Today many mourn the death of a great artist, the King of pop Michael Jackson died on June 25th at the age of 50. He made his début to the professional music scene at the age of 11 as a member of The Jackson 5 in 1969, and began a solo career in 1971. His 1982 album "Thriller" is the world's best-selling record of all time, he is one of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records—including one for "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time"—13 Grammy Awards, 13 number one singles in his solo career.

Jackson donated and raised millions of dollars for beneficial causes through his foundation, charity singles and support of 39 charities. He influenced hip hop, pop and R&B artists, including Mariah Carey, Usher, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and R. Kelly. Jackson also had 3 children whom he leaves behind. Regardless of the controversies surrounding his life, there is no denying that he truly help influence pop music and the music industry in general like no other artist. From all the Radio X staff he will be missed may he rest in peace.

We want to hear from you our listeners, tell us your thoughts, comments may be read on air.

College presidents from about 100 of the nation's best-known universities, including Duke, Dartmouth and Ohio State, are calling on lawmakers to consider lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18, saying current laws encourage dangerous binge drinking on campus. Both sides agree alcohol abuse by college students is a huge problem. Research has found that more than 40 percent of college students reported at least one symptom of alcohol abuse or dependence. One study estimated more than 500,000 full-time students at four-year colleges suffer injuries each year related in some way to drinking, and about 1,700 die in such accidents.
Proponents say the prohibition makes drinking more tantalizing, drives it underground and encourages kids to drink as much as they can, as fast as they can.
In my opinion, the drinking age is merely a number but what is most important is the level of maturity. Someone who isn’t 21 and isn’t responsible will drink regardless of the drinking age. Lowering the drinking age would only make it ok for underage teens to keep drinking and would cause even younger teens to consider it ok as well. Drinking comes with the responsibility of making sound choices when it comes to getting back home. Just as someone who wants to commit a crime will commit it regardless of the laws, a person who wants to drink will do it regardless of their age. Fake Ids will still get made and they will still drink at their friend’s party.
While drinking when 18 can be considered ok in certain situations such as people who come back from war or get married, not everyone shares the same level of maturity. Whether to drink or not is a personal choice that is not only influenced by our peers and our reasoning but also by laws.

Lowering the drinking age to 18 will cause teens to questions themselves in the sense that if the law says that it’s ok for them to drink, then what is standing between them and the bar across the street. Most 18 year olds are not mature enough the make the decisions that come with drinking. Because while they might be old enough to marry, vote and fight for their country, they are not making these decisions while impaired by alcohol.

Making decisions in a college setting is hard enough as it is because of peer pressure and escalading social settings. Alcohol would only make this more difficult for a student whose been living on their own for only a couple of weeks.


What is your take on this? What are some of the pros and cons that come with both sides?
We at Radio X care about your opinion

Guns On Campus:

Now that the DC gun ban has been overturned, and even Barack Obama agrees that everyone should be allowed to keep a gun in their house, it is almost gratifying to see a University maintain its autonomy as a gun-free zone.

But as the events that took place on April 16th 2007 unfolded, Americans were united in the horror of the carnage that took place at Virginia Tech. Now more than a year later, students are joining forces in order to allow concealed guns on campus.

People for the idea argue that permit holders go through sufficient training, so they wouldn’t be endangering anyone. While people against the idea say that “Police officers would rather respond to a shooting than a shootout”

One Student Group, Students for Concealed Carry on Campus(SCCC) has gained national attention in the debate. The group started a few days after the Virginia Tech shooting which left 32 students and faculty dead.

In my opinion, while keeping the campus secure is every student’s job, the actual firing of weapons and policing should be left to the authorities. Bringing more guns on campus doesn’t create a safer environment. If someone wants to bring a gun to campus and commit a crime, they will. Adding more guns won’t help the situation. Especially in a Campus setting where there is alcohol involved as well as heated social settings.

Instead of bringing more guns on campus, security measures should be increased in order to prevent any more shootings like the Virginia Tech or Columbine Incidents.

Wouldn’t passing the bill of the right to bear arms on campus undermine the police authority in these situations to a certain extent?
What would be the difference between an armed student and an officer if both are carrying guns and have the same level of fire arm training? In a heated situation a badge makes little difference between the student and the officer.

What are your thoughts on this issue? Would be you feel safe knowing that everyone has guns? Or would it terrify you that the student next to you is armed?

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