[It's pretty obvious that the average CollegeCandy reader has some very strong opinions. Opinions that she likes to share with everyone on the site. Sometimes with mean words. We love a strong woman (unless she happens to be charging at us with her fists raised), so we thought we'd give her a real forum to discuss her thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. Every Friday I'll be featuring a hot topic (like flat rate tuition!) and leaving it up to you, the readers, to duke it out. So, read it and get your debate on in the comments section below!]

Last week, the Senate voted not to repeal the military’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy – a policy that’s essentially a band-aid for the absence of gay rights in the military. The policy, which was introduced in 1993, has essentially stood all of this time as a way of saying ‘you can be gay in the military, as long as nobody knows about it’. It looked close for a while there, but ultimately the policy stands – even though Obama actually campaigned on changing the policy and his administration is openly opposed to it – and I think it’s time we had OUR say.

As I’ve said before, I’m not unbiased on this issue, but regardless of my own personal moral compass being pro-gay rights, there are also some compelling reasons why the policy should be repealed. For starters, under this policy anyone who comes out or is outed in the military is given a dishonorable discharge, no matter how well they were actually doing their job. That means that we’re actively spending military budget on getting rid of military personnel regardless of the quality of their work or the necessity of their position, which, considering how much trouble there already is with military budgeting, seems like a massive waste. There’s also the very obvious fact that this is the AMERICAN military and if it were any other position, say, at an American business perhaps, a person could sue for being fired over their sexuality – because it’s freakin’ illegal!

Suffice to say it’s pretty backassward that our own laws don’t apply the same way to our protective body as they do to the public.

One of the big arguments against repealing the policy is the fact that it’s going to take a lot of work and since the system as it stands functions reasonably effectively, to throw a big restructuring in right now would just mess things up for everybody. Now on the one hand, I see a point in this argument, because yes, the military is doing tough stuff at a tough time and they’re doing the best job they can. Yes, massive restructuring to deal with changing policies and deal with things like housing – where do LGBT soldiers live? With their own gender? The opposite? – as well as overall attitudes and the general social unrest that major changes like this cause, would be a serious burden on the system and would likely make it work less effectively for a time.

But then again, if that’s the rationale, then there’s really never a good time to restructure anything. The military always does tough stuff at tough times and it will always upset the system to have major changes; that didn’t stop the military from desegregating in the ’40s.

OK, what do you have to say? Is ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ a blotch on our historical record? Does it desperately need to be repealed? Or has the policy been working so far so why fix what’s not broken? Should we wait for another, better, time to make a major effort like this?

Duke it out!

Of course there’s always the military-style pea coat option, but I’m looking to update my actual outfits with some trendy new pieces for fall. Which is why the D’armee Dress from Anthropologie is absolutely perfect.

I have yet to come across another piece that is able to totally channel the military trend while still being utterly feminine with adorable detailing a flirty shape.

The army green keeps with the army-fatigues theme, as does the tough zipper hardware that runs down the front of the dress and the double-breasted pockets with brushed gold buttons. These strong elements are balanced out with endearingly feminine details. I am in love with the ruched sleeves, tabbed shoulders, the pleated skirt, and the cinched waist which perfectly accents an hourglass figure.

Plus, layering cami’s underneath can totally change up the vibe of the dress. Adding a floral print tank will play up the feminine details of the dress and create a perfect day ensemble with tights and flats. For night, adding a black lace cami and lowering the zipper will make it sexy enough for bar-attire. And belting the dress with a brown leather belt, adding a neutral cami underneath and slipping on some worn-in leather boots will have you totally rocking the rugged, military trend that is so hot for fall.

Thank you Anthropologie…I can always count on you to put a romantic, feminine twist on the newest trends. Now I just need you to have a massive sale so that I can bring home this dress without sacrificing my happy hour (hey, once I buy this dress I need to be able to show it off….).

This season, the G.I. Joe military inspired style is marching onto runways and blowing up clothing racks everywhere.  At first (it’s hard to believe now) I was frustrated with the new bold style (totally in for fall).  I have broad shoulders and let’s just say the manly military explosion does not get friendly with my curves.

However lately, with this style popping up everywhere, I’ve discovered you can easily make the military look extremely flattering!  All you have to do is add a belt here or there to showcase your curves.  OR throw some charms on your neck to girly-up the bold bombshell brigade sparked in your wardrobe.

I’m liking it more and more.  It’s time to take a moment to be inspired by military fashions under $20.

Now, this isn’t exactly the loud and bold military I was talking about, but these marbled peep toe pumps (at only $12.00) look great with any military fashion.  Not to mention they will totally sex up any ballsy military style.  The chestnut color and skyscraper-high heels will look great and show off those boot camp legs you’ve got.

This is immediately one of my favorites because the top is so versatile and simple.  The shinny skinny belt is perfect for accentuating your lady curves and dressing an outfit up.  At $17.80 for such a solid outfit builder, how could you turn away from the opportunity?  P.S. This would look great with skinny jeans and army-inspired boots.

As a new and improved fan of the infamous romper, I really love this piece.  It’s a perfect color for fall and looks super comfortable. The shoes above would look great and super sexy with this olive colored frock.

Yet another fabulous military find. This top would be great to pair with a little more saucy skirt (business on the top, party on the bottom, right?) At so cheap (only $14.99) I couldn’t leave this army-inspired number out of the mix.  It comes in army green as well!

These punchy pair of leggings is svelte and super sexy.  I love the bold and sexy zipper.  The army green tint is very fitting for fall these season, so I say pair them with a sexy pair of pumps and a bold shirt dress and you are G2G. Good. To. Go.

This fringe scarf is the perfect add-on to any military outfit (to soften the boldness a little bit).  And at only $9.99, this is a total steal.  This would look great paired with a military jacket or a simple button down shirt. Sold.

The cargo inspired look is perfect for the G.I. Gorgeous style.  These shorts in particular are cheap, sexy and would look great with heels and a simple button-up top.  I love how easily they can be transferred from casual to night friendly with just a switch of shoe. Beautiful.

It’s as simple as it is cheap.  At $6.99 this tee is a perfect addition to your military wardrobe.  I’m loving the sequined pocket and loose fitting attitude.  The scoop neck still manifests a flirty style and this would go perfect with jeans and flats (first date material).

It’s Veteran’s Day and everybody is finding their own way to honor the men and women who have and are currently serving in the armed forces. This morning, Bon Jovi performed at Rockefeller Center in NYC and invited all local military personnel, their families and civilian volunteers to come be a part of the festivities.

While we aren’t all Bon Jovi and can’t show our support through a rock concert (unless they want to watch me play RockBand), there are plenty of things we can do to show our appreciation for the troops.

1. Have a veteran in your family? Call or sit down with them and ask them about their service. Chances are they’ll have a lot of stories to share, and your interest in their life is probably the greatest gift you could give them on this day.

And then take them for a meal at Applebee’s. Veterans and active duty military eat free today! I’m sure if you ask nicely they will share their Triple Chocolate Meltdown with you.

2. Move past your usual gray shirt/black sweatpants class uniform and get a little more patriotic today. Don a little red, sport a little blue or, if you’re feeling especially grateful to our men in uniform, pick up something that shows some real American pride.

3. Pop some kettle corn and settle in for a hottie veteran movie marathon. Pearl Harbor, Jarhead, Stop-Loss…. the possibilities are endless. And maybe you can finally answer the age old question: Ben Affleck or Josh Hartnett? It’s tough, I know.

4. Send a care package to troops on duty. In high school, I went through a program and “adopted” a soldier. I would send him letters and packages from time to time and I may have pretended he was my boyfriend for awhile. Totally normal. Sadly, my duties as pen pal have since fallen by the wayside, but today I think I might rekindle our romance friendship and show my appreciation via shaving cream and beef jerky.

5. Before you chug that beer at Dollar Pitcher Night take a moment, reflect and pour one out to honor our American heroes.

Big or small, do something to honor the men and women who risk their lives preserving our safety, our land and our freedom. Veterans, we salute you!

With fall here, it’s time to start adding new outerwear to your closet, and while many people argue that everyone needs a boyfriend blazer, I think everyone should be picking up this military jacket from Banana Republic. This sharp, dapper blazer can pull together any combination of a T-shirt and broken-in jeans (you know, the super comfy ones you wear every other day) when a decent outfit takes too much effort, or make you look even smarter when paired with a crisp, collared shirt.

It features pockets at the chest and waist, a standing collar, shoulder epaulets (for that extra touch of cool), a concealed button placket and cinching at the waist that creates the perfect hourglass shape. Roll up the sleeves for a more laid back look or add a necklace or two for some glam. Available in black and gray, it practically goes with everything, so, like your jeans, you can wear it every other day as well.

Planning my next trip to Banana Republic as we speak. See you there?

When I tell people that my boyfriend is in the Army, I usually am met with the same response:

“Oooh really? I don’t know how you do it. I couldn’t be with someone in the military.”

I can understand why they feel that way. Being apart from the one you love for long periods of time gets really tough. Being in a military relationship is an emotional and patriotic combination of sacrifice and reward.

For all the time spent apart, the mind-racing anxieties, the minimal access to communication and the constant countdown to reunion, there are still the corresponding rewards that make it all worthwhile. After spending five months apart, with half the country’s states between us, we now get to finally live together. After worrying what it meant when I didn’t hear his voice for almost 12 days, I’ve learned how to be a stronger, independent individual. I know that in the Army, no news is good news. I have learned the importance of communication and how to maintain a strong connection through hand-written letters.

By investing time and energy into such a challenging situation, I have come out the other side with a newly earned title. I am an Army Girlfriend. I serve alongside my man by staying strong and carrying on. I do things on my own, for myself, with no one’s help. Are all the difficulties of a military relationship worth it, you ask? I say, if it’s the right person, then you would do whatever it takes. It’s like sacrificing an hour on the treadmill so that you can enjoy an Apple Fritter from Starbucks. Sure, that hour on the treadmill is challenging, sometimes painful, seemingly never-ending and you always end up staring at the display to watch the minutes slowly tick by. But when you do finally get off, you’re so much stronger and proud of yourself for not giving up…and now you get your reward.

Yes, I just likened my boyfriend to an Apple Fritter.

So, with that said, I could not be more proud to be with a military man. His trials, tribulations, challenges and sacrifices inspire me every day to be a better person and a more confidant woman. Next time you see a man in uniform, don’t just ogle at how great his ass looks in those ACUs. Feel free to approach him and thank him for his service. Or pay for the latte that the soldier behind you in line at Starbucks is waiting to order. Show your appreciation for our men and they will fight for you in return. Believe me, those little gestures can mean the world. And if a military man asks you out on a date, don’t run away for fear of falling in love with someone that you may have to part with. Do yourself, and America, a favor and dive right on in.

Besides, the treadmill may suck at times, but at least you will always fit into your favorite pair of camo boy shorts.

Yes, I just likened my relationship to fitting into a pair of shorts. But why not? They both make me feel really, really good.

Not only have they had to deal with wars and bombs from surrounding countries, but the citizens of Israel live in constant fear of suicide bombers getting on their busses, coming into their schools and destroying their daily lives.

Today, Israel is at war with Hamas. Every day, the Israeli Army sends bombs into the Gaza strip in attempts to stop the terrorist organization from bombing their country.

“The goal of this operation is to stop the launching of rockets upon Israeli civilians and to make sure that the Hamas organization, which is a terrorist organization, will not be able to get any more rockets… And also to make sure that they will not have the will to act against Israeli civilians.”

As with any military operation, there has been severe collateral damage. Innocent people – including U.N. aid workers – have been injured and killed, there is a shortage of food and water, and hundreds of buildings have been destroyed. Yet, Hamas will not stop.

My question is this:

In your opinion, is Israel the monster, or is Hamas – knowing what they can do to stop the war in Gaza – turning its back on the well-being of its very own people? This sitution is not one that has a simple answer, but one that could be resolved with some thought, understanding, and conversation.

Women are making strides, actually not strides, leaps and bounds. It would seem that since women won the right to vote in 1920 there wouldn’t be anything left for us to conquer. I mean, that was almost 90 years ago. By now, women should have done everything and have a presence everywhere.

Women have been the first at a lot of things throughout history. Here are just a few of the big moments:

• 1925 Nellie Tayloe Ross became the first woman governor
• 1932 Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic
• 1934 Lettie Pate Whitehead became the first woman to serve as director of a major corporation
• 1960 Jacqueline Cochran became the first woman to break the sound barrier
• in 1965 Patsy Takemoto Mink was the first Asian-American to be elected to Congress
• 1972 Sally Jean Priesand was the first woman rabbi in the U.S.
• 1981 Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court
• 1985 Wilma Mankiller was the first woman to became the chief of the Cherokee Nation
• 1990 Dr. Antonia Novello becomes the first Hispanic woman and woman to be U.S. Surgeon General
• 1992 Carol Moseley-Braun is the first African American woman elected to the U.S. Senate….and the list goes on.

However, after almost 90 years since women’s suffrage, is there really that much women haven’t done? Is the glass ceiling still that low? The answer to these questions is, yes. And because the answer is yes, women are still making history and being the first, especially in the past two years.

It was announced today that Ann E. Dunwoody would be the first woman four-star general in the U.S. military. Today, at a ceremony at the Pentagon she will be awarded her fourth star. This is huge! This a huge honor, especially since women weren’t permitted to serve in the military until decades into the twentieth century.

Remember the big story just two years ago that Katie Couric would be the first solo female anchor of a national evening news show, CBS Evening News? I think she is doing great!

Another big event (2007) was when Nancy Pelosi became the first woman Speaker of the House of Representatives. This is one of the top positions in our political system and we have a woman in control!In 2007, Drew Gilpin Faust became the first woman president of Harvard University in the school’s 371-year history. Wow.

Hillary Clinton has been a lot of firsts, the First Lady, the first First Lady to be elected to the U.S. Senate, and this year the first woman to win a presidential primary. She was so close to running our country it was unbelievable!

Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska, was the first woman to run for Vice President on the Republican ticket.

It is hard to fathom that women haven’t done everything, I mean we are all suppose to be equal! I wonder how long it will be until there is nothing left to be the first at?

We knew something good would come out of tonight’s debate.

That overly priced piece of fleece has been cramping styles of college chicks nationwide for way too long. Not only is it boring and blah (and yes getting it in bumble-bee yellow still makes it blah) – but its making you that girl. You know who I’m talking about: The one who walks around campus in her big sunglasses, tight stretch pants, boots and… NORTH FACE FLEECE.

I’m not saying it’s horrible to be one of those girls – in fact I think these girls get a bad rap for being bitchy and spoiled when that isn’t the case (note: I was one of them). What I am saying is that if you’re going to spend the money on a piece of outerwear there are so many, MANY cuter, warmer, more original, not fleecy things to buy!

Trust me, I understand the “I’m hungover and want to wear sweats to class” line of thinking, I really do. But at least fool the outside world that you care…even a little… and switch up your NFF for an actual jacket or coat. This fall there are just so many cute styles that it’s simply a waste to not wear one of them!

Here are some options to consider when trading in your beloved North Face Fleece:

The Hooded Bomber Jacket

You can wear this to class or to the bars. Pair it with jeans, leggings, even sweats and it instantly screams “I’m super hot,” and, “Don’t mess with me, yo.”

The Vintage Swing Coat

This Yellow is a must-have color, and it adds color to even the palest, most hungover faces, convincing any professor that you are 100% mentally there.

The Best Bar Jacket

For $29.80 it’s A-OKAY if you lose it, spill on it, get sick on it, forget about it, etc.

When it comes to bar jackets you have to plan ahead; while you won’t want to freeze and NOT wear a coat (a mistake made by freshies nationwide), you also don’t want to wear your favorite Theory jacket only to have it be traded up by some other gal who wore her Forever 21 jacket, saw yours shoved in a corner and grabbed it at the end of the night “by mistake.”

The “I’m going to be presentable” Jacket

This jacket- which comes in a bunch of colors – is great for class OR for meeting your boyfriends great Aunt Jane in. It’s tailored but still youthful and just. so. cute.

The Comfortable Alternative

If you must be comfortable at least be original.

The Military Coat

I love it. I love it. I love it. Enough said.