Nine protestors have been killed in Yangon, Myanmar
(formerly Burma) after anti-riot troops fired automatic rifles into a crowd Thursday. Tens of thousands of protestors led by Buddhist monks have gathered to rally
against military rule in the country, and have been since a gas price hike
in early August. Pro-democracy activists have been trying to break down the
regime that has ruled since the 1962 overthrow of a then-civilian
government.
The military used force against the
protestors in four different locations throughout the day Thursday. In the
end 11 were injured, and nine were fatally shot including a Japanese
journalist who was found with his camera still in hand. Japan’s Foreign
Minister Masahiko Komura is holding the Myanmar government accountable for
the death of the reporter who was covering the riots for APF, a Japanese
video news agency. In
1988 over 3000 were killed in similar protests against the military
rulers, who show no signs of faltering in their control of
the country.
US Border Fails Security
Test.
The Government Accountability
Office (GAO) recently did an
evaluation of border security that ended up with shocking
results.
Investigators were able to cross the border with red
bags supposed to simulate radioactive ingredients to a dirty
bomb.
While checking the Texas border the GAO found a boat ramp on the US side of the Rio Grande. A matching one was
discovered directly across on the Mexican side and could be
viewed in the official video documenting the investigation.
The Canadian border proved to be a much bigger issue.
Agents walked freely back and forth across it and where only
confronted by Border Patrol authorities once.
During a Senate hearing on the matter the
director of Border Patrol was not surprised at the findings and
claimed steps were being taken in adding additional manpower
and technology.
Currently there are 12 guards at the southern United
States border for every one guard at the northern border.
The Canadian border however has almost twice as many miles as
the Mexican border.
Last
week's Food for Thought presented issues with college students
handling depression; however, in El
Paso, Texas it's not as much of an issue. The
water there is laced with naturally occurring lithium, an
anti-depressant.
Although the El Paso Water Utilities department is saying it
takes 600 glasses of water to equal one medical dose,
researchers are finding certain effects directly related to the
lithium. One of those is the lower crime
rate. El Paso, a city of over eight million people, has a crime
rate per 100,000 people that is half that of Dallas.
Lithium is
also believed to be one of the reasons for the low admissions
from
El Paso to state mental hospitals
The
Exchange is a student-produced newspaper
that appears weekly. This week's managing editor
is Chris Potter.
visitors
CAMPUS NEWS
What's going on around campus:
The Franklin Pierce
Fire
Department is back in service and will move its new
truck - and 32 volunteer firefighters - to a building under construction by the Bubble.
Verizon Wireless has backed off its decision to
prohibit an abortion rights group from sending text
messages to its supporters.The group, Naral Pro-Choice America,
had requested a five-digit code that would have allowed its
members to electronically opt-in, or sign up, for text messages.
Verizon denied the request last week, but after a New York Times
article appeared on Thursday, Sept. 27, the company changed its
mind.
U.S. Armysnipers were
pressured to increase
their kill rates, according to members of the sniper squad
who were testifying at a trial. "Sergeant Vela and other
soldiers described how their teams were pushed beyond limits by
battalion commanders eager to raise their kill ratio against a
ruthless enemy,"
according to a New York Times report.
Twenty-five percent
of Americans that the First Amendment "goes too far in
the rights it guarantees," according to the State of the First
Amendment 2007.
The First Amendment Center also notes that an
award-winning book about gay penguins topped the list of
titles receiving complaints from parents and teachers.
Another 30 books were actually banned last year.
Prof.
Elsa Voelker is exhibiting her photos at the Jaffrey Civic
Center through Nov. 3 in a show entitled "Portraits and
Peonies." The Center is located at 40 Main St.
What's the most important
thing to discuss when speaking with your advisor?
It's the little things, says the National Academic Advising
Association. Their research shows that when professors
know about a student's interests and personal goals, the student
ends up saying that his or her advising is better.
Correction: in
last week's Profs into People we inadvertently said that Prof.
Nancy Stone graduated from Kansas City University. We
should have said Kansas State University.
The
MLB season is almost over; now it's time for the
award presentation. Rob Centore gives you his picks
for the MVP, Cy
Young and Rookie of the Year.
Golf's
Co-Captain Craig Jasinski takes time off the green to
talk about the season, his goals for the future and his
record-
breaking score of 71 over 18 holes in last week's tournament.
HEALTH AWARENESS
Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental
illness.
The percentage of women in college dealing
with an eating
disorder is rising every year, according to
youngwomenshealth.org.
When you notice a friend not eating, or binging on food
and then
making them selves purge afterwards you might want to
take a
chance on the fact that they have a problem.
Eating disorders can not
be cured or helped when someone is
doing it by themselves. (Click the
link to read the article by
Patricia Donahue.)
*Martha and the
Vandellas give us this week's slogan in honor of the
unseasonably warm September week we just had.
Protestors
Fired Upon
e
their kill rates, according to members of the sniper squad
who were testifying at a trial. "Sergeant Vela and other
soldiers described how their teams were pushed beyond limits by
battalion commanders eager to raise their kill ratio against a
ruthless enemy,"
Prof.
Elsa Voelker is exhibiting her photos at the Jaffrey Civic
Center through Nov. 3 in a show entitled "Portraits and
Peonies." The Center is located at 40 Main St.