COLUMN: Woman of color in the White House

BY KARLA AVALOS

In what was considered a consequential but also contentious presidential election, former President-elect Joe Biden’s candidacy shines at the American people like a light at the end of the tunnel.

After the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate won the primaries around the time the COVID-19 crisis began, Biden entered the race in full force with a call for unity this spring and said he wanted “to restore the soul of the nation.”

Since then, the Biden campaign has cemented its position as the most wellfounded, influential and successful campaign in the 2020 presidential elections.

The abundant donations accumulated about $1 billion and an average national poll advantage of near 10 points over the incumbent candidate.

Biden’s message at his rallies, campaign ads and more recently in the last presidential debate was his eagerness and determination to bring us together and to be an American president, not a leader for the blue or the red states.

As the pandemic continues to run rampant, the country is experiencing an overwhelming economic downturn filled with the loss of jobs, and a surge of homelessness have riddled the nation.

A clear distinction of the Biden campaign is how it prioritizes protecting their supporters at political rallies.

The Biden campaign is COVID-19 conscious and follows the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines while implementing outdoor gathering rules with a limited amount of people at their drive-in rallies.

Biden’s team also mandates mask wearing, temperature checks and social distancing while inside or next to their car.

The president-elect understands the challenges that lay ahead when he takes office on Jan. 20, 2021.

He recognizes the need for a leader that’s going to get us out of the COVID-19 crisis and that’s finally going to help us get back to normal.

Biden’s message is that without a health recovery, there cannot be an economic recovery for the United States.

He has called for a national mask mandate, more testing and contact tracing, the reinstatement of the Obama administration pandemic response team and is listening to scientists to approach the reopening of the country.

While nothing is certain on any given election, the incredible increase in the number of voters making their voices heard at the ballot box is a hopeful outlook on what could be the saving of the American people and democracy.

BY AURORA RIVAS

President Donald Trump was voted into office for being outspoken and different from a traditional politician.

With an impactful term as president, Trump has gained some of the most loyal followers during the re-election campaign despite losing.

His term as president was based on upholding his values and pushing the boundaries of what he thought was possible. His impact as president has been felt throughout the world.

He has single-handedly turned his campaign into one of the most recognizable brands, earning millions of dollars for his reelection campaign.

For example, “Make America great again” is a slogan recognized by many.

The Center for Public Integrity in partnership with Public Radio International describes how Trump’s merchandise has contributed to his campaigns.

According to Bentley Hensel, president of a political e-commerce firm, 30% of the Trump campaign’s contributions during 2017 and 2018 could have come from merchandise sales. One important factor which contributed to Trump’s success were his devout and loyal followers.

During the pandemic, his supporters have shown their unwavering faith for him by showing up to support him when he was staying at the Walter Reed Memorial Hospital after testing positive for COVID-19.

BY TRISHA ANAS

Imagine speaking to a close relative of yours and suddenly noticing they are unable to breathe. They are sent to the emergency room and then transferred to an intensive care unit, all within a couple of hours. Now, imagine knowing that this could've been prevented.

The coronavirus, a disease that primarily affects the respiratory system, is sadly expected to go from a pandemic to an endemic. This is a wake-up call for everyone to revisit history and learn from our mistakes.

The importance of vaccinations needs to be known now more than ever.

While COVID-19 vaccinations are still being developed and with talks of schools re-opening, the debate of whether or not students should be required to have a vaccination before returning to campuses should not be an argument.

History has taught us time and again that vaccinations and establishing safe guidelines help us prevent the number of fatalities, and in some cases help us eradicate some of the world's most deadly diseases.

BBC News reported that approximately 300 million people died from the smallpox disease in the 20th century alone. However, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information,