Back to top

Explore More Essays

Follow the Money: The Pros and Cons of Geolocating Currency

By Nikki Williams
January 3, 2017
The first bank opened in the United States in 1791, offering citizens a safe place to store funds. Within years, criminals figured out how to capitalize on these strategically placed caches of money. In 1798, the Bank of Pennsylvania was the site of the first bank theft, when two men with forged keys entered the bank and emptied the vault and safety deposit boxes.

What the Attack on Doris Truong Teaches Us about Critical Thinking in the Age of Fake News

By Jill Geisler
January 13, 2017
If you’d like to experience raw hate and ignorance, do a Twitter search for the words “Doris Truong” and “Tillerson.”  Angry tweets and retweets claim the home page editor of the Washington Post was caught sneaking pictures of Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson’s notes during his confirmation hearing. There’s video. Memes.

Snapchat: A Powerful Tool for Gathering and Distributing News

By Nora Dunne
January 25, 2017
To those who think Snapchat is just for silly selfies: Think again. Originally an app for sending photos and short videos (“snaps”) that permanently disappear after being viewed, the tool has evolved considerably since its 2011 launch.

Does CGI cross ethical boundaries when it depicts deceased actors?

By Kate Baucherel
February 10, 2017
I am a huge “Star Wars” fan.  My parents took me to see the first film when I was 10 years old. The queue stretched around the block, and I’ve never forgotten the frisson of excitement I felt when the star destroyer slowly filled the screen. I spent my teenage years wanting to be Han Solo. (Actually, I still do. My husband is more of a Chewbacca, and my kids cosplay Rey and Kylo Ren; the fights are impressive.)

Ranting on Social Media: Innocent Comment Platform or Bully Pulpit?

By Terri Williams
February 21, 2017
When people have unpleasant experiences, they tend to tell others about them. “Others” used to include a handful of coworkers, family members and friends. But, now that social media has become the preferred communication platform, it’s only logical that people use it when they want to voice their disapproval and dissatisfaction. A vast number of topics are broached on social media, but some of the most interesting rants include:

Why We Should Hold Ourselves Responsible for Fake News

By Benjamin van Loon
March 8, 2017
No matter where you’ve stuck your pin on the political map, everyone can agree that the 2016 U.S. presidential election was not business as usual for American democracy.