Thank you, America, for once again proving that I, as a gay man am a second-class citizen, and I'm in fact not created equal.
Last Tuesday, Arizona, California and Florida passed a constitutional ban on gay marriage, stating that marriage was to be between one man and one woman. They joined 26 other states that have laws written in their state constitutions, including Kentucky.
As you now know, even if you're hidden under a rather significant rock, Barack Obama was elected the 44th president by a rather significant margin. What you may not know is what happened around the country, or the underlying factors behind Obama's historic victory.
The Outcasts
For students like Dustin Littrell, the University of Louisville financial aid office has become a port in the economic storm America is suffering under.
Littrell said that he was burdened by the cost of not only tuition but the rising cost of food and gas during his first semester as a freshman. Thanks to a full Monday through Friday course load as well as nine hours a day at an outside job, Littrell said he was exhausted from the work.
"I studied every hour I wasn't at work," Littrell said. "I just graduated high school and it was a shock anyway. I had too much on my plate."
Last Wednesday proved to be a disturbing day for the University of Kentucky community.
UK's campus police received a call at 7:45 a.m. regarding an effigy of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama hanging from a tree near the William T. Young Library. By 8:25 a.m., the physical plant had cut down the effigy using a crane.
The relationship between the black community and the Republican Party is like that of a young couple that has a bad break-up. They used to love each other, but something came between them and they may never reconcile. What a shame that will be if it comes to pass.
The Republican Party of Abraham Lincoln is the party of Emancipation. In the years after the Civil War, Republicans passed the 14th and 15th Amendments legally mandating freedom and equality for every American regardless of race.
Voting, paying taxes, military service, jury duty, and obeying the law are all part of Americans' civic responsibilities.
A person can be fined if they don't pay taxes, however, they can't go AWOL once they join the armed forces and jail time can be the consequence for breaking the law.
For the registered voter, there is no legal punishment for not casting their ballot. There is an underlying civil punishment. It is the punishment of not participating in making a difference.
The Club Programming Committee had a successful first year at the University of Louisville.
The committee, formed last year through collaboration between the Student Government Association and Student Affairs, allocates money to Recognized Student Organizations to host events.
It saw an increase in funding from roughly $30,000 in the spring semester to $41,485 for the fall.
The men's and women's swimming and diving teams finished last season as runner-up in the Big East Championships. The only team that finished ahead of the Cardinals was Notre Dame, who finished in the top two 17 times in the last 25 years.
Much of U of L's success can be attributed to head coach Arthur Albiero.
"Our vision from day one was about creating a structure that is second to none, in terms of facilities, administrative support and community support, and that fosters a high level of competition," Albiero said.
After weeks of heated debate, concern from University of Louisville students over the new mandatory meal plan requirement is not dying down.
After the Student Government Association Senate meeting on October 21, another meeting was held for students to address their concerns with the meal plan.
Demetrius Gray, president of the Association of Black Students and a junior finance major, said that this meeting was productive, but was not satisfied with how visiting students were treated by the senate when discussing the meal plan.
It's starting to become a trend in politics for athletes to step down from the plate and up to the podium.
Jesse "The Body" Ventura and bodybuilder turned actor Arnold Schwarzenegger both used their popularity in sports to help hold a political position.
