Social Policy

President Biden’s Proposed SCOTUS Reforms: An Analysis

This brief covers President Biden’s proposals for reforms to the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS). It will consider the history of this discourse, ongoing developments, the content of the proposals, and opinions and debates surrounding the issue.

Evolution of Standardized Testing in the U.S.

Standardized tests, including the ACT and SAT, examine a student's academic performance, most notably for college entrance. With changes made to testing policy due to COVID-19, students decide whether to send their test scores to colleges, or sit for the tests in the first place. This policy brief summarizes the current state of standardized testing in relation to college admissions, highlighting discussion about testing inequalities and how COVID-19 has transformed testing requirements across the U.S.

President Biden’s Efforts for Women’s Health

With a history of broad underrepresentation in health care, women have awaited more federal efforts to increase their representation within research and clinical work. This policy brief summarizes the state of women’s health in the U.S. and President Joe Biden's current initiatives to address these disparities.

Educational Censorship: Book Bans and Their Impact on Student Identity & Expression

This brief addresses the topic of social welfare policy, examining educational censorship and relationship to student idenitity.

Gun Legislation in the U.S.

With an increase of mass shootings occurring in the U.S., gun control advocates and many Americans push for stricter, more effective legislation that protects U.S. citizens from the prominent threat of gun violence. This policy brief summarizes the state of mass shootings in the U.S., current legislation, and policy proposals and its supporters.

The Changing Landscape of the U.S. Education System

This brief summarizes the effects of factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the growth of technology on K-12 education, and the implications of these changes on the future of the U.S. education system. This brief also delves into the policies that have been enacted to recover from the pandemic, and what further changes should be made.

An Evaluation of Gerrymandering in the US

This brief delves into the intricacies of the Gerrymanding policies in the United States, particularly what they mean. The brief also explains the far-reaching implications of the policies and how they have evolved across the board.

An Evaluation of Education Policy in Florida

This brief delves into the intricacies of the current education policies being introduced in Florida. It evaluates the policies and what they mean. The brief also explains the far-reaching implications of the policies and how education will change for people across the board.

Race-Based Admissions: As It Happened

This brief delves into the intricacies of the current Affirmative Action Supreme Court Cases. It evaluates the legal battles of Harvard and UNC and how the Court decided on the fate of race in college admissions. The brief also explains the far-reaching implications of the ruling and how the future of college admissions will change.

Artificial Intelligence in Education: A Holistic Evaluation

AI has grown from a concept to a full-blown field, proving to develop the most in computer science. AI learning is the ability to solve more and more complex scenarios. Recently, we have seen Generative AI like Chat-GPT come into question in education. Students are using AI for good and bad uses, which has brought concern to educators on how they can effectively manage AI in education. This brief evaluates the relatively new role of AI in education and what policies can address questions and concerns in education.

Race-Based Admissions: A Multifaceted Examination

Race-based admissions at universities exemplify the intricate and evolving nature of affirmative action policies, with these universities encountering legal battles to shape the guidelines considering race within admissions. These debates and experiences have far-reaching implications for the future of affirmative action policies by shaping the landscape of diversity and inclusion in higher education. This exerts a considerable influence on the admissions practices and opportunities for underrepresented groups, with the ongoing evolution of affirmative action policies underscoring the pursuit of creating equitable and inclusive educational environments.

Banned Books: Are Schools Erasing History?

Starting with movements from religious leaders, the censorship of media has been debated for all of American history. Including discussions of race, gender, sexuality, and obscenity, the banning of books in the U.S. has continued in various school districts and libraries. The First Amendment’s right to free speech has attempted to combat the effects of censorship, specifically with books, but efforts to keep books with various values have prevailed.

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.

Squashing Vaccine Myths

Systemic Racism: Proof it Exists

Right to Self Determination: Inherent or Exclusive?

Rundown of the SCOTUS Abortion Case

Rap & the Radical Left: Where They Stand

Pulling Back the Curtain of White Wealthy Suburbia: The Heart of Systemic Racism by SARC

The Misuse of Statistics in Politics: Abortion

In a Class by Itself: The Efficiency of Reduced Class Sizes