Opinion Staff

Tomas Hinckley

Opinion Editor

Tomas Hinckley is the Opinion Editor. His column "Talking With No Mouth" focuses on political and cultural critique of the United States and UConn context.

No, the R-word should NOT be making a comeback

Opinion Tomas Hinckley - December 5, 2025

Everyone knows at this point that the United States is currently undergoing a very harsh and very fast cultural regression. What has been pejoratively described as the moral “excesses” of 2020 liberal politics, has now given way to a period of incredible social conservatism across the board.

On embarrassing boyfriends, social media and the panopticon

Opinion Tomas Hinckley - November 14, 2025

On Oct. 25, British Vogue published an essay by Chanté Joseph titled “Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing Now?”

Zohran won: So, now what?

Opinion Tomas Hinckley - November 7, 2025

For many of the members of the American left, this past Tuesday night was a celebration the likes of which has been a long time coming. Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the New York City mayoral election seemed to ring out across the entire country, signaling the beginning of something new. It’s a new hope, perhaps, or a return to previous highs felt during the 2020 era.

Patrick Minnerly

Associate Opinion Editor

Patrick Minnerly is a sophmore from Torrington, CT majoring in political science. He writes the column "Patrick's Politics," which focuses primarily on national topics of interest, as well as local and international issues.

Patrick’s Politics: Pay attention to Trump’s anti-immigrant hatred

Opinion Patrick Minnerly - December 4, 2025

There is a tumor growing from the White House. It is seeping and spreading out of every pore in Washington, D.C., wrapping itself around the workings of government.

Patrick’s Politics: On Epstein, Trump is caught in his own trap

Opinion Patrick Minnerly - November 20, 2025

Trump was right to worry. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee recently released emails from Epstein and others in his circle that mentioned Trump, including a message that said, “Trump knew about the girls.” In this context, that means Trump at least was aware of Epstein’s dealings with minors — not a great look by any stretch of the imagination.

Patrick’s Politics: The government is set to reopen, but it’s not a win

Opinion Patrick Minnerly - November 13, 2025

John Fetterman. Catherine Cortez Masto. Maggie Hassan. Jacky Rosen. Tim Kaine. Jeanne Shaheen. Dick Durbin. Angus King. These are the names of senators who are either Democrats or caucus with the party that caved to the pressure of the current government shutdown and voted to end the impasse. Time will tell just how impactful that decision is, but the fact is that the Democrats forced a shutdown and received almost nothing in return — they blinked first and erased their progress.

Isaac Grad

Staff Writer

Isaac Grad is a senior majoring in English and Psychology. His writing focuses primarily on movie related topics.

Depression in Media: It’s not just being sad

Opinion Isaac Grad - November 17, 2025

Many films and series have included characters with depression. In an attempt to portray an illness that millions suffer from. However, like most things, depression is oftentimes inaccurately represented, or done so in a simplified, often surface-level and stereotypical fashion, leaving it less-than-relatable to those with a different presentation of the disorder.

Representation should be more than mere presence

Opinion Isaac Grad - November 10, 2025

It’s generally widely understood that representation is important. It’s helpful for everyone to watch a movie or show and feel understood and seen; to relate to at least one character. For many, this can be the difference between feeling completely alone and finding self-acceptance.

“Coraline” is the best Halloween movie

Opinion Isaac Grad - November 3, 2025

“Coraline” is a well-known and generally beloved film with clear ties to the Halloween season; but for whatever reason, many don’t consider it a Halloween movie. People often opt for scarier movies when deciding what to watch on Halloween instead of going out and enjoying being young.

Tamara Segal

Staff Writer

Tamara Segal is a sophomore from Stamford, CT studying Environmental Engineering and English. Her writing centers on environmental, cultural, and political issues.

The U.S. must own up to its climate debt

Opinion Tamara Segal - December 2, 2025

This year, for the first time in the history of the U.N.’s annual climate conference COP, the U.S. did not send any delegates.

No Cop-outs at COP: How the way we view climate change fails us

Opinion Tamara Segal - November 19, 2025

There’s a certain nonsense to climate negotiations. Year in and year out we see climate action plans devised, and year in and year out we see them come back unmet.

Bill Gates, let’s keep the “climate” in climate solutions.

Opinion Tamara Segal - November 4, 2025

This Thursday begins the 30th annual United Nations climate meeting, known as COP30, which will take place in Belém, Brazil. Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft and the Gates Foundation, released a memo last week addressing the direction he hopes attendees will take when planning new climate action.

Colin Hamilton

Staff Writer

Colin Hamilton is a freshman from Simsbury, CT majoring in Environmental Studies and English Education. His articles primarily focus on issues surrounding environmental justice, health, and policy.

In defense of our teachers

Opinion Colin Hamilton - December 4, 2025

We seem to have an issue with teachers.

The world lost the war on rising heat. Now what?

Opinion Colin Hamilton - November 18, 2025

Last week, the United Nations made a seemingly inevitable announcement: we lost. Climate change, they declared, had emerged victorious in the fight for our planet’s future.

No, Gavin Newsom, gerrymandering is bad

Opinion Colin Hamilton - November 11, 2025

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Proposition 50 was passed last week to the celebration of many.

Gianna Cassino

Weekly Columinst

Gianna Cassino is a sophomore from Westchester, NY majoring in Communication. Her column “Girl, Uninterrupted” examines pop culture and online trends through a critical feminist lens.

The Wonderful Wizard of Ozempic: Hollywood’s emaciation epidemic

Opinion Gianna Cassino - December 3, 2025

This Thanksgiving break, at the top of my to-do list was attending opening night of “Wicked: For Good.” As a longtime fan of the show, I was eager to see the second installment of a meaningful, fanastical story displayed on the big screen.

What Happened to Black Friday?

Opinion Gianna Cassino - November 19, 2025

Growing up in the 2000s and 2010s, the holiday season came imbued with a certain intangible magic.

Are Boyfriends Embarrassing?

Opinion Gianna Cassino - November 12, 2025

Thanksgiving season is upon us, which means good food, an iconic parade and gearing up to tell my extended family that, no, I still do not have a boyfriend. Being single doesn’t bother me, but the act of my family members asking “why” does.

Evelyn Pazan

Staff Writer

Evelyn Pazan is a junior from Mount Laurel, New Jersey majoring in Finance and German Studies. She currently writes a column "The Evie-dence".

The Evie-dence: Make it good. Auf Wiedersehen!

Opinion Evelyn Pazan - April 29, 2025

As I sit down to write my final column, I realize that this might be the first time that I can’t find the right words.

The Evie-dence: Celebrities are expensive. Stop giving them so much attention.

Opinion Evelyn Pazan - April 22, 2025

The recent past has been full of economic uncertainty and financial stress.

Now more than ever, we need the Masters

Opinion Evelyn Pazan - April 15, 2025

The Masters ended with a bang yesterday in a sudden death play-off, with Rory McIlroy finally earning his career grand slam, over a decade in the making.

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