CONTRIBUTING WRITER,
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STAFF WRITER
As some of you may know (or may not know) the Supreme Court is hearing a case that could potentially give corporations the right to refuse some, or even all contraceptive services, on the basis that it is against their religious rights. When the Affordable Care Act (aka “Obamacare”) went into effect, health insurance companies were required to cover all forms of birth control. As per the law, religious non-profits were exempted from having to provide birth control through their offered health care plans. The Hobby Lobby, a for profit organization, brought the case to court because the CEOs are conservative Christians, and they object to IUDs and the morning after pill, saying that they are forms of abortion because they prevent life from forming, according to NPR. The Supreme Court is expected to reach a decision in June.
In his State of the Union address in January, President Barack Obama declared that it was time for Congress to pass immigration reform legislation yet Democrats and Republicans cannot seem to agree on the correct way to go about changing immigration policy. And this has caused legislation to stall including legislation that will affect college students.
Let’s face it: when it comes to politics and voting, we all come down on one of two sides: Democrat or Republican. Very rarely do we cross party lines when voting. It is just the way voters tend to be wired. Unless something drastic happens to change your mind and therefore your vote, you stick with the party you know.
The Senate passed the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA) with a majority, bipartisan vote: 64 to 32, according to CNN on Nov 7. This means the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transvestite (LGBT) community is one step closer to achieving equality in the workplace because it will be illegal for employers to discriminate based on their sexual orientation.
Robert Scott, Specialist Communication Professor at the University, spoke to a collection of first-year graduate and undergraduate students about his career in the communication field on Tuesday Oct. 22. Scott’s speech was a part with the Colloquium Speaker Series.
New Jersey lawmakers passed 22 new gun laws on February 28 that focus on gun and ammunition sales, improving mental health services, gun safety, stopping illegal gun trafficking, school security, and stopping gang violence.
Governor Chris Christie signed a bill that will allow casinos in Atlantic City to set up online gaming and gambling websites on Tuesday February 26. The state legislature has been discussing the possibilities of online gambling for at least two years. Christie vetoed the bill back in 2011 when it was newer and more risky. He signed the bill last week after sending a revised version back with some suggestions and requirements that he felt would make the bill more successful.
Governor Chris Christie’s vetoed the minimum wage bill that came from the Democrats in the Assembly and Senate. Minimum wage in New Jersey was set at $7.25 in July 2009. The bill that Governor Christie vetoed would have raised minimum wage to $8.50 and would have allowed raises as the inflation in the state went up. Governor Christie vetoed this proposition and suggested that the dollar raise be implemented over the course of three years according to “Christie vetoes Minimum-Wage Hike” in The Star Ledger.
University students Christina Gonzalez and Dana Oppenheim told an audience at Bey Hall about a new program that they are starting for the University called Eye to Eye on October 24.
Professor Robert Scott Speaks to Students About His Latest Projects
The Colloquium Speakers Series kicked off on September 18 as Robert Scott, a communication professor, spoke to graduate students about his experiences post-graduation.
