By: Katie Sanders, Staff Writer
One of Wofford’s goals for its students is that they become globally engaged citizens. Engaging the world has to start with being educated about the world, but in the hustle and bustle of life on campus, checking the news often falls at the end of the priority list. Here are a few key domestic and international issues to follow through the holidays.
Racial tension is growing in the U.S. In October, a school officer at Spring Valley High School in Colombia, S.C. was fired after a video of him throwing a black female student out of her desk chair hit the internet. Richland County Sheriff claims the officer did not follow protocol, but 100 students staged a walkout days following the event to express their support of the officer. They did not think he handled the situation inappropriately or that his response was race related.
In early November, the football team at the University of Missouri announced they would not play again until the president of the university stepped down. This was their way of participating in protests that had been happening on campus since October as a result of various events that revealed race issues on campus. The president and chancellor stepped down the day after the team went on strike.
The U.S. will have to continue learning how to deal with racial issues like these, especially the presidential candidates for the 2016 elections. Donald Trump says the University’s administration is weak for bowing under the pressure of students. Trump is neck and neck in the GOP polls with Ben Carson, who says it’s not okay to destroy people you disagree with.
Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders tweets that the incidents in Missouri are proof that structural racism needs to be addressed. Hilary Clinton agrees, tweeting that racism has no place anywhere, but especially not in an educational institution. Sanders and Clinton fight for the top spot in the democratic candidate polls.
Outside the U.S. borders, the relationship between Israel and Palestine continues to be a point of contention and violence. There is a long history of disagreement between the countries over land they both believe is theirs, but the most recent wave of violence stems from disagreement over a holy site in Eastern Jerusalem. Muslims say it’s the Noble Sanctuary, but Jews say it’s the Temple Mount.
During the Jewish Holy Year in mid-September, rumors spread that Jews were going to take over the holy site. Israel denied the allegations, saying Palestinian leaders and Islamic groups are promoting attacks on Israelis via social media. On Sept. 30, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas announced that the peace treaties from the 90s, the Oslo Peace Accords, are no longer in play. Abbas says Israel had already violated the pacts.
Secretary of State John Kerry is now involved in mediating peace talks between the two countries. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in Washington in mid-November discussing actions he is now willing to take with President Obama and Kerry. Kerry is scheduled to meet with Netanyahu and Abbas in Israeli and Palestinian territory just before Thanksgiving, which will be his first visit in over a year.
This is not the only violence happening in the Middle East. On Nov. 13, three organized ISIS groups carried out terrorist attacks throughout Paris, in a soccer stadium, a concert hall and several bars and restaurants. Hundreds were injured, and at least 129 killed. Many of the attackers died during the attacks, and Abdelhamid Abaaoud, a Belgian who planned the whole attack, was killed days later in a police raid. One suspect is still on the loose.
The Paris attacks followed days after ISIS killed more than 40 people in Beirut. The urgency of this situation has brought together Russia and the U.S., who disagree on what needs to happen in Syria, but agree that either way ISIS needs to go.
ISIS sent word to the U.S. that it is the next target, which has made the country reluctant to accept any of the millions of refugees that have fled violence in Syria.
Other important elections are coming up across the globe. Argentina will elect a new president in 2016 after 16 years of being ruled by the Kirchners, who expanded on social programs and fought with American hedge funds.
Haiti will also get a new president before Christmas. Out of 54 candidates, there was not an identifiable front-runner. Final tallies will not be ready until early December, and there is possibility of a runoff.
*Because of print dates, there are likely progressions regarding the details of these events. The Old Gold & Black encourages you to keep up to date on the latest news.
Caption: Whether reading a print newspaper or skimming online articles, Wofford students are encouraged to keep up to date on current events.
