Conner is a junior intern from Carmel, Indiana. He is an Honor Scholar and Political Science major at DePauw. 1. Tell us about an ethics/social justice issue that is particularly important to you. Most of my campus work/activism has focused on issues of race and privilege, both at DePauw and in the country as a … Continue reading "Prindle Intern Spotlight: Conner Gordon"

On December 9, the Senate released their assessment of CIA documents relating to “enhanced interrogation.” The question of course is whether “enhanced interrogation” was anything other than torture. The report includes multiple accounts of water boarding; one man was water-boarded 183 times. Other CIA detainees were subjected to freezing temperatures, kept in complete darkness with loud … Continue reading "“Enhanced Interrogation” versus Torture"

The experience of food is one that runs to the core of our being. As humans, it is such an essential part of our lives that we rarely stop to question its function in everyday life – at least beyond which restaurant to go to after work. It is so central, in fact, that food could certainly become … Continue reading "Weaponizing Food and the CIA Torture Report"

Due to recent campus controversies, DePauw University’s administration is in the process of deciding upon an additional distribution requirement to the curriculum. If passed, they will call it the “M” credit for “multicultural”. This new addition would not affect the current students at DePauw, as it would have to be ‘grandfathered’ into the curriculum for … Continue reading "The “M” Requirement: Building Bridges"

Shopping hangovers are just as real of a threat at this time of year as the drinking ones. With Black Friday and Cyber Monday just behind us (but Christmas still ahead), it can seem once again like everyone’s busy typing denouncements of consumerism with one hand while grabbing sweet deals and swiping plastic with the other. Amidst … Continue reading "Consumerism, Capitalism, and Personal Identity"

Work out much? On a diet? Dealing with mental illness? How would you feel if anyone online could track down your medical information down to your sleeping habits? Health data isn’t a topic we consider everyday, but just as geolocation has become an accepted part of owning a smartphone, our health data is increasingly urged … Continue reading "Have You Sold Your Health? How FitBit, Apple’s “Health” App, and Android “Fit” App could affect your health care costs after DePauw"

As the Ferguson trial unfolded these past few weeks, I couldn’t help but wonder if this was what the great men who built our country foresaw. When they wrote the Constitution, edited the Bill of Rights and boldly sent out the Declaration of Independence, their world was much different from ours. Many of them believed … Continue reading "Reflections on Ferguson and Campus Climate at DePauw"

I have been a student athlete for as long as I can remember. From personal experience, it is not an easy task. Learning how to balance schoolwork with a regimented athletic schedule places a lot of pressure on a person. Not only must a student athlete excel in the classroom in order to keep grades … Continue reading "Student-Athletes: Expectations and Responsibilities"

Hypocrisy is the practice of claiming to moral standards or beliefs to which one’s own behavior does not conform. Hypocrites are usually disliked and seen as lacking moral fiber. Many people claim that nothing annoys them more about a person than hypocrisy. I believe this is because we as a race dislike criticism and to … Continue reading "Hypocrisy: The Universal Trait of Mankind"

This post originally appeared on December 4, 2014. When I was 8, I started ballet. I was a disciplined kid who took everything seriously, and dance quickly became a great passion of mine. But for many years I wasn’t that good; I felt I lacked the natural physical abilities that bless talented ballerinas. One day something … Continue reading "Is Envy Always Malicious? (Part Two)"

Among my friends, I would be one of the first to readily admit one thing: I love dogs. Pugs, specifically. My personal allegiance to my family’s dog aside, pugs are one of my favorite animals. If I need to take a break from studying or writing a paper, chances are decent that I’ll log on to … Continue reading "An Unhealthy Obsession: Pugs and the Demand for Cuteness"

Facebook is a place used for self-expression; many people use it to update others about their lives or post about how they’re feeling. Anthony Elonis, a man from Pennslyvania, used Facebook to rant about his divorce. However, Elonis was not just posting about his ex-wife and the divorce, but posting violent messages such as “there’s one … Continue reading "Rap on Facebook and the Supreme Court"

While “Like,” “Share,” and “Tag,” have made their way into our everyday vocabulary, the ethics of Facebook’s privacy practices has also become a matter of discussion.  But what has not been brought to light are the restrictions (or lack thereof) on Facebook users in regards to their privacy and unclear rules on newsfeed manipulation.

The other day I picked up an article from The Wall Street Journal that caught my attention for many reasons. I have always personally struggled with the concept of genetic testing. On the one hand, I think it is an amazing feat. Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis would grant me the ability to check and make sure my … Continue reading "Genetic Testing: A Right Not to Know"

Ever wish your car could drive itself? I am sure we all have at some point.  But as companies begin coding driverless car software, the question of who decides how a programmed car will act in the case of a collision becomes not only one of paramount importance, but one of ethics.

Philanthropy is a huge part of the average DePauw student’s life. Between Greek organizations, Relay for Life, Dance Marathon, Timmy Global Health, Civic Fellows and volunteering in the Putnam County community, it’s hard to find a weekend that does not consist of some kind of philanthropic effort. While I believe these philanthropic events teach DePauw … Continue reading "Philanthropy on Campus: Are we genuinely helping?"

School lunches have never been popular. Culturally, school lunches are something often complained about by students for being bland and unappetizing, and by parents as being unhealthy and processed. Michelle Obama’s attempt to make school lunches healthier through her “Let’s Move” campaign has left some students angry, expressing their annoyance with pictures of their school lunches … Continue reading "#ThanksMichelleObama: Ethics and School Lunches"

Last night, President Obama spoke openly about both the benefits and problems with immigration in the United States as it currently stands, and how it might change. The video is worth a watch and worth some thought. 

Colleen is a junior intern from Indianapolis, Indiana. She studies Political Science at DePauw. Tell us about an ethics/social justice issue that is particularly important to you. One social justice issue that is particularly important to me is the idea of equality in law. I am currently taking a Philosophy of Law course and the … Continue reading "Prindle Intern Spotlight: Colleen Whiting"

As any college student knows too well, cold winter weather signals the beginning of an annual rat race that permeates the university experience – brace yourselves…it’s internship application season. Over the next few months, students across the nation will be scrambling to land a job for the summer. They will plea for nepotism from friends … Continue reading "The Trouble with Unpaid Internships"

Members of the Ohio legislature are currently fast-tracking a bill that would shield the names of pharmaceutical companies who sell Ohio execution drugs. Ohio has an interest in this shield because they are having difficulty finding people to provide them with drugs they need to execute persons sentenced to death. Lawmakers also claim that they need … Continue reading "Should the Identities of Execution Drug Manufacturers Be Secret?"

When someone is being recorded, one is more aware of their actions; this applies to even police officers. With many cases of police brutality occurring throughout America, from Ferguson to the recorded death of Eric Garner to the beating of Luis Paulino in 2012, the question of technology and its role in decreasing police brutality … Continue reading "Technology and Police Brutality"

This post originally appeared on November 18, 2014 Imagine you check your email and find a congratulatory message from your boss announcing that your colleague has just been promoted. This colleague joined the company at approximately the same time as you did, and works in your sector. You were in line for the same promotion … Continue reading "Is Envy Always Malicious? (Part One)"

The above video was recently featured in an article for CNNMoney. This cute, animated short describes the crucial economic state of the last 40 years. As quoted from an adorable alpaca in the video,  “The system has become rigged. Government has been favoring the rich at the expense of the poor. The rich pay lower tax rates than ever … Continue reading "Watch Cute Alpacas Teach You About Income Inequality"