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WVU’s Independent Student Newspaper
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2018
WVU professor gives insight on Kavanaugh hearings BY DR. R. SCOTT CRICHLOW
danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
A LOOK INSIDE
WVU community weighs in on Kavanaugh hearing
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE Why should students watch the hearings and what should they look for? Sexual assault and sexual abuse are rampant in the United States. The hearing tomorrow will give viewers a chance to see how seriously senators consider claims of that kind, and how they think those who claim to be survivors of such abuse should be treated. Why are these allegations relevant now, and do you believe they should be part of the nomination process? The hearing is in no way a trial. It’s part of a job interview. And the senators are the people who decide if Judge Kavanaugh, or another Trump appointee, will get the job at stake. The senators have broad discretion and can make their decision on any criteria they wish. But of course tomorrow will also be seen more broadly, not simply as a job interview, but as a key moment in which the Senate will exhibit how it will evaluate claims of sexual assault. And it is quite likely that many survivors will look to how tomorrow unfolds in deciding whether they want to come forward, or believe it’s in their best interest to remain silent. Especially when we’re living through a period when much of the country continues to back a president who close to 20 women claim sexually abused them, a president who admitted on tape to sexually predatory behavior. What tomorrow says about how survivors of abuse can expect to be treated may be much more important than the career aspirations of a single judge hoping to move from the nation’s second highest court to its highest court.
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“I think that what we’re going to see tomorrow is essentially political subterfuge. It’s going to be a hearing where a credible victim has come forth and people already have their mind made up on whether or not she’s reliable or not,” he said. “I would be shocked if our Congress did not confirm him to the Supreme Court.” -Daniel Brewster, Sociology professor
In a Twitter poll conducted by the Daily Athenaeum, students voted on whether or not they believed Brett Kavanaugh should be confirmed to the Supreme Court. Results as of 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 26. Kavanaugh is a conservative and if confirmed would give conservatives a majority on the Supreme Court for the foreseeable future. Why does that matter? This process is to select a replacement for Justice Kennedy, and it matters because whether it’s Judge Kavanaugh or another judge on Trump’s list, the Court is likely to move significantly to the right on some high-profile political matters. Whether or not Roe v. Wade is overturned, the new Trump appointee is likely to continue the Court’s trend toward limiting womens’ access to abortion, and Roe v. Wade could be overturned. It’s expected that affirmative action in matters like college admissions will be deemed unconstitutional. Citizens’ efforts to ban partisan gerrymandering may be declared unconstitutional, and it’s very likely that a Kavanaugh or Kavanaugh-like judge will ban
many attempts to limit the influence of rich campaign contributors on U.S. elections, and also ban attempts to find out who precisely is giving money to “dark money” political groups. As was clear from the questioning by Republican senators, [Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council] is likely to be overturned which, at least in the short term, will weaken environmental protections, not only leading to dirtier air and water, but affecting the direction of economic development in the country. Basically, on both matters of process (how the Supreme Court will allow U.S. politics to be conducted) and on matters of substance (opportunities or restrictions relating to the economy, the environment, gender, race), who sits on the Court is of enormous political significance. It sets the rules of what can and can’t be part of U.S. politics, with massive implications for people’s daily lives.
Colorado Boulder’s disassociation story similar to WVU’s Colorado students also staunchly opposed deferred recruitment page 3
2018 Homecoming queen and king reflect on year of royalty “There’s two sides to that story. I see both perspectives. I’m very open to opinions and biases toward him; he hasn’t been convicted of anything. I personally do side with the women,” she said. -Dominique Villasenor, SGA senator
“I don’t necessarily have an opinion on it yet, but I’m hoping that they get down to the bottom of it, obviously. But I’ll be listening in and watching and trying to get the highlights afterwards if I miss any of it.” -Isaac Obioma, SGA president
Last year’s royalty prepares to give the crown away on Oct. 6
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Inconsistent Mountaineers to host Delaware Nation’s top two party schools to duke it out on the soccer pitch on Saturday
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