Student Opinions — On the Record

U.S. intervention in Latin America: when is it time to stop?

Nicaragua and Colombia went before the International Court of Justice in September 2021 as the first step towards resolving alleged violations of Nicaraguan sovereignty in the Caribbean.

— Riley Swain

Around the World, Foreign Policy, Global, WorldSrishti KhemkaSeptember 29, 2021Riley Swain, AY 2021-2022

Kansas population shifts could have national political repercussions

Redistricting in Kansas could force force Kansas Rep. Sharice Davids out of her seat, giving a leg up to Republican candidates in the 2022 midterm elections.

— Katie Cooper

Congress, LocalCarly KabotSeptember 29, 2021Katie Cooper

America is abandoning Africa on vaccines

As Africa lags on vaccine access, the United States is ignoring its moral imperative to collaborate with African governments and support equitable vaccine distributions on the continent.

— Eric Bazail-Eimil

Around the World, Foreign Policy, COVID-19, Joe Biden, Africa, WorldEric Bazail-EimilSeptember 25, 2021Eric Bazail Eimil

Vaccine mandates: An act of compassion

After a long, demoralizing, and deadly few months, the Biden administration has taken on a new strategy for propelling the country out of the clutches of COVID-19. President Biden did the right thing in acknowledging vaccine mandates as the only possible way forward; implementing them despite significant pushback is a feat of both public health competence and human empathy.

— Mia Young

COVID-19, Joe Biden, USLindsey GradowskiSeptember 23, 2021

Around the world in 30 days: The faces of US policies

This month, OTR will be spotlighting articles that do a deep dive into how U.S. policies impact people across the globe. This spotlight is an opportunity to take policy analysis a step further and compel us to consider how our actions, both our advocacy and silence, impact communities beyond our borders.

— Carly Kabot

Around the World, Foreign Policy, WorldCarly KabotSeptember 22, 2021Carly Kabot

My grandfather's labor helped America become a superpower. It's time this country recognizes him for it

It’s long past time to teach stories like my grandfather’s. Doing so can help today’s farmworkers who deserve better treatment and a pathway to citizenship for keeping America fed amidst a pandemic.

— Nick Gonzalez

Immigration, Labor, USCarly KabotSeptember 21, 2021Nick Gonzalez

Separate victims from 9/11’s political legacy

As America marks the twentieth anniversary of 9/11, bearing witness to the lives lost that day must transcend personal opinions on the cultural and political aftermath of the attacks.

— Eric Bazail-Eimil

USEric Bazail-EimilSeptember 11, 2021Eric Bazail Eimil

The California recall: A circus at best, a threat to democracy and public health at worst

California Governor Newsom’s recall challenge, the second ever in Californian history, undermines our democratic processes, jeopardizes public health, and has cost taxpayers an exorbitant and unnecessary amount.

— Channing Lee

California, Voting, LocalCarly KabotSeptember 6, 2021Channing Lee

New York City: A test of the Democratic coalition

With open seats for the mayoralty and much of the city council, this year’s upcoming elections in New York City are set to be an early test for the left wing of the Democratic Party under the Biden administration.

— Andrew Morin

NYC, Democratic Party, LocalCarly KabotMay 15, 2021Andrew Morin

Biden's long road ahead

While the accomplishments of the Biden Administration in the first 100 days have been promising, the administration faces an uphill battle on the road to recovery.

— Takuya Amagai

Joe Biden, USCarly KabotMay 12, 2021Takuya Amagai

“Productivity culture” is destroying America’s workforce: Here’s what we should do about it.

No single solution can address the monster that is “productivity culture,” but implementing mandatory paid leave, individualizing productivity and unplugging are steps in the right direction.

— Asher Bykov

Culture and Politics, CultureCarly KabotMay 2, 2021Asher Bykov

What kind of democracy?: How the filibuster is eroding majority rule in America

America prides itself on being one of the world’s oldest and strongest democracies, but the filibuster undermines the most central tenet of our government: majority rule.

— Lindsey Gradowski

Congress, USCarly KabotApril 28, 2021Lindsey Gradowski

Can we balance Africa’s electricity needs with global decarbonization?

After 260 NGOs urged banks not to finance a $3.5 billion oil pipeline in East Africa, the Biden administration must consider alternatives to offer Uganda, Tanzania and other nations to generate electric power and stimulate their economies.

— Zega Ras-Work

Energy, Environment, Foreign Policy, WorldCarly KabotApril 28, 2021Zega Ras-Work

The race to the bench

The Biden Administration and Democrats in the U.S. Senate must move as quickly as possible to nominate and confirm as many judges as they can, pushing the Federal Judiciary in a more progressive direction.

— Takuya Amagai

Supreme Court, USCarly KabotApril 23, 2021Takuya Amagai

Saving face

While “honor” conjures images of strict, Confucian families of ancient China, the contemporary narrative is all about mianzi: a sociological concept that translates literally to “face” but means prestige and social position.

— Iris Peng

CultureCarly KabotApril 21, 2021Iris Peng

Biden’s lack of concrete action on refugee policy needs to change

Although President Biden announced that he will increase the refugee cap again, the administration must take more direct action to ensure that refugees across the world can and will receive the help they need.

— Ritika Manathara

Immigration, Joe Biden, USCarly KabotApril 21, 2021Ritika Manathara

The best action the U.S. can take to support its claims in the Arctic is ratifying UNCLOS

As countries turn increasing attention towards the Arctic, it is time for the United States to ratify the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea to add much needed legitimacy to its territorial claims in the region.

— Claire Cutler

United Nations, Treaties, Artic, USCarly KabotApril 20, 2021Claire Cutler

The myth of conservative censorship

As the Republican Party fails to define what it stands for in the post-Trump era, the GOP needs to stop crying wolf and begin building the party into a facts-based entity.

— Junior Mwemba

Conservatism, Republican Party, Congress, USCarly KabotApril 19, 2021Junior Mwemba

America’s hawkish gamble: Biden’s proposed $715 billion defense budget

With China’s political, economic, and military rise in recent years, the U.S. appears to have found its new foe for justifying a bloated and unnecessary military budget that jeopardizes world peace.

— Nicolas Gardner

Defense, China, USCarly KabotApril 14, 2021Nicolas Gardner