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Taylor Swift, one of the world's most successful pop stars,  has taken a massive step into politics by backing Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 US presidential election. This decision, revealed just after the first presidential debate, has sparked enormous interest from her large fan base and those in the political world. 

For most of us, from the day that we start preschool to the day we leave high school, the goal is college. We are told that's how we're going to sustain a stable income in the future, how we will support ourselves when we grow up. However, in the past 10 years the amount of people that enrolled in college has decreased by 1.5% each year. 

A truck rumbles down a lonely dirt road, dust flying up in its wake. Other than the hum of the vehicle, everything is silent, save a few faint booms in the distance. The surroundings aren’t much to look at. There is no green; everything is dead. There are soldiers inside the truck, huddled together in the back. They are retreating from the city of Avdiivka, close to the eastern border of Ukraine. This is just one of many trucks leaving the city after Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander in chief of the Ukrainian military, gave the order to retreat. The city is empty, now that the troops have left. All that remains are the smoky skeletons of buildings. The glass is missing from the windows, leaving behind gaping black holes. The streets are a mess, with debris and boulders covering the roads. There is no color, no life left in this town. It is empty and forgotten, just like the weary soldiers coming from it.

On May 9th, 2024, Martha E. Pollack declared her retirement after acting as Cornell University’s 14th President for over 7 years. Her departure date is slated to be June 30th, 2024, with Michael I. Kotlikoff scheduled to begin acting as interim president on July 1st. Kotlikoff, at the behest of the Cornell Board of Trustees,  will serve a two-year term as interim president.  The board plans to form a search committee to formally select Cornell’s 15th president with their search scheduled to conclude six to nine months before Kotlikoff’s term termination. Following her retirement, Pollack will be recognized for her contributions through the title of President Emerita, given by the Cornell Board of Trustees. The Latin-based term emeritus/emerita is a selective honorary title given to someone who has retired from a position of prestige, typically in academia or politics. This allows for the continued usage of their previously held title while also potentially allowing the individual to maintain some of their former duties.  

Happy Pride! To anyone identifying as LGBTQ+ or exploring their identity, we see and respect you, not just in June, but all year round. Diversity is something to be celebrated, after all.  Unfortunately, how progressive people are varies between locations, with discrimination against the queer community still being very prevalent in some areas. In the Southern states, laws restricting LGBTQ+ rights and prohibiting the teaching of the subject in schools are repeatedly passed - no person should have those basic rights denied simply because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. Government officials will  argue that homosexuality isn’t natural, that being transgender is a sin, in order to justify their outlandish proposals.  What’s curious, though, is that taking a look at nature proves the exact opposite. Over 1,500 different species, from salmon to spiders,  dolphins to ducks, have been observed engaging in homosexual behavior. Biologist Bruce Bagemihl explains in his book Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity that examples of homosexual behavior (besides actual intercourse) include courtship, pair bonding, and raising young, all of which have been exhibited by a wide range of creatures.

Generation Alpha, children born after 2010, is growing up in a drastically different environment than its predecessors. As digital natives, these young individuals are intricately linked to technology from a young age, influencing their experiences, behaviors, and development. However, despite the advantages of technological advances, Gen Alpha faces a unique set of challenges that contribute to an overall decline. This reduction has several causes including increasing screen time, educational disturbances, social and emotional development challenges, environmental and cultural strains, and tremendous societal and parental expectations. Understanding these issues is imperative for satisfying the needs of this generation and creating a healthier, more supportive atmosphere that fosters their growth and development.

On May 6th, 2024, an international school teacher reported that “multiple” AP exams had been leaked in China and were on sale on an app called Xian Yu. Students apparently verified that the exams listed online were the same as the ones administered. They were concerned that the exam scores will be canceled as a result of this, but despite contacting College Board, no updates have come since.

On May 21st, 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) sought arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Hamas supreme leader Ismail Haniyeh, and Hamas commanders Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif. These warrants were on account of war crimes in the Israel-Hamas war. This accusation has generated both support and outrage internationally.

In the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, the roads lie deserted, with charred and smashed buildings on either side. In some neighborhoods, fires burn night and day, consuming streets with smoke. Highways and roads are without life, their only occupants upturned and smashed cars. Trucks and buses sit abandoned in the middle of the street, surrounded by craters and wreckage. The only vehicles still in operation are armored cars or pickup trucks filled with masked, armed men. Community centers and churches are filled with civilians, while outside a violent struggle occurs between powerful gangs and the fragmented government police force. Haiti is locked in an internal conflict that has utterly crippled the island nation.

The company continued to shut down, later blaming the pandemic, sustained industry headwinds, higher interest rates, and rising material and labor costs. Red Lobster has long been a popular dining choice for many American families, serving as an introduction to seafood for some. Despite the ongoing challenges, it's unlikely that Red Lobster will be back in business anytime soon.