Strong public schools = strong communities! Stop robbing public education through ESAs!!!

To whom it may concern: We write as former College Hill Independent editors and contributors. We were dismayed to learn about looming cuts to the Indy and other campus publications, which could force many outlets to end their printed editions altogether. The Undergraduate Finance Board slashed budgets “out of the blue” and without explanation, according to editors quoted in an April 18 Brown Daily Herald article. Students deserve better. For us and many others, the Indy was central to our education, to building community both on-campus and off-, and to gaining the practical experience that helped us build careers in writing, publishing, and design. The loss of the paper's print edition will mean a decline in the role the Indy plays on campus and in Providence at large, and a sharp reduction in the breadth and depth of the education it offers to students interested in exploring careers in media and the arts. Hundreds of students at Brown and RISD contribute to the Indy every year. They come from a wide variety of backgrounds to express themselves through journalism, fiction, criticism, illustration, and more. The Indy provides a single forum for their collaboration, cutting across disciplinary boundaries and bringing diverse interests into direct conversation. The paper is run by consensus. We worked together to meet layout and print deadlines, debate controversial editorial decisions, and collectively determine the direction of the publication. At the completion of each issue, we felt proud to have created an object that represented not just our individual viewpoints but our ability to work together. As more than 25 years of archives can show, the paper provides an ongoing record of the issues that students have found most urgent. Because the paper is distributed throughout Providence, print has always been more than just a medium for the Indy. It is also a physical manifestation of Brown and RISD’s connection to to the larger Providence community. Students, faculty, and staff are very much a part of the life of Providence, and a print publication distributed beyond College Hill provides an opportunity to engage and critique the institutions' roles. Many of us have gone on to have careers in graphic design, newspaper journalism, and publishing. Our contributions to the Indy came stapled to our first job applications. Killing the print paper would disadvantage current students hoping to pursue similar vocations. We urge the Undergraduate Finance Board to reverse course. Restore full funding to the Indy and other campus publications, and protect Brown's commitment to student-run, student-organized publications.

The purpose of this petition is to demand a fair, independent, non-partisan investigation with broad subpoena powers, led by a special independent counsel to investigate the possible collusion by Trump and several Trump associates with Russia's hacking of the 2016 election in Trump's favor, and the continued ties by Trump and his administration with Russia since the inauguration.

I care about Missouri's children! I care about Missouri's economic health. I am against economic segregation and our children - rich or poor - deserve quality healthcare.

To demand that DNC leadership immediately put leaders from the reproductive health, rights and justice field in positions of decision making authority at the DNC. We ask that this be more than one person and that women of color reproductive justice leaders be among these appointees. We also ask that the party recommit publicly to centralizing support of champions and candidates with stellar reproductive health voting records in the party priorities.

We have all been affected by this issue, watching President Trump enrich himself and his family publicly and who knows how much privately making erratic and bizarre changes in policy we can't address since we have no knowledge to go on!

Seeking to prevent famine in Yemen, Indiana Senator Todd Young has called on Saudi Arabia not to attack the key port of Hodeida, to reform its inspection regime at Hodeida to eliminate delays in the delivery of humanitarian supplies, and to facilitate the delivery of U.S.-funded World Food Program cranes to Hodeida that would dramatically increase the port’s humanitarian aid capacity. [1] The Trump Administration is reportedly seeking new commitments from Saudi Arabia to protect civilians as it weighs resuming sales of precision-guided munitions to Saudi Arabia. [2] Many doubt whether Saudi Arabia is capable of acting on such assurances, even if they were made in good faith. [3] Senators Murphy, Paul, Durbin, and Franken have introduced legislation [SJRes.40] that would put the onus on the Administration to certify that Saudi Arabia is protecting civilians before arms sales to Saudi Arabia could go through. [4] By co-sponsoring SJRes.40, Senator Young would strongly signal to the Administration that "required civilian protection" before arms sales can proceed includes "don't attack Hodeida and allow food aid to enter Hodeida to prevent famine." Urge Senator Young to co-sponsor SJRes.40 by signing our petition. References: 1. https://www.young.senate.gov/content/following-mattis-visit-young-calls-saudi-government-help-alleviate-humanitarian-crisis-yemen 2. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-saudi-yemen-idUSKBN17M2ZK 3. https://www.justsecurity.org/40173/seeks-assurances-saudis-civilian-casualties-but-possible/ 4. https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/40

Resist Trump's push for wall funding by next week or else he will withdraw funding from medical care. If they refuse to fund the border wall this week, he is threatening to veto the bill and shut down the government. He is also telling Democrats that he will withdraw federal dollars from Obamacare subsidies if they don't fall in-line as well.

The American people do not know which businesses are approaching the White House to lobby for their own self interests. We do know the White House is manipulating regulations to support big business at the expense of American workers and the environment. We have a right to know who is approaching the White House to request "special favors". This affects us all.

Because we should not forget that Ronald Regan, a Republican, begged Soviet Premier Gorbachev to tear down the Wall that divided Berlin. Who do we think we are using my tax payer money to build a wall that the majority of Americans do not want. Use our tax dollars to help America and Americans.

Climate Change is the Biggest issue of our times. It underlies and exacerbates issues of food insecurity and health, and is tossed around as if it's just politics as usual. We cannot continue to let the issue be normalized to a normal debate. It's time we do something to hold media accountable.

It has been weeks, if not months, since I have seen or heard anything about the water sin Flint. We must not allow our state government, Governor and legislature, to forget that the situation still exists.