Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

Many students pursuing higher education stress about pouring overwhelming amounts of time into their GPA and standardized test scores. But a high number in either one of these categories may not be the best indicator of a student’s ability to succeed in higher education. 

With the recent decision for some colleges to make SAT/ACT scores optional, many activists against these standardized tests have supported the decision. But it’s important that the choice in submitting a test score is left intact. 

Determining the value of an individual through the use of a standardized testing measure is not a good indicator of how students have allowed their own experiences to shape their method of learning. 

But these test scores can sometimes offer students a better chance at college admissions if their grades throughout high school were not a strong part of their application.

Standardized tests do not help students grasp abstract topics of a subject. Instead, it creates a class structure that prepares students to memorize testing strategies to achieve a higher score. 

Students do not gain a concrete understanding of abstract ideas that they can apply to other situations. 

While this is not a direct argument against the SAT/ACT system, it still raises the question as to how much impact these tests have on the admissions process for higher education. 

Scoring high on standardized tests is a favorable feat for most colleges but they offer no substance to a student’s potential. Many of these tests can be beaten through a series of test-taking strategies that are not easily accessible to low-income students. 

Withholding test scores then places an emphasis on a student’s GPA. GPA is more accurate in determining how a student is expected to perform in college, but it’s not always perfect. In high school, class time is structured by others: administrators, counselors and the state. 

However, college opens up a whole different array of options and opportunities for students, as they can organize their schedules according to their own lives outside of school. GPA is also highly dependent on outside factors, both in high school and college.

High school is arguably the more important GPA, as it is another, nowadays perhaps the only, indicator for college admissions. This is why it’s preferred that students focus more on their schoolwork, as it is a gauge of performance across years of work, and not measured by performance on one single test.

On the other hand, it’s not always possible for students to focus on their studies. 

In a scenario where a student has to prioritize work or other responsibilities above school, their GPA and test scores may fall behind. But there is always another avenue open for those really wanting to seek higher education: community college. 

While it is looked down upon by some, community colleges are not only becoming more popular but are even more flexible than public or private universities.

They are much cheaper in tuition and can allow students to get ahead in their degree by transferring community college credits into their university degree plan.

No matter how much effort a student pours into trying to beat the numbers and make them shine in their college applications, they are never a gauge for personal success. 

Any student is offered opportunities to succeed without having the best GPA or standardized test score, even if that journey is not as linear as they may have wanted it to be.

JJ Caceres is a political science sophomore who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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“GPA, test scores are not everything” was originally posted on The Cougar

Dylan Burkett/The Cougar

There is no doubt that abortion is currently one of the hottest topics for Americans, especially after the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the precedent of an American’s right to choose. 

Roe v. Wade is not just an issue of choice but a test of America’s justice system and a war on those who can get pregnant.

“I don’t find the repeal of Roe v. Wade really surprising at all,” said junior computer science major Noah Harrison. “I think the repeal itself is hugely regressive and when coupled with other recent Supreme Court rulings, it gives me concern that we’re transitioning to an era of outdated textualist dogma that will disproportionately harm minorities.”

Roe v. Wade not only went after American liberty but also brought up the question of religious freedom. 

The idea that life starts at conception is a Christian belief. Now that the states can create their own laws regarding abortion, several of them have honed in on that belief and banned abortion all the way to conception. 

Several other religions have different views regarding where life starts and to leave it to states that have an over-representation of Christian politicians is an injustice. 

In Judaism, the belief is that life starts at the first breath you take. For other religions as well as those who are non-religious, the support for abortion is high because many of them do not share the belief that life starts at conception. 

To add on, abortion is intertwined with cultural, economical and personal experiences. 

Many people on the other side like to make the argument that people who want an abortion just want an easy way out while they have sex. 

This is not the case. 

The most common reason people seek abortion is that they are not financially ready, the pregnancy was unplanned or they need to focus on their current children. People do take measures to prevent pregnancy but when the responsibility lies mainly on the one who can get pregnant, it is unfair to punish one when it takes two to conceive. 

It is also unfair to tell people they should practice abstinence to prevent pregnancy when the issue lies in the fact that the government wants to take away the livelihood, liberty and freedom of Americans.

With the push of pro-birth, there is also an irony when nothing is being done to protect those who are currently living. 

There have been no monumental moves for gun control after the heartwrenching massacre at Uvalde that killed 19 children and two adults. 

The baby formula shortage leaves parents scrambling for any way to feed their infant children, reaching desperate measures like mixing water with formula and traveling thousands of miles to smuggle in baby formula from neighboring countries. 

America still does not provide paid maternity leave to new parents which leaves a lasting negative impact on not only employees but their children as well. 

All of this is to say that politicians and the Supreme Court do not care about children or the unborn because if they did, they would be working to protect them even after they are born. 

Instead, it has been turned into a war on those who can get pregnant and a political agenda used by both parties to gain votes.  

As young students striving to live a fruitful life, it is vital that we speak up on these issues and find the hypocrisy that lies within them. 

If we don’t, this will become yet another issue swept under the rug until the next controversy makes the headlines. 

Cindy Rivas Alfaro is a journalism sophomore who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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“Roe v. Wade is a human rights issue, not a religious one” was originally posted on The Cougar

Dylan Burkett/The Cougar

Period tracking apps are losing high volumes of users due to potentially selling their data. 

With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, several states are planning to severely limit or completely ban abortion. While some states still offer protection and provide abortion services, many red states are quickly implementing laws outlawing the procedure. 

Texas is one of those few red states with an implemented ban on abortion. Their infamous trigger ban at 6 weeks was planned to shift to a complete ban in 30 days but a judge ruled that abortions can still occur. 

With abortion now considered a criminal charge in some places, many Americans are deleting their tracking apps despite promises from companies to protect user data.

The Flo app has over 43 million users while the popular Clue app has over 12 million users. Despite their popularity, these numbers have been swiftly dwindling for the past month. 

Over a third of American citizens who experience periods currently, or have, used a period tracking app to log cycles, track fertility windows and monitor pregnancies. 

To add on, with companies implementing third-party trackers, many Americans worry their data will be used against them if brought to court.

Flo, the most used period tracking app, has since released a statement claiming it will be releasing an anonymous mode for users that would no longer have their personal information linked to their account.

However, many users are wary of the company since it was involved in a scandal last year over selling user information.

Meanwhile, Clue promises to keep user information private as they are not under American jurisdiction; however, lawmakers claim if the information is requested as evidence for a court ruling, the company will more than likely comply. 

Director of Fight for the Future Evan Greer warns that being on any app that sells user data and tracks location can be used in a hearing. 

With that in mind just deleting your period tracker may not be enough. 

Moreover, states like Texas are incentivizing citizens to report both each other and medical practitioners for getting or administering an abortion. 

Payments starting at just $10,000 are being offered to citizens who can successfully convict and sue an abortion provider.

Yet, not all is lost for those who do not want to part with period tracking apps.

Consumer reports investigated different period tracking apps to find which provide the most security for users, and the results offer a variety of options.

Out of all the period tracking apps with more than 100,000 installs, only Fertility Friend avoided using third-party trackers. However, the data is stored in the cloud, making it vulnerable and useable for court cases.

Other apps that stored data locally and avoided using third-party trackers were Drip, Euki and Periodical. However, these apps are mostly found on android devices, though Drip plans to release an iOS version in August of 2022. 

Despite this, Americans are still advised to delete period tracking apps off their phones, especially if they are residents in states such as Texas which have completely banned abortion. 

Though, for those still wanting to use an app, Drip, Euki and Periodical are safe options. 

However, Americans should not be responsible for the lack of privacy the apps offer and should not feel required to remove the apps from their phones.

Apps like Drip show that it is possible to create reliable and valid data for users without putting privacy at risk or profiting off these users’ fears.

Instead, companies should be the ones making a change, especially if they are wanting to keep their users.

The health of Americans’ should be kept safe and private without the interference of government and third-party trackers. 

Sarah Elise Shea is a freshman English literature major who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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“Period tracking apps should focus on protecting user data” was originally posted on The Cougar

Dylan Burkett/The Cougar

Many queer women have had their experience belittled because of the stereotypes attached to how they look. Since they do not look or act in the way society views people who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community, they are not taken seriously. 

This is a struggle many women of the community have faced for decades. It’s wrong and potentially dangerous.

It needs to stop. 

Feminine queer women are more than just the clothes they wear or the interests they have. 

The LGBTQ+ community is becoming increasingly diverse and more complex as more people have been coming out in a much safer atmosphere. 

For many queer women that may not fit into society’s narrative of how queer women should look, their stories are pushed to the side and are treated as a joke. There is a wide range of stories just waiting to be heard but because of society’s traditional views, none of them are being shared. 

Anyone who identifies as part of the community or is more in tune with their femininity is often dismissed. Their stories aren’t heard because they’re considered too pretty to have anything valuable to contribute. 

Because of this, they are constant targets of the male gaze because they are acceptable in society due to their feminine attributes but are worth nothing when it comes to contributing to a conversation. 

We see this in many forms of pop culture. 

An example can be the hit television show “Degrassi,” where there was an array of LGBTQ+ representation. 

Recurring character Fiona Coyne, who comes out as a lesbian, was often considered a so-called lipstick lesbian by fellow classmates due to her feminine gender attributes such as wearing makeup, dresses, or skirts and having other characteristics associated with feminine women.

Later on, she has interest in pursuing fashion and eventually attends school in Italy. Throughout Fiona’s time on the show, we can see her being targeted primarily by her male classmates as she enters a relationship with a woman who has similar attributes to Fiona. 

While this plot is for entertainment purposes, this story represents someone’s story. 

This constant over-sexualization and judgment invalidates young LGBTQ+ women. 

Their stories and experiences are rejected left and right. The unwanted gaze from people is unacceptable and won’t be tolerable. 

A queer woman who identifies as a lesbian should not be belittled for liking popular culture trends like Taylor Swift and upcoming fashion. They do not owe anyone a queer physical presentation.

“Your experiences are valid and your emotions are valid no matter what anyone tells you,” said senior psychology major Sophia.

“Unfortunately, we live in a society that treats girls and women, especially queer women, like second-class citizens,” she said. “When we try to speak out about the abuse we experience, we are victim-blamed, accused of lying or told that it isn’t a big deal. But there are people out there who will listen to you and believe you. I believe you.”

For those who have openly shared their stories, never feel like your stories and experiences aren’t valid because they are.

There are people and safe spaces who will commend you for sharing and unapologetically being yourselves. 

Saira Haque is an anthropology senior who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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“Queer women are often belittled, not taken seriously” was originally posted on The Cougar

Iqra Rafey/The Cougar

In today’s fast-paced society, we tend to overlook the news which leads us to become unaware of some of the most critical social and political issues. 

Politicians seem to care less about the people they are representing and more about reelection campaigns. 

With this comes a sense of helplessness but the key to overcoming an injustice system is gaining intentional knowledge and knowing how to use it. 

With a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled to strike down Roe V. Wade, making it the first court in history to take away a constitutional right. 

In the same opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas also stated that the court should visit back on its decisions on contraceptives and same-sex marriages.

The U.S. Senate reached a bipartisan agreement this week, which is the most serious gun-control law, that has been reached. The House of Representatives also approved the bill and has been signed by President Joe Biden. 

However, the Supreme Court renounced this new law with its decision to strick down the New York law to conceal its handgun law. 

On the other side of the world, there is still a war going on in Ukraine with Russian forces attacking the country. The Russian forces recently attacked a mall, which left at least 18 dead. 

Last week, the Supreme Court also gutted Miranda rights. The court said that the law enforcement could use the testimony of the person they arrested, prior to reading their Miranda Rights, which lists the rights you have while you are being arrested. 

The court is also hearing a case, West Virginia v. The Environmental Protection Agency, related to climate change. This case will decide on how much power the federal government has on controlling greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.

Based on their decision it could completely alter upcoming environmental policies. 

The past few years, in particular, have felt out of a history textbook. However, these political and social events are more than a social media post or a fun day of protesting. 

Not only as college students but as the generation that represents the future of our world, we should think critically, pay attention to the news and be open to new and challenging opinions. 

In real-time, people who can get pregnant are having their rights over bodily autonomy taken away which has given the Supreme Court confidence to challenge several court precedents regarding contraceptives and same-sex marriage. 

This is frightening. 

Continuing with the daily motions of life with a global pandemic, a human rights crisis and the threats of war around the world can and will lead to burnout. 

We need to take care of ourselves, our friends and our families. During these times, having intentional and international knowledge is the best thing you can do. 

Be intentional about listening and speaking out. Do not condition yourself to speak out only when bad things happen. Activism is a constant practice. 

Knowledge is power and when history is happening right in front of your eyes, it becomes your arsenal as well. 

Atirikta Kumar is a journalism sophomore who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.

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“Students should be intentional with their knowledge” was originally posted on The Cougar

Dylan Burkett/The Cougar

The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic continue as people begin to go back to their normal lives. There are invisible consequences of the pandemic that have affected the minds of thousands of people around the world. 

Alongside the physical health concerns people have to go through because of the pandemic, people are showing higher signs of emotional distress. 

More than half of young adults in the country are reporting symptoms of an anxiety or depression disorder which is an increase compared to previous years. 

A part of this could be from the lack of time and introspection people took to process what the pandemic made them go through. 

The pandemic did not allow some people to take care of themselves. It forced people into an unnatural state of isolation and survival mode. 

With so many questions regarding employment, school, bills and health concerns, the problems were never-ending and required people to put their personal issues on pause. Many of these people have been on pause for over two years and counting. 

Alongside that, COVID-19 cases are constant with a daily average of 7,426 cases each day in Texas. With new variants showing up on the radar every few months, feeling like each one is more contagious than the next, these cases will only continue to rise. 

To add on, once people get vaccinated, they tend to get more relaxed with precautions. 

Vaccinated individuals can still get infected with the virus, however, their symptoms are usually mild or nonexistent. In fact, one in four vaccinated individuals who are infected shows no symptoms at all. 

This is concerning as vaccinated individuals with the virus can spread the virus to others. 

All this is to say that the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over; there just have been fewer conversations surrounding it. 

In a way, wanting to move on from one of the darkest years of the 21st century is understandable. Nobody wants to dwell on the past when there’s so much to look forward to in the future. 

However, leaving things on the back burner is unhealthy. 

There are many things that are out of one’s control: the state of the economy, the outcome of the pandemic and the actions of others. 

With those in mind, there are also things that are in one’s control like choosing healthy coping mechanisms or even something as simple as taking a mental health break. Everything that has happened in the past two years has been tiring with no blueprint as a guideline 

Instead of ignoring it, it’s best to face it with a critical eye that wants to change things for the better, not the worse. 

Cindy Rivas Alfaro is a journalism sophomore who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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“The pandemic consequences we should take a look at” was originally posted on The Cougar

Cindy Rivas Alfaro/The Cougar

Houston’s walkability and accessibility problems only continue to build a dependency on fossil fuels and put barriers in place for disabled people and their ability to traverse the city and parts of the University. 

Houston ranks fourth among the largest cities in the U.S. and is considered to be the most diverse city in the nation despite these issues. 

With a walkability score of 47/100 and an even worse score of 36/100 for its public transportation, according to Walk Score, Houston faces a car dependency problem. Many city residents can’t see themselves completing daily activities such as going to work, school or shopping without using a car. 

Not only is this placing strains on people’s budgets with the rise of gas prices, but it is also emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases will continue to break down the Earth’s atmosphere further if no action is taken to reduce emissions and an increase in its amount could prove to be disastrous for the environment. 

However, cars have grown to be the most convenient form of transportation for many cities such as Houston. 

Unfortunately, many of the benefits provided for pedestrians by the government, such as sidewalks and bike lanes, serve only to help cars and not pedestrians.

Most of these projects lead nowhere or are actually dangerous when considering the areas in which they are placed. This then makes pedestrians fear walking as uneven speed limits clash with supposedly pedestrian-friendly areas.

To make matters worse, state governments are also unable to do much about the situation since the infrastructure in place for the greater Houston area has been ramped up to this after several decades. 

As detailed in a recent report by the American Society of Civil Engineers, when the communities around Houston grew into more developed parts, Houston and its housing had to develop a patchwork surrounding the city. 

Because of this, the only way for these communities around Houston to travel into the city is through roads and highways. This destroys Houston’s walkability. The ASCE gave Houston a C- in its infrastructural report of the city.

These issues also make navigation massively inconvenient for disabled people in Houston and in other car dependent cities in the nation.

The University has faced delays in its efforts to make walkability better through its Lighting Project, due to COVID-19. 

Although improving security is the main focus of the project, delaying projects like these only make walkability in a campus filled with construction much more dangerous for disabled students.

In a university that promotes diversity, disabled students have often faced unnecessary barriers that make their experience on campus much more of a hassle. 

The car dependent infrastructure of Houston will continue to severely harm the environment and the lives of its residents. The University’s delaying projects like the Lighting Project only place risks for disabled students when they navigate around campus on a regular basis. 

JJ Caceres is a political science sophomore who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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“Houston has walkability problems affecting the environment, disabled people” was originally posted on The Cougar

Cindy Rivas Alfaro/The Cougar

Joining the  LGBTQ+ community is not a choice but rather an abrupt realization that you are not alone in your feelings regarding gender or sexuality. 

After decades of constant discrimination and stigma surrounding non-heteronormative relationships, LGBTQ+ individuals are starting to rise up with confidence. 

A recent poll revealed that one in five of the Gen Z population identifies as LGBTQ+,  more than any other generation. One of the reasons the numbers are rising is because the stigma surrounding queer individuals is decreasing. 

“The more people who come out as themselves, the more others are willing to feel safe coming out,” said sophomore trombone performance major Cassandra Thomas. “It’s an exponential growth. The reason there are statistically more LGBTQIA+ people than before is because they were oppressed by society due to lack of support and understanding in the past.” 

The past for the LGBTQ+ community has not been bright. Even today, they have suffered from countless hate crimes and discrimination. 

In 2016, 49 people were killed at the Pulse nightclub in Florida known to be a popular gay club. In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered that families with transgender children be investigated for child abuse if they agreed to gender-affirming care for their child. 

“With increasing attempts from many conservatives, I feel like the rights I need are in danger of being taken away,” Thomas said. “But if we fight back, we’ll be able to maintain the safe space that’s taken decades to build. Especially in places like Texas.”

One of the biggest milestones for the LGBTQ+ community includes the legalization of gay marriage in all 50 states. 

Even the general public’s positive outlook on gay and lesbian individuals increased from 56 percent in 2020 to 62 percent in 2022. 

To add on, despite the government’s attempts to undo the years of progress in the LGBTQ+ community, 7.1 percent of adults in the U.S. identify as part of the community in 2022 which is an increase from the 5.6 percent in 2021. 

With this in mind, people are not forced nor coaxed to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community. 

In fact, it’s the exact opposite. 

With the normalization of relationships among same-sex couples, conversations regarding gender and the continued effort to educate others, people are finding words to their emotions and finding the confidence to be their true selves. 

The Trevor Project surveyed 35,000 queer individuals which revealed that 26 percent of youth identify as non-binary, an identity that has gained traction in recent years. 

With many of the Gen-Z population causing these numbers to rise, it shows that queer people are finding resources and support at a younger age.

As stated before, the reason many people did not come out in the past was because the support was practically non-existent. People died for even uttering the word gay and marching for their right to love and live in a world that accepts them. 

These higher numbers should be celebrated, not looked at in fear. 

They are the proof that the hard work from LGBTQ+ activists has paid off. 

Because of them, the youth can be who they are and defend themselves confidently. 

To celebrate Pride Month, join UH at the 44th Annual Pride Houston Parade. 

Cindy Rivas Alfaro is a journalism sophomore who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com.

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“More people are not becoming LGBTQ+, they are just feeling safer to come out” was originally posted on The Cougar

Brett Bonneté/The Cougar

Critical race theory is vital to society. Without it, racism and its institutional effects on society will continue to damage minorities. 

Conservatives spare no time in creating false narratives of the indoctrination of wide-eyed youth via a liberal public education system. 

This indoctrination has recently taken form in what conservatives like to call critical race theory. 

To understand the inner workings and implications of critical race theory, there needs to be an understanding of its purpose. 

The goal of critical theory is to indefinitely alter society so that the oppressed are no longer entrenched by the discriminatory methods imposed on them in a society that does not even recognize their suffering.

Some forms of critical theory posit the average person as a victim of this oppression. Societal norms have been created to keep them from living in absolute freedom and understanding the world.

Examples of critical theories that are widely known include Marxism, postmodernism, feminism, queer theory, crip theory and psychoanalytic criticism. 

There also exist many forms of critical theory that revolve around systems that oppress minorities including feminism and queer theory for instance. 

Very much like the latter, critical race theory is the approach to society that seeks to bring to light systems of oppression that are created by assumptions made by the oppressor regarding race.

In critical theory, there must be a power structure that unjustly targets a group at hand. In critical race theory, this power structure is white supremacy. 

Critical race theorists are those who seek to explain the many ways through which the intersection between race and law in America keeps minority peoples from accessing society. 

One of these explanations includes race as a cultural concept that is invented by white people to segregate against and oppress people of color.

There are many ways through which these theorists go about breaking down and naming the means through which this oppression is transgressed. Many call upon intersections between gender, race or essentialism. 

This is the definition in the most layman of terms which can seem complicated to many. 

Recently, younger generations of teachers are unafraid to approach conversations with students about the harsh truth that there weren’t two equal sides to the Civil War. 

Because of this, alt-right parents are starting to believe that their students are being taught to feel white guilt and that the United States was born of racist roots. 

This outrage was also put at the forefront of these parents’ minds when former President Donald Trump focused on the 1619 Project, a project launched by New York Times Magazine that aimed to rewrite history by changing the narrative to one that is truly reflective of its racist history.  

“Students are being subjected to a new curriculum designed to brainwash them,” said Trump. He, as well as his followers, believe that critical race theory is un-American and twisted. 

This outrage is simply a reactionary response to white supremacist ideology being pulled from history lessons across America where the colonizing actors are no longer being treated as war heroes.

Teachers should continue to teach their students about critical race theory as it is at the forefront of America’s history.

Critical race theory is necessary to build a society that can view their wrongs and face them rather than pushing them under the rug.

Without it, white supremacists will continue to pretend nothing ever happened and praise their war heroes for their senseless actions against minorities.

Brett Bonneté is a political science junior that can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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“Critical race theory is important, should be taught in schools” was originally posted on The Cougar

Cindy Rivas Alfaro/The Cougar

Performative activism continues to hinder the possibility of change when people show up to rallies yet fail to vote in elections.

Thousands of Houstonians gathered at Discovery Green on Friday to protest against the National Rifle Association convention held at George R. Brown Convention Center. 

The protests arose from the uproar of frustrations over the lack of gun laws that led to the massacre of 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary school. 

People of all races, gender and ages showed up with signs and shouts of indignation over the inaction of Texas politicians. 

However, those signs and screams will devastatingly lead to nothing if people do not stay consistent with their rage and head to the polls in November. 

In the 2022 Texas midterm primary elections, only around 6 percent of Democratic voters showed up to the polls with around 11 percent of Republican voters taking the lead. 

This means that our politicians are elected by a minority. Around 82 percent of eligible voters stay home. 

While thousands gathered at Discovery Green, many immediately left after Beto O’Rourke, a Democratic nominee for governor, finished his speech despite young speakers from March For Our Lives taking the stage right after him. 

“Children matter,” said Kandice Webber, lead organizer of Black Lives Matter. “Black children matter, brown children matter, just like these white babies matter. My babies matter so much to me that I will hold your f—ing governor hostage. So if you came out here today to hear Beto and you’re done (with your activism), guess what? I’m f—king done with you.” 

The crowd continued to leave which is the harsh reality of what happens every November. 

Thousands of people show up to protest, rally or march yet only a few keep that energy until election day. 

This is something that needs to change. 

Although participating in a protest is important, a lot of it is performative activism. 

Many of the people will go home, make a social media post about their involvement and forget about the elections in November. 

There is probably no ill-intent from these people regarding their surface-level actions but the damage continues to be done to the hundreds of children lost to gun violence. 

The number of children and adolescents dying from gun-related deaths has increased by 30 percent since 2020. 

In order to prevent any more children from having their lives taken by guns, eligible voters need to put more effort into showing up for elections and voting for representatives that will keep children safe. 

The lives of American children depend on those votes.

Cindy Rivas Alfaro is a journalism sophomore who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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“Performative activism kills, there needs to be more pressure to vote” was originally posted on The Cougar