Drake Political Review | Spring 2020 | Volume 6, Issue 2 by Drake Political Review

SPRING 2020 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 2

DRAKE POLITICAL REVIEW

WEIGHING IN ON IOWA’S WATER

Water Works Park advocates for water quality education, in hopes to increase knowledge on Iowa’s falling water quality.

COVID-19: ON THE FRONT LINES Healthcare workers risk their health and safety as hospitals lack protective equipment, and case numbers increase.

MISSING: IOWA’S SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS Communication access for Deaf Iowans suffers under decline of interpreters and training programs.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LILA JOHNSON

ART DIRECTOR ABBY LASHBROOK

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR AMANDA O’BRIEN

MANAGING EDITOR SARAH BALL

CONTENT EDITOR EMILYN CRABBE

STAFF EDITORS TAYLOR MCGILL JESSICA VINAJA ADDI WEAKLEY

CONTRIBUTORS EMILY WILCOX GRIFFIN MENSING ADDI WEAKLEY EMMA BRUSTKERN | ABBIE LUETKE AMANDA O’BRIEN SABINA IDRIZ LINDSEY HERAZY MEGAN MCDOWELL SARAH BOGAARDS

ADVISOR

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR It’s hard to believe the year is still 2020 and the Iowa caucuses were just a few months ago. Nevertheless, all eyes are still on Iowa. From hosting a Democratic debate to cancelling the state fair, the state has caught the attention of the nation. Although the semester did not go as planned, we were still able to come together as a staff remotely to finish this issue of DPR. Even in the midst of a global pandemic, politics have been at the center of nearly everything. Police brutality and campaigns for Black Lives Matter have sparked national conversations about funding and resources. Becoming more aware of privilege and bias is purely a human rights manner, yet it has been pulled into the political circuit. Masks have been another source of contention. Science is further dividing the parties. Republicans and Democrats have debated how to balance the health of Americans with the health of the economy. High tensions though have only led to greater issues and distrust. Part of the issue is how the media chooses to report on serious issues. Remembering to lead ethically and report with care and caution is our responsibility as journalists - bias has no place when facts are a necessity to survival. This year has been full of frustrating surprises, and we are becoming better at taking it in stride. Accepting that “unprecedented times” are the new normal has been an adjustment. The year feels like it might never end, but the months have been passing quickly. Before we know it, the general election will be here. Local elections are heating up, and the current climate is affecting how candidates campaign. With the system of mail in ballots being questioned, voters wonder if they will be represented. As for candidates who are spending more money on ads than relief programs for the pandemic, voters will remember who kept their best interests in mind. This is a reminder to go out and vote, take part in our democracy, and advocate for the issues that you really care about (maybe you can even write a DPR article about them). One thing is for sure, we certainly have enough things to discuss now and in the future. So buckle up, and

LET’S TALK POLITICS..

MATTHEW THORNTON

LILA JOHNSON

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

TABLE OF CONTENTS 06

INTO ANKENY

THE RICH IN AMERICA’S ELECTIONS

There has been a swift population increase in Ankeny Iowa. What is bringing people to Ankeny, and getting them to stay?

WEIGHING IN ON IOWA’S WATER Water Works Park advocates for water quality education, in hopes to increase knowledge on Iowa’s falling water quality.

What are the advantadges and disadvantages that self-funded campaigns bring to the table?

TABLE OF CONTENTS 13

ACCEPTANCE IN ASTROLOGY

RUSH LIMBAUGH RECIEVES MEDAL OF FREEDOM

Members of the LGBTQ+ embrace astrology as path to community and self-acceptance.

Rush Limbaugh was awarded the Medal of Freedom from President Trump, adding him to a long list of recipients since 1963.

CUTTING TIES WITH THE CROWN A timeline leading to Harry and Meghan renouncing their royal titles and what that could mean for the future.

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COVID-19: ON THE FRONT LINES

THE HISTORY OF VOTING RIGHTS

MULTIPARTY DEMOCRACY: AMERICA’S FUTURE OR IMPOSSIBLE THEORY?

Healthcare workers risk their health and safety as hospitals lack protective equipment, and case numbers increase.

The right to vote is esteemed as a civil responsibility but it has been a long road for some to see equal representation.

Analysing the arguments for and against changing to a multiparty system in the US.

MISSING: IOWA’S SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS

Communication access for Deaf Iowans suffers under decline of interpreters and training programs.

SOCIAL

INTO ANKENY

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

There has been a swift population increase in Ankeny Iowa. What is bringing people to Ankeny, and getting them to stay? WORDS BY EMILY WILCOX | PHOTO BY ASHTON B CREW

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f cities with a population of 50,000 or more in America, Ankeny, Iowa is ranked the tenth fastest growing according to data from the United States Census Bureau. With a population increase of 4.6 percent from July 2017- July 2018, something is drawing people to live in Ankeny. David Jones, Ankeny City Manager, has worked with the city since October 2013 and has seen first-hand the growth of the community. “The last six years have been really off the charts as far as growth,” Jones said. “From residential growth to commercial growth to industrial growth, Ankeny has come from a relatively small community to a midsize community, and all of these growth aspects are connected.”

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THE LAST SIX YEARS HAVE BEEN REALLY OFF THE CHARTS AS FAR AS GROWTH

Ankeny is in a prime location as part of the Des Moines metropolitan area, with a close proximity to Ames (perfect for dual income couples who work in both the Des Moines area and Ames). The Ankeny Community School District is one of the best in the country, with the test scores and academic achievements to back it up according to a US News article covering the 2017-2018 school year. Ankeny resident and grade school special education teacher Abby Parra moved to the city with her fiancé following her graduation. “I knew I wanted to stay in Des Moines after getting my undergraduate degree, but my work ended up taking me to Ankeny,” Parra said. In the midst of wedding planning, Parra and her fiancé have easily found event venues, catering and support and advice from their neighbors in Ankeny. “I love it here,” Parra said. “The people are so nice, and we have the best neighbors.” In the National Citizen Survey’s Community Livability Report from 2018, which surveyed a representative sample of 444 residents of Ankeny, it showed that 97 percent of residents found the quality of life in Ankeny to be either good or

excellent. The other 3 percent said it was fair, and none reported poor quality of life. They were also asked, “would you recommend Ankeny?” Overwhelmingly, the population answered yes. Amy Baker, communications director for the city of Ankeny, can see how safety, job security, great schools and activities can draw people in. “You can do everything you want to do right here,” Baker said. “There really is no reason to leave.” Baker rarely sees issues in the city when it comes to scandals, controversy or bickering between the residents, “It really is the best place to be.” According to “The Ankeny Plan 2040”, it is estimated that the population of Ankeny, with this same continued growth, will be approximately between 162,000 to 164,000. Jones has been impressed by the growth in 2019 alone, and the future has $416 million in permitted construction, 936 plotted acres of ground and an additional 1,200 new lots. “The queue is full,” Jones said. “There is more coming, and everything has been clicking from an economic standpoint.”

DAVID JONES, ANKENY CITY MANAGER

ANKENY POPULATION GROWTH 1990-2019

1990

18,482

2000

27,117

2005

36,039

2010

45,582

2015

56,764

2019

67,355

70,000

60,000

50,000

40,000

30,000

20,000

10,000

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THE RICH IN AMERICAN ELECTIONS

What are the advantadges and disadvantages that self-funded campaigns bring to the table? WORDS BY GRIFFIN MENSING | ILLUSTRATION BY AMANDA O’BRIEN

ampaigns by candidates such as Tom Steyer and Michael Bloomberg have again brought the topic of personal wealth in politics into the national conversation. In particular, self-funded campaigns are being put under the microscope as voters, pundits, and scholars consider the pros and cons of this type of campaign. Evidence from this year’s primary suggests that the phenomenon of billionaires running for public office will not die down any time soon. Broadly speaking, there are four major ways to fund political campaigns. A candidate can self fund, receive government funds, receive party membership dues or receive personal or corporate donations. Self funding is the spending of one’s own money to directly pay staff, purchase

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advertisements, get campaign apparel, etc. When a campaign is funded by government funds, this entails local or national governments subsidizing political parties and campaigns by allocating them an amount of tax dollars. Campaign funding by party membership dues, which is used sometimes abroad but not in America, entails entering and/or staying in a political party while paying some type of fee. After collection, the fees can be used by the party to fund their candidate’s campaigns, among other things. Lastly, political donations are simply when businesses or private individuals send money to a particular candidate for use during a campaign. Outside of direct fundraising, there are political advocacy groups, such as Super PACs, which can spend money on the

behalf of candidates, as long as they don’t coordinate with the candidate directly. For the sake of democracy, it is important to recognize the benefits and flaws of different funding systems. In order to maximize the quality of elected officials and of the government in general, it is important to scrutinize the ways in which money influences who can run and who can win in any kind of election. The U.S. president is arguably the most important elected office in the country; as such, its election must be examined with extra effort. There are many advantages of selffunding presidential campaigns relating to independence and efficiency for the candidate, but this can come with a disadvantage for voters.

SOCIAL "The candidate isn't beholden to special interests and doesn't have to spend a ton of time raising money,” said Debra Fitzpatrick, Policy Director of Children's Defense Fund in Minnesota. “There is less accountability to various constituencies and potentially less transparency.” Because a self-funded politician already has access to a great deal of cash, they can start focusing on getting their message out there, leading to less reliance on trying to rake in donations. It also means less of a need to hold fundraisers, potentially making the self-funded politician less likely to trade favors for campaign support. Self-funding also has many potential negative impacts, including the potential to render such politicians out of touch with the electorate. Living with that kind of wealth can potentially lead to a loss of understanding and can make it difficult to see the issues affecting a majority of the country. “78% of Americans were living paycheck to paycheck, which means many are not able to save money for long-term financial goals or social activities,” according to 2017 survey results from Career Builder, a job listing and career resource website. With the current COVID-19 crisis, it would take effort for a billionaire to look into life as lived by those who don’t have their needs met. As Fitzpatrick mentioned, there is also a lack of accountability in the way a self-funder gets to set the rules, strategies, and campaign promises without engaging community stakeholders. Such community engagement would likely require an extra effort compared to someone involved in local or regional politics. Self funding can also result in less democratic elections. “Our electoral system is a reflection of our societal and economic inequities,” said Jeff Bauer, a Minnesota social policy director. “Those who have the most economic advantage also have the most political advantage and influence. As long as this continues to be the case, our democracy

will not work to end inequity, only to protect and grow wealth for those who have the resources to fund the electoral process.” With candidates such as Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren campaigning on a wealth tax, there is a contingent of Democratic voters and candidates who desire to curtail money in politics in a broader sense. There are similar efforts centered on reversing the 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court decision, which allows labor unions and corporations to independently advocate for a candidate. While the current Democratic primary has rekindled an examination of billionaires in politics, the conversation over money in politics is much older. Looking back to the 2016 election cycle, Trump used his name recognition and brand appeal to leverage his Republican primary campaign. He eventually won out over many politically established names, such as Ted Cruz, Jeb Bush, and Marco Rubio. Trump also tried to market himself as a successful entrepreneur and political outsider, arguing that he could run the government like a business. Even though it's hard to confirm his true net worth, as he hasn’t released his tax returns, he has marketed himself as being a member of the ‘billionaire elite’. More recently, Howard Schultz, former CEO of Starbucks, examined his own chances to run for president as an ‘independent outsider’ style of candidate. While he did not run for president this year, there is reason to believe that he made that decision partly in response to other selffunded campaigns, like that of Tom Steyer. In terms of funding, Steyer and Bloomberg blew their competition out of the water in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary. USA Today reported that Steyer self-funded to the tune of about $267 million, and The New York Times reported that Bloomberg pumped over $900 million into his campaign. However, that money didn’t get them terribly far in the race: Politico reports no primary

delegates were won by Steyer and only 58 went to Bloomberg. In total, 1991 delegates are needed to clinch the nomination. Though the Democratic primary is complete in most regards, with both major billionaire candidate’s hopes already dashed, there is still certainly potential for billionaires wanting to run for office. “I expect [billionaires running for office] may continue, although Bloomberg made it clear that money isn’t enough,” Fitzpatrick said. “It is still hard to outright buy a nomination. However, it is easier for rich candidates to run for office, which costs increasingly more money.”

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HOWEVER, IT IS EASIER FOR RICH CANDIDATES TO RUN FOR OFFICE, WHICH COSTS INCREASINGLY MORE MONEY. DEBRA FITZPATRICK, POLICY DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S DEFENSE FUND MN

Looking forward to the 2024 election and beyond, Bauer predicts that billionaires will continue to capitalize on their business edge over the competition. “I think we will see more of the ultrarich deeming themselves qualified to be president and using the ‘I’m independent because I’m self-funding my campaign’ argument” Bauer said.

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WEIGHING IN ON IOWA’S WATER Water Works Park advocates for water quality education, in hopes to increase knowledge on Iowa’s falling water quality. WORDS BY ADDI WEAKLEY

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owa is known nationally for being an agriculturally rich state. However, the title comes at a price. “On the agricultural landscape, the same nutrients that are great to fertilize corn are great to fertilize algae in streams and rivers,” said Peter Levi, assistant professor of environmental science and sustainability at Drake University. According to Levi, nitrates from over fertilization pollute runoff water that then flows downstream, sparking algae blooms in waterways, and eventually contributing to the Gulf of Mexico dead zone. Promoting conservation begins at the source. In 2015, the Des Moines Water Works filed a lawsuit against drainage districts in Sac, Buena Vista and Calhoun counties. The goal was to name the landowners as point source polluters to hold farmers responsible for contributing nitrates to water sources. Des Moines Water Works felt the need to get involved because even though the affected area wasn’t necessarily near Des Moines, its effect still was felt across the state. Point source polluters are required to follow water quality regulations. Water quality regulations that pertain to farming are currently voluntary. However, the Nutrient Reduction Strategy presented by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Iowa State University suggests larger change is needed. Urban and suburban areas account for 10 percent of nitrate pollution as opposed to 90 percent from rural farmland. While the lawsuit ended in a dismissal, Laura Sarcone, Public Affairs Manager of Des Moines Water Works, believes the publicity of the legal proceedings was beneficial in educating the public on water quality.

“Good, bad or ugly, I think most people would agree that the lawsuit elevated and brought the conversation to light on water quality in Iowa,” Sarcone said. “Otherwise, it could have been the status quo for the next 100 years again.” The lawsuit may have started the conversation, but Sarcone said that there is still room for growth. Water quality bills have been passed, but she feels like some have just been for politicians to check off the box that they have water quality under control. Part of this issue is because the Nutrient Reduction Strategy focuses on science rather than policy. “Most of the water quality bills have been a drop in the bucket when needed,” Sarcone said. “We’re seeing a sprinkling of money across the state for what I have deemed as random acts of conservation and not dedicated areas of conservation where the practices are needed.”

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MOST OF THE WATER QUALITY BILLS HAVE BEEN A DROP IN THE BUCKET WHEN NEEDED, LAURA SARCONE, DSM WATER WORKS PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANAGER

DRAKE POLITICAL REVIEW

SOCIAL Besides sparking conversation about water policy, the lawsuit sparked controversy. The public was divided on whether it was Des Moines Water Works’ place to intervene. Being removed from the area the lawsuit occurred created a disconnect for the public on why it would be the business of DMWW to step in. No matter the opinion, the Board of Des Moines Water Works Trustees chairperson Diane Munns believes engagement is key to better understanding. “We really believe that if [the community] were better educated and had more responsibility for cleaning up the water, that they would be more involved,” Munns said. To better educate the public, the Des Moines Water Works Park Foundation was formed in 2013. Their mission is to transform the Water Works Park from a strictly utility area to a recreational destination. Just across the street from Gray’s Lake, the Water Works Park is twice the size of Central Park in New York. So far 20 acres have been developed in the first phase of the master plan for the park.

Park amenities include an amphitheater, equestrian trails, mountain bike trails, one of the largest crab apple arboretums in the world, star-gazing and more. All of these recreational activities have been maintained in hopes of drawing in the public. “An amphitheater doesn’t really help you create clean water, but it does get people into the park and to start to understand that the park has more than a recreational function, that there’s an operational function as well,” said Sam Carrell, the executive director of the Water Works Park Foundation. To continue to inspire conservation education, the second phase of the park will include a circuit, a pond that acts as a holding base for water as sunlight, evaporation and microbes break down nitrates before infiltrating the utility gallery water system. Part of the plan includes partnering with the water trails initiative to allow paddle boarding on the circuit. Other aspects of the initiative include enhancing life by the water through cookout areas, riverside camping, and wild spaces.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE: RAINCAMPAIGN.ORG RAIN BARRELS

NATIVE LANDSCAPING

SOIL QUALITY RESTORATION

RAIN GARDENS

Connect rain barrels to downspouts on your house and garage. Use the rain water to water plants, rince recyclables, or wash exterior fixures. Rain barrels are one of the simplest conservation practices you can use at home.

This process helps soil become more sponge-like enabling it to soak up rainfall, and provides your lawn with the nutrients it needs to be healthy. Soil quality restoration is an environmentally friendly way to improve your lawn health minimizing the need for fertilizers and excess watering.

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Across Iowa, our native prairie has been mostly eliminated by rural farming and urban development. However, we can help bring back important native species by incorporating them into landscaping at home.

A rain garden is a landscaping feature that captures rainfall and helps the water soak into the ground. Rain gardens can be used to capture runoff from roofs, driveways, or yards helping you to better manage drainage or ponding issues while reducing dirty stormwater runoff flowing into local waterways.

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IF YOU WANT PEOPLE TO CARE ABOUT SOMETHING, THEY HAVE TO BE CLOSE TO IT, SAM CARRELL, WATER WORKS PARK FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

“If you want people to care about something, they have to be close to it,” Carrell said. “A lot of people don’t go jump in the river, but they might paddle through a park if they could do it.” As the first phase continues and the second phase is around the corner, the main goal of informing the public to be more mindful and make a change remains in focus. “Sometimes if you don’t see it, it’s kind of out of mind,” Carrell said. “I think that’s part of what we do by building that platform is making it so that people see it and become more aware of it.”

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THE RAIN CAMPAIGN IS A LOCALIZED EFFORT ACROSS THE DES MOINES METRO TO ENABLE YOU TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION TOWARDS BETTER MANAGING STORMWATER RUNOFF TO IMPROVE LOCAL WATER QUALITY THROUGH THE UTILIZATION OF MUNICIPAL COST-SHARE PROGRAMS. THE RAIN CAMPAIGN WEBSITE

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ACCEPTANCE IN ASTROLOGY

Members of the LGBTQ+ embrace astrology as path to community and self-acceptance. WORDS BY EMMA BRUSTKERN | ILLUSTRATION BY AMANDA O’BRIEN

hen Chelsea Boyden came out, they didn’t know much about astrology. It wasn’t until last summer that Boyden felt a need to explore their identity and find control in their life, Boyden quickly discovered astrology and learned how it applied to their identity and relationships. Looking back on their coming out experience, they see now how

much astrology would’ve helped them in their journey. “Heteronormative expectations really played a role in why I wasn’t comfortable coming out as lesbian at first,” Boyden said. “But also, I have a lot of Sagittarius in my chart, so I care a lot about my public image and what people think of me. I’m from a small town, so people know who

I am pretty well and I was really worried that people would see me differently.” Boyden isn’t alone. For many members of the LGBTQ+ community, astrology is a way to connect with one’s identity on a deeper level. Across the country, queer people are reclaiming astrology to foster their own identities and develop a new subset of queer culture. DRAKE POLITICAL REVIEW

PEOPLE How Did We Get Here? That’s not to say all queer people are all-in for astrology. In fact, a 2018 poll conducted by Autostraddle, an online magazine for lesbian, bisexual, and queer women, found that only 28 percent of queer women and non-binary people believe in astrology. This is consistent with similar data from Pew Research, which found in 2009 that only 25 percent of Americans overall believe in astrology. Still, according to astrologer Ash Bruxvoort, there is definitely a wealth of astrological knowledge within the LGBTQ+ community. Bruxvoort co-owns and operates a queer bed and breakfast in Mount Vernon, Iowa, alongside their partner, in addition to providing natal chart readings. In their experience, queer people are more likely to chat about astrology over breakfast than they are to come in for a reading. “Queer people far and away know more about astrology than heterosexual people,” Bruxvoort said with a laugh. Many individuals believe the connection between queerness and astrology stems from a disconnect from organized religion. As queer people often find themselves abandoned by or cast out of their faith communities, they may turn to astrology as a form of spirituality to find meaning. “Astrology being connected to stars and planets and asteroids, it opens up a vastness that you can find your place in,” said Florida-based queer astrologer Tess Lee. “[Your natal chart] is your own little personal map, no one can take that away from you. In organized religion, things can be taken away from you: your family,

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your sense of security, identity, all of those things. Astrology is sort of a safeguard.”

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[YOUR NATAL CHART] IS YOUR OWN LITTLE PERSONAL MAP, NO ONE CAN TAKE THAT AWAY FROM YOU... ASTROLOGY IS SORT OF A SAFEGUARD. TESS LEE, FLORIDA BASED ASTROLOGER

In astrology, as Lee describes, every person has a unique birth chart, or natal chart, which shows the alignments of the stars and planets at the time of your birth. These placements are said to affect one’s personality, mood, and environment. Although most individuals only know their sun sign—the sign you typically look for when reading your horoscope— seasoned astrologers know it goes deeper than that. A birth chart includes not only your sun sign, but your moon sign, your rising sign, and more, each signifying

a different aspect of your identity. The complexity of the system far transcends the binary, which allows queer people to find comfort within a heteronormative, cisnormative society. “I think that we find the complexity of the system includes us in the fact that there are many different planetary expressions,” said San Francisco based astrologer Ian Waisler. “There's a dozen signs rather than two genders and it has survived through so many different cultures.” For queer people, astrology offers an opportunity for them to understand their identity in new ways. Being able to read your chart and recognize different aspects within it provides a sense of solace and stability to those who have struggled. “Astrology really helps us to understand the way that we’ve been socialized to dislike certain parts of ourselves or to help them understand the ways in which we've been taught that we are not enough,” Bruxvoort said. “It can really give people a language to talk about those things.” Finding Identity When Bruxvoort was first learning about astrology, they went in for a natal chart reading from another professional astrologer. Early on in the reading, the astrologer asked if Bruxvoort was gay. How did they know? From looking at Bruxvoort’s birth chart. In that moment, Bruxvoort describes feeling affirmed and free to discuss how queerness affected their life more personally. “I think one of the things that I hear most frequently from people after they have a reading is that they just feel

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very much affirmed in what they know or in different aspects of themselves,” Bruxvoort said. Even if one can’t identify someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity through just looking at a birth chart, there are other ways to reveal aspects of one’s identity. “I wouldn't be able to look at someone's chart and say [they] grew up in a homophobic household,” Des Moines-based astrologer Shea Malloy said. “However, you could look at a chart and see this person had shame as a part of their upbringing, which directly opposed their values and identity or how they wanted to express love and connect with other people.” This is where queer astrologers can truly make a difference. In taking their own knowledge of sexuality and gender into account during readings, LGBTQ+ astrologers can apply a queer lens to their work. Doing so may help fellow queer people find validation within their charts, or help them discover different aspects of themselves. “Growing up because I was so pushed into femininity, I was kind of embarrassed and intrigued by the fact that my sun sign was like this traditionally masculine sign,” said Des Moines astrology lover Isa Barrett. “Now as an adult and as someone who's really been able to kind of explore gender, realizing that I'm non-binary, I’ve

really been able to embrace that.” The beauty of astrology, however, is that it’s applicable to anyone. In particular, astrology may help navigate relationships. By looking at different planetary placements, such as those of Venus, Mars and Mercury, an astrologer can tell a lot about a couple, same-sex or otherwise. “I think astrology can help people kind of break down talking attraction in a more analytical way, where it's more about what you do and who you are versus who you're attracted to,” Malloy said. “The same rules apply no matter your sexuality.”

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THE SAME RULES APPLY NO MATTER YOUR SEXUALITY. SHEA MALLOY, DES MOINES ASTROLOGER

The Future of Queer Astrology Although LGBTQ+ acceptance is consistently on the rise, many queer people find themselves still feeling alienated or lost in mainstream culture. Astrology allows them the space to explore their identities on their own terms. “Queer people often don’t see themselves reflected in the culture

around them or in the media or even in like the relationships and the people that they grew up seeing,” Bruxvoort said. “They’re really curious and they want to know about themselves and they want to know more about why they are the way they are. Astrology has been a tool for people to do that.” Of course, astrology isn’t a perfect system. Throughout history, certain signs and planets have been assigned masculine and feminine qualities; namely, Venus has been associated with femininity and Mars with masculinity. However, as more and more gender non-conforming individuals enter the astrology scene, modern astrologers are detaching from the binary narrative. “Queer people being into astrology and becoming astrologers themselves has drawn attention to the fact that some of the language surrounding it needs to change,” Malloy said. Although the connection between queerness and astrology is still being explored and reworked, one thing is for sure: queer astrologers want to create a safe space for people to learn and grow. “Once I discovered astrology, it wasn't a light bulb or a halo over my head all of a sudden, but it did eventually lead me to having spiritual practices and feeling more connected,” Malloy said. “Once you understand the system, you realize there are endless possibilities.”

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RUSH LIMBAUGH RECIEVES MEDAL OF FREEDOM

Rush Limbaugh was awarded the Medal of Freedom from President Trump, adding him to a long list of recipients since 1963. WORDS BY ABBIE LUETKE │ ILLUSTRATION BY ABBY LASHBROOK

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ne of the greatest honors that individuals from varying fields can be awarded within the United States of America is the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Medal of Freedom is meant to be given to "individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors," according to the White House. Since 1963, hundreds have been awarded this honor by their sitting president. This list includes notable recipients such as Martin Luther King Jr., Frank Sinatra, Mother Teresa, and Ellen Degeneres. The most recent awardee was Rush Limbaugh, host of the conservative radio show, “The Rush Limbaugh Show”. Limbaugh has been an influential figure in morning radio and political commentary, specifically within the Republican party in the U.S., but he has also been increasingly controversial in comparison to past recipients.

A college dropout and a staunch conservative, Limbaugh has created a career as a radio host, who has gained a following over the last 30 years. He was one of the first to take advantage of new radio technology that allowed him to reach wider audiences, sharing his views with millions. As an acknowledged popular political commentator in recent elections, Limbaugh has had the opportunity to shape minds in the realm of political agendas and ideals. Throughout the most recent presidential election, Limbaugh showed support for a few candidates, such as Senator Ted Cruz, but has since become a great supporter of President Donald Trump. Both the president and Limbaugh are no strangers to controversy and criticism. The awarding of the Medal of Freedom to Limbaugh brought about criticism from those who recall controversial moments of Limbaugh’s career. Limbaugh, who coined the term “feminazi,” has faced criticism from Democrats and Republicans

alike over the span of his career. Much of this criticism stems from past actions and words, such as calling candidate Barack Obama “Barack the Magic Negro” in May 2007. Recently, he faced criticism after his use of derogatory language to describe Georgetown Law student Sandra Fluke as a “slut” and a “prostitute” for supporting birth control legislation, according to a report from The Hill. The day of this award happened to be the first mention of Limbaugh’s invitation to the State of the Union, and also followed the day Limbaugh announced his diagnosis of advanced lung cancer. Typically a separate ceremony, this is the first time ever a president has chosen to award the Medal of Freedom during the State of the Union. During his speech, President Trump said “he (Limbaugh) is the greatest fighter and winner that you will ever meet." While people still argue whether Limbaugh was deserving of the award, this award can be added to the long list of unconventional actions by President Trump.

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INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE MADE ESPECIALLY MERITORIOUS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SECURITY OR NATIONAL INTERESTS OF THE UNITED STATES, TO WORLD PEACE, OR TO CULTURAL OR OTHER SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC OR PRIVATE ENDEAVORS DEBRA FITZPATRICK, POLICY DIRECTOR OF MN CHILDREN’S DEFENSE FUND

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CUTTING TIES WITH THE CROWN

A timeline leading to Harry and Meghan renouncing their royal titles and what that could mean for the future. WORDS & ILLUSTRATION BY AMANDA O’BRIEN

fter years of criticism from the public on their relationship, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, announced their plan to step back from their royal titles and responsibilities on Jan. 8, 2020. With approval from the Queen, what led up to the separation from royalty and

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what does this mean for the future of the royal family? DATING (2016)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle began dating in 2016 after being introduced by “a mutual friend,” Prince Harry said in an interview with Guardian News. News of

their relationship brought a flurry of public attention as well as “a wave of abuse and harassment” against Markle from both news and social media, as mentioned in a statement against the harassment from Prince Harry’s communications secretary on Nov. 8, 2016.

PEOPLE ENGAGEMENT (2017)

After months of speculation on their relationship, Clarence House, the official residence of Prince Charles of Wales (Prince Harry’s father), announced the engagement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. It was also announced that the couple would be living together in Nottingham Cottage in Kensington Palace. WEDDING (2018)

The couple were wed at Windsor Castle. The wedding was broadcast and 29 million people from the U.S. alone tuned in to watch it, according to CNN Business. Hundreds of millions of people were estimated to have watched the event worldwide, according to The Guardian. However, Markle continued to receive racist backlash for her relationship with Prince Harry and the couple was criticized for moving too fast, according to a report by People.

PREGNANCY ANNOUNCEMENT (2018)

Kensington Palace announced that the couple was expecting their first child. People began to discuss what the gender and title for the future child might be. Some Twitter users criticized Markle for being visibly pregnant, comparing her baby bump to Kate Middleton’s, and others claimed that Markle was faking the pregnancy entirely, according to an article by The Daily Beast. The couple moved out of Kensington Palace, where the rest of the royal family lives, to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor weeks before the baby was due to arrive. BIRTH OF CHILD (2019)

After the birth, some were surprised to find that Markle and Prince Harry’s child would not be taking a royal title, though he was set to take the title of Earl of Dumbarton. The couple wanted their child to have a normal, private life without a title, according to a TIME interview with

British royalty expert Marlene Koenig. They keep many details about their child private, including specific details of his birth, his christening service, and his godparents. This broke tradition as all the other children in the royal family have this information out to the public.

WHAT DOES THEIR NEW ROLE ENTAIL?

REMOVAL OF ROYAL CLAIM (2020)

In a statement the couple posted on Instagram, they announced their decision to take on a “progressive new role,” which included achieving financial independence and stepping back from royal duties and titles. The Queen put out a statement in which she expressed her support for the couple’s new role.

Meghan Markle and Prince

Harry will no longer be called “royals” or use the “Sussex Royal” name.

LAWSUIT AGAINST THE MAIL (2020)

While it was previously rumored that the couple gave no warning of their step back to the rest of the royal family, Markle and Prince Harry have come forward to deny the reports. In documents to support her lawsuit against the Mail for publishing a private letter to her father, Markle said that she and Prince Harry discussed their decision with the Queen and Prince Charles before they resigned, according to Insider. Previously, Prince Harry has spoken out against the press and their impact on the royal family in a documentary with ITV, “Harry and Meghan: An African Journey.” Princess Diana, Harry’s mother, had died in a car crash while being chased by paparazzi photographers. “I will not be bullied into playing a game that killed my mum,” Prince Harry said. Since announcing their new role, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have continued to work towards their new role outside of the royal family. Many royal commentators have begun to discuss what this might mean for the future of the royal family, if there is a future, or if this “progressive new role” is going to become the norm.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will be splitting time

between the UK and North America.

Meghan Markle and Prince

Harry will remain financially

independent which will include the repayment of public funds that were used to renovate their UK home in Windsor.

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PEOPLE

COVID-19: ON THE FRONT LINES Healthcare workers risk their health and safety as hospitals lack protective equipment, and case numbers increase.*

WORDS BY SABINA IDRIZ │ ILLUSTRATIONS BY ABBY LASHBROOK

or months, healthcare workers have kept the world together in the face of a pandemic. COVID-19, a newly-emerged strain of coronavirus, has infected millions and killed approximately 350,000 globally. The healthcare workers who help patients survive are facing unique dangers, at times without proper compensation or appreciation for putting their lives on the line.

SPRING 2020

How COVID-19 Became a Worldwide Pandemic The virus is thought to have come from an unknown animal at a wet market in Wuhan, China, a city of 11 million. The first set of cases had reportedly all been exposed to this meat market and it was quickly shut down. Dr. Li Wenliang was one of the first to recognize that the virus was not just capable of animal-to-human

*Please Note: Data mentioned in this article is from May 2020, the original publication date

transmission, but was also highly contagious between humans. Wenliang, an ophthalmologist at Wuhan Central Hospital, saw some of the first patients infected and is now known as the whistleblower who risked his career to warn others. According to an obituary in The Lancet, a medical journal, Wenliang alerted his medical colleagues on Dec. 30 of a contagious illness resembling severe

PEOPLE

“

BUT THIS VIRUS GOES IN THE UPPER AIRWAY AS WELL AS THE LUNGS SO IT’S MUCH EASIER FOR IT TO GET OUT AND INFECT OTHER PEOPLE, DR.STANLEY PERLMAN, ISU PROFESSOR OF MICROBIOLOGY & IMMUNOLOGY

acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and advised them to take precautionary measures and don personal protective equipment (PPE) while they worked. A few days later, the Public Security Bureau of Wuhan summoned Wenliang and he was made to sign a statement under the threat of legal punishment, saying that he made false claims which disturbed the public order. He was one of eight people detained for spreading rumors. It now appears that Wenliang didn’t lie and was honestly looking out for his colleagues, recognizing the danger they were in. Had the city of Wuhan taken him seriously and been more proactive in dealing with the virus, the sheer impact of it would have been minimized greatly, based on a modeling simulation conducted by Lai Shengjie and Andrew Tatem. Shengjie and Tatem, emergingdisease researchers at the University of Southampton, United Kingdom, found that if China had implemented containment measures by the beginning of January, the number of infections would have been just 5% of the total seen today. The World Health Organization did not raise the possibility of the sustained human-to-human transmission Wenliang warned of until Jan. 21, nearly a month after the virus was public knowledge. Wenliang continued to care for patients

and eventually caught the virus. On Feb. 7, he passed away due to complications from COVID-19. Wenliang is one of many physicians who have worked tirelessly to help those who need treatment and have risked their lives in doing so. Healthcare workers and first responders especially are disproportionately affected by the virus due to their proximity to those infected. A January study of 138 patients in Wuhan found that 41% were infected through hospital-related transmission. In the U.K., the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, Wales, reported in early April that half of its emergency department team had tested positive for the virus. COVID-19 is fairly contagious and infected individuals can shed the virus before their symptoms begin. The World Health Organization estimated in late February that COVID-19 had an R0 value between 2 and 2.5. This signifies the infectivity rate, or how many people on average, every infected person will spread the virus to. In comparison, the common influenza has an R0 value of about 1.3, according to the New York Times. Dr. Stanley Perlman, professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Iowa, has researched human coronaviruses for over 30 years. He stated that COVID-19’s spot in the

upper airway and lungs is part of what makes it so infectious. “If the virus is deep in the lungs like SARS and MERS, it’s pretty hard to climb all the way out of the respiratory tract, but this virus goes in the upper airway as well as the lungs so it’s much easier for it to get out and infect other people,” Perlman said. Hospitals Worldwide Face Shortages of Crucial Equipment With the help of PPE, healthcare workers can reduce their chances of catching the virus. However, many have raised concerns that they do not have enough protective gear, such as fresh masks or hospital gowns. In some hospitals, doctors and nurses have been instructed to reuse the masks they had worn on previous days. Nurses in the Kommunarka hospital in Moscow, one of Russia’s top coronavirus hospitals, quit en masse in late April due to poor working conditions, according to investigative journalists at Open Media. They alleged that they were denied clean protective gear and did not receive bonuses to their pay, which had been promised by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Facing a lack of compensation and clear dangers to their health, they made the decision to leave their job. Putin admitted during an April

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“

PEOPLE

IT’S STRESSFUL BECAUSE YOU NEED TO TREAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON LIKE THEY HAVE IT UNTIL YOU TALK TO THEM AND DETERMINE THAT THEY’RE NOT SUSPICIOUS, BUT EVEN IF THEY AREN’T, THEY CAN STILL BE POSITIVE AND ASYMPTOMATIC J.S., EMERGENCY ROOM NURSE

briefing that there was a shortage of necessary PPE despite increased production and imports. Numerous other countries have similarly failed to prepare for the needs of their healthcare workers. In the United States, members of National Nurses United protested outside the White House after inadequate PPE stock had been reported in hospitals around the nation. Celia Marcos, a nurse in Los Angeles, oversaw a ward in the Hollywood Presbytarian Medical Center. According to the Los Angeles Times, her hospital had a meager PPE supply for its workers. At the beginning of her shift on April 3, she had to wear a thin surgical mask instead of the N95 respirator masks, which are highly recommended due to their ability to filter out dangerous airborne particles. One of her patients, a 65-year-old man with COVID-19, stopped breathing and Marcos rushed into the room to care for him. Marcos contracted COVID-19 and passed away just 14 days later. She had helped care for many patients over her 16 years at Hollywood Presbytarian, but because of one fateful day without sufficient protective equipment, she was left vulnerable to this infectious disease. J.S., a nurse at an emergency room in Kenosha, Wisconsin, said she has personally cared for six patients who have tested positive for the virus and

SPRING 2020

her hospital has seen about 30 overall. Though her hospital recommended that workers switch out their masks once every three shifts, she bought her own masks to stay protected. “They’re going to be sterilizing them and recycling them once we run out of the new ones,” J.S. said. “We have enough PPE right now to do our job. I wear mine for 12 hours every day; we’re not required to but I feel it’s what’s safest… but even with PPE, you can get sick. N95 only blocks out 95%.”

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THEY’RE GOING TO BE STERILIZING THEM AND RECYCLING THEM ONCE WE RUN OUT OF THE NEW ONES, J.S., EMERGENCY ROOM NURSE

There has been a reported shortage of available COVID-19 tests and

healthcare workers find themselves having to ration the tests for those in emergency situations. J.S. said that although her hospital was doing the best they were able, they were facing a similar shortage. “I had exposure to a patient we didn’t know was positive,” J.S. said. “Everybody in that unit was in the room at some point without proper PPE on because the patient was not tested. It’s stressful because you need to treat every single person like they have it until you talk to them and determine that they’re not suspicious, but even if they aren’t, they can still be positive and asymptomatic… I absolutely am concerned about it but this is my job.” COVID-19 Takes a Personal Toll Many working on the front lines are not able to separate themselves from the pandemic and the unsafe working conditions associated with it, without risking their professional career and endangering the financial stability of not just themselves, but their families. In order to continue to provide for their loved ones and help the community around them, some doctors and nurses have chosen to separate themselves from their own children at home so as not to infect them. “I have a friend who’s an ICU nurse working on the COVID unit,” J.S.

PEOPLE said. “She’s already been sent home on medical leave two different times because she’s had symptoms. She tested negative but has a lot of concerns for her family at home so she’s wearing a mask 24/7.”

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SHE TESTED NEGATIVE BUT HAS A LOT OF CONCERNS FOR HER FAMILY AT HOME SO SHE’S WEARING A MASK 24/7. J.S., EMERGENCY ROOM NURSE

The pandemic has taken a toll on some healthcare workers’ mental

ABOUT COVID-19 AND THE RISKS

health. Many have to work overtime, make tough decisions over which patients get first access to life-saving equipment in the case of ventilator or hospital bed shortages, and report for duty daily knowing that if they are not careful enough - and sometimes they just can’t be - they might come home with the virus. Not all are receiving the support they need as they face incredibly stressful situations and battle COVID-19 head on. Dr. Lorna M. Breen worked in Manhattan to help patients and was known as one of the top emergency room doctors in New York. Her state was one of the first to see a major outbreak, from which thousands of New Yorkers have died. Breen contracted the virus but went back to work as soon as she recovered. On April 26, Breen died of suicide. Her father told the New York Times that his daughter was a casualty of the pandemic and he wanted her to be remembered as a hero. She had described

to him the horrors she was faced with as a frontline worker, including seeing patients die before they were able to make it out of the ambulance. The New York State Nurses Association has filed three lawsuits against the New York State Department of Health and two New York hospitals over alleged grossly inadequate and negligent practices which endangered healthcare workers. Nations around the world must work to remedy these issues in order to contain this virus and to protect their medical teams. As the pandemic continues, healthcare workers will continue to save the lives of those around them despite the risks this might pose to their own wellbeing. Everyone on the front lines, including grocery store employees, sanitation workers, and more, have played a vital part in helping the people in their communities get by during these trying times.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS

HOW TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an illness

• Stay home as much as possible and

• Stay home if you are sick, except to

caused by a virus that can spread from

avoid close contact with others.

get medical care. Avoid public transpor-

person to person.

• Wear a cloth face covering that covers

tation, ride-sharing, or taxis.

• You can become infected from

your nose and mouth in public settings.

• Separate yourself from other people

respiratory droplets when an infected

• Clean and disinfect frequently

and pets in your home.

person coughs, sneezes, or talks.

touched surfaces.

• There is no specific treatment for

• Older adults and people of any age

• Wash your hands often with soap and

COVID-19, but you can seek medical

who have serious underlying medical

water for at least 20 seconds, or use

care to help relieve your symptoms.

conditions may be at higher risk for

an alcoholbased hand sanitizer that

• If you need medical attention, call

more severe illness.

contains at least 60% alcohol.

ahead.

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POLICY

THE HISTORY OF VOTING RIGHTS

The right to vote is esteemed as a civil responsibility but it has been a long road for some to see equal representation.

WORDS BY LINDSEY HERAZY │ ILLUSTRATIONS BY ABBY LASHBROOK

hile voting rights in America have come a long way toward ensuring equal ballot access for all, many scholars and activists argue that the overtly racist Jim Crow laws of the past have now given way to technically race-neutral but discriminatory policies, like voter ID laws. Along with the predominately nonwhite citizens of American territories like Guam and American Samoa, almost 6 million taxpaying Americans with felony convictions were barred from voting in the 2018 midterms due to state-level felon disenfranchisement laws. Last November, voters in Florida approved a constitutional amendment overturning the state’s disenfranchisement law for good, allowing around 1 million formerly disenfranchised

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residents to vote. Previously, 1 in 10 Floridians were barred from voting due to a felony conviction. Other scholars and activists point to what they say are racially or otherwise discriminatory state-level voting policies states such as voter ID laws, cuts to early voting, polling place closures, and limits to pre-registration. Strict voter ID laws and other restrictions enacted by Texas and North Carolina in the wake of the Shelby County v. Holder were struck down in federal court, with one federal appeals court finding that North Carolina’s law targeted “African Americans with almost surgical precision.” Voting issues and controversies that were been in the news last election cycle

include former Georgia Secretary of State and current Governor Brian Kemp being accused of putting 53,000 voter registration applications “on hold” for mismatched names, and incorrectly purging 340,000 voters from the rolls. In North Dakota, where most Native Americans who reside on reservations only have a PO box, the US Supreme Court upheld a state law requiring voters to bring an ID to the polls with a residential address. The ruling left Native communities scrambling to obtain proper IDs just weeks before the election. (Business Insider) As America plans for the future of voting rights legislation, lets look at how we got here.

POLICY

A TIMELINE OF VOTING RIGHTS IN THE UNITED STATES

1776

1828 By this time, all states have banned laws that discriminate against voters based on their religion; Maryland is the final state to lift such bans.

At the outset of American history, only white, landowning men over the age of 21, and preferably Protestant, were allowed to cast a ballot. Just 6% of those in new America were eligible to vote to elect the first president, George Washington, in 1789, according to Business Insider.

1870

The 15th Amendment allowed all African-American men the right to vote, and banned Federal and State governments from barring men of color from the ability to cast their ballots. However, “political leaders era of post-Civil War Reconstruction and Jim Crow enacted a slew of measures to keep African-Americans from the polls,” according to Business Insider.

1890

The Civil Rights Act of 1866 affirms citizenship to everyone born in the United States, “but does not grant the right to vote to all natural-born citizens; the right to vote is still exclusive to white males.”

1896

Wyoming becomes the first state to grant women the right to vote, 30 years prior to the ratification of the 19th Amendment (Business Insider) - but such action was met with opposition. The U.S House of Representatives was opposed, “to Wyoming’s becoming a state if its women were to continue to be allowed to vote,” according to WyoHistory.org. While the expansion of voting rights for women was seen as a positive change by some women, other women, “upheld traditional gender roles argued that politics were improper for women. Some even insisted that voting might cause some women to “grow beards,” according to the Library of Congress.

1856

1866

Louisiana passes “grandfather clauses” to keep former slaves and their descendants from voting. Due to the racist ramifications against African Americans, the percentage of African American voters dropped, “from 44.8% in 1896 to 4.0% four years later,” according to a report from the American Civil Liberties Union.

The right to vote is granted to all white men, regardless if they are landowners or not - “North Carolina became the last state to remove property ownership as a requirement for voting,” according to a report from Business Insider.

1915 In the United States Supreme Court case Guinn v United States, the Court outlawed grandfather clauses. Grandfather clauses went into effect in the late 1800s as a means of banning African Americans from voting. These voting policies gave anyone who was allowed to vote prior to 1867, as well as their descendants, the right to continue voting without having to pay a fee or pass a literacy test. Such policies discriminated against African Americans, as most of their ancestors were held as slaves and could not vote before 1867, and thus as their descendants, free African Americans could not vote either.

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1920

The 19th Amendment granted universal suffrage to women, but this was a right celebrated largely by white women only. African American women were already discriminated against at polling places, but Native American and Asian American women were left out as well, since they were often denied American citizenship, and thus were barred from voting.

1924 Native Americans are granted American citizenship through the Indian Citizenship Act, but, “many state-level discriminatory policies — such as banning people living on a reservation or enrolled in a tribe from voting, or instituting fees and “competency tests” — kept them from the polls for decades,” according to Business Insider.

1962 No Act or Amendment for Native American universal suffrage ever passed, so the right to vote had to be passed state by state, with Utah being the last state in 1962. While this was no doubt a tremendous victory for Native American people, they, “were still prevented from voting with poll taxes, literacy tests and intimidation—the same tactics used against black voters,” according to History.com.

1964

The 24th Amendment was passed in Congress, which bans the use of poll taxes, which intentionally prevented African Americans and other citizens of color from voting. (iVote)

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1940

The 23rd Amendment grants those residing within Washington, D.C’s boundaries the right to vote for the President, but not any Congressional representatives. Part of the reason why this is is due to a late 1970s amendment, “to give DC congressional representatives ultimately failed in Congress,” according to Business Insider.

1965 The Voting Rights Act of 1965 banned, “literacy tests, which election officials in the South used to keep African-Americans — who had disproportionately high rates of illiteracy from centuries of being denied education — from voting,” according to Business Insider.

Voting obstacles, like literacy tests and poll taxes, intentionally tried to keep African Americans from voting. These tactics proved successful, as by this time, “ only 3% of eligible African Americans in the South were registered to vote,” according to a report from the American Civil Liberties Union.

1961

1952

The McCarran-Walter Act allowed Asian Americans the chance to become naturalized citizens, and thus giving them the right to vote. (Business Insider)

1970 Congress votes to uphold the temporary provisions of the Voting Rights Act for the next five years. (iVote)

POLICY

2006

2002 The Help America Vote Act made it easier for citizens with disabilities to privately cast their votes, as well as mandated states and local polling places to, “replace outdated voting equipment, create statewide voter registration lists, and provide provisional ballots to ensure that eligible voters are not turned away if their names are not on the roll of registered voters,” according to Carnegie Corporation of New York.

The Voting Rights Act was voted to be upheld for another 25 years. (iVote)

2000 A Federal Appeals Court denied the claims of American citizens living in U.S territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands) the right to participate in Federal elections, such as voting for the President. The judge’s reasoning stemmed from Article II of the U.S Constitution, which, “requires that the president be elected from electors chosen by the states, territories will not be able to elect presidents without a Constitutional amendment allowing them to do so, or by gaining statehood,” according to Business Insider.

1971

The 26th Amendment lowers the legal voting age from 21 to 18 in light of the Vietnam War. This change was argued for by young men drafted to fight in the war, saying that, “if they were old enough to go to war for their country, they were old enough to have a say in their government,” according to Business Insider.

2009 The Military and Overseas Empowerment Act establishes more efficient means for troops stationed overseas and expatriates to request and receive absentee ballots through the mail or electronically. (iVote)

1993 The National Voter Registration Act made the registering process easier through allowing people to register to vote at Departments of Motor Vehicles (DMVs) instead of registering via mail. This act proved successful during its first year of enactment, as, “more than 30 million people completed their voter registration applications or updated their registration through means made available because of the law,” according to Carnegie Corporation of New York.

1975 Special components of the Voting Rights Act were voted to be kept in place, and Congress added new amendments that outlawed literacy tests and mandated assistance to language minority voters. (iVote)

1992 The language minority components of the Voting Rights Act, such as providing voter registration, electoral information, and ballots in covered minority languages, are upheld for the next 15 years. Congress implemented these measures because those of certain ethnic and linguistic minorities - American Indians, Asian Americans, Alaskan Natives, and those of Hispanic/ Latinx origin - have unfortunately been excluded from participating in politics due to linguistic barriers. (iVote) (Department of Justice)

1982 Congress votes to enact the Voting Rights Act for another 25 years, but also amends the VRA, “to permit finding of discrimination without proof that the state specifically intended to discriminate,” according to iVote.

1990 The Americans with Disabilities Act guaranteed that all election workers and polling places have services to provide individuals with disabilities the ability to vote. (iVote)

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MULTIPARTY DEMOCRACY: AMERICA’S FUTURE OR IMPOSSIBLE THEORY? Analysing the arguments for and against changing to a multiparty system in the US. WORDS BY MEGAN MCDOWELL | ILLUSTRATION BY AMANDA 0’BRIEN

SPRING 2020

POLICY

olitics has become seemingly more divisive. Anecdotal evidence is all over social media; all one has to do is wander into the comment section of a political article or post. Because of this, increased discussion has focused on whether the United States would benefit from a multiparty political system, as opposed to the current two-party system. There are many factors that shape the number of political parties in a country. The Encyclopedia Britannica clarifies that proportional representation (not used in the U.S.) tends to favor the development of multiparty systems because it gives representation to even the smaller parties. The two-party system formed naturally in the U.S. due to the majority, single-ballot system it uses. Despite the Founders’ aversion to political parties, in a winner-take-all voting system, two parties have become the natural result of their framework. “Our current political system is unsustainable. It’s a disaster. We are in a moment of insane political partisanship,” said Lee Drutman, author of Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in America.

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WE ARE IN A MOMENT OF INSANE POLITICAL PARTISANSHIP, LEE DRUTMAN, AUTHOR

According to a survey by the Pew Research Center in January 2020, 91 percent of Americans perceive conflicts between the Democratic and Republican parties to be worse than in 2016 and 2012, with 71 percent saying these conflicts are very strong. “Moderates are being shut out. It’s become governance by a majority of a minority, which is still a minority,” Drutman said. Dan Eckam, author of Beyond Two Parties: Why America Needs a Multiparty System and How We Can Have It, points out that approval of Congress is low. The two-party system is forcing parties to play like teams. The other party feels they must do the opposite, which results in gridlock and a zero-sum game. Moving to a multiparty system would force coalition building and cooperation. “When coalitions are formed, it encourages compromise,” Drutman said. “Compromise is built into the system. If you want to get something done, you have to compromise. That’s politics.” Voter turnout is lower in the U.S. than in other democratic countries. In a Pew Research Center study of the top 34 developed countries, the U.S. ranked 31st in voter turnout. “Voter turnout in the U.S. is very low,” Drutman said. There are a lot of places where your vote doesn’t count. People feel like their votes don’t matter.” It is theorized that a multiparty system would possibly help increase voter turnout because voters feel their ideologies are better represented on the ballot. This would then create a broader diversity of ideological viewpoints in each branch of government.

“When you have a proportional representation system, you have better representation of people’s voices,” Eckman said. “Right now, it’s weighted towards the status quo. We need competition. Choices create and enforce accountability. A lot of our problems are connected to the two-party system.” However, some feel that the two-party system in America works well and should not be changed. “No system is perfect, but the twoparty system brings people together. It allows people to broadly identify with a group, which I think is helpful,” said Gordon Fischer, attorney and former Iowa Democratic Party chairman.

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NO SYSTEM IS PERFECT, BUT THE TWOPARTY SYSTEM BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER. GORDON FISCHER, FORMER IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRMEN

The extremists and the moderates exist in both parties, but this forces them to work together and encourages accountability. “We have a big tent that allows for many views.” said Rep. Mark Smith, the current chairman for the Iowa Democratic Party. “By having more viewpoints, which are hashed out in the caucuses, two parties have to cover a larger array of policies. Polarization can be a good thing because it shows a clear choice on the issue.”

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MISSING: IOWA’S SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS

Communication access for Deaf Iowans suffers under decline of interpreters and training programs. WORDS BY SARAH BOGAARDS | ILLUSTRATION BY AMANDA 0’BRIEN

he interpreter training program at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs began and ended with Carolyn Cool. She was a graduate of the program’s first class of young sign language interpreters in 1980. Cool immediately started her career interpreting in the legal and medical fields across central Iowa.

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Then, 12 years later, she returned. To live in her hometown. To work at Iowa Western. To teach new interpreters everything she knew in the same place she learned it. “It just was like the ideal job,” Cool said. “I remember saying to my husband one time, I don't know when I get paid and I don't know how much money I make

because that was so irrelevant to me and I had so much fun going to Iowa Western every day.” Much of that fun was building relationships with students. At Iowa Western, she not only mentored in the classroom, but ensured students learned directly from the Deaf community.

POLICY

“You have to love working with people to do this job,” she said. “You just have to. You gotta be able to have these relationships and develop relationships with diverse groups of people.”

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YOU HAVE TO LOVE WORKING WITH PEOPLE TO DO THIS JOB,

CAROLYN COOL, INTERPRETER

Since American Sign Language differs from English in syntax, grammar and more, immersion with native ASL speakers was vital for students. Iowa Western’s program bonded these two communities; one Deaf, the other hearing. Students regularly attended Deaf social events and welcomed visitors to their classes. But in 2015, the program took a drastic turn for the worst. Cool walked into the May board meeting prepared to have the program’s five-year review. She said the numbers showed “we had green lights to keep going.” She left that meeting with the knowledge that the interpreter training program would close due to budget and enrollment concerns. Cool was shocked—and she was not alone. No one else knew either. Not the advisory board; not the local employers of graduates; and not the Deaf community. The Iowa Western closure wasn’t an outlier. Des Moines Area Community

College in Ankeny shut down its program in 2010, and Kirkwood Community College closed shortly after Iowa Western. That leaves one interpreter training program in Iowa: Scott Community College in Bettendorf. Interpreters and Deaf community members say these consecutive closures exacerbate Iowa’s existent interpreter shortage. And without new programs, they know it will worsen. But the closures also represent something more—something more than what most hearing people see. Beneath the surface lies a deprivation only felt by Deaf people. Deprivation of services. Advocacy. Rights. Interpreting keeps all of these alive. So as the field crumbles, the Deaf community faces sinking further from people’s minds. One decade leaves Deaf advocacy depleted In 1980, seven employees of the Division of Deaf Services Commission of Iowa addressed accessibility issues statewide. Now, just one staff member remains. Again and again, safe havens for this community withered away with little notice beyond Deaf circles. Staffing stood steady until the 2000s. Then, budget cuts. In 2010, the whole Department of Human Rights faced a financial trimming. To cope, it consolidated the Deaf Services division and six others into one. Deaf Services lost nearly 20 percent of its less than $500,000 budget that year. Jeff Reese, an interpreter and director of Life Interpretation, witnessed the changes through his wife and then-

executive officer Kathryn BaumannReese. He said the state office last had substantial staff in 2012, the year she passed away from breast cancer. In Kathryn’s time, the office employed two consultants. They served the community directly, ensuring businesses knew their responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reese said the role provided a reliable place for Deaf people to bring concerns. Without this infrastructure in state government, advocacy often comes down to the people who will always care: Deaf people and interpreters. “[We’re] still advocating for accommodations, which you think we would be past by now,” Reese said. “But you'd be surprised at how many people have no idea what their responsibilities are, especially with the Deaf community.”

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BUT YOU’D BE SURPRISED AT HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE DEAF COMMUNITY.

JEFF REESE, DIRECTOR OF LIFE INTERPRETATION DRAKE POLITICAL REVIEW

POLICY Gretchen Brown-Waech knows all the obstacles to accessible communication as a lifelong Deaf Iowan. And sometimes she said sharing the importance of equal communication means making it about abled people. “Educating people about how using an interpreter benefits them is sometimes more useful than talking about how Deaf people have rights.” Brown-Waech said. “Because a lot of people don't actually care that Deaf people have rights.”

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BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T ACTUALLY CARE THAT DEAF PEOPLE HAVE RIGHTS. JEFF REESE, DIRECTOR OF LIFE INTERPRETATION

But among all who pay little attention, Brown-Waech said interpreter training programs foster the ones who care. Students not only learn a language, they learn to bridge two cultures that otherwise live apart. Iowa’s interpreter shortage, defined When Iowans cannot access sign language interpreters, they miss essential information. Going to the doctor, doing their job or getting a job becomes frustrating in a way no hearing person understands. Deaf Iowans live with the consequences of too few interpreters, including those who are crime victims.

SPRING 2020

Court interpreters are stretched particularly thin. Just six people interpret ASL in Iowa’s courts, according to the Iowa Judicial Branch interpreter roster. So Deaf victims attend court proceedings with no guarantee of equal communication about their own cases. Jennifer Upah-Kyes, executive director of Deaf Iowans Against Abuse, strives to change this outcome for victims who call every day. But currently, she said it goes the other way “a lot more often than we want it to.” In a 2018 survey by the Census Bureau, roughly 120,000 Iowans said they were Deaf or had a serious hearing difficulty. Almost 300 sign language interpreters hold an active permanent license to work in Iowa, but about one-third of those live out of state. Interpreters might hold multiple state licenses for flexibility, but no data exists that confirms where they actively work. Out of the 300 total interpreters, 86 received their license since 2015. Fewer than half have an Iowa address. Upah-Kyes also taught at Kirkwood’s interpreter training program. She knows programs are the only thing replenishing the field. Without them, Deaf victims remain without a voice. Amid the shortage, hope for a program prevails Approximately 60 interpreters work as independent contractors for Life Interpretation. The caveat: Reese said that that number barely changes year to year. On a daily basis, the shortage leaves Iowa’s interpreters juggling schedules. Usually, that’s manageable. But as more of the workforce reaches retirement, they are collapsing under a swelling need and a dire lack of replacements. “We've had to recruit interns from out of state and hopefully we can get them to

stay after they've done their internship,” Reese said.

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WE’VE HAD TO RECRUIT INTERNS FROM OUT OF STATE AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THEM TO STAY AFTER THEY’VE DONE THEIR INTERNSHIP, JEFF REESE, DIRECTOR OF LIFE INTERPRETATION

Rachel Johnson, assistant ASL professor at Iowa State University, said now is the time for Iowa’s revival—and she’s trying to stoke those flames. The goal is to launch a new interpreter training program at ISU, but starting one from scratch is difficult. “It really takes a great deal of partnership and collaboration and vision, everybody being on the same page with it,” she said. “And that's the hard part.” Despite the state’s history, Johnson and her colleagues will not be dissuaded. She sees how a program could restore the last decade of losses. Awareness, restored. Interpreters, restored. The community is raring for it. Eager students want it. Some hearing people will continue to ignore the problem. But Johnson knows in the end, “[it] could only be good.”

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