
Opinion
The Opinion section regularly features staff editorials, columnists' essays on topics privy to them, and unpopular opinions.
Listen to Alvin and The Chipmunks’ music
I love those songs by the squeaky squirrels is no doubt a thought that four-year-old me once experienced.
Remember when you were a kid sitting at home on the floor, eyes glued to the television as you watched the beautiful squeak of Alvin, Simon, and Theodore’s voices gracing your ears for the first time? Perhaps you even got your groove on or went to funky town in pure childhood adoration and complete enjoyment. No matter what you were doing you were enjoying the sweet serenades by Alvin and the Chipmunks either on the big screen or through some music streaming platform.
Fall is the best season! Song and movie recommendations to get you into the autumn mood
On Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, the Autumn season finally commenced! After a brutally hot and seemingly never-ending summer, college students are cheering for the fact that classrooms won't feel like 100-degree torture chambers anymore. Although October is just beginning, I know you’ve been thinking about fall media for some time now; If you’re anything like me, you’ve been dreaming of pumpkin spice lattes, apple cider, cinnamon candles, fresh donuts, pumpkins, crunchy leaves, Halloween festivities, Thanksgiving pie, and so much more. The good news is that the wait is now over! As the weather continues to cool off, and thoughts of the holiday season start to linger, it’s time to get into the right mood.
Why a biology major might not guarantee you the job you’re looking for
In recent years, there has been a sharp uptick in those majoring in STEM-related fields—particularly the field of biology—and a decrease in those pursuing the humanity-related fields. I am inclined to posit that this is, in part, due to an increased importance being placed on acquiring so-called “practical degrees” that will give the individuals requiring that degree the ability to make an above average pay rate in this late-stage-capitalist world. Biology, in particular, seems to be receiving a lot of love from incoming undergraduate students seeking to acquire a job that will provide them with financial security and parental approval.
Underutilized office hours: An apology to all teaching assistants everywhere
As a student currently on their seventh semester at SUNY Geneseo, I can say with much regret that I never went to a teaching assistant’s office hours. When completing my general education requirements during my freshman and sophomore year, I remember meeting the teaching assistants for the various introductory classes, filling those pesky science and math requirements, writing down their email and office hours, and promptly forgetting about it.
Juice brawl: orange juice versus apple juice
Within the past week—as spurred by the universally questionable decision to have the opinion and arts and entertainment editors’ office hours coincide on Thursday afternoons (come visit us!)—there has been an all-consuming contemplation: Which is better, orange or apple juice? Here, we each take this disagreement to the public in hopes of answering this question once and for all via The Lamron opinion section. Within the body of this article, both opponents will justify their sides and then you, dear reader, are left with taking a stance for what you think is right.
WGA agreement will not end the struggle against streaming
On Sept. 24, 2023, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) announced their tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) after a 146-day strike—the longest in industry history. The WGA published an official letter noting that many of their demands have been met, but have yet to specify the exact parameters. While this announcement will effectively suspend WGA picketing, it does not entail renewed conditions for all members of the filmic workforce; WGA members will not return to work until all negotiations are finalized, and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) will remain on strike for the foreseeable future.
Green ReLEAF: The value in normalizing cannabis to alleviate college stress and support mental health
Before delving into the content of the article, it is important to note that the use of marijuana by anyone under the age of 21 is not permitted, and each state has its own stance on the legal uses for marijuana, if they deem any use legal at all. Cannabis usage and/or possession is not permitted on the SUNY Geneseo campus. Always remember to consume responsibly and be mindful of the law.
Teenage rage and female longing: The best albums are written by 19-year-olds
Olivia Rodrigo spilled her GUTS on a brand new album that she wrote when she was only 19-years-old. On Sept. 8, 2023, fans finally got new music from the now 20-year-old pop star and former Disney actress. Since her first album SOUR was so highly reviewed and accredited, fans were interested to see if Rodrigo could top the success of her debut album.
Smosh is better than ever
A giant of the early YouTube scene, the company Smosh—originally a sketch comedy channel started in 2005 by childhood friends Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla—was a pillar for many children in the late 2000’s and early 2010’s. The channel even reached the milestone of being the most subscribed to Youtube channel three separate times during the peak of their popularity in April 2006, April 2007, and January 2013 being the final time in which they have held that spot to the present day.
Tips and tricks for first-year students
Beginning your college journey can be an overwhelming task that requires students to learn about and adapt to new ways of living that they might have little experience with. The staff here at The Lamron has some advice to help you avoid misadventure (as best we can).
Aldi is the cheapest, easiest, and overall place to shop as a college student
In this edition of The Lamron, we’ve created a guide of tips and tricks for first-years. This article, on the other hand, is for all you upperclassmen living off-campus looking for cheap and convenient food shopping. To begin, I would like to congratulate you on getting out of the dorms! I know firsthand that the transition from getting dining hall food to cooking your own meals can sometimes be troubling and lead to forgetting about meals, which isn’t good for anyone. Worry no more—for anyone that needs to shop for their own groceries, this article is my gift to you.
Of course trends are circular
I vividly remember my early high school years, when scrunchies were coming back in fashion and items like bell-bottoms, heavily-layered hair, and thick eyeliner not-so-slowly followed suit. When asking for some of the aforementioned items for Christmas during this period, my Aunt remarked with a simple, “that’s what I wore in high school.”
Yes, you should be eating breakfast
I am sure everyone has heard the age old saying that “breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” but how many people are actually taking this advice to heart? I am here to make the argument that this saying is important to abide by, and explain why exactly that is the case.
Seven reasons why cats are the best college pet
Being a college student brings with it a myriad of new challenges and stressors to the lives of budding young adults. One of the best ways to relieve stress and anxiety is having a pet or emotional support animal (ESA). ESAs, also known as comfort or assistance animals, are not specifically trained to perform tasks (like a service dog whose purpose is to help with certain tasks or health complications). Rather, their intended purpose is largely to bring comfort and happiness to their owner.
The inevitable technological war of printing
To start off, if you do not know me—which most of you probably don’t—I am a freshman currently enrolled in calculus one, and really do not like doing math on a computer. I am a classic pen and paper kind of guy, so you can imagine how annoying it was when I discovered that my professor posts all assignments and homework as PDFs on Brightspace.
Why small college classes are better
Here at SUNY Geneseo, and at most colleges in the United States, there are many different styles of learning. Some classes are lecture-based, held in a large lecture hall and attended by 100 or more students; other classes tend to be more group project or presentation based, stressing the importance of peer work. Ohers classes may be more independent, where work is done on your own, emphasizing the ability to learn material yourself. We all have varying perceptions of different classroom styles, but regardless, one thing is certain: students thrive in smaller class environments. Yes, you may be able to hide in the back of a large lecture, but the most beneficial learning experience occurs in a smaller classroom that has a better ability to address students’ individual needs.
Let people enjoy things: The end of cringe culture
Popular culture regulates the social world through avenues such as fashion, media, cuisine, and most anything that can be captured under the catch-all “lifestyle” category. Within the last decade, this baseline quantifier for what we as a community, state, nation, or even world decide to be “important” or “cool” is mostly determined by the best and worst thing since sliced bread: the internet, or more specifically, social media.
Books should not be banned
Literature has long since existed in our world dating back to Mesopotamia in 3200 BC, when people first codified laws into stone tablets. Nowadays, literature is everywhere you look, both in the more traditional published works, and in the writing of scripts for movies, video games, and even talk shows. With this influx in literature, however, has come an unceasing upturn in the banning of books. Many are surprised to find that these banned books are also some of the most famous, To Kill a Mockingbird, Fahrenheit 451, and Of Mice and Men being a few examples.
Staff Ed: Campus construction worsening accessibility on campus
If you have been around campus for the last few weeks, you have most certainly noticed the construction zone that currently makes up the SUNY Geneseo campus. This is largely made of three main missions for improvement: the Milne Library, the College Green, and Sturges Hall, for a variety of reasons (a few of them asbestos-related) with the ultimate goal of bettering the campus as a whole for future students.
SUNY Geneseo: A senior’s perspective
As a graduating senior, my time at SUNY Geneseo has provided me with countless moments that I will forever remember, stemming from my first week of orientation, right up into these last few concluding weeks. While there are no doubt areas to be improved upon around campus, and regardless of the criticisms that may be received, I feel there is plenty worth appreciating in and around campus.