The best in last week's editorials from college campuses across the nation

Clemson University

The Patriots and Panthers battled to the last seconds in a see-saw affair that ranks as one of (if not the) greatest Super Bowls ever. And the next day, we have to sit down and read about this trash?

The fans who felt that they needed something like that to complete their Super Bowl party probably had already forked over the $20 or so to watch the Lingerie Bowl at halftime and missed the stunt anyway.

The Jackson family is in enough trouble already, and Janet's decision-making certainly did nothing to help out her brother. But worse than that is the damage done to American children, American culture and the American image. Incidents like this have to be tackled head on; America can't keep punting on morality.

- "Super Bowl XXXVIII turns XXX; many at fault," from Clemson University's Tiger

Ohio State University

Everyone likes to complain. It is just naturally embedded in human, or at least American, culture. There are always things that we don't like, and by voicing our opinions, somehow we feel better about these inadequacies.

This is why you can't walk down campus streets or the MU Quad (especially this week) without hearing an excessive amount of castigations raining down upon our elected officials and their accomplishments (or lack thereof).

The two main complaints that seem to linger in the air, like a rain cloud over the student population, go something like this:

"George Bush is an evil tyrant who instigated the war in Iraq for personal, material gain."

Or:

"The race for the Democratic nomination is the biggest farce in the history of politics. It's pick your poison with these guys."

- "Rock the vote - for real," from Ohio State University's Daily Barometer

Virginia Tech

The portion of the bill that would expel current illegal students is absurd. Those students should not be penalized for the mistakes of any college or university's admissions committees. Let them finish their education; they've come too far for the state to morally throw them out. In an effort to retain their expertise, the government could possibly offer citizenship to those who complete their education under the shadow of this bill.

If a foreign citizen wishes to earn an American education, make them go through the same process most international students do. They need to apply for a visa, go through the proper processing steps and arrive in America when they are scheduled to do so

- "Illegal immigrants should not benefit from state education," from Virginia Tech's Collegiate Times

University of Ohio

Arguments can be made that the United Nations is far from perfect. The United States long has acted as the most prominent member of the United Nations, providing funding for both humanitarian and military missions. This does not change the fact that the United Nations is the closest thing the world has to an open forum, and when discussions are held and decisions made, the United States must be at the table to observe and to act. Leaving would set off a time warp, bringing us back to the days after World War I, when America foolishly pulled out of world affairs only to be unwillingly dragged back in 20 years later. The world is getting smaller, and hiding from the only organization trying to cope with that fact would be a terrible decision.

- "Isolationism from U.N. a bad idea," from the University of Ohio's Post

Texas Christian University

Fad diets are exactly what the name entails: a fad. They die out just as quickly as they come in. There's always a new diet that promises you will reach your ideal weight in no time at all, get the perfect form or the opposite sex to notice you.

So what's the problem with these "lifesaving" diets? Why shouldn't they be appealing? The answer is that most of them don't work anyway and just leave us feeling hopeless.

- "Fad diets fade fast but nutrition lasts," from Texas Christian University's Daily Skiff

Iowa State University

Whether or not you agree with the way the administration is fighting the war on terror, everyone should agree that good intelligence is absolutely critical to success.

This is why the Bush administration's attempts to stonewall a probe are alarming. Has it already forgotten how failures in intelligence allowed Sept. 11 to happen? If the administration wants to keep fighting the good war against terror, it must swallow its political pride for the sake of the country and allow a sincere and thorough investigation in what went wrong with the intelligence on Iraq.

- "National security more than saving face," from Iowa State University's Iowa State Daily

University of Utah

Clearly, both sides are passionate about their respective stances. A debate has begun between them, and ignoring the issue will not make it go away.

It is also important to recognize that the right of homosexuals to marry does not only affect gay communities at large, but impacts individuals of any political persuasion or religious affiliation.

That is why there must be a civil, open forum for both proponents and opponents of homosexual marriages to express and exchange their views. We live in a democracy, and the inherent right to freely discuss and exchange ideas must be preserved and upheld.

- "Open discourse crucial in gay rights debate," from the University of Utah's Daily Utah Chronicle

Baylor University

We think because the police officers are performing a public service, the public should have oversight of their operations, especially in matters dealing with personal safety.

Private universities like Baylor and Mercer must maintain a public police log under the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or the Clery Act. Schools have to publish an annual report every year by Oct. 1 that contains three years worth of campus crime statistics and certain security policy statements including sexual assault policies which assure basic victims' rights, the law enforcement authority of campus police and where students should go to report crimes. The report is to be made available automatically to all students and employees. The Baylor police department provides the Clery Act information required via their Baylor Web site.

- "University police records should be more accessible," from Baylor University's Lariat

- Compiled from U-Wire