By Emma Wilson 36% of Americans reported feeling “serious loneliness” according to a study by Harvard Graduate School of Education.[1] American individualism and isolation are an epidemic which is corroding the well-being of society. [2] Growing homelessness, apathy to disasters, increased cynicism, and political frustration are hallmarks of American socio-political life today.[3] Unfortunately, this reality of American life was prophesied in the early 1800s by … Continue reading How Urban Planning Can Increase a Sense of Community

By: Sophie Fields In many high-poverty communities, the challenges often perceived as “struggles” by those in more affluent circumstances are a product of limited access to adequate funding and opportunities. Moreover, it’s important to recognize that there are rarely one-size-fits-all answers to systemic issues such as lack of affordable housing. Specifically, the implementation of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) in communities create significant opportunities and … Continue reading Empowering Communities: A Look at the Future of LIHTC

By Liza Garrity “Society needs women on welfare as “examples” to let every woman, factory workers and housewife workers alike, know what will happen if she lets up, if she’s laid off, if she tries to go it alone without a man. So these ladies stay on their feet or on their knees all their lives instead of asking why they’re only getting 90-some cents … Continue reading A Brief History of the National Welfare Rights Organization

By Hope Wilder Each minute, 20 people[1] experience physical abuse by an intimate partner[2] in the United States.[3] Over one-third of women and near one-third of men have experienced physical violence, sexual violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner.[4] Further, nearly 50% of women and men have experienced psychological aggression[5] at the hands of an intimate partner.[6] Coercive control is the cyclical pattern of behavior … Continue reading Coercive Control: The Cost of Criminalization

By Molly Calo Roughly 34% of podcast listeners listen to true crime podcasts.[1] True crime podcasts make up, on average, one fourth of the top 300 podcasts.[2] One of the top ten television shows in the United States on Netflix is labeled “true crime”.[3] Netflix has both “Crime Docuseries,” “Courtroom Documentaries,” “Binge-worthy True Crime TV Shows,”  and “True Crime Docuseries” categories for customers to search … Continue reading Broadcasting Court Proceedings – A New Perspective

By Victoria Hagerott Many comparisons can be made between the United States’ reactions to Pearl Harbor and 9/11. Throughout history, the United States has continually violated civil liberty in the name of national security. Understanding how the United States may react to future threats is crucial to protecting civil rights. Pearl Harbor started the United States’ involvement in the most significant and deadliest war in … Continue reading A World Created by Fear

By Nick Kaye The Rise of the “High-Crime Area” Factor In Illinois v. Wardlow, the United States Supreme Court held that an individual’s mere presence in a “high-crime area” is a significant factor in determining whether an investigative detention, commonly known as a “Terry stop” or “stop and frisk,” is constitutional under the Fourth Amendment.[1] Specifically, the Court held that presence in a “high-crime area,” … Continue reading Criminalizing Communities: The Inherent Problem with the “High-Crime Area” Factor in Fourth Amendment Analysis

By: Jim Geary INTRODUCTION What factors do courts consider to determine if a remote-work accommodation request is reasonable under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”)?  The ADA requires all employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals unless doing so would be an undue burden.[1]  This did not change throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.  However, due to the need to avoid in-person operations during the pandemic … Continue reading Remote-Work Accommodation Requests Under the Americans with Disabilities Act

By: Andrew Jacobs What is “Cancer Alley”? “Cancer Alley” is often considered to be the roughly 130-mile corridor of the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.[1] The area’s population is roughly 45,000 people and is predominantly composed of Black communities.[2] Home to over 200 industrial facilities – mainly oil refineries, petrochemical plants, and plastics manufacturing plants – the harmful pollution from these sources … Continue reading “Cancer Alley”: Louisiana Politicians’ Denial of Its Existence Won’t Make It Go Away