A Week In Review: June 20th – June 27th, 2018

Politics:

The Good: France Brings Back Mandatory National Service Program For Teens

A move that has sparked equal parts controversy and support, France’s President Emmanuel Macron has announced a plan to bring back a mandatory national service program for all teens turning 16 that will begin in 2019. The Universal National Service will begin at the start of the school season and will last up to 4 months. The program is comprised of two parts; the first session will last a month where students are required to live together to “develop a culture of commitment (and) strengthen their place and role in society.” The second session is a voluntary three month commitment to serving the country. Although Marcon’s initial approach sounded gleefully militant in a speech he made in 2017, participants will have the option to participate in non military related services such as tutoring, community services or helping protect the environment. Marcon ensures that the purpose of the program is to encourage young people to have a sense of pride and commitment in the country’s development.  

France’s original national program was ended in 1997, however a government poll shows that 60% of citizens support the idea of a program that lasts between three and six months. 

The Bad: 132 People Killed Since Mexico’s Campaign Season Began

As Mexico prepares to head to the polls this Sunday and elect it’s newest officials, protests have overtaken the streets bringing attention to the 132 people murdered since campaign season began 9 months ago. According to Etellekt, a risk analysis and crisis management firm, of the 132 people killed, the majority were party workers, however 48 candidates spread across 22 of the 33 regions in Mexico were also victims. “These numbers anticipates a serious challenge of security for peace and democratic governance in these regions, and could debilitate the political party,” Etellekt wrote in a statement to press. 

The murders are believed to be related to drug cartel’s operating in Mexico who are concerned about how controllable new officials will be. One of the most horrific killings left Fernando Puron, a congressional candidate deceased after his campaign promised an attack on violence in the country. While taking a photo with a supporter, he was shot in the back of the head. 

Sports:

The Good: NBA Has It’s First Mental Health & Wellness Director

As mental health continues to recieve much needed attention in the media, the National Basketball Players Association is continuing to make progress taking care of their players. This past May the association announced it would be hiring it’s first ever director of mental health and wellness, Dr. William D. Parham. 

Mental health among the league’s players has become a topic of discussion among sports media outlets after several players made their struggles public. Royce White was the first round draft pick in 2012 but fought with the association over his anxious disorder, last week Nathan Robinson who played for the Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and other teams said the NBA gave him his depression. Numerous athletes have come forward to address their own issues with episodes of anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. 

Parham is currently a professor at Loyola Marymount University and an active member of their counseling program. After receiving his bachelors and masters degrees at the University of California in social ecology, Parham went on to get his Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. Although Parham has never been the most athletic, his lifelong love for sports and phycology has found it’s apex. Earlier this week the new director announced his plans for developing a working program for athletes that ensures attention and consistent care for those who need it. The 4 part plan is meant to give players the tools they need to manage their lives and careers. 

• Part 1 includes establishing a network of licensed mental health professionals—mostly psychologists, but also some psychiatrists and social workers, all vetted—in each of the cities where the NBA has a franchise.

•Part 2 will be establishing a 24-hour hotline that players can access for mental health issues.

•Part 3 will be an educational campaign targeting players on mental health issues and the resources that are available to them.

•Part 4 will be building relationships with players.

The Bad: Former NFL Owner Fined 2.75 Million

After claims of work place misconduct were substantiated by investigators, former Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Robinson has been fined 2.75 million dollars by the National Football League. After a lengthy investigative report released by Sports Illustrated uncovering allegations of sexual harassment, gender and racial bias by Robinson, members of the Panthers organization began to file official claims to the NFL. Richardson has owned the Panthers since their start in 1995 however announced he would be selling the team after the allegations started to become public and sold the team earlier this year for just over 2 billion dollars. 

In an issued statement The NFL thanked former U.S Attorney Mary Jo White for her investigation which uncovered that Richardson has at least two settlements connected to sexual misconduct and use of racially charged language; both settlements included non disclosure agreements preventing parties from speaking on the details of the case. 

The NFL says the majority of the monies collected from Richardson will be donated to “organizations dedicated to addressing race and gender-based issues in and outside of the workplace.”

Richardson denies any wrong doing. 

Law:

The hashtag #JusticeForJunior has taken over media platforms after surveillance video of surfaced of 15 year old Lesandro “Junior” Guzman-Feliz, being stabbed to death by 6 gang members over mistaken identity. The story became a headlining story and trending topic on social media as people around the world offered up their condolences and outraged voices seeking justice. 

This week police announced they had 6 suspects in custody in connection with the murder and would be arraigned shortly on 1st degree murder charges. 

Although the layers of the case are still being pulled back with intense emotions behind each new discovery, all of us here at EMCEE offer our deepest condolences, to the friends, family and loved ones. 

The Bad: Supreme Court Has A New Opening

Lawmakers, politicians and the American public are on edge anxiously waiting to know who will replace Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. The 81 year old Supreme Court judge was sworn in by Ronald Reagan in 1988 and will end his term on July 31st, 2018. 

The opening within the vacant seat is a major swing vote and can potentially alter the long standing laws such as Roe Vs. Wade. As the countdown to Kennedy’s retirement begins, speculation on who will be his replacement has almost overshadowed the midterm elections. 

A siting judge can be nominated by Donald Trump but must be confirmed by the senate chamber vote. Trump has already said that his first pick will likely be conservative Neil Gorsuch who has already voted in favor for Trump’s policies on labor unions, banning travelers from certain countries and restricting women’s rights.