Stevenson Villager blog
April 6, 2017
The split between Donald Trump and fellow Republicans keeps getting wider. Traditional conservative Republicans have long favored open markets, favoring extensive trade with other countries, and have opposed federal spending on infrastructure projects which threaten to increase the national debt. Trump has a more isolationist trade policy, which has brought him support among many traditional Democratic blue-collar workers, and Trump supports spending money on America’s crumbling infrastructure. On the other hand, Trump is at odds with many of the Republicans who form the House “Freedom Caucus,” who oppose any new health care plan that does not go far enough in dismantling Obamacare.
The recent failure of the Republicans in the House of Representatives to agree on a promised plan to repeal and replace Obamacare, despite President Trump’s active support, has brought Trump’s poll numbers to a new low. According to a Quinnipiac University survey, only 35 percent believe Trump is doing a good job.
Evidence keeps mounting that members of the Trump campaign had numerous questionable contacts with Russian spies and Russian banks during the 2016 election. It is difficult to keep up. Every day new revelations emerge. There are presently three ongoing investigations (in the House, the Senate, and the FBI) into charges that Russia actively sought to disrupt the election by planting false stories which were detrimental to Hillary Clinton’s campaign, and which were echoed by Trump and his campaign. Meanwhile, Trump and conservative commentators charge (with no evidence) that the Obama administration spied on Trump, and subsequently leaked incriminating stories about him and his associates to the press. So far, the only leaks that have been traced back to their source were from the White House itself.
Grim news: In the ongoing Syrian Civil War, Assad’s government forces used chemical weapons against civilians, killing scores of people
China’s President Xi Jinping will visit Washington and will meet with President Donald Trump. What will they talk about? Trump wants China to rein in North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un, who is threatening to launch a missile attack on the U.S. Other possible things to talk about: trade, China’s construction of military bases in the South China Sea, and China’s human rights policies.
The rules of the Senate currently require a two-thirds majority vote to confirm a Supreme Court justice, but Republicans will change the rules this week to allow Neil Gorsuch to join the court with only 50 percent of the Senators voting to confirm him.
What do Bill Cosby and Bill O’Reilly of Fox News have in common? Both have been accused by multiple women of sexual improprieties. Fox News has paid $13 million to O’Reilly’s victims of sexual harassment. There is no amount of money that will get Cosby out of a trial for using drugs to rape women.
March 23, 2017
I love Kate McKinnon, Melissa McCarthy, and Alex Baldwin! Their portrayals of Jeff Sessions, Sean Spicer, and Donald Trump (the Attorney General, the Presidential spokesperson, and the President) have sent Saturday Night Live’s ratings to new heights. The funniest skits show Russian President Vladimir Putin, bare-chested, bragging about his bromance with Donald Trump.
But it is difficult to laugh at Russia’s attempt to disrupt the 2016 election. James Comey, the director of the FBI, announced this week that the FBI is investigating ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. Already, many people are asking, “What did the president know, and when did he know it?”
People who will likely be part of that investigation include Jeff Sessions (Attorney General), Michael Flynn (former National Security Advisor), Rex Tillerson (Secretary of State), Wilbur Ross (Secretary of Commerce), Paul Manafort (a former campaign manager), Roger Stone (Trump advisor), Jared Kushner (Trump’s son-in-law), Carter Page (a former advisor), and J. D. Gordon (a former advisor). All of them are known to have had ties with Russian banking and business interests, or met with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak in the days preceding Trump’s election.
The announcement that Rex Tillerson, the U.S. Secretary of State, will not attend a meeting of NATO next month and instead will visit Russia, seems to confirm that Russia is America’s newest best friend, and this has many European leaders scratching their heads.
In other news, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has determined that 24 million Americans will lose their health insurance over the next decade under the Republican plan to replace Obamacare (Will you be one of them?). The CBO report will make it difficult for Republicans to come up with the votes they need to repeal and replace Obamacare.
Trump and conservative Republicans will be happier to know that Neil Gorsuch’s nomination to fill the Supreme Court seat of the late Antonin Scalia is moving forward, and he will almost certainly be confirmed.
Meanwhile, Barack Obama, according to (non-) reputable sources is in Hawaii plotting a coup to take back the government. Many people wish that this conspiracy theory was true.
March 2, 2017
“I am a World History student at Stevenson University. The professor of this class asked if anyone is being affected by any of the decisions made by President Trump in his first 100 days in office. I raised my hand – here is my story. I am married to a Chilean. He has been in the U.S. since 2003. He came here on his student visa. After completing his Masters degree in science, he found a company to hire him and start the process of a working visa. He has been with this company for over five years and his working visa is still being renewed. He has been following all the rules of the process of legally getting his citizenship, but it’s been 14 years and he still doesn’t have it. Now that he is married to a U.S. citizen, everyone thinks that he is ‘in the clear.’ Not true at all. We have had to pay out of pocket the cost of filing for the permanent residency application. We filed in November 2016, but we probably won’t hear anything until June/July 2017. This process may be even more extended due to the number of people applying for citizenship before President Trump came into office. For my husband, it’s a waiting game to see when he will begin the process of permanent citizenship – this includes an interview of us as a couple, proper financial documentation, proof we are living together, and photographs during the stages of our relationship are just a few things needed to make sure our relationship is legitimate. After he is granted permanent resident status, he will then have to wait five years until he can apply for citizenship.
My husband and I are also worried for his brother and sister who are also here on student/work visas. His sister came to the U.S. in 2001 also on her student visa. She completed her Master’s degree in science and is practicing as a physician assistant. Her job also promised they would sponsor her for the working visa, but sadly she just got the news that her job is not going to renew her working visa. A work visa expires every three years and can be renewed a maximum of two times, for six years total. She is at her maximum. Her only option is to renew her Chilean visa every year. This is another incident where President Trump is affecting our family. He wants to revoke the Trans-Pacific treaty already established with Chile. So for my husband’s sister, it will be a gamble every year to see if she can stay. His brother hasn’t even been given the chance to be sponsored by a job. He is working on his second Master’s degree to stay here legally on a student visa and is starting the process of applying for an entrepreneur/investor visa. This is another route for citizenship. If this does not work out, he will have to return home to Chile.
For citizenship, there is no direct route to achieve it. It is a long process that takes many years to complete. There are a lot of hoops to jump through. When President Trump got elected into office, my husband and his family are fearing for the worst. President Trump’s actions may tear families apart – legal and illegal.”
March 9, 2017
“There’s no question that something happened,” said Sean Spicer, President Trump’s press secretary, who was defending the President’s accusation that former President Barack Obama wire tapped Trump Tower. The White House has offered no evidence of this, and Trump’s allegation has been rejected by intelligence officials and by many Republicans as well as Democrats in Congress.
A few weeks ago students were asked, “Is it appropriate for faculty to discuss their political views in the classroom?” (See “People are Saying,” February 23). Below, some faculty responded to the question:
“I think faculty can (and should) discuss political views, but from a fact-based and tolerant perspective. We need to emphasize academic freedom above all things, for both students and Faculty.” (Dr. Mark Branson, mathematics)
“I generally avoid any discussion of politics ever with anyone because it has been my experience that most people are not able to listen respectfully and allow themselves to disagree respectfully in the current political climate.”
“Sometimes expressing political views allows for a particular concept to be taught in an engaging manner. Sometimes it is not necessarily my political view but a type of pedagogy. A tool to get students thinking. I should be able to do so as part of presenting concepts with evidence.” (Ingrid Tulloch, psychology)
“Faculty should be responsive to students’ interests in discussing current events and politics. The faculty need not impose his/her opinion, but rather facilitate healthy and respectful discussion.” (Bob Pelton, education)
“I believe instructors should be able to discuss their political views in part because the category of “the political” is so vast that to exclude it would hinder the acquisition of knowledge. However, I believe it must be done with great care.”
“It is appropriate as long as they are open and welcoming to all viewpoints and they must be absolutely clear that there are no negative consequences to expressing a view.” (Joe Matanoski, environmental science)
“I believe faculty have a responsibility to foster critical reflection. One way to do that is to model expression of beliefs in a way that demonstrates use of evidence to support conclusions. As long as faculty are not imposing and do not allow their beliefs to affect their judgment of students, its important.” (Jamie Goodall, history)
“Now more than ever it is important to discuss politics. Virtually every day, history is being made. The country has not been this politically polarized since perhaps the 1960s. College is one of the few places were rational discussion of these issues can take place, and faculty have a responsibility to lead these discussions and offer their political perspectives.” (Alex O. Boulton, history)
February 23, 2017
Is it appropriate for a teacher to discuss his/her political views in class? A selection of answers from SU students:
“I think that there is nothing wrong with a teacher discussing his/her political ideas. I just simply don’t see why they shouldn’t be allowed to. If they offend someone’s feelings, Oh well. People express themselves every day. Freedom of speech.”
“No. I don’t believe it is appropriate for a teacher to discuss their political views in class because that is a very alienating topic. I believe that discussing politics is okay, but I don’t think they should reveal their personal views on it.”
“I think it is appropriate for a teacher to discuss his/her political ideas. Especially at this age. We are old enough to hear and respect anyone’s opinions regardless of who they are. I don’t feel knowing my teacher’s political views will influence my learning in the class.”
“Discussion of a teacher’s political views in a classroom depends on the class. It is OK if the class is related to politics. For example, it is appropriate in a history class, but not a math class. It is also important that the teacher remains unbiased and fair to students with opposing views. Lastly while this is OK in some classes, this discussion shouldn’t occur every time the class meets.”
“It is not appropriate because some students may find a teacher’s political views highly offensive.”
What do you think? Please enter your comments below, or send your responses to aboulton@stevenson.edu.
February 16, 2017
The greatest team in sports history? The University of Connecticut women’s basketball team has a 100-game win streak, and is going for more. Second place belongs to the UCLA men’s basketball team, which won 88 consecutive games between 1970 and 1974.
The Russian connection? President Trump’s National Security Advisor, Michael T. Flynn, was fired this week for his possibly illegal conversations with the Russian ambassador. This might be only the tip of the iceberg of Trump’s questionable ties to Russia. Our new Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, was awarded the Order of Friendship by Vladimir Putin. He opposes sanctions on Russia for their annexation of Crimea and their military actions in Syria and Ukraine. Also on the radar of investigators is Paul Manafort, Trump’s one-time campaign manager, who was a top advisor to a pro-Russian political party in the Ukraine, for which he was scheduled to receive over $12 million. Trump’s well-known bromance with Russian President Vladimir Putin is going to be in the news a lot in the coming weeks and months.
President Donald Trump’s problems continue to grow. A federal court stopped his ban on migrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries, and Trump will probably be forced to re-write his executive order. Also, the nomination of Andrew Puzder for Labor Secretary may be in jeopardy, since a video of his ex-wife accusing him of domestic abuse has surfaced.
Other cabinet nominations include (1) a Secretary of Education who is critical of public schools; (2) a head of the Environmental Protection Agency who is a climate change skeptic; (3) a Treasury secretary from Goldman Sachs, (4) a head of the Department of Energy who could not remember the name of the department when he advocated doing away with it; (4) A head of the Veteran’s administration who has never served in the military, (5) a chief presidential advisor, who was the head of the alt-right, crypto-racist, Breitbart News, and (6) a new Attorney General who failed to win a federal judgeship for his racial comments. (Extra points if you know their names. Answers at the bottom of the page)
Judge Neil Gorsuch will soon fill the seat on the Supreme Court left vacant by the death of Antonin Scalia despite the efforts of Democrats who have promised to filibuster his nomination. Like Scalia, Gorsuch believes in interpreting the U.S. Constitution as its original authors would have intended. Liberals argue that the law should reflect the subsequent evolution of American society. Some of the big issues at stake are voting rights, women’s rights to abortions, and the role of money in politics.
(1.Betsy DeVos, 2. Myron Ebell, 3.Steve Mnuchin, 4. Rick Perry, 5. Steve Bannon, 6. Jeff Sessions.)
February 9, 2017
The greatest comeback in football history was not the Patriots’ victory over the Falcons in the 2017 Superbowl. It was the Buffalo Bills over the Houston Oilers in 1993. Oilers were up 28-3 at halftime and scored again opening the half, giving the Bills a 32- point lead. Stunningly, the Bills came back to end regulation play at 38-38, and scored a touchdown in overtime to win 41-38 — the greatest comeback in NFL history.
Lauren Weaver, an SU Bizz Comm major, attended the Women’s March on Washington Jan. 21. She reports, “The march was a powerful and emotional experience. After being on an extremely crowded metro for what seemed like forever, we finally reached our station. When the doors opened, the sound of women cheering flooded into the train. I swear, there were enough people in the station alone to make a statement. Little did I know, the mall (a much larger space) was going to be just as packed full of people. Hearing the cheers of thousands of people from around the nation echo through DC not only unified us but filled us with hope.” Asked why she went, she said, “I went because I believe that all people should be treated fairly, and normalizing misogynistic behavior is something I will not stand for.”
Trump’s ban on immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries is being reviewed by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Critics of the Trump order say that it is a ban on Muslims, which is illegal since the Constitution prohibits favoring or discriminating based on religion. The administration argues that it is not a Muslim ban, and that the president has the executive powers to determine who is and isn’t allowed into the country. The legal issues are murky, but it is clear that, legal or not, the ban is stupid. It limits students and scholars from coming into the U.S., restricts intelligence gathering essential to fighting terrorism, and fuels anti-American sentiment around the world.
In other news, the Republican majority leader, Mitch McConnell, has banned the words of Martin Luther King’s widow, Coretta Scott King, from being read in the U.S. Senate. See the video here:
December 7, 2016
Fake news: “An FBI agent investigating Hillary Clinton’s e-mails was found dead in an apparent murder-suicide.” “The Pope endorsed Donald Trump for President.” “Hillary Clinton operated a pedophilia sex ring out of a Pizza parlor in Washington.” “Busloads of people were paid to protest at a Trump rally in Austin Texas.” If you believe any of these stories, you need to find a better source for your news (like this one). Most of these stories are anti-Hillary Clinton and pro-Donald Trump. Are Republicans more gullible than Democrats???
Real news: Members of the Standing Rock Sioux Indians won a (temporary) victory this week when the U.S. Corps of Engineers refused a permit for the Dakota Access Pipeline, which was slated to pass under the Missouri River near sacred Indian burial sites.
On April 4, 2015, in North Charleston, South Carolina, Walter Scott was pulled over by police officer Michael Slager for a broken brake light. Cell-phone video shows Scott running away from the officer, as the officer shot Scott in the back, killing him. Scott was black; Slager is white. Slager’s trial for murder this week resulted in a hung jury. Prosecutors plan to retry Slager, who will also face federal charges.
Thirty six people perished in a warehouse fire in San Francisco Friday, December 2. The victims were young adults, mostly in their twenties and thirties, who were attending a dance party in the warehouse called the “Ghost Ship,” which was home to an artist community.
alexanderboulton 