4 | THE STAT E N E WS | M ONDAY, FE BRUARY 1 1 , 201 3 | STATE N E WS.COM
Opinion
Featured blog A message from Nemo
OU R VOICE | E DITORIAL
DACA ENCOURAGING STEP IN IMMIGRATION REFORM
“This past weekend as ‘Winter Storm Nemo’ descended upon the northeast U.S., the standard cycle of storm news coverage ensued. From pre-storm to poststorm coverage, it seemed the media circus surrounding Nemo was one that had become standard fare in recent years.” — Simon Schuster, State News reporter
EDITORIAL BOARD Andrew Krietz EDITOR IN CHIEF Katie Harrington OPINION EDITOR Greg Olsen OPINION WRITER Derek Blalock STAFF REPRESENTATIVE Omari Sankofa II MINORITY REPRESENTATIVE
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dvocates for widespread U.S. immigration reform are celebrating what many hope is a foot in the door for broadening the rights of young illegal immigrants. Earlier this month, the Michigan Department of State announced they will issue driver’s licenses to young immigrants as part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program implemented last June. The program will provide licenses to immi-
Read the rest online at versial — including statenews.com/blog. fair taxation and job security — it does help secure the rights of these young immigrants. The main goal of immigration reform should be to provide an outlet for making citizenship more attainable. People who illegally come to the U.S. do so immigration reform. DACA has gained support from activists who to create a better life for themselves or their families, but without any form of identifi ca- agree with the framework of this program on both a national and local level. In Lansing, tion, this goal becomes difficult. Issuing licenses puts these young adults in the “Dream For All” campaign was started to the driver’s seat of many of the opportunities advocate for more comprehensive immigration reform. they set out to fi nd. Although it likely will be years until an immiStudents with these licenses can do things such as go to school and have a more active gration reform overhaul is complete, programs role in their communities. They can fi nd more such as DACA should be embraced for the good employment opportunities, establish families they set out to achieve. A core value of this country has always been and create the life they originally left their to provide opportunity in the face of adversihome country to fi nd. And ensuring students who study here stay ty, not to deny opportunity to those who wish here to work should be an eventual outcome of to gain citizenship.
grants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children by their parents and are not considered top priorities for deportation by the government. DACA is the fi rst of many steps on the road toward more extensive immigration reform in the U.S. But for the 1.8 million immigrants eligible for the program, its implications and impact will be apparent. Issuing licenses to young adults who were brought to this country unwillingly by their parents makes the promised “American Dream” a reachable goal for these individuals. For years now, immigration reform has been a hotbed issue in this country, dividing policy makers and local citizens alike and has once again made its way to the forefront of discussion. President Barack Obama hasn’t shied away from vocalizing his opinions on the matter, and recently laid out a plan to help about 11 million immigrants achieve citizenship status. Although DACA doesn’t offer solutions for many of the factors making this topic contro-
OPINION COLUMN
Nutrition myths FOOD AND NUTRTION ASSOCIATION
Staying healthy during cold and flu season The sounds of sniffles accompanied by rustling as students locate Kleenex tissues within pockets echo within the lecture halls of MSU. The months of November through March host the cold and flu season. And although the common cold seems mundane, the number of reported cold-related illnesses has been referred to as an epidemic this year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports, “an average of 226,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 to 4,900 cold and flu related deaths occur each year.” Many believe quick fi xes, such as consuming large amounts of vitamin C, are the end-all cure to the cold. Because of this, the amount of vitamin C supplements and packets purchased by college students is on the rise. Although the marketing claims for these products seem plausible, they might not be valid or scientifically based. What we know about vitamin metabolism is that a single vitamin, especially in overly-large doses, usually is not beneficial. The National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements has reported, “Although vitamin C has been a popular remedy for the common cold, research shows that for most people, vitamin C supplements do not reduce the risk of getting the common cold.” Vitamin C recommendations set forth by the National Institutes of Health are 90 mg per day for adult men and 75 mg per day for adult women. Excess vitamin C that surpasses the daily recommendations is excreted from the body. Mega doses of vitamin C not only are ineffective, but also potentially could be harmful. Side effects reported by the Mayo Clinic include, “nausea, vomiting, heartburn, abdominal cramps and headache. Dental erosion (also) may occur from chronically chewing vitamin C tablets.” Oranges, grapefruit and clementines, which naturally are rich in vitamin C, are in season during the winter months and are easy to carry for a quick pick-me-up. One large orange or 1/2 cup of juice will meet
the requirements for vitamin C. Other foods rich in vitamin C are cantaloupe, kiwi, tomatoes, bell peppers, broccoli, spinach, potatoes and strawberries. Jillian Gorman, a nursing senior, says she consistently has come down with a cold during the last few winters. However, Gorman says she has been taking as many precautions as possible to prevent one this winter. “I wash my hands all the time and I got the flu shot a while ago. I haven’t come down with anything so far.” Gorman also noted she is not surprised so many MSU students and faculty, including herself, fall victim to illness during the winter months. “When you start to feel sick, you’re supposed to avoid crowded places and not push your body too hard, but for a lot of (faculty and students) that really isn’t an option.” Many MSU students agree with Gorman. They say when they are feeling under the weather, obligations such as school and work prevent them from getting the amount of rest and care their bodies require. The real solution to combating a cold during the winter season is good overall health and nutritional habits. There are many foods that aid the body in strengthening its immune system that are easy to incorporate within the fast-paced life of a college student. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables containing vitamins can contribute to a strong immune system. Whole fruits by far surpass supplements. Foods such as yogurt contain probiotics that might increase beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract. A healthy digestive tract is a vital component of immunity. Keeping hydrated is important, especially if you are fighting a cold or flu. Water is a calorie-free fluid and might be more soothing if served warm — as in coffee or tea. You might prefer juice, but if you are concerned about calories, check the label for added sugars. Another comfort food for the common cold is chicken noodle soup. Many college students look to packaged condensed soups as a remedy for winter illness. Although these products are convenient, if you are feeling a little spurt of energy or have a loving roommate, a healthier and homemade version is easy to prepare. Simply boil some noodles in chicken broth and then add frozen vegetables and chicken pieces. Soup is known to help ease the discomfort of a sore throat and can provide immune-enhancing vitamins from the vegetables. Stay healthy during cold and flu season, MSU! The MSU Food and Nutrition Association is a preprofessional club composed primarily of dietetics, food science, and nutritional science majors. Joann Bahri, Stephanie Send, Ashley Bittinger and Carolyn Hofner contributed to this column.
EDITORIAL CARTOONIST
ANDY CURTIS curtisa7@msu.edu
Just so you know
Comments from readers
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FRIDAY’S POLL RESULTS
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Northern Michigan 67%
Metro Detroit 33% PERCENT
Total votes: 33 as of 5 p.m. Sunday
TODAY’S STATE NEWS POLL Have you gotten a cold or the flu this season?
“Civil rights activist shares story in honor of Black History Month” While it is very important to remember the past, it is equally important to remember that we cannot use our skin tones, genders, or sexual orientations as a crutch to move our lives along. We can do many great things in this world but it should be our merits that help us to accomplish these tasks as opposed to our labels. Ashley Young, Feb. 8 via statenews.com
It’s just sad we went through all this stupidity as a nation. I’m sure the progressive thinkers from 200 years ago would never have been able to put through anything like equal rights for all. Others just didn’t see it that way. Lexi, Feb. 8 via statenews.com
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