Share: I had a whole plan for this week’s column. It’s my last as a student at PCC, and my final piece for the Courier. I wanted to write something neat – a tidy wrap-up of what’s happened in the U.S. since the start of the spring semester, maybe even include a call to action. A clean ending to a chaotic year. But then Donald Trump announced he was sending the National Guard to confront protesters in LA. I’ve always believed in protest – in …
Retention rates: Black students and staff are leaving because we’re tired of waiting
Share: In February of this year, I attended Dr. Darla Cooper’s presentation on Black Student Retention Rates for the Courier. Initially, the event was pitched as a potential news piece, until one of our writers made a counter-pitch arguing this issue wasn’t news, but history. As I attended Cooper’s presentation, those words rang true; Black staff and students alike voiced their frustrations of being tired of only talking about this issue instead of doing something about it. As a Black student, I wholeheartedly agree. Cooper’s …
CON: The Ten Commandments shouldn’t be displayed in schools
Share: A First Amendment violation occurred when a Texas bill that mandates every public school classroom display the Ten Commandments was passed last week. The public is outraged at this bill as it violates our constitutional right to freedom of religion, and also completely contradicts the separation of church and state. This bill is an act of the government favoring a religion, and has raised many questions about the government’s violation of our First Amendment Right. It is no surprise that many disagree with this …
Fertility clinic bombing shows how easily extreme ideologies turn into terrorism
Share: A fatal car bomb went off early afternoon on Saturday May 17th directly in front of a fertility clinic in Palm Springs. Four were injured and the suspect is believed to be the fatality. The suspect was identified as 25 year old Guy Edwards Bartkus, from Twentynine Palms, 50 miles away from the fertility clinic. When FBI investigators searched his home they found his writings, and what the investigators are calling his “manifesto”. They also are searching through his social media and believe he …
Trump’s West Point speech went as expected; he made it all about himself
Share: President Donald Trump gave an unhinged speech at the West Point commencement ceremony on Memorial Day weekend. The speech for the cadets touched on topics such as Al Capone, golf, and trophy wives. During the speech, Trump wore his statement accessory staple, a red Make America Great Again hat, making his speech feel like one of his campaign rallies. He started off by telling the cadence to be “at ease” where he then suggested the cadets made a great choice on behalf of the …
Purdy deserves every pretty penny coming his way
Share: Brock Purdy made headlines after signing a club-record-breaking $265 million extension over the next five years. Though critics have claimed that Purdy cannot perform outside of the Shanahan system without an All-Pro lineup at his disposal, I believe this to be the contrary. This new extension ranks Purdy as the seventh-highest-paid quarterback in the league in terms of average annual value. Of quarterbacks making greater than $50 million annually, Purdy’s guaranteed percentage is the lowest, at only 37.7%. This contract is not only a …
PRO: There are bigger problems than having the Ten Commandments in classrooms
Share: Texas will soon implement a new bill requiring its public schools to display the 10 Commandments inside classrooms. In addition, on Friday, Texas House members accepted a bill that would allow school districts to permit a prayer period to read Bible passages with parental approval. It is seemingly apparent that Texas public schools’ goal is to educate students on sharing the gospel with students who may be unfamiliar with the Lord. This bill was recognized as a victory for the state since Texas lawmakers …
It’s not ketamine, Elon’s just like that
Share: It’s been a long six months, and as of Wednesday, May 28, Elon Musk has announced his departure from the White House. However, the world’s richest man doesn’t get to make an exit without a spectacle, and a spectacle he has certainly become. A recent New York Times article outlined the full extent of Musk’s drug habit before he stumbled out of his government position, and raises the question of whether his actions coming into the administration were informed by a substance demon on …
The Met Gala is not ‘The Hunger Games’ anymore
Share: The 2025 Met Gala focused on tailoring black style and proved that the wealthy aren’t only showing off their money, but representing the elegance of culture. Every year, the Met Gala is flooded with comments ridiculing the entire cause in comparison to the dystopian future we are leaning towards as we watch the ultra-wealthy showcase their designer clothes. “The Hunger Games resembles the Met Gala in the sense that it puts into perspective how different our classes are,” said PCC student Yuleidy Escobar.” While …
We don’t need more reality TV show politicians
Share: The prospect of actor and sports commentator Stephen A. Smith running for president as the Democratic candidate is ridiculous, and is not going to provide any positive momentum for the Democratic Party. There have been multiple mentions by Smith that he is going to run for president in 2028 and as time goes on what seemingly began as a rumor is evolving into something more serious. Smith, better known as “Stephen A.,” is not a political figure, and putting him in the presidential race …