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By Allison Yuan Devastating plane crashes in just a few months – are we overlooking the risks of air travel, or is it still the safest way to reach our destination? Just in the past few weeks, the nation has gotten into a frenzy over the safety of air travel. Domestically, there have been many air incidents: the DC crash of the mid-air collision between an American Airlines flight with the military Black Hawk helicopter, the medical Learjet 55 crash in a Philadelphia neighborhood, and the Alaska Bering Air crash near Nome, Western Alaska. Internationally, this past holiday season, there have been tragic incidents from the Christmas Day crash of Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer E190 to four days later the Jeju airline crash at Muan International Airport.  With these many crash reports, it’s hard not to be anxious and weary of flying. But to give it straight, yes, air travel is still the safest mode of transportation , especially on US commercial airlines.  According to the 2024 Transportation Statistics Report from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, air travel was marked as the safest form of transportation. In the report, it states: “Transportation incidents for all modes claimed 44,546 lives in 2022, of which all but 2,032 involved highway motor vehicles. Preliminary estimates for 2023 suggest a further decline in fatalities,” the report says. “There were no deaths from crashes on large commercial airlines in 2023, but several hundred deaths occurred in crashes in general aviation, commuter air, and air taxi services.”  Moreover, in the most recent International Air Transportation Association (IATA) report, it called 2023 “an exceptionally safe year” in the commercial airline sector. There was no fatal accident and had a fatality risk rate of 0.03 per million sectors, meaning “on average a person would have to travel by air every day for 103,239 years to experience a fatal accident.” Though the report on 2024 has yet to come out it’s safe to report that within the last 10 years the airline industry has improved its safety performance to over 61%.  In a study by a professor of statistics at MIT, it highlights the way air travel has been getting safer. The primary conclusion was that, from 2018 to 2022, the global fatality risk per boarding was 1 in 13.7 million. To put that into perspective, getting killed in a shark attack or giving birth to quadruplets is far more likely than dying in a plane crash . The article also mentions that the risk of a plane crash was one in 7.9 million from 2008 to 2017, which has drastically decreased from one in every 350,000 boardings from 1968 to 1977. Despite these recent crashes overlooking the high stats on safety of air travel, it’s important to keep in mind what airlines are doing now. In a USA Today article, Jim Brauchle, an aviation attorney at Motley Rice talks on how “one good thing that the aviation community does do is it really does learn from its past experiences and past accidents.” The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board take safety issues and recommendations seriously, examining and investigating each accident in the US. Furthermore, executives at airlines usually stress that they compete with other airlines on schedules, amenities, costs, and other aspects,  but never on safety . In order to make flying as safe as possible, manufacturers, airlines, and other industry players collaborate.  Overall, air travel remains one of the safest modes of transportation, even in the face of recent incidents. The likelihood of a crash is extremely low, and the industry’s dedication to safety ensures that air travel will remain secure for years to come.

By Mila Fisher With the powerful right-turn in European politics, the outlook for Europe’s foreign policy and involvement in Ukraine has taken a drastic turn as well. It is not very often Americans see any news regarding Europe anymore since November, yet it’s crucial to analyze as a window into what a global right-wing world could look like. Until recently, global powers believed Europe was immune to the nationalist virus surging the continent. However, this shift should not have been a surprise to the longstanding central-leftist and central-right parties who lead the EU. Beginning with Euroskeptics, such as Hungary’s Fidesz and Poland’s Law and Justice (PiS), earning influence at both the national and EU level, foundations of left-centered EU policies grew shaky.  Contrary to the 2024 elections, Euroscepticism dominated far-right agendas during parliamentary and national-level elections in 2019, and with Brexit prevalent, many right wing candidates advocated for national prioritization or even the creation of a Federal Europe . This year, however, agenda’s were still favoring prioritization of a nation, but expressed this through the concept of a ‘Europe of Nations’. As research done by Carnegie Europe found, “radical-right parties have mostly abandoned demands for leaving the EU”. The majority of them favor a "Europe of nations" organized strictly along intergovernmental lines, allowing maximum freedom to member states. They demand the return of some powers to the national level and oppose any efforts to strengthen the union's probability of returning to a global powerhouse of democracy. Furthermore, they see EU foreign policy as merely a guideline to the extent governments can promote their own national interests. In fact, most parties, like Germany’s growing AfD (Alternative für Deutschland), focus on anti-immigration sentiments. Stigmas such as immigrants increase crime in relatively peaceful cities, or that immigrants refuse to integrate with their new society, instead, emphasize their own cultures to ‘overtake’ the existing values, have been pushed–we see these same stigmas argued in our own politics–and have gained concerning support nationwide in Germany. Right-wing impacts upon the aspects of migration policy have even driven mainstream parties to move toward increasingly restrictive policies in efforts to retain voters .  We see similar efforts towards the EU’s climate policies, which the right denounces as an authoritarian elite project that ignores the social and economic costs to citizens. Italy’s Giorgia Meloni , whose Brothers of Italy party has its roots in a 20th-century fascist movement , pa rticularly pushes to be an ‘exaggerated issue’ that no one can stop , and devalues its severity despite her constituents feeling the impacts of it just last May after seeing floods that costed €8.8 billion and fifteen lives. Outside of the vast continent-wide and national influence, the intensifying radical approach to foreign policy seems to fundamentally threaten one major international issue: The war in Ukraine. A common trend amongst right-wing parties is pro-Russian agendas, or less focus on support for Ukraine. As Hungary’s record over recent months shows, pro-Russian sympathies present a particular challenge to maintaining the EU’s support for Ukraine. December polling by YouGov in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Denmark and the UK found public desire to stand by Ukraine until victory had dropped in all seven countries. The rise of pro-Russian rhetoric and ideas to cut Ukraine aid in order to prioritize the nation could severely set back Ukraine in their already struggling conditions, and as Russia leads its most progressive offensive since 2022, the outlook for Ukrainian victory is slimming. With Belgian’s extreme nationalist, Vlaams Belang, taking a landslide victory in June, Austria's Freedom Party–founded by former Nazis–claiming to ‘open a new era’ with their wins, and France’s Marine Le Pen considered to have excellent chances  to win the presidential election in 2027, the outlook for EU policy dims from being a beacon of democracy, to a tide of restriction and nationalism.  So, how should Europe avoid the rise of nationalist powers? First and foremost, as the left attempts to mimic right-wing positions to retain voters, migration policies will grow restrictive. Refugees from Ukraine, Russia, and the Middle East will find difficulty reaching asylum status in an overcomplicated, biased system pushed by the right-wing and supported by the left. Family reunification efforts may deteriorate, or turn towards using a lengthy approval process. All outcomes, regardless of what steps the right takes, will effectively limit how many refugees are welcomed into their country, and impact across-the-board EU policies. Next, the EU, as a democratic organization, has no power without its core values: all liberal. According to research , the decline of democracy within the EU is strongly related to unity in foreign policy . Many fundamental stakeholders are currently plagued with a lack of unity and a rise of diverse parties who are bound to dispute consensus, and all serve to distract from the purpose of the EU; Unity. The fragmentation in the political landscape of France and Germany is the most worrisome of all. Multiple elections, failures to maintain coalitions, drops in economic output, all serve to damage the effectiveness of governance and guidance from the two. Thus, nations and factions committed to democratic values need to intensify cooperation so they can isolate the most extreme nationalist agendas and therefore maintain consensus in foreign policy. Thirdly, as the EU market is exhausted by too many economic disruptions, such as the gaps COVID-19 left behind, diverging domestic investments, the value of the Euro falling, and disturbed trade from the Ukraine-Russo war, the lack of economic cooperation will only serve to weaken the organization further. Nations must reinforce that European market strength can only be achieved through active investment into the organization’s common goals. Only when united can the EU stay afloat. As long as unity lacks in European discourse and focus remains on domestic squabble, Europe will never resurface as a global leader able to compete with the influence Russia and the United States hold. The true issues of Europe are rebuilding faith in collective European action and countering forces who allow for defeatism in their parties. Only when such unanimity is restored will we see Europe’s beacon light again.

Happy Teeth Outreach Program is a student run dental hygiene awareness organization based in Arizona which aims to make dental hygiene more accessible. Founder Minsoo Kim on what inspired her to start Happy Teeth:   I started Happy Teeth because I’m passionate about making a meaningful impact on my community. By addressing the often overlooked issue of dental hygiene, I strive to help individuals with the resources and knowledge to improve their overall health. This idea of contributing to a healthier, more educated community drives my commitment to this cause. On their mission: Happy Teeth Outreach Program (HTOP) is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of dental hygiene for everyone, but especially underprivileged peopl e. Our goal is to empower communities with the knowledge and tools they need to achieve healthier, brighter smiles and reduce preventable dental diseases. We collaborate with local dental professionals, businesses, and community organizations to expand our reach and make dental care accessible to all. Recognizing that hundreds of people out there do not have access to items necessary for good dental hygiene such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, etc, Happy Teeth Outreach Program is committed to teaching lifelong oral practices, ensuring that everyone maintains good dental health well into the future. So far, HTOP has made a significant impact in educating and spreading awareness in the community about dental health. They have worked with numerous organizations and businesses, such as Sonoran Smiles Orthodontics, Metropolitan Youth Symphony, Ocotillo Women’s League, Arizona Dance Studio, etc., to collect thousands of donations for underprivileged people. To date, 5,000+ oral hygiene items have been donated to development programs for adults and children (New Pathways for Youth, ICAN, One Small Step, etc). Founder Minsoo Kim credits seeing HTOP’s work positively impacting so many people as her motivation to continue working hard and doing as much as possible to give back to her community. In the future, HTOP hopes to increase partnerships and broaden their reach in order to provide essential dental hygiene resources and educate underserved communities. Furthermore, they hope to host more hands-on opportunities for high school students who are interested in the cause to engage in their program, expanding volunteer and membership opportunities with the organization. Happy Teeth Outreach Program would like to thank everyone who has contributed to our cause and supported us in helping these communities. Your dedication and assistance is what has allowed us to come this far. If you would like to partner with Happy Teeth, reach out here and stay updated through their Instagram @happyteethop.

2025 has so far been nothing if not eventful, especially for climate crises such as the California wildfires. Continue reading to find out the causes of the fires, why it has become so widespread, and how to help those suffering because of it. What caused the fires in LA? As of right now, officials haven't released a statement of the precise cause of the fires, but they claim it is due to climate change, Southern California’s history of droughts and extreme dry spells, and the intense winds during the dry season. There is speculation that the fires were man-made, and arson is at fault, but no official statement has been made to confirm nor deny these claims. The most agreed-upon explanation thus far has been climate change, but investigations are underway to determine the true cause of the fires. Why have they become so widespread? Not only was there the Palisades Fire, there was also the Eaton Fire and the Hughes Fire, as well as smaller fires surrounding the LA area. A total of nearly 50,000 acres of land have burned to the ground, and that’s mostly due to the intense winds that fueled the fire. These winds are known as the Santa Ana Winds, and they come from dry, high-pressure air in places like the Great Basin. These dry winds can reach up to 100 mph and are the perfect way for fires to spread insanely fast, due to the lack of moisture in the air and the feeding of oxygen. In other words, they were quite literally the fuel to the fire and something near impossible to stop. How can I help those affected? Over 6,800 buildings were burnt down according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, aka Cal Fire, and at least 29 people have been confirmed dead. Luckily, you can help these grieving families. Organizations such as GoFundMe and Red Cross already have multiple donation portals up, as well as Project Hope, The Salvation Army, and LA Food Bank. The links are down below for you to donate, or add to your instagram story to spread awareness to donation resources, and as always, my heart goes out to all families affected. Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/press-release/2025/red-cross-helping-in-southern-california-as-wildfires-force-thousands-from-their-homes.html?srsltid=AfmBOopyzTclbzlfBfq8qTFa516o8iQpUYhzOX6Ue5lzTkap-nA3LCYr   GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/wildfire-relief/california   Project Hope: https://secure.projecthope.org/site/SPageNavigator/FY25_01_LA_Fire_and_General_Unrestricted_Support_Ads_LO_12863.html?autologin=true&mfc_pref=T&s_src=ads&s_subsrc=ads_gs_nb_cafires_012025&utm_source=fundraising&utm_medium=ads&utm_campaign=ads_gs_nb_cafires_012025&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA4-y8BhC3ARIsAHmjC_HtFKzbLhyqiKQARVznHK0j5QTuAnsb07V026phQb45doKCj3hFuY0aAt7zEALw_wcB   Salvation Army: https://give-sc.salvationarmy.org/give/654097/?utm_source=google_delve&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=donation_western_pmax&utm_content=text&utm_term=pmax&pid=cpc:edonation_western_nonbrand::google_delve:::::western_western:general_brand:evergreen&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA4-y8BhC3ARIsAHmjC_E4oZWVGmQWKIRaEV5tFFk0YODlkh3yLjUFBU3fDFOmwBmPDO3z5FwaAiZKEALw_wcB#!/donation/checkout   LA Food Bank: https://secure.lafoodbank.org/site/Donation2?df_id=5160&mfc_pref=T&5160.donation=form1&utm_source=google-ads&utm_medium=google_pmax&utm_campaign=retargeting&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA4-y8BhC3ARIsAHmjC_FiPfh1an3qv5MDp_1jP7IviqQKf9wPXKYyEP39akM9QdDHtt5l8dgaApbIEALw_wcB

Bright Financial Literacy is a student-run organization that fosters financial awareness and skills among individuals. Bright stands for B uilding Resilience, Inspiring Growth, and Harmonizing Talent, encapsulating the mission to cultivate a resilient, informed, and harmoniously growing youth population. Founder Somik Baweja on what inspired him to start BRIGHT: I started BRIGHT because I come from a small town where I witnessed many issues like homelessness and addiction. While I never denied that these problems existed, seeing them in my own community was surprising. After researching, I discovered that financial mistakes were one of the contributing factors to these challenges. My lifelong passion for business and economics and my skills and resources motivated me to create a program that could make a real difference. That’s how BRIGHT Financial Literacy was created: a program designed to provide accessible, student-led education that empowers individuals to make sound financial decisions and avoid common mistakes. On their mission: At BRIGHT, we aim to empower individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary for financial literacy, fostering economic independence and enabling informed financial decisions. We believe in nurturing a foundation of financial understanding that supports lifelong success and community upliftment. Through our program, we strive to illuminate the path to financial empowerment and inspire a brighter future for all our participants. To date, Bright Finance has impacted over 200 students and has partnered with over 12 organizations. Looking to the future, BRIGHT envisions a global community where financial literacy is recognized as a fundamental skill that is integral to personal empowerment and community development. Our long-term vision includes expanding our reach through partnerships with educational institutions, agencies, and international organizations to integrate financial education into the basic curriculum and public policies. We believe that by building a foundation of financial knowledge from an early age, we can cultivate generations of financially savvy citizens, reducing poverty and enhancing the overall economic health of societies worldwide. By supporting Bright Financial Literacy, you're investing in the future of our youth, our communities' stability, and our economy's overall health. If you want to get involved with Bright, you can join them at their next event to learn about the essentials of credit and debit through the link in their website .

By Maya Ravishankar In times of catastrophe, the borders that divide us fall away. In 1847, the Choctaws who had just arrived after the trail of tears sent a donation of $5,000 in today’s currency to Ireland, then suffering from a potato famine. In 2020, the Irish wanted to “pay it forward”, donating a sizable amount to the Navajo and Hopi communities who were struggling from the pandemic. Similarly, the many Americans who are struggling with the effects of Hurricane Helene today are looking to us for help.  According to the National Weather Service, “Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Big Bend area of the Florida Gulf Coast as a Category 4 storm late in the evening of September 26, 2024.  Helene's largest impacts were across the southern Appalachians where widespread severe and unprecedented flooding occurred with hundreds of fatalities and billions in property damage.  Strong wind gusts damaged property and blew trees and power lines down in a swath from the Gulf Coast to the North Carolina mountains.”  Yale Climate Connections further reports that “ The death toll wreaked on the Southeast U.S. by Hurricane Helene, as tracked by CNN , reached 180 on Wednesday morning, October 2. The toll pushes Helene above 2022’s Hurricane Ian ( 156 U.S. deaths ) and makes it one of the three deadliest hurricanes of the past half-century across U.S. states and territories. The only hurricanes in that period that took more lives than Helene were Katrina (2005) and Maria (2017). Going back even further, the only other hurricane deadlier than Helene over the past 60 years was Camille (1969) – a storm that resembled Helene in that the majority of Camille’s 259 U.S. deaths came from flash flooding across the Appalachians (in Virginia), following a Category 5 landfall that was itself catastrophic.These numbers include both direct and indirect deaths. A direct death occurs due to a storm’s winds, rains, and storm surge directly, while an indirect death can be due to traffic accidents during an evacuation, lack of lifesaving medical care due to a power outage, and so on.” FEMA reports some ways that we can help: Volunteer to help.  Sign up to volunteer with a reputable group or organization. Do not go by yourself to a disaster area. Look up volunteer opportunities on the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster  website.  Cash is the best donation.  It’s important to donate responsibly. When people support voluntary organizations with financial contributions, it helps ensure a steady flow of important services to the people in need after a disaster. Identify what is needed.  Before donating supplies connect with organizations working in the affected area to find out how much is needed and when it is needed. To apply for assistance: “You can apply for assistance in three ways: online by visiting disasterassistance.gov call 800-621-3362 . If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service, or others, give FEMA the number for that service. download the FEMA app ” To find more information on mental health services, ways to help, and disaster-related tools, visit: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/current/hurricane-helene

By Samantha Quinones It’s Asexual Awareness Week! Read the article below to learn more on what exactly it is and how to spread awareness. Halloween is right around the corner; it’s the time for zombies, ghouls, asexuals, and all the other hidden things of the night to come out and make themselves known. Ok, obviously we’re joking, but what’s no joke is the fact that asexuality tends to be the ghost out of everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community. It is the least known sexuality; why is that? Well, one main cause is coverage and representation, which is precisely why we have Asexual Awareness Week. What is Asexuality? Asexuality is the lack of sexual attraction to others or low/limited sexual attraction to others. It is an umbrella term that hosts a whole spectrum of sexualities, such as demisexuality, gray-sexuality, asexuality, and more. Some may confuse it with abstinence or celibacy, but as it is a sexuality, it is not choice-based. Many asexuals refer to themselves as Aces, so if you hear someone call themself that, no they are not a playing card; unless that’s their Halloween costume... What exactly is Asexual Awareness Week? Asexual Awareness Week is always the last full week of October, and its purpose is to not only support and celebrate asexual individuals but also to educate more people on what exactly asexuality is. Asexuals make up about 1% of the population, and yet it is the least known and often most forgotten sexuality, to the point where others believe the A in LGBTQIA+ stands for ally, and not Asexual/Aromantic. Why is it important to have Asexual representation in the media? As of right now, the only confirmed asexual characters in popular media are Spongebob Squarepants, Yelena Belova from Black Widow, and Alastor from Hazbin Hotel. While there are others, such as Lilith Clawthorne from The Owl House, the fact a quick Google search can only find me four is concerning. People should be able to see themselves represented in mainstream media, and not have to constantly be grasping for any hint that a character may be asexual. There being so few is exactly why Asexual Awareness Week is so important. By having more people learn about asexuality, they create the space for more conversation to happen. Once that starts up, it’ll make Asexuality seem less like a ghost town with 0 members and more like The Haunted Mansion. What can I do to help? As always, spreading the word is one of the most helpful things you can do. If you are asexual and comfortable with speaking on it, don’t be afraid to educate anyone who asks what exactly it is. If you are not asexual yourself but wish to help, supporting asexual creators and celebrities, as well as your own friends and family, is a great place to start. Participating in pride events or making posts on the internet to create community is also a wonderful way to make people feel comfortable with sharing their experiences as an asexual. All in all, don’t be spooked by us; I promise we’re not going to crawl out from under your bed on Halloween night dressed as a card deck. Happy Ace Awareness Week!

LingoBridge is a student run ESL Tutoring organization based in New England, which aims to make english more accessible. LingoBridge Founder Cassidy Cui reflected on her experience growing up with parents who had vastly different immigration experiences. By watching them, she realized and learned just how much age can influence the language acquisition process in the U.S. Cassidy Cui on what inspired her to start LingoBridge: My mother immigrated from Vietnam at the age of 23, while my father immigrated from China when he was 12. As a child growing up in New York City, my father was able to grasp English fairly quickly whether that be in school or to translate for his parents. On the contrary, my mother found it difficult to find accessible ESL resources and lessons as an adult.  My mother has always voiced her struggles learning English later in life, and it was something that affected her deeply. With these observations about my parent’s ESL experiences, I was inspired to create an initiative that addressed these issues while also combining my own passions for language learning.  I wanted to create something accessible and personal to the AAPI community, thus, the idea of LingoBridge was born in 2022. With insights from AAPI community members, my mother, and my other relatives, I was able to listen to real perspectives and stories and craft a project that addressed community concerns.  In addition to my mother and relatives, my Mandarin teacher Ms. Lai, has been a really big supporter of mine and helped with the developmental stage of LingoBridge; she inspired me to cultivate a culturally responsive and individualized ESL learning environment.  With my iterations of LingoBridge, I was able to present this idea in my online business class called Entrepreneurship in a Global Context , where I was able to gain valuable and insightful feedback from students across the globe and get my proposal displayed on an online exhibit. From this experience and the feedback I was given by students, I was able to streamline the ‘student volunteer’ portion of LingoBridge to ensure it is flexible and accessible to all prospective high school volunteers.  On their mission: LingoBridge, a student-led initiative located in New England, U.S.A., is dedicated to empowering Asian adult immigrants with limited English proficiency. Our mission is to enhance their language skills through comprehensive, accessible, and free online ESL lessons, aiming to dismantle barriers and create opportunities within the Asian community.  We are a complete not-for-profit, volunteer-based organization that is 100% student-run.  ​​Recognizing the critical role of cultural nuances and the understanding of cultural contexts in language learning, we specifically cater to individuals of Asian descent. As of now, most of our audience has been from the Chinatowns in New York City and New Jersey. To facilitate effective communication and comprehension, our tutors are either bilingual or highly proficient in Mandarin.  So far LingoBridge has reached and is working with student volunteers nationwide with a team comprised of 30+ high school students from states ranging from New York, Texas, Arizona, etc.  Their current ESL learners' demographic primarily consists of adult immigrants who speak Chinese and reside in the Northeast tri-state area (NYC, NJ, CT). To continually improve their curriculum, following each lesson, they allow learners to provide feedback on the lesson and their experiences. Thus far, all feedback has been positive, with most liking how the curriculum is personalized and culturally responsive for Chinese learners. LingoBridge strives to create an inviting platform to work with other youth projects. So far, they have established a partnership with the Metis Project in NYC and have been featured in the Gen Z Matters Podcast which is hosted by Annika Raj. In the future LingoBridge strives to broaden its influence and aims to make its current curriculum personalized toward a wider range of AAPI communities and languages as several of its student volunteers are proficient in languages other than Chinese, including Korean and Hindi. Further, they hope to reach more high school students across the country who are interested in volunteering with their organization through their media presence. As a youth-driven organization, they would love to collaborate with more student-run initiatives.  LingoBridge will start its fall season and Unit 2 lessons at the end of this October! Signing up for lessons or volunteer with LingoBridge at: https://www.lingo-bridge.org/home   Stay updated with LingoBridge by following their Instagram, Tiktok, and LinkedIn pages:@lingosbridge

By Samantha Quinones Diversity is something that should always be celebrated, so join me in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by learning what it’s all about!  What are the origins of HHM? Being Cuban and Guatemalan myself, I know a thing or two about being Hispanic, but that’s not all Hispanic Heritage Month is meant to celebrate. It was founded in 1968 by California Congressman George E. Brown, and originally it was only a week long. It was created to celebrate Hispanic and Latino Americans and all of their contributions to the United States, as recognizing minority work was becoming increasingly popular in the 60s. It quickly grew to celebrate their cultures and differences as well. In 1987, California Representative Esteban E. Torres proposed the week long celebration be extended to an entire month, and the following year President Reagan passed the bill. In 1989, President Bush declared the official days to be September 15th to October 15th. Why these specific days? These specific days were chosen because they coincide with many Latin American countries’ Independence Days. For example, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and my very own Guatemala declared independence from Spain on September 15th of 1821. Mexico declared independence on September 16th of 1810, Chile on the 18th of 1810, and Belize on the 21st of 1981. How should you celebrate during the month? You can attend events and festivals, or even go to your local Hispanic restaurant! If you are Hispanic, feel free to spread your knowledge about your culture, and teach others who are curious , or if you’re like me, force your friends to buy you food (it’s done in good fun, I promise). If you’re not Hispanic but want to learn more, don’t be afraid to ask your friends or online creators about their culture. Showing genuine interest is always a pure form of appreciation, so go out there and have fun! Or buy your Hispanic friends food. That works too. Happy Hispanic Heritage Month Everyone!

By Lola Black The transition from high school to college can be overwhelming. Leaving behind hometown comforts, family, and friends to step into a new and unfamiliar environment often brings anxiety to many students.On top of that, the path to college is rarely simple. From navigating advanced classes and standardized tests to understanding complicated financial aid packages and choosing the right degree programs, students are already exhausted by the time they arrive. The hope for many is that, after all this work, they will find a welcoming community where they belong. This need for belonging is especially strong for students who have struggled with parts of their identity or felt unable to fully express themselves in their hometowns. For them, college represents a chance to discover who they are in a place that values openness and diversity. In this month's focus on diversity, we've compiled a list of colleges that prioritize inclusivity. These schools have made deliberate efforts to foster vibrant, safe, and welcoming environments where all students can thrive and be themselves. Inclusivity can take many different forms, so in order to give a full picture, we’ve broken it down into four separate categories by geography: Western Schools: University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) As one of the few universities to be nestled right along the coast side, UCSB is the perfect choice for surfers and sun-lovers alike. Beyond the schools strong academic profile and ideal setting, UCSB is committed to ensuring the wellness of their students, as evident with the unique challenges developed in partnership by students and staff to both conduct research and improve student wellbeing at the same time. The UCSB Sleep Challenge is a 7-day challenge takes students through a series of modules aimed at helping them improve their sleep quality and habits and henceforth their overall well being. Pomona College & The Claremont Colleges: Located in Claremont, California, Pomona College is often cited as the best of both worlds for boasting the weather conditions of Southern California but also providing a serene campus environment more comparable to the feel of an East coast school. This city is host to more than seven colleges that often work in tandem to promote student wellbeing, such as the case with the Queer Resource Center of the Claremont Colleges. This safe-space offers a place for students to hang out, though it also offers programs such as drop in hours for students to talk with faulty about resources or getting involved and the annual Trans Day of Resilience, aimed at empowering trans students through workshops such as Trans wellness. Southern Schools: Auburn University Located in Auburn Alabama, Auburn University is one of the Souths largest and leading R1 research universities, with well respected programs in fields Engineering, business and physical sciences. Though beyond this, Auburn offers a two-year non degree program for students with intellectual disabilities called the Accomplish Growth in Life Experiences for Success (EAGLES) program. This program aims at providing students with foundational life skills through community service projects, leadership trainings and coursework. The program works in tandem with the fittingly named WINGS program that fosters collaboration between traditional Auburn students, acting as peer mentors, and members of the EAGLES program. Mid-Western Schools: The University of Michigan Known for its renowned academics and athletics as well as a vibrant student life, The University of Michigan is a dream destination for many. While the University supports various commitments to accessibility and inclusion, it is well known for its support of students with mobility challenges through the university’s Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). This program offers a range of services, including Paratransit options, accessible parking, housing accommodations, adaptive technology, and additional personalized accommodations to promote a navigable campus for students with mobility challenges. The university’s commitment to establishing an accessible and inclusive environment extends to their support of student mental well wbing as well. The main Ann Arbor campus hosts numerous reflection rooms, as well as a dedicated Wellness Zone with massage chairs and meditation tools, ensuring that students have many opportunities for relaxation and stress relief. Northern-Eastern Schools: Right in the heart of Boston, Northeastern University’s large student body, academic reputation, and vibrant city life make it a prime environment for city lovers! With such a dynamic student scene, the university prioritizes minority group inclusion through its Social Justice Resource Center (SJRC). The SJRC provides resources and support focused on promoting social justice and inclusion, offering annual programs and workshops like Peace Week and Social Justice Week to foster dialogue, reflection, and action among students and faculty. Additionally, the EMPOWER Students of Color Collective creates a supportive community, promoting academic success and personal growth while earning programing and events aimed at ensuring inclusion of all students. For students embarking on their college journey, the need for a supportive, inclusive environment is more important than ever. While the schools listed are by no means the standard for inclusion, their unique programs and approaches to addressing mental health concerns, accesiblilty for students with disabilites or dedicated resources for minority groups, they can help to exemplify that college can be a place where students from all walks of life are made to feel welcomed, supported and empowered to thrive both socially and academically.

By Samantha Quinones As students, we usually wonder what difference we can truly make in the world. At lot of the time, we are told we are too young to have correct opinions, or that we don’t understand enough of the world to make bold political statements, discouraging us from even trying. However, the student protestors in Bangladesh are proving doubters wrong by fighting for their beliefs and inspiring students around the world by single-handedly changing their country as they know it. A lot of you may be wondering, what exactly are these protests, and why are they so important to talk about? Find out below: What are the Bangladeshi student protests about? In early July, Bangladeshi students from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh’s top institution, led by Nahid Islam, began to protest to get rid of quotas in civil service jobs. These quotas made it so that ⅓ of government jobs were given to those who were descendants of people who participated in the 1971 liberation movement, offering them disproportionate advantages the other ⅔ would not receive. Even if the ⅔ went to college and/or were much more qualified, they had a much lower chance of receiving employment than those who were simply gifted the job. The students deemed it unfair and held continual protests to have this ruling removed to make the opportunity to hold a government position more universal. The protests were always peaceful until July 15, when the students were attacked by individuals who disagreed with the students, and the very next day police showed up with tear gas and batons. 25 year old Abu Sayed was shot dead in his attempt to defend the protestors behind him. What did the violence spark? Originally, the protests were only meant to overturn the injustice in the ruling, but after the government attempted to silence them through police attacks, they turned their attention to the deep conflicts within their government. Thousands of people from all different walks of life joined in, the anti-government protests growing in size, but also casualties. Over 300 people have been killed, and that’s not even the end of it. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the government shut down schools and colleges, slowed down the wifi so the students couldn’t gain traction online, used physical force with lethal and nonlethal weapons, wrongful imprisonment of the people, and even placed a curfew, but it only incited more violence as the anti and pro government parties clashed. What is the current status of these protests? Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stepped down and fled the country after many accusations of feeding corruption and stifiling disagreement were found, including her sacking a household assistant for allegedly stealing $34 million of state funds. Additionally, her rule consisted of a government that quickly turned authoritarian and fascist. She fled on August 5, leaving Bangladesh in a state of turmoil. Luckily, 26 year old Nahid Islam was there to pick up the pieces as not only a graduate student attempting to earn his masters, but also the current minister of posts, telecommunications and IT, and information and broadcasting. He is helping lead the country’s interim government and two ministries, as the current members in Bangladesh’s interim are 17-18, forcing him to work 16 hours a day for his people. This interim government is unable to make any new policies, but they hope to create a new political settlement for a transition into democracy. Once they finish reconstructing, they plan on holding official elections.  Why is this important? In an interview with NPR, Nahid states that “ As a student can lead a movement, lead a revolution, a student can also form a government, can also lead the government. ” He proves to us that students are a mighty force when banded together, and they are no less powerful just because they are young.  We hope that you’ve enjoyed reading this article, and that you leave feeling a little bit more confident in your abilities as you start the school year. Remember, anything is possible when you put in the effort to make it a reality! Thanks for reading! If you liked this article, go check out one of our other student-written articles, available to you on our website! Links to learn more about the protests: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/07/what-is-happening-at-the-quota-reform-protests-in-bangladesh/ https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq5xye1d285o https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2024/7/18/who-are-the-protesters-demanding-an-end-to-job-quotas-in-bangladesh https://www.nytimes.com/article/bangladesh-student-protests.html Interview with Nahid Islam: https://www.npr.org/2024/08/19/nx-s1-5077771/he-was-recently-leading-bangladeshi-student-protests-now-hes-a-government-minister

By Aadit Garg As of late, there has been little media coverage on Russia, a far cry from the extensive 2022-2023 reporting on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, you may still recall a brief period of coverage on the suspicious death of Alexei Navalny. The resulting protests in Russia highlight how youth are involved in Russian politics. Alexei Navalny was a highly prominent figure in Russian opposition politics. His political career started as a grassroots anti-corruption campaigner, with a blog combatting corruption in some of Russia’s largest state-run corporations. He had a powerful effect on social media and eventually, in 2011, led large street protests against President Putin. From then on, he cycled in and out of jails, being banned from the general election in 2017. He went on to survive several suspected and confirmed poisoning attempts, showcasing his threatening political momentum. However, in 2021, even after a confirmed and nearly lethal attempt on his life en route to Germany, he returned to Moscow. There, he was immediately detained, never to be free again. He died on February 16th, still fighting his anti-corruption campaign.  His death prompted a huge wave of reactions on the international stage, calls of sympathy for the Navalny family and condemnation of Russian politics. Navalny’s death, and the death of Putin’s political rivals in general, has been shrouded in doubt. Navalny was in good health before his death, which happened rather unexpectedly due to illness on a random stroll, Russia has a track record of killing political rivals, and Navalny was treated with horrible conditions while incarcerated. These factors have motivated large amounts of condemnation over his death.  Navalny’s protests in the past have inspired youth participation. For example, the DOXA magazine, founded by students of the Higher School of Economics (HSE) in Moscow, covered Navalny’s protests and ran a fundraising campaign to help detained students pay fines. They talked more generally about education and censorship as well, eventually being subject to house arrest. As a result of student involvement, both the government and institutions in Russia have cracked down on protests and increased attempts to “educate” youth against protesting, especially combatting anti-war protests that have recently gained steam.  Youth protests in Russia highlight the relative inability of the Russian government to influence youth with government propaganda as well, prompting Putin to increase youth focus in government communication.  Alexei Navalny, Russia's most vociferous Putin critic - BBC News What we know about Alexei Navalny's death in Arctic Circle prison ( bbc.com ) Russia’s Banned Youth | Close Up | Protests | Al Jazeera