Big Picture Historically, women have been underprivileged in pay compared to men. Experts from the Center of American Progress estimate that women have lost over $61 trillion in the past 60 years and believe that the gender wage gap won’t be closed until 2056. Although the pay gap between men and women has diminished, many ingrained psychological notions still constrain women from achieving the same pay as men in the workforce. The gender wage gap is often viewed from socio-political and economic lenses, but it must also be examined on an individual level. By examining the individual we can understand…

Today’s political climate is riddled with polarization and animosity. The question of remaining objective during political discourse is more important than ever. Meaningful political discourse is a valuable opportunity to engage with varying perspectives, but, political division is deepening. The growing presence of social media and algorithms only exacerbates this divide, which specifically affect Gen Z who were raised in this climate. Objectivity in political discourse can help bridge this divide by encouraging rational discussion without personal biases. Although beneficial, objectivity is naturally difficult to achieve because politics is emotional and often tied to personal identity. It is deeply intertwined…

With 34 felony counts, one conviction, two pending cases, two impeachments, six bankruptcies and two assassination attempts, former president Donald Trump takes the 2024 U.S. election despite all odds. The U.S. Presidential Election has been a tumultuous but riveting battle between the Democratic and Republican parties. As Trump savors his win, it’s important to consider how this result came to be (through the support of White, uneducated men, Harris’s campaign failure and Leftist policies that many do not resonate with). Following the election results, there has been much backlash and disappointment, particularly amongst young Democrats, and it calls into question…

On Monday, October 28th, the Israeli parliament passed legislation to ban the United Nations Reliefs and Works Agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) from operating within Israel, East Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank. The catastrophic consequences of the ban will affect over three million Palestinians who are dependent on the UNRWA to provide basic necessities, such as food, water and shelter, in addition to medical aid and education. The Israel-Hamas War has already jeopardized the safety of all Palestinians in the Gaza area, violating countless human rights promises that were previously made. Banning the largest organization providing support to affected…

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) industry has soared in the past decade with an expected market size of $1339 billion by 2030. The Silicon Valley, located in the San Francisco Bay Area, is the epicenter of technological research and innovation, making California the principal state for AI development — and the most in need of AI safety regulation. Yet, many are wary of the rapid pace of AI development with approximately 75 percent of AI consumers concerned about misinformation and 77 percent worried about job loss. Although convenient and entertaining, unregulated AI can pose serious threats to society as a whole.…

Big Picture Over 45 million are breathing polluted air and amongst them, Black and Hispanic minorities are still the most disproportionately affected. This is not a coincidence and rather underscores the long-lasting consequences of systemic racism. Individuals from marginalized communities have historically endured perilous environmental circumstances resulting from discriminatory governmental policies, such as redlining. Although there has been abundant progress in recent years, many still suffer significant health consequences as a result of this historical legacy. Former president Bill Clinton marked a milestone by addressing environmental discrimination when he signed Executive Order 12898 in 1994 – a promise by the…

Russian President Vladimir Putin was welcomed into Mongolia this past month with open arms. This decision stands at odds with Mongolia’s membership in the International Criminal Court (ICC). ICC member states are obligated to detain those who have been accused of war crimes by the court. However, Mongolia took no action to detain Putin for his alleged war crimes. This decision by Mongolia has again called into question the authority of the ICC, and moreover, its ability to deal with international crime. The ICC was founded with the goal of obtaining justice for victims of heinous crimes such as genocide, crimes against…