Haiti and New Orleans

When I think of political commentary, Lil Wayne isn't the first to pop into my mind. However, I stumbled upon this, and while short, it's very true. The parallels between the situation in Haiti and New Orleans abound -- which leads one to wonder what will happen to Haiti in the long term. Once the media is "over it" and Haiti will need true support to rebuild infrastructure, will help be around?

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Super Bowl Anti-Choice Ad

Recently there has been a lot about the Superbowl accepting an anti-choice ad. The Superbowl has generally not taken any issue advocacy ads and also turned down a gay men's dating site advertisement.

Check out this article @ The Nation

Also, check out this video! <3 Raging grannies!

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New Steering Committee

Congratulations to the new steering committee for 2010!

Chair – Malena Arnaud

Vice Chair – Zoe Willmott

Treasurer – Nora Searle

Secretary – Anna Folkens

Publicity Chair – Amanda Torres

El Participante Editor – Paco Martin del Campo

Blogmaster -- Melquiades Fernandez

Blogmistress – Tanea Lunsford

Campus Liaison – Cara Buchanan

Campus Liaison --- Lis Castro

Alumni Relations – Fayette Colon

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Prisoners of the Census

People advocating for the Census often cite its importance in the allocation of resources. At stake is how more than $400 billion will be spent. As it stands, inmates are not counted as part of the communities they come from, even if they are serving relatively short prison terms. In attesting to the failures of the prison system, the census is acknowledging that many of these inmates will return to the penal system; the census is actually just planning for the future. Unfortunately for the poor communities that the inmates come from, this only leads to less funding for public schools and other community programs.

Click here to read more.

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Teen Violist Beat by Police Over Mountain Dew Bottle

In an apparent case of racial profiling an 18-year-old violist was savagely beaten by Pittsburgh police after they suspected him of carrying a gun. The plainclothes officers believed the teen to be carrying "something heavy in his jacket," the "something heavy" being a bottle of Mountain Dew. If these officers wanted to inquire about the teens alleged suspicious activity, they could have done it in a way that would not have left him severely bruised and one eye swollen shut.

Click Here for full story.

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Top Priorities for American in 2010

It seems that the economy, jobs, and terrorism are the main issues that will worry the average American in 2010. The fact that the economy and jobs are at the top of the list should come as no surprise, since we are in the midst of a recession that has given way to double-digit unemployment rates. And with a constant dose of fear from various media outlets, unfortunately, terrorism is also occupying one of the top spots.

Click here to see the complete study.

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UC Santa Cruz

This past Thursday students, faculty, and staff at UC Santa Cruz decided that enough was enough. They gathered to protest the budget cuts that have been plaguing the UC system,and what once was considered an affordable education, has become anything but as tuition fees rose to over $10,000 this year. When the banks were facing a crisis-a whole they themselves dug-the government was kind enough to offer them a bailout package. Should we not do the same for students asking for an education. I mean in the greater scheme of things, whats a billion dollars to bring relief to an ailing school system; I for one wouldn't mind.

Below are links to some of the news articles that have popped up, as the media slowly starts to cover the protests:

Students, Faculty, and Workers Rally at UCSC

Thousands Pack Sproul Plaza to Protest UC Layoffs, Fee Increases

University of California campuses erupt into protest

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9.12 DC TEA PARTY

Tea Party Protest

I love seeing well informed protesters marching on Washington, D.C. And in case you've been hiding under a rock, apparently the United States is on its way to becoming a third world communist-socialist-fascist wasteland. But seriously folks, lets please get informed first.

These people were being led by a man who is directly benefiting from the tax-supported health care he so vehemently opposes. But I guess with a name like Dick Armey we can't really expect anything less.

Bill Moyers: Tea Party Organizer is Epitome of Privilege

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Volume 2, Issue 1

The new back-to-school issue of el participante has just been released, with new editors Daniela Garcia and Melquiades Fernandez! Click on "link to PDF" under Volume 2, Issue 1 on the right hand side, and be sure to browse our other issues too.

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Academic freedom? Not if you mention divesting from Israel.

The response to any criticism of Israel continues to border on hysteria. As featured in The Nation, Neve Gordon, an Israeli professor at Ben-Gurion University, released an Op-Ed in favor of international divestment and soon received "death threats" and demands for his "exile." University President Rivka Carmi told Gordon to "consider another professional and personal home," stating the Op-Ed was an "abuse of the freedom of speech." Apparently, the freedom of speech in Israel only supports positive assessments of the country's relationship with Palestine. Zionists continue to prove that when confronted with a well-reasoned argument for the end of Israel's apartheid policies, the public can expect nothing short of a "firestorm" in retaliation. On Columbia's campus, the taboo of speaking out against Israel is also in full effect. In this atmosphere, it becomes even more important for supporters of the Palestinian struggle for self-determination to refuse to be silenced. Gordon's piece was slandered as "morally reprehensible" but in reality, it is those who continue to back the atrocious human rights violations in Palestine that must be held accountable.

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Why We Need Singlepayer!

Check out this article on Single-payer. The reality is private health insurance is inefficient. The article covers the various defects of this defunct system and why single-payer is the way to go!

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"Whites Only" in 2009!?

Supposedly segregation is a thing of the past, but unfortunately it is alive and well. In a town outside of Philadelphia, 65 children attending summer camp tried to go swimming at a club. The camp had a contract with this club for the use of their facility, but when the club realized that the majority of these 65 children are Black, they terminated the contract. The club's leader cited change of complexion and atmosphere of the club as the reasons. In other words, the club's pool is "Whites Only." We cannot tolerate this sort of racism.

Please click here for more info and to sign a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder!

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