By Kysa Harte
Editor's Note: This portfolio captures a series of images that were captured throughout the beginning of 2020. Each image and caption discuss varying topics. The portfolio features students from CUNY York College as well as a New York resident. This slideshow captures their thoughts on these varying topics. Do enjoy!
York College Student Reacts to Michael Bloomberg Running for President
During the 2020 presidential campaign season, the New York Times released an article which stated that Democrats were in trouble because of their running candidates. The article pinpointed Michael Bloomberg, the former Mayor of New York City, and spoke of how ill-prepared he was at one of the debates. Persons around New York started to voice their opinion on Bloomberg running for President, most of which were negative. Verly Gondre, 31, Economics Major and resident of Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, believes that Bloomberg did a great job as Mayor and sees no problem with him running for president. Gondre, aware that Bloomberg advocated for the ‘stop, question and frisk’ said that though this movement had bothered him, “No one is perfect. I’m sure when he made this decision, he thought it was in the city’s best interest. It was not his wisest decision but I’m sure he only had good intentions in his heart.” Bloomberg eventually dropped out of the presidential race and former Vice President, Joe Biden, has been chosen as from the Democratic party to run for president of the USA. (Photo Credit: Kysa Harte)
Female Students at York College React to the #MeToo Movement
The New York Times has published many articles about the #MeToo movement, most of which are stories that discuss the sexual injustices women have experienced. York College students, Sydney Ramsumair, 22, Accounting Major, resident of Jamaica, Queens, and a friend who asked to remain anonymous, both agreed that the movement was a very powerful one. Bill Cosby is one of the beloved celebrities that was accused of sexually harassing many women and the world was very shocked at the accused. About this, Ramsumair’s friend said, “I strongly believe that females should be comfortable in their workspace and even though jobs like acting are intimate, there should be boundaries.” Ramsumair’s friend said, “Hearing about Bill Cosby was shocking. It was crazy because we tend to portray people by the way they act on screen and it is kind of sad that we are made to believe they are harmless when they are not.” (Photo Credit: Kysa Harte)
Guyanese Immigrant Reacts to Political Crisis in Guyana
The New York Times has published many articles about Guyana, located in South America, some of which discuss the political crisis the country is experiencing. On March 2nd, 2020, the country had an early election in the hopes of finding a new president due to a no-confidence motion that was passed by the parliament in 2019. To date, the country has not yet chosen a president mainly because the two leading parties refuse to accept defeat- recounts of the votes are currently taking place. At first, supporters of the two main parties began to riot in the streets which caused several lives to be lost- now, the violence relating to this election has subsided. Dale Marshall, 36, entrepreneur and current resident of Queens Village, was born in Guyana and wanted to express his thoughts on what was happening in his home country. Marshall said, “I would not call it a crisis. Because the country is small, everything is magnified. I just think our people need to realize that they are Guyana’s future and we should take responsibility for how we want Guyana to be seen and felt for the next generation.” (Photo Credit: Kysa Harte)
York College Student’s Plea for Better Bathrooms
The New York Times reported on a Brooklyn high school and the unusable state its bathrooms were in. Though York College’s bathrooms are not unusable, there are problems in both the male and female stalls that need to be addressed and fixed. Tyrese Jackson, 20, Accounting Major and Junior at York College, has noticed the state the bathrooms are in and has seen good and bad changes over his years at the college but believes the bathroom’s state could be better. Several students have labeled the bathrooms unsanitary but Jackson says, “I wouldn’t say they’re unsanitary but they are not in the best shape to be in use for students.” Jackson also said, “Students should feel comfortable using the bathroom in their own school. They shouldn’t have to worry about which stall to use.” (Photo Credit: Kysa Harte)
Rebranding York College
The New York Times published an article that states that though the CUNY system is meant to provide affordable college for students, other affordability factors are not considered. On the 7th of February, 2020, the Student Government Association (SGA) body of York College and CUNY’s United States Senate (USS) hosted an informative event to discuss with CUNY students how certain CUNY institutions are not as catered to as others are. Abraham Richards, 22, Aviation major and resident of South Jamaica, Queens made a presentation that discussed problems with CUNY as well as problems some York College students experience, like food insecurity. Richards believes that certain inconveniences the college faces, such as a lack of cafeteria, is a disrespect to the black and brown students at the college. Richards also believes location plays a role in why these disrespects occur. He said, “If we take a school like York College, which is in South Jamaica, Queens, there’s not a lot of money going on there and that can play a part in why race and class may determine the kind of education we receive.” (Photo Credit: Kysa Harte)
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