On Thursday, March 9, join the Columbus DSA Housing Priority Campaign as we continue our efforts to oppose the American Campus Communities/Blackstone private student housing proposed for Lane and High. On this date, the project goes before the city’s Development Commission.

We oppose the project because ACC is owned by Blackstone, one of the world’s largest and most predatory landlords. Recently, our campaign opposed the proposal at the University Area Commission, and the conversation at that meeting spurred commissioners to vote against the proposal 10-6. The area commission’s decision is advisory, not binding, and the Development Commission may overrule the area commission’s recommendation at the March 9 meeting.

The future tapped me quietly on the shoulder the other day and suggested that I take a moment to learn about the writing bots.

They’re coming!

Excuse me, they’re here. And they struck me as alien invaders, this recent manifestation of artificial intelligence on the Internet, which college students, high school students — anybody — can download, feed a topic and get it to write an essay for them. Is this technology’s next step, after Roomba the robot vacuum cleaner? Humanity is relieved of one more odious task — writing stuff.

Columbus’ reigning Democratic political class falsely presents itself as progressive and democratic. This seldom goes beyond empty, poorly formulated and awkwardly articulated slogans. Their uninformed rhetoric is contradicted at least weekly when not more often by their policy- and program-free actions and especially inactions.

It is astonishing to me as historian and life-long urban resident that Columbus is the only city in the US of any size and self-proclaimed (if exaggerated) significance that proudly lacks representative, democratic city government. Almost all  US cities moved from lack of representation or at-large city coucils in the second half of the 19th century, not the 20th century. Along with its lack of an identity, this is Columbus’ only justifiable claim to uniqueness or exceptionality.

Tuesday, March 7, 7pm, this on-line event requires advance registration

Featuring a panel discussion with leading proponents for reproductive rights, we will present on the state of abortion rights in the US and the road forward to win back federal protections and ensure access to safe and legal abortion in all 50 states. Our panelists will present practical advice on campus advocacy, ensuring access to all aspects of reproductive healthcare, as well as discuss legal and political perspectives. Participants will walk away knowing effective steps forward for ensuring access to comprehensive reproductive care for all people.

• Pamela Merritt is Executive Director of Medical Students for Choice, where she leads a dynamic team working to create tomorrow’s abortion providers and pro-choice physicians.

• Lauren Morrissey is the co-founder and co-director of the Student Coalition for Reproductive Justice (SCRJ), a student-powered organization fighting for access to sexual and reproductive healthcare on Catholic college campuses.

Creed III is the latest Rocky spin-off franchise installment. Michael B. Jordan, making his directorial debut, continues the legacy as Adonis Creed, the son of legendary boxer Apollo Creed. He is continuing Ryan Coogler's established story. Due to creative differences, Sylvester Stallone, who stars in Creed and Creed II as Creed's mentor, is not in this. It's nice to see how Creed deals with obstacles, mostly on his own and with help from his family in this aspect of his life. I'll admit, it's safe to say the franchise can stand independently without Rocky.