The Value of a Baseball (summer 2004)

My first job was at McDonalds. At $5.25 and hour, I cranked out about thirty hours a week on the grill at night while attending high school during the day. There was no real incentive to work as much, or as hard, as I did. There was no car payment for me to make. In 1994, when I bought this particular baseball...click to read more.

Better Left Unsaid: Should Freedom of Speech Ever Be Restricted? (fall 2005)

The right to speak one’s mind is as much a burden as it is a privilege. Freedom of speech affords a person both the right to his or her opinions and beliefs while obligating that person to tolerate the opinions and beliefs others. In addition, those blessed with freedom of speech have an inherent duty to use their freedom...click to read more.

The Citizen Kane Effect (fall 2005)

Alexis de Tocqueville once said (as cited in Stovall, 2002), “In order to enjoy the inestimable benefits that the liberty of the press ensures, it is necessary to submit to the inevitable evils that it creates.” Indeed, the history of our nation is replete with instances of unethical, or sloppy, journalism. The American news media influences not only the ways in which we are informed but also...click to read more.

Rape Victims As People, Not Facts (spring 2006)

Rape is a vicious crime. Not only does rape damage one’s body but it also ravages one’s mind and soul. Imagine surviving such a personal invasion only to have to endure another via the courts and the media. In the following essay, I will address the issue of reporting the names of rape victims. Click to read more.

Bioethics (fall 2004)

Biotechnology, as defined by Dr. Peter Lawler of The Presidents Council on Bioethics, is the human race’s endeavor to replace natural evolution with human design. Dr. Lawler’s seminar focused on the moral and political ramifications of our burgeoning biotech society. While not casting the entire biotech industry in a bad light, Dr. Lawler conveyed his belief that our relentless pursuit for perfection may come at the cost of our very souls. His argument is made in three...click to read more.

A Wedding Toast for Tim & Ginger (fall 2005)

Moments like these always make me smile. Beyond the pageantry, the formal wear, the kilts, and the open bar, I get the rare privilege of seeing all good things come to those I love. The world is a perplexing contradiction. We live in a place where love is so abundant, and yet so hard to find. Therefore, when two people are able to come together, find and sustain love, it is nothing short of...click to read more.