1. Pay-to-Play Sports System in the US – Issue that limits access for lower-income athletes, as high participation fees create barriers to entry, reducing diversity and opportunity. This model places a financial strain on families, often prioritizing money over competition and enjoyment. It also affects college recruiting as scholarship opportunities are given to wealthier athletes, deepening social and economic inequalities in sports.
2. Standardized Testing in Education – Involves administering the same test under the same conditions to all students to measure their academic performance and compare it across schools. It’s intended to provide objective data on student achievement. Still, critics argue that it can narrow curriculum focus, create stress, and fail to account for diverse learning styles and socioeconomic factors.
3. Excessive Screen Time for Children – Raises concern about its potential impact on social skills and physical health, including sleep disruption and increased inactivity. While digital devices offer educational benefits, too much exposure is linked to attention problems, delayed language development, and reduced outdoor activity.
4. Psychological Nativism – Theory that certain cognitive abilities or knowledge are innate, meaning they are present at birth rather than acquired through experience or learning. It focuses on language acquisition, suggesting that humans are born with inherent structures that enable learning.

Pay-to-Play Sports System in the US – https://soccernovo.com/pay-to-play-soccer/

The pay-to-play model in U.S. youth soccer requires families to pay high fees, typically $1,500 to $5,000 per year, to participate in club programs. This creates financial barriers that limit access and diversity, leading to concerns that the system is excluding talented players from lower-income backgrounds. While the pay-to-play model provides funding for soccer programs and can foster competitiveness, potential solutions include increasing financial aid, developing subsidized club options, and exploring alternative models to make the sport more accessible.

“While it has allowed for the development of elite players who have gone on to represent our country at the highest level, it has also created barriers for many young players who cannot afford the high costs of participation. Our system currently puts us behind top European and South American countries. In these countries, talent is priority numero uno. Players like Neymar Jr., who didn’t come from much, might have been a lost talent in the U.S.”

Standardized Testing in Education – https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1757743818812093

Standardized testing in the US has been used to marginalize and erase the knowledge of low-income students and students of color. These tests are rooted in racist and capitalist ideologies that privilege whiteness and dominant knowledge formations, while devaluing the knowledge and experiences of non-white communities. The history of standardized testing shows how these tests have been used to justify cutting funding and resources for schools serving predominantly non-white students, further perpetuating racial inequities in education.

“Stories of intelligent and successful students of color directly challenge beliefs about them as academically inferior students. Thus, evidence of student knowledge and ability, in spite of poor test scores, may lead to a re-evaluation of the testing tools that have been used to marginalize these students.”

1. Should Liberalism be Limited? We all know that independence and individual freedom is crucial in a society, but have we looked at how it affects our society today? Sure, Personal expression is fine, but what comes out of this? Protests, Riots, Vandalism, and even sometimes violence occur because of this. Maybe it’s okay to promote individual freedom, but when it is right and harmless. 
2. Why is modern-day schooling so oppressed? Schools are meant to teach us in order for us to learn and become “successful contributional citizens” to society. But do we really learn? Schools have been given a curriculum to follow and that curriculum has been stuck into not only the schools, but into us as well. Instead of learning, we memorize whatever is told to us in school.
3. Schools teach what is necessary for school after high-school instead of prioritizing life lessons. Oftentimes, school criteria teaches us about core subjects like social studies, history, and writing. Aren’t we missing something? Economics is a class that many schools lack. 
4. AI development; is it bad? In today’s world, we can see technology everywhere around us. Is this good or bad? There are many malfunctions that can occur, but how do they affect us? It can be bad.

*Schools teach what is necessary for school after high-school instead of prioritizing life lessons. https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/why-arent-more-states-taking-on-economics-and-personal-finance-education/2018/02 “To move the needle on economics and personal finance education, change might have to come from the ground up.” 

• Surveys are taken on the 50 states every 2 years to analyze personal finance and economics education. It hasn’t been looking so well for many.  In many states, economics class isn’t taken seriously as a prerequisite. We need to take initiative, but where do we start?

*Why is modern-day schooling so oppressive?

https://www.rc.org/publication/presenttime/pt172_053_mp#:~:text=The%20oppressive%20system%20is%20the,young%20people%20feel%20not%20smart. “Different young people make different decisions about how they will deal with how oppressive school is” 

• Schools are the base of oppression. They implicitly promote capitalism and oppression in society. Young people want change and change needs to happen. It starts from the base, and that is school.

1. Could the actions within the Israel-Palestine conflict be classified as genocide against Palestinians? Social media has become a primary source for news consumption. As we view the footage emerging from Gaza, it is clear that the situation has persisted for far too long and has escalated beyond acceptable limits. Over the past year, 40,000 Palestinians have been killed, and each day, 10 children undergo amputations. While yes, 1,200 Israelis lost their lives on October 7, it is important to recognize that this has been ongoing long before October 7.
2. Why are so many companies firing Gen-Z employees? Many are concerned about the growing trend of Gen-Z employees being terminated. In a survey of 996 companies, employers cited a lack of motivation, inadequate performance, poor communication skills, and insufficient professionalism as key reasons behind this issue. While this presents a significant challenge, some companies have noted the advantages of hiring Gen-Z employees, highlighting their willingness to take risks and explore new approaches, rather than confining themselves to traditional expectations.
3. Should everyone go to college? Many of us were raised with the belief that “You need a college degree to succeed.” While college may indeed be the right path for many careers, some of the most successful business leaders did not pursue higher education. Young adults should have the freedom to decide whether college is the right choice for them, without facing judgment. Although choosing not to attend college can be a significant risk, everyone deserves the opportunity to explore their own creativity and potential.

1. Article for Topic 1: This article discusses the various definitions of genocide through legal, social scientific, and conventional lenses, as explained by Alexander Hinton, a genocide prevention expert. It highlights the U.N. Convention’s legal definition, which includes acts intended to destroy a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group in whole or in part. The article explores whether the current situation in Gaza meets the criteria for genocide. Juicy quote: “Segal believes that Israeli forces are completing three genocidal acts, including, “killing, causing serious bodily harm, and measures calculated to bring about the destruction of the group.” He points to the mass levels of destruction and total siege of basic necessities—like water, food, fuel, and medical supplies—as evidence.” https://time.com/6334409/is-whats-happening-gaza-genocide-experts/
2. Article for Topic 3: This article explores the idea that college may not be the right path for everyone and highlights the inequities within the educational system. It contrasts two students: one with strong academic abilities and another with less interest in traditional academics, illustrating the system’s uneven approach to different types of learners. Juicy Quote: “That second student, to be clear, has done nothing wrong. He probably clawed his way through his town’s standard college-oriented curriculum, though it neither targeted his interests and abilities nor prepared him for work force success. “ https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/16/learning/should-everyone-go-to-college.html

1.) Should CUNY be free? Public schools, which are made by the government, are free. Then why aren’t colleges that are made by the government free? Yes, colleges require more money to be supported, but college is a very important part of society because if there wouldn’t be colleges, we wouldn’t have professions and professionals, therefore there won’t be anyone to fix problems that you don’t know how to fix. Society wouldn’t function without college. So, government should fund colleges, same as public schools, so that more people attend and there will be more professionals to help this country thrive.

2.) Mocking and disrespecting Christianity. How can it be stopped, and should it even be stopped? Mocking of religions was always a thing, but in the last couple of years it’s becoming more and more prominent, especially against Christianity. On the media, celebrities very often mock Christianity and it is becoming more and more often. Christians should take action against this. It is very rare to see someone mock Islam or other religions, because they don’t tolerate it, but Christians do, so it makes them an easy target. I believe that everyone should respects everyone’s beliefs and nobody should mock anybody else’s beliefs.

3.) Education focused on teaching kids to be able to work jobs, but it doesn’t mention that there are other ways to make money aside from jobs; such as for example: businesses. Through my experience in elementary, middle, and high school, I have never heard any other form of money-making other than having a job. I think that is very unhealthy and makes everyone’s creative mind very trapped into one goal, getting a job, and not realizing that there are other ways to make a living, sometimes even better ways depending on who you are and your situation. Schools should not just force students to get jobs, but they should also allow students to be more open-minded and explore other ways.

Article for topic 1: CUNY used to be free until 1976, but then they made it cost money. Not everyone can afford college, and not everyone that can’t afford college can receive financial aid. The state payed less and less to colleges and that created a need for colleges to stop being free. The state and government makes enough money to fund colleges though, so it can go back to how it was before 1976, and colleges can be free again. That would be really helpful because more people would afford college. Juicy quote: “According to the city’s Independent Budget Office, state aid accounted for 68% of total CUNY funding in 1989, but only 48% by 2006.” https://www.gothamgazette.com/topics-newestopinions/6444-could-cuny-be-tuition-free-again

Article for topic 3: Real life skills like entrepreneurship has to be taught in schools because when students graduate high school, they don’t know anything about the real world and making money without a job. The only thing that has been engrained into their heads is that they need to get a job and be good employees, but they are not taught that there is more to that. Juicy quote: “The new world order is crying out for smaller government and less admin. It screams out for more autonomy and the spirit that builds on that in order to innovate or to create new business enterprises. It demands the young entrepreneur.” https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-we-have-teach-entrepreneurship-schools-now-casely-hayford?trk=articles_directory

Male-dominated industries – Many women find it hard to break into fields that are mostly male-dominated, like engineering, computer science, and architecture. This can make it tough for them to land jobs in these areas. There are definitely biases at play, but it might also be that fewer women show interest in these careers compared to men. So, how did we end up in this situation?

Development of AI – There are a lot of concerns about what AI will be like in the future and how it could impact our society. Some people think that advancing AI could create serious problems and raise ethical questions about its use. On the other hand, others argue that improving AI is crucial for our development as individuals and as a society. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/09/10/ai-future-power-imperfection-technology

The article talks about how artificial intelligence is changing our world, highlighting both its potential benefits and the problems it brings. It points out that AI isn’t perfect but can one day possibly surpass human abilities, which raises important ethical questions. The author explains that we need to find a balance as we move forward with this technology, considering both its usefulness and the challenges we may face with its development.

“The processors will keep processing — and we need to get ready. That means planning for everything from basic privacy and IP regulations to topsy-turvy labor markets and even “Fury Road.” Because however far-fetched the idea of an artificial general intelligence — meaning an autonomous system that one day surpasses human abilities and might deem us, er, dispensable — it’s not impossible. We can also look out for the many ways AI tools can help us fix the hard problems humanity simply hasn’t been able to crack. We’re spoiled for choice.” 

Universal Healthcare in the U.S. – Making sure everyone can access quality healthcare without worrying about costs is important and should be based on fairness. This means that everyone has the right to healthcare and insurance so they can get the treatment they need. However, this idea sparks a lot of different opinions. Figuring out the pros and cons can be challenging and often leads to heated debates.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/18/opinion/universal-health-care.html#

The article makes a strong case for universal healthcare in the U.S., saying it’s both a moral duty and a smart way to tackle the country’s healthcare problems. It points out that other countries with universal systems get better health results while spending less money. The author argues that giving everyone access to healthcare would not only help individuals but also boost the economy. Overall, the article calls for a policy change to make sure every American can get quality healthcare. 

“Finally, coverage must be basic because we are bound by the social contract to provide necessary medical care, not a high-end experience. Those who can afford and want to can purchase supplemental coverage in a well-functioning market.”

1. The effects of homoeroticism in friendships: To what extent are they beneficial and or detrimental?
   • Regarding the first topic when it comes to homoerotic friendships, if I chose to focus on this I’d like to center my scope to students at Baruch; focusing on if they have friendships either male or female that are too touchy/border the line of friend and romantic partner. Using this scope I’d like to see how this effects the view of their friendships, where this may stem from and if they are truly comfortable with it.
2. The phenomenon on non-white voters voting for Trump? What are their reasonings and their political stance?
   • After having a conversation with a peer about who they would vote for in the 2024 election and they said Trump I’d like to see how many other Baruch students feel this way. I want to find out where they stand on the political spectrum, and understand what their reasonings are based in: bias, misinformation, political association, etc. Ultimately to see if there is a common trend amongst them.
3. Does Tyler Perry perpetuate negative stereotypes onto the black community?
   • I’ve seen a lot of Youtube videos on my feed for the past couple years that have dissected and criticized the work of Tyler Perry due to his portrayal of black women in his films and tv shows. I wanted to watch some of Perry’s work with a more critical view since I am older and come to the conclusion whether or not Perry’s work is harmful to the black community and ask the black community their honest opinions on the media that I watched of him for this paper stating my opinions on it but also the opinions of black students at Baruch.

Topic 1: This article shared on The Californian is a anecdote about this woman her her experience with her and her best friend. The beginning of their anecdote describes how close they’ve been with their best friend and how they have often been questioned how close their friendship truly was. In the later half the narrator describes how they’ve begun to hang out with them more: doing art with each other and being handsy, spending time with each other outside and wanting to kiss each other, enjoying each others company on the phone for several hours at a time. The story ends with the narrator going to have sex with one of her old flames (a guy); they end up cutting the sex early because the narrator hadn’t talked to their friend in several hours. While the guy is still in the room the narrator realizes she doesn’t want to have sex with the guy and their story ends there. “”Do you even want to have sex with him?” she asked. “Not really.” We both laughed.”

Topic 2: This article was written in March of 2024, it discusses the increase in black voters voting for Trump in the 2024 election. The article talks about the recent data showing that Trump has increased his votes amongst the black community, the history of the black community and voting and how Trump is maximize this amongst the voters. The reasoning that this article comes to for Trump spike in popularity is due to the lack of cultural ties to the Civil Rights Movement; while young black voters may experience some sort of oppression, its much harder for them to feel the same effects that their parents and grandparents had experienced due to them fortunately not having to suffer the same fate as them. “However, younger Black voters do not have those same civil rights legacy attachments”. Due to this lack of connection to their history, younger black voters are able to look at the Republican party without the lens of suffering. Moreover without this lens they tend to look at the Democratic party with a sense of resentment due them being known for supporting minority groups, however in recent times, black voters feel as if the party isn’t living up to their statements.

Surveillance state: A state government conducting surveillance and monitoring its citizens. Storing personal information on its citizens such as location, financial history, and social media. Limiting freedoms and oppressing public speech are just a few of them. However, others argue that surveillance can create an environment of suspicion and threat and that it can negatively impact human rights.

*Card network monopolies: Card network monopolies, like Visa, refer to dominant companies that control the infrastructure for processing credit and debit card transactions. These networks set the rules and fees that merchants must follow, giving them significant influence over global payment systems. Their market dominance often leads to limited competition and high fees for both businesses and consumers.

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/24/doj-accuses-visa-of-debit-network-monopoly-that-impacts-price-of-nearly-everything.html

The Department of Justice is suing Visa, America’s largest payment network for creating an illegal monopoly in the space of payment processing. Accusing it created such a monopoly that it was charging absurdly high transaction fees to process payment which in turn merchants having to pay these fees are forced to either raise prices or reduce the quality of products to stay afloat. These fees are then passed on to us the consumers in the form of higher prices and reduced-quality of products 

“Visa has unlawfully amassed the power to extract fees that far exceed what it could charge in a competitive market”

*Mandatory voting(i.e. Compulsory voting): In every democracy, the right to vote is an indisputable right granted to its citizens. This begs the question should the citizens have a choice of whether to exercise their right to vote or not? Having everyone to vote would make a democracy where the turn out would be 100% and everyone is fairly represented.

https://www.idea.int/data-tools/data/voter-turnout-database/compulsory-voting

In many democratic countries voting is a right of the citizens free for them to exercise or not. With compulsory voting, citizens are required to vote in elections and express themselves through voting for their preferred candidate. This in turn helps create a higher turnout than in non-compulsory voting countries. Supporters of this argue that this helps certify and legitimize the elected government as a whole as the majority of the population is in favor of this government since they voted for it. On the other hand critics of this idea argue that in a compulsory voting country, you are required to vote or else the citizens will be punished for not fulfilling their civic duties. This leads to random votes when an election is happening checking off the 1st candidate on the ballot just to fulfil their duties.

“compulsory voting argues that decisions made by democratically elected governments are more legitimate when higher proportions of the population participate”

• Rank three specific topics of interest to you – describe your idea for each in 1-3 sentences
• Choose two of the topics and find a potentially juicy article to dig into for each
• Post links to the articles and briefly describe each article in 2-4 sentences
• Cut and paste one potentially juicy quote from each article below the description
  • (Don’t forget to select the correct “category” before posting)
  • (You can make your post public or private, but it might be nice to share ideas!)

Non-scholarly sources across the spectrum:

PERSONAL GO-TOs: The New Yorker, Democracy Now!, Jacobin, The Intercept, Vox, BBC, NYT, Guardian, The Atlantic, NYRB, LARB, NPR, Time Magazine, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, National Review

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