Since 2008, MU has emphasized its desire to become a smoke-free campus. In July 2011, it implemented the second phase of its plan: Smoking was to be allowed only in designated areas. Students, staff members...

For the most part, continental energy independence is something we can all agree on. Go ahead, ask around: Chances are you won’t find many North Americans opposed to the prospect of being a self-sufficient...

Barack Obama won [Tuesday night's debate](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/16/us/politics/transcript-of-the-second-presidential-debate-in-hempstead-ny.html?pagewanted=all). In both the [CBS](http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57533850/poll-obama-edges-romney-in-second-debate/?tag=fdleft;fdmodule)...

May the odds be ever in your favor, or in Venezuela’s case, Hugo Chávez’s. On Oct. 7, Chávez was re-elected as president of Venezuela, with 55 percent of the vote. He beat out his underdog opponent,...

Republican is to Romney as Democrat is to Obama. Easy enough, right? Not so much. If that is about all you know about politics, then this one’s for you. With so many different opinions and issues bombarding...

I hate the presidential debates. The celebration, the paean to engagement and democracy, the inevitable infestation of my Twitter feed with banal observations and mock outrage. It’s the worst thing....

Here at MU, our water is fluoridated. Alarming as it should be, this fact is unsurprising when we consider that in the U.S., [nearly 75 percent of Americans have access to fluoridated water supplies](http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/statistics/2010stats.htm)....

We were taught at an early age breakfast is the most important meal of the day. That we should get a good night’s sleep and have a good breakfast before an important test or big sporting event. And we...

November is right around the corner. Therefore, both presidential candidates are doing everything in their power to win over those last few states. One of the major issues in this year’s election is...

After three years, we have learned to accept the massive amount of junk television that our favorite networks feed us. Sometimes referred to as “reality” television, popular networks like MTV and VH1...

What a difference a week makes. In a CBS News [post-debate poll of undecided voters](http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57531059/poll-biden-takes-debate-over-ryan-uncommitted-voters-say/), Joe Biden...

The average temperature Oct. 3 was 64.1. The next day, it dropped to 63.5. When the temperature reached 48.7 by the morning of Oct. 5, many students were unprepared for the chilly atmosphere. Forced to...