As the media works through the death of Dick Cheney, we must not let mourning get in the way of the collective condemnation of immoral acts committed by the deceased, though grief is a necessary process in the midst of the death of prominent public figures.
Author: Alex Benach
OPINION: Chosen family is not enough, we must be blood brothers
Gen Z is increasingly isolated, and traditional cures aren’t working. As this unhappiness runs rampant, we of course should keep trying to show up for one another. But our generation, Alex Benach PO ‘28 argues, needs a shot in the arm, one full of blood. Blood oaths, along with any other spiritual or occult community practice, could weld the spirits of the freak generation together against all odds.
OPINION: Use a condom before it’s too late
Gen Z, depending on who you ask, is a generation of prudes or perverts. However, Alex Benach PO ’28 argues that our primary sexual dysfunction is not prudeness but imprudence. Birth control is great and all, but wanting condomless sex puts you at more risk than you realize.
OPINION: Who is allowed to not shave?
Bodies, even women’s bodies, have hair. Good news is, it’s cooler than ever to not shave it. But while body hair autonomy for women and gender non-conforming people has been on the rise, largely thanks to the efforts of Gen Z, the full benefit has not been equally extended for non-white people. According to Alex Benach PO ‘28, this asymmetrical normalization follows a typical trend even outside feminist movements.
OPINION: Our empathy drought in a time when it’s most needed
The overwhelming rise in political violence in America characterizes the birth of a new, terrifying era, which can only be resolved with empathy.
OPINION: We should all be ashamed of our monolingualism
As a larger portion of Americans speak multiple languages than ever before, there is an alarming decrease in multilingual pursuits by students on college campuses across the nation. Amidst the implementation of ongoing mass deportations and racial profiling initiatives by the Trump administration, “learning languages serves as a small but effective tool in order to push back against authoritarian efforts to make our nation less diverse,” Alex Benach PO‘28 writes. Benach wants students to take personal responsibility in realizing the inclusive and diverse vision of America that many claim to value deeply by learning languages other than their native tongue in order to foster a better understanding of the diverse perspectives around them.
OPINION: Rethinking the Supreme Court
In the face of the Trump administration’s aggressive cuts and actions, the judicial branch has been an early stalwart line against executive overreach. Alex Benach PO ’28 argues that the judicial branch’s highest court is deeply flawed.
OPINION: The case for fleeing the country
When Trump first got elected we all remember liberals claiming that this was the last straw, that it was over, that they were done with it all and finally going to Canada. You may remember shaking your head, admonishing them for leaving the nation behind or for posturing like they would ever actually leave. But in this second era, people are actually leaving and Alex Benach PO ’28 argues that they may be right to be concerned.
OPINION: Our duty to protest
Since January, Donald Trump has signed over 81 executive orders targeting DEI, immigration rights, transgender protections and more. Why aren’t we protesting? For many, the combination of hopelessness and fear has led to inaction. Alex Benach PO ’28 examines our lack of faith in protest, confronts our duties as college students and argues that silence isn’t an option. Benach lays out tangible steps we can take to resist authoritarianism and protect our communities.
OPINION: You vape because the world is on fire
For Gen Z, the dust has never settled. Childhoods spent against the backdrop of the Iraq War, climate crisis on the horizon and record low rates of happiness have painted a bleak picture for the future of this generation. Alex Benach PO ’28 argues that a great resignation is taking place, a complacency in saying goodbye to the future emblematized by a simple device: the vape.