Samuel Lee
Fullerton, Calif.

Throughout history, numbers have mystified and haunted humans. For example, Christians have revered the number seven as the “holy number,” and the number 666, associated with Satanism, is known as the “mark of the beast.” Today, however, humans strive toward the numbers 2400, 800, and 36.

Illustration by Marsriana Datta

Whether students are striving for perfect scores on the SAT or the ACT, the obsession with standardized tests has held American higher education captive for nearly a century. Ultimately, this obsession stifles productivity and intellectual growth.

The SAT was first administered in 1926; the ACT followed several decades later, in 1959. Maybe 50 years ago, when American culture was more homogenous — when we all watched the same three channels and subscribed to the same few magazines — standardized tests were a smart way of determining college acceptances. But today, in an increasingly diverse and fast-paced culture, these decades-old tests are less effective at measuring a student’s capabilities. They instill in people a dogmatic mentality that high test scores equate to high success. With a greater emphasis on creative thinking and problem-solving skills — think Silicon Valley vs. General Motors — today’s society has a set of values that differ from the rote memorization of the past. Continue reading →

Misbah Awan
Queens, N.Y.

Mainstream media is a dominant tool of white supremacy. Oftentimes, the media is far more respectful towards white serial killers and mass murderers than unarmed black folks. However, America gets an F when it comes to understanding black political strategy, let alone the value of black life. In the “white imagination,” violence is considered to be highly radical and terrifying.

The media, as we know it, perpetuates this false dichotomy between non-violent protests as being effective and noble and violent protests as being ineffective, immoral, and “bad.” However, violent protests are just as potent as non-violent protests because they help in giving a voice to individuals being misrepresented in mainstream media or underrepresented at large. Continue reading →

Cinthia Leon
Albuquerque, N.M.

It is clear that the comments made by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump about undocumented Mexican immigrants were absolutely racist. What seems unclear is Trump’s lack of understanding on why those comments were offensive — not only to Mexicans and Mexican-Americans, but also to all Latinos. 

Trump announced his candidacy on June 16. That same day, he made his racist remarks, characterizing Mexican immigrants as “drug dealers, rapists, and criminals.” He did not provide any evidence, and he probably didn’t anticipate the consequences of his actions. NBC, Univision, Macy’s and many others proceeded to cut off all ties with him. Continue reading →

Rave’n DaJon Coleman
Philadelphia, Pa.

After the first Republican presidential debate on Aug. 6, Donald Trump is still the talk of the nation. He didn’t sink or rise. Trump was his usual self onstage: controversial, somewhat serious, and hilarious. When Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly questioned Trump about his past comments describing women as “fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals,” he interrupted her by saying, “Only Rosie O’Donnell.” The crowd loved it.

Going into the debate I believed that Trump was a legitimate candidate. Now I have a bolder statement to make: Trump will win the Republican presidential nomination. Continue reading →

Jeannie Regidor
Miami, Fla.

Cuba’s troubled relationship with the United States has been playing out like a bad movie for a long time. It’s been 55 years since 1960, the year America placed a trade embargo on the island, and 56 years since 1961, the year all diplomatic relations ended. Now the plot of the movie has taken a dramatic turn, with President Obama’s July 1 announcement that the U.S. and Cuba are restoring relations with each other. In the wake of the announcement, the Cuban immigrant community in Miami is torn about whether to celebrate — and with good reason, because there are strong arguments on both sides.

Miami’s Cuban community is made up largely of those who have fled the Castro regime over the decades. The regime left many people in poverty, except the very elite, and imprisoned anyone who opposed it. Continue reading →

Doris Rodriguez
Miami, Fla.

We are in the midst of a fight for civil rights. The abrupt killings of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, and other unarmed black men have caused mass outrage. This summer, a massacre at a historic black church in Charleston made it clear that there is still much progress to be made. A Confederate flag flying near South Carolina’s capitol also highlighted that despite many advancements, symbols of racism have become ingrained in our everyday lives.

In July, protesters forced South Carolina to remove the flag. But many other streets, libraries, and even our currency, undeservedly honor historical figures that implemented racist policies. If we want to progress as a nation, we shouldn’t stop at removing the Confederate flag — we should reconsider the names of our schools. Continue reading →

Christina Gaspar
Oceanside, Calif.

Donald Trump started his surprisingly successful presidential campaign by pointing a finger at Mexico. “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best,” he said. “They’re bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime. They’re rapists and some, I assume, are good people,” Trump argues that building a wall, paid by Mexico, would stop the influx of immigrants.

Mexican immigrants moved in large numbers toward the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries. Of course, Mexican immigrants still continue to migrate, but now in smaller numbers. In the past few years most immigrants crossing the U.S. border with Mexico have been from other Central American countries. Continue reading →