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Acknowledge societal benefits of increased happiness

Do we care about being happy anymore? According to an Oct. 27 New York Times opinion piece, we do. Ruth Whippman asserts that “good social relationships are the strongest, most consistent predictor there is of a happy life,” and also that “the average American spends barely more than half an hour a day on social communication.” So where’s the disconnect? The problem with happiness is that we simply don’t value it. We say we do, of course, because saying we don’t care would be blasphemous. But by the numbers, happiness is far down the societal priority list as income inequality and a competitive, numbers-driven society pressures us economically. 

Question standards for what US considers legitimate marriage

Condemn White House decision to revoke DACA status

On Sept. 5, the Trump administration chose to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that shielded 800,000 young immigrants from deportation and enabled them to apply for work permits and social security numbers after a series of strict background and security checks, according to a Sept. 5 New York Times article. While the decision was unnecessary and heartless, it formed a sense of urgency that mobilized action in Congress toward a bipartisan solution to protect Dreamers. The solution, according to both sides of the conversation, consisted of sensible border security — in the form of drones and advanced technology — in partnership with the DREAM Act, according to a Sept. 14 New York Times article. The president said he would still pursue the wall but would not make it a demand when signing legislation aimed at protecting Dreamers. A Sept. 28 Fox News poll showed that 86 percent of voters support legislation to give Dreamers work permits, and even more incredibly, 62 percent of voters view this issue as an extremely important matter for Congress to focus on. The support in Congress was further reflecting this support, with now 200 House members co-sponsoring the DREAM/RAC Act in the House, according to the U.S. Congress. In the Senate, a bipartisan push has resulted in several pieces of legislation to support Dreamers, with wide support from Senators from both sides. 

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Views on the News: Veterans

According to an Oct. 16 New York Times article, former Marine Sergeant Major, Damien Rodriguez was charged with a felony-level hate crime and assault after he attacked employees at an Iraqi restaurant in Portland, Oregon. His friends and family, however, claim that his actions were the result of PTSD and not hatred. Do you feel that Rodriguez’s charges are appropriate? 

EDITORIAL: Recognize Sodexo’s accomplishments among flaws

Sodexo has taken great strides toward improving the dining experience for University students, and this board commends Sodexo on its efforts to please as many students as possible with the food served in the dining halls. However, because Sodexo has an everlasting capacity for improvement, this board has recommendations looking into the future. 

Recognize the possibly beneficial impact of celebrity status

It is no secret that celebrities have won over our attention; they fill us with joy, make us weep at our television screens and run our bank accounts thin with their new releases. Most importantly, though, they can compel us to listen. Beyoncé, for example, has a name that is almost universally known. While the icon has a slew of accolades, one of the most relevant now is her commitment to social justice.  From her 2014 Video Music Awards medley performance proudly proclaiming herself as a feminist to her 2016 music video “Formation,” which brought attention to the rampant police violence in our society, Beyoncé has illustrated why it is important for celebrities to speak out.

Urge reform in sentencing severity for drug possession

Last summer, I worked as an Intern Investigator for the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, where I helped represent adults and youth caught up in the criminal justice system. One thing that struck me was the number of our clients that were charged with drug offenses, convicted and then sentenced to astonishing time periods in jail. 

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Urge NFL to support Colin Kaepernick’s form of protest

It all began with the simplest of gestures. At the beginning of the 2016 NFL season, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick decided he would kneel during the national anthem to draw attention to racial inequality and police brutality. On Aug. 26, 2016, Kaepernick remained seated during the national anthem, and on Aug. 27, 2016, he told NFL Media, "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” He also said,  “To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave getting away with murder.” 

Criticize President Trump’s poor response to Hurricane Maria

Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico and the Lesser Antilles on Sept. 20, and President Donald Trump has already suggested that we pull aid. Just weeks before, Hurricane Harvey blasted Texas and the Caribbean. Both hurricanes caused devastation, but the response from the White House could not be more different. According to an Aug. 31 CNN article, Trump commendably donated $1 million of his own money to aid relief efforts in Texas, yet remarked in a backhanded series of Tweets that we cannot aid Puerto Rico “forever.” Throughout his campaign and his first nine months in office, Trump has sneered at anything outside of the 50 states; apparently, that includes U.S. territories and their residents. 

Criticize racially insensitive elements of the beauty industry

Recently, Dove produced an ad that featured a Black woman removing her shirt to reveal a fair-skinned white woman, and the white woman doing the same to reveal a third woman. However innocent the intention may have been, the advertisement was met with backlash over claims of racism and was eventually pulled, according to an Oct. 8 New York Times article.  The article also states that Dove has since apologized for the ad, and that spokeswoman Marissa Solan stated that the commercial was intended to be a celebration of diversity and show that Dove body wash is meant for every woman. Regardless, this is not the first time that Dove has been accused of racial insensitivity. In 2011, the company released an ad, again with the intent to promote their body wash and show its beneficial effects on skin. However, the ad featured women standing in order from darkest to lightest, with a backdrop comparing clean and dirty skin. The word “before” was above the black woman and “after” above the white woman. According to a May 26, 2011 NBC News article, Dove responded to the controversy stating that all three women were intended to show the “after” effect. If Dove prides itself on “widening the definition of beauty,” per their website, why do they continue to perpetuate racist tropes and enforce colorist ideals? 

Commend news outlets for exposing sexual predators

Throughout this year alone, the media — or, more specifically, the New York Times — has done an unprecedented job in exposing people in positions of power who turned out be concealing egregious secrets about their sexual misconduct in the workplace. The series of exposés have given the voice and courage many women, who are minorities in different working fields, have needed for such a long time already to call out their abusers.

Views on the News: NAFTA

According to an Oct. 11 article in the New York Times, President Donald Trump revealed that the United States may drop out of North American Free Trade Agreement, stating, "It is possible we won't be able to make a deal, and it's possible that we will." In addition to this, the Trump Administration has also proposed limits on the number of government contracts that Mexican or Canadian companies can win. What do you think of the president's opinion, and is it in the best interest of the U.S.? 

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EDITORIAL: Criticize University’s poor timing of search for new dean

With a proposal for new general education requirements in consideration and a search for a new dean underway, the College of Arts and Sciences is embarking on an era of change, and this board cautions the University not to rush too many changes at once.

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