Tag: opinion
SU students have the power, responsibility to advocate for women of color in politics
It’s vital that we acknowledge our privileged status as students of a private institution. It is through highlighting change-driven voices that we make an impact in students' biases that go beyond a culturally-enriching event. Rather, we believe that student organizations are the catalysts needed to ignite systematic change as we have collective power in shifting the narrative through the resources that are at our disposal. Read More »
The African American studies department needs to be valued by administrators at SU
Ultimately, the fate of the AAS department isn't just a matter of academic administration, it's a reflection of our university's commitment to equity and justice. As students and stakeholders, we must demand better and hold our institution accountable. Read More »
Combining race, ethnicity on U.S. Census will lead to systematic erasure
If nothing else, this new census is going to make it that much more difficult to recognize and combat racism and anti-Blackness. It’s going to undo years of conversations we’ve had as a community to understand the differences between race and ethnicity and unlearn the myths we’ve been told all our lives. Read More »
We need more positive queer stories in the media, uplifting representation
It shouldn’t be the standard that queer people are only talked about when something really good or really bad happens; our everyday happy stories have a right to be heard too. Read More »
Police watchdogs must have more power in communities to promote transparency
With every notable incident that gets widely reported on, there are many others that get swept under the rug; local legislatures should recognize the importance of citizen review boards and bolster their power to maintain a healthy and organic relationship between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. Read More »
‘The Bachelor’ must challenge racism head-on within its fanbase, production team
“The Bachelor” and the shows in “The Bachelor” universe need to challenge racism head-on, rather than skirting around issues in vague platitudes and avoiding taking actionable measures to improve conditions on the show. Without change, “The Bachelor” will be known as a relic of an era of racist reality television. Read More »
‘Green jobs’ provide a new wave of job opportunities for future generations
As students at Syracuse University, we are at the forefront of change in the U.S. as New York state continues to be a leader in climate action. Read More »
Olivia Rodrigo proves the need to destigmatize sex ed, provide free contraceptives
But, if anything, that means comprehensive sex education and open access to resources are that much more crucial to making sex less scary and mysterious. This not only lowers the risk of pregnancy and sexually-transmitted infections but also provides a safe space at school and home to ask questions about their sexual health. Read More »
March on Washington for Gaza through the eyes of a Palestinian American journalist
This was different. I knew I had to be present and serve as a witness in whatever way that spoke to me on an internal, even spiritual level. That may be why I found inspiration and beauty in quieter moments like prayer or following light when it inevitably cut through darkness, creating a relationship that existed in the contrast, where the duality of pain and perseverance coexists. Read More »
Bernie Sanders' 32-hour work week should be the new normal
What you do for a living should not prevent you from pursuing your passions and being with who you love. While one’s job can and should be a fulfilling and important aspect of your life, it should not be everything or all-consuming – we work to live, we should not live to work. Read More »
Gov. Hochul’s militarization of NYC subway systems does more harm than good
Policymakers must heed the concerns of their community and prioritize community-centered approaches to address public safety issues, aiming specifically to foster an environment of trust, equity and justice. Read More »
Instagram’s attempt to quietly limit ‘political content’ is a means of censorship
For those who want to continue viewing what Instagram determines as “political content,” tap the three-dash menu on your Instagram app on the top right corner, proceed to the “Settings and activity” section, select “Content preferences,” and then access the “Political content” menu and enable the “Don’t limit” setting. Read More »
Natural hair deserves to be celebrated at predominantly white institutions like SU
Navigating the complexities of being a minority at a predominantly white institution (PWI) like SU is a challenging and complex journey of self-acceptance entwined with cultural identification. The most significant of these challenges is accepting natural hair in a setting where professional standards sometimes dismiss and undermine the deep-rooted diversity of Black beauty. Read More »
Despite common belief, queerness, religiosity can co-exist
The greatest discovery I made on my journey with my spirituality was finding the difference between being religious and being part of the Christian church; I realized that I could be queer and religious at the same time. Read More »
Why women in ecology are crucial to the climate movement
Principles of ecofeminism are crucial to facilitating greater change and providing a voice to those who have been silenced. It is in humanity's best interest to give women a seat at the table. Read More »
No matter how you view TikTok, banning the platform would be censorship
We are so worried that the CCP will undermine democracy, so what do we do? Block or ban a social media platform. I have lived under a censorious regime, and I can tell you it is not something we want for our country. Read More »
What 'grandmacore' teaches us about girlhood, growing up
In a world where women are held to impossible, contradictory standards of beauty and aging, it seems to me that teenage girls and elderly women have far more in common with each other than we might think. Read More »
All full-time faculty deserve a path to tenure
Whether through an institutional path to tenure or unionization, full-time teaching faculty, professors of practice and visiting professors with specialized knowledge are critical to the educational mission of our university. They deserve more than precarity. They deserve the full rights of academic freedom. Read More »
Academic freedom is not absolute, must bend to protect Jewish students’ safety
Conceding that there exists an antisemitism problem on campus, hope springs eternal that the entire Syracuse community can cohabit on campus with respectful treatment of one another, allowance for differences of opinion, and complete protection of and safety for all community members, including Jewish students, professors and teaching assistant’s who are sorely lacking those entitlements at present. Read More »
As a Latine voice at The D.O., BIPOCs in the media are too rare
My story guides my desire to mobilize social justice, and my diverse experiences create a wealth of knowledge that drives change; it's essential that we leverage our stories and experiences to confront and dismantle the neocolonialist values entrenched in our Western mindset and systems. Read More »
The lack of news coverage shouldn’t stop us from talking about the war in Ukraine
It’s not fair to expect everyone to know everything about every global issue, but it is fair to expect the news to try and cover it. Read More »
The entertainment industry needs to better protect underage creators
Parents and family members who are supposed to protect their children, who should be looking out for their safety and well-being, are now exposing them to audiences on the internet for engagement, views and profit. Read More »
The case for YIMBY amid Syracuse's housing crisis
By supporting new developments and upzoning to allow for higher-density housing, as a city, Syracuse could foster a more vibrant, diverse and inclusive community. Read More »
Israel's attack on Palestine's libraries, universities is an attack on academia everywhere
But I also mourn the loss of irreplaceable collections of rare books, valuable cultural artifacts and hundreds of years worth of historical records. Read More »