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Serving The University of Alabama since 1894.

The Crimson White

Serving The University of Alabama since 1894.

The Crimson White

Serving The University of Alabama since 1894.

The Crimson White

All content by Austin Gaddis

Live authentically and seek growth

Austin Gaddis April 23, 2013

I’ve thought about having to write this column for a long time. It’s amazing for me to see how the script of what I thought I would say has changed as I’ve grown as a student, a writer and a person....

Fifty years later, UA should recognize students as catalysts for change, progress

Austin Gaddis March 7, 2013

This year, as our campus and state pause to remember our defining role in the nation’s civil rights movement, we will have many opportunities to take part in and witness the many commemorative ceremonies,...

Progress at Bama lags 57 years after campus riots, Lucy’s expulsion

Austin Gaddis February 6, 2013

Looking across the Quad, it has become so easy for us to take for granted the hallowed grounds of history that we trudge across on the way to class every day. Today, we have an opportunity to reflect...

Obama’s second inauguration speech a rhetorically brilliant rallying call

Austin Gaddis January 23, 2013

The enduring legacy and painstaking repetition of the world’s most powerful nation is perhaps no more evident than on the few days throughout our rich history when we inaugurate a president. For decades,...

With the fiscal cliff looming, Democrats have upper hand with Republicans ‘poised to blink 1st’

Austin Gaddis December 5, 2012

In post-election America, it just wouldn’t feel right without some sort of over-sensationalized scandal, small chatter about the next presidential cycle or a looming political crisis that will inevitably...

Obama offers best course for US future

Austin Gaddis November 6, 2012

Over the last four years, President Barack Obama has boldly led our nation through a critical time in its history. He successfully placed us on the road to recovery while maintaining our place as the world’s...

OPINION: Greek leaders must provide leadership to address hazing

Austin Gaddis October 17, 2012

Over the past two weeks, this newspaper has reported extensively on the atmosphere of our University’s greek system – the largest in the nation – uncovering and exposing troubling aspects of such...

Remembering Matthew Shepard: 14 years later

Austin Gaddis October 10, 2012

Friday, Oct. 12, will mark 14 years since the death of Matthew Shepard, the 21-year-old college student who was brutally beaten in the rural Wyoming countryside and left for dead because he was gay. He...

Debate important for candidates, voters

Austin Gaddis October 3, 2012

Tonight marks the first of three debates where Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama will each have their chance to make a distinct case to the American people, detailing...

Romney’s recent mishaps prove his inability to lead

Austin Gaddis September 19, 2012

While the Obama campaign may not have started publicly promoting their victory party for November just yet, I’m sure they’ve at least bought the champagne. At a time when many in the political world...

An open letter to President Guy Bailey

Austin Gaddis September 4, 2012

President Bailey, Let me be among the first of many to formally welcome you home to The University of Alabama. We all share in the excitement and hype of a new chapter for our campus – yet another fresh...

Convention presents crucial opportunity for Romney, Republicans

Austin Gaddis August 28, 2012

As Hurricane Issac advances to the shores of Louisiana and Mississippi, another type of cyclone - this one political - has descended on Tampa, Fla. The 2012 Republican National Convention began on Tuesday...

Animosity rises with social blame

Austin Gaddis August 21, 2012

In recent months, it seems that cowardly acts of mass violence have plagued the news cycle amidst the mounting financial crisis in Europe, domestic economic limbo, foreign policy nightmares, and topped...

Chick-fil-A alienating customers with stance on same-sex marriage

Austin Gaddis July 25, 2012

I don’t have to start this column by telling you about the delicious perfection of a Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich. You already know that. Divine inspiration is truly the only logical explanation for...

Romney’s problem with the radical right

Austin Gaddis July 11, 2012

Since joining Congress in 2011, Florida Rep. Allen West has been a relentless, outspoken, notoriously loud – often-lauded – mouthpiece for the radical base of today’s Republican Party. West regularly...

How can Alabama citizens be satisfied with state’s growth?

Austin Gaddis June 27, 2012

Hope for true societal growth, economic prosperity and cultural progress seem to be goals long forgotten in Alabama, thwarted on a seemingly constant basis by hyper-partisan leaders with a levee on the...

A conservative case for marriage equality

Austin Gaddis May 30, 2012

In early May, President Barack Obama announced his support for same-sex marriage in an impromptu interview with ABC’s Robin Roberts, completing his often-parodied evolution on the issue. On Sunday of...

Remember ‘innocent until proven guilty’ in Trayvon Martin case

Austin Gaddis April 12, 2012

For weeks, our airwaves have been dominated by coverage detailing the rollercoaster saga in the shooting of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin at the hands of self-described “neighborhood watchman” George...

Complaining won’t help Obama

Austin Gaddis April 5, 2012

In a speech indicative of the mounting pressure on his administration, President Barack Obama lambasted Republicans Tuesday on the budget proposal authored by Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) during an Associated...

An open letter to Rick Santorum: For the love of Reagan, go away

Austin Gaddis March 29, 2012

Dear Mr. Santorum, As you approach the final days of your campaign to set American culture back several decades, I can only express my absolute gratitude, joy and relief that you will soon have your time...

College students: the voters President Obama has forgotten about

Austin Gaddis March 22, 2012

In a speech to supporters at the University of Michigan in January, President Barack Obama spoke to a demographic he’s seemingly ignored since asking for their vote last election – college students....

Drug testing violates rights

Austin Gaddis February 9, 2012

The values of personal responsibility and accountability for one’s actions should be encouraged in nearly every facet of life. A new University judicial policy targeted at a surprising group of students...

Greek system must move toward integration

Austin Gaddis February 2, 2012

In the past decade, there has been increased pressure on our greek system to adapt to the growth and expansion of the university by finally integrating fraternities and sororities. For too long, this...

Kagan, Thomas need to recuse themselves

Kagan, Thomas need to recuse themselves

Austin Gaddis January 26, 2012

“Simply amazing.” Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan penned those two words in an email to a former Harvard colleague on the day the House of Representatives passed Obamacare in March 2010. The email’s...

Smoking ban wrong choice for Alabama

Austin Gaddis January 19, 2012

Smoking ban wrong choice for UA By Austin Gaddis @austingaddis   After reading Wednesday’s doomsday letter to the editor about a campus-wide smoking ban, I almost wrote this column to say my final...

America has a responsibility to all

Austin Gaddis January 12, 2012

President Barack Obama must accept foreign responsibilities. For the past year, a wave of reform and revival has energized the oppressed civilians of some of the world’s most ironfisted nations. This...

Frontunner madness stops with Gingrich

Austin Gaddis December 1, 2011

In recent months, Americans have seen numerous Republican presidential candidates rise in the polls, be lauded by pundits as “the one that will challenge Mitt Romney,” and then falter amid a bored...

True progress now possible

Austin Gaddis November 10, 2011

Throughout this semester, students have heard and read endlessly about campus division, corruption, allegations, investigations, rumors and resignations. We have plagued this page and paper with complaints...

A balanced approach to immigration reform

Austin Gaddis October 13, 2011

When Governor Bentley left his office on the night of June 2 the state of Alabama took a major step backward and entered again into a George Wallace-era culture of discrimination, hate and injustice. ...

Taxpayer money shouldn’t be used against businesses

Austin Gaddis September 15, 2011

When President Obama introduced his economic stimulus, the main focus was to create jobs for our country as the economy cratered further into a recession. The Recovery Act pumped over $787 billion into...

Real World vs. real world

Austin Gaddis September 1, 2011

  More often than not, I tend to see the good in our generation and remain optimistic that we will lead the nation in a responsible direction. But then I turn on the television. I happened to find...

Donald Trump adds unique dynamic to race

Austin Gaddis April 14, 2011

Donald Trump has dominated the headlines in recent weeks, and not because of his reality show, catchphrase or scandal. With what began as an afterthought or joke has recently become a reality—Donald...

New SGA must keep progressing

Austin Gaddis March 11, 2011

As we begin the annual process of transitioning to a new administration in the SGA, it is important that we look at how far we’ve come, where we are and where we’re going. The James Fowler administration...

Tragedy offers a silver lining for rivalry

Austin Gaddis February 25, 2011

Most all of us were disheartened at the news of the pending death of the landmark oak trees at Auburn’s Toomer’s Corner. As more information surfaced about the tragedy, we were relieved to learn that...

Why all the hate for Greek community?

Austin Gaddis February 11, 2011

The divide between greeks and independents is evident in nearly every aspect of student life here at the University of Alabama—especially in recent days. However, Michael Patrick’s column on Thursday...

CrimsonRide drenched with passengers

Austin Gaddis January 28, 2011

As if the rain earlier this week wasn’t enough to make all of us want to skip our classes, the hassle of dealing with the overcrowded CrimsonRide buses is enough to ruin anyone’s day. After trekking...

Tragedy should be catalyst for more political discourse

Austin Gaddis January 14, 2011

The mass shooting in Arizona last weekend has left many of us stunned and concerned about the degree of political rhetoric with today’s up-to-the-minute news cycle and the prevailing unrest with the...

You’d have to pay me to go to Auburn, too

Austin Gaddis December 3, 2010

As I raced back to Tuscaloosa on Thursday through the pouring rain, I was anxious to get back and begin the Iron Bowl weekend. Waking up and going to the Quad earlier than most game days was a relatively...

GOP rules inside, outside Beltway

Austin Gaddis November 4, 2010

Fellow students, our message to Washington was clear on Tuesday: We’re tired of the status quo. We’re tired of the spending, the out-of-control leaders who couldn’t even pass a budget, the partisanship,...

Democrats descend to new lows

Austin Gaddis October 21, 2010

With less than two weeks to go until we see one of the most heated and important midterm elections of our lifetime, two things are clear: It’s going to be good and it’s going to get ugly. In recent...

Social media addicts

Austin Gaddis October 8, 2010

Social media has completely transformed the way we communicate in the 21st century. No matter where we find ourselves around campus, we almost always see people texting or talking on the phone. It has...

Medical marijuana in Alabama?

Austin Gaddis September 23, 2010

            Anyone who follows current events closely can tell you an unprecedented event is coming this November when Californians go to the polls.             For the first time in...

Democrats poised to pay for their spending habits

Austin Gaddis September 9, 2010

As we approach the homestretch of the midterm elections, President Obama and other top Democrats have amped up their efforts to paint Republicans as “the party of no.” On the other hand, Democrats...

Ground Zero mosque raises moral dilemma

Austin Gaddis August 26, 2010

A proposed mega-mosque, to be built just two blocks from Ground Zero, has dominated political headlines for the past few months. When speaking at a dinner honoring Ramadan, President Obama stated, “I...

Make immigration reform priority

Austin Gaddis August 3, 2010

Since late April, everyone from media networks, journalists, state governments, Congress and the White House have focused extensively on Arizona's controversial immigration reform bill. The law will go...

Bentley is the best candidate

Austin Gaddis June 17, 2010

By Austin Gaddis Many Alabama Republicans were pleasantly surprised when the voting results for the June 1st primary showed Robert Bentley sustaining his narrow lead over favored opponent Tim James. Now,...

Obama must address oil spill

Austin Gaddis June 10, 2010

As we approach day 55 of the BP oil spill, now the worst environmental disaster in United States history, President Obama is finally developing “tough” language regarding his frustration with the lack...

Tim James didn’t make sense to Alabama voters

Austin Gaddis June 3, 2010

The Tim James gubernatorial campaign was an embarrassment to Alabama. I've been interested in local, state and national politics for as long as I can remember and there are few politicians I actually...