“I tell these stories not to recount horrifying experiences in order to stir up trauma or to victimize myself, but, rather, to answer the question I was asked two years ago as I again sat in lockdown – now on UNC’s campus: Was this the first shooting I've experienced myself? “
Read More“On June 29, 2023 the Supreme Court of the United States overturned the use of affirmative action in all higher education admissions processes. Though the claims brought against affirmative action are deceivingly compelling, the harsh reality of overturning affirmative action will create barriers in achieving success through higher education for future students of color.“
Read More“On April 4th, Former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony charges for falsifying business records. So what happened and what does this mean?”
Read More“A man born into luxury, who went to the best schools, lived in the most expensive houses, and could afford things that many only dream of forgot one crucial aspect of this puzzle. That the law, even though seemingly an innocent disturbance for some, is a powerful tool that can win even against the most influential.”
Read More“Apple CEO Tim Cook recently visited an Apple store in Beijing on March 24th before attending the China Development Forum the following day. This visit took place during a particularly controversial period in China-US relations.”
Read More“March 23, 2023, brought yet another horrendous act of gun violence in the United States. A short two days later on March 29, 2023, the North Carolina General Assembly was able to pass Senate Bill 41, also known as the Guarantee 2nd Amend Freedom and Protections Act. The bill’s most serious implications come in its first section most commonly referred to as the “pistol permit purchase” section, which ends the requirement to obtain a permit from one’s county sheriff before purchasing a handgun.“
Read More“Protests have broken out in Milan to fight for LGBTQ rights that are currently being threatened, with people holding signs that read ‘you explain to my son that I am not his mother’ and children wearing shirts that read ‘It is love that creates a family.’ “
Read More“Free speech has and continues to play an essential role in higher education, yet recent political polarization has put a strain on the effort to maintain the essential divide between academic speech and public discourse.“
Read More“Voting, the bedrock of our democracy, is the single most important practice for citizens to make their voices heard. Yet, since the 2020 election, Republican state legislatures across the country have passed voter suppression bills under the guise of “protecting integrity in our election.” This façade does a poor job of covering what these laws are truly intended for: making it more difficult to vote.“
Read More“The main question that the Kids Online Safety Act provokes is who gets to dictate what is and isn’t allowed on social media. Concerns of censorship come amid claims that Elon Musk, Twitter’s new CEO, has suspended accounts for criticizing him as well as a flood of Library book bans targeting stories centering characters that are LGBTQ+ and people of color. Opponents of the Act such as Evan Greer voice valid concerns about Censorship and authoritarianism.“
Read More“Excerpt: On the 75th anniversary of Dr. Frank Porter Graham’s negotiation of the Renville Treaty, the Carolina Asia Center held a joint conference between The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH) in Jakarta which discussed Indonesia’s past, present, and future on the world stage…Indonesia is rapidly gaining economic and political influence on the world stage via increasingly diverse foreign direct investment, Indonesia’s sway within ASEAN, and the desire to forge an independent Indonesian path.“
Read More“Katie Hobbs, the Democratic Secretary of State of Arizona, defeated Lake by just under one percentage point in a state where given today’s unfavorable political climate towards Democrats, it should not be this close. Hobbs’ win sends a strong message to Donald Trump that his MAGA politics are still seen as unfavorable to most swing-state electorates.”
Read More“Biden, who was elected to his post at 78 years old, is subjected to constant attacks about his advanced age and its impacts on his profession. A problem arises when people pose different reactions when discussing Trump’s age, who, if elected in 2024, will also be 78. The question now is: how will Republicans play around with this fact?“
Read More“Only recently having left the world of mask mandates, vaccines, work at home orders, and increased prices, the state of the dollar must be preserved in an already weakened economy. With inflation the highest in over forty years, having been capped in July at 9.1%, additive changes such as loan forgiveness will seek to halt its decline back to the recommended 2%.”
Read More“The far-right may use democratic means, if necessary, to gain power, but their true alliance is not with democracy; it is with power and control.”
Read More“Whether Florida’s politicians like it or not, they have LGBTQ+ youth too. These youth should know that there are others like them. History is filled with exceptional LGBTQ+ icons. These people are role models, heroes, and worthy to be taught in schools.”
Read More“The desire to end the seemingly never-ending pandemic has led Americans to put a lot of faith in the federal government. This can be dangerous. The United States has checks and balances and separation of powers for a reason. If these were neglected, it could set a dangerous precedent. Some businesses have already implemented vaccine requirements on their own terms or because of a state mandate; however, a federal mandate carries a heavier weight and attempts to usurp state sovereignty. After all, the 10th amendment provides the states with the authority to oversee public health, not the federal government.”
Read More“Overall, Trump had his pros and cons; however, he is not what the country needs in 2024, nor is Biden for that matter. This conclusion is strictly due to age. In the last two elections, we have elected the two oldest presidents in history, this title belonged to Reagan before Trump and Biden’s elections. It is time for both parties to move forward and to the side so that the next generation can pick up the reins. As Condoleezza Rice recently said, “It’s time now for the next generation of party leaders to ‘move ahead and deal with the American people’s issues’.”
Read More“From its earliest colonial roots, the United States has been a Christian nation. Even the establishment clause, which prevents the declaration of a federal religion and is codified in the Bill of Rights, was included with the understanding that there were so many regional denominations of Christianity in the colonies that to impose one of them as dominant would inhibit the freedoms of our fledgling nation. America was created by Christians, for Christians. Understanding that is the first step to understanding how we ended up with a comprehensive abortion ban in Texas that allows citizens to sue people they suspect have undergone or helped someone else attain an abortion procedure (SB8). It is also a realization that is needed to overturn SB8 and legislation like it in the future.”
Read More“It is understandable why Democrats want Justice Breyer to retire and after Justice Barrett’s brisk confirmation, it appears that Republicans would reciprocate Democrat efforts if ever in the same situation. However, it is important that Justice Breyer’s role is not dismissed easily.”
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