Upfront

What is it that we find so fulfilling about being the first, the fastest or the best? Personal recognition or achievement, sometimes found in the form of setting records, is often attributed to an internal competitive drive. However, to say that this is the sole motivation behind record breakers would be to oversimplify record breakers’ efforts and attitudes. In fact, many find their inspiration from within, from supportive friends and family, or even complete strangers.

A rising trend of coddled and praise-hungry children is one that is pervading youth sports and education alike, and many believe that the “everyone gets a trophy” mentality is to blame. Many recreational sports leagues and gym classes across the country have stopped keeping score for fear of hurting the losing team members’ self esteem. Much to their dismay, today’s kids aren’t becoming more secure in their ability, but rather the exact opposite.

Sibling rivalry is no new concept, but it is undoubtedly on the rise. According to The New York Times, the incidence of twin births has been on the rise since, with one in every 30 births in the US being twins, a 76 percent increase.

We see women being objectified in society everyday by not only men, but other women as well. As a woman myself, I know first-hand what it’s like to be objectified and treated unfairly in our patriarchal society. But can we really just blame the male gender for this issue? Are boys born with some unconditioned instinct that causes them to look at women in sexual ways, or as lesser beings? Is there something or someone else to blame?

Higher education, unlike K-12, is not mandatory. No one forces a high school senior to take out huge loans to attend a college they can’t afford. So why do we act as if the “student debt crisis” is part of the recession our country has suffered for the past several years? Perhaps the recession aggravated certain factors, the economy isn’t entirely at fault. It’s the student’s choice.

According to the The Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth, 48 percent of alcohol use reported by college and university is done by those who are underage. Additionally, the U.S. National Library of Medicine reported that 12.5 percent of students own fake IDs pre-college, which increases to 32.2 percent in their second year at college.

More than 16 billion animals are killed each year in the U.S., according to PETA. They’re used to feed and clothe America, but at the detriment of the animals and of the environment. The average meat-eating American’s diet contributes greenhouse gas emissions that are 85 percent produced by the raising and killing of animals.

With the passing of the NY SAFE Act on Jan. 15, several new restrictions and policies have been pressed on gun ownership and sales that have been controversial among both sides of the second amendment debate.

For those of you who are not familiar with the National Hockey League lockout, here is a quick overview of what went on this season: The NHL cancelled 510 games of the 2012-2013 season because the owners and the players couldn’t agree on how to share the $3.3 billion in revenue earned every year. The lockout lasted from Sept. 15, 2012 to Jan. 12 of this year — lockout just being a fancy word for the players refusing to play any games until they reach an agreement with the NHL.

In 2006, the U.S. State Department designated Burmese refugees a “population of special humanitarian concern,” marking the beginning of a steady stream of Burmese refugees into the U.S.. In recent years, Burmese people have made up one of the largest group of refugees in the U.S.. According to the Burmese American Community Institute, between 2001 and July 2012, nearly 100,000 Burmese refugees resettled in the U.S., 100 of which live in Ithaca, N.Y.