FORMER PUBLICATIONS EDITOR

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Data Distress

I actively shop online. Who is responsible if a hacker steals my personal information?


Your question is important to anyone using the internet. Online shopping has become the norm for most of us and it amasses our personal information. Cybercriminals are fully aware of this and actively target e-tailers and their customers. Your data should be safe with them, but many cybercrimes have revealed that is not always true.

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Nest Egg

Our fraternity needs expensive renovations. How can we raise the money?


This question will test the relationship between the college administration and the frat house. All student housing needs to be maintained to a certain standard to comply with college regulations. Universities are primarily concerned with the well-being of their students, so your fraternity building must be kept in safe condition.

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Dorm Debate

Our university is letting private companies build and own the dorms. Shouldn’t the school provide housing?


The student housing debate has raged since colleges first opened. Your question covers a major factor of college life, your housing. With trends in student housing changing, colleges are looking for ways to maximize real estate space and comfort, while making it affordable to build and rent.

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Roommate Blues

I accidentally discovered my roommate is taking antidepressants. Now I feel a need to watch out for her. What can I do to help her?


We appreciate your regard for the welfare of your roommate and can help you to gain some insight into this serious issue. You may need to have a frank conversion with her about how you can help. Having a roommate who is suffering from depression can cause you to have feelings of frustration, guilt and anger.

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Game Off

While visiting my son at school, I noticed much less sports activity than when I was a student. Why aren’t young people playing sports?


This is a growing concern in today’s culture, because youth sports participation is on the decline. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, the number of kids that played a team sport on a regular basis decreased from 44.5 percent in 2008 to 40 percent in 2013, and that number has been on the decline ever since. These red flags emphasize the severity of the U.S. ‘inactivity pandemic’.

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Undocumented Undergrad

My parents finally told me we were in the U.S. illegally. Can I still apply to college and get a scholarship?


Although over one million immigrant children without legal status live in the U.S., fewer than 6,500 of them are estimated to go on to attend college. We receive a lot of questions from undocumented children who erroneously think that because they are not documented, they cannot access higher education. Yet students do have legal options. Armed with the right information and assistance, you can pursue higher education.

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Intellectual Idiocy

My friends are taking pills to help study. Years ago, they took speed to do an all-nighter. How can drugs help you study?


How do drugs and alcohol make you feel good? They induce changes in the brain and metabolic functions, but there is a physical cost and risk associated with these, such as possible long-term abuse. So-called study drugs are no miracle fix and exact a toll on you.