The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a landmark piece of civil rights legislation intended to enforce the 15th Amendment to the Constitution by forbidding states to obstruct the voting rights of any American citizen, regardless of their race or color. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing a case from Shelby County, Alabama which challenges Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. Though a final decision on the case could be months away, the justices appear to be leaning 5–4 against Section 5.

Massive amounts of money are being spent on elections, and have been for some time. More than preventing corporations from donating, we need to demand a cap on campaign funding.

The College Democrats at UCSC invite the candidates for Santa Cruz City Council to campus to discuss issues and provide a forum for candidates to lay out their stances. The College Democrats ended the night by endorsing Don Lane, Micah Posner, and Steve Pleich for city council.

For the European Union, the only thing better than Germany phasing out nuclear power is French socialist Francois Hollande becoming president. The only thing better than Hollande becoming president are the plans regarding nuclear power that he has promised to carry out. I was shocked when I learned that nuclear power accounts for about 75 [...]

Political organizing in the U.S. has taken the form commercial organizations in recent years. Large organizations raise large sums of money in the name of progressive organizations and pocket a substantial amount in fees. However, local campaigns are a reminder of more traditional, community-based organizing.

It is clear that women make less money than men for doing the same work but there are republicans who consider this to be untrue.

The National Association of Scholars report “Crisis of Competence” details how UCSC needs restructuring of many classes it finds too liberal.

Women’s issues have been thrust onto the center stage as the current political and social fixation. Planned Parenthood and abortion policy have seen an unprecedented year of attacks. Recently an increasing number of reports have emerged highlighting the abysmal failing of colleges at handling sexual assault. Female underrepresentation in the political sphere and women’s issues being so central to politics and social policy, demands us to confront the fact that sexism still not only exists, but flourishes.

Van Jones visits UC Santa Cruz to present his “Rebuild the Dream” organization.

With the wedding a mere day away, guest writer Rod Bastanmehr’s excitement is at an all-time high. But the nuptials are only half of the intrigue surrounding this fantastical matrimony-turned-reality.