I have seen it in countless relationships, including some of my own. It has become so easy to just send someone a text message that many of us seem to have forgotten how to truly communicate. Texting does have its place and purpose. It is a great communication tool when you have a quick question or comment or when you know the recipient is busy and you do not want to forget something important you want to say to them.
However, texting and instant messaging are incredibly impersonal and cannot take the place of real communication. Texts are unable to convey inflection, tone, sarcasm, or facial expressions that accompany the message, and this can easily lead to confusion in a conversation and even a fight. You cannot truly understand what a person means unless you are having the conversation face to face.

Technology has become a crutch that is disabling our relationships. There are so many people that have their phone attached to their hand and many of these same people have trouble communicating in relationships.  Being able to talk to your partner is, in my opinion, the most important aspect of a relationship. If you cannot talk to your partner, you should not be with that person. It is that simple.

I also think texting has made it harder for us to be open and honest in relationships. I have had heard too many people say, “I can’t tell you in person. I just can’t say it out loud. I’ll text it to you later.” If you cannot be open and honest-face-to-face with your partner, your relationship is doomed to fail.

When I think about the perfect relationship, I dream of a relationship with a guy who will tell me anything and everything about his life. I dream of a relationship with a guy who will listen to me when I want to talk to him about anything and everything. I think the ability to communicate well is an over-looked quality in our partners. I am far more impressed by a guy who can hold an amazing conversation than a guy who is good-looking.

Communication is by far the most important aspect of a relationship. It is the base of everything else in the relationship. I fear that we have become too dependent on impersonal communication methods and are losing our ability to effectively communicate with our partners in our relationships. I never want to live in a world where people are not capable of holding a good, old-fashioned conversation.

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Approximately 20 million Americans participated in the first Earth Day. The movement has grown drastically since then. In 1990, more than 200 million people in 141 countries participated, lifting the status of environmental issues onto the world stage. Earth Day 1990 gave a huge boost to recycling efforts worldwide.

Earth Day 2007 was one of the largest Earth Days to date, with an estimated one billion people participating in the activities in thousands of places like Kiev, Ukraine; Caracas, Venezuela; Tuvalu; Manila, Philippines; Togo; Madrid, Spain; London; and New York.

Many of us have celebrated Earth Day, most likely during elementary and secondary schooling. Most of us understand the importance of the holiday, but do not know why Senator Nelson chose the particular date of April 22. Senator Nelson’s reasoning is actually very interesting.

Senator Nelson chose the date in order to maximize participation on college campuses. He determined the week of April 19–25 was the best bet; it did not fall during exams or spring breaks, did not conflict with religious holidays such as Easter or Passover, and was late enough in spring to have decent weather. More students were likely to be in class, and there would be less competition with other mid-week events—so he chose Wednesday, April 22; is also the birthday of historical Communist leader of Russia, Vladimir Lenin.

When asked by Time whether he had purposely chosen Lenin’s 100th birthday, Nelson explained that with only 365 days a year and 3.7 billion people in the world, every day was the birthday of ten million living people. “On any given day, a lot of both good and bad people were born,” he said. “A person many consider the world’s first environmentalist, Saint Francis of Assisi, was born on April 22.”

April 22 is also the birthday of Julius Sterling Morton, the founder of Arbor Day, a national tree-planting holiday started in 1872.

Lastly, April 22 is also the birthday of actor Eddie Albert (of Green Acres fame), who was a staunch environmentalist and spokesperson for The National Arbor Day Foundation. Albert spoke at the inaugural Earth Day ceremony in 1970.

Earth Day is an important holiday worldwide. According to Margaret Mead, an American cultural anthropologist, “Earth Day is the first holy day which transcends all national borders, yet preserves all geographical integrities, spans mountains and oceans and time belts, and it brings people all over the world into one resonating accord, is devoted to the preservation of the harmony in nature and yet draws upon the triumphs of technology.”

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I can’t tell you how many times I’ve listened to female friends tell me that they don’t need a man to carry her bags at the mall or open the door for her, blah blah blah. I completely understand the “I am a modern, independent woman and am just fine with or without you” mentality. I think it is a wonderful thing to have such a strong sense of independence. I think it’s healthy, in fact. I don’t think it’s normal to need a guy to compliment the way a girl looks. I don’t think it’s normal to need anything from a guy.

However, as a girl, I may not need a guy to do something nice for me, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want a guy to do something nice for me. It isn’t a matter of what is being done, but the fact that some guy wanted to do it for me. The thought really does count here. It’s the stupid, romantic, gushy little things that really add up and make a difference in a relationship.

When there is a guy who I really like, and want to impress, I like to bake for him. I’ll bake brownies, cupcakes, cookies, pies, or whatever else as a way to show him that he was on my mind and I really do care for him. I want him to know that I care without me having to verbalize it. I want to make him smile. It’s something so simple as making a pie that can mean so much.

I think secretly, most girls want guys to do the same thing. We don’t want to ask guys to do cute, romantic things for us. We want guys to choose to do it on their own. It isn’t that we need a guy to do something to show us that he cares, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s still sweet and will make us smile.

However, we do live in a culture that strives for equality across gender lines and women before us worked hard to get us to where we are today. So here’s the trick guys: If she opens the door for you, say “ladies first,” and then wait. If she insists that you go in, then go. Knowing that you wanted to be polite but you still respect her strength as a woman promotes the perfect balance between the two.

It’s all about chivalry. We just want the men in our lives to be brave, honorable, gentlemen. Being chivalrous doesn’t make you a sissy. It doesn’t mean that you go to ballets or stupid junk like that. Being a little chivalrous every so often is just a little way to show that you care. Sometimes, it is hard to verbalize how you feel, and it doesn’t matter how many times a girl says that it’s stupid or gushy or unnecessary. Regardless, it’s still sweet and it will always make her smile.

We, as girls, want to do nice things for boys, but we want boys to do nice things too. I think that this reciprocation is missing in a lot of relationships today. I also believe that it is really important. My parents have been married for almost 20 years, and they both still do this romantic junk. I think it’s cute, and I only want everyone else in the world to be as happy as my parents. So let’s bring chivalry back.

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First, let’s get the basic argument out of the way. I am supposed to have freedom in this country. I do not see any reason as to why the government should be allowed to limit a person in how many spouses he or she has at a given time. There are more than 50 countries in the world that recognize polygamy, so why not the United States, too? If I want to have eight husbands, why does my government have the right to stop me? Is it not possible to love more than one person at a time?

I believe that polygamy is illegal solely for religious reasons. If this is in fact the case, then doesn’t that whole separation of church and state concept come into play here?

Next, I argue that polygamy actually promotes healthy relationships. In many polygamist marriages, there is a discussion about taking on a new husband or wife. This discussion is frequently open and honest. Open and honest discussions are becoming hard to come by in many monogamous marriages today.

Divorce is also far less frequent in polygamist families. We all have heard about the awful baggage that comes along with divorce; from legal fees, child custody battles, separating property, and not to mention the emotional trauma. Can you imagine what kind of world we would live in if there was less divorce? Just think of the toll it has on children. If children can grow up in a loving, divorce-free environment, is that not better for their future?

I know what you’re thinking right now, “But polygamists abuse their children and force them into marriages with gross old men.” I understand your thought. However, one out of eight children are abused in polygamist households, whereas one out of six children are abused in monogamous households. There is a national problem with abuse. It isn’t just a polygamist thing.

I also argue that religious “brainwashing” polygamist groups are a minority among polygamist groups. These few bad eggs give the practice a bad name, and I think that is unfair.

Lastly, I argue that polygamy tends to benefit women the most and disadvantage men. According to David Friedman, anarcho-capitalist and author of “The Machinery of Freedom,” the idea is that many women would prefer half or one-third of someone especially appealing to being the single spouse of someone who doesn’t provide as much economic utility to them. Secondly, that the remaining women have a better market for finding a spouse themselves. Say that 20 percent of women are married to 10 percent of men, so that leaves 90 percent of men to compete over the remaining 80 percent of women. Friedman uses this viewpoint to argue in favor of legalizing polygamy.

I guess I am just gung-ho for freedom. If I am not hurting anyone, why should the government stop me? Polygamist relationships can be just as healthy as monogamous relationships, for the spouses and children alike. This practice has a pretty bad reputation from media frenzies surrounding a few isolated cases.

I challenge everyone to think about why polygamy should be illegal. If you find yourself resting on some moral basis taught to you by any religious organization, then it violates the separation of church and state concept. In the divorce-happy, depressing world we live in, why can’t we just celebrate love in all forms? I say, the more love the better!

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I enjoy talking with my friends about how their relationships are going, and always find it interesting to hear what that particular friend considers to be a deal-breaker. In talking to a wide variety of people, I have noticed that there is a big difference in how certain people view sex. For some people, the sexual history of their partner can be a deal-breaker.

First, I have always thought it was interesting how we view the number of partners a person has. A guy with a lot of partners is a pimp and a girl with a lot of partners is a whore. I like to think of both groups as “overly experienced.” We live in a society that dwells on sex. There are some people who would rather engage in a relationship with someone who is experienced over inexperienced.

However, I have found that there are plenty of people who do not uphold these same views. There are people out there who do see being “overly experienced” as a deal-breaker believe it or not.

I also find it amusing to listen to people brag about their talents in bed. I was recently talking to a guy friend who remarked that he has “big hands and works out.” I honestly laughed a little. I don’t know what other girls think, but I think that this overt need to prove masculinity is hilarious, and for me it is definitely a deal-breaker when a guy goes on and on about his skills in bed. I fall into that category of girls who think there are more important aspects to a healthy, functional relationship.

But here’s a secret to all you boys: It isn’t about the size of the tool but how you use it. If I understand the concept of sex correctly, the style and technique is unique to the individual, and there is some need of good chemistry between the partners. So, logically, boys should brag about their style over other things. There also is a need to be able to read your partner’s non-verbal cues, and let’s be honest, sometimes in many situations it’s hard to tell what someone is thinking. It is a real talent to be able to read non-verbal cues, and I mean all non-verbal cues.

I guess I’m just sick of hearing about sex with every new guy I go out on a date with. I understand that for some people, sex is important in all relationships. But it isn’t for everyone. There are other important aspects of relationships like communication and common likes, dislikes, beliefs and so forth.

There are plenty of people out there who won’t call you back for that second date when you spend so much time dwelling on sex. There are many topics that are far more important to discuss before sex should even be put on the table. I don’t “shake hands” with just anyone, and I don’t want to hear about all the people you “shook hands with” either. To be honest, it’s pretty gross and a total deal-breaker.

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Today, we find that people are having sex at younger and younger ages, and the number of partners a person has is on a steep rise. Especially in college, it seems all too easy to just sleep with someone once or a few times while only being engaged in a quasi-casual relationship. It almost seems like having sex with someone has become the new handshake.

There are many people who claim to know the true reason behind the transition in our generation’s attitude toward sex. There are some who say we have become morally corrupted by the media. Others say that it is part of the cycle; we’re closed-minded to something, then open-minded, then closed-minded, and so forth.

However, I think that it is more deeply rooted than cyclic changes or moral corruption. Remember when it actually meant something to say “I love you”? This simple phrase, I think, is responsible for the change in our attitude toward love and relationships. Many of us say “I love you” all too frequently, and have little to no meaning to go along with it. Then there are those of us who never say it, and we really should.

We are throwing around this phrase that means so much. Love is a powerful emotion that many of us still probably have not truly experienced. People should wait to say this to someone until they actually mean it because by tossing around these special words, it loses its importance. When love loses its importance, so do relationships as a whole.

When you ponder why sex is so casual these days, ask yourself if love itself has become all too casual. I strongly urge people to think about this. Those are the three words that we say too much but without meaning. With the way the world is today, we need to find love again. Real, meaningful love. Sex shouldn’t be as casual as a handshake, and love should be special.

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Laziness in Americans today is often attributed to the progression in technology that has occurred so rapidly over the last few decades. I think that technology has become an excuse for people to be lazy today. Granted, television and computers both play a hefty role in the absurd amount of laziness in Americans. However, we can’t blame technology for everything.

One symptom of laziness is the inability to tolerate the outdoors. I see a lot of people who run on treadmills instead of in the good ol’ outdoors. I understand running on a treadmill when there is snow on the ground, but people do it year-round. I also understand that running on a treadmill is beneficial for people who have knee or ankle problems, but not everyone falls into the injured category. Natural inclines and declines, as well as wind resistance are factors that make running outside more beneficial. Plus, fresh air is a wonderful perk to running outside that you cannot get on a treadmill. We run inside because it is more convenient and easier to do. I do give people who at least run on the treadmill more credit than I do for other lazy people. At least they are working out.

Another symptom of laziness is the loss of ability to throw away their trash. I cannot even begin to tell you how many soda cans, cigarette butts, and items of food are currently sitting on the ground all over campus. The worst part is that most of the litter is found within a few feet of trashcans, and this baffles me to no end. Why is it so hard to walk a few more feet to a trashcan to properly dispose of your garbage? And, say you toss your garbage toward the trashcan, and miss, why is it so hard to pick it up and try again? I just will never understand why people are so lazy that they think it is okay to just toss it on the ground. Even if the item is biodegradable, it still is keeping our campus from being clean. Plus, it is not just your campus. It is not fair to everyone else on campus when you toss your garbage on the ground. We all have the right to a clean campus.

Lastly, another symptom of laziness is the inability to open doors. This symptom may be the worst of all. Opening a door is not so strenuous on a person that we should resort to pressing the automatic door-opening button that is intended for handicapped people. If you are perfectly capable of pulling the door handle, why hit the button? There is nothing hard about just opening a door. It is so simple. Yet, there are countless people on campus who seem incapable of doing such a simple task. It is not something that happens infrequently either; it happens all the time. This is the archetype of laziness.

These are just three examples of laziness at Millersville University. The list can go on and on. There are many countries in the world that think America may be the laziest country of all, and I can understand why. Lazy-itis has stricken the majority of Americans, but it is a disease that we are more than capable of stopping. Run outside. Throw your trash away. Just open the door. It is really that simple.

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Unpredictable was started by Walter Parrish in November of 2002. They perform breakdance, hip-hop, pop lock, and krump among the various styles of the group. The dancers of Unpredictable are a talented group with endless creativity and liveliness.
Jared Mizrahi, Millersville University student and Unpredictable dancer, stated that the group can be described as “versatile, energetic, and confident.” In prospective members, they look for a unique combination of rhythm, talent, “swag”, originality, enthusiasm, and most importantly potential.

The group is comprised of 14 diverse students, but they are always looking for new members. Try-outs for Unpredictable are held at the beginning of each semester, and last for two days. New members are chosen by the current members as a whole. Formal training is not required; it is all about potential and raw talent.

Members of Unpredictable have had some really memorable experiences as a group. For example, they traveled to Cheltenham to learn from award-winning dance instructors from Zero Gravity Studio. For some members, their highlight is learning how to jerk. They have also recently performed at the Multicultural Showcase.

Practices take place twice a week. Unfortunately, they only get to perform about 2 to 3 times a semester at campus events, but they will on occasion take their performance to the streets. Anyone who wishes to try-out should feel free to contact any of the members. “We are a team that dances and performs for pure enjoyment and we look forward to showing Millersville what we got,” Jared Mizrahi said.

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In the past few years there have been a number of court cases contesting the constitutional grounds of Affirmative Action. In 2003 a Supreme Court decision concerning Affirmative Action in universities allowed educational institutions to consider race as a factor in admitting students, but ruled that strict point systems are unconstitutional.

Alternatively, some colleges use financial criteria to attract racial groups that have typically been under-represented and typically have lower living conditions. Executive Orders 11246 and 11375 prohibit federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, skin color, religion, gender, or national origin.

Some states such as California and Michigan have passed constitutional amendments banning affirmative action.By its proponents, it is seen as a foundational principle of democratic societies, and seeks to redress imbalances in society, which makes sense.

However, others feel that Affirmative Action devalues the accomplishments of people who work hard and are qualified. It also devalues the accomplishments only of those it is intended to help, because there are always going to be people that someone only made such accomplishments because they were handed opportunities due to their race or gender, ect. For these reasons, Affirmative Action is very counterproductive.

I believe that Affirmative Action promotes racism rather than discouraging it. By trying to satisfy a quota of admitted or hired persons that “promote diversity,” doesn’t that discriminate against people who are qualified or have worked hard? It is almost as though these policies, in some way, promote laziness and receiving handouts.

I also think that Affirmative Action has failed to achieve its desired effects. It replaces old wrongs with new wrongs and has done nothing for reconciliation among the people. It encourages individuals to identify themselves as disadvantaged, even if they are not. I also believe that it increases racial tensions and benefits the more privileged people within minority groups at the expense of the least fortunate within majority groups (such as lower-class whites).

It is truly frustrating that businesses and schools with equal opportunities and high diversity are given government money for going out of their way to fill a quota. We should not be discriminating against the qualified people or the people who have tried to make something of themselves.

It does not matter how much monetary rewards we hand out, there will always be ignorant people who feel it is their right to discriminate. That should not be a place where you want to work or go to school anyway.

One of the underlying purposes of Affirmative Action is to make amends for slavery through money. First, I did not enslave anyone, nor did my parents. In fact, my grandparents did not either. No one who is alive today was enslaved, with the exception of those who are over 140-years old. So I do not understand why my taxes are being put into programs to make amends for something that happened to someone’s great-great-great-great-grandparents.

Affirmative Action promotes unfair treatment in this country. For example, in 1978, Allan Bakke, a white applicant, was rejected twice from Regents of the University of California, a medical school, even though there were minority applicants admitted with significantly lower scores than his. Bakke maintained that judging him on the basis of his race was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

The Supreme Court ruled that while race was a legitimate factor in school admissions, the use of such inflexible quotas as the medical school had set aside was not. The Supreme Court, however, was split 5–4 in its decision, ruling in favor of Bakke, and imposed limitations on affirmative action to ensure that providing greater opportunities for minorities did not come at the expense of the rights of the majority.

In theory, Affirmative Action is great. There is nothing wrong with trying to promote equal opportunities. However, the policies implemented by the United States seem to promote reverse discrimination, and that should leave us asking ourselves if these policies are outdated and unfair.

We all have the right to vote, free speech, work, live, and pursue happiness, but not at the expense of deepening the wounds and roots of discrimination. We will never live in a place free from ignorant beliefs, but we can work toward it. To do so, I believe that we first need to reconsider the constitutionality of Affirmative Action, and try to find a better way to promote diversity and equality without being unfair.

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The first Olympic Games can be traced back as far as 776 B.C. They were dedicated to the Olympian gods but banned in 393 A.D. when Emperor Theodosius prohibited all pagan cults.

The first Olympic Games were held at Olympia which functioned as a meeting place for religious and political practices. The site of Olympia remained until it was destroyed by an earthquake in the sixth century A.D.

Regardless of social class, all free male Greek citizens were allowed to participate. Unlike today, women were not only not allowed to participate; but married women were not even allowed to attend.

Events that took place were running, the long jump, shot put, javelin, boxing and equestrian events. A combination of wrestling and boxing, called pankration, was also an event during the early days of the Olympic Games. The events only took one day until 684 B.C. when they were extended to three days and eventually five.

The International Olympic Committee was created on June 23, 1894 after a declaration from Baron Pierre de Coubertein that the Olympic Games would be re-established. Two years later, under the presidency of Grecian Dimetrius Vikelas the first Olympic Games in the modern era occurred in Athens, Greece. The IOC, with affiliate organizations such as the Committee for Fair Play and the World Olympian Association, is the supreme authority of the Olympic Movement.

Today, the Olympics take place over a span of two weeks with 33 sports including both the summer and winter games.

Whether you are a dedicated Olympic fan rooting every night in front of the television for your favorite athlete or just watch the highlights so you are not left out at the water cooler; the Olympics, much like national holidays, is a brief time in history that unites us all and ignites a sense of pride in one’s country.

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