nation
THE CURRENT
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Chicago An open letter to Teachers representative Union Todd Akin fights back
OPINION
Tory Martinez Staff Reporter
PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE
Amanda Terry Staff Reporter
The CTU continues to fight out negotiations for a better contract after turning down another contract from the Chicago School Board Sunday evening. Meanwhile, students across Chicago have gone without school instruction for a week and parents are forced to continue to find other accommodations for their children. The CTU began negotiations with Chicago Public Schools back in November of 2011 and have not been able to come to an agreement since. CPS lengthened the school day without the proper compensation or resources. The CTU fought that decision, claiming CPS needed to give them the respect they deserve before they would even consider continuing to work for them. “I do not understand why [The Chicago School Board] is pushing everyone away from their jobs,” says education major Erica Richards, ’14. The cost of living goes up 2 percent every year, so the percentage of the raise
that is given to the teachers should be higher or at least match that.” It is not just the monetary compensation the CTU is disgruntled with; it is also the lack of resources the teachers have for their students. Schools across Chicago are not funded equally, forcing some schools to cut important activities, such as art and music, while other schools do not have enough money for supplies. They have also been fighting the under-staffing of the schools and the unpreparedness of CPS to take on the longer school day. The CTU says they plan to continue to strike until they receive what they deserve and the compensation in all aspects to provide the necessities for their students. “It’s astonishing,” Richards adds, “that after 25 years [of teaching], some teachers are willing to completely walk away whether the percentage is matched or not.” That just goes to show the seriousness of these teachers and the lengths they will go to in order to fight for what they feel is right.
Dear Toddykins, First, I just wanted to thank you for the biology lesson. I had no idea my body would shut down and instinctually know not to get pregnant in the event that I get raped! And now I know to make sure that if I get raped to make sure it’s legitimate…so no more asking for it by wearing low cut tops and walking outside alone (I guess all bets are off then). It’s also refreshing to know that if it’s not in fact real rape, and I do in fact end up getting knocked up, I get to keep my blessed miracle as a daily reminder of my sluttish ways. Only easy girls get raped, right? I also think it’s interesting that you have recently come out as accusing President Obama of not liking America. I always thought it was suspicious that he actually had to publish his birth certificate,
but after I saw how he had Osama bin Laden killed and how he decided to sanction air strikes against a repressive regime in the Middle East, I just knew in my bones that he hated the stars and stripes. We need more people like you in the senate to write the president’s foreign policy and tell him what for. I know times have been rough ever since all of your Republican friends pulled their funding and support for your campaign, and watching vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan tell the world that “rape is rape” must have been hard to hear. You guys were friends, right? And didn’t you write a bill redefining rape together? How dare he turn his back on you, after all the work you guys did together! But I guess he’s pretty busy hanging out with Mittens now, and you do ask for a lot of time and attention.
And after all, you do have your campaign to think of. I know Senator McCaskill thinks she has this race in the bag, but it’s totally possible for you to win, even without the majority of the women’s vote or support from your party. And she’s even paying for some of your ads now, right? Truthfully, I think she likes having some competition. So, my parting advice to you is this: keep saying you’re sorry, and maybe if you say it often enough, they’ll believe you and take you back. I would even go so far as to suggest the old “trench coat and a boom box blaring eighties love songs” route. Sooner or later, your GOP friends will realize you’re right and take you back. Probably. Good luck with the election! Sincerely, Tory Martinéz
PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE
Student Government Update
Amendments to the Student Government Constitution have been made. To view these changes please visit: https://sites.google.com/a/carthage.edu/ student-government-amendments/
New Positions Elected: Organization Liaison - Jenni Farlow Multicultural Liaisons - Allison Von Borstel, Nicole Devine, and Vivian Onano The Parliamentarian - Lizzie Cook The Secretary - Athena Medar