Brazil faces challenges with 2016 Olympics

Security needs to be adressed in advance of competition

By Débora Biasutti

Defeating major world cities like Madrid, Tokyo and Chicago in the bid for the 2016 Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro will be the first South American city to ever host the games. Chicago was the first city to be eliminated from the bid, Tokyo the second, and Madrid got second place in the race.

Felons should be prevented from voting in future elections

Stricter checks and registration policies needed

Whether one sides with Republicans or supports the Democrat-sponsored bill that would allow felons to vote, the reality is data shows nearly 200 of them voted in the 2008 presidential election. We feel the main concern, however, is not whether criminals should be able to vote, but how to prevent them from doing so in the future.

University needs to embrace new era

Student Center vital to maintaining appeal of UW-Eau Claire

By David Taintor

From trees and cost, location and history, there has been no shortage of controversy surrounding UW-Eau Claire's new student center. The fact of the matter is this: we do need a new student center. When we were just prospective students, touring the university for the first time, we looked at the campus grounds with some fondness, met in Davies Center and decided that this is where we would earn a degree.

Twitter useful for more than social interaction

By Danielle Ryan

I never thought I'd be in the position of defending Twitter. I once was suspicious of the site whose only function was to pose the question, "What are you doing?" But, unlike the Twitter-bashing author of the article "Less than Twitterpated," I have actually given Twitter a chance.

Judge drops ball in prayer-death case

By Rob Hanson

I will never forget the first time I read about the Wausau parents who prayed in place of getting medical treatment for their 11-year-old daughter, who slowly suffered and died in their home in March 2008. Unfortunately, I will also never forget a Wisconsin court's subsequent decision to forsake common sense and ingest the utter bullshit a tiny faction of the religious right has decided to offer as its excuse for stupidity .

Student input needed

Open sessions held to address concerns on major issues

By Breann Schossow

I talked myself out of writing this column three times before I told my editor I had to do it. I told myself I knew involved students who, when asked, could answer questions about issues about campus. And I do. But that doesn't change the fact that our campus could use more student involvement.

Bill ensuring equal representation a good thing

Despite flaws, new legislation step in right direction

By Spectator Staff

We find it interesting that the third largest school in the UW System - UW-Eau Claire - has such little representation in the UW System's governing body. Not to mention smaller, but still relevant schools such as UW-Stout and UW-River Falls. That's why we support a bill making its way through the Legislature that would ensure representation for northwestern Wisconsin and UW-Eau Claire on the UW System's Board of Regents.

Hotel living has benefits

University accommodates students forced into overflow

By Josh Riedel

I get up in the morning, look around my room, at my desk, my trunk; I see my roommate's bed. I also see a few things you probably don't. I see the door leading to the bathroom the two of us share, the microwave that came along with the room and the nice-sized television that also came with the room.

Kent State trees set to be removed

By Spectator Staff

The Council Oak Tree isn't the only symbol standing in the way of the new student center. The even lesser-known Kent State memorial trees would also have met their fate with the original construction plans for the new student center. The difference is that the Kent State trees won't be saved by changes to the blueprints.