By: Rachel Pressdee, Feature Editor On October 27, 2018, 11 people were murdered when a man opened fired inside the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there were 340 reported mass shootings in, making this close-to-home incident one of many gun related acts […]
Juris Blog
“Outsiders” and the Equal Access Act
By Samantha Cook, Editor-in-Chief Earlier this year, students at the McKeesport Area High School (MAHS) began the process of organizing a McKeesport Black Student Union (MBSU) to address concerns relating to disciplinary and educational biases within the school district.[1] According to a complaint filed by MAHS students, their request was […]
Warrantless Cell Phone Search at Villanova University: Justice in Privacy Law
By: John Paul Abda, Feature Editor In today’s world cell phones play a pivotal role in everyday life. It is estimated that roughly 77% of U.S. adults own a smart phone.[1] American citizens do everything from online banking to work-related emailing right from their phones. Because so many people have […]
The EU Copyright Law Creates Uncertainty Among Tech Giants and Public Users as to How Guidelines Will be Met
By: Claude Ngatchou, Staff Writer On March 26, 2018, the European Union (“EU”) Parliament voted to approve the controversial amendments to the EU Copyright Directive, Articles 11 and 13.[1] The amendments have sparked outrage from large companies, as well as individuals in the European population, resulting in demonstrations against […]
The United States Suggests that Huawei Raise Cybersecurity Concerns With 5G Technology
By: Brandon Schall, Staff Writer Since 2018, the United States (U.S.) and China have been at odds over cybersecurity concerns with Huawei.[1] In December 2018, Canada arrested Huawei Chief Financial Officer (C.F.O.) Meng Wanzhou for extradition to the United States.[2] Those concerns escalated further when it was reported that Federal […]
Jussie Smollett and the Pre-Trial Advantages of Being Wealthy
By: Christina Pici, Staff Writer The high-profile Jussie Smollett case is again making headlines in light of the prosecution shockingly deciding to drop all sixteen felony charges that were brought against him.[1] One of the commonly cited reasons for dropping the charges is Smollett’s agreement to forfeit the […]
Civil Lawsuits Pile Up Following Operation Varsity Blues
By: Giulia Schaub, Staff Writer A group of students and parents filed a lawsuit against the University of Southern California, Yale University, and other colleges involved in the massive college admissions scandal, now called “Operation Varsity Blues.”[1] In addition to the colleges, the lawsuit names the mastermind behind […]
New Zealand’s Legislative Response to Terrorist’s Attack
By: Elizabeth Fitch, Staff Writer On March 15, 2019, “the nation witnessed a terrorist attack that demonstrated the weakness of New Zealand’s gun laws,” Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern stated.[1] A self-proclaimed white supremacist stole the lives of fifty people at two mosques using two legally purchased […]
Conflicting Rights: Religion v. Anti-Discrimination
By: Rachel Pressdee, Staff Writer In 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in favor of a Colorado baker who refused to create a custom cake for the wedding of a same-sex couple. The baker believed doing so would violate his religious beliefs.[1] Once again, the […]
Is President Trump’s National Emergency Declaration to Fund Construction of a Border Wall Setting a Dangerous Precedent?
By: Claude Ngatchou, Staff Writer On February 15, during a news conference in the White House Rose Garden, President Trump announced that he would sign a spending bill to prevent another government shutdown and declared a national emergency to fund construction of a wall along the southern border.[1] […]
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