Sunday, March 14th, 2010 We have made changes to this (editorial to clarify Andrew La)[*Editor's note:dd's involvement with the Student Associations of Michigan.] The Andrew Ladd- Chris Rettich campaign, with their analytical approach, experience and broad vision, has our vote for president/vice president of the Western Student Association. “We’re all students with similar issues, it’s how you go about it [...]

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010s crunch time for President Ob (ama and the congressional Demo)It’crats. The political stakes are clear. If they want to ensure that they will be slaughtered in the November congressional elections, all they need to do in the weeks ahead is screw up their golden opportunity to pass health-care reform. Being Democrats, they are entirely capable of [...]

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010s full-throttle pursuit of cyb (er-innovation has made their r)Google’ise awesome to watch.  Their search engine isn’t the half of what they’ve accomplished. More so than competitors, Google’s eye for improvement has been far-reaching, and they have used that circumspection to pounce on new ideas before others, thus gaining an advantage so substantial that some worry [...]

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010When Google announced that it (might abandon its ventures in )China, users of Google’s technology brought flowers to Google’s headquarters in China. Google’s sign at their office in China is short and modest, and with flowers stuck between the raised letters of the company logo and still more flowers heaped all along its base the [...]

Sunday, January 31st, 2010Several citizen action groups (have organized a protest to ta)ke place outside the State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 3. This rally has good intentions to voice Michigan students’ frustration over the loss of Michigan Promise scholarship funding, although a bit misguided in its direction. We stated previously the Western Herald’s belief that Michigan Promise payments should [...]

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010Andrew Mell (Western Herald)Normally we are not subjected to the images of extreme poverty, poor living conditions, and overall disaster. When we do have to face the fact that these things exist, they most often are through images from places half a world away. Haiti, however, lies only hundreds of miles away from American soil, [...]

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010Hassan Al-Momani (Western Herald )Library studies major has become a highly demanded field by many institutions in the United States. This is due to the fact there is an increasing number of students who want to complete their graduate studies in the library studies. There are many of academic institutions abroad that seek to employ [...]

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010The streets (of Holland), Ohio must have been deserted on Oct. 12, 2008. A small town outside of Toledo, the streets of Holland seldom crowd or jam but on Oct. 12, Barack Obama, then a presidential candidate, came to town and security was tight. Samuel Wurzelbacher was playing football in his front yard with his son [...]

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009We are told the most recent st (ate budget cuts in education w)ill get elementary education back in alignment with what is “the best and the latest in teaching,” as President John Dunn said at the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society in Teaching meeting on Saturday. But unless politicians and parents quit running the school systems where [...]

Sunday, December 6th, 2009 the educator a (nd author )Herbert Kohl,(not the senator), has been instrumental in the reform of America’s education system. How does he view America’s standards of training teachers? Deplorable. By the way, his “seminal” books are required reading in Western Michigan University’s Educational Psychology courses. Kohl is not alone. A major problem with education programs is [...]

Sunday, November 29th, 2009With all the hubbub surroundin (g the swine flu pandemic), it seems like antibacterial soaps, sprays, and wipes, would make a pretty solid investment. Western Michigan University’s ostensibly massive buildup of the antibacterial bubbly-soap dispensers that mount on walls and the little bottles of antibacterial lotion is evidence of this. All of the antibacterial products, from bubbly-soap to [...]

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 What would I know ab (out health)“Fine, don’t listen to me.  I’m just a doctor. ?” This sardonic brand of brow-beatings awaits many who question a doctor’s judgment.  The behavior is present in many professions: try telling a bus driver or an airplane pilot how to do their job—they won’t have it either. To some extent, medical professionals’ [...]

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009We come to class hopin (g to learn), graduate, and get a job. Although not as easy as it sounds, that process would be even more stressful if the guy sitting two seats over in English 1050 is packing heat. But this June, the Michigan State University Board of Trustees passed a resolution to allow licensed concealed [...]

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009We come to class hopin (g to learn), graduate, and get a job. Although not as easy as it sounds, that process would be even more stressful if the guy sitting two seats over in English 1050 is packing heat. But this June, the Michigan State University Board of Trustees passed a resolution to allow licensed concealed [...]

Sunday, November 15th, 2009In an attempt to further his c (ommitment to transparency), Western Michigan University President John Dunn held a public forum at the Bernhard Center to address students, staff and community members on Wednesday, Nov. 11.  Topics varied from his work as an administrator to how he spends precious free time on Saturday mornings. The forum, produced in conjunction [...]

Thursday, November 12th, 2009Volunteerism is alive and well (among youth), according to author Greg Mortenson, who spoke at Gull Lake High School two weeks ago about his life work to “promote peace one school at a time” and his book Three Cups of Tea, documenting his story. A story of youthful supporters — elementary school children who helped to [...]

Monday, November 9th, 2009Andrew Mell (Western Herald)As the Yankees celebrate their unprecedented 27th World Series championship, baseball is struggling in an era of drug abuse, declining television ratings, and a loss of identity. When our parents’ generation was growing up, baseball was the national pastime and whether it be by radio or by television, the country couldn’t get enough. Children [...]

Monday, November 9th, 2009SOFTLY AS IF THROUGH A DOOR AN (D A GLASS OF WATER)(MUFFLED AND MUMBLED) “Wa. . . . Mih . . . . . Uni…sity” (PAUSE) Hello? () “Yes?” I can’t hear you . . . (STILL SOFTLY AND CLIPPED) “West . . . Mich . . . University.” Oh, is this [...]

Sunday, November 1st, 2009Is downtown Kalamazoo a point (of interest and pride or just )a landmark for Western Michigan University students? That is the question currently being asked by proponents of the idea for a new downtown arena. Historically, WMU and downtown have been relatively separate entities. Even with such attractions as the Rave theater, many students [...]

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009Western Michigan University st (udents who vote in Tuesday), Nov. 3 elections should enter the voting booth with a positive mindset. There are two proposals on the ballot that require a simple yea/nay vote, and we feel both deserve to be supported with a resounding “yes.” The first would renew funding for Metro Transit bus lines within the [...]

Sunday, October 25th, 2009s policy on underage drinking (is a silent controversy)America’.   To many the rules are asinine — that they are too conservative and too idealistic.  Many think that unlike most Western nations, America’s laws on alcohol and stringent enforcement of those laws is not sensitive to our culture.     But most of their voices are subdued.  It [...]

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009President Barack Obama should (give back the Nobel Peace Priz)e.  In fact, not only should he give back this prize, he should preemptively reject any further honors which might be bestowed upon him, as he is clearly not worthy and never will be. There are many people who have argued that the prize was awarded “prematurely.”  [...]

Monday, October 12th, 2009Hassan Al-Momani (Western Herald)After finishing two years at Western Michigan University, I can tell the new students, especially the international ones, a lot of useful ideas that will make them feel better in this wonderful community. First, students should take studying seriously. They have to participate in the classroom through presenting their ideas and sharing them [...]

Monday, October 12th, 2009United States citizens are gua (ranteed certain human rights); the right to free speech, the right to an attorney, the right to an independent press. We are even granted the right to a public education, funded by tax dollars. Why, then, all the commotion over the idea that universal healthcare belongs among that pantheon of promises? America is [...]

Sunday, October 4th, 2009We have no beef with ot (her Nature). In fact we rather enjoy the few green spaces that remain on this planet. Still, one must admit that Western Michigan University has a lot to gain from expanding their Business Trade Research Park into the adjacent Colony Farm Orchard. Nothing is ever a sure thing when it comes to [...]

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009t what it (used to be)Smoking ain’.  Smoking was once more than a way to look cool, it was a way to look normal.  Data really isn’t needed to support the claim that more people smoked before its hazardous effects were discovered. More interesting is the change that a lower smoking rate has had on society and [...]

Sunday, September 27th, 2009s not the Mich (igan Maybe)Michigan Promise. It’, the Michigan Possible or the Michigan Thanks For Playing, Better Luck Next Time. Yet that seems to be the word coming out of Lansing in recent days, as the state legislature gets closer to settling on a budget that likely will not include funding for Michigan Promise grants. The Promise [...]

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009 is derived from a (Latin word)The word “amusement”, “muser,” which means “to stare stupidly.” Consider that for a moment. Does that sound familiar? Does that sound like someone binging on television? It sounds like someone watching television, doesn’t it? Amusement has claimed a large role in our culture. Abounding is this preoccupation with television. Schedules are tailored [...]

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009The gay rights advocates are o (ut in force)Clap your hands. Stamp your feet. Make some noise. Any noise will do.   . They are marching through your neighborhood, through your front yard and right up to your doorstep with no slogans and no bothersome rhetoric to offer.   They just want support. And any support will do.    One Kalamazoo, a [...]

Sunday, September 13th, 2009Western Michigan University is (a place of abundant opportunit)ies. Anyone who ventures a look – and even those who do not – will find themselves in a powerful and positive atmosphere that promotes on-campus involvement and encourages students to make Western their own. This spirit has lead to the formation of the new Student Organization [...]