Op-Eds
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An Approach to Alleviating Teacher Shortages in Spotsylvania County
Virginia's public schools find themselves facing a crisis — a staggering decline in teacher retention rates. Nowhere is this more evident than in Spotsylvania County. The root cause? Demoralization among teachers, fueled by the growing influence of local politics, is pushing the limits of an already strained education system.
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Age Verification Laws: A Violation or a Necessity?
The government finds it prudent to curb minors’ access to pornographic content, but does that simultaneously curb our rights as citizens?
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A Quixotic, yet Necessary Plan to Expand the European Union
The European Union has succeeded in promoting peace on a continent historically plagued by war. However, with the question of accepting new members, EU leaders face complex political and institutional challenges.
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The Myth of the Gender Monolith
Living in a westernized society means living within the bounds of the gender binary. Beyond our scope, however, lies a rich history of unique gender expression and the lessons we can learn from the cultures that embrace it.
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The Mystique of the Off Year
Virginia is different from many other states in America in the fact that it holds off-year congressional elections, a choice made centuries ago that has withstood the test of time. Considering the many other changes in Virginia since then, why has this policy persisted and what implications do these off-year elections have on politics in Virginia?
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Stroads and Sprawl– Urban Planning in Charlottesville-Albemarle and Beyond
Urban sprawl is ugly and widely disliked, yet it composes most new development in Charlottesville and throughout North America. Why does this type of built environment persist and proliferate?
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Rethinking the Naturalization Test: Assessing Knowledge and Language Proficiency with Equity
The trial testing of redesigned naturalization tests announced by USCIS in December 2022 include increased difficulty in a standardized English-speaking portion and an updated civics test. Increasing the difficulty of the English-speaking test could create barriers for non-English speakers seeking U.S. citizenship, reinforcing discrimination. The historical and current attempts to make English the official language in the U.S. have and could increase discrimination towards people who speak languages other than English.
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Mass Incarceration: Eliminating the Cash Bail System
In the United States, freedom before trial is based on a defendant’s financial means. This creates detrimental effects for equal rule of law and justice, and structural reforms are necessary.
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The Year of the Union
This past year has seen more strikes and union action than the past two combined, creating a sort of contagion of worker protests that have impacted every corner of the American labor system. What sparked these strikes and why now?
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The Unsuspecting Nature of Fentanyl: How American Perceptions of Addiction Hinder Treatment of Overdose
Illicitly manufactured fentanyl is responsible for the overdose of thousands of Americans each year. Because of the perception of drug addiction in our society, this problem continues to increase and go untreated. We must reframe our understanding of addiction in order to address and fully rid communities of fentanyl overdose.
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Virginia’s Attack on Transgender Youth
Virginia's recent model policies for the treatment of transgender students in schools have faced significant criticism for endangering the human rights of transgender students. Debates about whether Transgender Rights oppose Parents' Rights have taken hold across the state's school districts.
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The Forgotten: Underage Actors within the Film Industry
The Hollywood film industry has a tendency to flaunt large on screen age gaps, often amongst minors and adults. These underage-to-adult age gaps negatively impact minor actors, who cannot fully comprehend the mature scenes that they are required to perform in. Further, as there is a lack of legal protection for minor actors, action must be taken by the government to give these actors the protections they deserve.
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Gentrification in Washington D.C. Chinatown: Consequences on Asian and Chinese Americans, Marginalization and Displacement
Chinatowns are symbols of vibrant cultural heritage and are in danger of disappearing across the nation. Washington D.C.’s Chinatown, in particular, is susceptible to the loss of generations of Chinese American business, community, and history
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Mareas de cambio: elecciones latinoamericanas 2023 y la oleada anti-incumbente
En una región todavía tratando con violaciones de derechos humanos y que sigue luchando por democracia, las elecciones presidenciales tienen el poder de definir el futuro de las relaciones latinoamericanas con el resto del mundo. Aquí se presentan las elecciones presidenciales latinoamericanas a través de un tema que puede proveer una perspectiva nueva sobre estas elecciones tan importantes.
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How Lessons from Rome Can Save American Democracy
In a striking parallel to the decline of the Roman Republic, the United States increasingly grapples with domestic threats. As American political divides deepen, drawing lessons from history may be the necessary safeguard to our democracy.
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¿Dónde está la biblioteca? La importancia de idiomas extranjeros
En la secuela de la decisión de La Universidad de Virginia Oeste de cortar los idiomas extranjeros, necesitamos recordar que los idiomas mejoran a todos y es la responsabilidad de la universidad continuarlos.
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The Kingfish at 130: The Life and Legacy of Huey P. Long
Many may recognize the Kingfish of Louisiana, but little of his legacy. From humble origins, to dominating the halls of Louisiana’s legislature, there is much to be compared to the populist movement of Long to the populism of today.
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Xóchitl Gálvez: La primera presidenta de México
Xóchitl Gálvez está lista para reformar el gobierno de México, fortalecer la democracia del país, y ganar la presidencia para el bienestar de todos mexicanos este dos de junio de 2024.
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Why Democrats are favored to continue their winning streak in… Kentucky?
Beshear is popular, he’s favored in the polls, and his opponent, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, espouses a brand of radical right-wing politics that most Kentuckians find toxic.
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Senator Tommy Tuberville Calls into Questions the Power of Senate Holds
Today, Senate holds are being abused to further political agendas. If not reformed, they could diminish the power of the Senate and threaten U.S. national security.
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Moms for Liberty Is Redefining “Liberty” in School Board Elections
Moms for Liberty has spearheaded a political campaign to increase “liberty” in Virginia public schools. Their campaign centers around restricting access to books that challenge normative perspectives, and doesn’t look too much like liberty at all.
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Media Fragmentation and the Manufacture of Reality
The 21st century has borne witness to a previously unimaginable proliferation in the sources of media content. The internet and social media have ushered in a revolution in information consumption that has changed the nature of human interaction. Despite the positives of a diverse information pool, the degree of audience fragmentation has shattered our society’s collective reference frame and eroded Americans’ faith in democracy. Future developments in media technology and practices will continue to strike at the core of our republic unless the U.S. government acts to regulate their development and use.
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Book Bans: The Effect of Censorship on Inclusive Literature
As book bans sweep across conservative school districts in the nation, what’s at stake? We find that, at the center of the controversy, is an aversion to inclusivity and representation, masked under a veneer of protecting children.
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Political Polarization: A small minority or the entire public?
Who are the main actors behind American political polarization? If people are more moderate than we play believe, perhaps there is more to be learned about those who want to divide than unite.
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The Push and Pull of History and Progress
Today’s Supreme Court has brought many fundamental questions of American history and its interpretation to the forefront. While American history can serve as a helpful tool for contextualizing and inspiring political progress, the Roberts Court has also shown it can be a dangerous tool to hinder progress.