As positive and progressive as are the recent Supreme Court decisions in Lawrence v. Texas and Grutter v. Bollinger, the thin margin of victory in these rulings underscores the need to avoid extreme right-wing nominees who have visions of the Constitution that is narrow, totalitarian and overtly political. Read more...

As the murder trial of Laci Peterson continues, a controversial piece of legislation has been reintroduced in Congress. “Laci and Connor’s Law,” which would make the murder of a pregnant woman punishable as a double homicide, is touted by some as a victory for the rights of the unborn. Read more...

A few weeks ago my brother bought a new CD at Best Buy. This action was apparently a very strange phenomenon. A co-worker of his asked in a strange, almost belittling tone of voice, why he actually paid for his music. Read more...

Gov. Gray Davis messed up. Entering office with a comfortable surplus, he has sunk California into a $38 billion slump. For Davis himself, this will most likely mean a recall vote in the fall while, at the same time, UC students and their parents will be expected to pay in other ways. Read more...

UNIVERSITY WIRE This past week, headlines abounded in our nation’s newspapers recording the Supreme Court’s historic decision to uphold affirmative action in higher education admissions policies. Read more...

Considering the recent Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action, should Californians reconsider Prop. 209’s ban on affirmative action? Pat Ryan Fourth-year, economics “I think there should be debate (on affirmative action). Read more...

Occupying Iraq is a complicated issue. The Los Angeles Times recently announced that 200 Americans had been killed in Iraq since the day American and British forces launched the attack against the Persian Gulf nation. Read more...