PC: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/students-file-join-harvard-lawsuit-defend-race-conscious-admissions-n696361 By: Riley Henry The use of “race conscious” policies, better known as affirmative action, in university admissions is once again being challenged in open court. Arguments for Students for Fair Admission v. Presidents and Fellows of Harvard College[1] began on October 15th in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The suit, brought by a group of Asian-American applicants who were … Continue reading Affirmative Action: Contrary to the Constitutional Principles and Policies of the United States?

PC: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/supreme-court-rules-for-police-officers-in-dc-house-party-case-that-involved-mystery-hostess-called-peaches/2018/01/22/87e5eb4a-fed3-11e7-bb03-722769454f82_story.html?utm_term=.974e0e0d9248 By: Lizzy Patrick The Supreme Court Justices reminisced on their party days while deciding District of Columbia v. Wesby,[1] where the Court held that an innocent explanation for being at a party does not negate probable cause for an arrest.[2] The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution provides that “no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause…particularly describing the place to be searched, and … Continue reading Partiers Beware! Innocent Explanations for Attending a Party Do Not Negate Probable Cause for Arrest

By: Yanie Yuan Does Single-Sex Education Perpetuate Gender and Sex Stereotyping? Even Science Can’t Tell, Yet. In the United States, single-sex education has seen its highs and lows throughout history, as its constitutional legality and pedagogical value are under constant, fierce debate. In recent years, as the discussion around LGBTQ issues gains increasing attention, single-sex education, especially in the public sector, has again attracted scrutiny … Continue reading Does Single-Sex Education Perpetuate Gender and Sex Stereotyping? Even Science Can’t Tell, Yet

By: Joe Katz Today’s controversies over immigrants and refugees are a direct consequence of a bipartisan strategy that began in the 1990’s, which aimed to deal with America’s economic and social challenges by keeping immigrants out of the country. Following demands by media pundits and think tanks associated with both parties for “comprehensive immigration reform,” the Republican Congress passed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant … Continue reading More Immigrants = Less Crime: An Unwelcome Reality for American Policymakers

Photo Credit: Equal Justice Initiative By: Marina Batalias What is the goal of America’s criminal justice system? Is it to punish criminals? Rehabilitate criminals? Deter criminals from committing other illegal acts? Most modern scholarship would suggest that the true objective of America’s criminal justice system is some combination thereof.[1] The Supreme Court will hopefully provide more insight into these goals at the start of the … Continue reading A SCOTUS Prospective: Madison v. Alabama and Capital Punishment of the Incompetent

Photo Credit: The New York Observer, https://observer.com/2018/05/liuba-grechen-shirley-childcare-campaign-funds/ By: Creighton Boggs With less than forty-five days remaining until the midterm elections, political pundits continue to speculate that this may be the second “Year of the Woman.”[1] The first “Year of the Woman” was in 1992, when forty-seven women were elected to the House of Representatives and four women were elected to the Senate.[2] This is typically characterized as … Continue reading In What May Be the Second Year of the Woman, It’s Time to Ensure Childcare is Considered a Campaign Expense in State-Level Races Too

Photo Credit: Getty Images, via billmoyers.com By: Evan Stastny Article I, section I of the U.S. Constitution vests “all legislative powers” with the two houses of Congress.[1] Over the years this principle has been eroded through the development and growth of what has been referred to as the “fourth branch” of government: executive agencies.[2] Between 1998 and 2013, Congress has added more than fifty new … Continue reading Liberty Requires Accountability

Photo source: https://theintercept.com/2018/09/01/metoo-fbi-informant-environmental-activism-rod-coronado/ A self-portrait Julie Henry took after she was assaulted in 2014. By: Alta Viscomi Spike Lee’s highly anticipated movie “BlacKkKlansman” winner of the Grand Prix at Cannes, debuted on August 10th to nearly collective high praise.[1] A few days later, director Boots Riley, took to Twitter to remind viewers that the movie’s plot was a “made up story in which the false … Continue reading FBI Surveillance Takes on Community Outreach and the #MeToo Movement

By: Rachel Lugay With the explosion of the opioid crisis, came a spike in “sober homes” throughout southern Florida. These seemingly well-intended rehabilitation programs promising a cheaper outpatient recovery option, in fact, are central to a large scale insurance fraud scheme.[1] When insured substance users seek assistance from sober homes, the owners receive insurance payments for their rehabilitative care, while the insured receive little to … Continue reading The Fraudulent Florida Shuffle

By: MaryAnn Grover Article IV of the United States Constitution endows Congress with the ability to admit new states into the Union.[1] Beyond the conclusory grant of power contained in this single clause, the Constitution provides no instructions as to how or under what circumstances states should be admitted to the Union. There is no “Statehood for Dummies” book explaining the process and there is … Continue reading It’s Time to Rearrange the Stars on the Flag