Juana Garcia/The Cougar

Gov. Greg Abbot signed into law House Bill 20 that is meant to stop social media platforms from taking action against users like a ban or suspension based on political grounds. Despite the bill having some good ideas, its purpose is based on the false idea that social media regularly bans conservatives. 

In addition to protection from censorship, the legislation also means that social media platforms with more than 50 million monthly users in the U.S. must create an appeals system for users. The platforms must also be open about how they regulate content.

Social media platforms have now been around for more than 20 years, increasing in popularity with each passing year as more and more get invested into their online lives and interactions. Platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram have become all the rage, however, there are some people out there who hold quite a bit of frustration towards these online platforms. 

This frustration exists because of supposed censorship, particularly with a bias towards conservative and right leaning posts and accounts. 

This bill and the recent push in discussion around censorship were originally born from former President Donald Trump being banned on Twitter. Many right-leaning individuals, like Abbot himself, believed it was Trump’s conservative politics that were the result of his ban, but in reality it was that he violated Twitter’s policies.

 Twitter’s safety policies, which are the policies for which content is removed from their site, include “violence”, “Terrorism/violent extremism”, “child sexual exploitation” and more. 

Trump’s tweets that got him banned were related to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Given the context of the whole situation it comes off as if he’s inciting violence, which is against Twitter policy and also just very dangerous for a person in his position of power to do so.

There isn’t some unified plan by social media companies to take down conservative politics. Facebook in particular has allowed a variety of conservative based content on their site despite a certain number of those posts and users breaking policy and spreading misinformation on COVID-19.

This bill does contain some good parts that could potentially help users appeal actions made against their accounts. However, the reason for its existence is primarily built on falsehoods and dysfunctional perspectives.

In the end, the law is trying to solve a problem that doesn’t actually exist.

Drew Spiller is an English sophomore who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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“Texas social media bill trying to solve nonexistent issue” was originally posted on The Cougar

(Wikimedia Commons/Cory Doctorow)

I wasn’t excited to vote in my first election. In fact, I almost didn’t vote at all. I cast my first and last ballot as a Californian the night before I came to Emory. On Sept. 14, I watched from Atlanta as the country’s eyes turned to the gubernatorial recall in my home state. 

Despite electing Gov. Gavin Newsom by a 62% majority in 2018, he was already up for a recall by April 2021. The recall movement gained traction in November 2020, amid a COVID surge, when Newsom attended an indoor dinner party without a mask at the high-end restaurant, the French Laundry. The incident defied his own admonishment to the public to stay home and exposed himself as a phony. 

Faced with a choice between Newsom and his horrifying hypocrisies and a long list of challengers who ranged from amateur to alarming, I almost wished I had not turned 18 in time for the election. But beyond the list of grossly unqualified candidates was the feeling that my vote didn’t matter. In a recall system where a candidate could win with under 20% of the vote, representative government was failing. Though Newsom won in the end, the takeaway from the past few months is clear: California’s recall system needs an overhaul. 

California recalls give minority factions the upper hand. Voters answered two questions on the ballot: whether they wanted to recall Newsom and if he was recalled, who they wanted instead. If 50% or more voted against recall, he would remain in office. But the second question was decided by a plurality. Even if Newsom received more votes than the challenger with the most votes, he could still lose the election. For instance, if 49% of the voters cast a ballot in Newsom’s favor, he would still lose to the candidate who received the most votes among the challengers, even if that challenger only received about 20% of the vote. Newsom’s name was not allowed on the ballot, and he was not permitted to win as a write-in candidate. Thus, the recall system presents a troubling loophole in California’s electoral system: Republicans could win control of an overwhelmingly blue state with only a fraction of the state’s support. 

The voters in a recall election are not representative of the electorate at large. Since recall elections happen in off years, they draw fewer voters, most of them from the minority party. Fearing apathetic voters would give Republicans the win, California Democrats pulled out all the stops for Newsom, including visits to the state from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, and televised endorsements from former President Barack Obama and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). In the last California recall election, which took place in 2003, Republicans successfully replaced the Democratic Gov. Gray Davis with actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. This time, the Democrats were able to beat back the challenge, with almost 9 million votes cast in Newsom’s favor. 

But how and why did a state special election become so high profile? Since 1960, at least one recall attempt has been made against every California governor. This recall attempt was Newsom’s fifth. Disrupting a sitting governor’s term should not be so easy, nor should it be a partisan tactic. For one, California’s low signature requirement for gubernatorial recall petitions is part of the problem. The signatures of a mere 12% of the number of votes cast in the last election are needed to get the recall on the ballot, compared with 15% in Georgia, 25% in New Jersey and 40% in Kansas. Twelve percent of voters should not be enough to trigger a special election in a state the size of California. 

California needs to reform its dysfunctional recall system. One improvement would be to allow the incumbent’s name to be on the ballot, which would eliminate the problem of challengers winning the office even if they received fewer votes than the number of people voting for recall. Another would be to raise the recall petition’s signature requirement to 25%, an option supported by 55% of polled voters. Making recalls harder to materialize wouldn’t allow a disgruntled minority to force an expensive recall onto the state. 

Recall elections should not, however, be completely abolished. They give voters a second chance to replace corrupt leaders and ensure that lawmakers remain loyal to the will of the majority. When executed fairly, recall elections serve to uphold democracy, not take it away.

Chaya Tong (25C) is from the Bay Area, California.

The post California’s recall reveals how democracy is failing appeared first on The Emory Wheel.

The Utah women’s volleyball team officially kicked off Pac-12 play this week as they traveled to Seattle to play No. 6 Washington. Facing yet another top ranked opponent, the Utes battled past Washington, beating the Huskies in an impressive five sets. 

The first set was thrilling as the Utes had a slight 7-3 lead before the Huskies came back to tie it up, 8-8. From that point on, it was a battle to see who would come out on top with the opening set. Notably, Madelyn Robinson had an impressive kill before the Huskies managed to get three points on the board to take the first set 25-22. 

The second set had a similar start to the first, however, the Utes trailed early on by a few points until Robinson had a big back-row attack to set the Utes up for a set point. Dani Drews had two back-to-back kills which helped the Utes even out the set score 1-1 as they took the second set, 26-24. 

In the third set, the momentum kept shifting as neither team could get a true hold on the game. At one point, the Utes were up 18-11 in full control before the Huskies got on a roll and retook the lead with a score of 21-19. Nevertheless, Kennedi Evens had a great kill to give the Utes a slight one-point advantage, which put pressure on the Huskies. At 21-21, things became tight but the Huskies refocused and stole the set 25-22.

The Utes started off strong in the fourth as they gained an early lead of 6-0. After a timeout, Utah continued to use their momentum and stretched the lead out to 13-4 before the Huskies put together a 7-1 run to close the gap. However, Drews came out and recorded two great kills which kept the momentum going for the Utes to put them up 19-14. Utah then wrapped things up as they finished strong with a fourth set victory of 25-18

The fifth and final set of the match was long and very competitive as both teams went back and forth. The Utes were down 13-12 when Zoe Weatherington had a kill that forced the Huskies to make an error on the next point. The Utes had a set point being up 14-13. Robinson and Drews worked together on their second match point to set up the kill as they managed to win the fifth set 16-14. 

As for individual performances, Drews finished the night with 26 kills, 12 digs, and two service aces. Robinson had 14 kills while Weatherington had 10 kills. Allie Olsen and Evans each had seven kills. Stef Jankiwwicz had 51 assists and 15 digs while Vanessa Ramirez had 19 digs and 10 assists. Megan Yett also had 11 digs during the game. 

Following their second top-10 win on the road, Utah will now travel to Boulder to face No. 24 Colorado on Friday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. MDT. Fans can watch the match on the Pac-12 Network. 

e.dush@dailyutahchronicle.com

@DushEmily

The post Utah Volleyball Upsets No. 6 Washington On the Road appeared first on The Daily Utah Chronicle.

Endowment fund created for Beahrs Environmental Leadership Program

The Rausser College of Natural Resources announced a new endowment dedicated to the late professor Malcolm Kerr for the Beahrs Environmental Leadership Program, or ELP.

The endowment, which offers scholarships to environmental activists from the Middle East and North Africa, allows qualified professionals whose work centers on environmental justice and natural resources to attend a three-week-long educational program held by campus.

According to a press release, the first recipient of the endowment was Rasha Abu Dayyeh, a water engineer from West Bank. Abu Dayyeh stated she currently runs an organization that provides educational services about water wastage.

The program, which was held virtually this year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, was a training course for about 30 environmental activists from around the world to make them more effective in the work they are carrying out, noted David Zilberman, ELP program director and campus professor from the department of agricultural and resource economics.

“I was really hesitant to do the program online because I was not sure it would be as efficient as the in person participation, so I was positively surprised that the program went on really well,” Dayyeh said. “I have made really good connections with people. The whole program was structured in a very nice way that proceeded smoothly and you feel like you fit in easily.”

Zilberman noted the ELP program was first established 20 years ago, with over 700 alumni who have participated.

He hopes the endowment will allow the ELP program to recruit more Middle Eastern students and other people from the developing world.

“It’s a fantastic program,” Zilberman said. “There is no program in the world that is better for people who have a foundation in education in environmental science.”

The endowment, secured with the funding of campus alumni Richard Beahrs and his wife Carolyn Beahrs, was named in honor of Kerr, who was a professor at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon.

Throughout the 1980s, during the country’s bloody civil war, the university was a frequent subject of political kidnappings and bombings. In 1984, Kerr, the president of the university at the time, was assassinated by members of an anti-American Shia militia.

Kerr is survived by his wife Ann and four children: Susan, John, Steve and Andrew. Steve Kerr is known for his prominent NBA career and position as the head coach of the Golden State Warriors.

“Mr. Bearhs was on the board of a foundation with my son John, and he learned about my late husband and the American University of Beirut,” Ann Kerr said. “He thought this would be a nice way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their foundation.”

Contact David Villani at dvillani@dailycal.org, and follow him on Twitter at @DavidVillani7.

The Daily Californian

Sean Hroncich discusses the most significant fantasy outlooks entering Week 3 of the NFL season

The local art scene in Salt Lake is often cited as unique and artistically diverse. With local galleries, festivals and showcases, the city has a community of artists whose work adds to a thriving artistic ecosystem. Roland Dimick’s gallery, Rollie Studio, provides the artist with a space for his unique mediums and dynamic art styles to connect with people.

Canvas to Cloth

Dimick’s latest project, Rollie Canvas + Cloth, utilizes inspiration from canvas works to create wearable art, with a goal of fostering connection between the body of work and the wearer of the art.

“There’s an aesthetic quality [of the natural world] that appeals to me,” Dimick said. “It seems like there’s something universal about it. I don’t know that I can quantify it. I do know that if I’m working on a piece, it’ll just look really flat or one-dimensional or lifeless, you know? And then, if it reaches a certain proportion or curvature or balance it just sort of comes alive.”

Dimick’s inspiration originates in invisible elements of the natural world. He cites electron micrographs of organelles and cells as inspiration of this “curvature” of the natural world.

“What I’ve tried to do over the years is just hone in on that particular quality — that curvature that sort of inspires people to interpret it often from a natural perspective, if that’s not too esoteric,” Dimick said. “How do you define the undefinable in that way? My hope is that my body of work speaks to that definition without limiting it, if that makes sense. Because I try to have every piece be a part of the whole of the continuum.”

With this inspiration in mind, Dimick created a project that transfers the symmetrical and asymmetrical, the esoteric and mundane worlds into a collection of wearable art that is truly moving and connective.

“I feel like they still have this curvature that extends through what we perceive as beautiful with our limited senses and our visual fields or touch even, to like the giant accumulations of energy that are in the span of my lifetime being discovered,” Dimick said. “It’s like that continuity that I’m trying to emulate through having my art on different media and in different shapes and iterations.” 

Art in Everything

Dimick had a unique start in realizing the value and versatility of his art. He recalled painting plain matchbooks at a bar and having patrons approach him weeks or months later. Some asked for another book and claimed that they couldn’t part with the final match. As an artist whose work is flowing, dynamic and striking, it is no surprise that Dimick uses a variety of mediums and techniques to create his art.

Dimick encourages other artists to pursue their art if they feel called to do so. He also cites art as a therapeutic practice, and his work is often philanthropic. If Rollie Canvas + Cloth is any indication of the future, I believe that Dimick’s art has a bright one.

You can find information on Dimick and Rollie Canvas + Cloth on their website or Instagram.

w.fuller@dailyutahchronicle.com

@whit_fuller_

The post Rollie Canvas and Cloth Creates A Wearable Artistic Experience appeared first on The Daily Utah Chronicle.

USC lost in four sets in its first Pac-12 matchup of the season against UCLA at Pauley Pavillion Wednesday.

The Trojans came into the first set with a shaky start. Too many errors at the net and from the service line allowed the Bruins to build a quick lead. At an 8-point deficit, 15-7, USC began to climb back into the match with pivotal swings from junior opposite hitter Emilia Weske. The Trojans closed the lead to 4 points before UCLA took the opening set.

The Trojans played a cleaner game in the second set with less unforced errors and more open transition swings. However, the Bruins played off the energy from both the previous set and the crowd of more than 6,000 in Pauley Pavilion. UCLA took the second set, 25-20.

The Trojans got back in the match as points went back-and-forth between the two schools. USC gained a lead over the Bruins in the third set, with big service aces from graduate student middle blocker Candice Denny. The Trojans successfully held off the home team after a few close calls, ending the third set in USC’s favor, 25-21.

Entering the fourth set, UCLA intensified its defensive presence which caused problems for the Trojans at the net. USC began to fall behind after struggling to hit over the Bruins’ block. 

UCLA picked up a 7-point run in the fourth and final set, edging it closer to its first conference victory. The Bruins closed out the set despite the Trojans battling through, with a final score of 25-14.

“I think this UCLA team is one of the most physical teams in the country,”  head coach Brad Keller said. “I thought they played well tonight, they did a really nice job of serving and hitting out-of-system and digging balls.”

USC experienced difficulty on offense as its hitting percentages were as accurate as usual. With big hitters Denny and senior Brooklyn Schirmer hitting below .100, the Trojans had trouble getting their offense up and running. 

The offensive trouble, in combination with the unforced errors throughout the match, caused a loss of too many points.

“I think we just made too many errors and waited too long to get going,” Keller said. “We need to have players start to step up and pull their weight. We can’t have multiple pins and multiple middles hitting under .100, and we need to start hitting smarter shots.”

The Trojans now stand with an overall record of 4-6 and will have the chance to bounce back this weekend. USC will travel up north for its matchup against UC Berkeley.

“We have [Thursday] off, and we’ll get back at it on Friday and it’s all about Cal,” Keller said. “We’ll practice on Friday and Saturday … play them on Sunday and get back to where we need to be.”

The Trojans will play the Golden Bears Sunday at Haas Pavilion at 2 p.m. 

The post USC loses in four sets to UCLA appeared first on Daily Trojan.

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Aya Ghoneim/The CougarWhile purebred pets are sought after by many animal lovers, the breeders they come from are often unethical. Therefore, if they want a pet, they should adopt from a shelter instead.

People love their pets for many reasons; companionship, unconditional love and the sense of purpose they get when taking care of them. Although many pet lovers are drawn to how some breeds look or their temperament, it is important to note that buying animals from even reputable breeders can be unethical.

Pugs are known to be one of the most beloved breeds of dogs out there. Although their scrunched-up faces and stocky bodies are adorable to us, this appearance has been manufactured by breeders and is actually harmful to the health of the dogs, causing joint, eye and even fatal neurological diseases. 

What’s more is breeders are aware of these well-documented problems, however continue to breed pugs to be deformed all for the purpose of aesthetics. However, pugs are only one of the numerous dog and cat breeds that are subjected to health problems. 

In fact, these health problems are caused by humans picking and choosing which traits an animal gets to pass on, thus decreasing genetic diversity and increasing the likelihood of unhealthy traits. Pet owners and future pet owners should prioritize health over appearance and do what is best for the pets rather than focus on superficial reasons. 

While popular breeds are admired, the many animals in shelters and in the streets in need of loving homes are often forgotten. Around 6.3 million animals enter shelters per year in the United States alone. 

Streets are overpopulated with stray animals and the nation’s 4,000 or so animal shelters simply do not have the room to keep them all. This leads to the euthanization of almost 1 million dogs and cats each year in the country. Breeders play a role in this, making more animals when it is clear there isn’t a need for more.

Many of the animals in pet stores come from reputable breeders. However, the reality is a vast majority of the time these animals come from mills or breeding facilities in which they are continuously bred, kept in unsanitary conditions and abused. 

The purpose of these facilities is to produce purebred animals at fast rates in order to make a profit. This is not only unethical to the animals but purchasing purebreds that could come from these facilities give the mills the funding to continue these immoral practices.

When you adopt an animal in need from a shelter this ensures you are getting a pet ethically. You’re giving a pet that was otherwise unwanted a home, rather than supporting a harmful industry.

Owning a pet is a lifelong commitment that goes well beyond the surface and is incomparable to something as shallow as appearance. The best way to do right by animals is to adopt, not shop. 

Sumera Siddiqi is a Liberal Studies freshman who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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“Animal lovers should adopt pets, not shop” was originally posted on The Cougar

Many students experienced their first campus emergency Eagle Alert last week, after a reported shooting, but what can they expect to get out of them?

Eagle Alerts are notifications that update Georgia Southern students and staff about campus emergencies sent through university emails, text messages, phone calls and online posts. 

Students are meant to take instructions from Eagle Alerts for their safety, according to Georgia Southern’s website.

These alerts obviously include general emergencies, but they also include severe weather alerts. One student found the Eagle Alert system to be useful.

“I would definitely say yes, like in cases of on campus shootings, or any other emergencies like that,” said Grace Tolentino, a Russell Union student employee.

Following an Eagle Alert sent last week for a shooting at Kennedy Hall, some students were upset with the response time of the alert, receiving texts and calls an hour after the fact.

“The only reason that I rate them a seven and not like straight up nine or ten is just the fact that sometimes the alerts reach other certain phones later than others,” said Tolentino “Like I might get an alert immediately after an incident but a friend of mine has gotten theirs maybe an hour later.”

“I feel like the most recent alert we got a little later than we should’ve,” Goss stated. “I mean we got a text, call and email, which was nice but it was an hour after the incident.” Goss said that she would rate the Eagle Alerts a 6.

The post Eagle Alerts: How do they help? appeared first on The George-Anne Media Group.