Our third issue of The Gothic Guardian has been distributed on East and West Campus! Our theme for this issue was “Same Old Problems,” focusing on some of the most intransigent social and political issues we’ve noticed. The issue is also available online here.

by Trent Serwetz
At Duke, every year nearer to matriculation carries with it distinct lessons about how, where, and when to park.
Freshman year enables students to park practically on their doorsteps in the Red Zone. At least, until the lot is inexplicably full and you need to park on the other side of East Campus or face a hefty parking fine. As a sophomore, the question becomes not whether there is parking to be found but rather how many acres of Blue Zone the student must navigate to make it back …

By Chloe Rockow
March 28, 2011: Representative Ron Paul, often controversial Libertarian, spoke in NC State’s McKimmon Center to a packed auditorium. The 2008 presidential candidate spoke on a variety of issues, from US military actions in Libya to the current financial crisis.
Rep. Paul was hosted by NC State’s Young Americans for Liberty club, who have also been spearheading a “Visualizing the Debt” campaign to bring awareness about the actual size of the national debt. Fiscal responsibility is a topic dear to Rep. Paul. A large portion of his talk …

By Lingfeng Li
As a wave of new Republican lawmakers enters the legislative experience, we look back on a decade of important but misguided legislation. Hopefully these newly elected delegates will avoid some of the missteps made mostly by their conservative predecessors.
1. Iraq Resolution. The war in Iraq has been, in the eyes of most, a huge debacle for the United States. Not only were no weapons of mass destruction found, thus invalidating the government’s rationale for invasion, but thousands of American lives were lost and billions upon …

By Aaron McGuire
One year ago, the dining plan contract fee increased $70 — from $19.50 to $90. This came at the end of a long, protracted dispute between DSG and Campus Services. The fee increase was suggested for the purpose of reducing the Duke Dining deficit, which had then ballooned to $2.2 million. Finally, after the administration allegedly agreed to adhere to a list of stipulations, the fee increase was agreed upon. The most important stipulation was that the increase was to exist for only one year.
Unfortunately, that’s not happening. …