The Oakland Post 10.26.22

3 BALLOT PROPOSALS

PREVIEW

LOOKING BACK

Cezário

Director lsantos@oakland.edu

Udeozor-Nweke

EDITORIAL BOARD

Gabrielle Abdelmessih Editor-in-Chief gabdelmessih@oakland.edu

Tori Coker Content Editor toricoker@oakland.edu

Megan Parker Managing Editor meganparker@oakland.edu

EDITORS

Christopher Estrada Co-Photo Editor cestrada@oakland.edu

Brock Heilig Sports Editor brockheilig@oakland.edu

Arianna Heyman Features Editor aheyman@oakland.edu

Joe Zerilli Campus Editor jzerilli@oakland.edu

Gabby Gappy SciTech Editor gabriellegappy@oakland.edu

Bella Javier Arts Editor isabellajavier@oakland.edu

DISTRIBUTION

Sam Poudal Distribution Director spoudal@oakland.edu

Distributor

REPORTERS

ADVISING

Garry Gilbert Editorial Adviser gjgilber@oakland.edu 248.370.2105

Don Ritenburgh Business Adviser ritenbur@oakland.edu 248.370.2533

Letter from the editor: Vote

GABRIELLE ABDELMESSIH Editor-in-Chief

Welcome to Issue 10 of Vol. 48!

Because of the final gubernatorial debate being hosted at Oakland University, The Post decided to make this issue a “special edition” delving into all things politics.

Yes, you read that correctly. Everything in this issue — from Campus to Arts to SciTech and Features — focuses on the state of politics in Michigan and what you need to know as an informed voter before Election Day.

And, as a Gen Z staff, you can be assured there will be a few opinion and scintillating satire pieces as well.

The Post will be reporting on the gubernatorial debate, so stay tuned to our website and social media pages for that coverage.

I’d like to thank all of my fellow Posties for their hard work on this issue.

Thanks for reading! We appreciate your continued support.

Letter from the editor: Vote

Growing up, my little brother hated losing. Sorry to throw you under the bus, Al, but it’s true.

Screaming. Crying. The five stages of grief. You name it, he felt it.

This was a known phenomenon in the Abdelmessih household.

My family even had a priest over from our Catholic school for dinner once, and Alex, after losing a spirited game of Wii Tennis, proceeded to have a full meltdown, telling Father Dan the only reason he won was because he had the better remote.

We were all very grateful to the engineers

at Wii for incorporating wrist tethers into their remote design.

You couldn’t play a game of checkers without him tossing the pieces aside and flipping the board over.

But he was six, and these were childhood games.

In the past ten years, I can proudly report that my brother Alex has matured significantly and knows how to win with humility and lose with grace.

I wish I could say the same for a concerning number of American citizens, including those in politics, who have forgotten how to win with humility and lose with grace.

It’s that time of year when your Twitter feed, TV, radio and even commute to work start to look a little crazy.

Political ads, hashtags, signs and discourse bombard you from the left and the right.

And voters are at the center of it all, trying to figure out who they want and what they want from their local, state and national government leadership.

It has been said that all politics are local. With that in mind, The Post implores you to research the candidates on your ballot.

Far too often, we go to the ballot box or vote by mail-in ballot without all of the pertinent information one needs to make an educated vote.

School board candidates, university candidates, local government candidates, judges and law enforcement leadership candidates often have a much more meaningful and direct impact on our dayto-day lives, both positively and negatively, than our national leadership.

Recently, there was significant public discourse in the Dearborn school district

regarding the content of materials taught in school.

These decisions as to what children do and do not learn are often made at the local school board level.

As you can imagine, leadership in law enforcement and members of the judicial branch that are up for election can have profound impacts on the quality of life in our counties, cities and townships.

As a university community, it is imperative that our voices, concerns and values are reflected in the candidates we elect.

This is not the time for complacency and passivity.

If you are satisfied with the current leadership, renew that support.

If you are dissatisfied, this is your chance to set things straight.

Between now and Nov. 8, you have the power to determine our collective future by casting your vote.

Democracy is on the line.

If you feel like you were robbed in 2020, make your voice heard through the ballot box now.

Not through post-election innuendo trafficking, alternative fact smuggling and investments in insurrection.

The right to vote and the willingness to do so are not the same things. It is astounding that we as a nation have such a low voter turnout, considering that we are the standard bearer of democracy across the globe.

Don’t be like my brother Alex when he was six.

Educate yourself, make an informed vote, and win with humility or lose with grace.

And remember the next election cycle is always around the corner (we hope).

OU alumni share stories of working with state government

PAYTON BUCKI Campus Reporter

Oakland University alumni working for the Michigan state government visited OU to share their personal experiences in politics and current job responsibilities during a panel and Q&A on Oct. 18 in the Oakland Center Habitat.

Attendees were welcomed to the event with introductions from the three alumni. Each panelist explained how their collegiate education prepared them for their current positions.

After earning her bachelor’s degree in journalism at OU in 1994, panelist Melanie Brown decided to pursue work in state government. She currently serves as deputy chief of staff to Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

“I came to OU knowing I wanted to go into politics,” Brown said. “Even though I didn’t want to be the ‘name on the door,’ I love being a part of the army of people that supports a politician whose values align with my own.”

Conversely, panelist Shaquila Meyers had never considered a career in politics during her undergraduate years. She graduated from OU with a bachelor’s in health science — however, she soon realized the healthcare field was not the right fit for her.

Meyers returned back to OU to earn her master’s degree in public administration. She spent an extensive period of time gaining experience in policy before becoming senior advisor to Whitmer in 2022.

“I decided to work in politics on the macro level because I wanted to make a big impact,” Meyers said. “I had no plans on staying at first, but I found that I truly loved working in the field of public policy.”

The youngest alumni panelist was Johnathan Wertheimer, a 2019 graduate. Wertheimer currently works as the policy director/chief of staff for State Representative Brenda Carter.

“I became extremely interested in politics after taking a class on Michigan Politics and Policy during my undergrad,” Wertheimer said. “The class allowed me to understand how Michigan’s state government works, which was extremely fascinating.”

After explaining how they got involved in state politics, the panelists spoke about their current responsibilities. One big topic discussed was how their offices dealt with the pandemic.

Wertheimer acknowledged that the pandemic was a difficult time for everyone, as the lack of face-to-face interaction caused staff relationships to suffer. However, he explained that he and his colleagues were able to adapt to the challenges and move forward together.

“Due to the pandemic, we are now more aware of the technology we have in front of us,” Wertheimer said. “It is interesting to see how we adapted and used resources to our advantage during this difficult time.”

Audience members were given the opportunity to ask the panelists questions. One attendee asked panelists what they would say to students who feel discouraged politically.

Brown spoke passionately about this topic, assuring the room that each and every vote matters. She explained that voting and advocacy are powerful tools that allow our voices to be heard.

“We cannot build the communities we want, the jobs we want or the lives we want without everyone’s participation,” Brown said.

As the panel concluded, the event moderator reminded the audience that Michigan’s final gubernatorial debate between Whitmer and Republican Party nominee Tudor Dixon will be held on Oct. 25 at OU, closed to the public. Additionally, students are encouraged to be on the lookout in the spring for information regarding OU Day at the Capitol, an event that will allow OU students to visit Michigan’s Capitol building.

OU students share opinions on 2022 midterm election

AUTUMN OKUSZKA Features Editor

With Election Day rapidly approaching, Michigan voters have a lot of thoughts on who and what they’re going to vote for. Whether it be the gubernatorial election or the three proposals on the ballot, Oakland University students have opinions to share on the 2022 midterm election.

Democrat Gretchen Whitmer was first elected governor of Michigan in 2018. Her campaign promises for her re-election reflect what she has worked on the past four years — education investment, creating new jobs and as she puts it — “fixing the damn roads.”

Although Whitmer’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic is widely debated, junior India Flournoy believes she handled it well, and that is one of the reasons why she is voting for her as governor.

“The way she handled COVID — she did the best that she could [...] to keep everyone safe and try to lower the numbers [of COVID-19 cases],” Flournoy said.

Whitmer’s opponent, Republican nominee Tudor Dixon, is a former conservative news host. She has not held political office before, but says that she will offer a fresh perspective on Michigan’s state government.

Dixon has made campaign promises ranging from reducing personal income tax to protecting the second amendment. She is also focused on reducing crime rates, which is what caught junior Javier Lebron’s attention.

“She’s trying to focus on limiting crime [and] keeping hard against crime laws,” Lebron said. “It’s

mostly the crime and other economic issues that she has my attention for.”

Dixon has also made her stance as anti-abortion a part of her platform following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022. While Whitmer immediately filed a motion in the Michigan Supreme Court to protect the constitutional right to abortion, Dixon would likely strip abortion rights as governor. In an interview with Michigan Information & Research Service (MIRS) Monday, she said that there should be “no exceptions” to getting an abortion unless it came down to the health of the mother.

Lebron is not in favor of Dixon’s proposed restriction of reproductive rights, stating that she shouldn’t make it a part of her candidacy.

“I believe that everyone should be able to do [what they want] with [their] body,” he said.

Reproductive rights will be a prevalent issue on the ballot, with Proposal Three involving the protection of reproductive rights. According to a recent poll by WDIV Local 4, 61.6% of Michigan voters said they would support the proposal.

This upcoming election will be freshman Emma Garrett’s first time voting in a major election, and she is excited to vote on something as groundbreaking as Proposal Three.

“I have been a big supporter of abortion rights since I knew what it was,” Garrett said. “It was very, very important to me to vote yes on Proposal Three.”

The idea of Proposal Three not passing is frightening to Garrett — not only for her sake, but for other “uterusowners” as well.

“It is so scary as a young ‘uterus-owner,’” Garrett said. “The thought of not having a say in what happens with my body, the thought of not having a say in what I can do — it’s terrifying.”

No matter where students stand on the gubernatorial election and the proposals on the ballot, Jeremy Johnson, director of executive platform at OU Student Congress, believes that it’s important to get out and vote.

“Eventually, our political systems will be ours to inherit,” Johnson said. “If we aren’t engaging in that process [of voting] now, it’s going to be very difficult to deal with problems down the line.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS

PHOTO COUTESY OF DAVID MARVIN Photo of the Michigan State Capitol.

Letter to the editor: Election Day, Nov. 8

JEREMY JOHNSON Contributor

Democracy, in its literal translation from the Latin word, means rule of the people — yet it rarely feels like the people have control over our politics. A core requirement of democracy is that the population be active participants — otherwise, government does not function based on the will of the people.

It seems commonplace to assume that the government does not and cannot work for us, but a world where politics aims to service the needs of the entire population isn’t far away — we just need to create it. Although voting is not the only way to attain progress, it is still an indispensable one that we must take advantage of with every chance we get.

The importance of voting is especially prominent in the state and local races you’ll find on the second half for your ballot. While national politics receive most of the attention, state and local officials have the largest impact on your day to day life, and your vote is considerably more powerful in those races. Even though they are not the flashiest elections to watch, your district attorney, district judges, city council and school board play an enormous role in the direction of your community.

Moreover, Michigan has three proposals on the ballot this year for term limits and financial disclosure, voting rights and access to reproductive healthcare. If you feel strongly about these issues, which many people do, then casting your vote is vital. Very rarely are we offered the chance to directly shape policy, and this is one of those opportunities.

It is easy to feel discouraged when thinking about politics, especially today in our hyper-polarized political climate. However, democracy can only function if we make it function. Democracy requires an engaged population, one that cares deeply about protecting each other, and if voting accomplished nothing of value, millions of people from prior generations would not have spent so much time ensuring that all of us can vote today.

For the students reading this: one day, this country and its political power will be ours to inherit. It’s time to start

making it work for us.

We can rip the world in half with our bare hands if we want to, but we have to want to. Political systems focused on the protection and expansion of our rights won’t come into existence just because it’s ideal — we have to make it happen, and it’ll take all of us.

Democracy requires active participation and a regard for others. If you need a reason to vote outside of your own personal interests, vote for your family, for your friends, for those you care about. If politics and policy don’t directly impact your life, think of someone whose life is impacted and cast a vote with them in mind.

If you need to get registered to vote, find your polling location, find your clerk’s office or anything else, visit

mi.gov/vote. Online voter registration closed Oct. 24, so make sure to go in person to your clerk’s office if you still need to register.

Cast your vote on Nov. 8. Polls close at 8 p.m.

Signed, Jeremy Johnson Director of Executive Platform, Oakland University Student Congress

PHOTO BY THE OAKLAND POST

OUSC’s MI Voting Guide

OUSC

Contributor

Voting in Michigan

Make sure you’re eligible to vote

You must be:

A U.S. citizen

18 years old on or before election day

At least a 30 day resident of the Michigan city or township you are voting in.

Be registered to vote

You can register:

BY MAIL : You can complete an mail registration application to register if it arrives at your local clerk’s office 15 days or more before an election.

both online and paper voter registration applications online at www.mi.gov/vote.

Vote absentee

Voting by mail allows you to cast your vote without going to your polling location. You can vote absentee:

BY MAIL : You must complete an absentee ballot application to vote absentee, either by mail, in person, or online. Once you receive your absentee ballot, you must turn your absentee ballot into your clerk’s office by no later than 8pm on Election Day by mail or at a ballot dropbox.

IN PERSON : At your clerk’s office, you can fill out an absentee ballot up until 8pm on the day of the election.

IN PERSON : You can register in person up to and on Election Day by completing a voter registration application and turning it into your local clerk’s office. If it is less than 14 days before Election Day, make sure to bring a state issued ID to register in person.

ONLINE : You can register online up to 15 days before the election. This is only available to those with a Michigan driver’s license or a valid Michigan state ID. Online registration is not available after October 24th.

Absentee ballots can be tracked and applications can be found at www.mi.gov/vote

* NOTE: the Michigan Secretary of State’s office recommends sending your absentee ballot to your clerk’s office at least two weeks before Election Day. To avoid mail delays, you can drop your ballot off at your clerk’s ballot dropbox. If your ballot is not at your clerk’s office by the time polls close on Election Day, your ballot will not be counted.*

Vote in person

You can register to vote if you are 17 only if you turn 18 on or before Election Day, more information on early registration can be found here. You can find

EARLY : You can go to your clerk’s office before any election to vote early. Early voting begins 40 days before an election.

ELECTION DAY : You can go to your polling place in person on Election Day to cast your ballot.

Important Election Dates for Michigan State General Election - November 8, 2022 Reminders

If it is less than two weeks before Election Day and you have not requested an absentee ballot, it may not arrive on time. To ensure your vote is counted, voting early in person or voting on Election Day may be the best practice.

Online voter registration closes on October 24th. If you have not registered after October 24th, visit your clerk’s office. Information on everything in this guide is available at mi.gov/vote.

Have other questions?

If you have other questions about voting, visit www.mi.gov/vote for more information. You can also contact the Director of Executive Platform for the Oakland University Student Congress at jeremyjohnson@oakland.edu.

PHOTO BY OAKLAND UNIVERSITY NEWS

Review of Michigan’s three ballot proposals for Nov. 8

PAYTON BUCKI Campus Reporter

On this year’s Election Day — Nov. 8, 2022 — Michiganders will decide on three state ballot proposals. The proposals focus on issues regarding early voting, term limit reform, voting transparency and reproductive rights.

Proposal 1: Voters for Transparency and Term Limits

If passed, Voters for Transparency and Term Limits would amend the state constitution to reduce the maximum length of time a legislator may serve from 14 years to 12 years. The initiative would also require state politicians to disclose certain financial information.

Currently, Michigan is one of two states that does not require state political leaders to disclose financial information. This measure would require lawmakers and executive officials to provide annual financial disclosure reports regarding their earnings, assets and gifts from lobbyists.

In brief, the proposal intends to increase transparency among elected officials in Michigan’s state government. Supporters argue that the measure would allow legislators to focus on serving their constituents while spending more time in one position.

Although Voters for Transparency and Term Limits is backed by a bipartisan coalition, there are several outspoken critics of the proposal. Opponents say the measure would allow current legislators to serve up to twice as long, which may severely decrease the turnover rate in the Legislature.

Proposal 2: Promote the Vote 2022

Promote the Vote 2022, Michigan’s second ballot proposal, would amend the state constitution to increase the accessibility of voting for all. The initiative is sponsored by several voting-rights groups, including Promote the Vote Michigan, the ACLU of Michigan, Voters Not Politicians, the League of Women Voters of Michigan and All Voting is Local.

Some voting reform measures included in the proposal aim to allow nine days of early voting, subsidize absentee ballots and continue to allow registered voters to cast ballots without ID if they sign an affidavit. The proposal intends to increase voter flexibility, privacy and accessibility while simultaneously protecting voting security.

Promote the Vote 2022 was heavily criticized before it was approved for the ballot, as challengers argued that sponsors of the proposal failed to include that the initiative would repeal existing sections of the constitution if passed. Additionally, critics explain that the proposed measures may lead to heightened costs and security concerns, specifically regarding absentee voting.

Supporters of the proposal believe that the measure is integral in protecting the voting ability of all eligible voters, regardless of party affiliation. They believe that this initiative would remove barriers to voting, effectively strengthening democracy in Michigan

Proposal 3: Reproductive Freedom for All The third proposal on Michiganders’ election ballots is Reproductive Freedom for All, a measure that would amend the state constitution to make reproductive freedom a right if passed. In turn, this would repeal a 1931 law banning abortion in Michigan.

The ballot committee for the cause began collecting signatures in the spring. The petition gained popularity after Roe v. Wade was overturned this past June, amassing over 735,000 valid signatures — a record number for the state.

The proposal was challenged by opponents due to spacing errors and confusing language. However, the Michigan Supreme Court certified the proposal, reasoning that it had met all legal requirements.

Out of the three proposed amendments on the Michigan ballot, Proposal 3 seems to be the most controversial. Some critics worry that the proposal may invalidate other abortion regulations, whereas others simply disagree with the morality of abortion.

Supporters point to early polling that suggests a majority of Michiganders oppose the overruling of Roe v. Wade. Considering that Reproductive Freedom for All would essentially restore the rights the Roe reversal took away from Michigan citizens, sponsors of the proposal are highly confident in its passage.

mvic.sos.state.mi.us

This is a sample of the ballot voters will see in Precinct 1, where OU is located. To see the ballot of your precinct, visit https://mvic. sos.state.mi.us/PublicBallot/Index. It will show you any ballot in any precinct of the state for the upcoming election. For more information regarding candidates or issues on the ballot, Vote411 is a nonpartisan online resource available. For more informa tion about the proposals on the state ballot, read pg. 7 of this issue.

How STEM influences elections

GABRIELLE GAPPY

Science and Technology Editor

Many science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students often have one thing on their mind while in school: STEM. With the intense, all encompassing nature of STEM courses, it may be difficult to focus on or deeply pay attention to anything else. This has widespread implications for many fields, including politics.

It was found that college students with STEM majors had the lowest voting rate during the 2012 and 2016 national elections (Lsureveille). Students at Louisiana State University described their STEM classes lacking lessons concerning politics and civil issues science aims to fix.

STEM students make up a large portion of young adult voters, and their votes and voices matter. In society today, science and politics are more intertwined than one might think.

“In a thriving democracy, society forms politics, politics controls science and science informs both society and politics,” Ubadah Sabbagh said in Scientific American.

Sabbagh’s view is especially true for conducting scientific research. Policies may dictate what research may be conducted or not, as well as how this information is distributed to the public. Results from research may go on to change countless numbers of lives and make groundbreaking discoveries.

PHOTO COURTESY THE OAKLAND POST

Leaders elected can have control over how much funding is allocated for certain projects and pressing issues. Climate change is one that remains on the rise, so it is imperative that factors such as these are kept in mind during elections. This also

has an impact on the number of and types of jobs available for STEM majors.

It is also important to ensure that those in pivotal positions adhere to ethics in the sciences and in scientific research (Scientific American). Although it may not seem like it, extreme breaches of morality and ethics in clinical research such as the Tuskegee Experiment — which watched the natural progression of syphilis in hundreds of African men for decades, failing to provide treatment even when one became available (CDC) — really did not occur that long ago.

Furthermore, STEM majors are likely to be better versed in issues related to these fields. Staying aware of politicians’ plans and policies in these areas sets a precedent for others who may not have as much knowledge. This can lay the groundwork for educating people to make sure that they are making well informed decisions when voting (Red and Black).

In addition to STEM related impacts, voting is important for several other widespread reasons. Every student has likely heard the phrase, “you are the future.” As intimidating as it may sound, this statement holds truth — what happens now with elections and politics in part shapes that future.

Therefore, in any type of classroom all over the country, education concerning voting, elections and policies in related fields should be established. It is important to remain a well versed and well rounded person in society no matter what field someone is in.

Where Whitmer and Dixon stand on climate change

RACHEL YIM

Science and Technology Reporter

The earth is warming much more quickly than scientists had predicted, according to a report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published last year. This could lead to permafrost thawing and extreme weather such as floods, wildfires, prolonged droughts, sea level rise, melting ice sheets and the loss of wildlife habitat. The world and the state of Michigan have already started to experience some of these events.

Therefore, the importance of the climate change issue cannot be underestimated in any way.

Despite the fact that climate change was not mentioned in any of Michigan’s campaign talking points, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel have proposed a number of initiatives since 2019 that are ultimately intended to minimize the effects of global warming and other forms of environmental degradation.

Last year, Whitmer released the MI Healthy Climate Plan that aims to make the entire economy carbon neutral by 2050. The objective includes maintaining net negative greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) after 2050 with interim reductions of 28 percent by 2025 and 52 percent by 2030.

“Michigan has been impacted by climate change, from a polar vortex and historic floods to dam breaks and week-long power outages,” Whitmer said back in April 2022. “The MI Healthy Climate Plan

identifies actions we can take to address climate change head-on, lower costs for Michiganders, ensure every Michigan worker has a good-paying, sustainable job and every family has clean air, water and a home powered by clean, reliable energy.”

According to Derrell Slaughter, Michigan clean energy advocate at Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and secretary of the Council on Climate Solutions, the MI Healthy Climate Plan has the potential to speed up Michigan’s usage of clean energy that will benefit everyone in the long run.

On the other hand, Republican gubernatorial nominee Tudor Dixon’s administration did not provide us with clear answers on the MI Healthy Climate Plan and Michigan’s participation in the Paris Climate Accords.

“This is a Whitmer devil whammy,” Dixon said back in Aug. 22, when the Ford Motor Company announced plans to cut up to 3,000 salaried jobs in an effort to develop electric vehicles. “It’s not only the fact that she supports the Green New Deal, but she [also] has no relationship with our largest job creators in the state. They even came out and publicly said we don’t even have a Michigan bid on our electric vehicles business because we don’t believe they’re in the game with us. She supports policies that are driving jobs right out of our state.”

Here is statement from Dixon’s spokesperson about Dixon’s stance on the climate change issue:

“Tudor believes that the climate is changing but does not support kneecapping our economy

for Whitmer’s radical Green New Deal,” Sara Broadwater, Dixon’s spokesperson, said. “We know that heavy polluters like China and India aren’t going to change their ways, and even John Kerry admitted that the U.S. could go to net zero emissions tomorrow and it wouldn’t have any impact on worldwide conditions. Our farmers and business owners are inherently inclined to protect our environment and are innovating to find meaningful solutions.”

Neither candidate has specifically discussed their environment policies — we will have to keep an eye on the second debate on OU’s campus on Tuesday, Oct. 25.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRIDGEMI

Looking back: A conversation with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed about health disparities

GABRIELLE ABDELMESSIH Campus Editor

This article was originally published on Nov. 15, 2021.

This past week, I had the honor of interviewing Dr. Abdul El-Sayed physician, epidemiologist, author,and former Michigan gubernatorial candidate about how healthcare policy and politics intersect, how young people can get involved in reducing healthcare disparities, among other topics.

For the sake of brevity, some of my questions and Dr. El-Sayed’s responses are abridged, but the video, including full content, is on our Youtube page and attached to this article.

Here’s part of my conversation with Dr. El-Sayed: Abdelmessih: Why did you choose a career in public health?

El-Sayed: My motivation for a career in medicine was in large part because of my grandmother. She was the wisest most intelligent person I’ve ever met but never got to go to school. She grew up in mid-century Egypt, where, at that time, the combination of poverty, misogyny and colonialism robbed her of the opportunity to have an education. Part of the consequence was that she had eight kids. Two died before the age of one. I wanted to be the kind of doctor who could protect kids — kids like them, and people like her.

While there’s some amazing doctors who do amazing work in our healthcare system, unfortunately, the way that we have decided we’re going to allocate medical care is part of the problem in our country. I wanted to be the kind of doctor who worked on the system rather than in the system, which led me to a career in public health, which, of course, is about all of the things outside of clinics and hospitals that make people sick in the first place: the air that they breathe, the water that they drink, the communities that they live in, the way that society allocates resources, whether or not they have a good home that is stable, whether or not they are being policed by overzealous government officials, whether or not they have a community that respects them and protects them, all of those things shape people’s health in ways and so I wanted to be a part of addressing that.

Abdelmessih: Given your work and educational background, it’s no surprise to you that we’ve just gone through and are still going through one of the most divisive and confusing times in U.S.history when it comes to the intersection of politics and healthcare. In your experience, what is the most profound way that politics, healthcare policy and healthcare delivery intersect from both a positive and a negative perspective?

El-Sayed: Well, we’re living through it. We’re living in a time that is defined by a major pandemic, which is arguably the worst in history, in recorded history. At the same time, while we’ve been able to, amazingly, innovative a vaccine in less than a year, we’re coming up against the fact that one of the oldest technologies is getting in the way, and that’s public trust. Do you trust the people around you? Do you trust the edifices of government? Do you trust the systems of science? Unfortunately, too few people do, and so in some respects, it is amazing that we have a vaccine as fast as we do and it’s also amazing upwards of 30% of adults still haven’t gotten fully vaccinated yet. I think we are watching as policy, politics, and public health collide in a pretty profound way.

Abdelmessih: In your book, “Medicare for All,” you talk about how people organizing to change hearts and minds led to the Supreme Court’s legalization of same-sex marriage in the U.S. How do you change hearts and minds regarding the presence of health disparities in the U.S., and the problems that it presents, and that reducing those disparities is beneficial for society?

I think it’s both easier and harder now, or in this particular case, than in the example that we talked about the book that I think is a really great example of how organizing can really move a public conversation. On the one hand, everybody experiences healthcare, every single person, and you don’t have to go very far to appreciate how our healthcare system fails people whether it’s 67% of all personal bankruptcies in America or just the experience of having to fight your insurance company for healthcare you’ve already thought you’ve paid for.

In the midst of a pandemic, there are big questions about why did our healthcare system fail so immensely, both from the preventive side, on the public health side, and then also on the curative side and the fact that we suffered more deaths per capita than any other country in the world. In some respect, people have their own experiences to draw on, and then the other side, there is a vested interest in maintaining the status quo because it makes people a lot of money, and they will work really hard to push back against any of that organizing through paid advertising and other means of trying to influence public debate.

At the same time, I do think that the example that you brought up, marriage equality, offers us the opportunity to remind ourselves that, actually, we have to keep pushing. In the end, the point that you made about equity is important because, for folks who do have rather relatively reliable health insurance, it would be easy to just step back and say, ‘Well, you know, in a rigged game, I’m winning, and so why should I care about

the game?’

I don’t want to live in a society, I don’t think anyone of us should want to live in a society, where we know our sister or our brother doesn’t have access to something as simple and profound and critical as health insurance if they get sick. I think that is the responsibility that we bring to this is to say look for those of us who have power, and are winning in this particular rigged game, we have to ask ourselves whether or not we want to be winners in a broken game, or whether or not we have the responsibility to ally together — all together — to guarantee that access to health insurance and healthcare for every person in our country because it is a right to and because it a right and because it’s the right thing to do.

Abdelmessih: Do you think that institutions of higher learning and insurance companies play a role in healthcare disparities?

El-Sayed: There’s no doubt the health insurance industry is a big reason why we have the kinds of health disparities that we have in our country. We have a tiered system, where, if you are low income, you get worse healthcare. The reimbursement for the care for your body is lower, which implicitly means that we value that body lower than we value the body of someone had money to pay for a better insurance plan. That is fundamentally inequitable, and it patterns the kind of health care that people get to receive if they get to receive health care at all. Of course, many people in our society, in fact, 10% of our society does not have health insurance, and we cannot forget that.

I do think that the cost of training is an important issue here, and so far I think, you’re seeing a sort of imbalance in the kinds of disciplines that physicians choose after they graduate medical school, because they want to pay down their loans.

Abdelmessih: Also in your book, “Medicare for All,” and especially reading your books, watching multiple interviews, following you on social media and your campaign to run for governor, through thos platforms, I’ve noticed that you are very intentional with your words. I was pleasantly surprised by a particular choice you made in a sentence in the book. I’ll read it for you if that’s okay. [Book Quote:] “If history is any guide, a serious push for Medicare for All will require a president that makes Medicare for All a significant piece of her platform.” Can you elaborate on the pronoun you used to describe a future president?

El-Sayed: I think it is rather absurd that in a country that reports the values that we do, that we have not yet had a non-male president. I think that that is something that we’re due up for and I do hope that when she is elected she is a

supporter of Medicare for All.

Abdelmessih: You are a staunch advocate for young people getting involved in politics and mobilizing societal change. To the young people like myself that are pursuing a career in medicine, healthcare, or any other field that intersects with public health: What, in your view, should we be mindful of when considering the inequity of health and health care in the United States? What tangible things can we do at this stage in our education?

El-Sayed: I think most importantly is be involved and be involved in ways that are thoughtful and focus beyond one’s own career, but are really about advocating for folks who don’t have the same kinds of fortune and the same kinds of opportunity that you do, and that means I think being intentional about building community, beyond the sort of organizing factors of our lives.

We tend to engage with people who are very similar to us. I think one has to be really intentional about saying I’m going to think beyond my own demographic and really try to build communities that are inclusive intentionally. If you can do that, then I think you can harness that experience and that intentionality into the kind of organizing, and the kind of leadership that we need in society.

When it comes to health care, there’s nothing more profound to any individual than their own health. You start taking that away from people, even in small pieces, it becomes overwhelmingly the most important thing that they think about every day. Bringing an empathy for that, and a recognition of what we ought to have, and what we’d want, if we were born in different circumstances, without the same socioeconomic opportunities and if we were born on the wrong side of marginalization in our society, what we would want for society to offer everybody, and to be fighting for those things.

PHOTO COURTESY OF EL-SAYED Dr. Abdul El-Sayed - physician, epidemiologist, author, and former Michigan gubernatorial candidate

Political discourse and book bans

D’JUANNA LESTER Arts Reporter

Art is something that is special to many people. From books, to films, to paintings and more, art is an avenue of thought and expression. Not only is art a creative outlet — it can be revolutionary.

The arts are an outlet for creatives to express themselves freely with the world. Sometimes, it’s more than that. Representation through art is something that many people aspire to see. Seeing yourself through art is an indescribable feeling.

In more recent years, we’ve seen an increase in the relationship between art and politics. More art seems to be criticized and banned than in years past. Politicians seem to be getting in on the reactive craze, trying to ban multiple forms of media — especially books.

Art can reflect the views of the artist behind the creation, and this extends to politics as well. Art can give the audience a feel for the artist’s political views and what they believe in. Even more than that, it can be used to address things people don’t want to discuss.

Art has been used to address several topics, as well as to engage with massive audiences. While many forms of media nowadays are being criticized as being “too political,” I think there’s a reason for this. Art is something that a lot of people have a connection to — it can influence and educate an audience in a way that other mediums can’t.

The opportunity to teach through art is something that shouldn’t be overlooked. The political climate in this day and age is complicated, to say the least. People can use art to tell stories and bring awareness to things that some may not even be aware of, at least not to their full extent.

Things such as freedom of expression and diversity in art have been turned into a political circus now. You can’t go five minutes without hearing about certain books banned by concerned parents and politicians. So much of art is being politicized now, it’s hard to escape.

This problem is more evident now as country wide book bans have been sweeping the nation. Politicians are actively trying to ban books pertaining to certain topics in schools, expressing concerns over what their children are learning about.

Many of these banned works discuss topics of race, gender and sexuality. There is a growing movement

to keep these books out of children’s hands. This loss of access to works of literature is the result of politicians fearing “inappropriate” content being passed down to the youth of our nation.

I find it very interesting that there is a movement to “protect” children from inappropriate forms of art rather than one to physically protect them from actual danger that is present. This form of censorship shows how powerful art can be.

When used to teach, art can impact and benefit communities. Censoring art implies these stories shouldn’t be told, which is the opposite of what we should be teaching.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE OAKLAND POST

The best protest songs to listen to this Election Day

AUTUMN OKUSZKA

Features Reporter

Whether they came out during the Vietnam War era or they address problems facing humanity today, protest songs are a great way to feel connected to social and political movements. Here are some of the best songs to listen to when heading to the polls this Election Day.

“Ohio” — Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

The Kent State Massacre occurred in May 1970 when four students were killed by the Ohio National Guard during a protest of the invasion of Cambodia during the Vietnam War. “Ohio” came to fruition just days after the tragedy, after Neil Young saw what is now a Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph of 14-year-old Mary Ann Vecchio kneeling over the dead body of Jeffrey Miller.

Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young recorded the song, and within weeks of the tragedy it was played on radio stations across America. The song

echoed the growing negative feelings on the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War, and strikes followed which not only protested the war, but the massacre at Kent State.

“If I Can Dream” — Elvis Presley

Two months after Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, “If I Can Dream” was written for the end of Presley’s “‘68 Comeback Special.” Knowing of Presley’s adoration of King and his heartbreak over his death, lyricist Walter Earl Brown penned lyrics reminiscent of King’s famed “I Have a Dream” speech.

The production of the “‘68 Comeback Special” and “If I Can Dream” was recently covered in Baz Luhrmann’s biopic about the rockstar.

“Born in the U.S.A.” — Bruce Springsteen

Although many have mistaken the song’s catchy chorus as a nationalistic anthem — including former president Ronald Reagan — Springsteen’s 1984 hit actually details the alienation of Vietnam veterans upon their return from the war.

Over 1.8 million men were drafted in the Vietnam War, and many of those who returned felt they were completely isolated from the country they’d fought to serve. “Born in the U.S.A.” validates this idea through lyrics which detail the story of a veteran who cannot get a job or help from the U.S. government, which turned a blind eye to many veterans after the war.

“This Is America” — Childish Gambino

Childish Gambino — a.k.a. Donald Glover — released “This Is America” in 2018, at the same time he was hosting an episode of Saturday Night Live. The song addresses police brutality, gun violence and mass shootings in the U.S., and how racism plays a role in each of these issues.

Through lyrics such as “this a celly, that’s a tool,” Gambino likely references Philando Castile, whose death was live streamed after being shot by a police officer.

The music video — which was ranked at 10 on Billboard’s list of the best music videos of the 21st century — has its own references. When Gambino shoots a church choir in the music video, he is believed to be referencing the 2015 Charleston church shooting.

“The Pill” — Loretta Lynn

Following the recent death of the coal miner’s daughter, Loretta Lynn’s controversial 1975 song came back into the limelight. “The Pill” details the freedoms and choices made available to women after birth control was invented in 1960. Due to its subject matter, certain country radio stations

refused to play the song.

“The Pill” alluded to Lynn’s personal life — she had six children with husband Oliver Lynn. Soon after the song was released, Lynn said that if she’d had access to birth control when she was having children, she would’ve taken it “like popcorn.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF JUNNE ALCANTARA VIA THE WASHINGTON POST

ART BY EMILY IATROU AT THE OAKLAND POST

PHOTO COURTESY OF PORTLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHONDALAND

The importance of voting and representation

D’JUANNA LESTER Arts Reporter

On Saturday, Oct. 15, Oakland University Student Congress (OUSC) attended the kickoff event for the Lieutenant Governor’s MI First Vote initiative in Southfield, Michigan. Vice President Kamala Harris was in attendance, urging young people to get out and vote.

Attending this event reminded me of the importance of voting, especially as a young leader. Throughout the day, I was reminded that as a young leader, it is my responsibility to participate — and that includes voting. Doing so, especially in these dire election seasons, is actually critical.

Hearing our country’s Vice President speak was not only a source of inspiration as a young leader, but a source of inspiration in terms of representation. Harris shows young girls that nothing is impossible.

In times where things feel impossibly hopeless and our goals seem too distant, a glimmer of hope is something that girls like me need. Girls like me need to see ourselves in these positions of power to know that these opportunities exist for us.

Harris acknowledged the difficulties we’ve faced over the past few years. Graduating, starting college and having so many things in our life shift. These past couple of years have not been easy for anyone — and yet, we’re taking action. One way I want to take action

this year is voting.

Voting has always been something that’s vital for me, though with so many issues happening at the same time, it can feel overwhelming. One way I combat that is knowing I’m doing my part — by not only voting, but also by encouraging others around me to vote. It’s one of the best parts of being in OUSC this year — doing our part as leaders to talk about voting is something I’m proud of.

Many people may take the right to vote for granted. People underestimate the importance of voting and what role young people play in our future. The right to vote, especially for marginalized identities, has not come easy. Voting is something that has huge stakes, and has come at great costs.

Voting isn’t necessarily the only way to make a difference, but it is a very important one, and you should exercise your right to vote every time there’s an election. Elections play a huge part in our future, and young people get a chance to shape that future by showing up and participating during election seasons.

For so long I’ve wondered what I could do as a young leader in a time of political uncertainty. The many social issues that are currently being debated in this country and the discourse surrounding them has left many people feeling powerless, myself included. Voting gives people the power to make their voices heard and impact their communities at the local, state

and national level.

Election Day is Nov. 8, 2022. Polls will close at 8 p.m. on this day. I encourage everyone to learn about candidates and ballot proposals to cast an educated vote. Participation is key, especially right now, when so many policies and social issues remain unresolved and on the line.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DETROIT NEWS Vice President Kamala Harris visited Metro Detroit ahead of election day to discuss voting and the semiconductor chip shortage.

SATIRE: Horror icons I think would be fit as politicians

JOE ZERILLI

Campus Editor

Halloween is just around the corner, and everything is getting more and more spooky: the weather, the movies, the costumes, the thought of Tudor Dixon becoming our governor — just downright terrifying! For someone with a bachelor’s in psychology, she sure has some pretty crazy takes.

Besides Dixon’s political views being scary, she has done some pretty frightening stuff in the past — including starring in low-budget horror movies and shows. I’m not joking, she has her own IMDb page. Please do yourself a favor and look up “Buddy BeBop vs. the Living Dead” and “Transitions: The Series,” as they need to be cherished by everyone. Sadly, the latter can’t be found to watch (or, at least, I can’t find it anywhere), but “Buddy BeBop” is available on Amazon Prime Video.

Anyways, learning of this made me consider what it would be like if different horror icons were to take a stab at (get it?) becoming a government official and where they would lie on the political spectrum. It can’t be much worse than if Dixon became our governor.

Freddy Krueger - Conservative

First up to bat, the nightmare hunter himself — Freddy Krueger. First debuting in 1984 in “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” he has been terrorizing children to this day and has become a staple of pop culture around Halloween.

Now, why is he a conservative? Think about it — he has to be anti-abortion so the children can be born for him to haunt their dreams. It just makes too much sense.

If that’s not enough for you, consider one of his main colors is red, and possibly the worst thing about him: he’s from Ohio!

Krueger would most likely be a successful (or, well, at least voted-in) governor in the southern states, but I don’t think he would go to the national level, as essentially everyone in Congress is older than his entire film franchise.

Ghostface - Socialist

The beauty of Ghostface is the killer can be literally anyone — there isn’t just one Ghostface, and everyone has an equal opportunity to be the villain. Equal opportunities for anyone? Sounds pretty socialist to me.

We also know Ghostface supports marijuana, as evident in his portrayal in “Scary Movie” (listen, I know that isn’t technically Ghostface, but it’s close enough and it helps prove my point). With the original “Scream” coming out in 1996, it isn’t that old of a franchise, and things like supporting weed definitely appeal more to younger generations.

I don’t have much more evidence to support my decision of this, but this just makes too much sense to me. Who knows? I could be wrong — Ghostface does wear a mask, much like pretty much all politicians.

Patrick Bateman - Radical Centrism

Listen, Bateman is pretty insane, there is no arguing that. But at the end of “American Psycho” (sorry, spoilers by the way, but if you haven’t seen it that’s on you), you’re left wondering whether or not he is this psycho killer.

I imagine that is how he would be with politics — you would never quite understand what his thoughts were. I feel he’d mainly be right leaning as a big business man, but there are times where he’d stick up for people — kind of.

At the end of the day, you would have to stay on your toes with him to figure out what he was going to do next. We should have plenty of experience with that, as our last president sure kept us interested.

Victor Frankenstein - Eco-Socialist

Taking things way back to the 1818 original and a later movie adaptation from 1957, Victor Frankenstein is a weird case of a self-made man (or a man that makes a man-thing?) who also believes in tranquility and creation science. His last words are literally “seek happiness in tranquility and avoid ambition.”

I think Mr. Frankenstein would be affiliated with the Green Party, but do

a poor job at it. Eco-socialism involves parts of being anti-capitalism — “avoiding ambition” sounds like not wanting to force people to work for their entire life (a crazy concept, I know).

The Green Party affiliation comes from focusing on the future generation of the nation, which he is helping to create with his own hands. He seems like the type of person who would want what’s best for those around him, just with an interesting way of doing things.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NEW LINE CINEMA

PHOTO COURTESY OF AMAZON