We need a national anthem that unites Americans to form "a more perfect union," We need an anthem that celebrates our diversity which makes America "a meting pot of cultures and ideas" so that we can lead the world in peace and human achievements toward the betterment of mankind and the preservation of our planet. We must unshackle ourselves from our current anthem that celebrates war with bombs bursting and references to slavery.

Trump's Education Department announced last week that universities were free to raise the bar for evidence in holding students responsible for rape. This move rescinded two Obama-era protections for victims of sexual assault, making campuses across the nation more dangerous. Halfway through my second year at Grinnell College in Iowa, I was sexually assaulted. I think frequently about how much less safe my school was for the people around me, who continued to attend class and live with my rapist. Despite my rapist facing no punitive action, Grinnell took some steps toward preventing sexual violence: during my time in college, between 5 and 10 repeat offenders in their class were suspended or expelled for Title IX infractions. Despite my own abuser remaining on campus, I felt safer knowing that serial rapists were not welcome in our community. Betsy DeVos just took away that security. The security that needed to be expanded, not eliminated, for gender justice. We cannot sit back and allow our communities of learning to become dangerous for all students, and safe for perpetrators of violence. Sign on to tell Betsy DeVos and the Trump administration that we won’t stand for keeping rapists on our college campuses.

The United States Trade Representative has pledged to wrap up the NAFTA renegotiation by years end (2017). We need to tell Congress now what a renegotiated NAFTA that puts people and the planet first before corporations looks like. Congress must say no to a trade deal that includes ISDS.

I write for La Bloga and our work is a vital life line to Latinx writers, readers, and all literate people.

New Haven Residential Treatment Center has been abusing and neglecting minors with mental health who have been placed in their care. Students are threatened not to talk, including removing phone privileges and contact with the outside world, in order to prevent them from speaking out. All staff are legally mandated reporters, yet the incidents are majorly underreported. Most incidents are shoved under the rug as "attention seeking" or "behavioral issues." Students who attempted to leave campus to call the cops were physically restrained and lost phone privileges. Alumni started to post on their Facebook page. Reviews were turned off and posts were deleted. New Haven should be a haven first and a business second. They have refrained from responding to reports of abuse in order to save face, completely neglecting the needs of those they claim to help. Please hold New Haven liable for their actions and protect the girls there currently. Give them a voice! http://fox13now.com/2017/09/26/utah-county-therapist-arrested-for-alleged-sexual-abuse-of-underage-girl/ This incident happened at New Haven, yet they have not commented on it and their name was emitted from the article. Please stop protecting this horrible institution!! Their business and money don't matter when the lives of so many teens are at risk!

I have numerous family members suffering. It is a humanitarian crisis. They are Americans and nothing should get in the way of helping them.

Many of us use the grad lounge exclusively so that we can have meetings, study, and discuss world issues with our peers in the Masters level programs. It is our goal to have our only dedicated room given back to us or an immediate replacement given.

I am starting this petition because of the life-threatening situation in Puerto Rico. Every moment during this time of crisis is vital to saving lives. Without medical supplies, water, food and fuel Americans will die. I hope by coming together we draw attention and help Puerto Rican Americans receive the aid they so desperately need.

We should no longer be forced to send our tax money to billionaire team owners or millionaire players.

It has come to our attention that there are a number of (non-medical) vaccine exemptions in our schools and no standard guidelines for vetting them. Please see the full statement here: http://bit.ly/927vaxx

I was born in Puerto Rico, home to 3.4 million American citizens. My parents are still on the island in Bayamon, a town near the capitol city of San Juan. As a New York state senator from the Bronx, many of my constituents are Puerto Rican--so what's happening is personal for me. And I need it to be personal for you, as well. Hurricanes Irma and Maria have laid waste to my home. Nearly half of the country has no access to clean water. The majority of Puerto Rico still has no electricity. No access to medical care. No way to communicate. But thus far the responses from Congress and FEMA have not come close to addressing the tragic destruction and human suffering on the island. Numerous credible sources report that basic relief functions are in shameful chaos. And as time passes, this is only going to get worse. Here’s what’s needed right now from Congress: 1. Demand FEMA adequately address this tragedy by devoting the immediate people-power and resources that Puerto Ricans need and deserve. 2. Cancel Puerto Rico’s $73 billion predatory debt. 3. Pass a significant relief and recovery package, that includes a permanent end to the Jones Act, so that Puerto Rico has the resources both for this acute crisis and for the longer rebuilding process. Puerto Rico must rebuild, but the same vultures who caused this crisis are going to try and make money off of Puerto Rico’s rebuilding and we cannot let that happen. Look, I have been able to speak to my parents twice and they are OK so far. They had enough food and water for a week—but time is running out. And I’m lucky that I’ve been able to reach them. Constituents are coming into my office who can’t reach their families. One man can’t reach his mother, doesn’t know if she has access to medicine, and is worried about her survival. We’re doing what we can in our office to support our constituents—but we need Congress and FEMA to do more. MUCH more. And do it now.

The form for this could be very simple: 1) How many employees of this company were paid at least 65% of the US median wage this year? 2) How many employees of this company were paid at least 65% of the US median wage last year? 3) Subtract line 2 from line 1 4) Multiply line 3 by 20% of the median wage 5) Enter line 4 as a tax credit on line…. of form … Cutting taxes for the rich does not create jobs. Reagan tried it and tripled the national debt. Bush II tried it and doubled the national debt. Brownbeck tried it and ran up a huge debt. Some companies that took advantage of Bush’s tax holiday actually reduced their domestic payrolls.