BY SAMANTHA PANGRAZIO
STAFF WRITER
U.S. Little League champions get title taken away
The underdog team that won the United States Little League Championship and went on to play in the World Series was stripped of its title and accomplishments this past week. Jackie Robinson West, a team made up of inner-city youth from Chicago, beat all odds and grasped the title in 2014. However, recent analysis led to the suspension of the team’s manager from the league as well as the removal of all of the squad’s wins, including the championship game.
Little League International said the team recruited players from outside the district’s borders, which is a direct violation of league rules. Many disagree with the league’s actions and believe that the kids should not have been punished for the actions of the adults in charge.
For further reading: http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/11/us/little-league-championship-vacated/index.html
Students at Ivy League school outraged by university ‘health fee’
A new policy at Cornell University forces students to pay a $350 fee for not purchasing university health care, even when enrolled on their own separate health care plan. The announcement sparked protests in rallies and on social media. One such rally had 150 students storm the school administration offices creating a few heated disputes with the university president, David Skorton, who issued the policy. Administrators maintain that the policy is a burden everyone should share in order to make sure all who need help can get it. Students and other individuals claim it is an unfair decree promoting socialism standards.
For further reading: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/02/14/cornell-student-body-furious-over-school-health-care-opt-out-fees/
Shooter kills three students near UNC-Chapel Hill
An incident at an apartment complex resulted in the death of three University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students, Tuesday, Feb. 10. Craig Stephen Hicks, 46, was charged with three counts of murder for shooting the victims. The motive is unclear. Some claim Hicks often was confrontational with other residents of the apartment complex about minute issues such as people parking in his space. It is possible that this or a similar issue caused his angry outburst in this shooting. Others assert this was a hate crime targeted against Muslims for their faith. Hicks, an adamant atheist, often posted derogatory statements on social media toward individuals of any faith, Muslims and Christians alike. More than 2,500 people attended a candlelight vigil at the university honoring the victims.
For further reading: http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/11/us/chapel-hill-shooting/?hpt=ob_galleryfooterexpansion&iref=obinsite