April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and despite a growing movement to recognize the issue, it seems to still be in desperate need of attention. The unique challenges that sexual assault victims face are still part of the larger fight for true gender equality. Everyone suffers when we continue to sweep claims of sexual assault…
When spring finally starts to roll around, everyone gets excited to be outside. The weather warms up and nature begins to bloom once again. You can toss your winter coats in the closet and go outside for a peaceful nature walk, or start up your favorite outdoor activities again, like cycling or hiking. There are…
I’ve been on a bit of a history kick lately. They say you can’t know where you’re going until you know where you’ve been, right? There are arguably a lot of crazy twists and turns going on in our country right now. And sometimes when that’s the case, it can be good to take a…
Mel Brooks may claim to understand the history of the world, but it’s always good to do your own research. Today, we have the 24-hour news cycle to keep us informed of every little thing that happens, but few events carry the gravity to change the world substantially. Both world history and the history of…
When you have an urgent message about a difficult topic, sometimes the best way to reach the masses is through art. Having a face-to-face conversation about certain topics can be hard, but repackaging the message in a format that is entertaining as well as informative can help break down walls. Recently we’ve seen performance pieces…
The partisan divide has become such a big deal in America that we’ve started applying it even when it’s not appropriate. Standing up for a cause because it has merit is the point of partisanship in its purest sense. But these days, thanks to the negative effects of social media on politics and the cancerous…
Round-up time! In the current culture of “fake news” claims and Twitter statuses being taken for news, it’s important to at least try to get a handle on where you can go to find fairly straightforward and unbiased reporting on issues that matter. These six news outlets are, in my humble and — I’d like…
As America reels in the wake of another mass shooting, we are once again collectively examining what we might be able to do as a society to avoid another tragedy like this. Mass shootings and gun violence have become far too frequent in recent years. At just seven weeks into 2018, there were already eight…
Katy Perry hasn’t necessarily been a stranger to controversy this month, and the less-than-great publicity continued with a recent American Idol contestant. Last week, the show had on Contestant Benjamin Glaze, who had apparently never been kissed before, claiming he wanted to save his first kiss for his first relationship. Upon telling the American Idol…