Jon Morris

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“Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several states which may be included within this union, according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, includ­ing those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.”

- US Constitution Art I sec 2

This was the original language of the Constitution before being modified by the 14th Amendment. Mr. Duffy wants to claim that the language of a con­tract doesn’t change over time, but I doubt he believes that the original language of the Constitution, clearly denying suffrage to slaves, should still be enforced. The the­sis of Mr. Duffy’s article, while difficult to parse, seems to be that John McCain is a better choice for President because he won’t (or claims he won’t) appoint judges to the Supreme Court who are motivated by a political ideology, and that Barack Obama will. This argument fails not only because of its speculation, but also for a lack of reason. Bad Supreme Court deci­sions can be overturned by the Court, just as bad decisions by the Framers can be amended. The ability to fix errors is built into our entire system of government (even if the “fix” will cost $700 billion).

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Another year of school, another new regulation to obey. The restriction of the day is a complete ban on the use of any and all tobacco products on University property. The rule seems easy enough to understand. However, if this rule is to be enforced, it would be nice to know exactly what the administration expects from students, faculty and staff who normally partake in some form of tobacco product.

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Students, Faculty and Staff welcome back! We genuinely hope your summers were enjoyable and productive, we only ask you to spare us the details in passing. Barely Legal is a self-explanatory column that delves into the lifestyle issues that confront VUSL. Read the rest of this entry »

“To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition, to know even one life has breathed easier because
you have lived, THIS is to have succeeded.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson may not have graduated from VUSL, but I think it’s safe to say things worked out for him. It is that time of year again, and perhaps we should all take a moment to reflect on the good that surrounds us, and what more can be done at our school and in our community. The SBA recently held a blood drive with the American Red Cross. There was an outstanding turnout for this event, and it may turn out to be life saving for someone nearby. The SBA is also currently working on a children’s book drive, and if you can donate any children’s books towards that cause it would be greatly appreciated.

The Valpo Law Democrats have been putting together care packages to send to our soldiers in the Indiana National Guard that are currently in Iraq. Please consider getting involved with that cause. The Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (SALDF) recently spent a Saturday volunteering at the Porter County animal shelter. The shelter can always use extra supplies, or even an hour or two every once in a while working with the dogs and cats would be a great help. The Boys and Girls club in Valparaiso is looking for after-school tutors. This is a great way to help the Valparaiso community, and it is also a rewarding experience. Get in contact with the Club if you are interested.

The Forum would also like to thank all our staff, and occasional staff, for writing articles or giving up time to make the paper successful. We would like to ask all of the organizations to get more involved with us, and to submit a monthly note describing any activities your organization has planned. This is a great way to keep our community more informed, interested, and active in what is happening with all of our organizations.

Sincerely, E.W. Gettemy