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Show Sugar highs shouldn't MORE THAN A PLEDGE be funded by S. AP MAKING SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION MALORIE JAHN S igning a pledge to prevent women and men from being victims of sexual assault is one helpful step in the right direction, but what are we really going to do about it? On Sept. 19, 2014, President Obama and Vice President Biden delivered a speech regarding a new campaign titled "It's On Us." The purpose of this campaign was to create an awareness of sexual assault in hopes of reducing the number of sexual assaults taking place on college campuses all over the country. The campaign advertises a pledge to be signed by individuals on college campuses and various other institutions. The pledge is four statements long and comes with a few tips for following through with the signature. ASUU has posted them on their website. They are: 1.1 pledge to recognize that non-consensual sex is sexual assault. 2.1 pledge to identify situations in which sexual assault may occur. 3.1 pledge to intervene in situations where consent has not or cannot be given. 4.1 pledge to create an environment in which sexual assault is unacceptable and survivors are supported. These pledge statements are definitely helpful, and every college student on campus should be aware of them and should work harder to enforce them. However, signing a one-time pledge doesn't really seem like it is going to do the job. In addition, college campuses should require all students to take a sexual assault awareness course as part of their general education requirements. This way, all college students would be enrolled in an awareness course for half a semester. That seems like adequate time to get the point across and to really drill awareness and prevention into the minds of all college students. Some college students might groan at the thought of adding one more course to their already long list of general education requirements. However, perhaps colleges could make it so that this class covers one of the already required courses, or offer incentives for students to take this course. Sexual assault awareness certifications could be rewarded, and the class could be worth four credits instead of three. Students who are still averse to the thought of having to participate in a course like this have either themselves or their own peers to blame for careless behavior. In addition, a course should be offered for students who have fallen victim to sexual assault. This course could have therapeutic benefits and could aid in future prevention methods as well. letters@chronicle.utah.edu WORLD LEADERS NEED TO SPEAK UP FOR ARMENIA A pril 24 of this year is a day of great importance. It marks a century since unthinkable crimes against humanity were committed, since men were systematically murdered and women were brutally raped, since an entire ethnic group was displaced and killed. April 24, 1915, was the initiation of the Armenian Genocide, in which the Ottoman Empire systematically murdered over one million Armenians. To this day, the Turkish government states the annihilation of Armenians was merely a war tactic, and that the death marches, displacements and shootings were necessary to purge the empire of enemy forces. This disturbing denial has received support from the Western World, including America. While running for president, President Obama assured the American people that he would recognize the Armenian Genocide fully, but he has not yet followed through on that promise. While political leaders are too worried about hurting Turkey's feelings, there are millions of people who have yet to receive any kind of closure or retribution for the horrific crimes of the Ottoman Empire. Recently, Pope Francis courageously broke this silence by confronting the Turkish government about their crimes and pathetic attempt to cover up historical facts. According to NPR, the Pope boldly accused Turkey of the murder of approximately 1.5 million Armenians by calling the Armenian Genocide "the first genocide of the 20th century:' Francis then called on all persons of political power to recognize the genocide and admit the truth. Turkey's reaction only proves that the nation is trying to hide their atrocities — the Turkish government immediately recalled their ambassador to the Vatican. Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevliit cavusoglu tweeted about Pope Francis's statement, saying, "Religious offices are not places to incite hatred and revenge with baseless accusations." Is that not what Turkey has been doing for the past 100 years? They have quietly used their political power to keep other countries quiet about the Armenian Genocide. That is why President Obama and many other important political figures will not openly admit that the Turks deliberately killed the Armenians. They cannot afford to jeopardize their relations with Turkey. Turkey is promoting the hatred and ostracizing of the Armenian nation by bribing its allies with continued benefits from the nation of Turkey. As an Armenian with family members who were brutally disfigured by the Turks during their attempted ethnic cleanse, I find myself very frustrated by the current handling of the Armenian Genocide. It is not fair that millions of people are not acknowledged as victims and compensated for the crimes committed against them. It is not fair that Turkey has gained the support of the Western World because they are more economically beneficial to have as an ally than Armenia. It is not fair that the world has chosen to remain silent and pretend that the Armenian Genocide did not happen. If other political figures would follow the example of Pope Francis and no longer accept the deceit of the Turkish nation, then there would finally be justice for Armenia. The more 10 { THECHRONY I NEWS I OPINION I ARTS I SPORTS I MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015 } heads of state that recognize the Armenian Genocide, the more pressure Turkey will feel to admit to the crimes it committed. It is not possible for Turkey to cut diplomatic relations with every single country that does not support its fictitious account of what happened to a million Armenians, and that is why more political figures must take action. Pope Francis and the Vatican cannot enlighten the world on the slaughter of an ethnic group without the help and support of other diplomats. After the Holocaust, the entire world stood united against Germany and demanded that they compensate the Jews as much as possible for the crimes committed against them, so why is the world not doing the same for the Armenians? There are no more excuses. It has been one hundred years since the Armenian Genocide, and my people should not have to wait any longer to receive the apology they deserve. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends:" It is time to break the silence surrounding the Armenian genocide. Now. letters@chronicle.utah.edu I he Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is the federal government's gargantuan food stamp program. While the program is touted as "America's first line of defense against hunger" and is supposedly geared toward "improving the nutrition and health" of low-income households, it paradoxically serves as a colossal subsidy for the insatiable soda industry. Of the nearly $80 billion that taxpayers spend each year on SNAP, approximately $4 billion is siphoned off by soda companies. While SNAP recipients aren't necessarily at fault for spending their food stamps on sugary sodas, they should be prohibited from doing so. A recent study conducted by the Stanford Prevention Research Center found that placing a ban on the use of food stamps for sugary beverages would result in a significant reduction in obesity and type-2 diabetes among low-income households. The researchers concluded that, over a 10-year period, about 281,000 adults and 141,000 children in lowincome households across the country would dodge the obesity and diabetes bullet if this ban were implemented. In addition to the obvious health benefits for SNAP recipients, this regulation would save taxpayers a tremendous amount of money in medical expenses. Of course, this measure would be an 1320 E.200 S 582-0195 www.thepie.com Downtown Delivery 300 S. 1300 E. 582-5700 undeniably paternalistic one. It would arguably encroach upon the individual liberty of low-income citizens, and as such, it should be viewed with a healthy dose of skepticism. Yet to write off this proposed regulation on the basis of the rights of SNAP recipients would be comically hypocritical. The program is not designed to enable low-income people to indulge their sweet tooth — it is aimed at allowing them to meet their basic nutritional needs during difficult times. Sugary, carbonated beverages have absolutely zero nutritional value, and studies indicate that soda is physiologically addictive. Hence, soda does not align with the stated goals of SNAP, and in fact, it would seem to directly undermine those goals. As a taxpaying citizen, I vehemently object to the use of my hard-earned dollars in such a way that is detrimental to the programs that we, as a nation, have agreed to support. This proposed regulation is not an attack on the poor but rather a remedy for the undemocratic influence of the rapacious soda industry. The American public, including those who pay for and those who benefit from the expensive, but necessary food stamp safety net, does not benefit from the funneling of SNAP dollars into the already deep pockets of Big Cola. SNAP recipients are taken advantage of by deviant, strategically targeted marketing schemes and are coerced into adopting addictions to unhealthy, sugary and caffeinated soft drinks. While it is each individual's choice as to what to drink, regardless of the social consequences, it is not the responsibility of the American public to subsidize addiction or pad the pockets of this industry. Tobacco and alcohol cannot be purchased with SNAP dollars, and neither should sodas, as all three are incontestably counterproductive to the aim of the program and the well-being of our society. letters@chronicle.utah.edu IT'S TIME GRADUATE PROGRAMS AT WESTMINSTER IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: Business Communications Community Leadership Counseling Education Nursing WESTMINSTER yALT LANE CITY • LITAH 801.832.2200 westminstercollege.edu/grad VOTED BEST PIZZA By the Standard Examiner & City Weekly Reader ❑ r .17 V:7 Like us on *L. Facebook! ❑ • 11 |