Student Union
Issues Important to Young Voters
“My name is Natalie Bergeron. I'm 20 years old.”
“My name is Daniel Hendrick. I’m 19 years old.”
“Nelson Quezada, 22 years old.”
“Michael Rotstein, age 20. I go to Stetson University.”
Daniel Hendrick
“I am a sophomore at Stetson University.”
Natalie Bergeron
“And I go to Stetson University.”
Nelson Quezada
“I attend Stetson University.”
Daniel Hendrick
“So, for me, as a queer-identifying man, like, this election is super important.”
Nelson Quezada
“So, immigration reform is really important to me.”
Natalie Bergeron
“Environmental issues that are smaller scale than just saying a blanket statement about climate change.”
Michael Rotstein
“I’m very pro-Second Amendment; I like my gun.”
Natalie Bergeron
“So, I worked with a butterfly over the summer that used to be the most prevalent butterfly species in all Florida, and only natural habitat is now one tiny island in the [Florida] Keys. And that's because we've built up so much on the Florida coastline. So, I think one of the biggest things we need to focus on is stopping habitat destruction because of development.”
Daniel Hendrick
“A lot of dangerous beliefs are being emboldened and lifted up. And so, it's this election is important because I need to know that I will be safe. I need to know that I will be able to be who I am anywhere in this country.”
Nelson Quezada
“Um, I'm an immigrant. I immigrated to the U.S. from El Salvador when I was seven. And so, ensuring we have an immigration policy that is inclusive, that it provides the millions of undocumented immigrants a pathway to citizenship.”
Michael Rotstein
“Wants to establish a gun tax — $200 on each semi-automatic rifle. I am heavily against that. Yes, it still doesn't go exactly against the Constitution, I just don't find it very constitutional to tax guns, especially on people that have already owned them. The tax kind of disincentivizes people who own guns to keep them; they don't want to keep paying that $200 yearly tax, and I'm very against it.”
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Analysts say rate of college closures likely to increase
If current trends continue, the rate of college closures is expected to increase, according to a new study reported in Forbes.
Closures are more likely to affect private institutions, and while the number of closures might seem small on a national level, it could cause serious problems for the smaller and mid-sized communities where those colleges are located. (December 2024)
Judge upholds racial considerations in US Naval Academy admissions
Although the U.S. Supreme Court last year decided that civilian colleges and universities could not consider race or ethnicity in admissions, a judge ruled that the U.S. Naval Academy had established a national security interest in a diverse officer corps.
That means the academy – and other military service academies – can continue to consider race. A similar policy at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point has also been challenged, but that case has not yet gone to trial, according to a report in Navy Times. (December 2024)
Harvard recommends gap year as a strategic move
While some students and parents see the gap year as a waste of time, others see the break in academic studies as valuable for developing maturity, earning money or focusing goals.
MSN.com explains some of the reasons why Harvard – and other prestigious schools in the United States – are recommending that students take a gap year. (December 2024)
Student dilemma: Financial aid applications can expose undocumented parents
Many students in the U.S. rely on financial aid to attend colleges and universities, but as Julia Barajas reports in LAist.com, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid could cause a dilemma for students with an undocumented parent.
If students fill out the application, they will share their parents’ financial information – and potentially raise questions about their immigration status -- with the federal government. If they don’t fill out the application, they won’t get federal financial aid. (December 2024)
FDA: College students using ‘honey packets’ to enhance sex put themselves at risk
With TikTok videos promoting “honey packets,” the supplements marketed as sexual enhancements have become popular on college campuses.
But as Charles Trepany reports in USA Today, the Food and Drug Administration has warned that ingredients in the supplements could be potentially dangerous. (November 2024)
