Contributor

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Articles

OPINION

Williams: Black lives matter. Will we listen? Will we learn? Will our hearts change?

By Contributor / June 17, 2020

George Floyd was a 46-year-old black man. He was murdered in plain sight over the course of nine minutes by men clothed by the state of Minnesota with the immense responsibility for enforcing the law. I am a 54-year-old white man who has spent all of my adult life working as a practicing lawyer and trial court judge. I read Richard Wright’s memoir, “Black Boy” when I was 20, and I didn’t find the above quote to be credible. At 54, after too many tragedies, I now sadly believe it to be truer than not.

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OPINION

Letter to the Editor: Please be patient with the university

By Contributor / March 20, 2020

With all of the news and happenings with COVID-19, this is a scary time for students. We are unsure about what our future is going to look like: will we transition well to all online learning? Will we get to keep our jobs? Will we be able to pay for food, for housing, for other necessities? Will we graduate on time?

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OPINION

Letter to the Editor: Thank you, voters

By Contributor / February 28, 2020

You did it. You voted you bugged your friends to vote, you posted on your social media accounts, you supported your favorite candidates, you got loud, you cared, and you showed up. There are more of us who believe in inclusivity and opportunity, who reject hate and fear, and who stand together with love for our community and hope for our campus. There are more of us. So let’s keep showing up. 

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OPINION

Letter to the Editor: Faculty 'express their continued support to Dr. Borna'

By Contributor / February 7, 2020

We at Ball State are aware of the unfortunate incident that occurred on our campus. One of the participants was Dr. Shaheen Borna.

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OPINION

Letter to the Editor: Dear Shaheen Borna, 'the student owes you an apology'

By Contributor / January 28, 2020

I wanted to write to you and offer you my support in the wake of recent events. 

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OPINION

Letter to the Editor: Faculty condemn calling police on student

By Contributor / January 28, 2020

Nearly everyone is now familiar with the events that transpired on Tuesday, January 21: Professor Shaheen Borna called the police on a Black student, Sultan "Mufasa" Benson, who declined to switch seats in the middle of class.

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OPINION

Letter to the Editor: Please, no more wars

By Contributor / January 13, 2020

When I was born in the year 1997, the United States was already involved in multiple combat zones around the world.

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OPINION

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Universities should not allow discriminatory speakers

By Contributor / April 3, 2019

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

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OPINION

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Freedom of speech is a right for all, including university students

By Contributor / April 3, 2019

Freedom of speech, enshrined as the first of many freedoms guaranteed under the Bill of Rights in our Constitution, is just as important today as it was back in 1791. President Trump’s executive order to ensure that universities and institutions promote free speech is not a government overreach, but rather a protection of one of our most basic human rights. 

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OPINION

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Together, we can end things like HIV and tuberculosis for women

By Contributor / March 28, 2019

The article "Honoring Ball State women accomplishments" is an inspiring and fitting dedication to look back at the impact women have had on the University. There's so many strong examples of women in Ball's history – both the state university and the family – but I think my favorite are Bertha Crosley Ball and Sarah Rogers Ball.