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The University News » Entries tagged with "United States"

The virtues of U.S. citizenship

April 27th, 2013 | Add a Comment

While the U.S. Congress is embroiled in a heated debate to find an acceptable compromise on decades-long, elusive comprehensive immigration reform, ordinary Americans wonder: Just what does it take for an alien immigrant to attain citizenship? On April 11, 59 immigrants from 38 countries took the solemn oath of allegiance to the flag of United States before a judge of the federal court of the Western District of Missouri. I was among the newly inaugurated American citizens. On this chilly Thursday morning, close to 300 immigrants converged on 9th Street, the Court’s premises, anxiously waiting to witness the initiation rituals of their relatives. Parking spaces were gone by 8:00. Young, middle-aged and the elderly were already lining up at the security desk, ready to assemble in a large hall where the process was … Read entire article »

Filed under: Opinion

The promising future of solar energy

April 27th, 2013 | Add a Comment

Solar power systems have come a long way since 1839, when Alexandre Edmond Becquerel observed the photovoltaic effect via an electrode in a conductive solution exposed to light. Solar energy, the radiant light and heat from the sun, is harnessed and used in various forms. They include solar heating, solar photovoltaics, solar thermal electricity, solar architecture and artificial photosynthesis which can make considerable contributions to solving some of the most urgent energy problems the world now faces. Twenty years ago, it was clear solar power wasn’t going to get anywhere by itself. Photovoltaic panels were expensive and inefficient. Even solar systems designed to heat water, a far less technologically tricky task, were bad buys on the open market. Producing electricity from sunlight cost 10 times more than generating power using coal or nuclear energy. … Read entire article »

Filed under: Opinion

Toy and Miniature Museum rekindles childhood treasures

April 3rd, 2013 | Add a Comment

Fittingly placed on top of a hill, tucked safely inside the majestic house filled with 38 rooms and winding staircases lie the miniatures, marbles, and tinkering toys of childhood. From the largest permanent marble collection in the United States, to a thrilling Barbie exhibit, there’s something for the kid in everyone. From now until June 9, the Miniature Toy Museum is showing Just Colcord’s collection of curious objects, “Trash or Treasure.” Filled with strange creatures, tiny robots, creative scenes and even a stop-motion films, this display will set one’s imagination on fire. “I like to work with old things. I don’t want to kill anything, like chopping down a tree,” Colcord said. “I’m not trying to destroy things. I want to create and transform. I’m going to look for rusty screws. I’m looking for … Read entire article »

Filed under: Arts & Entertainment

Culture, music and leadership highlight second annual ALAS conference

March 21st, 2013 | Add a Comment

In 90 minutes, one could have witnessed the romance of Tango in Argentina, the art of Capoeira in the jungles of Brazil and experienced Mexican folklore in Veracruz. These events occurred as part of the Association of Latin American Students’ second annual leadership conference, held March 15 and 16 in the Student Union. College and high school students were invited to the conference. Hispanic student organizations from regional colleges such as University of Missouri – Columbia and Emporia State University attended as well. The conference opened Friday evening with nationally recognized speaker Mena Badros. Badros, an executive for CoolSpeak, is a youth motivational speaker and program facilitator. Badros’s most important lesson is, “Life is to live.” He spoke of pursuing his second chance at life in the United States after living a disease-stricken life … Read entire article »

Filed under: News

Gun control means the wrong people will have arms

January 28th, 2013 | Add a Comment

With several deadly mass shootings, gun control has been a subject of much debate and controversy within recent years. Personally, I hate the idea of guns and am a billion percent for gun control, or the idea of guns never being invented. Think about it. If guns were not invented then there would be no mass shootings and fewer violent crimes. It would be nearly impossible to kill so many innocent people with a bow and arrow before someone would realize the need to get help. Anyway, that is beside the point since it is impossible to reverse the invention of guns, and gun control as a whole is a very unrealistic idea. It would be nice if we lived in a perfect world where there were no guns and everyone got … Read entire article »

Filed under: Opinion

Thoughts about online classes :

September 10th, 2012 | Add a Comment

Commuter students need flexibility: UMKC is primarily a commuter campus and making the drive can be extremely grueling at times. Not many students jump up and down with excitement at the thought of having to get out of his or hercomfy beds and head to class. Not to mention morning traffic or the constant fear of dying when the solid ice roads are not a valid excuse for a snow day. These problems could be solved by enrolling in online classes. Virtual coursesare available at the student’s convenience, so a trip to campus is not required. Classes taken online can be completed at the student’s preferred pace. For example, I knocked out a three-credit philosophy class in a month, This was not because the content was easy but because I did everything … Read entire article »

Filed under: Forum

Tell that to a plant

June 6th, 2012 | Add a Comment

Every day I watch the people around me throw away unnecessary amounts of trash, use an abnormally large amount of water and treat the Earth solely as an abundant resource for their personal disposal. A few weeks ago I took a summer course on waste management. We visited a landfill on the first day. I was saddened by the huge amounts of trash our community is forced to try to dispose of and sort. In the materials recovery facility, where recyclables are sorted, a problem was the lack of community effort and awareness of what is recyclable in the city’s curbside recycling program. The piles of recyclables would be cluttered with trash bags and glass bottles that couldn’t be recycled on site. The ignorance of others slows down the environmental progression … Read entire article »

Filed under: Forum

The ‘price’ of eating red meat

April 17th, 2012 | Add a Comment

The most common meat consumed in America is beef. Consider the country’s idea of a “balanced” meal: yesterday’s main dish likely included some sort of red meat like hamburger or steak. In 2007, Americans consumed an estimated 28.1 billion pounds of beef, according to a USDA Economic Research Service study. Most people believe eating meat is the easiest way to get protein, but relying on red meat as a main source of protein can harm health, wallet and the environment. Vegetarian options like beans, nuts and quinoa (a grain that contains all nine amino acids, a complete protein) are much healthier and less expensive. The average American eats twice his or her weight in meat each year, according to licensed physician and surgeon Dr. Joseph Mercola. Red meat can cause potential health risks, … Read entire article »

Filed under: Forum

The other side to the Trayvon tragedy

April 10th, 2012 | Add a Comment

There are many assumptions being made about the Trayvon Martin case. Many groups have sprung into action at his death, calling it a “hate crime,” a product of “racial profiling” or the “stand your ground” law.That a young man who may not have done anything wrong was killed is tragic, but what is truly disgusting to his memory is the fact that people in our country are using his death to advance their own political or social causes. They are exploiting this young man to aid their own goals. The “stand your ground” law has absolutely no bearing on the Trayvon Martin case. The “Stand Your Ground” law in Florida states “a person is justified in the use of deadly force” if “He or she reasonably believes that such force is … Read entire article »

Filed under: Forum

Kick me out, I’m an immigrant too

April 3rd, 2012 | Add a Comment

Recently my father got engaged to an African-American woman. I reacted like any other daughter whose dad was about to marry another woman that wasn’t her own mother. At first, she noticed my hostility towards her the wrong way. She asked me, “Does it bother you that your father is in a biracial relationship?” I was in shock, and I was speechless. My dad quickly interjected and claimed racism is a thing of the past. Especially being German, he claims that Germans are very aware and have learned from the history of the Holocaust and see the foolishness of racial discrimination and the negative consequences it has on society. You don’t have to be German to disregard racial differences. Maybe you just have to be young and have a fresh take on the world. Take, for example, one of the new additions to my family: my three-year-old niece. She was sitting in the room with my … Read entire article »

Filed under: Forum

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