The United States is considering deeming military drafts gender-inclusive, according to The New York Times. Currently, only able-bodied American men aged 18-25 are required to register for the Selective Service System, which is the nation’s apparatus for issuing mandatory enlistment into national service.  

United States immigrants are often pressured to choose an “American” name in place of their non-American birth names. This common practice stems from many reasons including easier pronunciation, less chance of discrimination and appreciation for their nation of refuge. 

Arizona’s new Chief of Education Kathy Hoffman called for a repeal of any law that prohibits schools from teaching homosexuality in a positive manner. Hoffman spoke out against legislation on what’s often referred to as “no promo homo” laws on Feb. 4, which prevent educators from portraying “homosexuality ‘as a positive alternative lifestyle,’” according to Tucson.com.

At the NFL’s Super Bowl LIII on Sunday Feb. 3, Maroon 5, Travis Scott and Big Boi performed during the famous halftime show. Although it is typically seen as an honor to receive this opportunity, this year many celebrities turned down the offer, standing in solidarity with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. 

Netflix released one of its newest original series, “You,” towards the end of 2018. The modern thriller follows the story of Joe Goldberg, a sociopathic bookstore manager played by Penn Badgley, as he obsesses over Guinevere Beck, a graduate student involved in a rich social-circle played by Elizabeth Lail. Goldberg controls Beck’s life in an emotionally abusive way, leading to a fatal ending.  

This alteration is unfavorable to the safety of collegiate students, of whom nearly 87 percent reside off-campus, according to The New York Times. One must also consider community colleges, where there are no dormitories on campus, potentially increasing the instances of sexual assault between students off-campus. 

The definition of exotic is “not native to the place where it is found” or “mysteriously different or unusual,” according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Along with America’s ever-growing diversity comes the use of the word “exotic” to describe people of non-white ethnicities.

New York University School of Medicine unveiled a new scholarship opportunity that will cover tuition for all of its current and future medical school students starting Aug. 16, according to CNN. The scholarship will be open to students of all academic and financial statuses. 

President Donald Trump proposed that the United States train and give some teachers concealed weapons following the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., according to The New York Times. 

The United States Army discreetly lifted the ban on waivers for possible recruits with a history of mental illnesses in early 2017, according to USA Today.