C2M Columnist Elizabeth Lair Kirby

OPINION: CPAC straw poll shows Rand Paul captured American voters' attention with filibuster

Rand Paul’s March 6 filibuster, affectionately referred to by the public as “Filliblizzard,” has been the talk of the politics world for the past few weeks—especially because of the surprising amount of bipartisan support that surfaced for Rand during his almost thirteen hour speech. However, many people outside the political loop, and even some on the inside, wonder why Rand Paul put so much energy into a senatorial technique which many deem to be old-fashioned and a waste of time.

OPINION: Why smokers on campus should be mindful of other people

If you’ve been to Starbucks, Innovation Hall or the breezeway between Robinson A and B anytime recently, you have probably noticed the hoards of smokers that congregate outside the doorways and socialize. For smokers, it seems these are some of the go-to places to burn a butt between classes. Normally, smokers don’t bother me. I’ve been exposed to cigarette smoke most of my life, having two smokers for parents.

OPINION: GMU Confessions and the effects of anonymity

With almost four thousand “likes,” the newly created Facebook page GMU Confessions has practically overrun the campus. It distracts students everywhere from their responsibilities and replaces them with hours of off-color entertainment and hilarious conversational topics. The confessions are so widely viewed that an oatmeal epidemic, shall we say, has stemmed from one unfortunate person’s account of their roommate’s blatant misuse of the breakfast product.

OPINION: Women should be allowed the combat roles for which they are qualified

Recently, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta announced that the ban on women serving in military combat has been lifted, overturning the 1994 law that states that women cannot be placed in any combat unit lower in number than a brigade. This new development seems to be sometime in the making, especially considering that women make up around 15-20 percent of our nation’s armed forces.