Op-Eds
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The Undemocratic Dismissal of Jim Ryan Cannot be Normalized
Jim Ryan’s coerced resignation sets a dangerous precedent for the future of American democracy. Going forward, it’s critically important that students, staff, and the whole of the University make their voices heard.
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What the Trump administration’s battle with Harvard means for the future of democracy
Trump has weaponized the federal government in a multi-front assault on some of the nation's best-known and most prestigious universities, particularly Harvard. However, through its resistance, the school has shown other universities—and potentially other parts of civil society —how to fight back.
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Trump’s Three-Pronged Assault on Free Expression
Our country is facing an unprecedented assault on free expression. Trump’s attacks on the press and both individuals and institutions in higher education are troubling, to say the least.
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Book Bans: An Ineffective Infringement of Freedom
In recent years, there has been an unprecedented onset of book bans, a phenomenon spearheaded by parents motivated to control their children's educations. Despite any positive motivation, these bans have adverse effects on the public education system as a whole.
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Trump: A 19th-Century President in the 21st-Century
Donald Trump's Presidencies are often described as "unprecedented" and "norm-shattering," but his actions have clear inspiration from earlier presidents in our nation's history.
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Is AI Taking Our Water?
As AI is continuing to expand, policymakers and tech companies alike should be aware of and take action against the costs it is imposing on the environment.
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The Special Election Era: Trump, Turnout, and the Price of Polarization
Special elections weren’t supposed to cost tens of millions or draw the attention of billionaires, but under Trump, even low-turnout races are flooded with cash and national attention.
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The Cult You’re Likely an Unwitting Member Of
From Jonestown to MAGA, cult behavior isn’t as distant as we think. America’s highly polarizing two-party system and the decline of religious affiliation has created the perfect storm for cult-like dynamics in our political sphere. From idolized leaders to in-group loyalty and out-group hatred, politics today mirrors many of the same psychological mechanisms as history’s most infamous cults.
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Mark S. and Marx: Alienation in the TV Series Severance
The television series Severance has gained tons of traction in recent months for its incredibly entertaining plot line—however, there is more to Severance than meets the eye. There are tons of Marxist themes throughout the series that deserve to be brought to light.
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Data Privacy Needs an Update
The U.S. is a haven for technological innovation, but its privacy laws are far from comprehensive, leaving consumer data vulnerable. The U.S. ought to create overarching legislation to regulate and inform data privacy practices, ensuring consumer safety in an increasingly online world.
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Cutting Class: The Trump Administration’s Crackdown on Educational Federal Funding
As executive decisions from the White House dictate the federal funding provided to United States academic institutions, students, researchers, and university administration alike face struggles with adapting to this new norm of education. The consequences of defunding are astronomical and have ramifications that may be felt for years to come.
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Crypto and Centralization: The Hidden Role of Cryptocurrency in Democratic Advocacy
A look into the dangerous game of financial freedom and regulation, how governments can weaponize a centralized financial power against opposition protest movements, and the cryptocurrencies opposition movements rely on to persevere.
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America: Home of the American Dream or the American Nightmare?
The idea of the American dream has become increasingly unachievable over the years, creating a culture of false hope among individuals who may never see their goals achieved within capitalist America.
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A Look at the Sahel Post-ECOWAS Departure
In an effort to combat jihadist terrorism, the Sahelian nations of Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali formed an alliance in 2023 and withdrew from ECOWAS in 2024. Outlooks are split on the capability of the junta governments to fight these forces, the economic risk, and their impact on human rights. The outcome of leaving ECOWAS could also influence the current strategy of dividing Africa into Regional Economic Communities.
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The Future Could be Female (At Least in Virginia)
The state of Virginia is gearing up for a historic election season that could elect its first female Governor.
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Iran Is Speeding Up Its Weapons Programs. What Should the United States Do?
With Iran accelerating its nuclear ambitions and rejecting diplomatic talks, tensions between the U.S. and Iran are at a critical point. With Intelligence showing Iran’s pursuit of faster bomb-making methods and Israel desiring a preemptive strike, the case for decisive military action to neutralize the threat grows stronger, aiming to prevent destabilizing nuclear escalation in the region.
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Diplomacy on a Budget: Trump’s USAID Cuts to Save Money Come at the Expense of American Foreign Influence
Since taking office, Trump has drastically cut back on the USAID program in the hopes of ‘putting America first.’ However, these actions have severely harmed global communities, American ties to them, and even Americans directly, both abroad and at home.
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Underfunded and Overwhelmed: The Federal Government’s Failure to Properly Fund Anti-Trafficking Task Forces
Underfunded and understaffed, federal anti-trafficking task forces struggle to combat the growing crisis of human trafficking. Without increased funding and resources, victims remain trapped, traffickers go unpunished, and justice is left undone.
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Donald Trump’s Life of Failure and the Art of the Pivot
Donald Trump wins by using his losses to his advantage. This is how the MAGA movement has grown despite his numerous transgressions.
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Education in the United States: A Right for the Wealthy, a Privilege for the Poor
Without the Department of Education, the wealth gap between students will only widen. Good education needs to be a right for all kids, not a luxury only a few can afford.
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Democrats’ Path to Reconnecting with the Working Class
The 2024 presidential election saw a clear decrease in working class support for the Democratic Party. This shift left many Democrats wondering what the future holds for the party and what steps must be taken to reconnect with the working class.
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Gifted Education Needs Guidance
Gifted education in the United States is fragmented and underfunded, leading to widely varying outcomes and creating achievement gaps as marginalized groups are often overlooked in gifted identification. Remedying these issues requires a national definition of giftedness with a focus on equitable identification and nurturing student potential.
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Artificial Intelligence is Increasingly Being Used Within Politics, But Should We Be Allowing It?
Artificial Intelligence is increasingly being used by politicians and institutions for beneficial and malicious ends despite rampant misinformation and corruption. The American people must educate themselves and deliberate on whether and what types of AI should be used in our democracy.
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Are Rust Belt Cities Ready to Become “Climate Refuges?”
With coastal American cities battling climate catastrophes, the depopulated cities of the Rust Belt are garnering attention as possible “climate havens” and candidates for sustainability projects. However, before these can be realized, it is important to address the challenges within these cities so as to not risk the displacement of locals in this widely misunderstood region.
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Fanning the Flames of Californian Fury: How State and Federal Government Negligence Impacts Wildfires
The January, 2025 wildfires caused thousands of acres of damage, destroying homes and livelihoods in Los Angeles, California. These fires exposed critical state and federal government failures in prevention, response, and aid to support citizens.