People get angry at something they see on TV or read in the newspaper. Maybe they even write a letter or show up to a meeting. When the issue is decided one way or the other, these people go back to their usual routine. In other words, people only get involved in politics when it directly affects them.

This phenomenon is known as the NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) effect and it has taken young minds by storm of late. Lehigh’s campus provides no shortage of examples.

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The academic world is inundated with discrimination, oppression, and hate crimes. Nary does a day go by when these atrocities are not discussed, decried, or otherwise defamed. However, one kind of abuse is rarely mentioned: religious. Sometimes the persecution of Muslims is disparaged, but these critiques are usually more politically than religiously motivated.

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Published in 2008, the political fable Cry Wolf by Paul Lake is indeed the self-proclaimed “Animal Farm for the 21st century.”

Like Animal Farm, in the opening chapters of the book, “Green Pastures Farm” is described as being completely run by domesticated animals who have assumed power after their master’s death. It is reported that a year has elapsed in which they have organized themselves and, through wise planning, have created a self-sustainable lifestyle without the machines and hands of men.

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“History shows us that differences in leadership tend to result in war, conflict, and dead people.”

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Since I’ve grown up in Bethlehem, I’ve come to understand that Lehigh University has always been on the back burner as far as the city is concerned. Now that I go to school at Lehigh, I can fully appreciate how disconnected it is from the city of Bethlehem. Over the years, it seems that the city and the university are growing as separate entities, but this was not always the intention. Some places in Bethlehem, especially on the south side, were designed to be integrated into Lehigh life. Godfrey Daniels is a prime example of a place that was designed for Lehigh students to interact with the community.

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The unprecedented economic events of the past few months have brought with them many changes to our nation — enacted by both George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Throughout, the debate has centered around the contrasting theories of how much our government can do, how much it should do, and what it actually will do to lessen the impact of the financial crisis. With trillions of dollars on the line, the solutions put forth will play a critical role in how this country progresses over the coming decades. While the course of action seems to be determined at this time with the $787,000,000,000 stimulus package, the perception of this package’s effects is the most important component. To prepare for the upcoming onslaught of spin and exaggeration by politicians, everyone must be briefed on what is really going on.

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Eavesdrop on one of those classic arguments between a Lehigh student in the College of Business and Economics and one in the Arts and Sciences College, and you’re likely to hear the former extolling the virtues of post-graduation job security. This year, however, the battle lines aren’t so clear. A recession of epic proportions has the global economy hemorrhaging jobs and Lehigh students of all stripes scrambling to fill out grad school applications.

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