Princeton Summer Journalism Program

By Perla Duran & Stephanie Garcia (Credit: Palzewicz for Wisconsin)Democratic congressional candidate Tom Palzewicz came up short in his 2018 bid to represent Wisconsin’s fifth district in the House of Representatives, but amid the coronavirus crisis, he believes he’ll fare better this time around with a strong emphasis on healthcare policy.Palzewicz is not new to the political atmosphere. He initially ran in 2018 but lost to Republican Jim Sensenbrenner. This was understandable, given that the 5th congressional district is primarily Republican. The 5th district consists of Wisconsin’s wealthier suburbs, making it difficult for Palzewicz to promote Democratic ideas and policies. However, despite his loss and disadvantages, Palzewicz feels confident in his ability to win, going as far as to say that he “needs to win” this election due to our current political climate. He has marketed himself as a man of the people, one willing to bring about social reform in Wisconsin. Palzewicz has an agenda filled with ideas he hopes to accomplish if elected. He is passionate about healthcare for all Wisconsinites. When asked about his plans to improve healthcare, he explained, “We’re trying to push our Republican legislators to increase our Medicaid.  I think we’re the last one of the last States in the country to not accept Medicaid money- I think we should lower the Medicare age to about 50 because I think that’ll take care of a lot of different people… there shouldn’t be any medical debt and yes, we should wipe it away.” He expressed his attempts to engage with the community and to speak with them on anything and everything relating to healthcare. In addition to this, he also took a few jabs at his opposition by stating that the Republicans have been strongly opposed to fixing healthcare.If one thing is for certain, it is that Palzewicz is passionate about healthcare. This is something he claims many individuals from his district are in favor of. However, he allows this passion to overshadow his other policies, some of which are merely ideas, rather than fully fledged policies that can become a reality. One policy that he struggled to tackle effectively was police reform and mass incarceration. He admitted that systemic racism is a problem; however, he failed to explain how he planned to resolve these issues. In addition to this, he reverted back to talking about his ideas and concerns surrounding health care during the press conference.According to a new ACLU study, “Wisconsin ranked 14th in the nation for the largest racial disparities in arrests for marijuana possession,” contributing to its high prison population. When asked about his plans to combat mass incarceration in Wisconsin, he seemed to not have a concrete response and responded by saying “I think by legalizing marijuana, we will be able to cut down on a lot on different penalty violations that are sending, I would say an exorbitant, a number of people of color, to prison for things that white people generally wouldn’t go to prison for.” He seems to have an idea, but forgets that many people of color are incarcerated due to racial profiling. Legalizing marijuana would not be enough to solely combat the entire system. When confronted with this point, he stated, “So we need to either create more jobs in the city, which is already what we’re working on, but it’s not fast enough.” Another one of his points that he briefly mentioned was immigration. When asked about his plans to help undocumented immigrants, since they are not able to receive a stimulus check from the government, Palzewicz said, “I would do two things. One is, there are no penalties for people hiring undocumented workers… you never hear anything about the businesses that hire them. And what that allows businesses to do is create unsafe working environments and make pay lower than minimum wage.” His second point mentioned that when the government punishes undocumented workers and businesses, this takes away opportunities from undocumented workers. Businesses would not resort to hiring these workers because they fear the penalties. Palzewicz also included that there needs to be an easier path to citizenship for immigrants. If immigrants had easier access to citizenship, then perhaps during this time, they would be receiving their stimulus check. 

By Abednego Togas and Kaysia Harrington(Credit: Gage Skidmore)After a heated presidential primary season, in which over 20 candidates ran extensive campaigns for the Democratic nomination, former Vice President Joe Biden secured 1,991 delegates and, with them, the title of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. The news of Biden’s nomination, however, has spurred conversation on the sincerity of his progressive stances, his appeal to youth voters, and his ability to defeat incumbent President Donald Trump in November 2020. After growing public concern regarding President Trump’s handling of race relations and the Covid-19 pandemic, June polls showed Biden with a commanding lead. But with months to go until November, students at the Princeton Summer Journalism Program indicated that Biden may have trouble winning over young voters.“I just think that it’s kind of getting terrifying that we come to a point where we’re just voting for the lesser of two evils,” said Anne Tchuindje, 17, a high school student from Washington D.C. Tchuindje expressed concerns not unlike those that overwhelmed many Americans during the 2016 election. High school students attending the Princeton program characterized Biden’s campaign as being designed to defeat Trump, rather than present policies.“His main schtick is ‘I’m not Donald Trump. I’m a good guy. I was Obama’s VP,’” said Stephanie Garcia, 16, of New York. “I feel like that in itself is a problem because, as a candidate, we have no clear view as to what he wants to do with America.”While some do not see Biden’s vision for the future, other students are worried about Biden’s past. For Alexa Figueroa, 17, of Maryland, Biden’s history as Vice President under the Obama administration and as the former U.S. Senator from Delaware has been too deleterious for minority communities to ignore.“In the past, he’s been anti-immigration, anti-imposing policies that will benefit the immigrant community, and now he is trying to say he is shifting into helping a better pathway to citizenship,” she said. “He’s pushing toward more reform and for making things better, but I think that contradicts with what he stood for before.” Tchuindje agrees. Biden’s past decisions, such as writing the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, left her wondering if his progressive image is a front. Students also say Biden’s missteps on race are not just in the past.“If you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t Black,” Biden said on the popular radio show “The Breakfast Club” on May 22. Asked about the comments, Tchuindje said that Biden and the Democratic party, in general, tends to pander to Black voters but affect no real change. “They only ever really talk about things that affect black people when it’s election time,” said Tchuindje. “They make all these promises… only to create policies that hurt more and more Black people.” But despite the students’ concerns about backlash against Biden’s win and skepticism about his new progressive stances, it appears as if the Princeton program’s youth are still hopeful that ongoing social movements and those accepting “the lesser of two evils” will sway Biden into actually imposing progressive legislation. “I know that Trump and him are similar in many ways, but he’s still a Democrat and he still has some type of progression in him,” said Figueroa. “And [those] policies are something that we need over Trump, who is just ruining everything.”

By Myanna Nash & Tara Monastesse (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann) Sarah Furtado is relieved she won’t turn 18 in time to vote in the 2020 Presidential Election this fall. Furtado, 17, considers both major candidates—President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden—extremely underwhelming, only deciding to “settle” for supporting Biden out of a personal resolve to remove Trump from office. “The thing is, I don’t like very many politicians,” Furtado, who is from Vero Beach, Fla., said. “I don’t think either [Trump or Biden] can lead America well.”Stephen Kim, a 17-year-old from Los Angeles, is also suspicious about Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee. Because of Biden’s record in office, Stephen’s views on him were negative. Kim continuously referred to Biden as the “same” as any other politician who isn’t really for the public.Kim said he couldn’t “respect” Biden after the former Vice President said black voters who support President Trump “ain’t black." "That’s one of the main reasons I can’t vote for Biden,” Kim said. Kim also doesn’t believe Biden would defeat President Trump. Because of the political trends he feels that Trump has an advantage as an incumbent, especially when “America is such an ignorant place at a time like this.” Kim said he wants the president to prioritize education.  “The president has to be able to improve our public education system, as well as public colleges especially schools in poor areas,” he said.Furtado agreed that education should be a priority for any President: “I think violence and mental health issues would be a lot better if we had an education system that actually cares about the students.”Itzel Luna, a 16-year-old from California, is very passionate about politics because of her family’s history with immigration. Luna, who is a Democrat, says she would happily vote when she has the ability to.When it comes to Biden, Luna has “mixed feelings.” She doesn’t support much of his past record in office, but if she could vote she would cast her ballot in support of Joe Biden. She feels a person who stands for the public is what matters the most when choosing the next president. But Melanie Paredes, 17 and from the Bronx, believes the educated younger generation will push a potential President Biden to be more progressive.Paredes, who won’t be eligible to vote in 2020, identifies as a Democrat but still has mixed feelings on Biden as a presidential candidate, especially due to his track records with women and minorities. She is particularly concerned over his role in the passage of the 1994 crime bill. But she acknowledged that she felt some good had come from his policies, and she would vote for him if she was able.“[Biden’s] not exactly appealing to the new generation, but… since the new generation is more educated on government issues, I think that they will be able to make him appeal to us,” Paredes said “So, if he doesn’t do it, we’ll make him do it.” 

By Paola Ruiz(Credit: Ronny Coste from Unsplash)As Covid-19 progresses, the blindfold on society’s eyes descends and it becomes clear who and what the backbone of the United States is. Currently the term “essential” is omnipresent, “essential workers” and “essential businesses” finally seen and recognized for serving society.When describing bodegas, the term “essential” is synonymous with “lifeline,” as many people depend on the care, services, and income rendered from bodegas. As a result, for many Americans, bodegas are like a family. Juan Valerio, owner of Deli Grocery at 1512 Washington Avenue in the Bronx, migrated from the Dominican Republic with aspirations of becoming a professional athlete. Unexpectedly, he was embraced by the bodega business, which became his anchor.“I didn’t choose to be a bodega owner,” Valerio said in a recent interview conducted in Spanish, but “that was all I learned.” Bodegas offer a helping hand to those often overlooked: minorities, immigrants, people of color, people facing language barriers — the same people being recognized as essential. Valerio entered the bodega business out of necessity as an immigrant. Now, after 30 years, he owns a bodega among other businesses. When he needed a support system, he gravitated towards bodegas where he was welcomed into the family, and taught everything he lives by. Valerio was not only abundantly blessed through the help of bodegas, but he also became that blessing for others around him. “I have to work hard for the two sons I have,” he said. Bodegas are essential to owners like Valerio because they provide a source of income that will help sustain the owner and their families. Bodegas are also a lifeline for customers because they serve them with intentionality and care. Bodegas come alive as they serve and care for their community and their family. The hardships of Covid-19 helped enhance that truth, as bodegas have continued being cornerstones for their neighborhoods. Youssef Mubarez, a bodega owner in New York and spokesperson for the Yemeni American Merchants Association, said, “The bodega owner on my corner [said] he’s getting a new shipment of hand sanitizer next week and gave me his.” Like plenty of businesses, bodegas are losing money, but they are so vital to the livelihood of so many that closing would be detrimental for the overall good of the community.Furthermore, bodegas bestow the blessing of care on customers and employees. “I drive [the employees] home so they don’t have to use public transportation,” Valerio said. “When it comes to facing adversity as a bodega owner, it is important to remember that these bodegas really are the lifeline of a lot of these communities,” said Mubarez. Along with benefiting communities in the U.S., bodegas also impact the world. “[From] 2017-19, 3.7 billion dollars were sent each year to Yemen through personal money transfers, which made up 16 percent of Yemen’s GDP,” said Mubarez.Bodegas aren’t just a support system to local communities, but also internationally to suffering countries. As more bodegas shut down due to Covid-19, this lifeline is exterminated, affecting economies globally. Bodegas — made up of immigrants, people of color, and youth — are a reflection of the foundations of this country. Bodegas support and uplift their neighbors, cities, states, country and world. They carry hope for their communities, near and far, many and few, by serving with care and creating family.

By Maggie Salinas, Chastina Simmons, and Abednego Togas (Credit: Palzewicz for Wisconsin)In a July 16 press conference, Wisconsin Democratic congressional candidate Tom Palzewicz criticized current COVID-19 leadership and offered his plans for police reform. Palzewicz, who is running to replace retiring Republican Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner in Wisconsin’s 5th district, had his qualms about the federal government’s handling of COVID-19. “I don’t have any faith that the current administration is going to do anything before November 3rd,” Palzewicz said. Instead, he believed the problem will “be up to states… and up to governors to figure this out.”With Wisconsin currently home to one of the fastest COVID-19 spread in the United States, Palzewicz believed that wearing masks should be residents’ chief priority to decrease the virus’ spread. “If we just put masks on, we have a much better chance of moving forward,” he explained. Palzewicz, who lost to Sensenbrenner in 2018, also discouraged the return to a traditional school setting because of the lack of mask laws, universal testing, and an insufficient contact tracing system. He believed that “we need to lower expectations of what’s possible until we can get to either treatment or a vaccine.”The Navy veteran and small business owner also spoke in detail about his plans for reforming the police system. When asked about what he would do to combat police brutality and mass incarceration, Palzewicz said he does not believe in defunding the police. Rather, his proposal is for “investment and reinvestment” in the police department, reallocating some funds spent on police activities to areas like mental health. He also said he opposes qualified immunity, believing that police should be charged the same way as any civilian when they commit a crime. “We need to use our criminal laws in a much better way with our police force right now,” he said.His plan also included better de-escalation training for police and eliminating officers’ use of military grade weapons. Many problems with policing, he said, are rooted in departments becoming increasingly militaristic. “People shouldn’t get to buy anything that’s meant for the military. If the military is not going to use it, they shouldn’t buy more,” Palzewicz said.But overall, Palzewicz said, he does not believe that defunding the police department is the best solution. “It doesn’t necessarily solve the problem,” he said.

By Itzel Luna and Melanie Paredes (Biden at signing of the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act) When Joe Biden entered national politics, Richard Nixon was president and the first hand-held cell phone call was still months away. In the decades since, Biden’s views have shifted on everything from criminal justice to marriage equality. Though some voters see this openness to change as an asset, many young people view it as cause for suspicion: What does Biden really believe?Crystyna Barnes is 17 and lives in Elm City, North Carolina. Identifying as homoflexible, she worries about Biden’s commitment to the queer community. She noted how, in 1996, as a U.S. senator from Delaware, he voted for the Defense of Marriage Act, which barred federal recognition of same-sex marriage. Yet, as the presumptive Democratic nominee, he presents himself as an LGBTQ ally.When asked whether she would vote for Biden, Barnes said, “Yes, sadly. Not with much excitement. It has made me very hesitant because do I want somebody who will appoint Democratic Supreme Court justices? I would still like to get married and all that fun stuff.”Abednego Togas, 17, said his biggest issue with Biden is his role in passing “tough on crime” legislation. Biden helped author the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, which critics regard as a major contributor to mass incarceration. Togas was unmoved by Biden’s recent pledge to do away with mandatory minimum sentences.“He has an abhorrent history with the criminal justice system … by supporting crime laws that really heavily impacted Black populations and perpetuated institutional racism,” said Togas, who lives in Silver Spring, Maryland. “I don’t think he’s the best candidate for tackling those issues.”To another student, even Biden’s understanding of Black voters—the voters central to his primary victory—was questionable. Kaysia Harrington, a 17-year-old from Owensboro, Kentucky, mentioned Biden’s infamous interview on the radio show The Breakfast Club, where he said, “if you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black.”“It’s not necessarily racist. It’s just ignorant,” she said. “As someone who’s supposed to represent this country, that’s not something he should ever even think to say or is appropriate to say.”Both Togas and Harrington expressed reluctant hope that Biden would pick a vice president who is a more reliable progressive. Regardless, Togas preferred Biden to President Trump, calling the incumbent a threat to the country. “Honestly at this point, we’re the people, and we can’t have a cycle of complacency,” Togas said. “It is on us to hold [Biden] accountable and hold him up to his promises.”

By Abednego Togas Before COVID-19 (SARS-COV-2) made its way to the United States, teenagers like seventeen-year-old Althea had much to look forward to: learning how to drive, an incoming sports season, hanging out with friends, all of which were either interrupted or suspended indefinitely by the pandemic. In April of this year, Althea’s mother contracted the virus⁠—presumably from her workspace⁠—and had to self-isolate at home. (To read Abednego Togas’s full piece, click here.)

By Stephanie Garcia It is almost human nature to question what is around us, to discover and understand the unknown. In the ancient world, questioning and seeking for answers to life’s mysteries was met with mixed opinions. Nonetheless, the contributions of these philosophers are valuable to our contemporary society. They ultimately paved the way for intellectual curiosity. The practice of philosophy is no longer as frowned upon as in the past, but there are still problems with the old practice. The main issue is whether or not the study of philosophy is still relevant in our science-based society. After all, philosophy is no longer as prevalent in our society, but does that mean that it should die off? (To read Stephanie Garcia’s full piece, click here.)

An Immigrant’s StoryBy Maggie SalinasMy father, Carmelo Salinas, immigrated to the U.S. in the 1970s when he couldn’t find work in Mexico. He was only 17, and he supported himself by picking pears in Southern California. We recently discussed how hard those early years in America were after he kept his experiences silent from everyone for years. (To read Maggie Salinas’s full piece, click here.)

By Stephen Kim and Sarah Furtado(Photo by Gage Skidmore via Flickr)Mention Joe Biden to teenagers, and prepare for a geyser of vitriol and disgust. “I think Biden is a racist… he is no better than Trump,” said Perla Duran, 16, of Newark, NJ. Duran, who identifies as a political independent, pointed to comments she found offensive, such as when Biden recently said Black people are “not Black” if they have trouble choosing between him and President Trump.The former Vice President and Delaware Senator has a long way to go with young people, according to several interviews with high school students. Many were rooting for progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to win the Democratic nomination instead. Kaysia Harrington, 17, of Owensboro, KY, called Biden a “centrist coward” who was unlikely to push for policies like universal healthcare. In her view, Biden failed to deliver for people of color throughout his career; for example, he helped write the “tough on crime” Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which activists say fueled the mass incarceration of Black Americans in the decades that followed.Biden’s victory in the Democratic primary, Harrington said, proves that those who are “a part of the establishment remain in power.”It’s not that these students are Trump supporters — if eligible to vote in November, many would support Biden. Rather, they felt the upcoming election was proof that the current political system, which according to the students gave voters two flawed candidates, is untenable. Abednego Togas, 17, of Silver Spring, MD, said he was “disappointed but really not surprised” that Biden became the presumptive Democratic nominee. “People in power maintain their position,” Togas said.Crystyna Barnes, 17, from Elm City, NC, agreed. When asked about her party affiliation, she said, “I’m independent, because I think both parties are basically the same. One just tries to look nicer.”Barnes said that Biden “reminded [her] of a Republican,” but might win her over if he supported free public college, universal health care, and higher tax rates for the wealthy, like Sen. Sanders. Harrington agreed, saying that her opinion on Biden will not change unless he promotes more “progressive legislation.”But despite their disdain for the Democratic nominee, the students made it clear that they still think President Trump is the greater threat. Come election time — however reluctantly — they’ll settle for Joe Biden.

By Yeabsira Moges Silver Spring, MD. V never anticipated that she would be unable to find work after her temp job ended. She had been living in a small, cramped apartment in the middle of Trenton, New Jersey,  with her husband and 4-year-old daughter. A recent college graduate and new mother, V had been searching for full-time […]

By Itzel Luna Sylmar, CA. When Juan Valerio’s customers pick up their morning coffees and sandwiches at his New York bodega, there are no more intimate conversations and warm welcomes. Only smiles hidden behind facemasks and muted transactions through plexiglass. But all that matters to his regulars is that Deli Grocery is open. “Bodegas are something essential for […]

By Finley Williams Chicago, IL. Labor organizer Ada Fuentes was raised in a working class family in the mostly immigrant community of Chelsea, Massachusetts, a densely populated city that sits across from Boston on the low banks of the Mystic River. Her mother spent long hours baking bread for nearby grocery stores, and, finding that insufficient, […]

By Kayla Bey Lilburn, GA. Mauricio Vazquez, a 19-year-old rising sophomore at Chapman University and Princeton Summer Journalism Program alum, was alarmed when he logged onto his computer days before finals week and saw he had an F in his class. After switching his evaluation from letter grades to pass/fail, Vazquez ended up barely passing. […]

By Isaac Monks Tahlequah, OK One day in March 2016, V arrived home to see an eviction notice on the doorstep of her apartment in New Jersey. She frantically threw her personal belongings in bags to take with her. While collecting her belongings, she heard a faint police siren on its way to lock her out of […]

By Aigner Settles Pennsauken, N.J. It was an early June morning when Nicholas Wu, 24, decided to go for a casual jog in Washington D.C. Wu had been jogging by himself with his headphones, when he was suddenly disrupted by an older Caucasian woman screaming at him to stay away. He had not approached the woman, nor had he […]

Jake, a Jindo terrier mix, has been treated to longer walks with his owner, Laura Wagner, during the pandemic. (Photo by Laura Wagner) By Chastina Simmons and Sarah Furtado Stone Mountain, Ga. and Vero Beach, Fla. The global pandemic caused by the coronavirus has hit everyone like a truck. Health scares, quarantines, and school closings […]

By Daniel Sanchez Boca Raton, Fla. A natural opening for this story might have been focused on an individual, a relatable human being who was assisted by a mutual aid fund. But focusing on just one person would defeat the purpose of looking at a cooperative economic initiative. Jessica Gordon Nembhard, an economics professor at […]

K. Mitch Hodge By Stephanie Garcia Bronx, N.Y. It is human nature to question what is around us. In the ancient world, questioning and seeking answers to life’s mysteries was met with mixed opinions. Nonetheless, the contributions of these philosophers are valuable to our contemporary society. They ultimately paved the way for intellectual curiosity. The […]

Maggie Salinas By Tara Monastesse Warwick, R.I. Andromache, or Andy, played by Charlize Theron, is the battle-hardened leader of a group of immortal warriors who serve as de facto protectors of the planet. In “The Old Guard,” Andy finds her crew targeted by greedy scientists who plan to kidnap them, extract their biological data, and […]