The Vanderbilt Torch

PRO-LIFE: The secular argument for life

During the two weeks following Spring Break, Vandy Catholic held their Love and Responsibility Fortnight, which included talks relating to the Theology of the Body and other topics relating to Catholic doctrine and respecting it in a secular world.  One of the first speakers that they brought in, Susan Allen, spoke on “Pro-Life Persuasion.”

Although she was speaking in front of religious students, Allen neglected to use scripture quotes in order to prove her points.  She instead educated the audience on how to make a pro-life case for a secular group.  Allen herself was a pro-choice advocate until her sixteen year-old daughter went through with a pregnancy despite the protests of her mother.

JOB MARKET BLUES: Will grad school give you an edge?

It's that time of year again, and after all of the networking, interviews, and e-mails from Career Center clusters, students are beginning to wonder if all of their efforts will actually yield any results this year. It is no secret that the current economic situation has left the job market in shambles, leaving fewer opportunities available for college students. Many undergraduate and graduate students here at Vanderbilt are panicking about their next step, whether they are looking into internships for next summer or looking for secure job after they graduate.

Joyce Rothenberg, Director for the Career Management Center for Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management, confirmed that most career centers are declaring this job market the worst in decades.

“The economy is in trouble and one of the most traditional industries for MBAs, financial services, is hemorrhaging jobs" Rothenberg said. 

Women need to man up. Or not.

Women have been a growing force in U.S. politics since the early 90s. Not only have their numbers gone up on Capitol Hill, but America has also seen the emergence of popular women leaders like Hilary Clinton, Sarah Palin, and Nancy Pelosi. In the 2008 Presidential primaries Hilary Clinton brought in 18 million votes from the Democratic party, and Governor Palin became the first female vice-presidential candidate for the GOP. While neither of these women was successful in their races, they still made it farther than any woman had before. The gap between male and female representation is very large, but in the past twenty years, prospects for women politicians have changed, and it has become easier for them to make the gap smaller.

GREEK LIFE & THE COMMONS: Rumors Dispelled

According to the Dean of Commons, Frank Wcislo, there has been absolutely no initiative to reduce the influence of Greek Life on Vanderbilt’s campus.  He points out that, “There are over 400 registered student organizations on campus, all of which contribute to the richness and diversity of Vanderbilt student life.  Fraternities and sororities are among them.”  While this may be the case, there has been much speculation amongst Vanderbilt students as to whether the new freshmen experience, provided by the Commons, will have a negative impact upon the highly valued Greek tradition.

The Election's Supreme Court Stasis

While President George W. Bush has been one of the least popular presidents in the history of this country, he has left a legacy that will not be forgotten.  The nominations of Chief Justice John G. Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito have perhaps been the greatest moves he has made during his time in office, because it has shifted the highest court of our nation more towards the right and has given it a greater respect for a more strict interpretation of the Constitution.  This current election has been declared as possibly the most important election in the history of this country and the future direction of the Supreme Court adds to its significance. 

Torch Debate: Third Party Foul

Whether for better or for worse, third parties have affected the U.S. electoral system more than they were ever meant to.  Actually, the Founding Fathers wanted the American government to steer clear of the corrupt party system altogether, but ever since there have been Federalists and Anti-Federalists, the United States has had a dominating two party system.  At times in American history, major third parties have had a big voice—mainly through contributions to party platforms—but there are not many instances in which they have found any true electoral success. 

Palin: The Right Pick

Just a few weeks ago, the Republicans had quite a predicament on their hands.  John McCain was down in the polls due to a mad case of “Obamamania” spreading throughout the nation.  Throughout the past few months, McCain has been struggling to persuade swing voters that he will stick to his “Maverick” status and take on the Republican establishment while also trying to convince right-leaning conservatives that they could still trust in him as a candidate.  Choosing Sarah Palin for his Vice Presidential candidate was probably one of the best moves he could have made.  With this choice, McCain has completely leveled the playing field and has perhaps given himself enough momentum in order to finish on top in this heated election.

Obama Squanders Chance to Discuss Race

Democratic candidate Barack Obama made a speech last week that apparently holds historical potential for some Americans.  This is one of those speeches that people say will be analyzed by our children in classrooms across the country for years to come.  It was thought that Obama would be making this speech in order to distance himself from the radical viewpoints of his pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, but he also used this opportunity to discuss race as an issue in the United States and its relation to his campaign.

Torch Debate: Will Conservatives Rally Around McCain?

The Troops Are in Line
John McCain lost the Republican nomination in 2000 because he was too far left of the conservative base, and although he has seemed to move even farther left in the past few years, he is now the most likely candidate to represent the Republican Party in the 2008 general election. While the Democratic nomination is still up in the air, their two frontrunners have gained a lot of popularity, but unfortunately for the Democrats, neither candidate has a sure bet against Senator McCain.

Silenced Voices

The 35th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade sparked a variety of different reactions highlighting intense historical divisions over the issue of abortion. More than 100,000 pro-lifers took to the streets of Washington, D.C. protesting the decision, many of them solemn marchers with rosaries in one hand and posters displaying mutilated fetuses in the other. To the other extreme, there was an aura of celebration on Vanderbilt’s campus, including free condoms and abortion pamphlets on full display.