Domestic News
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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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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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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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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.
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Derailed from Success: The Usage of Tracking in American Secondary Education
Commonplace in the United States, tracking is an accepted practice which promises to separate students based on their levels of academic achievement and capability. However, the realization of said promise is left unfulfilled for many.
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Striking Down Affirmative Action Will Only Worsen Racial Disparities
The Supreme Court’s decision to strike down affirmative action ignores the complex ways race has shaped practically every sector of society in America.
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Gentrification in Charlottesville
For centuries, the private and public sectors have worked together to create a system of profiteering from the real estate market. Examples of the damage they have caused to local communities can be seen across the nation, even within Charlottesville.
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The “Apolitical” Wisconsin Supreme Court
The Wisconsin Supreme Court election earlier this year illustrated the political nature of the fight for Supreme Court seats. With millions of dollars pouring into the race from various political groups, the race was the most expensive state court race in history. It illustrated that voters and interest groups view the control of courts as a means to political results.
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How Incrementalism Destroys Progress
Often times, the American people are told that only incremental, slow change can be achieved. They are told that moderate politicians have ostensibly the same goal, to help, but are just more realistic than "radicals" like Bernie Sanders. Despite consistent polling to the contrary, politicians aligned with corporations have claimed that they stand with the people in opposition to a stronger social safety net. These are lies. Through corporate induced, profit motivated obstructionism, supposedly "moderate" politicians blocked popular initiatives while those who advocated the bill shied away from confrontation to the detriment of their cause.
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Deference: Police Accountability and the Court
In constitutional questions regarding police encounters, the Supreme Court often defers these decisions to Congress. In doing so, the rights of citizens to seek justice for the wrongful behavior of law enforcement officers are left in the hands of hyperpolarized politicians who fail to hold police accountable, leaving the rights of citizens in legal limbo.
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Is There Hope for Bipartisanship in America?
When partisan divides appear stronger and more rancorous than ever, many Americans have been left without hope for the political future. Yet, in the midst of these tensions, there have been notable instances of bipartisan efforts across levels of government.
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Tracking in Our Education System
The process of student tracking, despite seeming practical, has had many unhindered consequences on student education, particularly with the education of minority students. At first glance, this system makes perfect sense by having students placed into classes seemingly catered to their experience and abilities, but studies on the effects of tracking suggest it may be perpetuating systemic racial and socioeconomic inequality.
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The (Lack of) Separation of Church and State
The first amendment clearly states that the federal government shall not interfere with US citizens’ religious freedom. But does this mean that religion and politics are completely separated in the United States today?
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Congressional Inaction is Forcing the Supreme Court into the Firing Line
Over recent decades, Congress has progressively grown less effective, forcing the Supreme Court to address these issues in ways that are inconsistent with public opinion. Recent controversial decisions have led to questions regarding the legitimacy of the Supreme Court and the need for judicial reforms.
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Toxic Grading Culture: The Consequences of Grades on the Learning Experience
Grades, as a tool for measurement and for learning, are a fundamental part of American education but its negative effects often go ignored. As studied by psychology, grades are immense obstacles to curiosity and the long-term learning of students.
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Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson: More than just checking a box
Ever since Ketanji Brown Jackson was nominated by President Joe Biden and recently confirmed by the Senate to be the next member of the Supreme Court, discourse continues to rage over whether she is qualified for the position. Are critics of Jackson right in their doubts, or are they mistaken?
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SCOTUS Considers Genocide
The Indian Child Welfare Act prevents Native children from being removed from Native communities. Some want to see it overturned, but doing so could lead to genoicide.
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Personality and Political Polarization
When it comes to political polarization, are differences between American political parties’ personalities the cure or the disease?
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The Impossibility of a Three-Party System and the Future of the Two-Party System
Why a third party won’t fix America’s political system and what will
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The Greater Showman: Why the Presidential Debates Need to Change
As the partisan divide deepens with the country, the current format for the presidential debates has become increasingly obsolete. It’s time the format changed to benefit and engage with the voters.
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Political Influencers and the Alt-Right Pipeline
In the age of online influencers, online personalities are gaining more and more control over our political process. Extremists are taking advantage of a broken system to promote their dangerous ideas— and they’re using the search algorithm to do it.