Eyes Lie: Examining the Reliability of Eyewitnesses

Eyewitness testimony has been used for thousands of years in many different jurisdictions and legal systems. Eyewitness testimony is “powerful and convincing to jurors.” Although eyewitness testimony is convincing, it is not reliable. Eyewitness testimony is still admissible in criminal trials, and some trials depend on them. Eyewitness testimony should no longer be used in criminal trials due to memory distortions, memory biases, and additional factors that can reduce accuracy.

The Conservative Case for Upholding Roe v. Wade

Roe v. Wade egregiously misinterpreted constitutional provisions, disrespected constitutional principles, and caused irreparable damage to the Supreme Court as an institution. But in the aftermath of Dobbs v. Jackson, which overturned Roe, it has become clear that Roe should not have been overturned. This has to do with both how the Supreme Court should consider precedent in its decisions and even analyze the social impacts of its previous decisions when considering cases that directly challenge long-standing legal precedent

The Return of Just Deserts: Analyzing Mass Incarceration

The War on Drugs, started by President Nixon, resulted in the era of mass incarceration. If the total population of prisons and jails were to be a state, it would be the 36th largest state. Many prisons are overcrowded and prisoners’ civil rights are being violated in the name of retribution. The brief explores the history of the War on Drugs, the effects of its policies, mass incarceration, policies attempted to fight mass incarceration, and policies that can be tried to end mass incarceration. Upon other recommendations, the brief recommends that mandatory minimums and three strike laws be repealed, and the Reverse Mass Incarceration Act be passed.

Using Data to Enact Change: The Path Forward in an Era of Polarization

During a time of heightened political tension and exacerbated ideological divides, policymaking based on the facts and evidence-based research is now more important than ever. Single decisions have significant impacts on millions of American families nationwide on a day-to-day basis. However, a combination of partisan behavior, internal pressure, and personal perspectives can lead to the detachment of data-informed policy away from legislation in Washington D.C. Consequently, it is paramount for research to be conducted not only analyzing the transition toward the use of 21st-century data, or lack thereof, but also reviewing voter opinions in local communities. With the midterm elections occurring tomorrow across the nation, the trajectory of America’s future for many years to come will be decided. Consequently, further inquiry on this subject is highly pertinent. Through a statistical lens, an examination of historical trends leads to a discussion of civic engagement today in the status quo. Furthermore, America’s global stance on the international stage plays a substantial role in providing vital context on where the country must move.

Stuck Like Glue: Eating Meat in the Modern Era

Meat consumption and production is a growing concern and problem for the world. Beyond the moral impacts, maybe meat eating is outdated for an industrialized world where alternatives are so readily available.

The Future of Automation in the Economy

Since the dawn of time, humans have been creatures of discovery and innovation. Whether it be forging wooden tools, building shelters, or developing computers, technology has been at the center of human development. In the 21st century, rapid innovation and advancing technologies have allowed society to prosper and utilize the resources around people’s surroundings to build a brighter future. Most recently, an emerging force in technology has been the development of artificial intelligence (aka AI).

Thor - The Mythical God of Thunder but the Actual God of Energy

Ever since we were kids, we’ve thought of fuel sources that come from the ground as harmful, dangerous, and destroying our planet. However, grouping every form of mineable energy source under this umbrella is unfair to thorium, one of the safest, cleanest, most fiscally sensible, and most efficient sources of energy available to humans.

Will We See a President Newsom?

Newsom is a titan in American politics, but his chance of going from the governor’s mansion in California to the president’s mansion in DC is quite low. Not only will he have a hard time winning the support of his own party in the primary election against substantially more famous politicians, but he will also find it difficult to prevail in the general election due to conservative sentiment.

AOC and Ron DeSantis, So Similar Yet So Different

From a policy standpoint, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (AOC) and Governor Ron DeSantis are polar opposites. Yet, similarities have brought discussion that AOC is to the Democratic party what DeSantis is to the GOP.

How The Overturn Of Roe v. Wade Will Turn The Red Wave Into A Red Splash

For the last few months, Republicans have expected to sweep Congress in November in a red wave that would flip control of the House and Senate. However, after the overturn of Roe v Wade, it looks as if there isn’t going to be a wave, but rather, a mediocre splash.

Safe Schooling - Satire

Op-Ed: Police don't Protect or Serve us

The Textbook on how to Save American Democracy and what it means for Joe Biden

American democracy is at a crossroads. As wealth inequalities increase, healthcare lags behind other developed nations, educational divides rise, and more and more Americans are inclined to turn towards extremism. The victory of Joe Biden was a brief reprieve from the wannabe authoritarianism of the Trump administration, but as Biden continues to trend downward in polls, America appears to be on an intractable path towards demagoguery. However, not all hope is lost. The United States has been at this crossroads before. And the answer that brought the US and many other countries back from the brink of authoritarianism is simple: mass aid to citizens. History demonstrates that citizens who believe their government actually cares about them are less likely to overthrow said government.

Make Election Day a National Holiday

Where Did it Come From? – A Note on the Origin of Money

One of the most pondered questions in society is “why do we have money?” Many question why we cannot simply live in a society where people create the necessary resources and exchange with one another. This is a question that revolves around the origin of money. Those already versed in economics typically hold the barter theory of money, which was mainly developed by Adam Smith and Carl Menger; however, there are some contentions to this theory which have mainly come about due to anthropologist David Graeber and his book, Debt: The First 5000 Years. This article aims both to explain the barter theory of money and defend it from Graeber’s critiques.