Society and Culture
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The reality of Olympic neutrality: Representing a country doesn’t mean agreeing with it
Olympians represent their countries on the world stage, but this has never meant total agreement. As politics increasingly shape the Games’ perceptions, the real challenge may be our response to athletes speaking as citizens as well as competitors.
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Cigarettes and social media: The problem with warning labels
Social media warning labels are gaining political momentum, but their efficacy in addressing social media addiction remains ambiguous. Due to differences in behavioral and chemical dependence, this type of addiction requires deeper structural reforms rather than relying on warning labels alone.
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The case for protecting hate speech
With the rise of social media, speech labeled offensive or hateful has come under increasing scrutiny. While calls to restrict such expression are growing louder, limiting it enables egregious government overreach.
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The Olympics are – and should be – political
As a matter of policy, the Olympic Games are supposedly “politically neutral.” But with the current political climate in the United States and abroad, athletes should use their unique platform to speak out, and the International Olympic Committee should allow it.
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One great masquerade: The Trump administration and religion
Since returning to power in 2024, the Trump administration has disingenuously used Christianity to justify leadership and administrative decision-making. However, their actions severely misrepresent biblical teachings.
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Saul Goodman, redemption, and the value of radical kindness
The TV crime drama Better Call Saul stress tests what it means to be redeemable, demonstrating how invaluable it is to simply understand one another.
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How far Is PHAR enough?
As developers put profits over people, Charlottesville is undergoing gentrification. Charlottesville’s Public Housing Association of Residents (PHAR) is fighting to stop this.
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Women’s rights, wealth, and the limits of state feminism in Tunisia
State feminism can only go so far. In the case of Tunisia, the impact of pinkwashing has been used to cover up the tight authoritarian grip on the nation.
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The Cautionary Tale of Trump’s Threats to Free Speech: A Cornerstone of American Democracy
Since President Trump has taken office, he has reshaped the American media and challenged the First Amendment by detaining student protestors, restricting news outlets, attacking educational institutions, and sidelining judges.
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The Moral Weight of the Modern Body
The reality is that the conversation around women’s bodies has never really been about health; it’s been about control.
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Masking Control as Inclusion: The Problem with Trump’s Higher Education Compact
Trump’s Compact for Excellence in Higher Education is framed as a method of inclusion, when in reality Trump is attempting to gain control over universities, pressuring the schools to align with his conservative agenda.
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Gen Z’s Mayor: How TikTok Elected Mamdani
As Gen Z voters gain influence, Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral victory reveals how social media is reshaping political strategy. TikTok has redefined how to connect to voters, making online cultural fluency an influential component of electoral success.
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Red, White, and Ball: Sportswashing in the Age of Trump
Long considered the charge of far-flung dictators, Donald Trump has sought to better his image through his consistent involvement in sporting events nationally and worldwide.
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How Has Social Media Affected Politics?
Social media isn’t just a form of entertainment anymore. It’s a way for everyday people to speak their truth. But how has this affected the political sphere?
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Ross Perot: What a Bygone Character of American Politics Can Teach Us About Today
Since running for president as an outsider in the 1992 election, Perot’s brand of eccentricity remains unreplicated. However, Americans as a whole feel a particular disdain for the political establishment. Could someone like Perot capitalize on that?
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Requiem for the Political Martyr
Just as other societies have been throughout history, modern America is a powder keg that needs just one act of political violence to ignite the spark. Such a spark may have been ignited on September 10th.
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Why Everyone Hates College
Americans used to see college as the land of opportunity. Now, they’re not so sure. Overambitious government policy and an anemic social image led the university to lose touch with the nation.
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The Silenced Stage: The Trump Administration’s Tight Grip on Free Speech
As tensions between the executive branch and media outlets increase, President Trump further establishes his control over the free speech of millions of American citizens. The consequences of his actions leave many to question the legalities of government coercion and if we have entered a new era of censorship.
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The Rise of Christian Nationalism in America
A rise in Christian nationalism has affected our nation’s democracy. The movement's hateful rhetoric has shaped the politics and communities that don’t align with its values.
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What Gameday Fashion Trends Say About the US Economy
With maxi skirts and polka dots filling the stands of Scott Stadium this gameday season, economists have found that these recent outfit choices might actually reveal a thing or two about the current state of the nation’s economy and the potential for an upcoming recession.
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The 2025 Nepalese Gen Z Protests: How New Technology Bolsters and Undermines Global Democracy
The 2025 Nepalese Gen Z protests reflect an exciting era of democracy, marked by rapid communication and global inspiration. However, new innovations in technology can both bolster and undermine democratic aspirations.
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How Erika Kirk Turns Grief Into Her Version of Women’s Liberation
Erika Kirk is using her recent publicity from Charlie Kirk’s recent death to manipulate her audience and project her idea of women's “liberation” onto them.
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When Executive Power Means No Accountability
Only nine months later, Americans have all but abandoned the brief class consciousness that emerged after the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Despite the country moving on, the cultural and legal issues this moment illuminated still persist. How do we solve them? And how do we move forward
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Addressing the Viability of Same-Day Voting Registration
Voting registration dates can create a sizable barrier for citizens trying to vote. Same-day voting registration has arisen as a practical solution to aid in expanding access to the polls and increasing voter turnout, but faces numerous obstacles to be further implemented across the United States.
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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.