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Category: PUBPOL 301 Op-Eds

Etan Zeller Maclean (PPS ‘24): “Death in the Hands of Chance: Why Judges Cannot be Trusted to Sentence Death”Headshot of Etan Zeller Maclean (PPS ‘24)

Etan Zeller Maclean (PPS ‘24): “Death in the Hands of Chance: Why Judges Cannot be Trusted to Sentence Death”

One study by two Louisiana State University professors titled “Emotional Judges and Unlucky Juveniles” exposes an almost laughable, yet dark reality of the American justice system. It looks at the correlation between the performance of judges’ favorite football teams and the harshness of their sentencing. Sure enough, they found that when a judges preferred football team lost, inmates were behind bars for longer. Oh and, surprise, they also handed harsher sentences to black defendants. My point, though, is to underline the variability of human decision regarding the death penalty. Proponents of capital punishment support taking murderers off the streets and handing just punishment to the most heinous criminals. I am not writing to oppose this. In a perfect world, this would be attainable. But this is not a perfect world, and humans are far from perfect. Instead, I believe the death penalty should be eliminated because of the inevitable fallibility of those who hand it down.

Continue readingEtan Zeller Maclean (PPS ‘24): “Death in the Hands of Chance: Why Judges Cannot be Trusted to Sentence Death”

Continue Reading Etan Zeller Maclean (PPS ‘24): “Death in the Hands of Chance: Why Judges Cannot be Trusted to Sentence Death”

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Rebecca Zeltsman (PPS ’24): “Drawing the Line — The Harmful Reality of Scapegoating the Civilian”Headshot of Rebecca Zeltsman (PPS ’24)

Rebecca Zeltsman (PPS ’24): “Drawing the Line — The Harmful Reality of Scapegoating the Civilian”

The western world’s alienation of civilians of Russian origin will leave long-lasting effects that are incredibly harmful to individual well-being. Vladimir Putin’s ruthless invasion of Ukraine has unmistakably sparked worldwide fear of one of the most colossal humanitarian violations of our lifetime. Russia has acted barbarically and inflicted brutal force on Ukrainian civilians and cities. However, Russian-Americans that have established businesses in the U.S or athletes of Russian descent qualified to run in marathons now being stripped of their careers due to their background is far from justifiable.

Continue readingRebecca Zeltsman (PPS ’24): “Drawing the Line — The Harmful Reality of Scapegoating the Civilian”

Continue Reading Rebecca Zeltsman (PPS ’24): “Drawing the Line — The Harmful Reality of Scapegoating the Civilian”

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Grace Endrud (PPS ’24): “The Humanitarian Crisis of the Decade: Why Biden – and America – Stand for Ukraine”Headshot of Grace Endrud

Grace Endrud (PPS ’24): “The Humanitarian Crisis of the Decade: Why Biden – and America – Stand for Ukraine”

After months of rising tensions, Vladimir Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The conflict has had a staggering humanitarian toll: 2,685 civilians have been killed and another 4.1 million refugees have fled their homes. The EU crisis commissioner warned Europe to prepare for over seven million internally displaced Ukrainians; this level of displacement would make Ukraine the largest refugee crisis in recent memory. Given Jake Sullivan’s prediction the war will continue for “months,” the crisis will only escalate further.

Continue readingGrace Endrud (PPS ’24): “The Humanitarian Crisis of the Decade: Why Biden – and America – Stand for Ukraine”

Continue Reading Grace Endrud (PPS ’24): “The Humanitarian Crisis of the Decade: Why Biden – and America – Stand for Ukraine”

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Peter Connolly (PPS ’23): “Investing in US Semiconductor Manufacturing is our Best Weapon for Maintaining Geopolitical Leverage Over China”Headshot of Peter Connolly

Peter Connolly (PPS ’23): “Investing in US Semiconductor Manufacturing is our Best Weapon for Maintaining Geopolitical Leverage Over China”

Semiconductors chips are the linchpin of the global economy. These chips are not just in your iPhone and car but also operate the robotics machines and assembly lines that manufacture and distribute our everyday goods. What most Americans do not know though is how difficult and expensive they are to manufacture and how globalized the supply chain is. Most chips start their life in the lab of a U.S. tech company. The blueprints are then sent to foundries, specialized factories for semiconductor chips, before being integrated into the devices and systems that power our economy.

Continue readingPeter Connolly (PPS ’23): “Investing in US Semiconductor Manufacturing is our Best Weapon for Maintaining Geopolitical Leverage Over China”

Continue Reading Peter Connolly (PPS ’23): “Investing in US Semiconductor Manufacturing is our Best Weapon for Maintaining Geopolitical Leverage Over China”

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Aziz Abdullaev (PPS ’23): “The World is Accepting the Uyghur Genocide”Headshot of Aziz Abdullaev (PPS ’23)

Aziz Abdullaev (PPS ’23): “The World is Accepting the Uyghur Genocide”

Roughly every tenth Uyghur was forced into concentration camps by Chinese authorities without any trial or on baseless accusations. In camps, Uyghurs are beaten, raped, tortured, and punished for speaking their native language and exercising religion. Children of detainees are placed in state orphanages where, again, they are punished for speaking their language and are brainwashed with fear and aggression.

Continue readingAziz Abdullaev (PPS ’23): “The World is Accepting the Uyghur Genocide”

Continue Reading Aziz Abdullaev (PPS ’23): “The World is Accepting the Uyghur Genocide”

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