March 2014 Junior Statement

Potential Republican Takeover 9 A Common Controversy 14 This Article Has Not Been Censored 20 The Age Gap 23

March 2014

Issue 5

Table of Contents

THE JUNIOR STATEMENT Issue 5 .

News Feature 2 Southern California Hits Century Mark 2 Chapter abound in Southern California

12 Looking Back: Last Year's State of the Union 2 Broken promises? Or hope on the horizon?

World

JSA 3 Southern California Winter Congress 2 600+ Attend the Winter Convention 4 Northeast Winter Congress 2 Exciting times in New England 5 Northern California Winter Congress 2 Sunny skies and serious scholars 6 Mid-Atlantic State/Texas Winter Congress 2 Uniquely matched regions debate it out 7 Pacific Northwest Winter Congress 2 This trailblazing region's exciting event 8 MidSoHio Winter Congress 2 Midwest meets Southeast 9 New England One Day Event/ Debate Wars 2 East Coast chapter cons strike it big

National 10 Potential Republican Takeover 2 Senate Democrats feel the heat 11 Chris Christie: New Jersey's Added Bruise 2 Can Christie survive Bridgegate?

Junior Statement Staff Jack Cahn Editor in Chief Michael Lahanas Layout Editor Kelly Kim Copy Editor Kelly Kim and Michelle Min News Editors Simran Singh and Emma Seely-Katz Opinions Editors Jenny McGinty Events Editor Nassim Touil and Victoria Yu Graphics

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U.S. Curtails Drone Strikes In Pakistan After civilian deaths, programs reviewed Women's Figure Skating Scandal?

Potential Olympic scandal sours skaters

Opinions 15 A Common Controversy 2 Common Core problems quite common 16 Boston's Teacher Diversity Action Plan 2 Diverse staffing to improve schools 17 Sweden: Gender-Equality to Gender-Neutrality 2 Swedish ideals: a few bold steps 19 Let's Say No to Death on a Stick!

2 Ending the tobacco industry for good 20 Fighting Racism in the 21st Century Requires a Modern Formula 2 New approaches to old-age problems 21 TPP's Environmental Implications 2 Trans-Pacific Patnership problems 22 This Article Has Not Been Censored 2 Student journalism and censorship 23 Too Early to Run 2 Candidates getting overexcited?

24 The U.S. Lags in Foreign Language Education: Are We Egocentric?

2 Foreign language skills not meeting goals 24 2 25 2 26 2

The Age Gap Why millenials shouldn't be judged so harshly Indictment in the United States A look at our legal system Immigration Reform A longstanding issue with few solutions

27 Age is Nothing but a Number 2 The merits of student activism, and SAFE. 28 Geneva II 2 Troubles abroad demand a second Geneva

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THE JUNIOR STATEMENT Issue 5 .

Southern California Hits Century Mark Jameela Simmonds Staff Writer

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HE SOUTHERN CALIfornia Junior State has become the first JSA state in over a decade to reach one hundred tax paid chapters. The Chapter Affairs department and I are incredibly proud of this exceptional accomplishment. We have all worked extremely hard to make it happen. The Coordinators spend sleepless nights drafting emails and answering questions. I spend hours each week ensuring that every chapter runs smoothly within our state. Although this achievement was not easy, it is certainly well worth it. Knowing that the Junior State of America is now present on 100 (and more soon!) high school campuses fills me with optimism for the future of our organization. We, as a department, worked tirelessly to accomplish this goal and it is

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Chapter Affairs, and am honored to be serving as your Governor as Southern California accomplishes this historic feat”.

All of the Chapter Coordinators have worked extremely hard make this possible.

However, a certain few go above and beyond the job requirement.

Adam Jacobs of Tarbut V’Torah High School is a Chapter Coordinator who works exceptionally hard. Adam checks in to make sure that he is answering every question correctly and giving Chapter Presidents the correct information. Morgan Pak of Diamond Bar High School is another stellar Chapter Coordinator.

Morgan completes all assignments

I am so proud of Jameela and Chapter Affairs, and am honored to be serving as your Governor.

—Sabrina Lieberman

absolutely heartwarming to know that we have made this happen.

As a former Chapter Coordinator herself, Governor Sabrina Lieberman remarked, “Although Chapters are the backbone of JSA, I know first hand that the work in this vital department can be challenging.

I am so proud of Jameela and

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in a timely manner and poses questions on behalf of her respective Chapter Presidents. Ashley Jaworoski and Corey Elder are also fantastic Chapter Coordinators an an exemplary stateswoman and statesman, respectively. Both make sure to complete assignments on time and to communicate with both respective Chapter

Presidents, and me. Both are also very active in the Junior State.

Corey has several Best Speaker Gavels, while Ashley exemplifies the model Chapter Coordinator by befriending all of her respective Chapter Presidents and getting to know them as individuals.

Enlisting the help of the Expansion department was the most useful strategy implemented this year. Without the help of the Expansion Department we would not have been able to reach one hundred tax paid chapters as quickly as we did. Through countless calls, emails, texts and Facebook messages to Chapter Presidents, we completed the task of making JSA history. Another major strategy was making sure that chapters knew that they were not tax paid. Through experience as a Chapter Coordinator myself last year, I know that a lot of Chapter Presidents claim to not know that their chapter was not tax paid. I believe that continuous communication motivated them to send in their taxes faster.

Regardless of the strategy, the fact remains that Southern California JSA has reached one hundred tax paid chapters, and no one on the Southern California Chapter leadership team could be happier. ■

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THE JUNIOR STATEMENT Issue 5 .

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Southern California Winter Congress SJ Hyman

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Staff Writer

VER 600 HUNDRED STUDENTS ACROSS Southern California came together on February 15th and 16th for the SoCal Winter Congress. Held at the Torrance Marriot South Bay in Torrance, CA the convention marked the second consecutive time that they have reached capacity at the hotel.

“I [was] really excited to see my fellow SoCal JSA'ers participate in bill passing and other party activities,” said Kattie Flattum, SoCal Director of Public Relations. “Winter Congress [was] a great opportunity for JSA'ers to share their opinions on the issues they care about.”

Although there was no keynote speaker, students were exposed to a multitude of different opinions and ideas during a political fair, where student representatives from the Green, Republican, Libertarian, and Democratic parties were available to answer questions and elaborate on the beliefs of their party.

Throughout the convention, the five parties represented at the political fair took an active role in the bill making process. Each of the five parties was comprised of two chairs and one party whip that acted as an assistant. Each party gave speeches during opening session to convey their party platform to the students. Along with the speech and the political fair, each party held two caucuses where students were given the opportunity to attend a caucus led by the party of their choice and hear the stance of the party for each of the bills.

During the course of the convention, there was also a strong focus on activism, specifically the "fight apathy" initiative. Many students took time to film videos expressing what they believed in in an attempt to fight the apathy that exists within modern culture.

Students were also given the opportunity to perform in a talent show, sing karaoke, and watch the movie Inception with their friends. At the end of the weekend, students declared their candidacy for state elections and presented their platforms to their constituents.

SoCal Governor Sabrina Lieberman thought the event was a success saying, “with record breaking attendance, comprehensive legislation, and a dynamic focus amongst delegates, Southern California Winter Congress recharged our state for the upcoming election season.” ■

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THE JUNIOR STATEMENT Issue 5 .

Northeast Winter Congress SJ Hyman

I [was] really excited to see my fellow SoCal JSA'ers participate in bill passing and other party. activities.

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—Kattie Flattum

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The bills passed were all great, all [the] speakers were really great, and the party whip system added a new element of excitement to the bills.

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—Jacob Shannon

Staff Writer

HROUGHOUT THE FIRST WEEKEND OF February, students from across the Northeast gathered together in the nation’s capital for their annual Winter Congress convention. Throughout the course of the weekend students took part in a political simulation where they were able to cast their vote regarding bills written by their peers and learn about the legislative process.

The keynote of the convention was National Journal correspondent, Matt Vasilagambros who covers foreign affairs, the White House, and Congress. He talked about making Washington D.C. a place for people - not just politics. He previously covered the 2012 presidential election and other national races for the National Journal and The Hotline. Matt is a graduate of Drake University, where he served as an award-winning editor of the student newspaper NER Mayor Jacob Shannon enjoyed the keynote speaker and thought the convention was a success.

“The bills passed were all great, all [the] speakers were really great, and the party whip system added a new element of excitement to the bills.”

In preparation for the convention, each chapter crafted a bill that reflected the topic of their choice.

The bill was then submitted to a team of cabinet officials comprised of Lieutenant Governor, Austin Ostro, and Executive Director of Debate, Jack Cahn and was rejected or accepted. Depending on the bill’s topic, it was assigned to either the Senate or the House of Representatives. Each student was then assigned to a committee and chapter’s whose bills were accepted, defended their bills in front of their respective committees. Through the process, students had the opportunity to promote compromise, propose amendments, and learn to compromise with students that held conflicting views.

“Winter Congress was an incredible event to both plan and run,” said Northeast Governor Ben Reytblat. “With eighty pieces of legislation, sixteen Houses and Senates, six full session committees, and the introduction of political parties for the first time, the event proved to be truly memorable and enjoyable for every attendee. There is no greater feeling than when a first-time JSAer comes up to me at the end of the event and expresses their satisfaction and newfound interest in the organization, That’s why I ran for Governor last year, and that’s what makes my job rewarding.”

The Northeast continues to thrive and looks forward to their spring convention. ■

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THE JUNIOR STATEMENT Issue 5 .

Northern California Winter Congress

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THE JUNIOR STATEMENT Issue 5 .

Mid-Atlantic and Texas Winter Congress

Kevin Covarrubias

Katie White and Ipsita Rao

Staff Writer

Staff Writers

n February 2-3, delegates from all over Northern California met at the state Capitol Building in Sacramento to debate over legislation written by students. Bills covered topics including tort and tax reform, mandating paid parental leave, and much more.

NorCal JSA implemented a party system at Winter Congress in which the Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, and Socialist parties pushed their party’s platform to delegates during debates. With the Libertarians and Socialists passing out flyers and buttons to promote their agendas, the party system added another layer of excitement to Winter Congress.

Another highlight of the convention was our highly ­anticipated keynote speaker. Former Secretary of Homeland Security, two­ time Arizona governor, and current president of the University of California system, Ms. Janet Napolitano spoke about her plans to strengthen the UC system. With the controversy surrounding her appointment as UC president, delegates were curious as to what her plans were to make tuition affordable for UC students. Others wanted to know what she would do to protect illegal immigrants within the University.

Touching on financial aid, Napolitano emphasized that the UC system covers full tuition for studentswhose families make less than $80,000 annually. Also, in response to her plans to support minority students, Napolitano said, “I’ve challenged the chancellors of the different campuses that you need to really look at what you are doing to see about diversity in the student body and also in the faculty.” Overall, President Napolitano’s address brought both pride and hope to NorCal JSA.

Besides our keynote speaker and the congressi nal hearings, other notable activities included NorCal JSA’s talent show and candidates’ declarations for JSA office. Although this is our state’s first­ ever talent show, NorCal JSA proved that its delegates have talents that go beyond debating. From rapping to Irish fiddling to interpretational dancing, the talents JSA’s presented were creative, exciting, and memorable. By closing session, everyone looked forward to seeing their classmates declare for elected office. Seeing how each race has qualified candidates running for their respective positions, I am confident that JSA will be left in great hands next year.

Despite minor setbacks in logistics, Winter Congress was an enjoyable convention for all those involved. As a senior about to move on from JSA, I hope that as NorCal, and the rest of JSA, moves forward, we continue to provide quality convention experiences to students from all walks of life. ■

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I've challenged the chancellors of different campuses that you really need to look at you are doing to see about diversity in the student body...

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−Janet Napolitano

ROM FEBRUARY 21ST TO FEBRUARY 23RD, over 1,150 JSA members from New Jersey, North Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, Honduras, and other US territories gathered at the DoubleTree Crystal City Hotel in Washington D.C. to attend the 2014 MidA tlantic (MAS) and Texas Winter Congress.

Featuring Twitter wars and hotly contested legislation, this year’s convention was the largest Winter Congress convention to date and a memorable experience for all involved.

Krysta Harden, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, gave the keynote address in which she spoke about the Farm Bill. “The Deputy Secretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture really understood the audience” said Priyanka Toddywala, a student from the MAS. Maria Mendoza, MAS Assistant Convention Coordinator said, “The goal of the event was to teach more students around the country about our legislative process. We put our delegates in the shoes of our lawmakers, and many of them struggled with the issues that our representatives and senators do: protecting their bills, presenting important facts, and adding amendments to the bills of others.”

During the three day convention JSA delegates debated bills that they had written themselves.

They were split into different committees of senators and representatives where they discussed, amended and voted on their bills. “The bills debated throughout the MAS and Texas Winter Congress ranged from improving teacher performance to protecting animals against abuse. Regardless of the topic, the students were courteous and enthusiastic about discussing each piece of legislation.” said MAS Gubernatorial Chief of Staff, Ruth Boyajian.

Other bills discussed Peace Corps, war reparations in Guam, military spending, vehicle inspections, the foster care system, green technology, and foreign policy.

JSA delegates participated in many more activities outside of their committee hearings. “The

delegates at Winter Congress engaged in a plethora of activities including a Capitol Hill Speakers Program, a diverse political activism fair, a speech from Krysta Harden, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a Washington D.C. Monument Tour, and several nighttime activities, Mr. JSA (a male beauty pageant), Meet the People, Quiz Bowl, and our traditional dances,” said Mendoza.

Many chapters arrived early to tour the country’s Capital and the city where the convention was held, Washington D.C. Another fun activity of the weekend was the activism fair which brought along many opportunities for Junior Statesmen to get more involved in their community. Organizations like “Global Zero” and “Rock the Vote” urged fellow Statesmen to get involved in their own communities and encourage the end of political apathy in today’s youth; which is exactly what JSA’s own “Fight Apathy” campaign is all about.

Sunday, the last day of the convention was an exciting one. In House C, a hashtag war on twitter quickly developed. Senate C created their own twitter account as well, equipped with photos and live updates on bills and discussions. A Twitter ‘battle’ ensued, but with an undecided winner. If you want to go check out the social media aftermath, the hashtags are #HouseC and #SenateC.

The MAS and Texas Winter Congress was not only a platform for JSA members to debate topics they felt strongly about but also an opportunity to communicate with delegates from other states. “Winter Congress was amazing! It's so much fun! We got make friends from across the country and places like Guam and Puerto Rico. I was exposed to so many people who had views different from my own and I was able debate about it,” shared Maha Khan, a member of the South Brunswick High School JSA chapter, who attended her first JSA convention. ■

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The students were courteous and enthusiastic about discussing each piece of legislation.

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−Ruth Boyajian

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THE JUNIOR STATEMENT Issue 5 .

Pacific Northwest Winter Congress Victoria Snitsar Staff Writer

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HE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WINTER CONgress Convention , which was supposed to have taken place on February 8th and 9th , has been postponed due to extreme weather conditions.

Portland, OR along with its suburb of Jantzen Beach, the intended location of the convention, spent most of Friday night and Saturday in a complete standstill.

However, the Pacific Northwest preconvention team, already on location, spent Friday night hard at work.

“While it was disappointing to have to postpone the convention, it was the best choice for the safety and well-being of our delegates. We knew it was too dangerous when our own Lieutenant Governor couldn’t make it down her street safely.” This weekend, the preconvention team worked hard to re-group and resolve the matter at hand. “We are happy to announce that we were able to reschedule Winter Congress for the weekend of March 1st & 2nd! I’m so thankful to be working under such a diligent Governor and Program Director, and with an extremely dedicated cabinet. They don't call us the Pacific North Best for nothin!" said Convention Chair and Oregon Mayor, Maddie Rosser. The PNW publicity department released its first “State of the State” video in which the reasons for cancelation and rescheduling procedures were described. This video was distributed all over social media helping to keep

MidSoHio Winter Congress

Elected officials also singlehandedly called the chapter presidents of all intended delegations to personally explain the situation to them.

The Pacific Northwest Governor, Tyler Pichette directed his entire cabinet through this predicament, saying, "While we were disappointed that Winter Congress was postponed, I can't stress enough how proud I am of our Chapter Presidents and Teacher Advisors who handled the situation incredibly well, and I'm even more excited for "Winter Congress 2.0" on March 1-2.” ■

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I can't stress enough how proud I am of our chapter presidents and teacheradvisorswho handledthesituation

incredibly well.

—Tyler Pichette

THE JUNIOR STATEMENT Issue 5 .

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Emily Kallgren

Representing the parties were Daniel LaBore for the Libertarian party, Tyler Pichette for the Republican Staff Writer party, Maggie Bender for the Democratic party, and N FRIDAY FEBRUARY 14, HIGH SCHOOL Will Donnelly for the Socialist party. With all of these parties in representation students were able to students from the Midwest, Southeast, and hear many sides of political issues without conform Ohio River Valley Junior States attended the

For the next two days the students stayed in opening session of the 2014 MidSoHio JSA Winter the nation’s capital discussing and collaborating to Congress. The opening session started off with a pass and fail bills written by themselves and their speech made by guest speaker Kyle Lierman who is a peers. Some of the bills that passed through both the liaison for the White House Office of Public Engage- house and the senate and the joint houses and senment. Mr. Lierman engaged the students by speaking ates are: a billto legalize gay marriage, a bill to repeal about his past experiences running for office. He gave affirmative action, and a bill to move Marijuana from schedule 1 to schedule 3. the students in attendance advice regarding how to

This year’s MidSoHio Winter Congress was run for public office themselves. Mr. Lierman had very successful.

Sophomore Matthew Caldwell from time to answer a few questions posed by the students.

Dublin Scioto High school stated, “Not even surprise One interesting question posed by junior Michael illness could have kept me from enjoying my time Lahanas from Miamisburg, Ohio was, “how will at Winter Congress this past weekend. From spiritsocial media affect the politics of the future?” Mr. ed debate to lively activities, the convention was an Lierman responded by saying that social media is al- unforgettable experience.” Anthony Johnson from ready affecting politics and will continue to increase Miamisburg, Ohio recounted, “It was awesome! I had civic activism. a really great time. I enjoyed the debates and meeting

After Mr. Lierman spoke the students heard new people.” ■ speeches from the party chairmen of the four major political parties represented at the convention. ing to the usual two-party system.

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Not even surprise illness could have kept me from enjoying my time at Winter Congress this past weekend. From spirited debate to lively activities, the convention was an unforgettable experierience.

-Matthew Caldwell

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THE JUNIOR STATEMENT Issue 5 .

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New England Region One Day Event

THE JUNIOR STATEMENT Issue 5 .

Potential Republican Takeover

Benjamin Lanier

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Arian Rubio Staff Writer

Staff Writer

N JANUARY 25TH, 2014, JSA'S NEW England Region (NER) hosted NER Social Activism Day at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The event was attended by [not yet provided] students, and entailed many debates on the issue of human trafficking. After the debates, there was a speaker panel including Hanni Stoklosa, Christina Bane and Liz Gruenfeld, experts on the issue of human trafficking. The students were very engaged even after the session ended, with many going up to ask the experts questions individually, and with other students choosing to put off lunch so they could hear the opportunities presented by the speakers for future involvement. Afterwards, the students watched a TED talk on human trafficking, and wrote letters to companies that have been reported to ignore human trafficking practices. According to NER Mayor Jacob Shannon, [not yet provided]. According to the official NER press release "NER Activism Day was a fantastic and unique event, one that will continue as a great way to get NER JSAers more involved in their rights and responsibilities as the educated future of the nation." ■

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Debate Wars Between ECR and NJR Benjamin Lanier

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Staff Writer

N JANUARY 26TH, 2014, JSA'S NEW Jersey Region (NJR) and its Empire Constitutional Region (ECR) completed their annual Debate Wars conference at Stuyvesant High School.

The event was attended by 187 students, and consisted of the regions competing in debates, fundraising, and overall participation. The regions also competed in "JSA Feud" during the activities block, in which students answered trivia questions about government and politics. NJR Mayor Alex Kaunzinger thought "it was a great event that brought the regions closer together in our fight against political apathy and in our quest to become more active citizens." ECR Mayor Frank Kachmar believed the event allowed participants "to form, what I think, may be long lasting acquaintanceships through a shared passion for debate and the drive to curb political apathy amongst high school students." The NJR was named the victor of the competition by a close margin, but the real winners were the attendees who enjoyed the lively debates and friendly competition. ■

NNOUNCED RETIREMENTS FROM THE House of Representatives in the 113th Congress: Rob Andrews (D-NJ), Spencer Bachus (R-AK), Michele Bachmann (R-MN), John Campbell (R-CA), Howard Coble (R-NC), Jim Gerlach (R-PA), Tim Griffin (R-AR), Tom Latham (R-IA), Jim Matheson (D-UT), Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), Mike McIntyre (D-NC), Buck McKeon (R-CA), George Miller (D-CA), Jim Moran (D-VA), Bill Owens (D-NY), Jon Runyan (R-NJ), Henry Waxman (D-CA), Frank Wolf (R-VA) Announced Retirements from the Senate in the 113th Congress: Max Baucus (D-MT), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Mike Johanns (R-NE), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Carl Levin (D-MI), Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) The political landscape shows significant changes and potential dangers for House Democrats in 2014.

With leadership retirements in the House, the coalition of allies of former Speaker and current House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is fading alongside the chances of the Democrats of regaining the majority. There were widely circulated rumors that Nancy Pelosi herself would retire by the end of this Congress, with members of her own caucus calling her personally to seek confirmation. Pelosi ultimately denied all rumors and affirmed that she would run for re-election. After the announcement of Waxman’s plans not to run for re-election, Representative Greg Walden (R-OR), who also serves as chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, responded that this retirement was a “clear indication… that the House Democrats don’t think they’re going to be wielding the gavels next time.”

The Republicans, however, aren’t the only ones with these sentiments. According to POLITICO, some top Democratic donors and strategists are moving to admit that the House cannot be won, and that they should focus their efforts and resources to protect the vulnerable Senate majority that they already hold. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), the Democratic National Committee Chairwoman, avoided stating that the Democrats would take back the House, but confidently stated that the Senate will not be lost.

Democrats in the Senate are worried - and with good reason. Republicans need to have a net gain of six seats in order to take back the Senate; in many states, this appears to be possible. Republicans are taking aim at Arkansas, North Carolina, Louisiana, Montana, West Virginia, Iowa, Michigan, and even

New Hampshire and Virginia. The prospects do not look good for Democrats, as they try to distance themselves as much as possible from President Obama, who is unpopular in all of the states that Republicans are targeting. This risks the president’s final two years in office to complete an ambitious agenda, which Republicans have fiercely criticized. The Republicans simply have to keep themselves from nominating polarizing figures who will make similar mistakes that cost had cost them from regaining the majorities in 2010 and 2012.

The ball is in the Republican’s court. Now we wait, and see what they do with it.■

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The prospects do not look good for Democrats, as they try to distance themselves as much as possible from President Obama

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THE JUNIOR STATEMENT Issue 5 .

Chris Christie: New Jersey’s Added Bruise Laura Whelan Staff Writer

“The bigger you are the harder you fall,” Patrick Murray said, the director of Monmouth University’s polling institute, documents the roller coaster of Chris Christie in one sentence. From lawyer, to freeholder, to lobbyist, to United States Attorney for New Jersey, and finally to New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie earned his reputation from fighting public corruption. Now it’s his own allegations he’s fighting.

An unannounced September closure of local-access lanes at the word’s busiest bridge in Fort Lee caused traffic gridlock for days. On January 8th, emails surfaced showing Bridget Anne Kelly, Christie’s deputy chief of staff, saying, “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee.” The next day, Christie publicly fired Kelly and apologized, maintaining he knew nothing of the bridge closings until they were reported to the press.

Nevertheless, the bridge scandal has effected Christie’s bridge of popularity. The poll surges Christie had had after Hurricane Sandy, due largely to bi-partisan support, have dramatically fallen. Democrats are pulling their piece of rug out from under the governor, accusing him of using the lane closings as a political payback, because Fort Lee’s Democratic mayor had declined to endorse the governor for reelection.

However, according to the New York Times, it is not the corruption that has New Jersey upset; it is that “the little guy was hurt in this.” No longer are political games being played with policy; now the people of New Jersey have become the pawns. A Rutgers-Eagleton poll released January 22nd showed Christie’s favorability rating fell 19 points since November, dropping from 65 to 46 percent. This is largely due to a 26-point drop from support in Democrats.

New Jersey’s criticism is likely to have ramifications on Christie’s run for presidency. David Redlawsk, the Rutgers-Eagleton poll direction, said, “It’s the extra bump he got from Sandy that made him an intriguing national political figure. The drop in the favorability rating is an indication that people in New Jersey are saying he’s just a typical politician now- ‘I’m okay with the job he’s doing, but really he’s nothing special.’ That tragically undercuts Christie’s presidential appeal.”

It seems that the people agree. A new CNN/ORC International survey shows Democrat Hillary Clinton leading Chris Christie among registered voters 55 to 39 percent, an 18-point swing from the previous standing of Christie at 48 percent and Clinton at 46 percent.

On the other hand, Maurice Carrol, the Qunnipiac

poll director and a New Jersey politics expert, doubts that Christie is done: “Is he wounded? Sure. Is he finished? Of course not.” Mike Murphy, a longtime national Republican consultant, said the horse race polls “are meaningless” with so much time before the next presidential election. “It’s like tasting a cake no one has made yet,” he claimed.

Others think that Christie is only as good as the friends he keeps, because an event like the bridge closing scandal does not happen in isolation. New Jersey’s reputation is taking another beating, and it looks like the bruises are going to be visible for a while. ■

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Is he wounded?

Sure. Is he finished? Of course not.

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—Mike Murphy

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THE JUNIOR STATEMENT Issue 5 .

Looking Back: Last Year's State of The Union Ashley Kim Staff Writer

“He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.”

−Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution of the United States Looking back on President Obama’s 2013 State of the Union address and the results of his promises, it is little wonder that the GOP distrusts Obama’s claims today. The President’s 2012 re-election victory rode on his voter’s high hopes and anticipations for gun laws, universal health care, immigration reform and so much more. On Feb. 12 2013, while Americans reverently looked toward their leader for inspiration, President Barack Obama delivered his country’s 92nd State of the Union address. Now that 2013 has come to a close, let’s take a look back and examine the President’s most important proposals – and his follow through.

Minimum Wage: “Tonight, let’s declare that in the wealthiest nation on Earth, no one who works full-time should have to live in poverty, and raise the federal minimum wage to $9.00 an hour.” The “tonight” is a bit delayed. On Feb. 12, 2014, exactly one year later, Obama signed a unilateral executive order to raise the federal minimum wage not to $9.00, but to $10.10 – without the approval of Congress. A fulfilled pledge, yes, but at what cost?

Climate Change: “I urge this Congress to get together, pursue a bipartisan, market-based solution to climate change, like the one John McCain and Joe Lieberman worked on together a few years ago. But if Congress won’t act soon to protect future generations, I will.” The President acted promptly on this pledge by directing the US Environmental Protection Agency to limit carbon emissions in new power plants. His national goal to increase domestic oil production was declared a success this past month, although the spike is primarily due to new technology, not new government policy. Obama also proposed an Energy Security Trust, which would provide $2 billion for the research and development of cost-effective transportation alternatives, that ultimately dissipated into nothing. Surprise! Slow progress.

Immigration Reform:“Send me a comprehensive immigration reform bill in the next few months, and I will sign it right away.” Immigration reform is the one of the few areas that Republicans are willing to compromise on, yet nothing has been passed. For the longest time, bills were proposed and compromises were made, but the opposition never seems to be

satisfied, while millions of Americans await a verdict on their futures. No victory can be claimed.

Economic Recovery:“Let’s set party interests aside and work to pass a budget that replaces reckless cuts with smart savings and wise investments in our future. And let’s do it without the brinksmanship that stresses consumers and scares off investors.”

Federal deficits have largely been reduced, though they are still at historically high levels. It is disappointing, however, that the president had no hand in a bipartisan budget proposal or in negotiating the end of the recent government shutdown. And what was that scare with Detroit? Nonetheless, I believe we are allowed to celebrate this one with caution. Slow progress.

Medicare Cuts: “On Medicare, I’m prepared to enact reforms that will achieve the same amount of health-care savings by the beginning of the next decade as the reforms proposed by the bipartisan Simpson-Bowles commission.” Needless to say, unless Obama plans on getting Congress together and passing some groundbreaking laws, he will be forever branded as the face of a wildly failing health reform system. “Millions” have registered for health care.

But that includes renewals. And let’s not forget the millions that have had their healthcare plan dropped, another promise broken by the President. Very much unfulfilled. ■

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THE JUNIOR STATEMENT Issue 5 .

U.S. Curtails Drone Strikes in Pakistan Andrew Larabee Staff Writer

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HE U.S. GOVERNMENT HAS SHARP ly cut back on drone strikes and attacks by unmanned aerial vehicles in Pakistan after the Islamabad government requested restraint during attempted peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban (TTP). “That’s what they asked for, and we didn’t tell them no,” one U.S. official said to The Washington Post. The conspicuous absence of drone strikes in 2014 came as a great relief to many Pakistan citizens and concerned Americans, but what can be concluded from this development?

The last know drone attack in Pakistan occurred on Dec. 25. According to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, January was the first month in two years with no U.S. drone strikes. The frequency in drone attacks is believed to have slowed after the U.S. killed TTP leader Hakimullah Mehsud in a Nov. 1 attack. If this was the true cause, the unofficial cease-fire had little to do with Pakistani peace talks.

Secrecy and jumbled statistics make it almost impossible to ferret out the truth and draw informed conclusions, but one fact is crystal clear: America’s drone use in Pakistan – not only for surveillance, but also for target killings – is one of the most controversial human rights issues of today.

Recent articles from The Washington Post and The Guardian report minimal civilian casualties. Since the U.S. never releases information about individual strikes, these numbers simply cannot be corroborated. In 2013, however, Amnesty International counted 400 to 900 civilian deaths from U.S. drone attacks in North Waziristan, a tribal region next to Afghanistan that runs thick with terrorists. Amnesty International’s 76-page report includes field research on nine of 45 reported strikes in North Waziristan and eye-witness-accounts of the drone strikes’ scope and repercussions.

Many Pakistani people agree that drone strikes are more effective against the TTP than military operations. However, most also argue that the strikes cause civilian casualties, terrify innocents and violate Pakistani sovereignty.

“The U.S. generates roughly forty to sixty new enemies for every AQAP (Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) operative killed by drones,” reported Nabeel Khoury, Senior Fellow for Middle East and National Security, at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

Is our administration actually re-evaluating the efficacy of drones in the face of growing collateral damage and hatred, or is the scale back purely political? With domestic policies – like the Affordable Care Act and NSA surveillance – under attack by the American people, maybe our leaders are too distracted by domestic combat to continue to pursue intense

drone strikes.

Whether or not you believe in the target killing of terrorists, civilian deaths make the policy dicey at best. “War,” as Martin Luther King Jr. said, “is a poor choice to carve out our tomorrows.” ■

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The US generates roughly forty to sixty new enemies for every AQAP.

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-Nabeel Khoury

News - 14

THE JUNIOR STATEMENT Issue 5 .

2014 Sochi Olympics: Women's Figure Skating Scandal?

Kelly Kim Staff Writer

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N THE SOCHI OLYMPIC FIGURE SKATING Event, Adelina Sotniknova of Russia defeated the 2010 Olympic champion, Yuna Kim of South Korea. This raised questions about whether or not Sotniknova deserved the victory.

The scandal is mostly centered around the possible bias of the Olympic judging panels. Other judging scandals, like that of the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics, show that judging can be corrupted. The Sochi Olympic Figure Skating judging panel included a judge who is married to the general director of Russian figure skating federation and another who was involved in a ice dancing voting scandal in the 1998 Nagano Olympics. Furthermore, the long program, in which Sotniknova scored higher than Kim, had a judging panel that included judges from four former Soviet bloc nations - Russia, Ukraine, Estonia and Slovakia - as well as France, which conspired with Russia for the Salt Lake City pairs judging scandal in 2002. Judges from the United States, Great Britain, Sweden, and South Korea only judged the short program, but not the long; neither of the judges from the US and South Korea received a say in the long program’s scores.

Yulia Lipnitskaya, Russia's initial favorite to win gol, finished fifth place, even with a fall in the long program and a stumble in the short program. She finished ahead of Ashley Wagner, who had no fall.

Many argue that Lipnitskaya’s routine was more difficult than that of Wagner. Wagner, however, believed that poor judging tainted the final outcome.

Yuna Kim had sufficient experience, and was used to being scored high; thus, her high olympic scores came as no surprise. Sotniknova, on the other hand, had a best score, which she received a month prior to the Olympics, of 131.63. Her Olympic score, 149.95, is a massive leap - almost 20 points - from her previ-

ous best score. Many view this sudden improvement with confusion and suspicion. In addition, Kim’s performance in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics was regarded as one greatest performances in the history of figure skating. She had set a world record, and won the event by a landslide; she beat her rival by 23 points. What has Kim’s score then? 150.06, barely above that of Sotnikova’s 2014 Olympic score: 149.95.

Some argue that the Olympics are less about artistry and more about athleticism, and that the bias of scores would be reduced, because the highest and lowest scores are thrown out and then an average of the remaining scores is taken.

However, the technical panel that makes all crucial decisions regarding the difficulty levels of the jumps and spins was led by the Vice President of the Russian skating federation. Though Sotniknova had one more jump in her routine, Kim’s degree of difficulty was greater on the non-jump elements. In addition, Sotniknova didn't land all of her jumps cleanly. Kim scored higher in three technical categories; all below +1, while Sotniknova scored higher in nine technical categories; the highest being +3.44. The figure skating results this year has become more of math, rather than just a skating competition. Sotniknova won by accumulating little points in different categories.

Sotniknova's scores didn't have to be noticeably high, the judges could have given her more points here and there to easily achieve her win. Nevertheless, both ladies gave delightful performances. Kim appeared graceful and effortless on the ice, while Sotniknova skated with a flair and charisma. Furthermore, the protest most likely will not trigger an investigation.

The International Skating Union rules state that "protests or complaints must be filed within 30 minutes of an event". The change.org protest and other protest letters don't meet the ISU rules.

If the issue is actually serious, then in 2018, there may be a change in the judging guidelines. ■

Opinion - 15

THE JUNIOR STATEMENT Issue 5 .

A Common Controversy Catherine Zhang Staff Writer

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N THE OPENING EPISODE OF HBO'S, “The Newsroom”, a political drama television series about a fictional news channel, news anchor Will McAvoy sits on a journalist panel between a staunch conservative and a bleeding-heart liberal.

When the panel is asked why America is the greatest country in the world, only McAvoy gives a memorable response.

“There is absolutely no evidence to support the statement that we’re the greatest country in the world,” he fumes. “We’re seventh in literacy, 27th in math, 22nd in science…”

Reality is even worse. According to Education Week, the United States ranks 20th in reading, 30th in mathematics and 23rd in science in the 2012 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), an international test taken by 15 year old students every 3 years.

These findings – and similar ones from other international tests such as the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study – show that American students are increasingly ill prepared to compete in a global economy. A lack of skilled students to fill future jobs could jeopardize the U.S.'s economic standing.

Enter the Common Core State Standards, the trumpeted solution for educational achievement.

The standards identify national guidelines for kindergarten to 12th grade students in Mathematics and English Language Arts (which includes science and social studies).

In 2010, a study by Michigan State University researchers William Schmidt and Richard Houang found that the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) were on par with standards in countries that ranked the highest in the 1995 TIMSS. The researches asserted that the CCSSM, if implemented properly, would greatly improve the math scores of American students.

The Common Core Standards have other supporters. In his 2014 State of the Union address, President Obama called for "more challenging curriculums" that offer "new ways to measure how well our kids think, not how well they can fill a bubble on a test" – a subtle nod to the standards. Obama also attributed the Race to the Top program, which offers a financial incentive for states to adopt the standards, with raising expectations and performance in schools.

However, the Common Core State Standards, like most nationwide reform attempts, are highly divisive.

Proponents of the Common Core Standards argue that they not only increase classroom rigor but also equalize the playing field between states, each of which determines its own academic standards. Furthermore, the supporters contend that the Common Core Standards help students develop

higher thinking skills, an advantage on standardized tests, and avoid "over-educating" students.

However, opponents of the standards are uneasy with a one-size-fits-all approach that they claim over-emphasizes testing and encourages "teaching to the test." Others note that the Common Core Standards do little to alleviate education’s preexisting problems like poverty. Additionally, some objectors fear that the uniform standards, though rejected, adopted and revised by individual states, will ultimately lead to federal control of education.

The Common Core Stand Standards were first tested in Kentucky and had dismal results. At the elementary level, there was more than a third drop-off in proficiency in comparison to previous Kentucky Core Content Tests. The result elucidates yet another issue with Common Core for opponents: instead of evening the playing field, it exacerbates inequity by forcing thousands of students to attend college remediation programs.

More than 12 states have introduced legislation to prohibit the implementation of the Common Core Standards, and Texas, Virginia, Alaska and Nebraska have not adopted the initiative.

In response to the almost national adoption of the Common Core State Standards, many New York parents have began an opt-out movement, withdrawing their children from state tests that use Common Core Standards. In some schools, this boycott extends to more than half of the student population.

Ultimately, the implications of our quality of education will reverberate through our future generations.

The state of our nation depends on the efficacy of our future workforce, so we must evaluate the Common Core State Standards – like all education proposals –

Opinion - 16

THE JUNIOR STATEMENT Issue 5 .

Boston’s Teacher Diversity Action Plan Rachel Donaldson Staff Writer

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ACIAL DIVERSITY AMONG BOSTON Public Schools’ teachers is rapidly decreasing while ethnic variety among students remains, sparking cries for a teaching force that represent its students. In an attempt to reverse the trend, Boston Public Schools’ Interim Superintendent John McDonough recently announced the launch of a Teacher Diversity Action Plan (TDAP) to recruit, hire and retain highly qualified, ethnically diverse teachers.

In 1990, Federal Judge Wendell Garrity ordered that the Boston Public Schools’ teaching force be at least 25 percent black and at least 10 percent other minorities. The ruling was just one of Garrity’s many efforts to desegregate Boston public schools.

However, in recent years, the number of ethnic minority teachers has slipped below expectations, putting the school system out of legal compliance and at risk of legal action. Of 4,415 teachers more than half are white, 21 percent are Black, 10 percent are Hispanic and 6 percent are Asian.

Boston’s student body, on the other hand, is 87 percent Hispanic, Asian or black. As McDonough puts it, “The goal of this plan is to find teachers who are linguistically, culturally and racially diverse, who reflect the diversity of our student population.”

Advertisements for the campaign will be posted on national education publications, Massachusetts Bay public transportation and a new website. Johnny McInnis, president of the Black Educators Alliance of Massachusetts, stated with hope, “[The plan] will help to bring the percentages up over time. . . It’s essential for the district to have a diverse staff.”

In a school system in which about 45 percent of students’ first language is a language other than English, diversity among faculty increases the chance of those students having a teacher who does speak their native language. Better communication will lead to greater accomplishment in learning. The goal is that this variety in staff will also enhance learning and advance academic achievement.

With a teaching force that matches the diversity of the student population, greater opportunities for connection between teacher and student arise. With better connections between teachers and students, it will be easier to keep students engaged and interested in learning from teachers who serve as role models.

One member of the school committee, Margaret McKenna, voiced her opinion and stressed clearly how important change is. She stated, “We are challenged to show people we really mean business here because I think there has been a lot of lost faith that the school district can actually make this happen.”

As America’s first public school system, the Boston Public School district has the potential not only to

rekindle faith in the school system and better the education of its 57,000 students, but also redefine public education across the nation. ■

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[The plan] will help to bring the percentages up over time. . . It’s essential for the district to have a

diverse staff.

—Johnny McInnis

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Opinion - 17

THE JUNIOR STATEMENT Issue 5 .

Opinion -18

Let’s say No to Death on a Stick!

Sweden: Gender-Equality to Gender-Neutrality Somnath Ganapa Staff Writer

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HE WORLD HAS COME A LONG WAY IN the war for gender equality. Perhaps the most progressive country as well as stalwart supporter of gender equality is Sweden. Befitting its reputation of being the most progressive country, Sweden has pushed for something even more radical than gender equality – gender neutrality.

Sweden’s government has always played a conspicuous role in ensuring the equal treatment of both genders, actively promoting women’s rights in the early 1970s; however, even the most ardent feminists during the time may not have imagined what type of society the government is trying to construct today: a society in which gender doesn’t matter.

Champions of this movement claim that it will eradicate the vestiges of sexism; opponents claim that it eradicates the mirth and complexity that comes with different genders. Nevertheless, one thing remains certain, that is Sweden is entering an unprecedented discussion of what it means to be truly “equal.”

The reason behind the government’s new program is the disparity between genders that still exists in Sweden: women earn 14% less than men and women dominate majors regarding the caring for other human beings. Despite the fact that Swedish women earn 94 cents for every dollar men do - a proportion much higher than that in America - the Swedish government refuses to sink into complacency.

In order to begin the long journey to gender neutrality, Sweden is beginning to employ a new pronoun; “hen” is frequently employed rather than he or she. Additionally, Sweden has enforced stricter punishments for sexual harassment and encouraged women to join the workforce with financial incentives. However, to completely target the concepts of being a man or woman, Sweden has elected to educate children in a gender neutral environment. These schools, like Nicolaigarden, stock its bookshelves with an equal number of male and female protagonists and house boys that feel no mortification while dressing up as princesses.

Expectedly, not all parents are enthralled by the prospect of a genderless society because they, themselves, were raised in a society that preached gender stereotypes and gender restrictions. Furthermore, some claim that Sweden has become a discriminating force against men, favoring women in various aspects of legality. Feminism is heralded as the savior of Sweden, while the opposite is pummeled to the ground. Although these struggles continue, Sweden hopes that these struggles remain as a problem of the older generation, and diminish in the face of a radically new and amenable generation. ■

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Women earn 14% less than men and women dominate majors regarding the caring for other human beings.

THE JUNIOR STATEMENT Issue 5 .

Brian Dong Staff Writer

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RYAN LEE CURTIS, A FATHER OF TWO and a smoker of 20 years, died, looking much like a living corpse. Resemblant of a living skeleton, his cheekbones jutted out of his wasted face as his eyelids weakly fluttered open; his neck was tainted a gruesome shade of crimson. His shriveled arms jutted out from his atrophied shoulders. Just 10 weeks prior, this miserable body belonged to a muscular, energetic man seemingly brimming with life. His last wish was to save one kid from suffering the same demise. He was only 34.

He is but one of half a million Americans who must suffer through this torture every year.

Tobacco is one of the country’s most egregious killers. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, smoking is responsible for 440,000 U.S. deaths per year. On February 5, 2014, CVS pharmacy announced that it would stop selling cigarettes.

As the nation’s largest pharmacy chain, this bold decision speaks loud and clear that cigarettes are a terrible assassin and should never be used.

By removing cigarettes from its inventory, CVS may make tobacco products more difficult to obtain, which will therefore reduce the amount of smokers.

The tobacco industry thrives off of addicts such as Curtis. Nicotine addiction is extremely difficult to combat. Because the brain is not fully developed until the age of 21, teens are more prone to making rash and incorrect decisions. Studies have shown that most smokers who began during their adolescent years were under the influence of their parents or their peers. When getting a cigarette is as easy as asking for it over the counter, it’s no wonder why so many serious smokers began at such a young age.

When this convenience is removed, less committed smokers may be deterred from purchasing as many cigarette packs. The reason why many of them smoke in the first place is for recreational purposes and their ubiquity. If they have to walk five blocks instead of two just to get a good smoke, then all of sudden it’s not so convenient anymore.

As a large and respectable company, CVS may actually influence other pharmacies to ditch cigarettes.

Larry Merlo, president and CEO of the large corporation, stated that its discontinuation of cigarette sales will help the pharmacy’s reputation “for future growth as a health-care company.” In an increasingly health-aware society, such a move is but one of many attempts to dissuade the public from smoking. There have been numerous commercials depicting the grotesque procedures lung cancer patients must perform on a daily basis. Recently the government tried placing graphing images on cigarette boxes. Children are constantly being told not to succumb to peer

pressure and smoke. Still, there are about 45 million people in this country who continue to smoke. If a “greedy, profit-guzzling” corporation is willing to lose an estimated $2 billion over such a grave issue however, people will pick up on how serious of an issue tobacco consumption is. They will also start viewing CVS as the archetype company that actually cares about its customers and sells healthy products.

Nowadays people are more health-oriented and will thus purchase items from places that sell themselves as healthy. With such a favorable reputation, CVS will likely attract more customers. Subsequently, a greater amount of pharmacies will shun cigarettes in a collective effort to promote themselves as healthier businesses to draw in customers.

Tobacco’s terribly bewitching web takes has for far too long claimed the lives of countless people. With every puff of smoke, this seductive evil wastes our livelihood away. A collective movement to mitigate its toll has proven to be successful, and CVS’s bold decision to shun them will only save more people from ending up like Bryan Curtis. ■

Opinion - 19

THE JUNIOR STATEMENT Issue 5 .

Opinion - 20

TPP's Environmental Implications

Fighting Racism in the 21st Century Requires a Modern Formula

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Jack and David Cahn Editor-in-Chief, Staff Writer

ARLIER THIS YEAR, WHEN THE SUpreme Court ruled that Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act was unconstitutional, much of this country responded with disappointment. The Voting Rights Act, originally passed in 1965, is one of the most substantial pieces of legislation in American history. On both sides of the political spectrum, it is accredited with having played a large part in putting an end to the rampant discrimination that plagued the South. The sentimental and symbolic value of the VRA, however, was not enough to justify its continued application. The Supreme Court made the correct constitutional decision in overturning section 4. Furthermore, it seems increasingly likely that Congress will soon pass an amended Voting Rights Act that is uniquely tailored to combat 21st century racism. America’s progressives need to look beyond labels and realize that change is good. Fighting modern racism requires a toolkit that suits today’s needs – not yesterday’s.

A few months ago, the Supreme Court ruled the section 4 of the Voting Rights Act unconstitutional in the case of Shelby County vs. Holder finding that its coverage formula unfairly discriminated against certain states. Section 4 singled out 9 specific states for strict preclearance requirements (these states had to receive federal permission before passing election changes) based on levels of discrimination in 1965.

In 2013, “current burdens” were therefore not justified to meet “current needs.” Unequal treatment of the states based on a decades-old formula violated the principal of equal sovereignty of the states. Justice Roberts wrote that “The Fifteenth Amendment is not designed to punish for the past; its purpose is to ensure a better future.”

Almost immediately, the court was lambasted for its decision. Former civil rights hero, Congressman John Lewis (D-GA), was quoted "These men that voted to strip the Voting Rights Act of its power, they never stood in unmovable lines, they never had to pass a so-called literacy test.” Like Lewis, most critics of the court assumed a tone of self-righteous indignation. How could the court strike down a law as historic as the Voting Rights Act, they cried. Yet few chose to engage the Supreme Court in a legitimate debate regarding the merits of its decision.

Those who read the court’s decision found that it was strongly grounded in logic and fact. Times had indeed changed. In 1965, “flagrant,” “rampant” and “pervasive” discrimination was uniquely concentrated in southern states, where 44% of African Americans voted, compared with 72% in the West, Midwest and Northeast. In 2013, however, African American voter turnout in covered jurisdictions exceeded turnout in the rest of the country, as did the number of

African American representatives as a proportion of the population. U.S. Solicitor General Donald Verrilli agreed that racism is not more prevalent in the South than in the North. Absent uniquely “local evils,” Congress could not impose stricter burdens on covered states solely on the basis of historical discrimination.

Justice Ginsberg, unlike her supporters in Congress, attempted to justify the Voting Rights Act in her dissent. She cherry-picked a study organized by Ellen D. Katz, a former civil rights lawyer for the Department of Justice official who is now a professor at the University of Michigan. Katz found 56% of litigation for voter suppression to be concentrated in Section 4 states. This study was problematic for several reasons. First, it relied on a sample of only 322 total lawsuits, 24 of which actually ended in convictions. Second, it only looked to cases that ended in court (not in a pre-trial settlement) and therefore unintentionally built-in a selection bias for states who were less willing to settle. Presumably, States who had already had their election laws pre-cleared by the federal government would be less likely to assume responsibility for alleged discrimination. Finally, it didn’t address the distribution of the discrimination across the 9 states (was all the racism in concentrated in Alabama, for example, or were all of the states discriminatory?)

The Constitutional answer is clear. Absent uniquely local discrimination in covered jurisdictions, the federal government did not have the right to subject certain states to stricter election regulations than others. Ironically, the courts decision will also yield benefits – on net, it will reduce racial discrimination.

On January 16th, the Rights Act Amendment of 2014 was introduced to Congress. This amendment will subject all states that have committed five discrimination violations within a 15-year period to pre-clearance. By targeting today’s problem districts, rather than the problem states of 40 years ago, the new bill will be better able to combat racism in America.

For all the rhetoric, condensation, and indignation that have been published by the court’s critics, the majority in Shelby vs. Holder not only made the correct constitutional decision (their only mandate), but also the best decision for the American people. Let’s us laud the Supreme Court for its coverage and hope it continues to decide law on its constitutional merits, rather that its popularity at the polls. ■

THE JUNIOR STATEMENT Issue 5 .

Jasmine Lee Staff Writer

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HE TRANS PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP (TPP) is a secret free trade agreement that aims to enhance trade and investment between countries in Latin America and East Asia. The terms of the trade agreement are currently being negotiated by the governments of Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Mexico, and other Pacific Rim nations.

The deal is so secretive that even members of Congress are only allowed to view select portions of it. The only group entitled to access the TPP is big business. Lobbyists from large corporations such as Walmart and Chevron have viewed TPP texts and even engaged in dialogue with negotiators. Environmental groups, human rights advocates, and the general public, on the other hand, have not been able to review specific provisions of the agreement.

WikiLeaks, a site known for disseminating confidential information online, recently published the environmental chapter of the agreement on January 15th. The chapter had neither minimum provisions nor enforcement measures regarding environmental concerns and was described by advocacy groups as more of a “public relations exercise” than a binding contract that would enforce and ensure that environmental protections were maintained.

The released environmental chapter discussed issues of environmental conservation, biodiversity, indigenous knowledge and resources, and more. In the case that federal laws override state laws when the two are in conflict, TPP provisions would overrule state laws, vastly shifting the balance of authority towards the federal government. Considering the fact that most of the environmental laws are made on the state level, the agreement would allow corporations to essentially bypass most environmental laws.

The Huffington Post reported that an “Investor-State Dispute Resolution provision” will be implemented with the agreement. This provision will make it possible for foreign companies to sue the United States on grounds of a breach in contract if they are prohibited from doing business in a certain area. In the case that the interests of large scale corporations conflict with environmental groups, the leaked draft of the TPP environment chapter implies that business interests are to be prioritized.

Ron Kirk, President Obama’s top trade official, stated that the reason why the Obama administration was opposed to making the text public, was that doing so “would raise such opposition that it could make the deal impossible to sign.” It seems as though President Obama does not intend to leave the agreement open for debate and is instead urging for a fast-track treatment. A fast-track treatment would allow President Obama to sign the agreement before

Congress voted on it, thus forcing a quick vote from Congress and limiting debate.

The document continues to be shrouded in mystery. Despite the large number of protests from human rights and environmental advocacy groups, President Barack Obama has not swayed. He announced his intentions in his State of Union speech to continue to press forward with the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement that will ultimately “help the American economy, and increase jobs opportunities.”

As of now, the future of the Trans Pacific Partnership remains uncertain and the terms of the agreement remain hidden from the general public. ■

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The deal is so secretive that even members of Congress are only allowed to view select portions of it.

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Opinion - 21

THE JUNIOR STATEMENT Issue 5 .

Opinion - 22

THE JUNIOR STATEMENT Issue 5 .

This Article Has Not Been Censored Harry Petsios Staff Writer

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ELCOME TO THE WORLD OF STUdent journalism, home of school talent show reviews, teacher exposés and the occasional op-ed on school lunch. Although the content is school-oriented, student publications are similar to larger news agencies. For example, both publications hope that their content enables readers to express informed opinions. In the context of a student newspaper, topics for opinion pieces tend to involve administrative decisions or shared student experiences rather than national policy and legislation. Thus, to a great extent, the student newsroom is a microcosm of the professional newsroom. Unlike their professional counterparts, however, student journalists face an additional challenge: administrative censorship.

In certain cases, school adminstrations are generally awful.

In the history of our nation, two Supreme Court cases have altered the face of student journalism irrevocably. In both cases, the court addressed the eligibility of students to receive full constitutional protections. In the 1969 case of Tinker v. Des Moines, the Supreme Court ruled that students retained their rights within school, arguing, “Students do not shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate." In a subsequent case in 1988, however, the tone of the court changed.

In the case of Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, the court directly addressed the rights of student journalists. The ruling stated that as the “publisher” of the newspaper, the principal of a school, had full authority to censor whatever content therein he found inappropriate. The Supreme Court, seemingly forsaking its ruling in the Tinker decision, now left students to battle against their administrations.

Despite the inescapably binding appearance of the Hazelwood Decision, a number of student publications adopt a simple method to circumvent the ruling. These newspapers take action to turn themselves into "an open forum for the expression of student views." To do so, school newspapers often have to dissociate themselves from their school and school administration. Legally, if a school newspaper is financially and practically independent from its school, it can't be censored. Unfortunately, many student journalists can't afford to run their newspapers without school funding. As such, they do not share in this boon, and work under the watchful eyes of their administrators.

To me, the connotations and subtext of the dreadful Hazelwood decision seem clear. By appointing the principal of a school–technically a government official, mind you–as the publisher of a school

newspaper, we pave the path for blatant censorship.

Although the case of Hazelwood bestows upon principals the right to censor “inappropriate” conduct, who is willing to define inappropriateness? Evidently, the school’s administration. And to the principal, an inappropriate article may be one concerning drug abuse or one concerning an administrative screw-up.

Additionally, an overseeing eye may skew news. Pressure by the administration of a school occasionally brings journalists into a scenario where they must distort the truth to avoid censorship.

Big Brother is always watching. Beware of Goldstein.

On a larger spectrum, however, this issue devolves into a question of student eligibility for constitutional rights: are we competent and reasonable enough to be trusted with such precious gifts?

Yes, we are.

Beyond the confines of the student newsroom, student reason and rational thought is often on par with that of adults. I understand that, as adolescents and teenagers, we are subject to shifting emotions and the struggles of growing up in the modern world. Despite this popular stigma, I have observed that teenage openness makes us more accepting and reasonable than many adult counterparts. Furthermore, there is no constitutional provision concerning youth as a factor for receiving the benefits of United States citizenship. Whether an individual be one year old or one hundred, I argue that they must receive the same rights.

Sidenote, aliens do exist. Area 51 is a terribly kept secret.

Moreover, this question involves logic itself: is it appropriate to welcome teenagers into a democratic lifestyle by censoring their opinions? Absolutely not.

The mission of the Junior State, and any democracy in the world, is to train its youth in the essentials of good government. To accomplish this task, students must experience American citizenship and all of the civil liberties that accompany that title. To be a student in the United States is not to be a slave, or a serf, or a prisoner. We are just as American as our teachers, our secretaries, and our principals; thus, to deny us our rights is a intolerable transgression. ■

Too Early to Run Simran Singh Staff Writer

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ITH THE ERUPTION OF THE RECENT Bridgegate controversy, media pundits and political enthusiasts alike have deemed Governor Chris Christie’s possible candidacy for president an impossibility. Keep in mind that this conclusion has been reached almost three years in advance of the next presidential election, and no declaration of candidacy has been issued by the governor in any way, shape, or form. While it is reasonable to argue that Christie's political future will be tumultuous at the very least, it is unreasonable to argue that his Presidential chances have been eliminated precisely because Christie has not even declared his candidacy for the Presidency.

Within JSA, there are strict regulations as to when candidates for state and regional positions can begin campaigning and officially declare a run. The idea behind these rules is that no candidate should have an unfair advantage in the election by getting early name recognition. By evening out the playing field, we hope that the most deserved and best equipped leader is elected. These regulations should be applied on a national scale in order to even out the playing field in important electoral races.

The largest Democratic super PAC in the United States, Priorities USA Action, recently officially announced its support for Hillary Clinton’s possible bid for the presidency in 2016. 33,361 Americans have donated to “Ready for Hillary,” an organization in support of Mrs. Clinton, with a Facebook page that has over 1.7 million likes. Upon the former first lady’s stepping down as Secretary of State, the media buzzed about how this was most certainly indicative of the high likelihood that Mrs. Clinton would run in 2016. It is frightening to think that the campaign season has begun so early, and that competitors who themselves do not know whether or not they will run are placed under the scrutinizing spotlight of news networks.

The negative consequences of early campaigning are twofold. For one, any official who is running for re-election first and foremost serves a duty as an incumbent office holder. It is their responsibility to make the choices and decisions that will benefit their constituents. Campaigning years in advance not only distracts the incumbent from carrying their duties out to the best possible extent, but also distracts the voter from important issues. The voter becomes overly concerned with the glamour and excitement of the election season, and begins to ignore the actual issues at hand. The voter begins to ignore the work that the elected official is doing, instead paying attention to the work that the candidate is doing.

I, too, am susceptible to the appeal of the election

season, the enthusiasm, the anxiety, and the wholeheartedness with which one rallies behind a candidate. However, to campaign so early, especially when such efforts are being made on behalf of a candidate rather than by a candidate, is concerning and detrimental to the well being of our democracy. There is a reason that terms are of a certain length: it is to demonstrate that an official is capable of executing their duties given a certain time in office. When the election cycle begins two or three years in advance of the actual election, we as a democratic people are encouraging these officials not to govern, but to campaign. ■

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Campaigning years in advance not only distracts the incumbent from carrying their duties out to the best possible extent, but also distracts the voter from important issues.

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THE JUNIOR STATEMENT Issue 5 .

Opinion - 24

THE JUNIOR STATEMENT Issue 5 .

The Age Gap

The U.S. Lags in Foreign Language Education: Are We Egocentric?

Hannah Smilansky Staff Writer

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HE UNITED STATES IS HOME TO SOME of the top universities in the world, has more Olympic medals than any other country, and makes up 30% of the world’s purchasing power. What we are not number one in, however, is our general education system. Specifically, foreign language proficiency in the United States is atrocious, primarily because of poor foreign language education programs in US schools.

In Europe, about 90% of children begin learning English in their elementary schools. Many foreign countries require students to learn two foreign languages before they graduate. The United States, on the other hand, has no national foreign language requirements. Less than a third of American elementary schools offer foreign language classes and only about half of middle and high school students are even studying a foreign language in school (Spanish leads the way).

Some say the reason behind the U.S’s continued decrease in school foreign language programs is the No Child Left Behind Act. With a rising focus on our math and english deficits, the foreign language department is the one that usually gets the first budget cut. According to Nancy Rhodes of the Center for Applied Linguistics, “Things cannot get worse.

[Foreign languages] are at the bottom of the barrel now.”

Still others point to another culprit behind our foreign language lag: American egocentrism.

“[Other] countries recognize that language is a tool for economic competitiveness and national security, so they have mandatory language programs,” claimed Shuhan Wang of the National Foreign Language Center, “we have xenophobia and are always trying to use English as a badge of national identity and expression.”

It may be true that, because of English’s standing as a global language, American students feel less of an urgency to learn foreign languages.

Some students may not feel that fluency in another language is truly needed for us to be successful, a point emphasized by Lewis Beale’s statement that the “teaching of languages [is] more of an academic exercise, a rote recitation of grammatical rules, separate from the goal of actually going out and speaking to someone.”

Reflecting on my own school experience, while I can see some of the points made about our lack of attention on foreign languages, I really believe that it depends on the school environment. Where there is diversity and a presence of different cultures, the walls of American egocentrism begin to break down. ■

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Keshav Sota Staff Writer

[Other] countries recognize that language is a tool for economiccompetitiveness and national security, so they have mandatory language programs, we have xenophobia and are always trying to use English as a badgeofnationalidentity and expression.

-Shuhan Wang

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HE OTHER DAY, I CAME ACROSS AN ARticle that claimed that Miley Cyrus twerking at the MTV VMA’s was simply a reflection of our generation. The article entertained the notion that we, the millennials, are characterized by vulgar behavior and narcissism. We’re all about “Me, Me, Me” and we are self-absorbed creatures that so desperately seek the approval of others. The author, however, was not alone in its opinion of our generation. Some people say that our generation is apathetic towards any cause. Instead of marching in Washington and fighting for what we believe in, we tweet it. Instead of sending letters to our congressmen for change, we blame them on our Facebook walls. They call us spoiled and lazy, claiming that we are not taking advantage of the resources that we have available.

“If I had your resources, I would have done so much better than where I am,” they reproach. I believe, however, that there is much more that defines our generation than these isolated incidents.

We, the millennials, are more open-minded towards change. Instead of upholding the ideas and morals of previous generations, we have established our own standards. We are changing the definition of what is right and what is wrong. The United States is becoming more accepting of the LGBT community.

In fact, a study from the PEW Research Center found that 74% of millennials, compared to 49% of Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980), believe that gays and lesbians should be accepted. The media has already shown signs of embracing the community as well. During the 2014 Grammy’s, rapper Macklemore, joined by pop stars Madonna and Queen Latifah, officiated the marriage of 33 couples, some homosexual and others, heterosexual. This victory for marriage equality came after years of fighting, when homosexuality was considered a “disease” and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell dictated military policy. The Disney Channel has recently introduced a lesbian couple on the show “Good Luck Charlie”. In the 1970s, even discussing the ideas of the LGBT community in school could lead to disciplinary action.

We, the millennials, are a generation of ideas. Our generation ardently supports ideas that will change the future. Websites like Kickstarter reflect our hunger for innovation. We have created social media networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Google. We have integrated coding and technology into our lifestyle, and are helping high school students all across the world code through websites such as Code Academy.

Unlike other generations, we welcome change and embrace it. Realizing that change is inevitable, we shape change in our favor to help benefit mankind.

We, the millennials, are a generation of education.

Education has never before been available to us in as many various forms as now. Khan Academy and Coursera have revolutionized the traditional education system. We have the option to study other courses that may not be presented in our schools.

With courses such as Number Theory and Information Security, students have a breadth of information accessible to them. Didn’t understand that biology lecture? That's all right! Watch a video on Khan Academy about the Krebs Cycle. Our education allows us to be more aware of health concerns. We believe in the use of contraceptives and investment in HIV research. Instead of shunning these initiatives, we recognize that people have individual liberties and we do not tie these freedoms to religious affiliations. A research found that 77% of all millennials believed that contraceptives should be available to students over the age of 16.

Disparaging the next generation seems to be a perpetual act. New generations embrace and create their own ideals, standards, technologies, and culture. The perpetual age gap seems to create a continuous cycle of criticism and suspicion towards the youth. Are we different from our parent’s generation? If we compare innovations and values, yes we are. However, they too were once in a position in which they were deemed as “the worst generation” to be a part of. The odds are that one day, we too will become a generation of older conservatives disparaging the next generation of young liberals. ■

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I believe, however, that there is much more that defines our generationthanthese isolatedincidents.

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Opinion - 25

THE JUNIOR STATEMENT Issue 5 .

Opinion - 26

Immigration Reform

Indictment in the United States SiTian Zhang Staff Writer

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OUNDING FATHER AND FORMER PRESIdent James Madison believed it was necessary to legally protect the basic civil liberties and rights of the individual citizen from infringement by the government. His beliefs and those of the founders of this country gave birth to the Bill of Rights. Of the ten amendments it encompasses, the fifth states: “No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury…” Today, however, more than 200 years after the ratification of these amendments, we cannot help but question whether the guarantee of this particular “right” remains a measure of protection from the tyranny of the government or whether it has become an integral part of a corrupt system, placing the citizens of this nation at the mercy of an all too powerful “establishment.”

Indictment by a grand jury is an archaic legal procedure, having been abolished everywhere globally except here in the United States. As a provision of a Constitutional Amendment, it has little chance of being abolished any time soon. While indictments were intended to protect those accused, the current procedures severely favor the prosecution. The defendant cannot present his or her case and is rarely even present during the proceedings. Witnesses called do not have legal counsel and are compelled to answer all questions despite the Fifth Amendment’s protection against self-incrimination. Furthermore, no judge presides over the process. Thus, in this step of the legal process, the prosecution holds all of the power and is free to twist the truth if it so wishes.

In such cases, the grand jury, more likely than not, moves to indict. However, a mere 50% of indictments result in a conviction.

In such a sense, grand jury indictments have little practical use. Nonetheless, convening such a jury requires the time and energy of the prosecution and the jurors, in addition to the state’s money. Each juror is paid from $40 to $50 with additional meal and lodging stipends and is required to abandon their regular lives and jobs for what can take up to multiple days. Such resources could be better employed in actual criminal trials.

The public, however, remains unaware of the true function of the indictment process. In many cases, public opinion equates indictment with conviction and the indicted, though far from being proved as having committed a crime, face the same social stigmas as a convicted criminal.

With such observations in mind, many have called for the United States to follow in the footsteps of nations such as England and abolish this step in the legal procedure completely. However, the current

system may be reformed to better protect the interest of the American citizens. The defense may be provided with greater, though limited, participation in the process. A judge may be brought in to guide the proceedings. With such changes, the indictment process may better serve the functions that it was first intended to. ■

No person " shall be held

to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury

—5th Amendment

THE JUNIOR STATEMENT Issue 5 .

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Benjamin Lanier Staff Writer

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AST YEAR, THE DEMOCRAT-CONtrolled Senate passed a comprehensive immigration reform bill. One year later, the hope for immigration reform is all but dead In The House of Representatives. With 11 million undocumented immigrants currently in the US, our country is facing an enormous problem, a problem that needs to be solved, not ignored and allowed to fester in the shadows.

The optimal solution to the immigration issue is not a Pathway to Citizenship with increased border security conceded as a compromise. It is an open borders policy.

From an economic perspective, open borders are by far the best option. Those who are against open borders often say that undocumented immigrants take jobs from Americans. This perspective has little merit, since it is based on economic fallacy, specifically what economists refer to as the “Lump of Labor” fallacy.

This fallacy states that the number of jobs in an economy is static, and the labor market is essentially a zero-sum game. An example of this fallacy is the idea that forcing people to retire at 50 years of age would create more jobs for the youth. Those who say that forcing undocumented immigrants out of the country would create more jobs for Americans are using the same sort of thinking based on a layman's understanding of economics. For example, an undocumented immigrant who is working at a strawberry farm in California creates many jobs for the strawberry company. The strawberry company hires an American trucker to transport the strawberries, an American planter, and American field manager, and American managerial staff for the strawberry company. If the undocumented immigrant had not come the US, there is a large possibility that the strawberry production would occur in another country, say, Spain, the world’s second largest producer of strawberries. Then, all the jobs that the strawberry picker creates for American citizens would go to Spanish citizens.

The biggest legitimate economic concern for those who are against open borders is how the market would respond to a flood of free labor. This is an issue, because the U.S. currently has minimum wage laws, and this is a reason why I am in favor of a negative income tax, instead of minimum wage laws, to guarantee a certain level of income to all citizens and to not tax a citizen's income until it has surpassed certain amount.

However, assuming that the United States will not implement a negative income tax any time soon, an open borders policy is still a good solution. The

economic benefits accrued from having more workers in the economy, even those who are illegally hired because of minimum wage laws, outweighs the damages done by a flood of cheap labor.

Finally, for those who are concerned that many immigrants would be out of work and receive entitlements, there is the simple solution of prohibiting them from receiving certain entitlements until they have worked for a certain number of years.

It is now up to the GOP to convince the xenophobic racists in their party that the time has come for them to not ignore the issue, but to attempt to solve it, and that mass deportations are not a political reality. An open borders policy is the best solution from an economic and ethical perspective, despite the fact that it will have many issues due to existing minimum wage laws. ■

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It is now up to the GOP to convince the xenophobic racists in their party that the time has come for them to not ignore the issue, but to attempt to solve it.

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Opinion - 27

THE JUNIOR STATEMENT Issue 5 .

Opinion - 28

THE JUNIOR STATEMENT Issue 5 .

Age is Nothing but a Number Nikhil Thakkar Staff Writer

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OCIETY HAS INEXORABLY INSINUATed that adolescents do not have the power to change the world solely because of their age.

Students specifically have been told that they should simply focus on academics, forgetting to complete the other half of their identity - the part that consists of being an actual person. Kids often forget to follow their passions and live life to the fullest, which is conducive to a very one dimensional life for the respective students, as well as a societal lost to the product a student could have created, had he followed his dreams. Even as students, we have the power to change the world by helping those less fortunate. It is crucial to understand that this potential lies latently within us, no matter how young we may be; it sits there just waiting to spring. It rests in our hearts, beseeching each one of us to show the world who we are, and make an impact on each and every breathing being.

One example is SAFE, the free bilingual alcohol and drug education program I created in December 2012. I believe that SAFE shows the power the students have to change the world, and my hope is that others understand that they too can create something, no matter their age. I want SAFE to stand as a metonymy, proving to other kids the power of dedication, commitment, focus, and heart. Most importantly, I want students to understand the importance of following their dreams.

SAFE stands for ‘Staying Alcohol Free Education’.

Starting in December 2012, I began giving presentations to local high schools and middle schools about the dangers of drinking and drugging as well as the importance of being leaders in their communities.

Because I recognized that there were many students who didn’t speak Spanish, I began doing presentations in English and Spanish, a language I had taught myself. My presentations were unique in that they used stimulating discussion and exciting activity to foster growth among students, instead of simply lecturing them about the harm alcohol and drugs may bring to the body.

As I continued doing presentations, I continued hearing stories about how students in other countries drink for fun. This was corroborated by my experiences in Spain during a study abroad trip, in which I saw students as young as ten years old walking into bars. It was at this point in which I decided to take my program international, and attempt to educate these respective adolescents in these respective Spanish-speaking countries about alcohol and drugs. I realized, however, that if I went to Spain and did only one presentation, my efforts would be close to futile, for one presentation would not be enough to convey

the message.

I decided that I wanted to do weekly presentations for these students, so they would get repeated exposure and would always have a friend to lean on if they need one. This thought led to my presenting via Skype and prerecorded video for students in Spain.

Now, I currently do weekly, online presentations for approximately 50,000 students in schools across 20 countries in 3 continents. SAFE recently gained the support from the F.C. Barcelona franchise. In addition, I have had the remarkable opportunity to speak on national radio as well as be interviewed by those from The Huffington Post, TED and more.

The most important aspect of SAFE to remember, in my opinion, however, is that it was founded and currently is run by a 16 year old student. I hope that other students even younger than I, recognize that they too have the power to make the difference if they just put their heart and soul into what they love. I want other students to realize that they do not have to stem their passions because they are a kid. I encourage each and every person to go out and do something for the world, something that they are passionate about.

We as adolescents don’t have too long before society will call us adults. As the great Steve Jobs says, “don’t waste time living someone else’s life.”

Follow your passions and follow your dreams. Love what you do, and nothing can stop you, not even the ostensibly colossal behemoth that is age. ■

Geneva II power vacuum will be filled with Jihadi elements.

Assad should be tried for war crimes at the Hague.

The US can pressure the Saudis to dial down support for the Sunni Opposition.

HE SYRIAN CIVIL WAR HAS RAGED ON The ‘Capital of the Revolution,’ Homs, has been for close to three years, claiming over 100,000 under siege by pro-government forces since 2012. lives and displacing millions of others. In an ef- Food, medicine, and people were restricted from fort to diffuse the brutal conflict and install a transientering or leaving the city; however, recently the tional government, key states and organizations con- Syrian government has allowed aid into Homs. vened at the UN-sponsored Geneva II Conference on Furthermore, women and children have been given Syria. Due to the marginalization of Iran, along with the opportunity to leave the besieged city. The Syrian the rigid, dogmatic agendas of its participants, the government has agreed to a second round of peace first round of talks have resulted in a stalemate. talks at Geneva, where it hopes to negotiate and go The conflict in Syria is largely a proxy war - rebover the Geneva Communiqué. el groups backed by the US and Saudi Arabia are In order to achieve something at Geneva II, all clashing with the Syrian government, led by Bashar parties need to compromise. Although nations are Al-Assad, backed by Iran and Russia. Saudi Arabia is self-interested actors, they ought to set aside political funding the Sunni radicals that comprise much of the agendas and work towards a pragmatic and realistic Syrian opposition; Iran, on the other hand, is backing end to the Syrian Civil War. The first round of GeneHezbollah, a Shiite militant organization, in support va II talks failed miserably and as Joe Lauria of the of Assad.

Wall Street Journal commented, “They stand pretty Given that Iran and Saudi Arabia play a key role much where they began.” Still, the second round of in the war, their cooperation is of the utmost impor- talks, in which Syria will readily participate, is a step tance if Geneva II is to achieve something. Despite in the direction of a peaceful settlement. ■ this, UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon rescinded Iran’s invitation to the talks following threats of boycott by the Syrian opposition. Iran’s presence at Geneva II would greatly help in reaching a peaceful settlement given close Syrian-Irani ties; alienation of key Syrian allies has only hampered the peace process.

Geneva I, the predecessor to the current peace conference, assembled in June of 2012 and issued the Geneva Communiqué, which aims to bring about a transitional government in Syria; Geneva II aims to implement the Communiqué. On January 22nd, the first day of Geneva II, Secretary of State John Kerry stated, “… Bashar Assad will not be part of that transition government.” Such rhetoric is not going to result in a peace settlement. Geneva II’s top priorities ought to be ending the civil war and getting aid to those who need it. Although a transitional government is important and necessary for future welfare in Syria, it is ludicrous to think that Assad will cooperate in deliberations that completely rule him out of future power.

There’s no questioning the fact that Assad is responsible for the death of thousands of innocents; however, it must be acknowledged that many of the rebel groups that are supported by the US and Saudi Arabia are also responsible for mass atrocities. Moreover, many of them are extremist Muslims and seek to implement Sharia law.

Hypocritical foreign policy on the US’s part certainly does not help the situation. How can the US claim to desire a peaceful settlement of the conflict when Congress is still funding the Syrian opposition?

Regime change is important, but it has to be practical. What will happen after Assad is toppled? The Ahmed Shaw Staff Writer

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Geneva II’s top prioritiesoughtto be ending the civil war and getting aid to those who need it.

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