3. Ideas 3ODYSSEY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AND AUBURN UNIVERSITY
With Hillary Clinton winning the Democratic presidential
nomination a sense—propagated by the media at large—has
led many Democrats and Hillary supporters to adopt the phrase
“vote blue no matter who.” The saying, especially in this election
cycle, is an expectation that Bernie Sanders supporters will “fall
in line” and vote for Hillary Clinton come Election Day. Reality
paints a different picture for this year’s prospective voters.
The power of the Independent voter is incredibly potent. Not
only do they make up the largest voting block in America today,
but they also hold the most sway in nationwide elections. The
transition of many Independent voters to the two major parties
over the past year shows the impact that this election holds on
the future of the nation. Whether discussing Bernie Sanders
or Donald Trump, populism has drawn people to the
two major institutions with a death grip on our
country’s democracy—let us not forget that
this country was not founded with a two-
party system.
George Washington’s farewell address
famously warned us of the dangers of
a partisan government. “They serve to
organize faction, to give it an artificial
and extraordinary force; to put, in the
place of the delegated will of the nation
the will of a party, often a small but artful and
enterprising minority of the community; and,
[...] to make the public administration the mirror of
the ill-concerted and incongruous projects of faction.” While
these words of wisdom by George Washington may ring true
even today, after more than 200 years of partisan politics, it
would seem that we still have yet to realize their meaning.
Our two major parties exist as loose coalitions with varying
degrees of agreement. The rise of Donald Trump shows just
how fragmented the Republican Party is, even when compared
to the Democratic Party. The tendency towards two parties
rises from our first past the post system. While it may not be
ideal for a modern democratic republic, it is what we have
until the two parties decide they are sick of controlling our
government (it should be noted that other nations have multi-
party systems, even with first past the post). With two parties
dominating politics in our nation, it would stand to reason
that voting otherwise would be a “waste” of a vote. After all,
coalitions don’t exist without reason, right?
The problem with “vote blue no matter who” is that it
plays directly into the party politics we’ve all become
accustomed to. Third Party or Independent
candidates have posed a threat to the two
party system in the past, and have managed
to hand presidencies and congressional seats
to minority candidates by splitting the vote.
In election years such as this year’s, more
could be at stake than in previously, with a
racist demagogue against a hawkish heir
presumptive. Now more than ever, the small
but enterprising minority has found its way
to control the nation. It is no surprise then, that
many are considering (not for the first time) their
options and seeking candidates outside the dichotomy.
Party members and Independents alike need to reconsider
what their vote truly means. While tactical voting is a
popular way to vote, it should absolutely not be the default.
There are no grounds for any supporter of a candidate
to support a fellow party candidate by default. A Cruz
supporter is under no obligation to vote for Trump, and a
Sanders supporter should likewise not be expected to vote
Clinton by default. To assume otherwise is a travesty to
our democracy and counter to any shred of electoral rights
we have left. Regardless of the year or the election cycle,
vote your conscience. It doesn’t matter if that vote is third
party or strategic; you’ve exercised your fundamental right.
Congratulations.
Why “Vote
Blue No
Matter Who”
Is Problematic
ERIC DANG
Eric is a senior
studying political science.
eric.dang@nyu.edu
NYU
Regardless
of the
year or the
election cycle,
vote your
conscience.
4. Scene4 FOR MORE STORIES VISIT THEODYSSEYONLINE.COM
On the morning of April 18, the SMU community woke up to a
surprise: the lawn in front of Dallas Hall had been decorated with
2,000woodencrossestosymbolizethenumberofabortionsthattake
placeintheUnitedStateseverysingleday.Infrontofthecrosseswere
picket signs in the ground that read various things like:
“There are 2,904 abortions per day in the USA”
“1 Cross = 1 Life Lost to Abortion Today.”
Moreinterestinglythanthat,though,werethesignsthathadclearly
beenaddedafterthedisplaywasoriginallysetup.Nexttothecrosses
were signs made out computer paper and staples that read:
“Approximately 1,871 Women Are Raped Per Day.”
After this occurrence, I felt the need to write this article for
clarification’s sake.
I am a Republican, and I am pro-choice.
Alongsideeachpoliticalpartycomeshundredsofsillystereotypes
and assumptions associated with each (and we all know what
assuming does).
NumeroustimeswhenpeoplehavefoundoutthatI’maRepublican,
I’ve gotten comments about how I “don’t care about other people’s
struggles.” Then, when people find out that I’m pro-choice, they ask
questions such as, “How can you support killing babies?”
Seriously people? There’s really never any winning when it comes
to politics.
I’m here to tell you, yes YOU, that, although I bleed red and proudly
boast my Republican elephant everywhere I go, I whole-heartedly
believe in women’s rights and the right of each and every individual
to make the best decision for them and their lives. I’m not going to
get into the science behind the matter (aka whether or not it’s a baby
or a fetus or a Smurf), but I am going to get into many other points
that help me back-up my beliefs and claims.
Worldwide,thereare62.8millionchildrenwhofacestarvationeach
and every day.
In 2014, in the United States alone, 702,000 children fell victims to
maltreatment, including, but not limited to neglect, physical abuse
and sexual abuse.
In 2014, there were 415,129 children placed in foster care.
Right now, 15.3 million children live in a place where they cannot
consistently access food.
Andyou’retellingmethatawomanwholacksthesupport,whether
it be physical, financial or emotional, should bring yet another child
into this world that cannot be loved and cared for?
To me, the mere thought seems ludicrous.
Here are more facts to take into consideration:
1,871 women are raped each day.
32,101 pregnancies result from rape each year.
Approximately5,000womendieeachyearduetounsafeabortions.
Although all of the above are very good reasons to be pro-choice,
there’s really only one reason that really matters:
It’s a woman’s decision.
Simply put, a woman has the basic right to do what she pleases
in regards to her own body. No politician, lawmaker, man, woman,
burger-flipper or even doctor should have the right to tell a woman
“NO” when it concerns her physical/emotional/mental well-being.
As said in a thread entitled “Should Men Have A Say In Abortion?”:
“Tellingawomanshecannotabortafetusbecauseanotherperson
wants it and is entitled to it is like telling another person they have to
give you one of their kidneys because it will save their life and they’re
entitledtolive.Bodilyautonomystatesyouhavetherighttosaywhat
happens to YOUR OWN body... Even if you’re already dead! Meaning,
if you are not marked an ‘organ donor’ on your driver’s license when
you die, they cannot just take your organs, even if it saves ten lives.
Afetusneedsawoman’sbodytogrowandsurvive,itdoesnothave
a right to her body, it’s there by permission. If a woman denies that
permission,thenthatiscompletelywithinherright,evenifthefetus’s
potential life is forfeit. Just like I cannot demand someone’s kidney,
even if it would save my life. I have no right to their body, but should
they be held accountable for my death if they tell me no?”
I’m A Republican And I Am Pro-Choice
MORGAN CHANDLER SMITH
Morgan is a junior
studying journalism.
morgansc@smu.edu
SMU
5. FOR MORE STORIES VISIT THEODYSSEYONLINE.COM 500 Words On 5
The 2016 presidential election is turning out to be one of the most
backandforthelectionseasonstodate.Itseemsasthougheveryday
the candidates are either gaining or losing ground in the polls—one
day Hillary Clinton will be in the lead, the next day Donald Trump will
be in the lead, and the next day... they’ll be tied.
For the majority of millennials, this is the first time that they will
be voting in a presidential election. Yet, what are millennials actually
thinking about this election?
How are they viewing the candidates, and are their views
similar or dissimilar to the rest of the population? Have third-party
candidates gained a lot of ground in this election because of this
new generation?
Thesequestionsnowhaveanswers.Odysseyinconjunctionwith
the University of Massachusetts – Lowell conducted a millennial
opinion poll on the current election.
According to the poll, if the election was held today and the only
two candidates were Clinton and Trump 58 percent of registered
millennial voters would vote for Clinton and 22 percent would vote
forTrump,leaving20percentofthemillennialpopulationundecided.
Now, these numbers changed a bit when Gary Johnson, the
Libertarian candidate, and Jill Stein, the Green Party candidate,
were added to the ballot.
Clinton’s numbers would drop to 52 percent among registered
voters; Trump’s would drop to 21 percent. Johnson would claim 9
percent of the vote, and Stein would claim 5 percent of the vote—
leaving 13 percent of millennial voters undecided.
EventhoughClintoniswinningbyalargermarginamongmillennial
voters, the results are still mimicking those of the general public.
Third-party candidates are polling much higher this election
cycle than they have in the past. Now, though, one must ask why
this is occurring.
Odyssey’s poll showed that 64 percent of millennial voters
feel that Clinton is dishonest and 77 percent feel that Trump is
dishonest. Compare this to the 56 percent of millennial voters that
feel Johnson is dishonest and the 60 percent of millennial voters
that feel that Stein is dishonest, and some light is starting to be
shed on the situation.
While Johnson and Stein do have a dishonesty rating higher than
50percent,itisstillsignificantlylowerthanthemajortwocandidates.
Every little thing counts when looking at a presidential candidate,
and in a time where people want change, they want to trust that the
president will do what he or she promises.
Speaking of change, another question on the poll asked millennial
voters if they felt that each individual candidate would bring the
change to America that everyone is hoping for.
51percentofthevotersfeltthatClintonwouldbringthenecessary
changes to the country compared to 26 percent of voters that felt
Trumpwouldbringthechangesneededtothiscountry.Johnsonand
Stein polled at 39 and 37 percent respectively.
The interesting thing here, though, is that Johnson and Stein are
pullingahighernumberthanTrumpandaren’ttoofarbehindClinton.
Typically,thethird-partycandidatesreceivelittletonomediacoverage,
and while they have not received the same coverage at Trump and
Clinton, they have received enough that they are within striking
distance in some of these categorical polls.
It’s hard to say whether or not a third-party candidate will ever
become President of the United States, but it is clear that millennials
are looking for other options just like the rest of the population.
How Gary Johnson And
Jill Stein Have Changed
This Election
BRIANNA CICERO
Brianna is a sophomore studying
journalism and pre-law.
bcicero@temple.edu
Aspiring Journalism Professionals
Odyssey in conjunction with the
University of Massachusetts – Lowell
conducted a millennial opinion poll on
the current election that helps answer
many questions about the third-party
candidates.
6. Ideas6 FOR MORE STORIES VISIT THEODYSSEYONLINE.COM
Politics is kind of a labyrinth. By that I mean it’s really easy to
muddy the waters when it comes to campaigns. Unless you follow
it day in and day out, it’s pretty easy to forget what people said six
months ago, let alone years ago. No matter what political party
you’re more inclined to vote for, don’t think that your preferred
politicians are immune to such things as lying, hierocracy, or flip-
flopping when it’s politically convenient for them to do so. It’s just
the nature of politics.
Depending on the degree of said flip-flopping or hypocritical
statements one can make a judgment on how it affects them and
the way they vote, which is fair and the right of every citizen. Not
every flip-flop is created equal. Everyone—including politicians—is
allowed to change their mind based on new evidence. But there is
one instance, though, that has been bugged me lately.
I’ve been hearing that all of the sudden conservatives are the
champions of minorities, women, and the LGBTQ community. I
scratchedmyheadandtriedtothinkandgivethemthebenefitofthe
doubt, but to no avail. How could the party that fought tooth and nail
tomakesuregaymarriagewasneverallowedintheU.S.bealongside
them now? A party that calls black people welfare queens, a party
that listens to O’Reilly tell black people it’s their culture and violent
tendencies that are the root of all their problems, and a party that
literally tried to suppress black people from voting they are fighting
the good fight with them?
I would never paint a broad brush about people. Just because you
vote Republican doesn’t mean you’re automatically a racist, or even
saythatoneparticularpartyisinherentlyracist,but,andit’sabig‘but,’
there is one political party that kind of, sort of, a little bit, invites the
racistsandbigotsovertohangoutsometimesforalittleawhile,and
that party is the Republican Party.
A party that cares so much about illegal immigration but doesn’t
really propose any policies about the northern border, where most of
the illegal immigration comes from, and instead, focuses solely on
the southern one where all the brown people come from, is now all of
a sudden welcoming of immigrants and refugees?
I could go on and on for days upon days of debunked rhetoric
that the right has launched against, black people, Hispanics, LGBTQ
people, and any other minority you can think of, so I’ll just cut to the
chaseandtellyounotheyaren’tthechampionofanyofthesepeople’s
struggles or causes.
The way they justify themselves as being on the side of these
groups is, in fact, their hatred for another group. Muslims to be
more specific. They trot out all of these fun statistics, and facts
about predominately Muslim countries. The annoying thing about
it is they aren’t entirely wrong. There are places that are majority
Muslim that
women aren’t
equal to men,
where anyone of the
LGBTQ community will be
executed due to their sexual
orientation. Where the freedom of
religion is not real and minorities do not
have the same rights as other countries.
These conservative talking heads take these
facts on their long spiral of justification to not only
to hate and discriminate against Muslims but to feel that
they somehow are on the same side as the people—which is
just plain wrong.
I’m not up here on my high horse trying lecture people about
bigotry in the U.S. I’m not perfect when it comes to any of these
issues, but I try my best, and I sure as heck know that hatred
of one group doesn’t mean you’re a defender of another group,
when you haven’t really done jack to help the groups you claim
to be “supporting.” In fact, most of the time you’ve gotten in
the way of the advancements and equality that these groups
have been striving for.
So please, conservatives, stop wasting our time and saying
that you’re standing up for minorities because you want to ban
all Muslims from the country. You don’t care, you’re muddying
the water to get votes. If you really cared about the people you
say Muslims don’t like then you would help do something about
systematic racism, you wouldn’t be against the Lilly Ledbetter
Act, and you most certainly wouldn’t be trying to propose bills
about transgender people going into the bathroom of their
choosing because of “children’s safety.” Cut the crap, and try
something else.
Why Conservatives
Are Not Helping
Minorities
RYAN OLIVER
Ryan is a senior studying
communications and
political science.
r.earl.oliver@gmail.com
Washington State University
Cut the crap, and
try something
else.
7. Ideas 7FOR MORE STORIES VISIT THEODYSSEYONLINE.COM
Ihavestruggledwithhowtowritethisformonths.I’veknownIwantedtopenmy
thoughtsaboutracerelations,abouttheBlackLivesMattermovement,aboutpolice
killingsofunarmedblackmen,andaboutourcurrentstateintheSecondCivilRights
Movement.Ihavefriendswhoarepeopleofcolor,andIhavefeltguiltybecauseno
matterhowupsetIgetasanobserver,nomatterhowinfuriatedIamandhowmuch
Iempathizewithmyblackfriends,Icannevertrulyknowhowtheyfeel.Icannever
trulyunderstandthefearthatablackmanhaswhenhegetsstoppedbythepolice.
I can never imagine the fear the mother of a black teenager has when she sends
himouttothestoretogetagallonofmilk,orofftocollegeonapredominatelywhite
campus.Thatstruggle,tobalancemyangerandempathyandconcernforfriends
andcolleagueswiththefeelingthatIdon’thavetherighttospeakoutonthisissue,
hasdefinedmythinkingformonths.ButIcannotstaysilent.ThisistheSecondCivil
Rights Movement. We are living through it. This is our 1960s. In a class I’m taking
right now at the University of Delaware on LGBT politics, the professor discussed
whyweseethisdifferentreactiontotheBlackLivesMattermovementthantothe
CivilRightsMovementofagenerationago.Heexplainedthatatthetimeofthe60s
CivilRightsMovement,theconceptofsharingapoolorawaterfountainwithablack
personwasrepugnant.Welookbacknow,50yearsremoved,andthoseideasseem
outrageous.Butatthetime,theCivilRightsMovementwasn’tviewedasthenatural
course society should take. Hopefully 50 years from now, we’ll look back and see
that Black Lives Matter, demanding they have the right to their lives, is the natural
course society should be taking.So where does this hatred come from? Perhaps
onereasonisthatindividualshaveinvokedthenameofBLMwhenriotingandbeing
destructive.Itmakesiteasierforthewhitemajoritytolookdownuponthemovement,
to cast the entire BLM as violent. That isn’t the case at all. The easy analogy is the
WestboroBaptistChurch.TheyclaimtobeChristian,butnobodybelievesthatafringe
hate group represents all Christianity. Just like WBC doesn’t represent Christianity,
individuals who invoke BLM when committing acts of violence don’t represent the
movement.AmajorstruggleofBLMiscreatingaunifiedmovementinthesameway
thatMartinDr.LutherKing,Jr.didwiththeSouthernChristianLeadershipConference.
The strategies of a social movement are critical, and BLM lacks the centralized
leadershipandunifiedeffortsthatmadetheFirstCivilRightsMovementsuccessful.
Idon’tknowwhatthesolutionis,butIthinkBLMneedstoformalizeandorganizein
asimilarwaytotheSCLC.Anotherproblemwefaceintheconversationisbeforethe
blooddriesinonepolice-involvedshootingofanunarmedblackman,bulletsareflying
again. This past week in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a 40-year old unarmed black man was
shotandkilledbyTulsaPoliceOfficerBettyShelby.Videorecordingsfromapolice
helicopterandthedashboardsofseveralpolicecruisersshowthevictim-Terence
Crutcher - with his hands raised above his head. Despite this, he was shot and left
to bleed out in the street (reminiscent of the Michael Brown shooting in Ferguson,
Missouri). Before the shooting occurred, a police officer in the helicopter said that
thevictimlookedlikea“baddude”whichofcourseisaridiculousstatementtomake
from a helicopter about an unarmed black man. From top to bottom, this was a
textbookhomicide.Fortunately,theTulsaCountyDistrictAttorneyannouncedFirst
Degree Manslaughter charges against Officer Shelby.Compare this shooting to a
July 7, 2016 incident in Raleigh, North Carolina, where a white man actually had a
guninhishand,waveditatpolice,pulledasecondgunfromhiswaistandshotatthe
officer,andstilltheofficerdidnotresorttodeadlyforce.Butanunarmedblackman
followingpolicecommandsisgunneddown.Thisisacomparisonwecannotavoid.
Thisisthelifethatblackmenlivewhentheyengagewithpolice.TheMassachusetts
SupremeJudicialCourttookastepintherightdirectionthisweekwhentheyhanded
down a decision stating in part that, “A black man who runs from police shouldn’t
necessarily be considered suspicious — and merely might be trying to avoid ‘the
recurring indignity of being racially profiled.’” In May 2015, the British Broadcasting
Corporation (BBC) wrote an insightful article, but I find these two takeaways most
relevant:1)somepoliceareguiltyof“blackcrimeimplicitbias”(ortheproventheory
thatpoliceofficershaveanimplicitbiaslinkingblackstocrime),2)“WarriorPolice”
cultureexistsandisreinforcedbythemilitarizationofpolice.Profilingexists,andwe
do ourselves a disservice by ignoring that bias and that profiling. When the police
believe that it’s an “us vs. them” atmosphere, where the police train over 60 hours
onself-defensebutdon’tspendevenafractionofthattimeonde-escalationtraining
or techniques police communities of color in an appropriate and productive ways,
it’s not surprising the result is specifically black men being killed by trigger-happy
policeofficers.
A 2014 article in The Atlantic explains how police unions keep bad cops on
the streets. One example they use is Hector Jimenez, a police officer in Oakland,
California,whoshotandkilledanunarmed20-year-oldmanin2007,andthenseven
monthslaterkilledasecondunarmedman.Despitethesetwoshootings,settlements
fromthecitytothefamiliesofthosegunneddown,OfficerJimenezwasreinstated
afterhelpfromthepoliceunioninappealinghistermination.Anotherexampleisthe
killing of Freddie Gray by police officers in Baltimore Maryland. All six officers who
were involved in the death of Freddie Gray were either acquitted or charges were
dropped. The union, instead of speaking out against their own members, backed
them and doubled the dues of its members to pay for the officers’ defense. I need
tomakeonethingveryclear.Iamabigadvocateoflawenforcement.Ialwayshave
beenandIalwayswillbe.Itaketimeouttoshakeapoliceofficer’shand,thankthem
for their service, and bring them cold drinks when they’re working a detail on a hot
day.MycommentsshouldnotbetakentomeanthatIdonotsupportallthosepolice
officersthatdotheirjobwithrespectandpoiseunderpressure.Idonotwantanyone
reading this to think I am anti-police, or that I support any anti-police rhetoric. But I
believe there is much more that can be done by good police officers to stop bad
officersfromcarryingouttheirbaddeeds.Ithinkpoliceunionsandpoliceleadership
have an obligation to take a stand against bad officers. They have an obligation to
turn against bad officers and force them out, not defend their actions.Throughout
allmythoughtsonpoliceviolencetowardsblackmeninparticular,Istillthinkabout
myroleasawhiteman.Iwillneverhavethesameinteractionsasmyblackfriends.
Iwillneverhavetosuffertheindignityofrandomstops.Iwillnothavetoworryabout
interactions with police. Ever. So how can I be an advocate for the people of color
who are targeted? How can I be a true advocate? This is how. Right here and right
nowIamdeclaringthistheSecondCivilRightsMovement.Thisisaninflectionpoint
inournation’shistory.Nowisthetimeforustouniteanddemandjustice,demand
change,demandequaltreatmentforall.Iwillnotstandidlybyanymore.Iwillnotlet
my discomfort as a white man stop me from standing side by side with my black
friends.Iwillnotgiveup.Nowisthetime.Enough.
My Role As A White
Man: Black Lives Matter
And Police Brutality
CHRISTOPHER J. MERKEN
Chistopher is a senior studying
political science.
merken@udel.edu
University of Delaware
8. Scene8 FOR MORE STORIES VISIT THEODYSSEYONLINE.COM
There’s much debate over whether matches made on Tinder can
actually result in lasting, healthy, long-term relationships, or if the
online dating app is only good for one-and-done hookups. Recently,
Iowa was matched up with Dakota Access, LLC.
Well, what we’re slowly realizing is that what Dakota Access
actually meant by that was that it couldn’t wait for the Iowa Utilities
Board to hand our land over like an object to be obtained or a piece of
meat to be devoured. Thanks to the little “elves” who are supposed
to be looking out for our best interests, the proposed Bakken Pipeline
project was approved 3-0, with little to no publicity or resistance.
The Bakken Pipeline will transport crude oil from North Dakota oil
reserves to Patoka, Illinois. It will stretch over 1,100 miles, splitting
the state of Iowa in half diagonally, and it will transport an estimated
570,000 barrels of oil daily.
What’s more: the Iowa Utilities Board granted permission for
unforfeited land to be seized via eminent domain. That’s right, the
lovely state of Iowa is enforcing eminent domain for the benefit of
a private, out-of-state corporation. Sure, landowners are fighting
back in an ongoing lawsuit, but if you haven’t noticed, cries from
the people regarding the pipeline have only been ignored by those
in power. Is this going to be any different? I certainly hope so.
This isn’t about job creation.
The number of permanent full-time positions that will be
available to Iowans post-construction: less than ten. Did you
hear that? Less. Than. Ten.
This isn’t about energy independence, either.
Much of the oil from this pipeline will likely be exported from
the Gulf Coast. Also, oil is a dirty, finite resource, and we’re facing
a global climate crisis. Ignoring it doesn’t make it go away. We
need clean, reliable alternative fuel resources, and we need them
soon. So why do we keep putting this off?
This isn’t just any oil, folks.
Crude oil poses a “significant fire risk” due to a “lower flash point
to ignition.” A permanent 50-foot easement after construction is
necessary so as to not disturb the pipeline.
A spill or leak from Bakken would be harmful to all of us, to our
wildlife, and to the quality of our water and soil.
Clean-up efforts take years - decades in some cases - and may
not even be effective. Let’s not forget that taxpayers will fund
this, and it’s going to cost millions.
Even without a leak or spill, perhaps one of the most alarming
threats is to our soil.
We are an agricultural state responsible for growing a
significant portion of the world’s food. Soil as fertile as ours
is rare, and we don’t cherish that enough. The pipeline “will be
a barrier that disrupts the natural system of water movement”
through the soil, a system that has developed itself over the last
few thousand years. Temperature changes to the soil surrounding
the pipeline could affect freezing and thawing cycles, which
could in turn yield an increase in crop diseases and serious weed
problems.
Let me be clear here: Iowa gets next to nothing out of this deal.
But the fight isn’t over.
Shailene Woodley has been fighting alongside Standing Rock
Reservation of North Dakota to keep the pipeline off their land, as
the proposed route is a threat to their water supply and violates
their treaty with the United States government. Help them out by
signing this petition and donating to their cause.
At this point, one of the most important things you can do is
to make your voice heard. Make phone calls. Write letters to the
editor. Sign petitions. Make sure that politicians responsible for
the pipeline decision aren’t reelected. Learn their names. Make
sure something like this doesn’t happen again.
Nothing changes if you aren’t involved. Nothing changes if you
don’t do something about it. Don’t sit back and complain about
the consequences. Swipe left before they happen.
The Bakken Pipeline Is
Like A Tinder Nightmare
MELANIE KRIEPS MERGEN
Melanie is a junior
studying English and music.
melanie.kriepsmergen@briarcliff.edu
Briar Cliff University
And Iowa
should have
swiped left.
9. Ideas 9FOR MORE STORIES VISIT THEODYSSEYONLINE.COM
I wanted to remain quiet about this, but what kind of person
would I be if I didn’t hop on the bandwagon and discuss the
most contentious election of all time at least once?
I made a Facebook post that took a bit of a stance on the
controversy surrounding the unearthed 2005 tape. My take
away message was that, despite Donald Trump’s vulgar
comments, they weren’t enough to change my opinion of him,
and that people shouldn’t take them as a personal attack. With
all of that said, several of my friends still became enormously
outraged, and it didn’t take long until the discussion devolved
into an exchange of name-calling and crude remarks.
In Trump’s defense, most men and women have objectified
another human being in one form or another, so nobody is
off the hook here. The major difference between Trump
and the average person is that Trump’s objectification was
exceptionally obnoxious. Did I mention that he’s also running
for president?
The truth is, even the “Trump said this” and the “Trump said
that” drama hasn’t been enough to quell my enthusiasm for
him. In fact, it’s only made it stronger than ever before. Why?
Because I’m tired of the media always telling me what to do.
I have traveled across time and space trying my hardest to
hate Trump, but really what I was doing was subordinating
to other people’s opinions, not my own. Really, I was afraid
of the scrutiny I would receive had I revealed who I chose
to side with. When Trump first announced his campaign on
June 16th, 2015, people took it as nothing more than a joke.
How could an outsider with zero political experience actually
get a shot at the most powerful position in the world? Yet, as
Trump’s numbers soared and his favorability increased, there
came a point where it became essentially taboo to speak of
him positively. Today, it’s not just taboo, it’s condemned—and
that’s why I’m writing this article.
Let me ask: what business do news outlets, Facebook
Trending, and Hollywood celebrities have telling me that I’m
supposed to dislike Trump? If people voted for him and made
him their Republican nominee, then obviously I should get to
exercise some right to support him in his campaign for the
presidency. Nonetheless, if you so much as lightly defend
Trump these days, you’re asking to get dismissed as a sexist,
a racist, a misogynist, or a bully. You can’t win.
While we’re on the topic of bullies, Trump’s success is mostly
accredited to the ridicule he directed toward his opponents,
and for the most part, it’s worked wonders. Can you really
blame his first-time approach to politics when his strategies
have propelled his campaign this far? I can’t. Furthermore,
the 1, 2, 20, or even 100 offensive comments he has made
over the years pales in comparison to the dozens of Hillary
Clinton’s lies, crimes, and scandals.
Are we even going to bring up the good things that Trump
has done over the years, such as fly a sick child to the hospital
on his private jet, donate his personal earnings to health
organizations, and offer a $10,000 reward to the Buffalo bus
driver who prevented a young woman from taking her own life?
The list goes on (Wenkert, 2016). Also, with talks of Trump
purportedly hating, devaluing, and demeaning women, let’s
not forget that he appointed Barbara Res in 1980 to be the
first woman to supervise the construction of a skyscraper.
Regardless, the prevailing argument against Trump is
that he is simply unfit for the presidency. A business man?
Running for president? That’s like a lawyer performing brain
surgery for the first time. Yet something tells me (and I could
be wrong on this one, so don’t quote me) that anyone could
run the country if they were a natural-born leader who could
handle the incredible pressure of the world’s toughest job.
With effective delegation and a solid support network, I’ll
hedge my bets with Trump if it means he’ll shake things up
in a positive way.
I’ll close off by saying that I’m invested in the outcome of
this election because it is so important to my family as well
as to the future of my country. I will vote in November, and
if my preferred candidate loses, then no one can say that I,
we, didn’t try.
Sorry, I Just Can’t Hate Trump
MARC MCELLIGOTT
Marc is a junior studying
journalism.
marcmcelligott@gmail.com
University of Evansville
10. FOR MORE STORIES VISIT THEODYSSEYONLINE.COMIdeas10
One morning, my uncle and I were listening to “The Brian Lehrer Show”
over the radio and a woman called in to share her views about the Democratic
NationalConvention.Morethanhercommentaryorherpoliticalviews,myuncle
andIweresurprisedbyafactshesharedabouthergrandmother.Interestingly
enough, her grandmother is 107-years-old and ready to vote. Despite the fact
that this woman probably won’t be around to see the effects of the upcoming
presidency, she still exercises her right to vote. After that, I Snapchatted a
bunch of people I knew--most of them 19 to 20 years old--and asked them
whether or not they had voted in the primaries this year. None of them had. In
a way, I expected they wouldn’t have. Young Americans have become almost
notorious for our political apathy, and given how frustrating American politics
have been in recent years, it almost seems understandable. Yet, it still doesn’t
quite answer the question of why young people don’t vote.
1. Well, I didn’t vote because...
I’mnotgoingtobombardyouwithabunchofvoterstatisticsbecause,asfar
as this conversation is concerned, only two matter: there are about 46 million
people ages 18-29 eligible to vote and this youth vote makes up 21% of the
voting population. Now, as far as the reasons of why young people don’t vote,
it boils down to 3 things. The first is that, generally speaking, we don’t see a
need to vote. We already graduated high school, but aren’t homeowners yet
anddebatesaboutsecondaryeducationandincometaxesdon’tfeelapplicable
to us. Pension plans and social security aren’t really top priorities either. And
those political issues that are a priority move to the backburner in the face of
all the responsibilities of adulthood that are piled up on top of you all at once.
At 18, you gain the right to vote, but along with that you’re also probably
no longer living at home for the first time. Juggling your part-time jobs, your
assignmentsandthestrugglesthatcomewithlivingonyourown,exercisingthe
right to vote just doesn’t feel as important as all of your other responsibilities.
But maybe, more than these two reasons, you don’t vote because you feel as
though it doesn’t matter. This country is going where it’s going, the system
is rigged and voting seems pointless because the situation feels hopeless.
2...But I will vote because
Say what you will about the state of America today, but one thing everyone
can agree on is that our right to vote in America is taken for granted when
compared to places like Afghanistan. For 30 years, Afghanistan has been
ravaged by war, terrorism and poverty. Their GDP is basically nonexistent
and political instability is a reality, not a fear. Being a citizen in that country is
hard, but being a second class citizen in that country is even harder. And yet,
on July 23rd, thousands of Hazara Shias, an ethnic and religious minority in
Afghanistan,protestedoutsideParliamenttodemandthataplannedpowerline
be built through their electricity-starved province. Then, two suicide bombers
detonated in the crowd, killing over 80 people and wounding more than 230.
Among those killed were engineers, dentists and parents who protested that
day because, despite everything, they believed their voice mattered and they
hadhopethattheircountrywouldgetbetter.Andiftheycanhopeandfightfor
their rights and for what they believe in, who are we to say we can’t?
3. But I’m not that into politics
Rememberthosemomentsinalgebraclasswhensomeoneinevitablyasked,
“When am I ever gonna use this in real life?” Politics is not algebra. You don’t
needtobeinacertainprofessiontoneedknowledgeofit.Infact,I’darguethat
as a citizen—not just of a country, but of the world—you need to know what’s
going on. I’m not saying that you need to study political theory, but perhaps
beingabletoanswerafewquestionsaboutwhereacertaincountryisorcurrent
events in the world is a good start.
Do you know who your congressmen are? Do you know who the mayor
of your town is? If you don’t, find out. I promise it won’t take long. Now, take
a moment to think about where you get your news from. Chances are, you
get your news from social media. News about your friends, about a new
album that just dropped or a link to the latest viral video is all seen on social
media. In addition to all those things, follow a news organization or a political
commentator. Follow the “New York Times” or “NPR.” Subscribe to podcasts
that talk about world events and YouTube channels that talk about political
issues. Use a service like Flipboard and tailor it so you can stay up-to-date on
current events. Use all of these tools around you to your advantage, so that
being a knowledgeable, aware citizen is not some far-off aspiration but a part
of your routine.
KnowingabouttheendofChina’sone-childpolicyorthestateoftheUkraine
conflict isn’t to look smart or because policies are just something educated
people should know about. They’re important to know because they affect
people. They affect people you might have never met, may never meet or ever
have much of a connection with at all, but those people are still important and
we are all connected. And, because they are important, it’s important for us
to care about what’s happening to them. Similarly, it’s important to know who
yourgovernorisbecausethepoliciesheorshepassaffectboththepeopleyou
know and don’t know, and if they don’t affect you now, they will in the future.
4. And then what?
ManyofthosepeopleISnapchattedsaidtheydidn’tvotebecausetheydidn’t
knowwhotovotefororwhentheelectionevenwas.Somejusthadn’tregistered
in time. But once you make the decision to be a more aware citizen and make
it a priority, it becomes much easier to take agency and exercise your rights.
So vote. Vote this year, vote in the next election for governor and vote in
every election for Congress. Vote until you’re 107-years-old.
ZARINA AKBARY
Zarina is a sophomore studying
biochemistry and writing.
zarina.akbary@drew.edu
Drew University
Why A 107-Year-Old
Woman Will Vote This
Election, But Most
Young People Won’t
11. FOR MORE STORIES VISIT THEODYSSEYONLINE.COM 500 Words On 11
In the history of the United States, there have never been
this many incriminating cases against each major candidate
running for president. Nobody who knew the full background
of these two candidates a year ago would have chosen them
to be here today, and what that suggests about the corruption
of the political process is a different discussion. No matter
how you want to describe the decision we have as voters
this November, the candidates we have are the candidates
we have. However, I think through the absurdity surrounding
both political campaigns, and I realize that we are forgetting a
very important part of this election. The media seems to only
flash two names in front of us, Trump and Hillary, but aren’t we
forgetting someone?
Standing at their sides are Mike Pence and Tim Kaine,
respectively, seeking the position of Vice President.
Unfortunately, many voters tend to set the VP candidates in
the background with help from the media; the two presidential
candidates have frequently overshadowed them. What is the
point of the VP office anyways? Even John Adams, who was
the first Vice President, characterized the office as “the most
insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived”.
Well,theofficehaschangedabitsincethedaysofJohnAdams.
Most notably after the Cold War, vice presidents assumed
authority over an increasing number of executive actions,
including national defense and foreign policy decisions. But
the influence of the VP goes beyond that. He will be one of the
closest knit people to the president during their years in the
white house, and the personal influences on a president have
historically affected policy decisions. So the question is who
would you like acting as the main advice contributor to the
hands holding the nuclear codes? What if you didn’t just vote
for half the ticket on Election Day; would your choice change?
Let’s take a closer look at our two candidates for Vice
President. Tim Kaine is the former governor of Virginia and is
now serving as a senator for the same state. Although Kaine
is an outspoken Catholic, he supports same-sex marriage and
believes the church ought to change their doctrine on the issue.
A common misconception I hear too often about Kaine is
thatheispro-life.However,hismostrecentviewswere
revealed when he supported Hillary in overturning
the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits Medicaid
funding for abortions. Unfortunately, he
cannot be pro-choice and stay in line with the
Democratic Party’s platform at the same time.
Another thing I hear about Tim Kaine is his
pro-second amendment stance. As governor,
he introduced a bill holding gun dealers liable
for selling firearms to illegal gun owners, and
his most recent action was vetoing a bill that
would’ve allowed the legal possession of guns in people’s cars.
In terms of the issues and his demeanor, he comes across as
a male Hillary Clinton.
What about Mike Pence? His addition to the Republican
ticket has definitely eased the minds of many evangelical
voters, as he is forthright about his Christian faith. At the
forefront, he seems awfully similar to his opponent, but the
difference is his policy decisions don’t deviate from the
doctrine of his church. While Donald Trump doesn’t line up
perfectly with the Republican establishment, Mike Pence
brings a calm, prudent approach to defend those views.
In fact, he eases the minds of many who view Trump as a
dingbat crazy man with bad hair because he’ll bring a voice
of reason to the conversation. If you think Pence won’t
be able to balance out the ticket, remember that Trump is
Trump, and he could’ve chosen whoever he wanted. You can
bet he’s going to lend an ear when Pence speaks up. After
signing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act as governor
of Indiana, (which by the way was not an attack against gays
but a protection of religious rights, hence the name), Pence’s
views were solidified. If you hear him speak, you’ll get
the impression of a calm, steady spirit of reason
in the room. Fairly different from Trump to say
the least. However, because his stance on big
issues hasn’t changed since he joined politics,
he tends to be the most divisive person in the
room as well.
What if we all looked one step past Trump
and Hillary, and voted for their running mates?
Would you change your vote or would you be
more confident in your original decision?
What If We Just Voted For The Vice President?
TIM USTICA
tim.ustica@gmail.com
Dallas Baptist University
Would you
choose Tim
Kaine or Mike
Pence?
12. FOR MORE STORIES VISIT THEODYSSEYONLINE.COMScene12
As I enter the grocery store, an old man standing next to the sliding
doors catches my eye. He looks tired and old, and in his hands are a
box full of red crepe-paper flowers. Taking pity on the old man I find an
old, crinkled dollar and drop it into his collection jar. He says “Thank
you” and hands me one of the flowers. I read the paper slip which
says to “wear proudly” but I don’t. I say, “You’re welcome” and go on
my way. To be honest, the poppy will probably hang on my sun-visor
for a few days before I decide to take it down. After all, I don’t even
know what the poppy stands for…
It’s sad just how many Americans are that person: the person who
doesn’t realize that the poppies aren’t just a piece of crepe-paper
and wire. The person who doesn’t realize that poppies deserve just
as much attention as “Old Glory,” the Bald Eagle, and the 21-Gun
Salute. Poppies, a seemingly ordinary flower, are the epitome of
American pride. I urge you to remember the history of the poppy
and its meaning when you’re at the polls this November.
WhethertheyarethecolonistsfightingforfreedomagainstEngland
or Afghanistan Troops fighting for freedom from terror, Americans
have never given up. World War One, with its chemical weaponry
and trench warfare, gave life to an American people with unyielding
pride. Lieutenant John McCrae, in his war poem In Flander’s Fields,
writes of where the spilt blood of his brothers mimics the bright red
of the poppies. “Take up our quarrel with the foe…the torch; be yours
to hold it high.”
The poppies are a symbol of risking your life for a greater cause,
and inspiring those after you to keep fighting. Whatever that means
to you, choose a presidential candidate that fits this persona.
Eloquently illustrated by McCrae, poppies are the American
symbol of not only discipline and sacrifice, but also of unwavering
perseverance.
Post-World War One, one American, Moina Michael, felt that she
needed to carry the torch and spread the legacy of remembering
veterans by making the poppy the symbol of remembrance. Working
with disabled veterans, she came up with the idea of selling silk
poppies to raise money to help these veterans. Not only was it
therapeutic for them, but the money helps those who may be disabled
or hospitalized for a new outlook on life.
Moina Michael continued the American legacy of John McCrae.
And carrying his torch, she held it high. Choose a presidential
candidate who you feel will carry America’s torch.
The story of how the poppy came to be the flower of remembrance
is “American” in and of itself: a small
group can bring about large change,
pride for a country can motivate you
to keep fighting battles, and there
is no greater gift of man but to lay
down his life for love.
Our soldiers die out of love for our
country. When you’re voting, vote
for a leader who you feel would “die”
for our country as well. Remember
the poppies at the polls.
Remember The
Poppies At The Polls
ABBY BRODBECK
Abby is a freshman studying nursing.
abbybrodbeck27@gmail.com
Carroll University
Why you
should
think of the
red flower
at the ballot
box.
13. FOR MORE STORIES VISIT THEODYSSEYONLINE.COM
What is a swing state?
Definition: it is a state in which no single candidate or party
has overwhelming support in securing that state’s electoral
college votes.
Facts:
• The creation of swing states happened when the
winner-take-all system was put in place.
• Presidential candidates focus on swing states during
the campaign trails; gaining these states allows for
more electoral votes thus a greater chance of winning
the election.
• There are 11 swing states: Colorado,
Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada,
New Hampshire, North Carolina,
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and
Wisconsin.
Florida contains approximately
4.4 million registered Republicans,
about 4.6 million Democrats, and
nearly 3 million independents; which
allows this state to be considered as a
swing state. Looking back at previous
elections, Florida can either make or
break a candidates shot of winning the
presidency and all candidates have known
this; however, times are changing. A majority
of these swing voters are of the Hispanic diversity
and hold ideals such as achieving the American dream.
Also while doing research for this topic I have read that
the days of older retirees only residing in Florida are gone
and more recently a younger crowd has become growing in
population. Therefore ideals and views are changing in this
youth population, where now views may be more concerned
with jobs and the environment rather than Social Security
and Medicare/Medicaid.
Reading this I realized that I, being a college student
registered to vote, hold a lot of power in this election and so do
all my peers. Our ideals and political views could bring about
change and be the majority in this state and other states
across the country. But, looking at the last election, on average
young people are only 19% out of 21% of the young voting
population actually going to the polls. Which to me could
be much better. However it has been increasing;
if you look back at the 2004 election, when
Kerry was defeated by President George W.
Bush, only 17% of America’s youth voted.
The reason behind this is that it seems
that there has been a lack of enthusiasm
for college students and the youth
population to register to vote and then
get to the polls on Election Day.
I believe that this should change,
however, especially for this year’s
presidential election. Be if you’re in a
swing state or a safe state you should vote.
Although I still have no idea who I will be voting
for (and to be honest I probably won’t know till I
step into that booth) I do know that it is important for me
to participate because the young population of the U.S. can
carry so much weight. And I feel that especially in Florida,
which is where I go to school, it can be even more radical.
Being in a swing state, having an increasing majority of young
demographics, and being a major election-deciding state, I
hope and shout out to all my peers and friends to go and vote
this election day because we just might be the state to pick
the new president.
Florida College
Student Living
In A Swing State
STEPHANIE SILVER
stephanie.silver@spartans.ut.edu
Brandon, Florida
A. You’re a
college student. B.
You live in Florida.
C. Do you know
how much power
you hold in the
election?
Lifestyle 13
14. FOR MORE STORIES VISIT THEODYSSEYONLINE.COMIdeas14
I will be honest with you, 2016 has been the craziest of crazy
years. From the Presidential race to terrorizing clowns, to Kevin
Durant joining the Warriors, I just don’t know if I can handle any
more surprises this year. However, I am staying open-minded for
onemorepossiblesurprise:thefailureofAmericaanddemocracy.
I know that is extremely bold due to the fact the United States is
supposed to be the greatest country on the planet, right?
So now I ask you the question, has America become too
big to fail?
Democracy is one of the most beautiful things the human
race has ever created. But democracy is also one of the most
fragile things in the world. We have taken something that was
not designed to last forever and convinced ourselves it cannot
and will not fail.
The failure of the Republican Party is not due to Donald Trump
noristhefailureanymajorpartytopresentareasonablecandidate
duetoitsleadership.Ournation’sproblemscomefromourhomes,
schools, friends, families, etc. Our nation’s problems come from
within all of us. We are the
creatorsofourowndemise.But
werefusetounderstandandsee
that.
Our greatest success is also our greatest failure. We are
one of the most diverse, if not the most diverse, countries
in the world. The biggest problem we face today is we do
not know how to properly govern so many different cultures
simultaneously. We have regional differences, religious
differences, etc. and it creates extremely different ideological
differences on how to run the country. As a result, our country
cannot be led entirely by a singular entity like the federal
government. It gets pulled and pushed in every direction and
eventually it will break. We have too many groups who want
too many different things. We can’t stop spending money. Our
politicians that we do elect can’t get anything done. Where is
the hope when it is needed most?
On top of our own domestic problems, we also have an
insurmountable amount of problems abroad. For instance, I
don’t know how well people are paying attention to Russia’s
actions, but they are not good for the sake of the United States.
Putin has called home all his foreign representatives and their
relatives, an ally of his made a statement saying elect Trump
or face nuclear war, and even told his citizens to check their
bomb shelters. Then on top of Russia, we have China and their
self-proclaimed ownership of the South China Sea. One of own
generals even publicly said War World III was imminent. If we
enter War World III, I will put money down that the United States
crumbles.HillarynorDonaldhavetheleadershiptoleadnotonly
our country, but our allies through a major war. That is what
makes me most nervous about this year’s election: we have
zero leadership at the top of our country when we need it most.
So before you start pointing fingers and blaming others for
the failure of our country, look at yourself and those around
you. Look at your community. Success doesn’t come from
other success. Success comes from failure. If we keep trying
to force our great country to be successful, our crash and
burn will only grow larger and larger and the effects will be
catastrophic. We can rebuild. We can go our separate ways.
But the only way to grow is to learn from our mistakes and we
have quit doing that. Instead, we choose to blame others. We
choose the easiest route.
We have become complacent. Generations before us worked
hard to make the United States the best in the world. We got
to the top. Now we are slipping, no falling. And fast. And the
only way we can change and survive is by transforming our
mindset. We have to have the fear the United States can fail.
Without that fear, we will go nowhere in the world. People
are working to destroy our country each and every day,
and if we don’t change from within and fight it, there
will be no more United States of America.
SoAmerica,pleasewakeupandlookaround
youandus.Wearelivinginaperiodthatwill
determinethenextcourseofhumanity.
Weneedtoeliminatetheuncertainty
of the direction and lead it. Don’t
let our pride and selfishness
be the downfall of one of
thegreatestcountries
to ever grace the
Earth.
America: Too Big To Fail?
JACKSON BRAUGHT
Jackson is a junior studying
industrial & systems engineering.
jcbraught@gmail.com
University of Oklahoma
This
election
cycle is more
than just picking
the next President.
15. FOR MORE STORIES VISIT THEODYSSEYONLINE.COM 500 Words On 15
If you go to St. Bonaventure University, you’ve probably
seen me walking around with a hat on that reads, “Bernie.”
Yes, I am a Democrat. But, not only am I a Democrat, I am
a liberal.
I have looked up to Hillary Clinton ever since I was a young
girl. She was the perfect woman for a little girl to idolize. I
would like to think that because of Hillary Clinton, I grew up
to be the feminist I am today.
But, at the start of the presidential race, something about
Bernie Sanders caught my attention.
He’s an underdog with a New York attitude. He’s a man
and a feminist (my favorite kind). He spoke about racism and
sexism in a way that appealed to millennial voters. Despite
the fact that he could never win the Democratic nomination,
he kept fighting.
Most of all, Bernie’s presence in the 2016 race awakened
conversation throughout the United States.
His words about the black men and women fighting for their
lives in Ferguson lit a fire under the millennials watching him.
Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr became places where young
people became political. Maybe they even became more vocal
during political dinner conversations.
We need a societal transformation to make it clear that
black lives matter and racism will not be accepted in a
civilized country.
Bernie’s conversation was universal. It involved every
citizen of the United States, even those who’s states still
refuse to acknowledge their rights. Bernie fought to bring
discrimination against the LGBT community to an end. In
2016, “transgender” became more relevant and prevalent in
the U.S. Bernie never faulted in his stance that every person
deserves to be who he/she/ze/hir/them/they/(insert name)
want to be.
Bernie’s stance on female reproductive rights and women’s
rights overall was inspiring. Never have I ever seen a man
more passionate about the female cause. I would like to
believe that somewhere, a young girl no longer feels ashamed
of having an abortion.
I will vote for Hillary in November, but this is why I still wear
my Bernie hat.
Why I Still
Wear My Bernie
Sanders Hat
HALEY SCHRENK
Haley is a junior studying
journalism and mass
communication.
schrenhj15@bonaventure.edu
St Bonaventure University
I still wear
my Bernie hat
to continue
spreading his
message.
