On September 30, 2014, eight professors at GTS were fired for exercising their basic (and legal!) rights as faculty members and as workers: the right to form a union. They demanded to meet to address issues that create a “hostile work environment." Their firing doesn’t just impact the professors, but the students and future leaders of the Church. As custodians and overseers of an institution charged with nurturing the next generation of Episcopalian leaders, it is the Board of Trustees’ responsibility to lead by example and practice worker relations that align with the values of the Church and honor workers’ legal and moral rights. At the 2102 General Convention, the Episcopal Church resolved to build networks in the labor movement and work with those in the labor movement to strengthen for a more just society, pledged to oppose legislative attempts that eliminate or reduce collective bargaining rights and consider union rights when making purchasing and contracting decisions. Given the Episcopal Church’s explicate opposition to retaliation and support of workers’ right to organize, the Board of Trustees must quickly reinstate these faculty members and meet with them as a collective bargaining unit.

We strongly feel that neither the Niagara Bottling Company nor any other water bottling company should have rights to take water from Cooper Lake, which is the water source for the City of Kingston and Woodstock. Cooper Lake is man made, and supplied by only one source. At a time when our climate is changing, more droughts, like the one of 2012, are likely to occur and our residents simply cannot afford to let our water be drawn out and sold to people in other regions. Water is for people, not corporate interests.

Many people can not own the dog of their choice because of insurance. This should not stop citizens from having the right to own the dog of their choice. I personally work with shelters that are full of these large breed dogs that are not being adopted because of a combination of the public's misconception of these animals and popular insurance policies not allowing ownership of these dogs.

Because the lack of a decision has created a great divide in this country. Same sex marriages are recognized by some states and in some instances and not in others. This is creating a real burden on gay families and government agencies that must deal with the problems created. The time has come for a uniform, national rule.

Dan Coyne gave a kidney to a person he casually knew and the story became a national news story. Chicago Public Schools found out he lived outside of the city, and they started procedures to fire him. Public pressure made them rescind the firing and gave him a life time waiver to not move into Chicago in 2010. Now, Barbara Bird Bennett said 'rules are rules' and reneged the waiver. He is a wonderful social worker and is needed to help families in Chicago.

Police dogs are police officers. If a criminal attacks a K9, he (or she) is charged with attacking a police officer. This officer should be held responsible for actions leading to the death of a fellow officer. He should be immediately dismissed from duty, shield taken away and pension lost. Benny was only 2 and had many more years left. Police need to understand these dogs are not just one of their accessories, like a gun or radio; they deserve respect. Let's give a voice to those that protect and serve, and that have no voice.

This is important, because this can happen to anyone. I have paid premiums to this Company for 21 years for the purpose of paying a claim when my home is damaged by wind. They continue refusing to pay my claim, just because they don't want to. They even have the nerve to substantially increase my rates each year.

To call on the coalition forces against the IS and the broader international community to take immediate action to prevent an impending disaster by supporting the Kurds in their fight for self-defense in Kobani.

We, the People, are working to stop this sale because it is against the best interests of the people.

The control of the United States' money supply should not be in the hands of a private corporation, 100% of whose shareholders are private banks. This is a conflict of interest on the part of the banks.

Waukegan teachers have been on strike since October 2nd. The Board of Education understands this means 17,000 students are out of class, but continues to sit on its hands and sends representatives with no power to make a deal. Teachers want a fair contract that includes provisions to improve health and safety conditions in the schools. More information ----> http://ow.ly/CrVpY

I'll never forget sitting in my first University level history class and learning about the atrocities committed by Christopher Columbus. This terrible man wrote in his journal about how easily he could conquer and govern the native people's of the New World. He maimed them, murderd them, and enslaved them. He used girls as young as 9 and 10 years old as sex slaves. All these atrocities are detailed in his journal. This is not revisionist ideology- this is historical fact and it is deplorable. We should not be honoring such a man with a holiday. It isn't just misleading, it's incredibly insensitive and disrespectful to his victims. I propose we change the name of this holiday to honor the memories and ancestors of his victims and the survivors of his depravity. I propose we re-name the holiday Indigenous People's Day. Let Utah join other states like Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, and South Dakota in making this change!