Opinion

The Opinion section regularly features staff editorials, columnists' essays on topics privy to them, and unpopular opinions.

David Potter David Potter

Butterfly gardens are the worst

I generally like to think of myself as a pretty easy-going person. There is not much in this world that I despise enough to use the word “hate,” but I hate butterfly gardens with a burning passion. And guess what? You should too. They are actually the worst. 

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Emma Mincer Emma Mincer

Study Day should be on a Wednesday

As my last finals at Geneseo roll around, I’ve been reflecting on how my time here has been. There have certainly been highs and lows over the past four years, but overall, I consider them to be positive ones. I’ve had the honor of learning from good professors, making good friends, and doing a lot of great work with The Lamron. While it hasn’t always been perfect, I have certainly enjoyed educating and disseminating information into the community for the greater good, even if that information is simply my opinion. Without further ado, here goes the last opinion I wish to bestow upon the Geneseo community.

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The Lamron The Lamron

Staff Editorial: Life goes on, even at The Lamron

For the past three semesters, The Lamron has functioned with much of the same editorial staff, specifically in our highest leadership positions, with senior English literature major Frances Sharples as our editor-in-chief and senior psychology major Emma Mincer as our managing editor.

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Nicholas Deya Nicholas Deya

Fourth best break

With several breaks over the course of the academic year, there are a select few times wherein a student is able to enjoy time away from the hustle and bustle of classes. While all breaks serve a beneficial purpose, summer break is the fourth best, following Thanksgiving, winter, and spring.

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Charlie Shields Charlie Shields

How to survive the apocalypse: Nuclear fallout

It was never completely outrageous to expect the possibility of nuclear fallout. Many games cover the topic: the Fallout series, for example, covered the possibility of cryogenics, nuclear half-life, underground bunkers, and radiated nature that is ready to kill. Perhaps that is not too far off of the realm of possibility. These are some ways to survive the nuclear fallout of the future according to movies, historical references, and games. With these rules, I wish you luck in the apocalyptic wasteland and ask you politely to refrain from killing me if we ever cross paths. 

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Kendall Cruise Kendall Cruise

You don’t actually hate poetry (the school system just failed you)

From observing my fellow peers, teachers, and just the general populace, I have noticed a certain disdain veering on guttural utterance at the mere mention of a poetry unit or assigned poetry reading. As an advocate for the poetic literary form and aspiring English educator, this trend saddens me in that the fact that the mention of one of my most prolific passions dubs me as some sort of elitist.

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Kendall Cruise Kendall Cruise

I promise, it is okay to age

The anti-aging industry is predicted to create $271 billion in revenue by 2024. Why is it that in the current day this market in particular seems to be so profitable? I believe this market is the latest fad stemming from that desirable “dewy” look that make-up trends started pushing in the mid-2010s. This obsession with preserving youth, while not new, is more prolific and extreme than ever; the rate of cosmetic procedures has increased by 163%, with Botox being the most popularized with a reported 845% rise from 2000 to 2018. 

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Samuel Ashton Samuel Ashton

Hidden History: Australia’s great military humiliation

When thinking about the military conflicts that scarred the globe in between the two World Wars, what comes to mind are bloody, cruel affairs like the Spanish and Russian Civil Wars, or the military invasion of China by Japan. Rarely would one’s mind wander to Australia, who in 1932 suffered one of its only military defeats in the country’s history at the hands of a bird.

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Kaitlin Anzalone Kaitlin Anzalone

National Frog Month

April is National Frog Month, so I am going to take this opportunity to spew some random facts about frogs that you may not have known. Get ready—I am about to turn the Opinion section into National Geographic. This article is also written in honor of Managing Editor Emma Mincer’s frog Pierre Beannard Mincer, who is a White’s tree frog. 

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Kaitlin Carbone Kaitlin Carbone

History of Earth Day

Earth Day is Apr. 22! This year will mark the 53rd recognized Earth Day in America, and 32rd globally. As we all know, however, Earth Day is every day, whether recognized or not. 

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Carly Burgio Carly Burgio

Staff Editorial: The history and importance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM)

As April rapidly comes to a close, The Lamron staff felt it important to bring attention to Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Unfortunately, sexual assault is a stark reality that pervades our society, both on a global scale and on our own campus. This staff editorial will delve into the history of SAAM and contextualize the importance of recognizing SAAM to support victims of sexual assault and combat against sexual violence. 

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Nicholas Deya Nicholas Deya

Genesee Valley Greenway: Worth the walk

Livingston County is blessed to be surrounded by such a variety of outdoor gems. From the nearby Stony Brook State Park, just a half hour drive away, to the nationally renowned Letchworth State Park, there are no shortage of locations to visit in the nearby area. While beautiful, these locations can be a drive away for students—some without cars, though there is one location that is within walking distance from campus: the Genesee Valley Greenway.

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Nevaeh Tucker Nevaeh Tucker

Staff Editorial: Trump’s arraignment and its implications about our legal system

On Mar. 30, Donald Trump was officially indicted by a grand jury after a nearly five-year investigation in relation to hush-money payments made to pornographic film star Stormy Daniels. Prosecutors then pinpointed fraudulence from this incident as Trump falsely recorded the payments as “legal expenses.” Investigators have found that this is not an isolated incident, and likely part of a bigger scandal meant to influence the 2016 presidential election. 

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Samuel Ashton Samuel Ashton

Hidden History: The Tunguska Event

When talking about significant history, rarely are naturally caused phenomena put ahead of those of human origin, like great wars and crises. Some natural events are so massive that their scale is almost incomprehensible, like the catastrophic eruption of Mount Krakatoa, which boasts some historical notoriety. Few natural global events have had as much impact on modern science and popular culture as the eerie and awe-inspiring Tunguska Event—a truly massive explosion that rocked a remote part of Siberia on June 30, 1908.

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Matt Keller Matt Keller

What’s the deal with campus vending machines?

I would go as far as to call myself a vending machine connoisseur. Brave statement, I know, but as my fellow Lamron editors will tell you, there’s little I wouldn’t do for a delicious bag of Munchies or some perfectly sweet Black Forest fruit gummies. I have been seen on occasion last semester making the trek from the Union to neighboring buildings because not only were the vending machines in the mail room not working, those on the top floor were busted as well: “Card Not Accepted,” “Invalid Card,” “Card Declined”... where does it end?

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Charlie Shields Charlie Shields

Why Disney Dreamlight Valley is superior to Animal Crossing

The original Animal Crossing was released on Apr. 14, 2001 on the GameCube, but many installments have reached other Nintendo products over the years, eventually leading up to the newest system in 2017: the Nintendo Switch. Despite the relatively older age of the game, it has developed over the years more characters, more map choices, and even more crafting options. When I first got a Nintendo Switch, I was hyper-fixated on the game to a point where I logged 600 hours of gameplay over the summer. I loved the concept of crafting, creating, and even engaging sarcastically with various villagers in the game.

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Nicholas Deya Nicholas Deya

Red Dead Redemption II: A masterpiece of a game

Throughout my life, I have only played a select handful of video games from start to finish. Some were better than others, and so some left more of an impact than others, with Red Redemption II being perhaps the most complete game I’ve ever played. While this game may have been released about four years ago, there is still much to appreciate about it. 

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Frances Sharples Frances Sharples

Staff Editorial: The backstory behind the Mar. 28 Nashville school shooting

On Monday, Mar. 28, Nashville experienced the deadliest school shooting that the U.S. has seen since 21 people were killed in Uvalde, Texas last May. 28-year-old Audrey Hale fired 152 rounds in their alma mater, Covenant School, killing three children and three adult staff members. Hale was killed by police officers minutes after the first call of an active shooter.

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Kaitlin Anzalone Kaitlin Anzalone

The good, the bad, and the twins

It can be seen across many cultures that there are different views on how twins are perceived. Speaking from personal experience, I would say that there is evidence that there is a twin that is inherently “good” and the other “bad,” but I don’t believe that there is enough evidence to fully support this claim.

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