Dana Gallagher:
“There Is No Excuse for How Universities Treat Adjuncts,” The Atlantic.
The article argues that teaching students is—or at least is supposed to be—the core mission of higher education. The fact that colleges and universities have turned more of their frontline employees into part-time contractors suggests how far they have drifted from what they say they are all about (teaching students) to what they are increasingly all about (conducting research, running sports franchises, or, among for-profits, delivering shareholder value).
Max Amar-Olkus:
“Spain election: Socialists win amid far-right breakthrough,” BBC.
Spain’s current Socialist-led government has won, but fallen short of a parliamentary majority, in their third election in four years. PM Pedro Sanchez’s Socialist party gained 29% of the vote and will need to enter a coalition with other parties to form a government. However, for the first time since military rule ended in the 1970s, a far-right party will enter Spain’s parliament.
“Get Ready for More Tent Cities At the Border,” VICE News.
As the US continues aggressively detaining non-violent migrants at the Southern border, infrastructure such as beds and tents are severely lacking. Currently it seems as though ICE will have to release a significant amount of detainees due to a lack of space but it’s unclear how many more beds ICE would need to fulfill AG William Barr’s recent ruling, which makes it nearly impossible for asylum seekers who cross into the country illegally and pass a credible fear interview to post bond.
Price Day:
“Notre-Dame Donation Backlash Raises Debate: What’s Worthy of Philanthropy?” The New York Times.
The tragedy of the Notre Dame cathedral fire has raised a number of questions surrounding the quickly-raised billion dollars donated to fix it. Does the Catholic church really need this money? If such amounts can be raised for Notre Dame, why not other people or places in need of restoration? Why must philanthropy be spurred on by specific tragedy, leaving tons of needed money and resources idle?
Sophia Angele-Kuehn: “Exploring the Role of Pop Culture Figures in Social Justice Work,” The Amherst Student.
Amherst College’s student newspaper recently explored Kim Kardashian’s decision to take the California bar exam in 2022 to be able to study law, and the subsequent criticism she has received. However, Kardashian has worked with a prison reform organization during the past year, and her father was an accomplished lawyer and a close friend of O.J. Simpson. Does she have what it takes? Or more importantly, will she use her privilege to help others?
