On July 15, 2015, the Obama administration, along with the other UN Security Council nations and Iran, signed the “Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action” (JCPOA), informally known as the Iran Nuclear Deal. The deal required Iran to drastically decrease their nuclear capabilities in exchange for the lifting of UN-imposed economic sanctions that had crippled their economy. The JCPOA was the …

It’s high time that far-right free speech advocates learn what free speech actually means.   On May 6, thousands of Brits gathered in Hyde Park to participate in the “Day for Freedom” protest, an event organized in response to Tommy Robinson being permanently banned from Twitter for violating their hateful conduct policy. Robinson is the former leader of the English …

A 2015 survey conducted by Planned Parenthood defines sexual consent as an “affirmative, conscious, and voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity.” The same survey suggests, however, that “there are varying beliefs about which behaviors do and do not communicate consent.” Among other things, the study indicates that 19 per cent of people aged 19 to 95 believe that “not …

Financial flexibility is not worth crippling the Students’ Union for. The United Conservative Party (UCP) held their annual general meeting last weekend, passing several controversial policy directives, including one that party MLAs literally begged delegates not to vote for. One directive, however, seems to have flown under the radar: to make students’ union fees optional for university students. It should …

When asked about the effects of social media on long-distance relationships, I believe that most people would speak very positively of the many possibilities that these offer to a (temporarily) separated couple. Thanks to apps like FaceTime, WhatsApp, Messenger, Snapchat, and Instagram, it almost feels like your significant other is right by your side, even though he or she might …

Everyone, I’m tired. I was tired when the Police Union VP dismissed carding as an issue. I was tired when the Edmonton Police Commission hired a researcher with ties to the Canadian Police Association and who tweeted, as quoted in the Edmonton Journal, “it may be hard to be a young black man in the U.S. But I wouldn’t wish …

The 21 members of the University of Alberta Board of Governors hold near-absolute authority over the business and financial decisions of the institution. Board members are mandated by the Ministry of Education to serve the public interest and build relationships with the community, so citizens and students can be sure their tax and tuition dollars are being spent appropriately. Despite …

The engineering co-op program at the University of Alberta recruits students by promising “valuable, real-world experience through full-time employment in positions related to their field of study.” I have personally benefited from the co-op program because it has allowed me to work alongside talented professionals, expand my knowledge of various engineering fields, and develop many new skills. However, there is …

Hostile design, sometimes called unpleasant design, is a kind of architecture that aims to prevent the use of certain aspects of the urban environment in ways that the designer deems unacceptable. Specifically, hostile design often targets individuals experiencing homelessness. The features of the hostile design are often subtle, masquerading as functional aspects of the design, such as armrests on outdoor …

All year, security has been a problem in the Fine Arts Building (FAB), especially for students who stay in the building late for rehearsals or working in studios. The issue led to changing the building’s hours, but this measure was not enough when one student walked into the building’s bathroom to see two individuals measuring illegal drugs. After calling University …