Following recent events, the U.S.-Mexico border continues to be in a state of chaos and LGBTQ+ students must go toe to toe with lawmakers as PRIDE approaches.
There are changes that clearly need to be made within our schools, government, immigration policies and more, but that's an ongoing discussion for another day.
Yet, the effect of these hot topics on college students — and what they can do moving forward — is a conversation that seems to consistently stop while it’s ahead. Check out these columns from this week for a look into what you’re missing out on and what changes you can make — even if it’s as simple as being an ally.
Lawsuit protects Arizona LGBTQ kids from their (supposed) protectors | By EJ Montini
With proper sex education for LGBTQ+ students up for debate, it brings a frustrating issue to mind: Why do students have to fight for sex education in schools? Why must the responsibility rest on LGBTQ+ students to be informed about safe sex? A law from almost 30 years ago should not restrict sex education from students based on their sexuality.
Promoting safe sex regardless of sexuality is more important than spreading an exclusive rhetoric. As Montini wrote, “It’s a terrible thing when kids who deserve to be protected by their government must now be protected from it.”
Penn State hazing sentence sends an overdue message to college students: Grow up | Philip Boas
Fraternity traditions should not be the reason a student dies. Yet too often, a headline reads just that. The solution is in Boas' headline. It’s time for students to grow up, and it seems that no message has quite gotten through to the notoriously dangerous groups and the respective traditions that lie within Greek life.
College is the first step toward adulthood and that includes being prosecuted as such. College students in and out of Greek life must realize this. Laws are to be followed much more strictly than fraternity handbooks and bylaws.
Trump’s Border Solutions Will Make Things Worse | By the NYT Editorial Board
College students, especially those in Arizona, have been at odds regarding border security and border patrol within their border state. President Donald Trump is not helping the rising tensions across campuses, and pointing fingers elsewhere is not solving the problem that the nation is currently dealing with. From migrant families to individual asylum seekers, cases are piling up and resources are dwindling day by day.
The country is at a fork in the road and although we’ve analyzed every possible impact of the border closure, the solution still remains unclear. The solution to the problem isn’t simple, but pinning blame on other countries is definitely not the answer.
“What would help much more is action to address the root causes of the surge in border crossings, from reforming federal immigration laws to aid to improve economic conditions in Central America,” the editorial board wrote.
A surging economy makes the Democratic campaign to raise the minimum wage superfluous | Andy Puzder
This issue hits particularly close to home for Arizona students. As an Arizona bill advances to lower minimum wage for those under 22, college students across the state are at risk of lower wages. As the 2020 election approaches, the conversation should continue for minimum wage as it is clear that there are different circumstances in certain states. The conversation may go back and forth on our economic state and other factors, but it’s clear that a discussion is necessary.
Reach the columnist at mfoxall@asu.edu and follow @mayafoxall on Twitter.
Editor’s note: The opinions presented in this column are the author’s and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.
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