In The News

Major Companies Threaten to End Relationships With Indiana Over “License to Discriminate” Law

Louis Weisberg April 2, 2015
A storm of criticism from multinational corporations and human-rights groups has convinced lawmakers in Indiana to backtrack on a vague law, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, suggesting that governments could not “substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion” and individuals or businesses could assert such claims in legal proceedings. The law was crafted soon after courts required...

The Curse of Chávez’s Ghost

María Elena Candia March 27, 2015
In the wake of the abrupt drop in global oil prices, Venezuelans have experienced a shortage of food, paper goods and medicines. The Maduro administration makes no effort on economic reforms and instead blames the United States for its heavy dependence on oil revenues and other economic troubles. “There is still no commitment from the government to hike the cost of gasoline, which is heavily...

For Asian Americans, A Changing Landscape on College Admissions

Frank Shyong March 24, 2015
Asian American families spend the most on education per capita in the United States, yet many report challenges with admission to prestigious US colleges owing to official and informal diversity policies. A 2005 Princeton study suggested that Asian applicants would be the big winners if race was no longer considered in admissions. College officials counter that a diverse campus offers many...

California Has About 1 Year of Water Left – Will You Ration Now?

Jay Famiglietti March 17, 2015
California is the most populated US state, and it leads other US states in farm income, responsible for 16 percent of the nation’s cash receipts for crops and 7 percent for livestock. Despite high levels of education and monitoring technology, citizens in advanced and wealthy areas refuse to acknowledge or plan for changes in climate. The state has limited water, about a year’s supply. “As...

After Letter to Tehran From US Republicans, the Middle East (Except for Israel) Stays Silent

Erin Banco March 13, 2015
World leaders are accustomed to the increasing polarization in US politics. The Obama administration is in the middle of negotiating with Iran over curtailing its nuclear program, allowing inspections and lifting sanctions. Republicans hold a majority in the 100-member US Senate, and 47 of them disrupted diplomatic protocol, sending a note to Iran to warn that any deal is at risk once Barack...

In Latin America, New Urgency to Educate Stirs Up Outdated System

Whitney Eulich and Ruxandra Guidi March 4, 2015
Teach for America is spreading beyond the US border. Enseña por México, Teach for Mexico, is one of various programs in seven Latin American countries that replicate the model by sending recent college graduates into low-income schools. Mexico’s program operates in 65 schools across four states; similar, older programs in Chile and Peru garner praise for improved educational outcomes. Eight Latin...

Only Net Neutrality Can Protect the Internet From Becoming Like TV

Malkia Cyril February 27, 2015
The US Federal Communications Commission ruled 3 to 2 that the internet is a utility and should be regulated as such. The rules have yet to be written; appeals and litigation are expected. “Internet Service Providers want to break the internet into fast and slow lanes that sell public voice to the highest bidder,” writes Malkia Cyril in an opinion essay for the Guardian. A multi-tier system could...