Is Valentine’s Overrated?, B1
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Men’s Basketball, E1
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Volume 66 No. 12
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Biden, House chamber spar throughout rowdy State of the Union address Luke Rainey
Staff Contributor
President Joe Biden delivered his 2023 State of the Union address on Feb. 7, where he celebrated the political achievements of his administration as he prepares to face the challenge of passing legislation through a divided — and obstreperous — Congress. Biden’s one-hour address featured several contentious moments between himself and select Republican members of Congress. He was interrupted several times, and on a few occasions, he responded to the loudest members. Biden began his speech at 9:09 p.m. after a six-minute walk to the rostrum. He celebrated the United States’ economic recovery since the pandemic, as ten million Americans have applied to start small businesses since 2021. The unemployment rate has dropped to a 50-year low at 3.4%, and the manufacturing sector has added 800,000 jobs. His first slight at Republicans was in response to those who voted against the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. He told opponents of the legislation, “I’ll see you at the groundbreaking.” He introduced Saria Gwyn-Maye, “a proud member of the Ironworkers Local 44,” who is about to begin work on a new bridge above the Ohio River in Cincinnati. Transitioning to the Inflation Reduction Act, Biden addressed the financial hardships Americans with diabetes face due to the costs of insulin. As of Jan. 1, seniors on Medicare will only pay $35 per month for insulin. “Big Pharma has been unfairly charging people hundreds of dollars … and making record profits. Not anymore,” Biden said. The first spat with Republican legislators began when he claimed some members are
“threatening to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act.” He wished any opposing member “lots of luck in your senior year.” While on the topic of “Big Oil,” Biden said he tells individuals working in those companies, “We’re going to need oil for at least another decade.” Republicans erupted in laughter before Biden asked Congress to “quadruple the tax on corporate stock buybacks and encourage long-term investments.” In the most raucous encounter of the night, Biden addressed his support for lifting the debt ceiling to avert immediate economic turmoil and chastised Republicans who “want Medicare and Social Security to sunset.” Upon this suggestion, Republicans jeered. As a back-and-forth argument began, Biden asked, “Social Security and Medicare is off the books now, right?” Without a response, Biden said, “All right. We’ve got unanimity.” Tyre Nichols’ parents attended Biden’s address. Nichols was killed during an encounter with five Memphis police officers on Jan. 7. The officers involved face several charges, including second-degree murder. Biden said Nichols’ mother told him after her son’s death, “Something good will come of this.” “Imagine how much courage and character that takes,” Biden said. Brandon Tsay stopped a gunman from entering his grandparents’ dance studio in Monterey Park on the weekend of Lunar New Year. He was another guest for Biden’s address, and Biden celebrated his heroism before asking Congress to ban assault weapons. Biden called the Russo-Ukrainian War “a test for America; a test for the world.” He
welcomed Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova and pledged the United States’ support for “as long as it takes.” Doug Griffin’s daughter died eight years ago after overdosing on fentanyl. Griffin “has turned pain to purpose” since his daughter’s death, but after Biden cited the 70,000 annual fatalities from fentanyl overdoses, Rep. Andy Ogles interrupted and shouted, “It’s your fault.” Maurice and Kandice Barron are the parents of Ava Barron, a 3-year-old who was diagnosed with kidney cancer when she was one year old. Despite previously having a 5% chance of survival, she “is on her way to being cured.” The parents were recognized, and Ava
was at the White House during the speech. Paul Pelosi, the spouse of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was Biden’s final guest. He was assaulted in his home by “an unhinged Big Lie assailant.” Biden called the attack “a heinous act (that) should have never happened.” After an hour rife with division, Biden ended the speech with an attempt to promote unity. He described his vision of the American ethos and his belief “that all of us, every one of us, is created equal in the image of God.” “We’re the United States of America,” he said, “and there’s nothing, nothing, beyond our capacity if we do it together.”
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
President Joe Biden give the State of the Union address to the joint session of the United States congress on Feb. 7.
Shippensburg 2022 Campus Climate Survey reveals issues with intersectionality Chase Slenker Staff Columnist
In November 2022, Manuel Ruiz, assistant vice president for inclusion and belonging and director of social equity, facilitated several sessions to constituents of Shippensburg University regarding the 2022 Campus Climate Survey (CCS) results. The sessions conducted by Ruiz had a total of 27 faculty, 30 staff, 22 students, seven administrators and 10 members of the Council of Trustees in attendance. These sessions were held to provide a more detailed analysis of the results and to discuss results and implications of the CCS. The survey, conducted in early spring, was conducted across all Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) schools, and the results are used to better understand the culture and climate at each institution. 10.6 % of students, 36.15 % of faculty, 36.1 % of staff and 58.9 % of non-represented employees participated in the CCS. Key takeaways include high levels of concerns among students about academic advising, a strong desire to have a more transparent administration (as many staff/faculty felt the previous administration was not),
a desire for more intergroup dialogue when addressing diversity/equity/inclusion (DEI) issues on campus and a desire to continue to foster a safe place for marginalized students on campus. Other notable results in the CCS were a sense of a “white versus black” in existing and historical DEI trainings and a lack of understanding of diverse intersectionalities including religion, political affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, age, etc. Commenting on this, Ruiz said that “in doing this work, it is important [we] examine DEI through an intersectional lens … this allows for greater conversation and for folks to establish commonalities.” Additionally, faculty, staff and students alike did not feel comfortable addressing their political or religious views on campus. This was a concerning result of the survey, as part of the university’s mission is “to graduate well-rounded students that should be able to have conversations through both a liberal and conservative context,” according to Ruiz. Unlike other areas in the CCS that varied by constituency or demographic group, political and religious diversity held true
more consistently across respondents. As a result of the CCS, actions are ongoing to address these shortcomings. To support goals set forth in the 20212024 strategic plan, the office of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) and the PAGE Center now report to Ruiz as a centralized source of DEI training, dissemination and implementation. Previously, MSA reported to the senior vice president of administration and finance and the PAGE Center reported to the interim associate vice president of student affairs. DEI has now been included in the university strategic plan, while the Office of Inclusion, Belonging and Social Equity has placed a strong emphasis on intersectionalities in multiple training sessions across campus. Updates to the First Year Experience programs are underway to further incorporate a sense of belonging to the university, connections with academic advisers and peer anchors and a continued emphasis on incorporating DEI into core program requirements. The full results of the CCS are located on the PASSHE website.
Happy Valentine’s Day! Thinking about that special someone? Check A3 to see if they wrote you a love line. Courtesy of Pexels