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-Eddie Damstra | Thursday, November 16, 2017
A little over a week ago, the University of Notre Dame stated that it will now provide contraceptives and abortifacients in University health insurance plans through a third-party insurer. No longer will the university limit the supplying of contraceptives to students and faculty who possess certain medical conditions. Rather, the supplying of contraceptives and abortifacients
Eddie Damstra | Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Normally, I write about politics. However, I figured it would be refreshing to instead write about something the entire Notre Dame community could agree upon. Therefore, below is a letter addressed to irrational Notre Dame–hater, Colin Cowherd. Dear Colin, Following Notre Dame’s win over USC, you said “Saturday’s win does not prove Notre Dame belongs.”
Eddie Damstra | Thursday, October 12, 2017
One of my biggest fears in today’s American society is the increasing prominence of identity politics. The 2016 election proved that politicians are drifting away from championing ideas and principles and instead moving towards pandering to group identities. Both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton sliced the voting population into distinctive groups, and consequently appealed to
Eddie Damstra | Friday, September 29, 2017
College athletes are undeniably subjects of exploitation under the current system of college athletics. It may be less desired by fans, universities and the NCAA, but a system that further compensates college athletes is not only economically sound, but also morally requisite. I recognize that college athletes receive scholarships, and that a college education is
Eddie Damstra | Thursday, September 14, 2017
I wholeheartedly agree with President Trump’s decision to give Congress a six-month window to draft and pass a replacement to President Obama’s unilaterally and unconstitutionally implemented DACA program. While I do not think that the Dreamers should be deported, I do think that executive overreach should be squelched. Motions to grant amnesty to large sums
Eddie Damstra | Thursday, August 31, 2017
President Trump’s response to the Charlottesville events was, to say the very least, not good. His now infamous “both sides” remark was at best recklessly irresponsible and at worst a source of inspiration for the alt-right. And while a couple of days later he explicitly condemned neo-Nazis, white nationalists and similarly disgusting groups of people,
Eddie Damstra | Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Despite not voting for Donald Trump, I felt rather content after November’s election. Republicans won the House, Senate and White House. As a proud Republican, I was confident that significant change could finally be enacted in D.C. Most of all, I was confident that Congress could finally put together a bill that would eliminate public
Eddie Damstra | Wednesday, April 19, 2017
In the past, I have written about the need for Donald Trump to alter his rhetoric and policy positions as he transitions from candidacy to presidency. I, along with many other Americans, desired to see a drastic difference between “candidate Donald Trump” and “President Donald Trump.” And while I am not so sure his rhetoric
Eddie Damstra | Wednesday, April 5, 2017
On Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence was the tie-breaking vote in a repeal of a regulation implemented just two days before President Barack Obama left office. The regulation Obama passed disallowed states from barring Title X funds from organizations that provide abortion, the most prominent of which would be Planned Parenthood. Overturning such a regulation
Eddie Damstra | Wednesday, March 22, 2017
The 2016 presidential campaign season and the subsequent first couple months of Donald Trump’s presidency have highlighted the ever-growing reality of a fragmenting Republican party. While the GOP is attempting to put on a facade of unity, many of Donald Trump’s policies and rhetoric seem to be dividing the party. Populist and isolationist rhetoric have