Writing develops unique style, sense of self

This is not only my last column of the school year, but it is also my last column with The Daily Beacon. I, and many others, will be graduating in May and moving on from the University of Tennessee to new jobs, schools, cities or programs. The past four years ...

'Zero Dark Thirty' distorts important events

During the era of President George W. Bush and the increasingly widespread use of torture by the CIA and their associates, often at secretive blacksites located on the soil of repressive regimes, the debate as to the effectiveness of torture raged throughout the media. As much as the supporters of ...

Boston investigation marked by cooperation

On Monday, April 15, two bombs exploded near the finish line at the historic Boston Marathon, killing three people and injuring over 170 more. The moment the bombs went off, police from across the state along with the FBI rushed to lock down the area and begin their extensive investigation ...

Keep faith in job searching

As the end of the semester approaches, I have many questions for myself. I feel like I am doing everything at the last minute these days. Except, ironically, this column. Completed two full days before it's due? My brain is weird.

Another question that passes through my mind quite ...

College provides time to grow, enjoy

As I have spoken to people about graduation, most seem thoroughly surprised that I am not ready to get out of here. In fact, I feel quite the opposite. I would stay in college for the rest of my life if given the opportunity. For all its screw-ups, its embarrassments ...

Words left unspoken hold danger

Winston Churchill once said, "We are masters of the unsaid words, but slaves of those we let slip out."

I believe what Mr. Churchill was saying is that, isn't it better to know and be disappointed, than to not know and always wonder what could have been? I think ...

Boston tragedy unites nation, world

For many of us, the week of April 15 felt the same as every other week. It signaled the beginning of another week of school, as well as another step closer to freedom and relaxation in the form of summer. It was also another dreaded step toward our final exams ...

Collegiate career truly preparation for life

There is something infinitely crueler, yet infinitely more rewarding, about the mad rush of the final week of school and exam week in the spring than the fall. With the return of warm weather and the siren call of the pool, the motivation required to finish everything is ridiculous. But ...

Strategic planning necessary for success

The job of a college student and arguably, of a human, is to learn. Learning is partly about absorbing others' knowledge. It is also partly about creating new knowledge. Creating something new might come from destroying an old barrier or finding a completely new way around a problem.

This process ...

Enjoy high points of college life

This is it. It's over after this. One more week of classes and a handful of days separate us from graduation. How do I summarize my experience at UT in 600 words or less? I can't, but I will try. Here's what I've done and what ...

Hate spewed over marathon bombing

There is no doubt that what happened in Boston on Monday can and should be called a tragedy. The nation is mourning for the three lives lost and the individuals injured by the explosions at the marathon, flying flags at half-mast to honor the victims. News and reports about the ...

Interest inflation eventually unsustainable

The impact of usury on our world runs far deeper than making the rich richer and the poor poorer — with all the social tensions that engenders. It exacerbates some of the most critical problems of our time.

In essence, usury is wanting something for nothing. Lending money involves no input ...

Failure happens, learn to deal

I debated whether or not to write this column, mainly because I have never understood the taboo of admitting failure. As a senior I took literary theory and criticism, and it did not go well.

Apparently, my presence was like that of a drunk at a solemn occasion. I spoke ...

Obama's budget fails to form consensus

Last week, President Barack Obama released his proposed budget for next year. With this budget, he has the opportunity to change and replace many of the automatic cuts that took place with the ridiculous sequester ordeal from earlier this year, which included $1.2 trillion in indiscriminate cuts to public ...

Fate, choice defines course of life

I am convinced that everything happens for a reason, whether it is to teach us a lesson, ease us into another stage of life or simply mature us. Fate has a way of weaving in and out of our lives like a car through rush hour traffic. One minute you ...