The Waltonian

With the 2020 Presidential Election right around the corner, both the Republican and Democratic Parties are narrowing down their potential nominee ﬁ eld. The Democrats especially have made sacriﬁ ces, with only 10 of the original 26 candidates qualifying for the next Democratic National Convention (DNC) debate, hosted by ABC News on October 15 and 16.

Joe Biden retains his steady lead, with Real Clear Politics having him with an 11.8 positive spread, an average of numerous national polls. He’s followed by Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, both running on a similarly progressive platform.

Firstly, former Vice-President Joe Biden has had a legendary career, becoming Barack Obama’s running mate in their 2012 bid. Following their election win, Biden served a relatively quiet two terms as Vice-President. Biden decided to announce his entry into the Democratic Primary race back in April 2019, saying, “We can’t forget what happened in Charlottesville.”

Biden’s criticisms come in many diﬀerent forms. Progressive Democrats have drawn issue with his campaign accepting large contributions from Wall Street Goliaths like Goldman Sachs and MNBA. His voting record also raises eyebrows, voting in favor of the Iraq War and leading the way for War on Drugs inspired crime bills. His opposition to Medicare for all has been a repeated target, a policy that 70% of Americans support, according to a Reuters analytic. To read more on Biden’s Platform visit: https:// joebiden.com/

In addition, Bernie Sanders made himself into a household name following a ﬁery 2016 Democratic Nominee campaign. Though he was ultimately beaten by former Secretary Hillary Clinton, Sanders had brought a fresh progressive breath of air into his party. An open Democratic Socialist, Sanders is running on an ultra-progressive platform. His calls for Medicare-for-all, complete elimination of student debt and higher taxation of the 1% have brought him both praise and scorn.

Many of Sanders’ policy proposals have been labeled as extremist, as many economic centrists have been turned oﬀ by Bernie’s intense critiques of capitalism. Billionaire media mogul Haim Saban said in an interview with Hollywood Reporter, “I profoundly dislike Bernie Sanders, and you can write it. I don’t give a hoot. He’s a Communist under the cover of being a socialist. He thinks that every billionaire is a crook. He calls us ‘the billionaire class.’ And he attacks us indiscriminately. ‘It’s the billionaire class, the bad guys.’ This is how communists think.” To read more on Sanders’ Platform visit: https://berniesanders.com/

Polling only slightly less than Sanders, Warren is no stranger to ﬁghting for what she believes in. While formerly a Republican, Warren’s platforms are as progressive as they come, with the main diﬀerences from Sanders’ being minuscule. “Warren is a social democrat. Sanders is a democratic socialist. The diﬀerence between the two is best explained by how Warren and Sanders convey their skepticism toward capitalism,” said Sheri Berman, a political scientist with Barnard College via VOX, a trait which potential consequences have yet to clearly manifest. For more info on Warren’s Platform visit: https://elizabethwarren.com/

On the Republican side, to say the Trump Administration has been controversial would be the understatement of the century. Sitting around a 39% approval rating (Reuters), the Trump administration has been highlighted by a continually shuﬄed candidate, swarfs of tax cuts and deregulations and many scandals, including allegations of colluding with the Russian government, multiple allegations of rape and sexual assault and an endless amount of accusations of racism.

Trump, of course, being no stranger to bad publicity, is conﬁdent in his administration’s successes. “I would give myself an A+,” Trump said, appearing on Fox and Friends. Trump is again running on the issues of border security and job reform, engaging in many populist conservative talking points. His controversial ‘zerotolerance’ immigration enforcement has resulted in the detainment of tens of thousands of Latin American immigrants, including around 15,000 children, via The Guardian. To learn more about Trump’s Platform visit: https://www.donaldjtrump.com/

While far from a household name, Bill Weld may become a crucial player in the Republican Party. The former Libertarian announced that Trump’s personality is the main factor in his decision to run. “I’m a real Republican. I believe in balancing the budget and then some. I was ranked the most ﬁscally conservative governor in the United States when I was in oﬃce, and that’s following Michael S. Dukakis in the state of Massachusetts. That took some doing, but it’s true. My issues, I think, play to millennials.” With Trump’s antics potentially alienating many suburban voters, it wouldn’t be a surprise if voters look for alternative options. For more on Weld’s Platform visit: https://www.weld2020.org/

While still relatively early in the race, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.

Sources: Vox, The Guardian

Recently, the media cycle has included a plethora of coverage about alleged unfair financial policies by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).The debate regarding NCAA athletes getting paid is not a new one, as for years critics have claimed that the NCAA profits unfairly off of the work of their student-athletes. The NCAA is a multi-billion dollar “nonprofit,” all the while their athletes have to deal with financial pressure. According to the National College Players Association, “86 percent of college athletes live below the poverty line.” A shocking statistic, especially with the amount of money that the NCAA seems to be raking in, generating over a billion dollars in 2017.

What does the NCAA have to say? In their gargantuan 500+ page student-athlete handbook, they explicitly state that any athlete receiving compensation for their sport is prohibited. That being said, the NCAA provides hundreds of millions of dollars worth of scholarships, training camps, rehabilitative services and other benefits to players. Many of the more talented student-athletes receive full rides to their universities. In addition, schools have the option of giving athletes a stipend. While not a salary, this is surely beneficial to recipients.

Perhaps the nature of the NCAA is a matter of opinion. On one hand, some critics argue that paying student-athletes completely devalue the integrity component of playing college athletics. Still, in a truly unfriendly economy for Gen Z, any financial contributions potentially not being delivered tangs with the sense of injustice. It is quite likely that the NCAA is not the only contributing factor to the lack of economic prosperity that face student-athletes, and maybe point to greater economic problems in the country.

My name is Jordan Williams-Crenshaw. I am a third year Political Science student with a specialization in Public Policy. Since winter break, I’ve been associated with Young Democratic Socialists of America, a political organization specializing in youth social activism.

In general, the YDSA is all about establishing a more equal society. Many levels of systemic oppression have existed in this country since its founding. Combating these inequalities are crucial to maintaining a safe and efficient society. America is the wealthiest country on Earth, but the wealth is held by an extremely small percentage of the population (the notorious 1%). All of the inequalities that currently exist are part of an existing power structure that has been established over centuries.

Democratic Socialism is a form of government that helps redistribute the immense wealth exploited by Capitalists to the general population. While there are no specific policies that make someone a Democratic-Socialist, some standard policies include Student Loan Forgiveness , Universal Healthcare and Universal Basic Income (UBI)

But, it is all the more important to understand that the facilitation of these changes begins in our own backyard. You do not have to be holding a sign up at a rally to be facilitating change. Being able to recognize injustice and being knowledgeable enough to know the path to achieve your goal is enough. Education is the most important thing in the world. In our digital age, it is easier than ever to learn.

Eastern University currently has a murky “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding LGBT staff. Not only is this policy absurd and inefficient, it is completely immoral. LGBT staff and faculty are part of the community, they are what make Eastern the place it is. It is disgusting that parts of their identity are not allowed to be expressed.

YDSA is asking for Eastern to change this policy, as well as make a statement in solidarity of all identities represented by the Eastern University Community.

The message I really want people to understand is that you do not have to be LGBT to care about LGBT issues. The same systems that have oppressed my people continue to hurt and displace the most vulnerable among us. This is not a partisan issue. Both of the political parties have failed the American working class. In this trying political age, we cannot afford to be ignorant of the systems that govern every aspect of our lives. Not picking a side is picking a side.