Beautiful Academia in DC - Howard...U Ok There Buddy?

Okay, so enough rumors have surfaces and enough disgruntled alumni/professors have preached on a soapbox to us. But what is really the deal with Howard University these days? Ever since that letter surfaced from vice chair of the Board of Trustees, Howard's mere existence has been in question. But just as important, if Howard University is in jeopardy of closing the doors, how valuable are the degrees we're wasting our money on earning now? When students are trying to join the work force umpteen years from now, how valuable can a degree from an institution that doesn't even exist be?

What's with these brand-spanking-new dormitories going up between Annex and the Quad if no one will live in them only a few years from now? Or what's with these lessening dining hours and lessening quality food we're being served in the cafe?

Lastly, while some alumni/professors want us to stand up for what we deserve, how do we do it? Howard University DESPERATELY needs alumni support greater than 8%. Howard University needs to listen to their student body -- we're PAYING to go here! And finally, Howard University student organizations that would help us voice these opinions and concerns need to make themselves known! Because I would CERTAINLY join them!

Access and the Digital Divide

According to Mashable, everything is moving online. Job applications, health care and insurance information, news sources, whatever application you can think of with the exception of a voter application is online. On the surface, this doesn't sound too bad, it sounds like the beginning of a paperless future with more trees. But there's a downside to everything. What about the people without internet access? Minority populations living in poverty have a low internet presence; how do they access job applications or health care insurance information? Either they don't or they access it in public sites, which often times is not the most savory decision considering the hypersensitive information that's just left on on server.

Who's most affected by the "digital divide?"

Goodman, Jessica. "The Digital Divide Is Still Leaving Americans Behind." Mashable. N.p., 18 Aug 2013. Web. 16 Oct. 2013. <http://mashable.com/2013/08/18/digital-divide/>.

Creativity in the Age of "Copywrite"

Today, it's hard to establish the difference between "taking something and making it your own" and just straight up taking something. From new artists "using their resources wisely" to major companies creating almost identical versions of non-patent-protected artwork. Who's to say what's stolen and what's just open to be used? And how?!

Was Robin Thicke just taking creatively liberties with well-known work of an artist than only remains it's estate? Was Overstock.com just playing of the anatomy of a common fruit for a handy household product? Or was it all stolen?

What do you think? Is copyright just means of protection or a loop hole for thievery?