Lehman Students Oppose Voter Suppression
(Illustration by Isma Hasan)
By Zarin Siddiqua
Five weeks away from the presidential election on Nov. 3, 2020, many Lehman students fear that voter suppression will get even worse due to the current pandemic.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, a third-term Democrat, signed a bill on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, allowing voters to request an absentee ballot if they cannot show up at a polling location because of the risk of contracting or spreading illness, the New York Times reported, effectively permitting the state’s more than 12 million registered voters to vote by mail.
However, President Trump has peddled false claims or imaginary threats about voting by mail over a hundred times this year, according to the Washington Post. The paper also reported that he accused state officials of trying to rig the outcome and encouraged people to vote twice, which is illegal. CNN stated that Trump urged his supporters in North Carolina to "be poll watchers" when they vote to guard against "the thieving and stealing and robbing" he claimed would occur as voters cast their ballots.
Against these attacks, Lehman students strongly defend the power of the vote. “Voting is my voice,” said Brain Wong, Lehman senior majoring in English. “This is how we demand change, this is how we build a better future.”
“When you don’t vote, you are losing economic opportunities, educational opportunities and the consequences could be massive,” said Lehman Africana studies and Latin American studies Professor Sarah Ohmer, who is currently working to register Lehman students to vote. “If you don’t want white supremacy in the office, come to any Lehman faculty member and we will help you register. You are not alone. This is a community movement.”
According to NBC News, voter suppression in 2020 is not allowing early voting and absentee voting. “Now in a pandemic we are seeing rhetoric intended to discourage the use of mail voting which is so important to voters wanting to cast their ballot safely from home,” said Eliza Sweren- Becker from Brennan Center for Justice. “Voter fraud is used to justify voter suppression policy that isn’t necessary.”
“If you don’t want white supremacy in the office, come to any Lehman faculty member and we will help you register. You are not alone.”
Thirty-six states have identification requirements at the polls, and seven have strict photo ID laws, under which voters must present one of a limited set of government-issued photo ID to cast a regular ballot – no exceptions, reported the ACLU. Over 21 million US citizens do not have government-issued photo identification, in large part because ID cards aren’t always accessible to everyone.
“There is a lot of voter suppression in America. Now with COVID-19, more people are going to be disenfranchised because they can’t vote like before,” said Sumana Ali, Lehman philosophy senior who is currently the Vice President of Student Government. “One of the initiatives I’m working on as the Chair of the Student Legislative Assembly is voter registration. We want to get the black and brown vote out of Lehman this year.”
“My message is to those who didn’t vote, but yet are angry about the person in the office and the changes in the nation. You could have made a change,” said Tania Camarillo, Lehman English Education Junior. “One vote matters! Your voice matters! Let’s make sure that they hear our voices as we go and vote for our rights”
Important dates:
● The early voting period runs from Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, to Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live
● The deadline to request a ballot by mail is Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020.
● The deadline to register in-person to vote is Friday, Oct. 9, 2020.
● The deadline for registering by mail to vote is (postmarked by) Friday, Oct. 9, 2020.
● The deadline to register online to vote is Friday, Oct. 9, 2020.
● Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020.
Social Distancing is Putting Mental Health at Risk
(Photo Credit: Leilani marie Labong, Sactown Mag.)
By Zarin Siddiqua
“The whole idea of normal is just so chaotic. I’m the type of person who enjoys going outside and having a productive schedule, but now every day is the same,” said Brian Mendoza, a Lehman junior majoring in English. “It makes me feel anxious and it’s hurting my education because I no longer have the motivation.”
Since New York Governor Andrew Cuomo temporarily banned all in-office personnel functions and non-essential gatherings on March 22, stress from the quarantine is taking a toll on people’s mental health. And while Cuomo praised the 6,000 professionals who “volunteer[ed] to provide mental health services for people who need it,” Lehman students have been challenged by the mandatory restrictions.
“As a mother, it is difficult to study at home. I am constantly distracted,” said Lexxis Irizarry, a senior biology major. “And some professors don’t understand the current situation. Instead, they overwhelm us with more homework, and it is affecting me trying to juggle everything”
“I am currently [having] extreme anxiety, and it is leading to severe vision. It has been a difficult and an extra strain on my mental health,” said Jasmine Galloway, a senior psychology major who also works at Lehman’s Wellness Center. “I know that for people who are dealing with mental health issues, this is a great place to seek help as they provide professional advice, and students should really take the opportunity.”
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, nearly 7 million Americans are affected by a generalized anxiety disorder and about 6 million, by panic disorder.
Now, during the pandemic, “the country is on the verge of another health crisis, with daily doses of death, isolation, and fear generating widespread psychological trauma.” Washington Post reported on May 4, 2020 “A federal emergency hotline for people in emotional distress registered a more than 1,000 percent increase in April compared with the same time last year. Last month, roughly 20,000 people texted that hotline, run by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.”
The paper also explained that “The suicides of two New York healthcare workers highlight the risks, especially to those combating the pandemic.” One was Lorna Breen, a top New York emergency room doctor. The other was a Bronx emergency medical technician.
Studies published by the American Psychological Association show that the quarantine’s interruption of daily routines leads to feelings of sadness or low mood, while the loss of agency and personal freedom associated with isolation can often feel frustrating.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that fear caused by COVID-19 can lead to changes in sleep or eating patterns, difficulty sleeping or concentrating, and worsening of chronic health problems.
Social distancing can be particularly difficult for people already struggling with mental health issues, according to health experts quoted by the Philadelphia Inquirer.
NBC News reported that part of why mental health suffers during a pandemic is because distancing goes against humans’ social instincts of seeking comfort in larger groups.
“Human beings are meant to be social creatures,” NYU Langone Medical Unit professor Doctor Sue Varma told NBC. “When not socializing our body is perceiving a threat because we don’t have the social support to help with tension.”
“Due to the physical distance many of us are unable to use our regular coping skills like hanging out with friends, working out in a gym, playing sports, hugging, etc.,” said Megan Wilen a counselor at the Counseling Center.
“It is important to utilize other coping skills to deal with stress. The Counseling Center is still open and operational. Any registered Lehman student can access our services at any time by calling 718-960-8761 or emailing counseling.center@lehman.cuny.edu.”
(Photo Credit: NYC Well & Lehman College Counseling Center)
Lehman Students Praise Bag Ban
(Photo Credit: The Islands’ Sounder)
By Zarin Siddiqua
Since March 1, New York has banned single-use plastic bags in stores, and many Lehman students say it’s about time. The “Bring Your Own Bag” (BYOBag) law is designed to promote the use of reusable bags. According to the Department of Environmental Conservation, 23 billion plastic bags are typically used each year in New York.
However, state officials won’t enforce New York’s controversial plastic bag ban until May 15 due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, according to Daily News. Enforcement was originally postponed to mid-April after New York business owners filed a lawsuit claiming they didn’t have time to prepare for the ban.
The National Conference of State legislatures reported that California was the first state to approve this law in 2014; Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Oregon, and Vermont followed in 2019. Countries such as Kenya, France, United Kingdom, Rwanda, and Italy started banning and taxing single-use plastic bags in 2016.
Even though the ban will not be in effect until May, some Lehman students are already reducing the use of plastics in their daily lives and they welcome the BYOBag law.
“It’s about time that the United States banned plastic bags. I hope they also do the same for plastic straws. I have been persuading my family to use reusable bags for years now,” said Brecenia Diaz, Lehman junior psychology major. “Global warming and pollution have been affecting the earth much longer than COVID-19. Even though this virus is very dangerous, we should still care about saving the planet.”
“My family and I have been reusing bags for a while. We usually do our grocery shopping in bulks from stores like BJ’s or Costco and just carry it to the car,” said Jocelyn Infante, a psychology major and Lehman sophomore. “I believe that BYOBag New York will encourage others to follow this trend and impact others to bring reusable bags in order to not spend 5 cents every time.”
“I really hope that this plastic bag ban becomes worldwide. I also hope they ban other plastic items like straws and utensils,” said Roxan Turner, a junior English major. “I have seen customers who get really angry about paying that extra 5 cents for a bag, but they need to realize how good this is to the environment.”
Statistics show that plastic is the major cause of death in marine animals and birds.
The United Nations stated that an estimated one million marine birds and 100,000 marine animals are killed each year due to the ingestion of plastic.
Studies in The University of Queensland in Australia showed that green sea turtles in the 21st century ingest twice the amount of plastic that they did 25 years ago. Since 1950, only 9 percent of an estimated 8.3 billion of produced plastic is recycled, Global Citizen reported.
Plastic waste and other trash. (Photo Credit: LiveKindly)
The National Geographic wrote that if the waste of the plastic increases, by 2050 there will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic in landfills. According to Waste Management, only 1 percent of plastic bags get recycled, and that’s only 15 bags.
Many corporations have already made the switch. Stores such as Adidas, Ikea, Wholefoods, Pacsun and Trader Joes use paper bags; as well as wholesale clubs BJ’s and Costco, who instead reuse manufacturer-boxes to accommodate customers purchased-items, as reported by Earth911, an environmental news source.
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), which includes the Central Park Zoo, New York Aquarium and Bronx Zoo, prohibited the use of plastic and switched to bamboo utensils since 2018 to protect animals and raise awareness of how plastic affects the environment.
“The earth is our home, and yet people are not taking care of it,” said Saheda Akhter, biology graduate student. “This ban on plastic should have been placed years ago.”
Students Welcome Half Fare Metro Plan
(Photo Credit: Zarin Siddiqua)
By Zarin Siddiqua
New York City residents who live under federal income standards now qualify for Fair Fares, a new law to reduce MetroCard prices by half. Introduced by Mayor Bill De Blasio and Council Speaker Corey Johnson on Jan. 27, 2020, the program has earned praise from Lehmanites.
“$127 is a lot to spend when you aren’t working as much [and] also you are a full-time student,” said Joel Nunez, a chemistry junior, referring to the price of a monthly subway pass. “With the half-priced MetroCard, I can now save my money.”
An estimated 800,000 New Yorkers are eligible and can benefit from this reduced-fare program, but only 100,000 have enrolled so far, according to Spectrum News NY1. That’s out of an average of 4.3 million who rely on public transportation to travel to work or school every day. New York City Transit stated that 58 percent of the most transit-dependent New Yorkers are considered poor.
(Photo Credit: Zarin Siddiqua)
Within the Bronx, where 59 percent of Lehman students reside, the median income is $37,500. The Census conducted in 2017 shows Bronx District 7, which includes Kingsbridge Heights and Bedford Park, 7, holds an 8.6 percent rate of unemployment and 27.4 percent for poverty.
Lehmanites whose budgets are stretched by travel expenses said the half fare program comes as a relief.
“This is the first time I am hearing about the new law about MetroCards, and I think it is wonderful because this will help a lot of residents in New York City including me,” said Marissa Morales, a Lehman senior English major. “I use my MetroCard every day and paying that much money affects me a lot because that is money that needs to go to bills and me trying to save because my only income is work-study.”
“I put $20 on my MetroCard on a weekly basis, so in that way, I’m spending $80 a month on MetroCard and not $127. It helped me save money, but I only use it for limited travel,” said Roxan Turner, a Lehman junior English major.
(Photo Credit: Zarin Siddiqua)
Lehman adjunct Spanish professor Pablo Yankelevich, a Ph.D. student at CUNY Graduate School Center who uses MetroCards daily observed that the fee for a monthly card is “a lot of money, so…I usually save my money by not consuming things I find unnecessary; I don't buy anything other than food, coffee, and house-related expenses.”
Lehman students who reside outside New York City weren’t so excited about the new MetroCard program.
“I was able to get a half-priced metro card, but I live in White Plains and neither the Bee-Line buses nor the Metro-North accept it,” said Bricenia Diaz, a Lehman junior and psychology major. “I’m happy they have cheaper MetroCards, but a lot of students who attend Lehman come from outside of New York City like me. I think half-priced MetroCards should be for everyone.”
Suffering in Silence: Uyghur Muslims Kept in Concentration Camps by China
A protest outside the Chinese Embassy in London. (Photo Credit: Karl Nesh)
By Zarin Siddiqua
“It’s heartbreaking seeing that no one is aware of what’s happening,” said Ghofran Nagi, an undecided sophomore at Lehman, of China’s systematic targeting of its indigenous Muslim populations. “I wish that people would share this with others and come up with ideas to spread awareness and hopefully attract important people to make a change. It’s horrible that in today’s world, people still have to hide who they are and what they believe in to stay alive.”
Since 2017 over one million Turkic Uyghur Muslims, one of China’s ethnic minorities, have been detained in its Xinjiang region, where over 10 million Uyghurs live, according to the New York Times. It reports that in these camps, captives are forced to give up their native language and religion and are subject to political indoctrination.
In mid-November, the paper published an exposé of China’s policies based on over 400 pages of official documents that describe atrocities committed against Muslim communities who suffered a previous lack of media coverage that contributed to widespread ignorance of their plight. According to Foreign Policy, China long denied that the re-education camps even existed. The Journal of Political Risk also reported that the Chinese government has sought to counter human-rights accusations over its re-education and internment campaign through elaborate propaganda.
However, Humaid Sabi, a senior lawyer, told Business Insider that a "very substantial number" of prisoners were "killed to order" by the Chinese government. They were "cut open while still alive for their kidneys, livers, hearts, lungs, cornea, and skin to be removed and turned into commodities for sale," the report said. Chinese Tribunal, a human rights charity that investigates these issues, reported that body parts were then used for medical purposes. According to the New York Times “Many members of the Uighur ethnic group living in exile are worried that their relatives back home in China are locked up in internment camps — or dead.”
Muslim community and the members of Lehman’s Muslim Student Association are crushed by these inhumane events.
“What's going on around the world is devastating to anyone who has an open mind and an open heart,” said Ala Rashed, psychology and media communications senior and vice president of Lehman’s Muslim Student Association (MSA). “What you are left with are people suffering. I don't even use the word dying because I feel like death for many of our brothers and sisters is their ultimate relief, as unfortunate as that sounds.”
The lack of access for foreign and Chinese press who want to cover stories in Xinjiang also makes it hard to know what is going on in the region or even predict the future, Foreign Policy News reported. The resulting lack of outcry has been observed on a global scale.
“There has been a worrisome silence from many countries, particularly Muslim-majority countries like Saudi Arabia and Indonesia that one might think would be concerned about the plight of Uighurs,” officials at Northeastern education news reported, “Some argue these countries value economic ties with China over religious solidarity with the Uighurs.”
Activists in Brussels, Belgium protesting China’s oppression of Uyghur Muslims. (Photo Credit: Radio Free Asia)
Lehman students are also upset by the current oppression against China’s Muslim community.
Foulemata Camara, a biomedical science major at Lehman said, “People sometimes tend to forget the meaning of practicing any religion you want. No one ever deserves to be treated that way just because of a religious choice.”
“We are not warmongers... our leaders and our haters have portrayed us as such and it kills me,” said Rashed. “However, hope is not lost”
“I have friends that are scared of what is happening. They are scared to practice their faith freely without feeling that they might get attacked,” said Bricenia Diaz, a Lehman junior majoring in Psychology. “We are in the 21st century and history is repeating itself and the world is letting it happen. We are all aware of a similar genocide. Why is the world still quiet? How many more people have to die?”
Devastation from Climate Change Leads to Protest
Protesters demanding action to combat climate change (Photo Credit: Zarin Siddiqua)
By Zarin Siddiqua
“Climate change won’t discriminate against religion, politics, race, or age,” said Danysha Reyes, a junior English and philosophy major at Lehman, who joined the New York global climate strike with other CUNY students and local residents on Sept. 20, 2019. She was one of about 7.6 million people from 150 countries who joined the biggest climate mobilization in history, initiated by Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old Swedish environmental activist. “If we don’t take care of the earth now, everyone will be directly affected,” Reyes explained.
Lehman students are not only at the front lines of climate activism, but they are also among those most directly impacted by the growing threat of climate change.
Jennifer Monique, a Lehman senior English major, described how her family in Puerto Rico was affected during Hurricane Maria. “I have a sister who has two children, her husband, and her ailing mother, who had no access to clean water. We were unable to get in contact with my uncle, unaware of what happened to him.” Monique added: “I think global warming is definitely real. I think that we should take some sort of action toward helping our planet survive.”
Meanwhile, storm intensity and damages continue to increase. The cost of the devastation from Hurricane Dorian totaled more than $40 billion, according to the National Hurricane Center. Hurricane Lorenzo, a powerful storm that reached category 5 overnight, was registered as the strongest recorded hurricane in the north and east Atlantic basin and is listed among the rare and most intense category of storms, CNN reported.
According to the Washington Post, more storms like Lorenzo will continue to form. Already, 15 storms, including about eight hurricanes and four major hurricanes are predicted to hit coastal and inland communities, according to a 2019 hurricane season forecast of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Center.
Lehman students also expressed concern about other natural disasters tied to global warming, including increased fires in California and animal extinction.
These fears are heightened in light of President Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the United Nations’ Paris Climate Agreement, an international effort to combat climate change. Trump is among the administrative officials who don’t see climate change as an immediate crisis, according to ABC News.
Protesters demanding action to combat climate change. (Photo Credit: Zarin Siddiqua)
Commenting on the need to address the global crisis, Lehman junior accounting major, Miguel Batista said, “Instead of having wars, and discriminating against each other, we should be working together to save the only planet that we live in.”
“My grandma’s house was destroyed when Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico. All of our sentimental things went along with it, and it was really hard for them. We weren’t able to contact them for months, and we didn’t know if anyone was alive or dead,” said Marissa Morales, a Lehman senior English major. “I very much believe that this is because of global warming and we need to do something to stop more natural disasters from happening.”
To take concrete steps in that direction, Lehman initiated a Puerto Rico service trip to rebuild homes and provide help for the Puerto Rican community after Hurricane Maria damaged much of it in 2017. Under the program called Leadership Involve for Everyone (L.I.F.E), Lehmanites travel the country during spring breaks, in collaboration with CUNY Service Corps Puerto Rico, who served during the summer.
“We created a garden, so people have access to food if there is another storm,” said Lehman senior theater major, Quameisha Moreno, who was one of the participants. “We only help when the damage happens, but what about after? Why should we wait for something to happen? Why not prevent the world from the damage?”
Reyes also affirmed her commitment to activism for change. “We have to realize that global warming is about the world, not just one country. People sense the urgency when millions stand united, despite skin color and ideologies in a country so politically-charged,” she said. The climate protest “was an amazing and empowering experience to stand up for this world and the people in it; I hope to do it again.”
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.
Dream Act Finally Passes in New York
by Zarin Siddiqua
“DACA students’ lives should be valued. It is important that they have equal opportunities such as access to Financial Aid that will open their doors to success,” said Kayla Bannered, a Lehman Student majoring in Sociology.
Those opportunities are now closer to being realized in New York. According to the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation, in June of 2019 the Democratic party was able to pass legislation to approve the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. This program aims to help undocumented youth who came to this country under the age of 18 gain legal status, education and work permits. It also promises undocumented students access to grants and scholarships that support higher education cost.
The battle for the DREAM Act has been fought for decades. According to the Immigration Council, then-president Barack Obama first proposed to protect Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients in 2010, which sought to prevent their deportation and help them get work permits. Eight years later, the Democratic party won the New York State Senate and one of its first priorities became the protection of undocumented immigrants.
Gaining a college education has always been difficult for Dreamers because they don’t get financial aid or tuition assistance programs. This means that undocumented students face many more challenges. According to the New York State Dream Act, about 8,300 DACA students attend public institutions for higher education in New York. The City University of New York (CUNY) along with Lehman College have provided an excellent support and resources for these students to thrive.
CUNY Citizenship Now provides free immigration-related consultation, assisting undocumented students with applications for citizenship and educating them about their legal rights and access to higher education. Lehman College also holds different events and sessions to educate dreamers about DACA Debrief, immigration guides and Legal Resources presentation. Lehman also stays committed to supporting the Dream Act through The Lehman Dream Team, created by undocumented students and their allies to make a safe and friendly environment for students who live in the shadows.
According to the news website Thinkprogress, assemblywoman Catalina Cruz suggests that because the approval of the Dream Act proposal took almost decade, it will take more years to be finalized. Cruz herself was undocumented when she first arrived the US, and experienced firsthand how limited resources created great struggles for her to obtain a higher education.
“I hope the Dreamers get every opportunity that they deserve just like every other student in America, because they too are American,” said Bricenia Diaz, a Lehman sophomore majoring in Psychology and minoring in Middle school and High School Education.
Some Lehman staff suggest the officialization of the Dream Act will result in more successful graduations within CUNY. “It would be nice to see a change in some demographics in the CUNY system,” said Mark Keegan, a professor of history at Lehman College. Getting access to more opportunities will allow more people to attend college and have a career.