Disappointing Nostalgia in the House of Representatives
As right-wing extremism occupies the plans of select Republican Congresspersons, parallels can be drawn between the optics and strategies of GOP dissenters of the 2020s and the Tea Party Republicans of the 2010s. While their similarities are striking, differences in representation suggest that the kind of rhetoric of select Republicans falls onto the deaf, unrequited ears of the electorate.
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Domestic, Politics, U.S., US
Paul Kurtzweil
Comment
Age Verification Laws: A Violation or a Necessity?
The government finds it prudent to curb minors’ access to p*rnographic content, but does that simultaneously curb our rights as citizens?
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Domestic, Politics, Society, U.S., US
Liza Webb
Comment
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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Domestic, Politics, U.S., US
Ezgi Stump
Comment
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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Domestic, Politics, U.S., US
Catherine Ballard
Comment
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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Domestic, Politics, Society, U.S., US
Alex Elstrodt
Comments
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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Domestic, Politics, U.S., US
Eli Bardash
Comment
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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, Domestic, Economy, Society, U.S., US
Juliette Calderon
Comment
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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Domestic, Politics, U.S., US
Sophia Baez
Comment
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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Domestic, Society
Kiera Chambers
Comment
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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Domestic, Politics, U.S., US
Will Hickey
Comment
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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Domestic, Politics, Society
Jordyn Yoder
Comment
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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Domestic, Society
Maura Nacey
Comment
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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Domestic, Politics, Society, U.S., US
Sarah Ahmad
Comment
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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Domestic, Society, U.S., US
Sarah Ahmad
Comment
The implications of Council of National Pork Producers v. Ross
A seemingly mundane case concerning pig confinement could have far-reaching impacts on America’s politics and economy.
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Domestic, Politics, U.S., US
Anna Kriebel
Comment
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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Domestic, Politics, Society, U.S., US
Nick Witkowski
Comment
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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Domestic, Politics, U.S., US
Eli Weinger
Comment
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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Domestic, Politics, U.S., US
Nick Witkowski
Comment
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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Domestic, Politics, U.S., US
Jordyn Yoder
Comment
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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Domestic, Politics, Society, U.S., US
Bryce Holland
Comment
