This morning at 9 a.m Bernie Sanders holds his campaign, and calls for criminal justice revolt after the two recent police shootings. Sanders said that the violence that killed Alton Sterling and Philando Castile has become an all too common occurrence for people of color and IT. MUST. STOP! Alton Sterling is the 558th person that gets killed in hands of the police in 2016. Sanders also stated that the reform purpose was to grant people of color the safeness and comfortableness of walking on the down the streets without worrying about whether they’ll get harassed or shot.
Fourth of July offers fun, but plenty of risks
Picnics, family reunions and BBQs are great ways to celebrate July 4, but the holiday carries the label of the most dangerous of the year, according to the National Safety Council.
Additionally, celebrations in big cities like Washington, D.C. strike fear into many tourists and residents in the wake of such high-profile terrorism incidents like the Boston Marathon bombing in April 2013. The National Park Service on Fourth of July at the National Mall increased security screenings before allowing visitors inside.
“I haven’t felt as safe at big events like the celebration on the Mall recently as I have in the past considering what’s been happening worldwide,” said Katie Lenz, 24.
Even with what some see as a threat at major events like the National Mall Fourth of July celebration, fireworks and drunk driving over the holiday weekend are major threats, according National Safety Council.
In 2015, the National Safety Council estimated 409 traffic-related deaths and over 49,000 traffic-related injuries requiring medical attention over the holiday weekend.
The National Safety Council recommends drivers buckle up, reduce speed, refrain from cell phone use, keep small children in the back seat and avoid driving after drinking.
“During the 4th of July, I try to stay off the roads because I know how many accidents are gonna happen that night,” said Marisa Calderon, a 35-year-old mother of two.
Driving isn’t the only risk.
Over the July Fourth holiday, an average of 230 people every day will visit emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Almost one third of those injuries are to hands and fingers, but the Commission reported serious burns and eye injuries also happen.
Tourists join for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival at the National Mall
WASHINGTON– The annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival, which celebrates and exposes cultures around the world, kicked off on Wednesday at the National Mall in Washington D.C. with thousands gathered for countless activities, food and a unique cultural experience.
An opening ceremony introduced the free event with preview performances and special guest speakers. The performers engrossed the crowd with upbeat music and interactive elements to get everyone excited for the beginning of the nine-day festival.
Ken Mason, 67, has worked with the Smithsonian Folklife Festival for several years.
“Each year they pick a few themes and deeply concentrate on them. It’s like a mini immersion into the cultures because the people they bring in are real folks from those nations,” Mason said.
Photo credits by Zoe Rader
This year’s theme centers on resilience within communities around the world. The exhibits include a wide range of foods, music and interactive workshops that reflect the cultures presented.
On one side of the National Mall, the Basque exhibition embodied the innovative techniques and ways of life within this country that spans the borders of northern Spain and southwestern France. Across the lawn, however, the Sounds of California presentation highlighted the immigrants who have brought their diverse music and dance moves into the communities of several California regions.
“The Basque region is such a mystery and a learning experience. You can learn about the region, the people and the culture. The California section has different ethnic groups too,” Melvin Asterken, 79 and a volunteer for 17 years at the festival, said.
Colleen Barclay, 19, emphasized the opportunities that visitors have to dive into enriching cultures. She said tourists can work and dance together as well as “interact with the people up front.”
According to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival website, it is the largest annual cultural event in the U.S. capital and has been attracting people worldwide since 1967. Most tourists hope to learn and be inspired by the innovation in the cultures presented.
“What’s not to like? It’s enriching to see other cultures and learn from them,” said Hank Douglass, a 68-year-old volunteer photographer. “My wife is half Japanese and half Hawaiian and she loves it.”
Mason said that even after he stopped working for the festival he has come for at least 25 years.
Although the festival has only been running for three days, thousands of tourists have come and immersed themselves into these cultures.
Many of the volunteers expressed their love for the festival and a true passion to embrace cultures around the world with the various learning experiences.
“The true goal of the Smithsonian and the festival is to educate the public,” Asterken said.
Has Affirmative Action Corrupted the Colorblind College Admissions Systems?
For the past 13 years Abigail Fisher has been fighting the University of Texas in Austin and the Supreme Court because she feels that she was wrongly discriminated against when she applied for the university in 2003. Fisher believes that she was not allowed admission solely because she is white and is against the schools affirmative action policies according to her primary statements in the Supreme Court case. There have been multiple claims over the years that universities are corrupt; using affirmative action policies to benefit their financial status rather than to benefit minorities and give people equal opportunities. Fisher has told interviewers following the case hearing that “like most americans [she does not] believe that students should be treated differently based on their race. Hopefully [the] case will end racial classifications and preferences in admissions at the University of Texas.” The 13 year case has gained the publics attention and has raised suspicion on whether or not colleges are in fact favoring minorities and discriminating against the white population.
However, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the majority of white students who have applied to a university over the past 10 years have been consistently accepted much more often than other races such as hispanics, pacific islanders, alaskan natives, american indians, and people of mixed races. With the exception of Asians, the white population receives more college acceptance letters each year than the vast majority of other groups of people.
Court documents show that Abigail Fisher graduated from high school with a 3.59 GPA and a score of 1180 on her SATs. Matthew Casim, 16 year old studying at NSLC’s music production program, feels that race does not matter nearly as much as qualifications. “If a white person qualifies they should be admitted based on that rather than focusing on the fact that they are not a minority.” Casim says that Fisher was rejected reasonably based her lack of meeting the qualifications to be admitted into UTA rather than based on race and supports UTA.
On the other hand, 21 year old Lee Martin, a team advisor at NSLC, feels that affirmative action is positive. “It helps to help people who don’t have advantages.” She expressed her opinion by saying it is highly advantageous to people who may have low incomes or lack things such as family support or an environment which would enable a student to thrive. However, Martin supports UTA because she feels that Fisher was not rejected based on race. “Affirmative action doesn’t mean only admitting students based on race, but is choosing the minority when deciding between two applicants of equal qualifications.”
Over the years the term “reverse racism” has gained much popularity throughout the white community. The term is used when someone who is white feels that they have been discriminated against and feel as though restrictions or criticism on their race have increased. Zeba Blay, a journalist at the Huffington Post, expressed her opinion on the matter in “4 ‘Reverse Racism’ Myths That Need To Stop.” by stating that “some people simplify racism as one group not liking another, and think “racist” and “prejudiced” are interchangeable. But racism is a concept that operates on both an individual and institutional level.”
NSLC Psychology and Neuroscience student CJ Haberbush, age 17, made the argument that affirmative action is justifiable “so long as [the student] meets the requirements, not based on ethnicity alone because it defeats the purpose of trying to eliminate discrimination. Of course diversity should be an important aspect of everything but merit should be the ultimate deciding factor.” Haberbush voiced his perspective on racial diversity in relation to college society proclaiming its relevance and that it should in fact be recognized in a celebratory aspect in order to unify americans but that it should not have a huge bearing on admissions.
Anthony Flores, Music Production student in NSLC who is 16 years old, expressed negative feelings towards affirmative action because he proclaimed its policies to be unfair. In his opinion, universities assume a persons situation based on their ethnicity or location but have no knowledge of their actual situation. When discussing admission forms having a box to classify students by race, he said that the box should be removed because “race doesn’t matter when it comes to being the best applicant.”
National Museum of African American History and Culture to open next year
Tourists interviewed on the National Mall about the ongoing construction of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, set to open in 2016, were unaware of the museum but enthusiastic about its opening.
The majority of those interviewed knew very little about the museum or its construction, and had only learned about it after seeing the construction and signs surrounding the museum.
Given the recent racial tensions in the U.S., many agreed that the building of the museum was timely and vital to understanding African American culture, both in the past and present. Some believed that the museum is significant regardless of the racial tensions today.
“If it was approved to be built almost 10 years ago, it shouldn’t need current events to be important,” said Liv Willis, 17.
Brian McCauley, 37, a future tour guide at the museum, explained how it will be organized and how it will highlight heroes in African American history and their untold stories.
The plans to build the museum were drawn up in 2006, making the construction and opening of the museum a 10 year project. The museum is part of the Smithsonian Institution, and is being built on the National Mall, located between the National Museum of American History and the Washington Monument at the corner of 14th Street and Constitution Avenue.
The museum itself will have eight levels with five above ground and three below.
The facade on the outside of the museum, called the Corona, is described as “a representation of traditional African architecture using modern materials,” as stated on the project website. The museum’s website describes the museum as “a centerpiece venue for ceremonies and performances, as well as a primary exhibition space for African American history and culture.”
The new exhibition, “Through the African American Lens,” is the first exhibit at the museum, and shows “the personal and intimate narratives of various families, organizations and individuals spanning the Revolutionary era to the present,” according to the museum’s website.
For the residents and tourists, the museum will be an important fixture in a prominent location.
McCauley emphasized the importance of the museum by adding, “DC is an African American city.”
Technology: Is it really doing us good?
Washington D.C. residents this week offered their opinions on the question of whether technology has helped or harmed society.
The question of whether technology has gone too far remains a hotly debated topic, from the rise of social media to the debate on cloning.
Joe Gilligar, 21, is an intern working at Congress. He expressed that even though the internet is a useful tool, people have become too reliant on it.
When asked if he was a social media addict, he said, “I’m pretty sure everyone is.”
Peoples’ technology addiction is widely discussed. Gilligar pointed out that even casual tech users tend to go into a panic when separated from their phones.
Despite the amount of criticism modern technology gets from older generations, the use of the internet has been on a steady rise for all age groups. Even those who criticize modern technology sometimes find themselves users of it.
Mari Andrews, 28, felt that overall, modern technology has helped people.
“I think it’s really good for empathy and understanding of other people,” she said.
Andrews suggested that any form of technology will have its uses and its problems, and it’s the uses that should be focused on.
One thing that many people agree with is that social media is capable of changing peoples’ personalities. These changes are usually characterized as negative ones, including laziness, arrogance, rudeness, and a lack of social activity.
American University student Eric Carlson, 26, pointed out that some kinds of modern technology are often overlooked, such as those within the medical field.
“I’d much rather have a heart attack now than in 1995,” he says.
As an international student, Carlson finds modern communication techniques particularly useful.
“We can communicate overseas,” he said with great enthusiasm.
Technology is used to make many jobs far easier. Many people feel that the internet has revolutionized many jobs and made them far easier.
For many people, imagining the world without the internet has become difficult, perhaps even impossible.
Summer restaurant hours aren’t cutting the mustard
American University students said summer food offerings and services aren’t cutting the mustard.
Stores including Starbucks, Capital One Bank, and Megabytes Cafe are only open during the weekdays. Starbucks is open from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m., while the Eagle’s Nest is open from 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Subway is open from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Tom Page, 21, believed the store hours were a disadvantage for students that work on campus.
“If I just got off work I wouldn’t be able to grab something to eat,” Page said.
Jayne Yoo, 29, is one of those students.
“For me it closes too early,” Yoo said. “If I want to get a snack I have to go off campus.”
Students also proposed that additional stores such as Chick Fil A, Chipotle, and McDonald’s be added to campus.
“I remember they used to have a McDonald’s on campus. It was open later because of the way the store operated,” said Derek Allen, age 20. “If you were showing up late from a party on a weekend it’d be open.”
Patrick Kavanagh, 20 wished the campus offered additional sit down restaurants. He wanted another place to meet other than the campus dining hall.
As for the employees, many believed that the store hours were convenient. There aren’t enough customers for it to be worth the extra time.
“For the summer it’s not that busy, so the hours are based on business,” said Subway employee Tiffany James, 31.
Because People are People- D.C. Edition
The Meyerholz Family
“She wants to see Civil War stuff.”
Alicia Rivera, 26
As someone who enjoys the interaction between architecture and nature, Alicia Rivera is looking to see that as a part of her experience in D.C.
“I’m really looking to see the plants of the area,” Rivera said.
Caroline Coffey, 17
About to begin her senior year of high school, Caroline Coffey is looking toward bigger and more exciting things in college.
She holds a class executive position in her class government at the moment and believes college is where you truly find your path in life.
“I’m excited to see what the future has in store.”
Troy Timberlake, 21
“I’m a freelance artist here for a little while looking for inspiration.”
Flower Power: Newark Street Community Garden makes a neighborhood blossom
WASHINGTON —The Newark Street Community Garden, on the corner of 39th and Newark streets, is celebrating its 40th year. And despite the recent consecutive days of over 90-degree weather, gardeners are still out planting and maintaining their plots. Susan Akman, a senior gardener and former president of the board. loves to come to the gardens between 5:30 and 6:30 in the morning.
“It is very peaceful,” Akman said. So much so that she recalled one woman’s immediate reaction to 9/11 was to come to the gardens, she said.
The garden may be a quiet, tranquil space, but a lot of hard work goes into the upkeep of the plots, Akman said. Many of the 190 gardeners come out on the second Saturday of every month in order to remove weeds and plant new crops. The garden community is extremely diverse.
“We have people from all over the world,” Akman said, with community members bringing unique crops and agricultural techniques from regions including Portugal, Lithuania and parts of Africa and Asia.
Gardeners have the freedom to make their plots as colorful and creative as they want, so long as none of their crops are invasive species. The work pays off. The garden is the “largest, and probably the oldest” of its kind in the area, Akman said.
To find out more about the Newark Street Community Gardens, visit their website here.
A community grows its own
WASHINGTON — In the nation’s captial, you might not imagine that people have time to plant their own flowers and vegetables. But The Newark Street Community Garden, on the corner of Newark and 39th streets in the McLean neighborhood, is one of 26 urban gardens throughout the District where people can do just that. There are also education programs where toddlers and young children can learn about plants and wildlife. There are 200 plots and 190 gardeners who maintain this green sanctuary.
As the community garden social services chairperson and veteran gardener, Susan Akman takes pride in how the garden benefits the surrounding community. Newark donates a portion of her crops to local food banks for families that are less fortunate, she said. She recently took this reporter on a tour of the garden.
The garden got started in 1974 on National Food Day, a day that inspires Americans to change their diets and food policies. The grounds where the gardens now stand used to be military offices during World War II. Akman said when the community was looking for space to plant these gardens the foundation was a clay field, which made it perfect for planting crops. The rules of the garden are enforced by a board and members must read and agree to all, Akman said. “Gardeners must commit 10 hours a season, weed weekly, and maintain their plots,” Akman said. In other words, if you do not maintain your plot, the board will ask you to give up your plot and the next person on the waiting list will get it.
The garden also includes a tennis court, dog park and children’s playground. The key feature of these gardens, the largest in the District is that you are able to look out and see the magnificent National Cathedral.
The gardens are a peaceful sanctuary for community members and gardeners to unwind after a stressful day at work. “On 9/11 when the plane hit the Pentagon, one gardener, instead of running home to family like many others, came and just reflected in the garden because it was peaceful,” said Akman.
The community gardeners also take time to educate children, Akman said. “There are special days when children can come and learn about the garden and what insects help fertilize the soil,” Akman said. “The children’s favorite part is when they get a chance to water the garden and get muddy.” After each session the children are given healthy snacks, such as a watermelon slice, graham crackers and water, she said.
In the garden there is a variety of flowers and vegetables, including beans, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, peppers and radishes. During the winter months, gardeners must have their plots cleared if they are not planting anything. There is one gardener who plants lettuce year-round.
But there’s a two-year waitlist. “It is well worth the wait,” Akman said.