Bonus #7: New Generation, New Hope--Kathleen Paxtor

The debate on gun control has become a huge national debate throughout all of America. People are either for guns or they’re not. I personally believe that stricter rules to attain a gun should be implemented. I moved from a really small town that is full of people who live out in the country and carry guns at all times. It is all they know and what they have been taught for years. Unfortunately, because people have been allowed to carry and obtain guns easily they feel like it is their right. And in a way it is, the Constitution does allow the right to bare arms but that was back then. The Constitution can be amended when needed and that time is now. When children are dying everyday and in masses isn’t a sign to control guns then what is? Is easier access to carry guns worth the life of a child? Imagine if that was your child, put yourself in the lives of those parents that have lost their children to guns. People argue that gun control is unfair but the killing of children in inhumane.

I don’t think guns are necessarily bad, I just think that they are necessary at all times. I understand that people that live in the country have a necessity for them. Some people need them to protect themselves from bears or deer, but I don’t think a 16-year-old kid should be able to get a gun so quickly. Back when I graduated high school there was an incident of this kid who was also a senior that got in trouble for having his gun in his car. He had gone hunting that morning and left in in his truck. Somebody found out and told on him and he got reprimanded and was not going to be able to walk at graduation. In instances like this I understand that it was an accident, that he hadn’t purposely brought it to school with him but what if he had been a psychopath? It would’ve been just as easy for another 17 year old to have access to a gun and brought it to campus. Gaining access to guns is so easy and so unnecessary. In this last year we have had about 20 school shootings; we are only 3 months into 2018. When is enough, enough?

This up and coming generation has decided that it is time to end the death of innocent children. After the Florida shooting many teenagers have had enough and are organizing rallies against guns. I have hope for the future because these teens are the future. They are unafraid to voice out their opinions regardless of the backlash. They will grow up to be lawmakers that do not have close-minded views. This generation has suffered through many things that will hopefully allow them to influence the future. Teens are now more open-minded than the older generations that have governed for years; as the older generations die out so do the close-minded organizations that will make room for growth as a country.

Bonus 6: Recognizing Art or Sexual Harassment? by Sam Urueta

The Academy Awards also known as the Oscars, are widely anticipated in over 200 countries and easily accessible through live streaming web pages. They are held annually to recognize actors, directors, producers, technicians, and writers for their dedication and cinematic excellence. Therefore, each individual in the film industry is under surveillance and their actions have a way of influencing society either negatively or positively. Which leads me to question sexual harassment or amoral acts taking place in this industry. Who gets to draw the line? The Oscar nominations have pardoned repeated acts of sexual harassment which encourages the continuation of such deplorable acts. Women and men alike should not over-look this behavior in order to put an end to it.

The voting system in the Oscars is quite complicated and demanding in regards to the film set-up and execution. Active or life-time members of the academy get to vote on who is deserving in every particular genre in accordance to the guidelines. However, not many rules or requirements are set in place for an individual’s living and present actions. Their overall actions outside of the film industry happen to not affect or make them lose their possible nomination to earn a shiny gold statue.

Due to the monetary value and automatic increase in prestige, it is life changing for any nominee to accept an award. Post-Oscars, doors are opened instantly in the film industry and a sense of widespread respect is given overnight. This is very unfortunate because individuals who have committed acts of sexual harassment in the past feel entitled to do so because of their status. In addition, lawyers and other involved parties such as news outlets and witnesses are bribed in exchange for their silence. It allows them to feel superior and unstoppable because their safety net falls back to the power of money, fame and unrighteous recognition.

It becomes increasingly difficult for victims to speak up out of fear, negative retaliation, attention and disbelief. Although, it is clearly a crime to sexually harass a woman or a man in any given situation… no true code of conduct is or has been enforced in the academy over the course of the years since it was first established in 1929. Victims are at an unquestionable disadvantage because predators aren’t being punished and instead, publicly rewarded. Producers, agents and The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences continue to establish partnerships even after accusations of abuse and rape surface to media outlets worldwide. In my opinion, not one incidence should be taken lightly, much less applauded. By doing so, they are desensitizing the seriousness and risks of becoming abused.

The Oscars focus on artistic value and they should also focus on moral conduct. Predators should be held accountable for their actions with no exceptions. The film industry is a job and should be held to the same standard as any other work place deserving of boundaries and respect. The slightest form of harassment should be credible in order to abolish it. Art and rape are two very distinctive subjects but never distinguishable when performed hand in hand by an individual. The Oscars should automatically punish these individuals and strip them of any possible awards. If given the award, peers should refuse to accept it to mirror the disapproval and wrong-doing of such actions. Overall, when those who take the opportunity to use their platform and status to eradicate verbal, physical and emotional abuse– only then should they be considered for a nomination and award.

Bonus 7: Generation Z & Gun Control by Aly Hernandez

One of the most controversial topics in our country is Gun Control yet it is one of the most misunderstood areas of political discourse. With the rise of mass shootings since Columbine the American public is at large with the amount of support for stricter gun legislation; among the group are students. In this generation of millennials and generation Z, the access to social media through technology is as easy as checking the time on your wrist watch. News travels and it travels fast. No easier could generations before them assemble a protest with hundreds of students in such short time than these two generations.

Could this new generation of teenagers change the reciprocity of our political arena? I think so. They are changing social media, language, companies, etc.… Why would that not include politics? There is a surge of fear going around Washington D.C. Congressmen are afraid that by shutting these students out they will lose support and lose their districts; they are afraid that by supporting them, they are also shutting out support from older generations and thus by not providing full support for either side, they are merely floating in a large body of water afraid to swim in either direction and there is no progress.

We have seen in polls that a majority of Americans support tougher gun legislation and fifty percent of gun owners are also in favor of gun legislation. Other polls have found that on average self-identified republicans, independents, and democrats want congress to do more to address gun violence. If the people want it then it should be addressed.  Florida has just recently introduced a state gun control bill that could change the face of gun laws. The bill will address the need for mental health services, a waiting period to buy a gun, and increases the legal age to buy a gun.

Gun control is not an infringement on anyone’s second amendment rights but rather it is a restriction to the kinds of people we want to carry dangerous firearms. Do you really need an assault rifle to protect you from something that may statistically never happen? Do not hide behind self-defense, because studies demonstrate that the likelihood of an armed good guy shooting an armed or unarmed bad guy are extremely rare.

Does this generation of students leave a print on society? If they don’t they won’t back down, you’ll hear from them soon enough. This new generation refuses to be known as the mass shooter generation or the tide-pod generation. They are proving to us that social media is a powerful tool, that technology is at their disposal, that their voices do matter, and that change is demanded not given. They demand to feel safe while they pursue an education.