John Oliver is a television host known for the series "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" on HBO about controversial and misunderstood topics in the United States and elsewhere. Oliver has hosted segments on abortion, vaccines, China's One Child Policy, and many more current areas of policy concern. In August of 2019, a segment from … Continue reading The John Oliver Effect
Category: Policy issues
The Reality Behind the Memes
Only 3 days into 2020, teens in the US were making memes about the newest world crisis: the potential war between the US and Iraq. While it wasn’t likely that the conflict would escalate into a full blown world war, the increasing tension and threats led supporters and opponents alike to discuss #WorldWar3. And as … Continue reading The Reality Behind the Memes
“Blackfish” and the Politics of American Consumerism
When the documentary “Blackfish” came out in 2013, SeaWorld was a well-known and beloved attraction visited by thousands of families each year. Kids eagerly begged their parents to take them to see the iconic orca show starring Shamu at one of SeaWorld’s 11 different locations. But during the year that the film aired, the stock … Continue reading “Blackfish” and the Politics of American Consumerism
(Deep)Fake News
The creation of the internet has made it easy to find the answers to life’s most pressing questions in the blink of an eye. At the same time, the internet makes it just as easy for individuals to access material that is false. Because of this, the Information Age could also be referred to as … Continue reading (Deep)Fake News
The Fault in Our Scales
TRIGGER WARNING: MENTIONS OF EATING DISORDERS This is the story of every person I have ever met. Well, not every person, but a vast majority. Weight governs how people see themselves and how they live their life. As a culture, we have been conditioned to care about the numbers on the scale, whether we see … Continue reading The Fault in Our Scales
School Segregation through Illustrations
Integration of public schools in the United States was supposed to take place more than 65 years ago. Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 declared that the segregation of schools was unconstitutional under the 14th amendment and that children of all races should have equal access to education. While this court case could and … Continue reading School Segregation through Illustrations
The Language of Nature
What's the difference between a butterfly and a cage? What would happen if we referred to a tree as ki? Can you imagine calling squirrels (Vanderbilt’s largest population) kin? It might sound weird, but changing the way we speak—and think—about nature is what Robin Wall Kimmerer challenges us to do in her article “Speaking of … Continue reading The Language of Nature
Literature and Public Policy 
You must be logged in to post a comment.