While an attempt at calming Spirit Week is made, competition within athletics, arts, and academics remains rampant at NA.

Government credibility or human rights? The answer seems obvious – human rights should trump all else and the misdoings of the government should be exposed. However, in a recent case, the state’s secret privilege prevented victims of alleged torture from seeking retribution because of the possibility that it would reveal information about the CIA.

Dictionary definitions of the word “gay” include “cheerful in disposition” and “homosexual.” No entry, however, indicates that this word is derogatory. Why is it that the most common usage of the word “gay” is as an insult?

Many are skeptical about summer community service trips abroad, believing that they are not truly beneficial to the native people and that teenagers only participate in them because of college applications. However, the many positive elements of these trips should also be considered.

As stress over college builds, high school students pad their résumés with community service trips abroad that are actually just glorified vacations.

By Trevor Williams ’13, Staff Writer Two years ago this November, as it achieved landslide victories in both houses of Congress and its presidential nominee rode a wave of popular support into the White House, the Democratic Party appeared to have found its way. Finally, its members reasoned, they could implement their legislative agendas. And…