When Ava Chin was growing up in Flushing, Queens, her maternal grandfather told her stories of their ancestors who worked on the first Transcontinental Railroad. Then, in sixth grade as her teacher discussed the topic in class, Chin opened up her textbook on American History only to realize there were no Chinese faces in any […]
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Environmental activist Heeta Thakkar believes the government is beautiful
“Living in NYC, our government is honestly so beautiful,” says Environmental Activist Heeta Thakkar, who founded Zero Waste Schools (ZWS), a student-run organization that provides waste management solutions to NYC schools. Thakkar’s appearance is unassuming—a pair of blue jeans and a black winter coat hardly indicative of the fire in her belly. But her ambition […]
Abortions Covered in Full By NYU Health Insurance Starting This Fall
Students at NYU interviewed this past weekend were relieved to learn that abortions will now be fully covered by the university-sponsored health insurance plan starting in fall 2023, whether the procedure is elective or medically necessary. “It makes me feel a lot safer, the fact that I know I could get one if need be […]
Biologists’ Battle Against Marine Debris In South Florida to Save Sea Turtles
It takes place in the Biscayne National Park, Southern Florida, where tons of trash from all around the world were washed to the remote islands in the park. Morgan Wagner and Vanessa Walsh are two biologists who work in the park. Besides the scientific research they are responsible for, they also need to organize trash […]
Hawaii needs more Japanese tourists to counter economic slowdown
Honolulu, HI – The number of Japanese visitors in Hawaii hasn’t returned to pre-pandemic levels, which is weighing heavily on the state’s economy. While the yen’s recent rebound eased the burden of traveling for the Japanese tourists, three years of Covid restrictions in Japan – even after they’ve been lifted – seem to overshadow this […]
Living as Transgender in the Czech Republic
“I’m not lying when I say half of the people here would prefer us dead,” said Chloe Monette of Czech society’s view on the transgender population. She is the founder and president of Jsem Trans, a Czech NGO committed to education and counseling for the transgender community. “This is a very stressful environment to live […]
Scrambling for Solutions to Stop the Spotted Lanternfly Invasion
The spotted lanternfly is invading New York, and so far, an array of countermeasures — from vacuums and insecticides to official recommendations to stomp the bugs on sight — don’t seem to be helping much. On a recent Sunday afternoon on a rooftop restaurant in Lower Manhattan, a swarm of the black-and-red winged plant-hoppers, originally from […]
This Brooklyn street personifies open street uncertainties heading into 2023
On Fifth Avenue Sundays in December, rows of eye-catching holiday displays and light shows cover entire building facades, welcoming shoppers as they walk shoulder-to-shoulder down an open street free of vehicles. But by 6 p.m., the New York Police Department slowly removes ten blocks of road barriers, herding shoppers back onto packed city sidewalks. Meanwhile, […]
Finding A Community in the Village’s Bookstores
On Carmine Street in Greenwich Village, inside Temperance Wine Bar, sits two bookshelves, lined with various rare and niche books. They aren’t for decoration, nor are they sold by the restaurant. Instead, they belong to Jim Drougas’ Unoppressive Non-Imperialist Bookstore. After 31 years of business, the landlords of Drougas’ store increased the rent to […]
VIDEO DISCOVERY: Rebooting NYU Stern Rugby
Since its establishment in 1996, NYU Stern Rugby has served as a club for enthusiasts, offering rugby to the NYU community, alumni, and even beyond, all within a university that doesn’t place a strong emphasis on sports and in a city not traditionally associated with rugby. However, the club faced abandonment due to the pandemic’s […]