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MacMaster reflects on last school year

Contrary to biological intuition, the end of June is the end of the year at Alpena Community College. Our new fiscal year begins July 1. Looking back, we had a very good year. Here are some highlights: Our graduation rate among first-time full-time degree and certificate-seeking students was ...

Why do we need political parties?

I am an Independent voter, unwilling to affiliate with either major party, and question the need for political parties at all. Have you read what our Constitution says about parties? I have, so let me save you some time. It says nothing about parties, and that was deliberate. Many of our ...

Democrats’ Maine senate gamble raises questions about standards

The Democratic Party's approach to Maine's Senate race has sparked a debate that extends well beyond the state's borders. At the center of the controversy is Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner, whose campaign has been dogged by a series of damaging allegations and personal ...

Will this be the unhappy American birthday?

In one month, the United States will observe its 250th birthday. It is shaping up more like a memorial service for a lost loved one than a party to celebrate something special. Rather than anticipating a happy occasion, America at 250 is increasingly characterized by anger, name- calling and ...

Screen time now has another mark against it.

I’ve written about this before, mostly as it relates to children as that’s where most data has been focused. Screen time is leading to decreases in emotional intelligence, an increased inability to solve problems and think critically, and a decrease in building and maintaining healthy ...

The present breaks the past’s heart

Change is not my best friend. Not since the day my family moved from Wisconsin to California when I was eight. Leaving the land of my grandmother, the skating rink and snowballs in winter, Lake Mendota and the tennis courts in summer, the community garden and all that seemed unfair. The ...