The Road to a Fairer Society

Without policy recommendations, complaints about economic inequality are as empty as complaints about the weather. We can criticize market outcomes and their adverse impacts, as I did with my second and first articles respectively. However, without an agenda for our elected officials, this criticism will remain in the realm of discussion, instead of actually improving […]

Challenges to Democracy: Rewriting Japan’s Article 9

In the recent in-party election held on September 20th, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe secured a historic third term as the Prime Minister of Japan, defeating former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba by an overwhelming margin.[1] Guaranteed executive control of the central government for the next three years, Abe has begun to set his political agenda for […]

The Problem with Eleanor & Park

I initially began reading Eleanor & Park because it features an Asian-American protagonist who doubles as the main love interest—a rare occurrence in popular contemporary American literature. Upon being published in 2012, the young adult novel by Rainbow Rowell received favorable reviews; it made NPR’s list of Best Books of 2013, won the 2013 Boston […]

On Kavanaugh: A Conversation with Katia Santiago-Taylor of BARCC

Katia Santiago-Taylor wore a tailored suit and high heels but her demeanor was warm and inviting, much like the couch-filled conference room in which we sat. Santiago-Taylor is the Advocacy and Legislative Affairs Manager at the Cambridge-based Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC). Originally from Puerto Rico, she has previously worked at the Massachusetts Office […]

1.5 to Stay Alive: IPCC Report Recommends Lower Limit on Global Temperature Rise

The 2015 UN Paris Climate Change Conference named a global temperature rise of 2 degrees celsius as the ultimate boundary that humanity should not cross in its battle against climate change.[1] However, at the time, many scientists, activists, and small island nation representatives argued that 2 degrees of warming was a dangerously inadequate benchmark.[2] According […]

Is the Market Moral?

Feel-good Hollywood movies are a hallmark of American culture. From childhood Disney films like Aladdin and Cinderella, to classics like Rocky and Forrest Gump, American media saturates our screens with moral heroes who overcome challenges and earn deserved rewards, leaving the wicked villains with their just deserts. This fondness for satisfying endings isn’t new. During […]

Understanding Recent Legislative Responses to the Opioid Crisis

The summer of 2018 saw a flurry of legislative efforts to curb the opioid epidemic that reached a record high of 72,000 victims in 2017.[1] On August 16th, 2018, President Trump asked Attorney General Jeff Sessions to bring a “major lawsuit” to opioid-producing drug companies.[2] On August 22nd, Sessions announced a “warning” to opioid distributors, […]

Remembering Kimberly Jones: Professor, Mentor, Advisor

Letter from the Editor I first encountered Professor Kimberly Jones very early on in my time at Northeastern. I was an office assistant in the International Affairs Department during the fall of my freshman year, and, for four hours each week, worked around the corner from her. At the time, I had no idea that […]

The Degradation of Immigrants in America: An Analysis of Dehumanizing Linguistics  

Language is one of the most distinguishable founding elements of humanity. It is a basic principle of human development and existence, determining every interaction and relationship. A well known psychological theory championed by Sapir-Whorf states that language isn’t simply how we voice our thoughts; it shapes our ideas and perceptions of reality.[1] In accepting this, […]

The Thorn in Japan’s Side: Okinawa & The Relocation of the Futenma Base

On August 8th, the governor of Japan’s Okinawa prefecture passed away.[1] A polarizing figure, Governor Takeshi Onaga was well known for leading efforts to reduce U.S. military presence in Okinawa. Most notably, he opposed the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from Ginowan to Henoko in Nago City.[2] In July 2017, Onaga even […]