Sarah+B

Source: [] Title: Student Suspended for Facebook Page Can Sue Date: 2/15/2010 Topic: Rights

Katherine Evans, a sophomore in college, was suspended for creating a Facebook page saying that she didn't like her teacher in 2007. The page was titled, "Ms. Sarah Phelps is the Worst Teacher I've Ever Had." She invited other students of Mr. Phelps', present and past. Evans took down the page after a few days, and about 2 months later was called into the office and suspended for creating the page. She's talking about suing due to a violation to the first amendment. She believes it was her right to create the page, and Phelps' harassment charges were unjustified.

In some ways, I agree with Katherine. If she was saying anything that was particularly threatening, I would understand the anger towards her. However, she took down the page on her own after a few days and wasn't called to the office until //two months later.// I don't understand why it would be made into an issue so much later, unless Ms. Phelps was trying to get something out of it. I agree that it goes against Evans' rights, because she wasn't really doing anything to harm Phelps.

Source: [|http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/health/nutrition/10obesity.html?scp=38&sq=2/10/2010&st=cse] Title: Childhood Obesity Battle Is Taken Up By First Lady Date: 2/10/2010 Topic: Politics

The First Lady, Michelle Obama, is set on eliminating or at least helping the childhood obesity issue. She wants to make sure that kids have better, healthier foods in the cafeteria for lunch/breakfast, more playtime so kids can get out and be active, and making sure medical checkups are happening. She's already got the main school lunch providers and carbonated drinks company to agree to help reform their products for children's healthy needs. Though this has been attempted before, Michelle Obama seems to be making a really good effort and actually getting things done.

I think this is great if it could actually help people. Child obesity is really a big issue that should be contained. Kids need to learn good habits while they're young, and they need the support from their parents and schools. I hope that it works out.

Source: [] Title: Americans Charged With Haiti Child Kidnap Date: 2/4/2010 Topic: Crime

10 members of a missionary group claiming to go help children in Haiti were actually charged with kidnapping children from the country. They never got permission from government officials, so they just attempted to take 33 children to a neighboring country orphanage with no one knowing or agreeing to it being done. Others are questioning the leader, Laura Silsby's motives. She is known for some very serious financial issues. Each child's kidnapping could be a charge of 15 years of prison if the members are found guilty. The claim is that most of the parents they talked to agreed very quickly at the idea of their children being clothed and fed for free, but they weren't told the whole truth about the adoption and other complications.

I think this whole thing it just pretty ridiculous. The fact that this group when and just took a bunch of kids - it seems really off. I don't see why they wouldn't be more professional about it and go through the Haitian government, at least. I understand people feeling the need to help others in need, but there's a limit and sometimes people are just too extreme, and frankly stupid. The author of this article was very professional and laid out the facts in a non-biased manner.