Teen Observer Archive

July 6, 2017July 6, 2017

Six decades after Civil Rights Movement, discrimination still alive

Washington, D.C. college students and residents reflected on personal experiences of discrimination, with many saying it is still prevalent today.

Elizabeth George, a 52-year-old black woman visiting American University’s campus in June, looked down when asked about the discrimination she faced in the 1960s and since then.

Jackson, Mississippi, 1964. Two men on opposing sides of racial rights- one fighting for equality, and one not. Photo provided by An Urban Archive, Queens College, CUNY

“I was always seen as a second-class citizen,” said George, who grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. “I was never given the opportunities my white counterparts were. Though some interviewed shared similar experiences growing up facing racial discrimination, many people interviewed described different labels for what “discrimination” is.

Jordan Hayley, 19, shared her experience growing up as a white female in Houston, Texas.

“Many people assume that because I’m white, I am guaranteed privilege and that is not the case,” Hayley said.
“Quite frankly, I think that is racist.”

But this issue goes beyond the concrete walls of AU, and into the streets of D.C. and the rest of the nation.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2015, the Pew Research Center surveyed black and white Americans asking their perceptions of race relations, law enforcement and fairness. Seventy nine percent of blacks surveyed said “a lot” needs to be done to achieve racial equality while just 44 percent of whites did.

Another Pew poll from 2016 revealed that 71 percent of black people have experienced discrimination based on their race/ethnicity.

“I’ve had instances where I was going shopping and I’ve had people follow me because they thought that I would steal something,” said April Spence, 34, of Woodbridge, Virginia, who is black.

Nina Hendricks, 66, talked about her experiences as a teacher in New Jersey.

Six decades after the start of the Civil Rights Movement, people of all generations wondered what the current state of discrimination means as they reflected on the work of civil rights leaders and regular citizens that came before.

George shook her head as she said, “Though we’ve made strides since the civil rights era, sometimes I wonder if electing a smart, black president set us on the course for a pivot backwards.”

Stephan Adebajo, 20, who is black, sat reading a book last week at the Tenley-Friendship Library. He reflected on a recent experience of discrimination.

“I go to an all boys school and it’s predominantly white,” Adebajo said. “We have a rowing team, and I couldn’t make the boat I wanted to be on even though I proved myself more capable than everyone else on the team.

All the boys that made it were white.”

July 6, 2017July 10, 2017

Political divide defines July Fourth celebrations

WASHINGTON, D.C.–Widespread political division has many Washington, D.C. area residents and college students questioning the meaning of Independence Day this year and how protests should be handled.

American University students and employees interviewed Wednesday disagreed about the holiday’s meaning, saying it carries its own traditions no matter the year.

“Nostalgia,” said Stephanie Blenko, 19, speaking about Independence Day this year. “I’m away from home for the first time and the fireworks remind me of home.”

An American flag hangs at a retail shop in Tenleytown. By Gabriel Ferris.

With a nation that is politically divided, millennials said July Fourth means time with friends rather than time celebrating patriotism or the holiday’s deep symbolic meaning. Younger residents showed more resistance to the traditional patriotic interpretation, but some still said it’s a time to heal political divides.

“In the 1700’s, we came together and I think we can also come together now,” said Laurel Gupton, 19, of Essex Fells, New Jersey. “We are all still American.”

Still, Gupton and many others interviewed this week said planned protests or political dissent on the holiday were a reminder of America’s freedoms.

Mindy Ford, 45, said she is unhappy with the current administration, but vowed to celebrate July 4 and how the far the nation has come.

Still, some said protesting on the Fourth of July remains in stark contrast to what the Founding Fathers stood for.

“Protesting on the Fourth seems to be anti-patriotism; that’s my observation,” said Barry Jones, a 57-year-old independent voter.

Celebrating a holiday that commemorates America is a hard pill to swallow for some, especially those who still feel institutional racism is a problem.

A 2016 report published by the Pew Research Center said that 88 percent of blacks believe America still has steps to take to ensure equality for their race.

Carl Amritt, 22, of West Palm Beach, Florida, spoke about how political discord is affecting July Fourth this year. By Gabriel Ferris.

That will manifest itself in how people like 23-year-old Dekyan Dennis, who is black, will celebrate the Fourth of July.

“I will not be celebrating,” said Dennis, who said her boyfriend serves in the U.S. Army. “The flag represents equality and justice but our nation doesn’t embody these ideals.”

Although fireworks and large American flags are at the forefront of most July Fourth celebrations, what they symbolize is anything but concrete.

“July Fourth is about beliefs,” Blenko said.

July 6, 2017July 10, 2017

White nationalists’ behavior impacts D.C. residents

Supporter of the alt-right at a protest condemning same-sex marriage https://www.pexels.com/photo/alt-right-367032/

Members of the diverse community in northwest D.C. experience the effects of the president Trump’s rhetoric. They noticed an increase in tension regarding current politics after the 2016 election cycle.

Over the last two years, Donald Trump and alt-right movement have brought white nationalism to the mainstream American audience, research shows.

New Nationalism is the name being used for white nationalist groups, mostly from the far right. In recent years, the messages these groups spread have had a large influence in American politics, but the impact on the people is often not discussed.

“There’s a lot of hate now,” Eddie Malihi, 48, said about the emotions after the 2016 election.

Many share Malihi’s observations about the increase in hate. Hate incidents have been increasingly common in the time after Nov. 6, 2016.

The Southern Poverty Law Center documented 867 bias-related incidents in the first ten days after Trump’s election. This included anti-Immigrant, anti-Muslim, homophobic and racist actions by supporters of Trump’s messages during the campaign cycle.

“We’re becoming more accepting of the racism and hate in our country,” Hannah Christie, 17, said about the direction the U.S. seems to be heading.

Trump’s anti-Muslim rhetoric was a prominent factor in the 2016 campaign cycle and a deciding factor for many voters. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center’s annual report, the anger over Muslim citizens resulted in a 190 percent increase in the number of anti-Muslim hate groups since 2015. This is a result of the Donald Trump campaign and election.

In response to the rise of hateful actions and speech, citizens have taken to the streets to show their discontent. There has been an influx of protests, marches and demonstrations to illustrate these feelings. On January 21, five million people across all seven continents, came together to march for human rights and representation. Earth Day, April 22, also saw the March for Science. Over one million people marched in order to display the importance of science in everyday life.

Even though there has been a increase in white nationalism and hate groups, many are hopeful of the future after the Trump administration.

“Once we have the right person in office we can start to rebuild and grow,” Malihi said.

July 6, 2017July 6, 2017

Greek life popular but many worried about hazing

American college students are engaging in severely dangerous Greek Life rituals and traditions that are threatening the well-being of members, leaving students and adults alike questioning the practices of these social organizations and unsure of the future.

Many students and alumni interviewed this week about their understanding or experience in Greek Life said that the culture often gets a bad reputation, especially in the wake of high-profile deaths like that of Timothy Piazza at Pennsylvania State University in February.

When asked if he would consider taking part in Greek Life if he were to go to college in the future, 16-year-old Alex Sanchez from Guatemala said, “No, I wouldn’t. The traditions put my life at risk.”

According to a study conducted by Harvard University, Greek house residents are twice as likely to engage in reckless or irresponsible behavior such as driving under the influence, neglecting schoolwork, becoming involved in fights, or having unprotected sex. Additionally, The Addiction Center has reported that there have been approximately 24 Greek-related deaths in freshmen pledge classes nationwide since 2005, and at least 15 of these deaths were a direct result of hazing rituals or initiation traditions.

The Harvard study also compared the likelihood of alcohol-related dangers and problems of fraternity and sorority members. In every category, ranging from attending class with a hangover to damaging property, the numbers reported by sorority members were significantly lower than their male counterparts. The more severe issues seem to be rooted in fraternities.

Lamar Smith, a 20-year-old student at the University of Kentucky, discussed the differences between fraternity and sorority culture at his school.

Information for prospective students on Greek Life at an American University session in June. By Lauren Coppins.

He said that while sororities are often tight-knit communities that engage in philanthropic work, fraternities tend to be known for extreme parties and initiation rituals that “prey on the weaker minded individuals.” Smith told a story about a fraternity at UK that was banned from the campus because of harmful hazing practices.

Two sorority members interviewed this week from Virginia Tech and Penn State qualified Smith’s assertion that sororities build strong bonds of sisterhood and strive to benefit their surrounding communities.

Abigail Ryan, from Great Falls, Virginia, said that she’s extremely proud of her sorority for donating over $110,000 to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Ryan, 23, served as the philanthropy chairwoman for her Virginia Tech sorority.

Likewise, Cathryn Kessler, 19, from North Caldwell, New Jersey, said her sorority helped shape her.

“Being welcomed among a group of strong, young women helped shape my course to be the type of person that I’ve always strived to be,” Kessler said.

While both Kessler and Ryan hold their experiences in high regard, often fraternities face the public’s scrutiny and can cast a shadow on Greek life overall.

A controversy has emerged as to whether or not colleges should be able to harshly penalize students and ban fraternities or sororities as consequences for engaging in behavior that doesn’t exemplify school values or respect the law.

The North-American Interfraternity Conference says in its position statement that fraternities help students meet lifelong friends, develop leadership skills, gain exposure to career opportunities, and give back to the community. The NIC has also announced its support for strict anti-hazing legislation and vows to hold students accountable.

Jennifer Chapman, 51, from Washington, D.C., doesn’t think that harsher rules or eliminating Greek Life is sufficient for a long term solution.

“I think the need for people to be so aggressively exclusive and kind of doing these sort of rituals is probably the bigger problem,” Chapman said. “I don’t think eliminating is going to work because people are going to find ways to make exclusive groups.”

Others, like Smith, understand the importance of maintaining a positive image on campus and feel that it’s fair for schools to start cracking down on fraternities.

“I have people that go to my school from different countries, people from all different types of states, and you want to make the campus feel as safe and inclusive as possible,” Smith said.

“So with fraternities, especially at a big Division 1 campus like mine, that’s such a big deal. You can’t have that type of negative publicity or attention on the campus. It hurts.”

July 6, 2017July 6, 2017

D.C. residents’ powerful reaction to travel ban decision

Protestors oppose president Trump’s travel ban. Photo by Masha George

Many Washington, D.C. residents and students interviewed in the days after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that parts of Donald Trump’s travel ban can remain intact, believed it would create a negative impact on the United States.

According to the ACLU, the revised travel ban forbids the residents of six predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States unless they fit certain criteria.

Trump issued his original travel ban on Jan. 27, which, after much debate, was eventually blocked. While the original travel ban was in effect, thousands protested the ban nationwide, especially in airports.

Even after the revisions, which allows people in special circumstances to be exempt from the ban, many citizens of the United States have strong emotions concerning the travel ban.

“America is supposed to be the Land of Opportunity and I very disagree with the travel ban. I don’t think that all Muslims are bad people, I have friends who are Muslims, I work with people who are Muslims, they are not all terrorists,” said April Spence, 34, of Woodbridge, Virginia.

Other arguments for why the revised travel ban will negatively affect the United States also included that the United States is a nation of immigrants, and so the citizens of the United States cannot discriminate against and ban people solely based on their religion.

Furthermore, people argued that people of most religions are part of terrorist groups and many Muslims are not part of a terrorist group. In fact, the FBI found that 94 percent of terrorist attacks that occurred in the United States from 1980 to 2005 were not by Muslims.

Everyone interviewed June 29 and June 30 in the Tenleytown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. and the American University campus believed that this travel ban was discriminatory, but one person was also in favor of the revised travel ban for security.

Often, the people in favor of the travel ban argued that terrorism does exist in the countries that fall under the ban. So, by banning residents from those countries inherently, they say, security will improve.

“I am sure that there is good reason to put it into place, and I’m sure there will be, as a side effect of the whole thing, a certain amount of discrimination that takes place, and that is unfortunate,” said Beth Cash, 54, of Cleveland, Ohio.

“But if that’s what needs to happen to keep us safe, then I think some of us are just going to have to live with that,” said Cash. According to a recent POLITICO/Morning poll, Beth Cash is one of many supporters of this revised travel ban, as the poll found that 60% of Americans support it.

Many people interviewed also believe that this travel ban will go beyond just damaging the United States domestically, but will also affect its international relations.

“I think it’s already had a very negative impact,” said David Sarokin, 65, of Washington, D.C. “The mere fact of even proposing a ban like that, based on religion and based on no good national security reason, has done a lot of damage to our reputation as a free and open country.”

July 6, 2017July 6, 2017

Independents stake claim in polarized system

Naval Officer and independent voter, Barry Jones, reflects on his political ideology.

Voters in the Washington D.C. area last week explained what it means to be an independent voter and how that affects their participation in a two-party system. The increase in independent voters in the U.S. has welcomed diversity in political beliefs and affiliation.

David Rusk, former Mayor of Albuquerque, N.M. said he’s seen a change within the two-party system, a pull to the left and a swing to the ultra right.

The current political system proves many aren’t happy with the two parties and what they have to offer.

“I just feel that over the past eight to ten years neither democratic or republican parties really address certain issues that are of concern,” said Kentha Stephens, 40, of Houston, Texas.

A Pew Research Center study shows that there has been an 11 percent increase in independent voters from the year 2000 to 2015.

A Gallup study shows that in the year of 2015 43 percent of U.S. voters identify as being Independent.

Some independent voters admit that their set of political beliefs come from each of the two majors parties.

“Basically I kinda choose the way you would at a cafeteria. Maybe a conservative viewpoint that might agree with me and a liberal viewpoint that might agree with me,” former Naval Officer Barry Jones said.

Jones, did not always consider himself an independent. He used to vote for republican candidates and then later for democratic ones.

This shift in party identification is common among independents. Stephen said his ideologies were a result of his parents beliefs but later changed to his own.

The increase in independent voters and the trend of changing beliefs, has been a result of the availability of information. The internet created a space for a wide spectrum of ideas eliminating the ability of the parties to control the political narrative.

“Until the internet came along and changed everything it was harder to find all that diversity of opinion and an opposition to an opinion.”Jones said.

July 6, 2017July 6, 2017

Bipartisanship proves rare consensus for all voters

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Residents of D.C. agree on the importance of bipartisanship, regardless of political association, in the wake of recent politcal climate.

High school students outside the White House on June 28. By Alexis Bamford.

Sam Michaels, 21, sees bipartisanship as an opportunity to work constructively with others to produce significant legislative results. Michaels wishes that legislators could put a solution in place to reduce climate change.

Healthcare is a primary concern for Kathryn Walters-Conte, American University College of Arts and Sciences’ Science Coordinator. She believes that it is unreasonable for one political party to create a new healthcare system without consulting others with different priorities. Walters-Conte said that she has discussed healthcare with people aligned with both parties, but she thinks that overeager partisanship obscures actual policy making.

While Walters-Conte is concerned about health care, others are focused on other pressing issues.

Former political science major and lawyer Dawn Langer, 62, is concerned about the Middle East and North Korea. The instability of the governments involved, she said, occasionally keep her up at night.

Many Americans make an effort to avoid heated political discussions, but those who are willing to converse with people who feel differently agree that both sides usually develop a more meaningful understandings of each other.

Julie Walton, student affairs assistant at American University, is a self-described conservative. She said that working on a liberal college campus affords her endless opportunities to discuss her viewpoint with people who do not agree with her.

“We’re both trying to make a cake, and you think you should do eggs, sugar, and then flour, and I think you should do flour, sugar, and then eggs,” Walton said. She went on to explain how she believes people lose sight of the big picture, the metaphorical cake.

It seems as though the general electorate has a thorough understanding of bipartisanship. One can hope that this will translate into Congress as they work to pass legislation.

“Even if I don’t agree, we ought to be able to find a place of sincerity,” Walton said.

July 6, 2017July 6, 2017

First impressions are key but don’t tell the whole story

Looks matter.

And we decide a lot about a person in the first few seconds based on what we see.

Research shows that as humans we build an image of people’s character from objective data, such as aspects of physical appearance, our brain unconsciously chooses to focus on. From our first interactions with a person, our minds make a series of inferences, we use these inferences to fill in the blanks to form our full picture of a person.

But, those inferences are not always accurate, and can lead to missed opportunities for great relationships.

People walk in downtown Washington, D.C. By Alexa Harris.

“First impressions are very important. I think that they are lasting impressions, but they don’t always tell the story,” said Yolanda Turman, 50, of Westchester, Pennsylvania.

Turman and the six others that were interviewed agreed that first impressions were very important, but each individual also noted on some level the unfairness or inaccuracy of first impressions.

“They are deceiving,” said Christine Tagaris, 38, of Washington D.C.

Research shows that individuals admit to judging someone at some point without knowing anything about them.

In a study titled, First Impressions: Making Up your Mind After a 100-ms Exposure to a Face, Janine Willis and Alexander Todorov at Princeton University investigated the minimal conditions under which people make judgements.

Using five experiments, each focusing on a specific trait judgement, Willis and Todorov manipulated the exposure time participants had to unfamiliar faces to gauge how quickly they decided whether the unfamiliar faces possess this trait.

Their findings support that judgements are made after a fraction of a second of exposure to a face, and these judgements that are made after a mere tenth of a second are correlated highly with judgements made in the absence of time constraints. A tenth of a second exposure time was sufficient enough for participants to form an impression.

When exposure time was increased from 100 to 500 ms participants’ judgements became more negative, and response time decreased. And when time was increased again from 500 to 1,000 ms, trait judgements and response time did not change significantly, but confidence in those judgments increased.

“In fact, for all judgements– attractiveness, likeability, trustworthiness, competence, and aggressiveness–increased exposure time did not significantly increase the correlations,” Willis and Todorov wrote.

The results of the Willis and Todorov study suggests that additional time simply boosts one’s confidence in their judgement, but it does not change the judgement itself.

“We’re human, so we are all guilty of making snap judgements, of that I’m sure,” Turman said. “We stereotype, we make quick judgements, but I think, again, as I have matured, I have been less likely to do that as opposed to taking a psycho social look at maybe what’s going on in the person’s life.”

July 6, 2017July 6, 2017

Social media brings big risks; opportunities

Adolescents, who have the ability to connect constantly on their phones, may be putting themselves at a higher risk for mental health disorders and poor quality in personal relationships.

The entertaining features of smartphones have created an unhealthy atmosphere for some, where people are not living in reality. Because of this consistent use, problems like distorted body image, low self-esteem–and even extreme cases like suicide–have emerged as result, researchers say.

For teens like Ana Valera who feels connected always, the risks are on their minds.

“I think definitely a stigma around having the perfect Instagram body or just comparing yourself to other people that you see on social media, that can be very destructive,” said Valera, 16, talking about the negative impacts of social media.

Shuttle bus riders frequently stare at their mobile phones. By Reagan Gerrity.

With the constant scrolling and checking new updates, teens and young adults are more susceptible to the idea that their bodies are not good enough, comparing themselves to photos of models, celebrities or even their friends–not knowing that photos may have been altered. According to research, those who consume more social media place more of an importance on things like body image and how others perceive them, harming their self-esteem.

Social media has also impacted the way students interact in a learning environment, a fact noticed by several professors in the last five years.

Nicole Cox, an assistant professor of mass media at Valdosta State University in Georgia, said that even the way students wait for class has changed. There is no conversation, just people staring intently at a screen.

Cox also observed that phones have affected students’ attentions spans. She said they no longer have the ability to be engaged in class with something much more entertaining in their pocket.

Not only does social media impact a student’s classroom performance but it could be a matter of life and death.

13 Reasons Why, a Netflix original series, became extremely popular this year, but also brought about issues concerning copycat suicides.

“I could understand how people would think that it would romanticize suicide in a way,” Valera said.
“I feel that the intentions of the producers were to shed light on the issue of being bullied and suicide.

“Maybe the execution wasn’t as good as it could have been.”

13 Reasons Why displays suicide as the only way out for a troubled teenage girl, who uses it as revenge against people who upset her. Young people who have watched the fictional series worry this may give ideas to those who are already considering suicide.

“I feel like showing the suicide wasn’t really the best way to go about it,” said Saira Greywald,19, an American University student. “It may have been triggering to those who have gone through depression and attempted suicide.”

Despite what many see as the risks and potential for harm, social media does have benefits.

Some interviewed this week said it helps them communicate and stay connected with friends near and far.

“I feel like Snapchat helps you keep in touch with people even if you’re not around them because you’re seeing them everyday through pictures. And Instagram, you can see what people are up to,” said Caroline Down, 16, of Pittsburgh.

One must keep in mind that with the advancement of communications, comes the responsibility of managing social media and some of its negative impacts.

“It’s really negative,” Greywald said. “People compare themselves to other people and are constantly judging other people and themselves.”