In a Galaxy Far, Far Away....

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to see the movie Hidden Figures which tells the story of Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson - brilliant African-American women working at NASA, who served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored the nation's confidence, turned around the Space Race, and galvanized the world.

I’ve always enjoyed learning about space.  My father had an amateur interest in astronomy and was always waking us up in the middle of the night to watch a meteor shower, see a comet or otherwise gaze at some celestial body that was visible enough for us to see and enjoy. He did this so often, it motivated my sister to became an Earth Space science teacher.

Which is why I was amazed to find out yesterday that NASA has discovered a single star that is home to 7 Earth-like planets!  I’m not imaginative enough to believe in aliens out to invade the world, but I do believe there could be life on other planets – even if “life” just means amoebas or vegetation.

NASA budget has been the source of conflict over the years, with some saying we’re spending too much and others saying it’s not enough.  For fiscal year 2017, NASA’s budget is 18.5 billion. That might seem like a big number, but it’s actually just .4% of our $4.147 trillion budget.  To put in in perspective, the Department of Defense’s budget for the same fiscal year is $523.8 billion – or 12.6% of our federal budget.  NASA has launched no new flight crews since 2012, and we currently pay Russia to transport our crews to the International Space Station.

So, my question to you this week is, “Do you think we should fund NASA at a higher level and invest in space exploration, or is the money better spent right here at home?  What are the benefits of space exploration?”  You must answer both questions for full credit.  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, March 1^st, 2017.

P.S.  If you haven’t seen Hidden Figures yet, I highly recommend it. The visionary trio crossed all gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big!

El Dia Sin Immigrantes

You may have heard of the national protest going on today, “El dia sin immigrantes,” or “A day without immigrants.”  The protest, which calls for immigrants to take the day of work, is designed to demonstrate the positive and large impact immigrants make on America.  Immigration has been a hot topic, particularly since President Trump called for building a massive wall along our southern border and signed a controversial Executive order banning immigrants and refugees from seven different countries.

Immigration is a tough issue for me. I don’t support entering any country illegally, but my heart breaks for any individual that would sacrifice everything to gain the freedoms we so easily take for granted.  I happen to have two co-workers who were granted legal status under DACA – Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, instituted by President Obama.  DACA gives legal status to individuals who were brought illegally to America by their parents.  In the cases of my co-workers, they were 13 and 9.  To hear them tell their stories about how their families literally risked everything to give their children a better chance at life, breaks my heart.  I support giving people who want to become American citizens a chance – one my co-workers were never offered.  Although they are legally allowed to work, and they pay taxes, there is currently no path to citizenship for them – ever. 

We are a nation of immigrants; however, we are also a country with a target on our backs. I’m not sure President Trump’s massive border wall is the answer, but it seems risky and utterly ridiculous to me that a nation as powerful as ours would have unsecured boarders

So, my question to you this week is, “Where do you stand on immigration?  Do you think there should be a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who are already here?  Do you support the building of President Trump’s wall?”  You must answer all questions for full credit.  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, February 22^nd, 2017.

Educated and Homeless - Part 2

About six months ago, I happened to read an article about the rise of college students in poverty.  The article was so troubling to me, I decided I had to blog about it.  You can read my thoughts and your fellow students comments at the time, here: http://historicalandpoliticalissues.blogspot.com/2016/08/educated-and-homeless.html

The cost of attending college usually focuses on the tuition and fees; rarely does the conversation ever include the cost of living.  Now we all know that most college students would say they were poor.  I know there were weeks in college where I subsisted on Ramen noodles, Kool-Aid and McDonalds – which also happened to be where I worked.  However, looking back, I realize I really wasn’t that poor. Yes, I worked a low-paying job, and yes, I incurred a large amount of student loan debt, but I had a roof over my head and food in my belly – even if it wasn’t high quality food.  What’s more, even though my parents couldn’t help me much financially, they lived right down the street.  There was no chance of me ever becoming homeless, and I knew I could always stop by for a home-cooked meal. Most of you know my entire career has been focused on the complex issues related to poverty, which is why I find this issue so troubling.  So, when I heard this same issue being discussed on NPR this week, I knew I needed to blog about it again.

Students are working more and taking out record breaking amounts of loans, however many are still falling short of having all their needs met.  According to a study at the University of Wisconsin, 20% of college students reported going hungry and 13% report they are homeless.  Some states, like Massachusetts have implemented food assistance programs on their public university campuses, in order to make sure students get their most basic needs met.  These statistics just break my heart, and I’m interested to know what you think. So, my question this week is, “Do these numbers seem high to you – or is this what you would expect?  Do you think schools and universities have a responsibility to help address these issues – and if so, how?”  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, February 15, 2017.

P.S. If you are having trouble with homelessness or food insecurity – please reach out!  I may have resources that can help!

Nasty Women!

By now, you’ve probably all heard, or perhaps participated in the Women’s March that occurred right after the inauguration on January 21^st. Over 5 million people participated in cities around the world to let their voices be heard on a variety of issues - immigration, LGBTQ rights, the treatment of minorities, environmental causes, and of course, women’s rights. The organizers of the Women’s March have now started an action program to help people figure out how they can continue to take action.  You can learn more about the March and how you can let your voice be heard on any of these issues here: https://www.womensmarch.com/100/action2/

I’m a big supporter of women’s rights and the fight for equality that is still going on.  I had every intention of marching – my signs we ready, my t-shirt was bought – but unfortunately, I became ill and was too sick to attend.  I was bummed – but I was proud of my fellow sisters (and brothers!) who marched for equality and I was with them in spirit.  You may be thinking that in 2017 women already have equality, but you’d be wrong. In fact, it wasn’t so long ago that women couldn’t do a lot of things.  Check out this video I recently found on social media for a shocking list! https://www.facebook.com/omgfactsofficial/videos/10154697216211495/

In a few weeks, we will discuss equality in class and look at some of the ways that women still lag behind in men in terms of rights, particularly when it comes to equal pay for equal work.  Artists and designers aren’t immune from it either. According to a report by the National Endowment for the Arts, “women are making enormous progress, but still lag behind their male colleagues economically, especially in fields such as photography, design and architecture. The pay gap tends to be larger for non-performing art occupations, when women earn just 72% of what men earn. To put that into perspective, in 2005 the average income of women artists was $27,000 which was $14,700 less than the average income of men artists!

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women are 60% more likely than men to earn a bachelor’s degree by the time they are twenty-three. We are more educated and working more than ever before, yet the disparity between pay is still there. So, my question to you this week is “Why do you think this gap exists, and what do you think we could do to change it?”  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, February 8^th, 2017.