THE
Volume 105 | Issue 6
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Nov. 3, 2020
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Empowering women shapes past and present ANA PENA VELASCO
Reporter
Women’s empowerment has taken its place in history, shaping it into what it is today, changing society and allowing women to achieve any dream they have had of achieving in this lifetime. Two women from Tennessee Tech University, Paula Hinton and Nicole Cook, offered their insight on how women’s empowerment has come to be in the past 188 years dating back to the year 1832. Hinton is a History professor, and Cook is a Sociology and Political Science professor both from the Women and Gender Studies program. “During World War I the National Woman’s Party protested outside the White House, holding up signs and banners demanding the same freedoms for women in the United States that America was helping other nations in the world protect or obtain,” Hinton stated. She continued by saying, “. . . After months of non stop protests, the authorities began arresting the women who showed up to protest. In prison, they were horribly abused, when they protested that treatment by going on a hunger strike, they were brutally force-fed, beaten, and ridiculed.
Nicole Cook has worked at Tennessee Tech since the fall of 2018. She graduated from MTSU with an M.A in Sociology.
When the American people finally heard about what was happening to them, opinion in favor of suffrage for women increased, ultimately causing support for the suffrage amendment to grow.” Throughout history there have been numerous women who have contributed to empowerment and fighting for women’s rights. One of those many women is Amer-
52-48 vote confirms Amy Barrett to Supreme Court
Amy Coney Barrett shown swearing in before confirmation hearings. Photo provided by PoliticalIQ.
ever be confirmed to the SuSocial Media Editor preme Court and is the third female justice serving currentAmy Coney Barrett was conly. She takes the place of Ruth firmed and sworn into the Supreme Court on Monday, Oct 26. Bader Ginsburg who passed last Just eight days ahead of election month from cancer. Barrett’s confirmation leaves day. republicans with a 6-3 majority The Senate confirmed her to the Supreme Court with a 52-48 in the court. This has caused a lot of fear within the Democratvote. No democratic senators ic Party, despite the claims she voted in favor of her becoming made following being sworn in. a justice, and only one repuliBarrett stated that she will sepcan senator voted against her. arate herself from any political Maine’s Senator Susan Collins party while serving on the court. was the lone republican vote Barrett, 48, will likely serve against. Collins offered no pubon the court for decades. This lic comment on why she voted could drastically change the outagainst her republican peers. comes of cases for many years to Her vote came as a surprise to come. many, especially because she Barrett was sworn in by fellow voted yes for Justice Kavanuagh Justice Clarence Thomas outside in 2018. see Barrett pg. 3 Barrett is the fifth woman to MORGAN LEE
ican physician and women’s rights leader, Mary Edwards Walker (1832-1919) was born in Oswego, NY. She was the first female surgeon in the U.S. Army, serving during the Civil War. She was captured and spent four months in a Confederate prison. “There was very little respect shown to her as a doctor at that time. Female nurses serving during the Civil War were also treated with disrespect by most male doctors and officers. While she was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, it was revoked in 1917 by Congress. It was not reinstated until 1950, 30 years after her death,” Hinton elaborated. “Mary Walker and other women who challenged the gender norms of the late 1800s were largely ignored and/or attacked for their views at the time, but over the decades she and others slowly chipped away at the belief that women were inferior to men,” added Hinton. Cook named another woman who has contributed to women equality. “If I had to name just one woman, I would choose Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I feel there is none more fitting to mention here when reflecting back on impactful women throughout history due to her recent passing. Like see Women pg. 3
Election draws to a close MALAYSIA TALBERT
Reporter
The 2020 presidential election has faced many challenges over the course of the campaign. From controversial topics to the coronavirus pandemic, candidates have been center stage as voters have critiqued how each would respond. At last week’s debate, Americans were able to take one final examination of the two candidates before casting their ballots. As a result, long lines were witnessed across the state of Tennessee as people exercised their right to vote. In fact, Tennessee early voting broke records with an increase of 91%, according to the Tennesseean. Leading into the debate, there were still many undecided voters who were seeking answers as to where each candidate stood on key issues. Tennessee Senator Paul Bailey said he felt that these voters received the
answers they needed to make a decision. “I believe undecided voters came away with a lot of clarity after the last presidential debate. I believe after watching the final debate that people came away with a good understanding of which candidate is the right fit to lead this nation in the direction it needs to go in,” Bailey said. Despite the differences in the candidates, some voters have found it a challenge to lean one way more than the other feeling confident about who to support. Certain undecided voters disagree with the policies or persona of either of the candidates. At the same time, third-party voters have been deciding who will run the country best the next four years. The economy, the coronavirus, the workforce and American families have been the main topics undecided voters have focused upon. Swing states tend to determine see Election pg. 4
Tennessee Senator Paul Bailey who is originally from Sparta, TN. Photo provided by Bailey.
What’s Inside Center for Career Development offers help for students’ futures. Page 3
Students give opinions on their favorite donut shop. Page 3
Seth Jones breaks down an NFL star’s $1 million donation to Nashville school. Page 4