Lehmanites Urgently Want Better Gun Control

Protesters demanding stricter gun laws in the wake of tragic mass shootings (Photo Credit: Progressive.org).

By Zarin Siddiqua

August’s series of alleged hate-crime shootings have left Lehman students feeling sadness and panic about lack of adequate gun control. 

Most recently, on Aug.31, sevenpeople were killed and many injured by a shooter in Odessa, Texas. Four weeks earlier, shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohiotook place less than 24 hours apart. On and off Lehman’s campus, these tragedies further sparked the continuing debate about gun laws and other initiatives that can prevent massshootings.

Many students agreed that recurring violence has increased their levels offear; “Every time I am in the classroom or at a mall, I fear something terrible is about to happen,like someone is about to burst through and that will be my last day,” said Miguel Batista, a Lehman junior and accountingmajor. 

“I worry about my little brother and sisters whenever I drop them off at school,” said Brecenia Diaz, a Lehman student majoring in Psychology. “School should be a fun and safe environment, and I feel scared for them.” 

“My college campus is beautiful. I love it, but it is an open campus just like every other CUNY and I fear something might happen any minute,” said English major, Roxann Turner. 

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, there have been 32 mass shootings in 2019, but the number of gun attacks exceeds 250. According to a report from Vox Media there has been a total of 2,184 mass shootings in the U.S. since Sandy Hook. 

To try to address the ongoing threat of shootings, organizations around the country are taking various initiatives. 

Parkland students started a protest for a better gun law to make students feel safe by enforcing stronger background checks. According to the Washington Post, the Trump Administration has recommended arming staff. Some Lehman faculty, however, think the solution to campus security lies in better laws. 

“School should be a safe learning environment. Arming teachers would not solve the gun problem in the United States. As Martin Luther King Jr.said, ‘don’t fight violence with violence.’ Instead of having more guns, we as a country should focus on reducing them,” said William Fisher, Lehman professor of English. 

Voters are now looking to 2020 presidential candidates to provide a definite solution. 

“I will be able to vote this year.I always listen to what each candidate has to say about the gun control in America, and I want the next president to take serious action against gunviolence. We can’t be living in fear,” said Kayla Bennerd a Sociology major at Lehman. 

But with elections still over a year away, anxiety about gun violence is driving businesses to make profitable offers now. 

Retailers such as Office Depot, Office Max, and Macy’s are now selling bulletproof backpacks as a back-to-school supply, with prices ranging between $150 and $200, according to CBS News. The backpacks are advertised as protection forstudents if they hold it in the right position.

At least one Lehman student scoffed at this marketing ploy. “We need stronger gun laws, not a backpack. How would we know where to place the backpack during a panic?” said Psychology major Brecenia Diaz. 

Bronx’s University Avenue to be Named After Legendary Artist Stan Lee

Stan Lee (Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons)

By Sally Barrilla

Bronx residents around University Avenue should expect to pass by the “Stan Lee Way” in the spring of next year. The street’s name change, which will cover the section between Brandt Place and West 176th St. in University Heights, was proposed by Bronx Councilmember Fernando Cabrera and accepted on July 23, 2019. 

Stan Lee, a former New York resident, lived his teen years at 1720 University Ave. in the Bronx and studied at DeWitt Clinton High School, located a few miles away from Lehman. The American idol who gave life to famous Marvel characters, such as the Avengers, Spiderman, the Hulk, Black Panther and other iconic heroes, passed away on Nov. 12, 2018 in the city of Los Angeles. 

A self-declared devoted fan of Stan Lee who grew up in his community, Cabrera said he was elated for his proposal to go through as a tribute to the late distinguished author, as reported by WNBC. “Stan Lee was a Bronx native who grew up in my district.”

Some Lehman students who admire Lee’s talents think his name gracing a street will bring honor to the Bronx.  

“While I was not aware of the fact, he united a lot of superhero fans mainly in urban areas no longer having to hide their love for comics,” said English senior at Lehman, Otto Conde. “So, Stan Lee’s hard work and legacy shall live on in the Bronx, especially as a street name.”

Comic books produced by Stan Lee (Photo Credit: Lysa Vanible).

 “I love his work. He created my favorite Marvel character, Spiderman. Peter Parker was a person who was from New York like Stan Lee and me,” said Lehman student Marissa Morales, an English senior specializing in elementary school education. “What fascinated me the most about the character was that he was an ordinary person learning from his new secret identity.”  

Lehman faculty and alumni were also enthusiastic about the upcoming name change.

 “I think it’s a great idea. The Bronx isn’t usually recognized for many things; people usually have negative concepts of the borough, such as dirty and unimportant,” said Lehman lecturer from the department of journalism and media studies, Ulises Gonzales.  

Gonzales added, “Perhaps councilmembers could do more than just name a street after him. Maybe set up a comic book festival around the Bronx or the neighborhood where he grew up, so even more people can hear about all he did for the Bronx and in New York City.”

 “Stan Lee was a good man who wrote a lot of things that helped inspire people’s dreams. Also, Lee was from the Bronx, so I’m really cool with it,” said Lehman graduate Alice Ivy, with a bachelor’s in English and philosophy. “He did a lot for our community and the number of tourists will increase, as well as gentrification, but in a good way. The Bronx will get more recognition if a street is named after him.” 

 “Mr. Lee’s amazing talent brought joy and entertainment to countless children and adults, and he deserves to be permanently memorialized in his home borough, the Bronx,” Cabrera said.