Category: Opinion

Culture, Opinion, Opinions

You Need to Support Catalan Independence: A Fight from Freedom in “One of the Freest Countries in the World”

By: Jack Friedman The United Nations gives all people the fundamental right to self-determination. It’s undeniable that this right is violated in various places across the world. However, many have the assumption that “First-World” countries like the ones in the European Union are free countries that respect people’s rights. Not the case. In the prominent country of Spain there’s a fight for self-determination you’ve probably … Continue reading You Need to Support Catalan Independence: A Fight from Freedom in “One of the Freest Countries in the World”

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Culture, Opinion, Opinions

From Vacant Lifeless Lots to Blossoming Community Gardens Filled with Resistance

By: Lizbeth Valdivia-Jauregui The constant failure of the federal government to provide access to healthy affordable options to low-income communities forces the establishment of urban community gardens in areas that are needed the most. This form of collective resistance stems from a long history of food insecurity and poverty. In California, specifically the Inland Empire, vacant lots have been left behind with industrial waste that … Continue reading From Vacant Lifeless Lots to Blossoming Community Gardens Filled with Resistance

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Culture, Opinion, Opinions

Bullshit Is Killing the Planet

By: Emme Laundry On Oct. 14, 2020, American students wrote essays on the rhetorical effectiveness of “Actually, Raising Beef Is Good for the Planet,” an article by cattle rancher Nicolette Hahn Niman featured in the SAT. As a vegan who’s passionate about activism and sustainability education, writing an essay explaining how effective this article’s rhetoric was pained me, to say the least–knowing so many others … Continue reading Bullshit Is Killing the Planet

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Culture, Opinion

Students Seed Ideas for Redesign of Pitzer Garden

Co-written by Callie Radecki PZ ’22, Tommy Shenoi PZ ’24, Claire Manning PZ ’22, and Anthony Shing PZ ’24. This past Earth Day, Pitzer announced the Revitalization of the Student Garden. A committee of students, faculty, and staff have worked throughout the semester to improve the space with the funds provided by a donor to purchase a new chicken coop, raised garden beds, and student … Continue reading Students Seed Ideas for Redesign of Pitzer Garden

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Opinion, Opinions

Democracy, Old and New: How Mutual Aid Can Point the Way Forward

We live in what is increasingly seen as a time of decay, decline, and injustice. In spite of clear statistical data showing majority support for progressive reform, we find ourselves forced to choose between a moderate presidential candidate (one with quite a record of racism and imperialism) and a sheer monster (We can celebrate that we’ve defeated the monster, but the moderate doesn’t inspire me … Continue reading Democracy, Old and New: How Mutual Aid Can Point the Way Forward

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Opinion, Opinions

Opinion: Police Brutality Towards Disabled People Deserves More Attention

Content warning: police violence, ableism, racism On September 4, a 13-year-old autistic boy named Linden Cameron of Salt Lake City, Utah was experiencing a mental health crisis due to “bad separation anxiety” from his mother going to work for the first time in more than a year. According to The Guardian, his mother, Golda Barton, called 911 to request for a crisis intervention team. Instead, … Continue reading Opinion: Police Brutality Towards Disabled People Deserves More Attention

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Opinion

Homophobia: Please, take it personally

Content warning: homophobic slurs, sexual harassment, violence Recently a fellow college student said something to me that was deeply homophobic and dehumanizing towards gay people, knowing that I’m gay. When I later described this experience to a mutual friend and expressed that the comment was hurtful, the mutual friend told me, “Don’t take it personally.” As a gay person, when I’m told to not take … Continue reading Homophobia: Please, take it personally

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Opinion

How MASC is taking on toxic masculinity at Pitzer

By Julia S. It’s relatively common knowledge that at Pitzer, we hold ourselves to a higher standard when it comes to social issues. While this can be beneficial, it means that there are an excess of behaviors that are deemed unacceptable. The typical community wide response is to “cancel” people who act in manners regarded as “toxic.” This may seem to be a valid initial … Continue reading How MASC is taking on toxic masculinity at Pitzer

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Opinion

My Experience Using Title IX Coordinator Resources at Pitzer College

Content warning: This article discusses responding to sexual assault on campus. I recently found myself in a situation where I felt it was my responsibility to report an incident of sexual battery that occurred on campus. I felt like it was hard to talk about because there is so much social stigma against discussing sexual battery and sexual assault. I hope that sharing my experiences … Continue reading My Experience Using Title IX Coordinator Resources at Pitzer College

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Opinion

Open Letter to Pitzer Community on ties to Amazon

This letter was written as an assignment for the CASA Pitzer Program. Dear President Melvin Oliver, the Board of Trustees, and the Pitzer Community,  Pitzer’s core value of Social Responsibility states that “students spend four years examining the ethical implications of knowledge and individual responsibility in making the world better. They learn to evaluate the impact of individual and collective actions manifested in social and … Continue reading Open Letter to Pitzer Community on ties to Amazon

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