Living in the midst of a pandemic is far from what we consider normal, but maybe it’s time for a new normal. This is our chance to acknowledge the areas of our day-to-day lives that need improvement.

I began going to music festivals my senior year of high school, beginning with the now-dead local LouFest. Since then, I have gone to Chicago, Detroit and Atlanta for other festivals, such as Shaky Knees, in Atlanta. After my first experience, I could not wait to go again.

A few weeks ago, our staff editorial centered around the importance of helping to flatten the curve. At the time, the first infant death related to COVID-19 was just reported in Cook County, Illinois. While certainly many were concerned about their futures and staying healthy, we still neede…

Like many students, the COVID-19 pandemic has left our staff feeling like we lack control over many facets of our lives. We’re all struggling with a lack of normalcy. While staying in your pajamas sounds like a good plan, getting dressed when you wake up can help bring back some of that norm…

If we, as a country, are unready to raise the national minimum wage overall, then why don’t we start by raising the minimum wage for essential workers?

COVID-19 is on everyone’s mind, and that won’t be changing anytime soon, but that shouldn’t keep us from learning from the experience.

Most people agree the short-term basic income being called for by the U.S. government is a good measure — so why not extend it to a long-term good measure?

The rapid spread of COVID-19 and increasing numbers of associated casualties has driven President Donald Trump to extend the national guidelines for shutdown to April 30. For those who are ignoring stay-at-home orders and continue to associate with large groups of people, please stop. Trust …

The measures taken against the spread of COVID-19 have ensured Spring 2020 will be unlike any other semester — not just for SIUE, but for most schools in the U.S. 

In the midst of complete uncertainty and panic, it can be hard for us as college students to look beyond our own fears and frustrations. Some of us are booking cheap flights as a distraction, while others are checking Blackboard every five minutes for updates. No matter what coping method we…

When I was with my family in England over winter break, I found an envelope of family photographs which dated back to the last years of the Victorian era. I sat on the floor at the foot of my 102-year-old great-grandmother’s chair. She still knew every name of every person I asked her about,…

SIUE students should be allowed to work on campus over the summer without being required to enroll in summer courses.

Being sick in college can be difficult, especially when professors have harsh attendance policies.

The job of a police officer is to threaten people. They carry with them the threat of punishment enforced by the government for anyone who is caught breaking a law. If you don’t act in a certain way around police, the police will use physical force against you and get away with it.

This year’s Oscars honored individuals and films from around the world but still lacked diversity in some important categories, pointing to more progress that needs to be made.

Not everyone celebrates Valentine’s Day by having candle-lit dinners or watching romance movies. No matter how you celebrate, there should be no explanation needed for why you don’t –- or won’t –- spend this upcoming holiday with a romantic partner. 

Let’s be real for a second: You probably don’t look as hot as you do in your Tinder profile pictures as you on any average day. Whether you’re looking for a quick hookup or something “real,” we all comb through our camera roll to find the perfect pictures. It’s standard practice, it’s human …

In the wake of the tragic news of basketball legend Kobe Bryant’s passing this week, we are all reminded to hold our loved ones close.Kobe Bryant, a five-time NBA championship winner and two-time Olympic gold medalist, is arguably one of the best shoot- ing guards and small forwards of all t…

It can be hard for students to keep up with everything. Some of us attend school full-time and work multiple jobs just to keep our debt from building up quick- er. We don’t have absolute control over our circumstances, and it can be pretty hard just to get by. If you can’t keep up with it al…

There’s this fantasy I have where everything meaningful thing I’ve accomplished and every positive thought I’ve ever had about myself are lies. All of my good qualities and experiences can be lumped up and dismissed as invalid, but everything I have ever hated about myself is fundamental to …

More than 15 million acres of land have been engulfed in flames over recent months throughout Australia. At least 24 human casualties have been reported, and millions of animals have been killed by the fires, according to a TIME article published over a week ago. 

For those who have lost a loved one, the holiday season can be one of the hardest times of the year. It is a time filled with family and tradition, which draws attention to anyone who is missing and magnifies this loss.

The holidays can be a pretty stressful time, especially when meeting a partner’s family for the first time. It can be nerve-wracking trying to navigate a ton of new social norms with someone else’s extended family.

Every year around the holidays, students finish their semesters and finally get the opportunity to go home and relax with close family and friends. Oftentimes, this is ruined by prying family members who want to know way too much about our personal matters. 

It’s a common practice for people to share what they are thankful for around Thanksgiving, but it’s important to do more than just tell others what you’re thankful for.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, meaning we will soon have an excuse to indulge in our favorite holiday foods. Many people eagerly look forward to this time of year, but for those struggling with eating disorders, food-centric holidays are likely to be sources of apprehension and anx…

I am a woman. I also identify as a woman. This is, of course, redundant. Neither statement can be true without the other being true as well. One might think this makes them interchangeable, but that is not the case. People will perceive someone’s political stance very differently depending o…

In light of the recent legalization of recreational marijuana use in Illinois, individuals serving time for petty drug offenses should have their cases reexamined. 

With Christmas decorations making their way into stores earlier and earlier every year, SIUE students are left to ponder the right time to start decking the halls and cranking up “Jingle Bells.” 

With Christmas decorations making their way into stores earlier and earlier every year, SIUE students are left to ponder the right time to start decking the halls and cranking up “Jingle Bells.”

The 2020 presidential election is an incredibly important one, but for those in the Metro East voting blue this time around, the upcoming primary elections are going to be much more important.

People often think of transgender people in terms of how well they “pass,” as if there is a universal goal among us to hide who we are. There isn’t, but there are times when I do try to pass for the sake of my safety, convenience or self-esteem. 

Although food is a necessary component of life, each individual’s relationship with food varies — some positive, some negative. Low-income individuals are at a disadvantage when it comes to developing and sustaining healthy eating habits, and we should keep this in mind when discussing weigh…

Some adults are hired as recruiters by the military to go to high schools, hang out with children, eat lunch and play sports with them and establish friendships. This is because the relationships they foster make it easier for them to convince the kids to enter armed combat.

It is no secret that the current political and social climate reflects a large distrust toward mass media. However, the many journalists who strive to provide only the most accurate and unbiased information are being overshadowed by petty quarrels.

Students, faculty and staff at SIUE have the power to involve police in a situation with a simple phone call — but many of them abuse this power.