I think of our wonderful athletic teams, the camaraderie and close-knit atmosphere of Rochester, and the excellent academic opportunities from our world-class faculty.

But after hearing word that one year after graduation I would lose my Oakland University e-mail address, I was shocked and appalled.

Whatever happened to forever?

In 2003, the e-mail servers at Oakland were overhauled, as the growing student population had rendered the old server obsolete.

The last straw was in October 2002, as a total system failure caused the loss of all e-mail inboxes.

Technology had advanced a great deal to this point, and some portions of the system had not been touched for nearly 20 years, including some of the file structures. It was definitely time for an upgrade, and the state-appointed Board of Trustees voted for the overhaul in February 2003.

At that point in time, Michigan was still doing decent.

The financial crisis and subsequent perils of the auto industry had not happened yet. Unemployment was still low, and homes were selling.

Let’s fast forward to 2012. The economic climate has taken a severe downturn. Families are struggling to survive. While the auto industry survived, the housing market still took an abrupt hit and led to many foreclosures.

Students attend college to gain an advantage in the competitive global marketplace, but eliminating alumni e-mail addresses one year after graduation seems ludicrous, even with a much greater emphasis on saving dollars and cost-cutting.

I believe that these e-mail accounts are extremely important to our alumni because of the economic malaise Michigan is in.

The networks we create through our years of matriculation have never been needed more than right now.

Now while it is true that websites such as Yahoo! offer free e-mail accounts and it is possible to migrate important contacts, I always thought of my Oakland account as my main one. It was a sign that I had been accepted into a renowned university.

It was a sign that my dream of finishing my bachelor’s degree was about to come true.

I had made it.

That feeling was worth much more than twelve months. It felt like forever.

—-Contact contributing reporter Shawn Minnix via e-mail at sdminnix@oakland.edu

In protest against the Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect IP Acts, many websites went black on Jan. 18.

According to the Washington Post, Google Inc. has collected over seven million signatures from people in the U.S. as part of their online petition to Congress against the SOPA and PIPA acts.

Google also blacked out its logo on their search engine and the user-created Internet encyclopedia, Wikipedia, among other sites, blacked out their entire U.S. website on Jan. 18.

Instead of seeing the content that a user was looking for, they were directed to a page that explained the bills and provided a link to help the user find their local representative.

According to a statement released from the Wikipedia Foundation, “162 million people experienced the Wikipedia blackout landing page … more than eight million U.S. readers looked up their Congressional representatives through Wikipedia to protest the Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect IP Act.”

After the protest, 13 congressmen who were co-sponsoring the bill withdrew their support.

Under the SOPA act, which was introduced by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith on Oct. 26, 2011, the U.S. government would have the ability to more closely monitor the Internet.

The goal of the bill would be to crack down on web sites that are allowing their users to illegally obtain copyrighted materials, and intellectual property, which would contain sound recordings, videos of live music performances, and “trafficking in counterfeit labels, goods or services.”

SOPA is directly aimed at various foreign and domestic web sites including “The Pirate Bay,” a torrent website used for downloading.  Besides torrent websites, SOPA would also impact popular social networking sites like Facebook and YouTube.

Under the bill, people would no longer have the right to post videos of concerts, clips of movies or any other piece of material that might be considered theft of intellectual property.

The proposed bill would require online websites and search engines like Google, to “withhold services from an infringing site or prevent users located in the United States from accessing the infringing site.”

SOPA would also focus its energy on eliminating sites that promote illegal medications and sites that distribute prescription drugs to people with out a prescription.

According to opencongress.org, support for the bill has come from NBC Universal, Ford Motor Company, MCA Records, Walmart, Netflix, Disney and others.

The driving force for opposition of SOPA has been many online service providers including Google, Twitter and Facebook among others.

SOPA’s detractors claim that the bill will allow the government to over censor the internet and will destroy what the Internet was created for: sharing information.

PIPA was introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy and outlines many of the same things that are in SOPA.

As of Jan. 20, both SOPA and PIPA have been indefinitely postponed.

In a press release issued after the decision had been made to postponed the voting on the bill, Smith said that the best way to diminish the amount of Internet pirating would be to re-address the issue.

—-Contact senior reporter Christopher Lauritsen via e-mail at lauritsen.chris09@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @ChrisLaurtsen

The fraternity provides students with the opportunity outside the classroom to build skills and experience, to become better business leaders in the community.

Globally, the fraternity has over 200 chapters in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Although Alpha Kappa Psi is a business fraternity, it is open to all majors. No matter what type of degree you are pursuing here at Oakland, you will need to be able to present yourself in a professional manner to future employers.

Our members have grown to become a highly recognized pool of potential recruits by many of the nation’s leading organizations.

Being part of Alpha Kappa Psi not only gives you the skills you need to succeed, but opens an extensive alumni network and business leadership training opportunities to you.

In today’s ever-changing environment, it is not enough just to go to college. Companies want an individual who can set themselves apart from the vast pool of candidates.

When it comes to getting the career you want, you will need to differentiate yourself from others.

Benefits of joining Alpha Kappa Psi are unlimited, but some of the opportunities you can expect to receive include networking, leadership experience, life-long friendships, interview skills, resumé building and relationships with affiliated OU professors

Before coming into Oakland, I really didn’t have much management experience.

I’ve been on many interviews, and I know that companies are looking for someone who not only has management experience, but who can be a leader.

They are looking for someone who is not afraid of innovation and change.

Being in the fraternity has given me the opportunity to become a leader, has helped me grow.

Now I am confident that when I find the job I want my leadership skills will transition well into getting that job.

Another important aspect that has made my experience memorable here at Oakland University was meeting a lot of really great people.

That is the greatest benefit I have received from being a part of this organization. I mean without friends, what fun is life.

We are actively involved in socials’ throughout the year and have lots of fun.

Last year we played paintball, went to Chicago, had bonfires and did all kinds of activities.

You can gain all of these skills in Alpha Kappa Psi while also becoming a part of an everlasting Brotherhood!

To join in the winter 2012 recruiting, and to find out more about Rush, visit our website www.akpsiou.com
Austin Oard is a member of Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity. E-mail him at atoard@oakland.edu

It’s that time of year again. Or, that is, it is that kind of year again: election year.

Enter cliché promises, flag-waving, red-herrings, bandwagons, the straw man, ad hominem, tu quoque and every other fallacy known to humankind. Expect new ones to arrive, too.

Not to mention a blender of bizarre claims, mud-slinging, sudden religious furor and the public’s renewed interest in geography (in places like Asia and the Middle East).

Amidst all the heartless chaos, another nemesis will arise out of its cage: controversial topics.

Controversial topics are notorious for stirring up tempers. Often just mentioning controversial topics like abortion, gay marriage or a religious view drops baking soda in a bottle of vinegar. Soon the room reeks and all that’s left is a tingling sizzle of the last remaining reactions.

Such is often the end result of talking about such topics. Side “A,” vinegar, will gush into side “B”, baking soda, and vice versa, leaving stains of bitterness and severed friendships.

Many people, however, have suggested leaving the discussion of these topics out, serving milk and cookies instead, keeping the vinegar and baking soda to the side.

Sophomore Nick Rolling, a communication major at OU, disagrees with both of these views, and offers an alternative.

Rolling is no stranger to controversial topics. He is president of Students for Life at Oakland University, where he has encountered numerous instances to discuss the abortion debate. Raised in a Catholic home, he is dedicated to his faith and has been supporting the pro-life movement since he was young.

He believes such topics should be neither avoided nor should the methods of discussing them be abusive.

“I wouldn’t say I deliberately try to stir things up or pick fights with people about views,” Rolling said. “If I am asked about them, I will definitely tell you.”

However, he says such topics must be brought to discussion.

“If you see a problem in your country, you want to fix it,” Rolling said. “I believe those things are wrong. I have a duty to tell people that.”

The goal in the discussion of such topics, according to Rolling, should be kept to the presentation of the differing viewpoints, not necessarily a debate.

“Winning arguments doesn’t change anything. To change something you need to present your beliefs and give reasons why,” Rolling said. “(Students for Life) isn’t trying to bash people, we are trying to foster discussion. You win by letting people come and experience your message so they can think about it.”

The idea presented by Rolling isn’t that of relativism, however.

“I don’t believe that everyone’s truth is right. I think there is objective truth, but you don’t have to wave it in other peoples face to make a point.”

He does recognize that some people will be offended by even just hearing the other side of the story, and that speaking what he believes is true will ruffle the feathers of many more.

“(Students for Life) wants to spread awareness of the dignity of human life,” Rollilng said, speaking for the organization. “Some people are offended by that. We have a strong stance, but we don’t try to offend or hurt people as an organization.”

Regardless of one’s view on the abortion debate, or any other controversial debate, one thing should be made clear: it needs to be discussed. Life isn’t all milk and cookies. Sometimes the bitterness of vinegar and the choking baking soda does us all a little good. Sometimes mixing them is good.

Look, for example, at the way the world handled Hitler’s rise. They were so afraid to spark a fight they did virtually nothing at all, in the name of “peace.” Here is a quote from Neville Chamberlain, when he returned from signing the Munich Agreement in 1938:

“My good friends, this is the second time in our history that there has come back from Germany to Downing Street peace with honor. I believe it is peace for our time. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. And now I recommend you to go home and sleep quietly in your beds.”

While the world was sleeping in their beds, the Nazis were preparing the slaughter of 10 million Jew, gypsies, homosexuals and mentally handicapped. Plus they were planning to take over the world.

Perhaps the wisdom of Winston Churchill should be revived:

“[The] truth is incontrovertible. Panic may resent it, ignorance may deride it, malice may distort it, but there it is.”

Please understand I am not labeling either side of the debate as being akin to Hitler, it is just an example of what happens when a problem is left untouched for fear of strife.

Remember, although truth may seem impossible to find, there always have and always will be facts. Seek the facts.

This election year will be the same as all the rest, filled with the usual clichés, insults and, well, lies. Let’s just be honest.

Make it different this time. Take a stand. Find the facts. Bring on war. Release the nemesis of controversy.

Yes, it might get ugly, war always is, but don’t avoid the controversial topics in exchange for softball financial woes.

After all, some of these topics are a matter of life and death.

Contact Nick Rolling at nrrollin@oakland.edu.

While I have no doubt that the administration intends for the buildings to be beautiful and benefit the academic experience here, they really need to worry about taking care of some of the basic problems around campus first.

As a disabled student on campus, I sometimes wonder if the administration takes accessibility into account when making decisions.

I came to campus this semester on a day when the only thing open was Barnes & Noble. That’s fine — I don’t expect Oakland University to be open over the holidays. My problem stems from the entrance they picked for the bookstore.

They opened the north entrance which is really just a landing. You have to go down a flight of stairs to get to the bookstore, which was not going to work with my wheelchair.

Granted I was on campus during break and I’m willing to concede that I would not run into this issue every day, but there are other barriers on campus that the disabled community at OU puts up with on a regular basis.

For those of you who are unaware, the offices of The Oakland Post are located in the basement of the Oakland Center. As a staff reporter, I spend a significant amount of time on this lower level.

One of the first things I take note of when I go somewhere is where accessible emergency exits are — you just never know what can happen.

The only exit from the basement of the Oakland Center leads to an enclosed concrete patio from which the only escape is a flight of multiple steps.  This is not only inconvenient but poses a safety hazard.

A less dangerous, but no less frustrating case, is South Foundation Hall. There is a button to operate an automatic door which takes you into a lobby with an elevator.

However, the classrooms on the first floor are on the other side of a double door that has no button. This means that me and my fellow students in the disabled community, must rely on someone else to be around to open the door.

Sometimes a door has a button, but someone has forgotten to turn it on that day. A simple oversight, sure, but it’s especially frustrating because the functionality is already there.

The parking lot, a common frustration among students, lacks handicapped spaces.

Some of this responsibility falls on the students as well. Please don’t borrow your grandmother’s handicapped sticker and use it if you don’t need to. Trust me, it’s better for all concerned if I’m not trying to traverse multiple lanes of parking lot traffic in my chair to get to my van.

Finally, there are very few unisex family bathrooms scattered throughout the campus. The handicapped stalls in the men’s and women’s bathrooms are plenty big enough.

Nevertheless, there are times when someone might need to answer nature’s call with the help of an aide of the opposite gender. When this happens, we would rather not endure the weird looks that occur when you walk out of the wrong bathroom.

I think I should close this by saying that overwhelmingly, my interactions with the university regarding my disability have been positive.

The people at Disability Support Services always have a smile and are willing to help. They need to have more input when it comes to the construction projects that go on around the university though.

I have a simple request: fix the problems you have before creating something new.
Kevin Graham is a staff reporter at The Oakland Post and has been in a wheelchair his entire life. 

Email him at kpgraham@oakland.edu or follow him on Twitter @KevinGraham88

From a distance, I thought she had fallen off of the bike and was injured. As I quickly approached her, I was surprised to see that she was sitting on the ground – not injured – but diligently working with her gloves off to fix the chain that had fallen off the university’s bike.

This random act of civility was an eye opening reminder that pride in our university and “doing the right thing” is the cornerstone of what makes us who we are as a campus community.

The student, who could have easily discarded the bike on the sidewalk and walked to class, took the time to fix something that did not belong to her – but to all of us at OU.

In today’s modern society, a heightened focus on individual excellence and feeding our own needs can sometimes overshadow the importance of manners, dignity, and overall respect for the people and things around us.

On campus, the OU Bike Share program and the poor treatment of bikes, along with the OU smoking policy and its lack of adherence, are just two examples of issues that drive students and administrators to search for solutions and opportunities for improvement.

By peeling back the layers of these issues, it becomes apparent that policing the area 50 yards within a building, posting signage, or implementing other procedures is not the answer.

The solution resides in each of us, as members of a campus community and awareness of our own civic values.

Couldn’t these issues easily be remedied simply by displaying greater self-control and respect for ourselves and others?

As individuals, each of us is a link in a chain that builds our institution’s culture.

Disregarding policies and practices instilled on campus does not make us leaders.

Manners and civility do matter, and so does fixing a bike chain and putting out a cigarette.

By making individual contributions to the betterment of our institution we foster something greater: pride in our campus community.

Laura Klein is a special lecturer in the writing and rhetoric department. She can be reached at lkklein@oakland.edu

The same conversation always takes place, followed by the same exhausting explanation.

Random person: “So what are you studying over there at uh … where do you go again?” To which I reply, “Oakland University. I’m a journalism major.”  Then I’m asked the question of, “what are you gonna do with that?”  My response? “Well … (insert long explanation that is slightly different each time).”

My question is this: Why should I have to justify my area of study? Passion is passion and it doesn’t matter if your major is seemingly “pointless” to everyone else.

That is what that question insinuates, especially if it is said in that gut-wrenching, condescending tone. Not to mention the fact that there really are tons of things that I could “do” with my degree.

As a journalism major, I could work for a newspaper, a TV or radio station, for a magazine, as a freelancer — the list goes on and on. Not that the question would be any less rude if I were an art major.

It is my personal belief that no major is pointless — as long as you’re determined you will always find your way.

Tim Hamill, a senior psychology major, is also familiar with the “what are you gonna do with that” phenomenon.

“Their opinion doesn’t mean a thing,” he said. “I’ve learned that so long as you’re happy with the path you’ve chosen, and it’s gearing you towards the career that you want to pursue, that is all that matters.”

What else are these people trying to imply? Do they think me and the rest of the college students who aren’t going into the business or medical fields would be better off if we just gave up? I think not.

Even if I can’t find work right away, and I’m still working at Panera after I graduate, I will always have my degree to fall back on.

A degree is a valuable thing that society basically tells us that we cannot get along without.

Amanda Davis, a recent OU journalism graduate, agrees with this. Davis is currently working as a barista.

“I’d rather be a barista with a degree than a barista without one,” she said.

So, to other college students with slightly offbeat majors: do not let this inane question cause you to question your career path and/or your entire life plan.

I know I’ve let it get to me one too many times.

Remember, those people are probably bitter, basement dwellers anyway.

Rachel Ritzenthaler is a staff intern and journalism major. She can be reached via e-mail at  ritzenthaler.rachel@gmail.com.

But there is another very selfish reason for which a candidate Santorum, and possibly President Santorum would be devastating. The nation and world would be deprived of some of the most insane ramblings of nonsense and logical fallacy uttered in contemporary politics.

Take this gem: “…Fear the vest,” Santorum said, superstitiously attributing his rise in polls near the Iowa caucuses to his choice of sleeveless winter attire.

Or his support of sodomy laws:

“And if the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you  have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery”

And who can forget his Iowa caucus bombshell on government aid:

“I don’t want to make black people’s lives better by giving them somebody else’s money. I want to give them the opportunity to go out and earn the money and provide for themselves and their families.”

How did his explain that statement?  His words became jumbled.  He actually said “blah people.”

He proposed an amendment to the 2001 No Child Left Behind legislation that would require the teaching of “intelligent design” as an alternative to the theory of evolutionary biology.

If he were president, learning of Iran’s nuclear fuel rod production, he said that he would “degrade those (nuclear) facilities through airstrikes, and make it very public that we are doing that.”

He also believes there should be no exceptions in the case of abortion legality.

“I believe that life begins at conception, and that that life should be guaranteed under the Constitution,” he said.

In the case of rape or incest:

“That would be taking a life and I think any doctor that performs an abortion should be criminally charged for doing so.”

If Rick Santorum is nominated or elected president, the world will not end, but I will have to eat my shoes and suffer the indignity of a man forced to also swallow his own footwear, depriving him of his gift to say the stupidest things I have ever heard.

The Eveslage/Malile administration of the Oakland University Student Congress thanks its staff and the Student Body for a successful fall semester in 2011. Looking forward, OU Student Congress has stocked the Winter 2012 calendar and we are currently setting our focus on new student services and initiatives.

Reflecting on a historic fall semester

Since the summer semester, your Congress members have been instrumental in bargaining for the 24-hour Kresge Library and extended hours in the library’s café.

In conjunction with the Student Activities Funding Board (which funds all of the student organizations at OU), Student Congress has fought for and received reduced prices on the most popular catering items from Chartwells, especially for student organizations.

As many are aware, Student Congress is a voice for the students. With this in mind, we were sure to maintain a respected and impactful voice for the students through our student initiatives in the summer and fall 2011 semesters. A large thanks goes to our dedicated student services department and all those who supported the Student Body in these positive changes for student life.

A memorable series of Fall 2011 events lined the OU calendar, which we won’t soon forget. These events included “The Madnezz” BYOB Tailgate, the fùtbol and basketball tailgate, the speaking engagement with Post Secret’s Frank Warren attracting 600 students, the talk by Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf (who was named a “Time 100” for 2011) as part of the Middle Eastern Mosaic series of events, and the politically inspiring events: Rock4Rights and “Your Voice Heard Live” in association with the Republican Presidential Debate on campus this past November.

These historic achievements and events are the pride of Oakland University and are close to our hearts here at Student Congress.

If you are a student that shares a passion for excellence and service, make your mark here at Oakland by joining a student organization or Student Congress and be a part of leading the Student Body.

It’s a great time to be a student at Oakland, but it is also what you make of it. If your interests lead you to Student Congress, make your way to the re-designed OU Student Congress office in the lower level of the Oakland Center to learn more about leadership and involvement opportunities.

A peak into what’s coming

The successful events and services of the past fall semester, in conjunction with a re-vamped marketing and graphics plan is leading Student Congress into a refreshed New Year.

In the coming weeks, Congress will be laying the foundation for the focus for the winter 2012 semester: student services.

Initiatives like the “Government Outreach Proposal” which seeks to create a cooperative organization between the Political Science Department, OU’s Government Outreach Office, and OU Student Congress to create a stronger network of student involvement in politics and government. Also, a partnership is already underway with Cooley Law School for providing free legal-aid services for OU students.

Also, discussions about implementing an inter-faith center on campus is being furthered by planned OU Student Congress events: a trip to the Bahai Faith Center in February and a proposed event with Tibetan monks in March.

The Homecoming weekend and BYOB Tailgate hosted by OU Student Congress, the 15th annual “OU Day at the Capitol” event, and OUSC elections will also be sure to add to the excitement of the New Year.

OU Student Congress and the leadership from the Eveslage/Malile administration are at your service.

Please let us know if you have an idea that will benefit the students at OU and how we can work to make your “Oakland Experience” a proud one.

Ben Eveslage is the current Student Congress President. You can email him at bsevela@oakland.edu

WHY IT MATTERS: It’s still our democracy. It’s still the system that we all live in and this is a big component of the most important thing in my view in our democratic process, which is an election. We’re in the middle of this election cycle, whether we like it or not.

The cycle is getting longer and longer because the stakes are high and candidates have to start raising money so they are able to compete. The reason we can’t do anything about it is called the first amendment.

PREDICTIONS:

Mitt Romney’s going to keep doing what he’s doing, which is play defense and not let anyone pound away at him and make games.

Those who aren’t frontrunners will go after Romney and Cain to try and knock those guys down.

You want to watch how much time each candidate gets or how much time they can carve out for themselves.

A lot of times the moderators get blamed for not permitting every candidate the same amount of time, but the candidates drive that to some extent themselves by trying to jump in or talking longer when they were supposed to.

You really can’t determine a winner, it’s all subjective. It’s total feel. You just sort of get a sense of it.  Everybody that watches will be able to see he did really well or she did great. That’s all you can do.

Herman Cain stands out as someone to watch, given the allegations flying around right now.

Gingrich’s poll numbers have started to creep up. He’s gained a spot where he could do some damage when the voting starts.

This might be the most meaningful (debate) for those two guys. You never know what’s going to happen with these things.

IMPLICATIONS:

I think all of the debates matter. It may be at the margins, but they matter.

Where this one could really make a difference is if somebody screws up if there’s a gaffe or a big mistake. If everybody does what they’ve been doing, there might not be any movement.

—

John Klemanski, Professor

WHY IT MATTERS:

More time is good for voters because there’s more time to find out about a candidate and what they think and what their positions are.

One of the cardinals rules is that people don’t care that much bout politics. Most voters do pay attention a month before the election, but early on, less so.

I like what they’re doing with this debate because it’s in Michigan and they’re going to focus on the economy and jobs.

Having presidential candidates, one of whom might very well be the next president, having those folks think and talk about these issues is important to us.

It’s important to the entire country, but more to Michigan because we’ve suffered the longest.

WHAT TO WATCH:

Romney, Perry, Cain; the top tier candidates get the most media attention in stories following debates. You don’t hear about Huntsman or Santorum.

This early on, you think everybody’s got a chance.

There’s going to be a wider gap between the frontrunners and second, third tier candidates pretty soon because they won’t be able to sustain their campaign.

It’s confusing to voters to have that many people. It’s more difficult for people.

PREDICTIONS:

Trips in previous debates contributed to his popularity ratings (Rick Perry) so people are looking at some of his policies, but voters want to see someone who is confident, looks good, is likeable, and is trustworthy.

You can learn about those things in a way by watching the debate.

Perry is going to focus on his track record as a job creator. Romney is the native born son of Michigan. His connection to the state will help him.

I hope Herman Cain goes as far as he can; there’s lots of interesting things about him and maybe some of the stuff he’s been talking about will resonate with Michigan voters.

He’s got a compelling story.

—

Terry Towner, Assistant Professor

WHY IT MATTERS:  It shows not only the state, but the rest of the nation how OU feels about the democratic system, debate and cultural affairs.

The No. 1 thing is that this is going to bring a lot of interest among OU students.

We have a once in a lifetime political event coming to our university. This shows students that GOP candidates care about the state of Michigan, what our concerns are and where we want to see our country kind of go.

What we see in political science is that the higher interest among the community and American citizens, those who are interested will be much more likely to participate.
IMPLICATIONS:

This gets young and new voters interested in politics and getting them to the polls in 2012.

Another thing we’ve seen in political science is that young voters are much less likely to turn out on election day and participate in politics.

This can stir students 18-30 to excite them and get them to the polls to participate. Those demographic groups turned out in historic numbers in 2008.

We could see the same if the Republican nominee targeted people.

Because they are coming to a higher education institution, it shows they care about this demographic and want to start pandering to this group and talk to issues we care about.

PREDICTIONS:
I strongly predict that Mitt Romney is going to do well. It’s sort of his home state.

He’s going to say things that are really going to appeal to Michiganders. He’s really going to do well.

He’s clearly a polished, practiced debater. Rick Perry has struggled. And isn’t quite as polished as Romney.

A lot of attention is on Herman Cain, who’s coming up in the polls, and neck-to-neck with Romney.

There will be  a lot of cuts, harsh words and attacks between the top three candidates.