elections to determine both its parliament and prime minister. In Baghdad, at least 38 people died. Dozens more were injured. Despite the violence, the Iraqi people made a strong, commendable showing.

Islam Awareness Week addresses ignorance, prejudice
There are an estimated six million Muslims in the United States and 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide. On this campus alone, there are more than 700 undergraduate Muslim students. The Muslim Students Association (MSA), a registered student organization, is a means by which Muslim students increase their faith in a college environment as well a tool by which the larger student body, as well as faculty and staff, can learn about Islam.

I am writing to share my disgust at the recent actions taken by members of the Illinois Student Senate against Vice Chancellor Renee Romano and Associate Vice Chancellor Anna Gonzalez. We are currently in a time of unprecedented turmoil at the University of Illinois, with the recent removal of our president, chancellor and the departure of our provost.

After two and a half years on campus and multiple parking tickets reminding me so, I have reached the point where I can no longer stand the parking available on our campus.

Rising costs at the University of Illinois are making a quality education unattainable for many prospective and current students.

The Supreme Court is hearing three cases that could impact one of the Bill of Right’s most controversial amendments— the right to bear arms. Two of the cases stem from Illinois court decisions, hand gun bans in Chicago and the suburb of Oak Park, that are being challenged.