News
Exclusive Interview: SUNY BDS pushes for system-wide boycott of Israel over genocide in Gaza
In the wake of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, a wave of protests has erupted on college campuses throughout the United States, with students demanding their institutions sever all ties with Israel. Last week, I spoke with one of the spokespersons of the State Universities at New York Boycott, Divestment, and Sanction (SUNY BDS) Steering Committee, a movement advocating for a SUNY-wide boycott of Israel, to discuss their goals and responses to criticism surrounding the movement. Below is our conversation:
Tiktok ban legislation signed by POTUS
President Joe Biden signed legislation on Wednesday, Apr. 24, that could potentially ban TikTok, a popular social media platform among tech enthusiasts and the younger generations. According to CNN, TikTok has three options: sell the company in the next year, face a band in the US, or challenge the legislation in court. A Chinese-founded parent company, ByteDance, runs TikTok; “The law stipulates that ByteDance must sell its stake in TikTok in twelve months under the threat of being shut down,” explains NPR.
Sustainability Corner: There’s “two years left to save the planet,” what can we do? Nathaniel D’Amato
On Wednesday, Apr. 10, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Simon Stiell, issued a harrowing warning that there are “two years left to save the planet” during a “Chatham House think tank in London.” This claim was not backed by definitive proof but was used by Stiell as the basis for an immediate call to action.
Israel-Iran war expected to de-escalate
In the early morning of Friday, Apr. 12, citizens of Isfahan, Iran, were startled by the sound of explosions, which caused their windows and the ground to shake. Individuals who were set to board flights in Tehran, Israel, were told that their flights were canceled and to evacuate the area. It was then that the people of Israel learned that they had attacked Iran.
Two Syracuse officers killed in quiet neighborhood
What was seemingly a quiet Sunday night in Syracuse, New York quickly turned into one of the deadliest in 30 years as two police officers were killed on Apr. 13, 2024. The incident occurred after the two officers attempted to pull over a gray Honda Civic on a peaceful street in the city. The driver of the vehicle disregarded the officers and drove away, but only after they had obtained the license plate number, allowing them to track the car.
Baltimore Bridge collapse results in immigrant worker deaths
Every day, immigrant workers throughout the United States take part in dangerous yet necessary roles that seemingly go unnoticed. While a tragedy, the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, MD could be an incident that advocates for the safety of those immigrant workers who face threatening situations every day.
New study finds engagement with parrots and technology
Parrots, along with the species related to them, are found to be the most intelligent birds in the world with about the intellect of a small child. In March 2024, researchers established that parrots can use technology, such as tablets, to further their brain power and induce mental stimulation.
Arizona Supreme Court set to reinstate 160-year-old abortion ban
Nearly two years ago, Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court, allowing abortion rights and access to be decided on the state level. After the Supreme Court’s ruling, it was predicted that half of the states in America would instate laws that would restrict or even completely ban abortions, which has so far proven to be accurate. Recently, Arizona joined the ranks of these states with their plan to reinstate a ban originally created in 1864.
Sustainability Corner: Small things to do to live more sustainably
College students may struggle to think beyond convenience in their daily lives due to their busy schedules, and this has led to an increase in unsustainability on campuses. ISB Global describes unsustainable behavior as doing commonplace tasks like picking up something from a vending machine, grabbing a drink from Starbucks, buying a new outfit online, or anything else in that general realm. In ‘doing what is the most convenient,’ there may be a participation in a global epidemic of, as ISB Global explains, “instant gratification and short-term convenience over long-term sustainability.” This, however, does not mean change cannot be made to offset these environmental footprints, especially with the resources available on the SUNY Geneseo campus.
O.J. Simpson dead at 76 after cancer battle
On Wednesday, Apr. 10, 2024, Orenthal “O.J.” Simpson died of prostate cancer at the age of 76. Simpson led a life that was very prevalently in the public eye and made him one of the most famous individuals in America. According to The New York Times, “He was a Heisman Trophy winner and a star for the Buffalo Bills, and he made fortunes as a Hollywood actor and a commercial pitchman—he was the first black star of a national television advertising campaign. Then, in 1994, he was charged with the double murder of his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.”
Cannabis awareness: How to have fun while staying safe
Next Saturday, Apr. 20, will be recognized as an unofficial advent where many individuals will collectively celebrate and consume marijuana, a legal drug in New York and 24 other states for adults over 21 years old; It still, though, is illegal to have on any SUNY campus regardless of the possessor’s age. With the weekend approaching, it may be necessary to understand the potential risks associated with cannabis and to learn harm-reduction strategies to ensure wellness and safety.
Taiwan’s largest earthquake in 25 years kills nine
At around 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Apr. 3, the east coast of Taiwan was abruptly shaken due to a 7.4 magnitude earthquake. As of now, it has been confirmed that at least nine people were killed and thousands have been injured. This is the first major earthquake in Taiwan since 1999, when an earthquake of a similar magnitude killed 2,400 people.
Sustainability Corner: New England’s path to a cleaner future
After 50 years of operations, the last running coal plant in New England, Merrimack Station, is set to conclude all operations in 2028. On Mar. 28, Granite Shore Power—a New Hampshire-based company that “sells capacity and electricity to the ISO New England wholesale electricity market”—announced that they are advancing by shutting down any coal-fired generators at the Schiller Station in Portsmouth by 2025.
Vatican declaration criticized by LGBTQ+ community
Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez presented the declaration “Dignitas Infinita” (Infinite Dignity) during a press conference at the Vatican on Monday, Apr. 8. The Vatican issued a document declaring “gender-affirming surgery and surrogacy as grave violations of human dignity” according to NBC News, “putting them on par with abortion and euthanasia as practices that reject God’s plan for human life.” According to reports, these statements were approved by Pope Francis on Mar. 25.
Northrop Grumman set to create Moon rail system
On Tuesday, Mar. 19, the USA’s Department of Defense’s subsidiary company, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), approved the company Northrop Grumman to begin working on the 10-year Lunar Architecture (LunA-10) Capability Study, focusing on the refinement of a lunar railway system. Within the next decade, Northrop Grumman will construct a plan for and allocate all necessary funding for creating a lunar railroad that spans the entire length of our barren Moon—a decision that sparked widespread debate amongst many, mainly because of the controversial companies leading the charge: DARPA and Northrop Grumman.
Humanitarian aid organizations pull out of Gaza after airstrike
On Monday, Apr. 1, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fired three missiles on an aid convoy owned by the World Central Kitchen (WCK). The group was departing from a warehouse in Deir al Bala, located in central Gaza, where they had distributed over 100 tons of humanitarian aid. The World Central Kitchen was founded in 2010 by Chef José Andrés, after traveling to Haiti following an earthquake that devastated communities. Andrés founded the WCK intending to provide meals in response to humanitarian crises and listening, learning, and cooking alongside the people who have been affected by calamities.
Bridge collapses due to cargo ship collision
In the early morning of Tuesday, Mar. 26, 2024, a 984-foot-long ship collided with a pillar on Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. This led to the collapse of the bridge and the disappearance of night shift construction members who were believed to be filling potholes at the time of the collapse.
Sustainability Corner: Fertilizer spill in Iowa kills close to 800,000 fish
On Mar. 11, 2024, it was learned that a fertilizer spill occurred in southwestern Iowa. At least 250,000 gallons of liquid nitrogen spilled “into a drainage ditch and into the East Nishnabotna River, which flows into the Nishnabotna River and then the Missouri River.”
ISIS-K Claims Responsibility for Moscow Terrorist Attack
During the later hours of Friday, Mar. 22, 2024, armed assailants burst into Krasnogorsk’s Crocus City Hall, a music venue in the northwest suburb of Moscow, Russia. The attackers then set the venue ablaze through the use of Molotov cocktails, only after setting off minutes of heavy gunfire. The devastating attack left a growing death toll of 139 people while wounding over a hundred more. The incident unfolded before the Russian rock band Picnic was set to perform in front of a sold-out crowd.
Body found in Highland Reservoir affects Rochester water supply
On Feb. 18, 2024, 29-year-old Abdullahi Muya was reported missing to the Rochester Police Department. Over a month later, on Tuesday, March 19, at around 8:00 a.m., the staff of the Highland Park Reservoir noticed Muya’s body below the water, and a police scuba team recovered it thereafter. While the reservoir is fenced, it is rumored that Muya climbed over the fence and then slid down into the water, leading to his death. As of now, there are no suspicions of criminal intent involved in Muya’s death, as nobody seemed to be present at the time of his death.