Helping the Homeless Population

Do you want the good news first ... Monday, November 20, 2017 A13 on needs and deeds helping the homeless population

Mission Waco also operates the chronic homeless — One of the main reasons,” Bonds said. “Because shelter My Brother’s Keeper, located at 1217 Mary the person may be making minimum wage but has Ave. a difficult time affording a house, an apartment for a Another resource offered to homeless individuals family of four or more.” is Compassion Ministries. According to executive She believes that because Waco’s organizations are director Jill McCall, they are currently the only so willing to understand circumstances, homeless transitional housing facility for homeless families in individuals are much more willing to accept resources the Central Texas area. from them. Compassion Ministries provides intensive care management, medical services, dental services, transportation, childcare, counseling and any sort of employment need that an individual has. While Compassion Ministries lost their federal funding due to the federal government pulling away from transition housing, McCall said they are working diligently to build their endowment and they are hopeful they will not have to decrease or eliminate the range of services they provide. McCall said the Compassion Ministries program is unbelievable and the services they offer cannot usually be found in many other places. 3 “I feel that Waco — for the size that it is, does a good job of meeting the needs of homeless individuals,” McCall said. According to Bonds, the requirements to say you have ended homelessness in your community 2 are based on how quickly the community is able to respond to the needs of a homeless person. “In our community, all of the agency’s 1: The Church Under the Bridge congregation representatives know each other well enough to pick gathers before the service to meet and catch up with one another. up the phone when we have a need and respond to 2: Bertha Kendrick enjoys a pasta meal at the Gospel that need,” Bonds said. Cafe in Waco. Bonds said she believes Waco has a leg up on other 3: Member of Church Under the bridge hand out the communities in helping homeless individuals and weekly bulletin. The church gathers every Sunday that through coordinated entry, the community will under the 4th and I-35 overpass at 11 a.m. get even better at responding to their needs. 4: Every morning before the service the church Bonds also said that Waco’s organizations provides a meal and offers some groceries for understand that homelessness is situational and homeless members of the congregation. occurs for many reasons. Baylee VerSteeg | Multimedia Journalist “Lack of affordable housing is the biggest reason 4 Do you want the good news first ... A14 Monday, November 20, 2017

o get to the Family Abuse Center, you must transitional housing, rapid rehousing and two private housing are offered follow vague directions that are not available to family units who need a way out without turning to the streets. Family Abuse online. After signing a confidentiality agreement, “The leading cause for homelessness among women and children is you can then volunteer or speak with a Family domestic violence,” Matula said. Abuse Center representative. In 2016, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Bureau To enter the Family Abuse Center in Waco, reported that 80 percent of homeless women and children were victims of Center works you must stand on the opposite side of double domestic violence. doors and speak through the intercom about “Research has shown that housing programs are highly effective with your business there that day. domestic violence victims in getting them the support they need to stay against culture Unmarked and protected, the Family Abuse Center has sheltered away from their abuser,” Matula said. “It’s not just a matter of [victims] and supported victims of domestic violence since 1980. A team works choosing to go back, but a matter of not being able to pay or rent or pay Ttirelessly to help and educate communities and families about the plague for their kids’ medication.” of domestic violence. Matula has worked for the Family Abuse Center since 2014 after of domestic “It’s not just physical,” said Katie Matula, development coordinator of receiving her master’s in social work from Baylor in 2013. Family Abuse Center. “It’s kind of like cancer — it can affect anyone ... A “I would love to work myself out of a job,” Matula said. “Family Abuse victim can experience multiple types of trauma, whether it is emotional Center’s goal is to, yes, end domestic violence, but also create healthy, or financial or physical.” loving families.” violence According to the Texas Council for Family Violence, one in three Family Abuse Center offers programs like BOOST, a teen dating Texans will experience domestic violence at some point in their lifetime. violence prevention program, and H.O.P.E.S., a parent support program The current location in Waco has been the primary shelter for that helps provide better care for small children. These programs KRISTINA VALDEZ victims from eight surrounding counties since 2006. Family Abuse are offered to McLennan County through schools and Family Abuse Center is federally, state and privately funded to provide housing Center. They are preventative steps in educating children about healthy Arts & Life Editor programs, counseling and legal advocacy. Permanent supportive housing, relationships. Do you want the good news first ... Monday, November 20, 2017 A15

Rewon Shimray | Cartoonist

“I’m hopeful,” Matula said. “Every report I the mass shootings in Sutherland Springs, Las get brings me down a little bit, but I know we are Vegas, Orlando, Fla. and San Bernardino, Calif. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FACTS moving in the right direction.” had a history of violence against women. Matula said a common misconception about According to a study done by Everytown for domestic violence is believing that once a victim I’m hopeful. Every Gun Safety, in 54 percent of mass shootings, the has left, everything should be okay. shooter killed a partner or family member. • 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have “report I get brings been victims of domestic violence “Another thing that people don’t think about “It’s a much more prevalent issue than people as far as domestic violence is concerned is that me down a little bit, even begin to know about or think about,” Ishio by an intimate partner in their life sometimes abusers will put the victim’s name on but I know we are said. “It is behind so much of the violence we see the lease and not pay rent,” Matula said. “When it in our country. • Women between the ages of all comes down to it, the victim is left with multiple moving in the right For her clients, Ishio has learned what it means evictions under their name even though they had to live with trauma. 18-24 are most commonly nothing to do with it.” direction.” “It affects everything that you do and your whole abused by an intimate partner Housing coordinator Melissa Ishio will have perception on things,” Ishio said. “It’s huge how worked with the Family Abuse Center for two Katie Matula | pervasive and debilitating it can be for someone. • Every year in the U.S., more than years in March. Ishio tries to help the most people Development Coordinator It’s kind of like living in a war zone — our clients 10 million men and women are with what little bit of funding she has. have PTSD, too, from that hyper vigilant, ever- “The hardest part of my job is not having aroused state that they lived in for so long.” abused by an intimate partner enough money,” Ishio said. “I have to say no to To Ishio and Matula, the definition of a success people. There is always someone else who needs it. [I want] to give without story is different for every client, but success includes opening up the paper • 15% of all violent crime comes deciding who or who is not worthy.” one day and not finding their client’s name listed as deceased. from domestic violence. Ishio said domestic violence impacts the community in more ways than “[Domestic violence] does not discriminate on the basis of race, sexual people realize. For example, of the recent mass shootings, a relationship orientation, religion, ethnicity, age and you can go on and on,” Ishio said. Learn more at https://ncadv.org/statistics between domestic violence and mass murders are common. Shooters from Do you want the good news first ... A16 Monday, November 20, 2017

HowTo the U.S. governmentbee... is protecting our pollinators

MEREDITH WAGNER in bee populations. As for himself and his own hives he Social Media Editor said It’s definitely a concern. Though Stewart mostly tends to native bee species, oneybees are dying by the thousands, such as bumble bees and leaf-cutter bees, he said he and the federal government knows recognizes the importance of the non-native honeybee. it. Beyond a general concern on the “We need the honeybees for agricultural purposes,” part of beekeepers and environmental he said. activists,H members of the U.S. government are aware Stewart said honeybees originated in Europe and of the rapid decline in honeybee populations and the Africa and are considered to be better pollinators and potentially detrimental effects these trends could hold, producers than native bee species. Without honeybees, should they continue. some plant species we know today would never have Fortunately for Americans, legislative bodies and existed. “There would be no almonds whatsoever.” administrative agencies are recognizing and gradually Dr. Julie King, lecturer of environmental law at working to reverse the problem. But why? According Baylor University and former attorney, was also aware to Michael Schacker, investigative science writer and of the issue as it relates to almond production. author of “A Spring without Bees,” honeybees are the “We’re already seeing some of the effects of primary insect responsible for creating the world we [declining honeybee populations] in terms of almond live in today. “Without the honeybee, it is likely that production in California,” King said. advanced agriculture, and thus civilization, would have If the effects of declining honeybee populations never developed.” have yet to be observed in terms of almond scarcity, the issue is “certainly being passed on to consumer prices,” Meredith Wagner | Social Media Editor King said. Why the Honeybee? While other creatures such as butterflies and beetles also help to pollinate plants, honeybees stand Known to be one of the hardest working species on out because they are both extremely productive and the planet, a honeybee’s reputable work ethic makes it a considered an “indicator species” within an ecosystem. successful agent of change and rapid development. This Indicator species are used to “monitor environmental is likely why our agricultural systems rely so heavily on changes … and provide warning signals for impending honeybees as pollinators. ecological shifts,” according to a 2015 Harvard According to Daniel Stewart, local beekeeper and publication. This means that the a decline in honeybees Sales and Marketing Manager for World Hunger Relief, can foreshadow the decline in other environmental Inc., a healthy beehive can host up to 60,000 bees. elements within its ecosystem. King said one cannot “The collective action of that many workers — it look at a decline in bee populations at a surface level, would just be impossible to recreate,” Stewart said. and that the bees are vital to the successful upkeep of Stewart has been keeping bees for nearly two years. an overall system. He recently took a test to be considered an Apprentice “We know that our ecosystems are all Beekeeper, with the ultimate goal being to hold the interconnected,” King said. “You can’t just look at title of Master Beekeeper, which typically takes about a species and say that it’s not vital to everything else five years of training. Owning seven hives of his own, HORSE MINT The above painting depicts a species of plant that many pollinators are attracted to. going on around it ... As it relates to food, it’s an issue Stewart has been keeping up with the alarming decline “Around here, for nectar, the big thing is something called lemon bee balm, or horse mint,” said local for every American.” beekeeper Daniel Stewart. “It’s a beautiful flower people can plant.” Do you want the good news first ... Monday, November 20, 2017A17

...or not to beereproduction. This is problematic if the worker bee that initially created the waxy cell obtained residues Theories Explained of pesticides. The prevailing theory among scientists, “The pesticides build up inside the wax and researchers and government officials is that the eventually will poison the larva,” Stewart said. “This ultimate decline in bee populations in recent decades is something that a lot of bee keepers know about is because of a combination of multiple stressors, all now and are responding to.” of which are potentially deadly on their own or in Ultimately, Stewart said, the structure of a colony combination with other factors. relies upon the health and success of many individual Because research in this sector is largely moving parts. underfunded and could face impending budget “We think about bees as individual organisms, cuts, the certainty as to why the bees are declining is but really it’s a super organism,” Stewart said. “On its wavering. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service estimates own, a worker [bee] can’t survive. On her own, the that “disease, pesticides, the effects of climate change, queen can’t survive. They make decisions together.” habitat loss and the effects of small population King said researchers are working to identify dynamics” could all be at play. which insecticides are toxic to bees, which could help lawmakers establish specific restrictions on the production of certain pesticides. Colony Collapse Disorder Despite the complicated nature of the issue, King said, “That’s a development that is encouraging.” One prevailing theory for the decline in bee populations is Colony Collapse Disorder. This term is used to describe the sudden and unforeseen failure Commercial Beekeeping of a colony, often with little to no explanation for the root of the collapse. The rapid increase in agricultural production in Though the term is generally used to account for recent years necessitates the practice of commercial any unexplained colony collapses, “There’s a general beekeeping. Schacker stated in his book “A Spring feeling in literature that it’s the result of pesticides Without Bees” that migratory bees are transported being used,” King said. all around the country in seasonal cycles to ensure Many speculate that certain insecticides containing that nearly one-third of all U.S. crops are pollinated. “neonicotinoids” are a primary cause for Colony Unfortunately for bees, the need for hard- Collapse Disorder. This chemical was intended to working pollinators comes at the expense of their affect the central nervous system of unwanted pests, health. Many bee species are easily stressed by the which, by default, included the honeybee. According Meredith Wagner | Social Media Editor demands of travel, which can lead to an inability to The Bee Cause, an educational group formed in to perform essential pollinating duties, or in some the next, allowing for the reproduction of many of Fewer honeybees producing honey means fewer 2013, “Many countries have banned such chemicals instances, death. While commercial beekeeping the plants we find on our dinner table. honey stores altogether, which could cause the colony harmful to the honeybee, but in the United States, could ultimately be contributing to a decline in bees, In order for a worker bee’s foraging mission to die over the winter. they are still widely used.” agricultural systems could not produce food at the pan out successfully, it must be able to travel “The direct cause of death for the hive was that There are two detrimental ways that neonicotinoids rates they do without it. miles away from the hive and ultimately find their they didn’t have enough stores, but really, that was are thought to cause Colony Collapse Disorder, the “[Commercial beekeeping] is necessary for way back home. If the neonicotinoids found in because of this pesticide,” Stewart said. first being that exposure to these harmful chemicals agriculture,” Stewart said. “If you have a huge field some insecticides alter the brain chemistry of the The second way neonicotinoids are thought to can alter the neurological functioning of worker bees. of something, there’s just no way that it would ever worker bee along the way, the bee could either die negatively affect the hive is when the worker bees Worker bees are the pollinators themselves — one pollinate itself.” immediately, or be handicapped and unable to find become contaminated and bring residues of the of the many moving parts of the hive. While the queen This a problematic cycle for both bees and her way back to the hive. pesticide back to the colony. bee stays back with her colony, the worker bees, all of consumers. “People are importing bees and colonies Many of the worker bees will be unaffected and Worker bees excrete wax in the shape of tiny cells which are female, leave the hive to consume nectar because of shortages of pollinators,” King said. At the return to the hive; still, if five percent of the bees so that themselves and other bees can use them to and eventually return to produce wax and honey. In same time, the importation could be contributing to were to go missing, this could have detrimental raise larva. When the larva matures, and the cell the process, the bees spread pollen from one plant to the shortage itself. consequences on the hive overall. opens up, another bee is able to use that cell for Do you want the good news first ... A18 Monday, November 20, 2017 bumble bee. Being the first bee species recognized as endangered in the continental U.S., this listing was widely considered a turning point for bees. The Power of the Pen: “I think it’s momentous that we had a species of Legislative Action at Play bee listed that’s present in the continental United States — that it’s the first time — and that there has been a big push to have bees listed,” King said. “Having declined ninety percent since the 1990s, and having significant depletion in its population To reverse the negative trend in populations “ certainly merited a listing.” would be a matter of intensive, costly research, King said this is a turning point for pollinators proceedings through a complicated legal structure “It really does relate because, “It opens the door to more species potentially and a general understanding of the magnitude of being listed. There may be other [endangered] the issue. Fortunately for beekeepers and average species, and there certainly are some that are seeing Americans alike, strides are being made to mitigate to every American at significant decline.” what could be detrimental consequences to the loss The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s website of pollinator species. states that they have yet to establish the recovery The Endangered Species Act of 1973 was the dinner table.” information, critical habitat rules, or conservation passed by Congress in recognition of the ecological plans for the rusty patched bumble bee required by consequences of economic growth and development, law, all of which would methodically help combat and the value that threatened species inherently hold JULIE KING | BAYLOR LECTURER, FORMER ATTORNEY extinction. The lack of plans is likely because of lack within society. Under this act, species can be listed of resources and funding, and the wide disparity as either “threatened” or “endangered,” and multiple among researchers trying to identify a distinct cause parties must comply with the standards considered of declines. necessary for recovery. “I would expect the rusty patched bumble bee In addition to simply claiming that a species will stay on the list for a while, and is at risk, the federal government is collectively that there are still various reasons held to certain standards to protect that species, species. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is rule one step further by more specifically defining for its decline,” King said. “It including its habitat. Section 7 of the Endangered additionally responsible for developing and the word “harm” to mean “significant habitat should have a recovery plan Species Act imposes a duty on all federal agencies to implementing recovery plans for listed species. modification or degradation.” Thus, the endangered eventually.” consider the health and habitat of each species listed, Criminal sanctions are in place for those who species as well as its habitat is protected. At the avoiding action that could jeopardize “harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, very least, punishments pose as an incentive for the In the meantime, the existence trap, capture or collect” a listed general public to avoid harming the bees. “Listing does give the of said species. The Fish & Just this year, the US Fish & public more awareness,” King Wildlife Service Wildlife Service listed the said. “Hopefully that will takes this rusty patched

Associated Press

Meredith Wagner | Social Media Editor Do you want the good news first ... Monday, November 20, 2017 A19

Photo Courtesy of Daniel Stewart help with some of the other issues we face. Hopefully colonies are collapsing, but we’re able to keep up with what we learn will translate well to the other species it,” Stewart said, referring to commercial beekeeping [of bees].” and humans’ ability to “split hives,” creating more If anything is clear to scientists and lawmakers, it’s colonies. “But that misses the point that something that protecting bees is essential to maintaining our is wrong. Something is making these hives die. We current levels of food production and consumption. know this is a huge issue. People want to kind of Alternatives to bee pollination have been proposed, cover it up right now.” but nothing quite has the capacity to replace bees “From an economic perspective, we’re not in dire altogether. A 2009 article from PBS wrote, “The straights yet,” Stewart said. problem with other natural pollinators picking up Many are keeping up with the bee declines as the bees’ slack is that today’s agricultural industry has best they can, buying time until research can be simply grown too large for them to keep up.” conducted and change can be implemented. While federal agencies work out the details of While on the surface it seems that the effective legislation in the face of potential budget consequences of lesser bee populations are only felt cuts, bees and humans alike are forced to adapt to the by agricultural producers, the average American looming population declines. could see changes within his or her immediate circle, “There may be ways to help colonies adapt,” King in the immediate future, should trends fail to change said in reference to changes within the environment. for the better. Just as humans can change their survival tactics over Ultimately, King said, “It really does relate to time, bees can too. every American at the dinner table.” This adaptation is temporary, though. “Sure, LETTER FROM THE EDITOR We didn’t we just start the FIRE, write the NEWS BAILEY BRAMMER Trump called the press the “enemy of the people” on as a political candidate, he should be even more aware Editor-in-Chief Twitter, and has made his thoughts on multiple news of the press’ role as the “fourth branch of government.” organizations abundantly clear. There are many other News organizations are not responsible for “starting When walking down the street in today’s society, it’s politicians and Americans that hold this same belief, the fire.” The Post reporters did not wake up one almost guaranteed you’ll overhear claims of “fake news” viewing journalists as sleazy or liars, when this is morning and say to themselves, “How can we make a or blame being placed on the media for inaccurately inherently inaccurate. Republican candidate for Senate from Alabama mad reporting on a controversial topic. When the press covers a topic that may be today?” No, the Washington Post either received a tip While there are most certainly news offensive or hurtful to some people, this does not or discovered that Moore had a questionable past, and organizations that publish click bait or false mean that it should be labeled as “fake news.” For pursued it to the fullest extent. articles simply to drive their readership, example, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, The journalists at the Post took it upon themselves there are still plenty of publications that Roy Moore, was recently accused of initiating to inform the American people of something that may employ hardworking, reliable writers that sexual encounters with young women when he change their opinions on someone in power; this is attempt to cover occurrences from all was in his 30’s, according to the Washington the same thing the New York Times does, the same angles. Just because the subject of a story Post. thing the Wall Street Journal does and the same thing is debatable or calls out a public figure for Moore claimed that these allegations were multiple local and national news organizations do something questionable does not mean fake news and blamed the Washington Post, every single day. that the entire news organization is to saying, “These allegations are completely false Again, although there are journalists that publish blame for reporting on it and doesn’t mean and are a desperate political attack by the click bait instead of proven facts and give the rest of the story is untrue. National Democrat Party and the Washington Post on the press a bad name, the media also contains men and Similar to fields such as law or medicine, many this campaign,” and also adding that, “This garbage is women who have found their passion in pursuing and journalists hold themselves to moral and ethical the very definition of fake news.” sharing truth. standards. The most common of these guidelines is However, Moore’s accusations have no basis in fact; As a consumer of news, it is your job to be mindful the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics, the Washington Post interviewed more than 30 people of which publications can be trusted to provide you which lists four principles that act as the rules for a for its article, and has long been considered a reputable with accurate information, as well as which news credible journalist: seek truth and report it, minimize and reliable source for news. By placing the blame on organizations are only looking out for themselves. If harm, act independently and be accountable and the publication, Moore is saying that the newspaper is you have trouble deciphering this, do some research transparent. deliberately trying to sabotage his campaign, which is on a publication’s history and ethics before labeling all As a journalist, I see it as my responsibility to report not the case. journalists as corrupt and all news as fake. After all, we only on what is truthful and accurate to the best of my Just because the Washington Post reported on don’t start the fire, we just write about it. ability. Although I am well aware that there is corruption something controversial and potentially harmful to a in the press, there are also plenty of journalists who are public figure’s reputation does not mean it earns the Bailey Brammer is a sophomore journalism and being criticized for simply doing their jobs. title of fake news. Because Moore is in the public eye, he history major from Phoenix. In February of this year, President Donald is held to different standards than private citizens, and Rewon Shimray | Cartoonist

Meet the Staff Contact Us Opinion EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ARTS & LIFE EDITOR BROADCAST MANAGING EDITOR Bailey Brammer* Kristina Valdez* Jessica Babb General Questions: The Baylor Lariat welcomes reader viewpoints through letters to the editor and guest PRINT MANAGING EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR BROADCAST REPORTERS [email protected] columns. Opinions expressed in the Lariat are not necessarily those of the Baylor Molly Atchison Nathan Keil Christina Soto administration, the Baylor Board of Regents, the student body or the Student Publications Elisabeth Tharp 254-710-1712 Board. DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Rylee Seavers Didi Martinez Liesje Powers* MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISTS SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR OPINION EDITOR Baylee VerSteeg Sports and Arts: Editorials, Columns & Letters Meredith Wagner Megan Rule* Jessica Hubble [email protected] Will Barksdale NEWS EDITOR CARTOONIST [email protected] Editorials express the opinions of the Lariat Editorial Board. Lariat letters and col- Kalyn Story* Rewon Shimray* AD REPRESENTATIVES Josh Whitney umns are the opinions of an individual and not the Baylor Lariat. ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR STAFF WRITERS Evan Hurley Pablo Gonzales* Brooke Hill Sheree Zou Advertising inquiries: Julia Vergara Quinn Stowell DESIGN EDITOR Phoebe Suy [email protected] Lariat Letters Kaitlyn DeHaven* Savannah Cooper MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES Luke Kissick 254-710-3407 To submit a Lariat Letter, email [email protected]. Letters should be a COPY EDITOR SPORTS WRITERS Tobé Ulokwem maximum of 400 words. The letter is not guaranteed to be published. Adam Gibson Ben Everett Collin Bryant EDITORIAL Change the news from

Te news industry has historically been one that always to seems to fall into bad light. From bad good sleazy journalists who disobey laws to get stories, to straight- the natural chemistry of the up liars putting out fake news, human brain. We don’t have the journalism habitually gets stuck power to stop natural disasters with a bad reputation. from tearing apart developing In the 21st century, a time countries and we don’t have when social justice can be the power to stop gun violence expressed in a mere 280-character from shaking families and tweet, changes are happening in communities. But we do have the the blink of an eye. Now more than power to tell you that good news ever, people have the power and exists. Journalism isn’t all bad and the resources to see something, the world isn’t all bad either. then say something. Good news exists - just look Women march for gender at all the headlines and stories equality, people of color march that we found in our city, state, for racial justice and immigrants country and world that are in this march for cultural appropriation. issue. It may not be the front page Granted, each of these groups headline, and it may never be the is voicing their opinion for front page story, but turn a few something that only afects a pages and you’ll see the feel-good small percent of the population stories. respectively. But, in this time Good news is just as necessary of prevalent change, no one is as bad news, so make sure to read standing for something that more of it. Journalists report on afects everybody, something what the readers want, so the that would beneft 100 percent more good stories that are read, of the population. Not many are the more good stories that are standing for good news. reported on. News brings people together Today more than ever, we - it is the sole way of sharing and can create a change. We have connecting stories from every this beautiful resource at our corner of the world. Earthquake fngertips, yet we hate it so much in Japan? Tat’s a headline in and don’t appreciate its purpose. New York. Terrorist attack in Te news isn’t all fake and the London? Tat’s a headline in journalists behind the stories China. Tsunami in Indonesia? Rewon Shimray | Cartoonist aren’t all dirty liars. Tat’s a headline in Mexico City. City Reporter that only reported which is the tendency to give far spotlight and fghting to keep back of their minds as they design Readers are the ones who Maybe we’ve never been to some positive headlines for a day more information to negative people engaged in the age that their front pages in the late hours crave negativity, but readers are of these places, but the stories told and saw a two-thirds decline in details than positive ones and the hates journalists more and more of the night and create attention- the ones with the ability to change in Rome and Egypt and Sydney readership for that day. Even our confrmation bias, which is our each day. Tose of us that go grabbing tweets for online the light the news sits in. Start are all the same because of the own president has headlines that tendency to selectively look at home and tell our families during readers. Naturally, when running clicking on the positive headlines, wonderful world of news. are over 80 percent negative, information or see information the holidays that we’re majoring in a business, you stay on top by start picking up the paper and But do you notice something according to Te Washington that confrms our preexisting journalism receive disapproving doing what brings in income. turning to the inside and start similar with all of these headlines? Times. notions, which is fne except smiles and sympathetic pats on Journalism is meant to serve the voicing a need for good news. Tey’re all negative. A 2014 article from BigTink, that our preexisting notions are the back, so it’s no secret the people, and psychology explains Who knows? We might go down In fact, a 2014 article from an online knowledge forum typically negative and therefore, general public has a distaste for that the people want the gory, in history as the generation that Psychology Today tells us that that shares videos, articles and we’re reconfrming our negative journalists. emotional, gut-wrenching and not only inspired equality across people actually prefer negative tips to foster success, by Peter expectations.” “If it bleeds, it leads” is an mood-busting stories. the board, but that changed the news. A 2014 Quartz article H. Diamandis explained this, Te industry is fghting for unfortunately true motto that We’re just a student newspaper; light of worldly communication highlighted a Russian news site saying, “We have a negativity bias, readership, fghting for the many newsrooms keep in the we don’t have the power to change too. ... or the bad news ﬁrst? Monday, November 20, 2017 B19 allies in the region, such as Japan, South Korea and power, U.S. special forces and indigenous ground the Philippines and economic interests of the United troops,” Long said. States. Long said ISIS’s ability to recruit, travel, raise Te United States cannot sit back and do nothing funds and prepare complex operations has been in response to North Korea, Campbell said, because impaired. a major source of U.S. power lies in economics. Some “In no sense does ISIS pose an existential threat to of the most important sea lines of communication the United States,” Long said. run through the South China Sea, as well as 30 Tere is still a threat of smaller attacks, Long said, percent of all maritime trade, he said. Security and similar to the attack in Manhattan on Oct. 31 that Chinese artifcial islands are a threat to freedom of killed eight people. navigation in this region, which is essential to U.S. “Te attacks will continue for several reasons. Te power. Campbell said if the United States were to key reason is that the jihadist narrative continues step back, China’s actions would be contrary to the to ‘live’ online, and self-radicalizing individuals can interests of the United States. access it. “So the bad news is that there don’t seem to be a Moreover, al-Qaida, ISIS’s parent organization, lot of good options and crisis is all about options,” has noted the ease with which lone wolves can obtain Campbell said. automatic weapons in the United States,” Long said. Campbell said the Joint Chiefs of Staf recently said the only way to verify that North Korea’s nuclear Russia arsenal was destroyed would be through a full-scale Dr. Sergiy Kudelia, assistant professor of political land invasion. science, said the United States’ relationship with Te good news, Campbell said, is that the Chinese Russia began to deteriorate in 2012, when Vladimir government will hopefully put pressure on the North Putin was re-elected as president of the Russian Koreans to tone down their rhetoric and reduce Federation. missile tests because they do not want the United Kudelia said the Obama administration was States to have a larger military presence in the region. expecting then president Dmitry Medvedev to serve And as for North Korea’s intercontinental ballistic another term, so Putin’s election came as a surprise. missiles, Campbell is doubtful that they actually During Medvedev’s presidency, the United States possess the capabilities they claim to. and Russia cooperated on arms control and anti- “It’s all well and good for Kim Jong Un to stand terrorism eforts. next to a warhead that he says can be loaded onto But Putin was not satisfed with how Russian an intercontinental ballistic missile, but that doesn’t leaders were promoting, or rather not promoting, Didi Martinez | Digital Managing Editor necessarily make it so,” he said. Russian nationalism, Kudelia said. FOREIGN FEARS According to a poll from NBC News and SurveyMonkey, North Korea is the biggest threat Tat being considered, Campbell said the threat “Putin’s vision of the world is more assertive, to our national security, followed by ISIS and Russia, respectively. North Korea poses is greater for countries in the more continuous attempts to reassert Russian global region, like South Korea. power and national power, and it really is focused Pyongyang, the capitol of South Korea, is on standing up to the United States. For him, the predecessors, and he actually is willing to make and Russia will always be competitors and there will located very close to the border of North Korea and, measure of Russian greatness is the extent to which business with the United States as long as they are always be a national security threat related to that Campbell said, could feasibly be invaded by North it can actually successfully compete with America in ignoring or overlooking some of the other things that competition. Korean forces. diferent parts of the world,” Kudelia said. he is doing, internally and externally,” Kudelia said. “Te question is whether that national security Campbell added that during President Donald U.S.-Russian relations began to deteriorate On a personal level, Kudelia said relations between threat is immediate. Whether it’s an immediate Trump’s recent visit to South Korea, Trump seems afer this point and were further eroded by Russia President Trump and Putin have improved and the danger to the United States or it’s something that to have sofened his rhetoric towards the issue. He extending asylum to whistleblower Edward Snowden, two leaders have an admiration for each other. But can only materialize under a very unusual set of said the pressure on North Korea, from the United sanctions against Russia and the annexation of on the state level, relations between the United States circumstances,” Kudelia said. States and China may have had positive efects on the Crimea, Ukraine, which resulted in the United States and Russia have continued to deteriorate because At present, there is nothing pointing to a change situation. forming a coalition to punish Russia and Russia President Trump is not the only person setting U.S. in U.S.-Russian relations and Kudelia said each being excluded from the G8 summit, Kudelia said. policy, Kudelia said. country’s ability to fght the other into nonexistence ISIS Fast forward to the election of President Trump, “Tere are a number of important actors in U.S. with nuclear weapons will prevent them from doing “Te ISIS caliphate is no more,” Dr. Mark Long, who, Kudelia said, had a vision of improved relations Congress who push for harder line, in the Republican so. associate professor in the Baylor Interdisciplinary with Russia. and Democratic party, because there is a bilateral Te danger lies in the United States’ tendency to Core, Director of Middle East Studies and former Te Russian eforts to aid President Trump’s consensus on Russia in U.S. Congress and also in be drawn into international confict and the potential Soviet analyst and Middle East area specialist in the election was a clear sign from Russia that Putin was the national security apparatus of the White House,” that Russia could already be present in a region where Air Force, wrote in an email to the Lariat. also looking forward to improved relations with the Kudelia said. the United States chose to get involved, he said. Long said this is because its key cities, Mosul United States, Kudelia said. In terms of Russia being a physical threat to the “As far as Trump is concerned, and his advisers, and Raqqa, were retaken as a part of the strategy “Te fact that Putin actually had a clear preference United States, Kudelia said this will always be a reality at this point it is not clear whether or not they are put in place under the Obama administration and in the election campaign, in favor of Trump against because Russia’s nuclear arsenal is comparable to that willing to abstain from escalating their military continued under the Trump administration. Tis Hillary Clinton, shows that he actually is more of the United States. He also said for reasons relating presence in these regions where they have conficting strategy relied on “the combination of allied air pragmatic, and much more pragmatic than his Soviet to geopolitics and military capacity, the United States interests with Russia,” Kudelia said. ... or the bad news ﬁrst? B18 Monday, November 20, 2017 Are we in danger? 54 Horrifying headlines lead percent to American’s concerns Believe North Korea poses about the nation’s security the biggest threat RYLEE SEAVERS Broadcast Reporter

As intimidation from abroad clutters the news, many Americans are increasingly fearful of foreign threats to the United States. According to a recent NBC News and SurveyMonkey poll, North Korea is the most feared threat to national security among Americans, followed by ISIS and Russia, respectively. Te survey, which comprises responses from 5,047 adults across the nation with a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percent, reveals that 54 percent of respondents said North Korea poses the “greatest immediate threat to the United States.” Nineteen percent of respondents said ISIS poses the greatest threat and 14 percent said Russia. 19 Experts at Baylor weighed in on each of these threats, providing information on how the country got to where we are and what Americans should be thinking about each of these potential threats to U.S. national security. percent North Korea Believe ISIS poses the Dr. Peter Campbell, assistant professor of political science at Baylor, said there has 14 biggest threat been a long-term dispute between the United States and North Korea relating to nuclear proliferation and North Korea’s nuclear arsenal. Campbell said this was an issue before Kim Jong Un, North Korea’s current leader who succeeded his father, came to power percent in 2012. Believe Russia poses “[Kim Jong Un] seems, even more than his father, to be very committed to developing nuclear weapons, but most worrying, committed to developing the ability to deliver the biggest threat nuclear weapons intercontinentally,” Campbell said. Campbell said the United States has long been opposed to North Korea having a nuclear arsenal. Tis is due to the United States’ commitment to provide protection to Results from a recent NBC News and SurveyMonkey poll ... or the bad news ﬁrst? Monday, November 20, 2017 B17 Ash and Despair

MADISON FRASER local businesses, a fre station, home is being rebuilt, there is an Reporter schools, hotels and a neighborhood overwhelming heartache knowing of more than 1,300 structures was that items that once made their house It was 10:30 p.m. on a Sunday and burned to ash. a home are absent from this new life. residents all over Sonoma County Te fres continued to burn “Yesterday while shopping with began to turn in for the evening. through Northern California Stacy I asked what do you need. Dogs were brought in from the yard, throughout the next week, destroying She replied, ‘Everything!’” said Rita candles were blown out, dishes put structures, land, popular Napa Miller, Stacy’s mother. “I guess I away and laundry folded. Te wind wineries and homes. In just a matter was more focused on the personal was abnormally high. Furniture blew of hours, thousands of people became belongings and furniture, not the across the yard and trees looked displaced and lost everything. basic stuf we all have in our kitchens.” as if they might snap in half at any However, what came next for them Donation centers have been set moment. Was this unusual? Sure, but would feel like the true tragedy. up throughout Northern California not enough to spike alarm. So people Bill and Stacy McKee, residents for fre victim relief. Clothing and turned out their lights and went to of the destroyed Cofey Park household items have all been handed bed. Neighborhood in Santa Rosa, were of to those in need. GoFundMe Five hours later, neighborhoods out of town the night the fres swept accounts have also been set up for were startled awake by shouts of, through, but were one of many who victims by their families in order to “Get out! Get out now!” lost their home. start the process of moving forward. Tey had fve minutes at most “Tere are no words for spending Recently, neighborhoods and to grab their most cherished hours looking through the remains highways have reopened, nearly a possessions. Most took just their pets. of your home for a few treasured month afer tragedy struck. Some lef wearing their pajamas, items,” Stacy McKee said. “My “Nothing looks the same,” Galletti not knowing that would be the only grandma passed just over a year ago said. “Te beautiful redwood trees, clothing they would have lef. and she had many jewelry pieces the gorgeous rolling hills with grape Monday, Oct. 9, was a day that were given to me and although vines growing on them and so many residents of Santa Rosa, Calif., will the memories are always there, the historical landmarks well known never forget. sadness that every piece seems to to our community are all gone. It “It was like a scene from the have melted is so hard.” doesn’t even feel like the same place.” apocalypse,” said Franchesca Galletti, Residents just like the McKees With each new step, a fresh Sonoma county resident. “It all felt so who lost everything have begun the wave of heartbreak washes over the surreal. It still does, honestly.” process to rebuild their homes as well community, reminding them of the Te fre, caused by an unknown as their lives. tragedy thousands of people sufered source, came so quickly over the “I used to love the smell of soot, that night. With hope, however, this mountains that nobody had time to as it reminded me of my dad coming community continues to work on prepare. Te high winds fueled the home from fghting a fre,” Stacy said. restoring and rebuilding their town fames to spread in every direction “Tat smell has new meaning to me supporting one another through over thousands of acres in less now.” every step of the way. than an hour. Te fre showed no Temporary replacement homes “Bill and I both have this strong discretion, consuming the mansions throughout the town are being gut feeling that everything will be Associated Press of a university president and beloved flled with victims from the fres. just fne, maybe even better,” Stacy local Charles M. Schulz, along with Even though many are grateful for said. “We know it’s going to be a long IN THE RUBLE Larry Keyser looks around as he and a roof over their heads while their road, but this too shall pass.” volunteers from Samaritan’s Purse disaster relief sift through remains of his family’s home destroyed by ﬁres in the Cofey Park area of Santa Rosa, Calif., on Nov. 8. ... or the bad news ﬁrst? B16 Monday, November 20, 2017

Associated Press Associated Press NOTHING BUT REMNANTS (Left) In this Oct. 12 ﬁle photo, Midiam Rivera cries as she and a Housing Ministry ofcial survey her home that was destroyed in the passing of Hurricane Maria, in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. Rivera, a mother of three, lost all her possessions when the devastating storm hit on Sept. 20.0 (Right) In this Oct. 17 ﬁle photo, a boy accompanied by his dog watches the repairs of Guajataca Dam, which cracked during the passage of Hurricane Maria, in Quebradillas, Puerto Rico.

Former U.S. Presidents BarackObama, George W. Rico, the amount of damage is extensive and will take Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. H. Bush, and Jimmy a signifcant amount of time to recover. Puerto Rico’s Carter have established One America Appeal in Ponce Puerto Rico senior Ian Cummings is from order to aid in the hurricane recovery encompassing a city in the southern part of the island and is one of the devastations of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and the largest cities in Puerto Rico. His family endured Maria. Hurricane Maria with damage only to their backyard, dire need CEO of the George H. W. Bush Presidential however, they have been out of power since the storm Library Foundation, David Jones said, “With damage and have been surviving of the generator. estimates from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria “My family was lucky enough to be not be afected topping $300 billion and requiring months and years that terribly compared to others in Puerto Rico,” for restoration funds of rebuilding ahead, we hope this strong start to the Cummings said. “My house was fne, a couple of trees One America Appeal is just that –– a start.” fell in the backyard. We have water in my house but So far, One American Appeal has raised $31 they are still with no power and are surviving on the million in tax-deductible, private funds from more generator.” remains than 80,000 donors. On Oct. 21, it hosted “Deep Cummings said it was very hard to be so far from From the Heart: Te One America Appeal” concert home, especially afer the storm. However, he said he CHRISTINA SOTO Jaresko told Congress that Puerto Rico needs in College Station. All ticket sales went directly to the is thankful because his family was very fortunate. hurricane relief fund. Te organization is continually “It’s hard, especially when you are this far away, Broadcast Reporter emergency and restoration funds. “Te island now needs help — emergency and accepting donations through OneAmericaAppeal. right afer it happened I didn’t talk to my parents for restoration funds and assistance on an unprecedented org. almost two weeks, it was kind of crazy and I was very It has been seven weeks since Hurricane Maria scale,” Jaresko said. “Before the hurricanes, the Tere are several other organization that are anxious,” Cummings said. “I know they are okay now made landfall in Puerto Rico and more than half of board was determined that Puerto Rico and its aiding in hurricane relief in Puerto Rico. Habitat for though and it could have been a lot of worse.” the island is still without power. Puerto Rico ofcials instrumentalities could achieve balanced budgets, Humanity, according to its website is helping people Because of the storm devastation on the island, he said it could be weeks or months before the power is work its way through its debt problems, and develop repair and rebuild their homes. UNICEF is collecting will not be returning to Puerto Rico for Tanksgiving. completely restored throughout the island. a sustainable economy without federal aid. Tat is $28 donations that will provide a kit of the basic His family said it would be best for him to stay in According to the Weather Channel, 867,000 simply no longer possible.” essentials. According to their website, “A donation of Texas. homes and businesses have no electricity. Tousands Puerto Rican authorities have estimated that the just $28 will provide a kit containing basic, essential “Tere are not enough fights in and out of the have lef the island and migrated to the mainland damage to the island can cost anywhere from $45 supplies such as water purifcation tablets, a water island right now and my parents told me that being because of the storm. billion to $95 billion. Congress has only approved bucket with lid, water containers, soap, toothpaste, there would not be good for me cause everything is Te executive director of the Financial Oversight around 5 billion dollars in aid. detergent and sanitary pads.” so bad and it doesn’t make sense for me to go so I will and Management Board of Puerto Rico, Natalie Although there are several eforts to help Puerto go to a friends house,” Cummings said. ... or the bad news ﬁrst? Monday, November 20, 2017 B15 on GUN REFORM said he believes the majority of citizens are for believe in gun control, it’s that there is a “slippery “Tis seems to be people on the lef side come stricter gun laws. slope” from banning one part to banning another up with something and then they will just shoot it According to a national survey by the Pew Re- and he does not want the government to incre- down,” Bridges said. “So I would like to see Republi- search Center, in Aug. 2016, the public was divided mentally take away citizens’ freedom of the Second cans come up with some sort of legislation that they over which is more important: to protect American Amendment. would support to stop tragedies and then it can be citizens’ right to own guns (52 percent) or to control Bridges said he hopes to see people — especially worked out in a more bipartisan way.” gun ownership (46 percent). those on the right — ofer a solution that they would Soo said that it’s not that Republicans don’t support.

Jessica Hubble | Multimedia Journalist GUN SAFETY The above chart displays statistics from Time Magazines Oct. 2017 article “35 Years of Mass Shootings in the U.S.” Statistics show that 2017 has been put on record as the year with the deadliest mass shootings in history. The photos along the side display several ﬁrearms legally attained by Texas citizens with concealed carry license. (Top) Reuger Blackhawk 357 magnum revolver, with bullets and casings. (Middle) 9 mil. Taurus handgun. (Bottom) The Reuger Blackhawk 357 Magnum displayed in a leather holster with bullet loops.