Personal liberties cower behind national security legislation as lawmakers overlook Constitution
The scales of justice are no longer balanced. Ever since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, Americans have been frightened into believing that the suspension of personal liberties is a necessary and reasonable price to pay for national security. This imbalance was further exaggerated when President Obama signed H.R.1540, The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), into law Dec. 31, 2011. The counter-terrorism provisions of Sections 1021 and 1022 have turned what would have been an otherwise routine, annual military budget, into part of an alarming trend to limit freedom in the name of safety. These sections have caused an a outcry among civil liberties organizations and drawn criticism from many law makers and the very President who signed the act. As college students, we should be concerned as well.
U.S. government, Hollywood working to get legislation passed to censor free speech by taking down
U.S. government, Hollywood working to get legislation passed to censor free speech by taking down websites with user-submitted content violating copyrights
If you browsed the Internet at all Jan. 18, then you may have noticed several websites were either blacked-out or brandishing a message of protest against two radically constitution- violating acts: House Bill 3261, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), and Senate Bill 968, the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA).
During the holidays, the joy of showing compassion for one another puts smiles on faces everywhere. Giving to others, especially those less fortunate, is in season and many of us love to do our part. Choosing the right charity to make contributions to is just as important as choosing to donate at all, because some charities are not as innocent as they seem on the surface.
Take for instance The Salvation Army. The faith-based charity accepts donations of all shapes and sizes, and aims to provide food and jobs to people in need. Those are noble causes, but they also push a hidden agenda.
The Salvation Army is an openly Christian charity group that supports only the ideals and teachings of their chosen faith. They specifically reject homosexuality, claim it is the result of human choice and advocate against gay marriage. For a group whose motto is "doing the most good" they certainly don't show it through their views on human rights issues.
New voter-approved Texas Constitutional amendment doesn’t solve financial aid woes for community col
The recent Nov. 8 passage of Proposition 3 on the 2011 ballot to amend the Texas Constitution barely puts a dent into assisting the financial aid needs of community college students. This makes it necessary for the Texas Legislature and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to find a solution to assist the financial needs of future community college students.
Proposition 3 authorized the issuance of general obligation bonds to finance the College Access Loan (CAL) program. While the passage of Proposition 3 was a victory for all
college students statewide, the impact it has on community college students is fleeting since most are not forced to rely on student loans to pay for school.
Austin Community College board of trustees members made the wrong decision on Oct. 3 to make all ACC campuses smoke-free starting January 2, 2012.
By banning all smoking on campuses, ACC is ostracizing students who smoke and creating the perception that smokers are not welcome at ACC.
We love getting feedback from our readers. Whether its positive or negative any comments, suggestions or story tips are always welcomed.
Recently though, we have been receiving a few comments concerning our relationship with the Office of Student Life. I would like to make it clear that the Accent only reports unbiased news and features with the exception of opinion columns and entertainment reviews.
Facebook is not a place where students should attack Austin Community College departments - nor should it be used as a tool to gather an army of students to attack the Office of Student Life for their shortcomings.
Campus offers sights, but few substantial amenities
It's been a year since Round Rock Campus has opened and while it is a gorgeous campus to look at, we've noticed its flaws.
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A sign of completion : a traditional sign-off signal and slang word for "the end."
Accent praises college president Stephen Kinslow for his successful term in office
With only one month left during his tenure, (continued)
Rhodes' vision, initiative makes him perfect fit for ACC president/CEO
The Accent editorial board officially endorses Dr. Richard Rhodes for the position of the next Austin Community College president/CEO. Rhodes, the current president of El Paso Community College (EPCC), demonstrated during the April 6 forums held at ACC campuses that he is passionate about working at ACC and seeks to build upon the foundation the (continued)
Texas Legislature should not legalize concealed carry on campus bill.
Guns do not belong (continued)
College needs to be more forthcoming about possible health hazards at decaying Rio Grande Campus.
The Rio Grande Campus building is decaying and the ACC administration, board of (continued)
Students need to speak up for themselves, colleges.
As students of a community college, we have a direct impact on how we shape our education, and we should use our influence to persuade the Texas Legislature to lessen the severity of the (continued)
Legislature should not change funding formula for community colleges.
Higher Education Commissioner Raymund Paredes of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) has been working on trying to improve graduation and transfer rates at Texas universities and community colleges over the past few years through the Texas Legislature. (continued)
Community college bashing is wrong
Our mascot looks ridiculous. Most mascots do. Everyone is getting their shots in about the goofy purple riverbat, and that's fine. However, John Kelso, town curmudgeon and columnist at the Austin American-Statesman, took a swing in his Nov. 25 column that went too far. (continued)
Linking funding to performance is not the solution
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) is endorsing a new method of funding public universities and community colleges that would tie a percentage of funding to student success instead of the current method of basing funding solely on enrollment. This is a way to mask (continued)
National anti-government attitude reflected in election results for three other communities
The blind hatred of all government and taxes expressed nationally during the midterm elections trickled all the way down to the ACC annexation proposals when voters in San Marcos CISD, Bastrop ISD and McDade ISD voted not to join the ACC taxing district despite the college's (continued)
Texas needs stricter gun control laws on, off campus
The smoke is beginning to clear after last week's shooting at the University of Texas where a 19-year-old math major ran through campus firing an AK-47 before tragically taking his own life. Fear and shock swept through campus and the rest of the city. It wasn't long after the shooting (continued)
Voters deserve side-by-side look at candidates
For the first time since 1990, when Democrat Ann Richards and Republican Clayton Williams ran for the governor's office, there may not be a an official Texas gubernatorial debate during this election year. (continued)
Staff Editorial
After a year of partisan posturing, stonewalling, and grandiose rhetoric, the health care reform bill was signed into law on March 30. This is a stunning victory for President Barack Obama and for the countless Americans, many of whom are students, who will be safeguarded from financial (continued)
Voters shouldn’t be scared of new taxes, new campuses, or ACC
Several communities within the ACC service district are in the process of petitioning signatures that, if enough are collected, would allow them to vote to be included in the ACC taxing district. Often when discussing raising taxes, people cross their arms and immediately decide that it is a bad idea, no matter what. It is important that voters stay open minded to the possibility of an ACC presence in their community, and realistic about what annexation would actually mean for them.
Add/drop week changes punish over burdened students
The administration is considering moving late registration dates back and making the add/drop week end before classes even start. Under the new schedule, students who register late would not be able to change their schedule after the semester starts in order to get the classes they need. Also, students who register on time and then arrive at the class only to find that it is not the right fit for them, will not be able to replace that class with one that works better. It's hard to see any way that this policy would actually promote student success.
New bus passes are great for students, but not the environment
The new Green Passes will be available for students to pick up on Jan. 5. These new passes will allow students to ride Capitol Metro busses for free. This is an exciting new resource for students who use Capitol Metro for transportation. The passes are great, but that doesn't make them green.
Super conservative power players come out for Perry, students need alternative candidates
Endorsements are starting to roll in, at least on the Republican side, as the primaries for the Texas gubernatorial race draws nearer. These endorsements help paint a picture of the candidates, and what they stand for. Despite the fanfare surrounding former Vice President Dick Cheney's support of Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson, it is Governor Rick Perry who is seeking an unprecedented third elected term. It is more important to know which of the conservative power-players are throwing their support behind the tea party attending, succession threatening, tuition raising incumbent.
New policy forces unfortunate cuts in Student Life
The administration has decided to expand The Orientation Program (TOP), and to make orientation mandatory for all students before they take their first class at ACC beginning fall, 2010. Student Life (SL) will have to cut the Diversity, Leadership, Intramural Sports and Recreation clusters to compensate. These changes have the potential to make SL more difficult to become involved with and less consistent from campus to campus.
Every state needs more funding for unemployment
The United States Senate is struggling to pass a bill to extend unemployment insurance. On Oct. 13, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid asked for clearance to pass this bill, but it was shot down by GOP senators who have issues with how the extension would be funded and with the fact that the bill did not equally include all states. It is important that these issues be resolved and this passes quickly to help the Americans who are running out of unemployment insurance.
Bigger loans with no middle man
The United States Congress passed a bill with a 253 to 171 vote that will eliminate the wasteful Federal Family Education Program (FFELP) and use the savings to increase funding for the Pell Grant Program, fund direct loans from the government to students, and help better fund higher education programs.
Politician needs a lesson in manners
Rep. Joe Wilson (R) S. C. behaved with the decorum of a child when he screamed "you lie" at the president while the president addressed Congress about health care.
This spring was a tough time to be a pirate. On April 16, the French Navy captured a Somali pirate mother ship, striking a harsh blow against those scourges of the Adriatic Sea. The following day, a Swedish court found the four men behind the infamous Pirate Bay file sharing web site guilty of contributory copyright infringement, levying a heavy fine and a year in prison against all four.
Our View
In a proposed amendment in HB 3518, community college students would no longer be subject to the six course drop limit. The ACC Board of Trustees came out in support of this and other legislation that helps college students. It was never reasonable to expect community college students to stay within this limit.
Our View (April 20) Proposed gun legislation is irresponsible, unsafe
A Bill written by Rep. Joe Driver that would allow concealed handguns on college campuses just passed out of the House Committee on Public Safety with a vote of five to three on April 15. This is a dangerous plan that will lead to a disrupted and unsafe learning environment.
Our View (April 6) Designated smoking areas a better solution than full collegewide ban on smoking
The newest punishment for Austin smokers is geared toward ACC students. The Administrative Service Council (ASC) is scheduled to vote on whether or not to completely ban smoking on ACC campuses. If they vote yes, it would be a complete overreaction to a minor issue that could easily be fixed with less extreme measures.
Our View
Another bill proposing tax free textbooks has been filed. This time for the 2009 session. This is a great start in helping college students weather a worsening economy and raising tuition cost. However, given the drastic changes in the Texas Legislature, most notably a more moderate Joe Strauss as speaker, and the control and popularity Democrats are enjoying in Washington, it seems a little anticlimactic.
Our View
In what amounts to one of the most hypocritical and backwards proposals ever, Gov. Perry in his eighth State of the State Address (Note: now would be a good time to enforce term limits) proposed a four year tuition freeze. Fight the urge to applaud. If it weren't for Perry, tuition wouldn't be so absolutely out of control to begin with.
Our View
In a disappointing end to months of debate, it is decided that the Daily Texan's on-site printing press is officially going up for sale. The decision came after the Texas Student Media Board of Operating Trustees voted that now was the best time to start the process of trying to find a buyer.
Our View
Texas' State Board of Education is considering lowering its educational standards by enacting a plan that would allow athletics such as football, basketball, or baseball to count as the two and a half minimum elective credits required to graduate from any accredited state high school.
Our View
Texas drivers are now required to be more "responsible." Sept. 1, 2003 Texans became subject to the Driver Responsibility Law (HB 3588), which established "a system which assigns points to moving violations classified as Class C misdemeanors and applies surcharges to offenders, based upon the type of offense and the time period in which the citation was received," according to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
Our View
In the upcoming legislative session, Texas Republicans are fired-up to push for tougher laws on voter identification, charged by the Supreme Court's April ruling that Indiana laws stating that voters must present a valid, government-issued photo ID at the voting booth was constitutional.
Our View
Election Day is getting closer, and voters have a lot to think about such as tax increases proposed by both sides, a crashing economy, and apparently for some, finding a candidate that hunts moose and keeps an eye on Russia, like the average American.
Our View
Both Washington Mutual (WaMu) and Wachovia have been building new banks in the Austin area over the past year or so. Thus, it seemed that those companies have been doing well. However, those who bank with WaMu and who were watching the morning news over the past two weeks were in for a great shock when they heard that their bank was going under and was being taken over by Chase.
Our View
In 2003, the Texas legislature deregulated tuition cost. Since then the cost has increased over 58 percent. This is a testament to the complete failure tuition deregulation turned out to be. It's time Texas re-regulates the cost of public university tuition.
Our View
Adams, Quincy Adams, Tyler and Kennedy. If you subscribe to the theory that a first name makes a candidate presidential, then John Edwards is your man. We looked hard, but we couldn't find any former presidents named Hillary, Barack, or Rudy; even though we did find some guys named Rutherford, Millard and Ulysses.
Our View
If Round Rock voters decide next year whether to allow the bulk of their city to be annexed into the Austin Community College taxing district, new campus construction near the site of the Round Rock Higher Education Center is expected to be a high priority.
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