International disaster relief; mental health meetings; excessive use of social networks; appearance standards
Natalie Cohlmia: Developing countries: international disaster aid should not be based on status
When disaster strikes, developed countries respond quickly with adequate funds and supplies for other developed countries, but they must begin to have the same response for developing countries.
In 2019, when the Notre Dame Cathedral in France was destroyed by fire, help was immediate. In the span of 10 days, $835 million was donated, including a $100,000 donation from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. “There is no direct correlation between the cathedral and the university”, according to CNN. By contrast, very little financial aid was distributed after an explosion ruined much of Beirut, Lebanon, in 2020. This disaster claimed the lives of 218 people and caused $3.8-4.6 billion in damage. according to Al Jazeera. COVID has already hit this country hard, so this explosion led the country into a corruption-filled economic crash ever since. Private donations outweighed the little international aid Lebanon received, and that’s a problem. As a first-generation American with a Lebanese background, this obvious divide in disaster responses angers me.
This problem is felt in most developing countries and is unacceptable. When a disaster occurs in more favorable countries like France, a group of donations and international aid arises due to the economic situation of that country. When the same type of event occurs in a less favorable country like Lebanon, a prompt response is doubtful due to the economic situation in that country.
I believe that the international response after a disaster should be the same in all countries, regardless of economic status. Developed countries must do better. We need to do better.
Natalie Cohlmia, Boulder
Jason May: Mental Health: CU could have mandatory mental health meetings
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and their forced isolation, many vital mental and social skills were lost. Students who went through the pandemic during the thick of their high school career are the ones who are now entering college. Universities should have programs to help identify people struggling with mental health.
For example, during my sophomore year in high school when the COVID-19 pandemic began, school went virtual and continued virtually through the middle of my junior year. I felt like I was missing out on part of my high school experience. Missing out on so many events and social happenings took away the social skills I had accumulated throughout my life.
I’m from Dunwoody, GA, and I came to Boulder, CO. I am very far from my house. When I got to college and didn’t know anyone, I had to move into a new room, live in a different state, and go to school all at the same time. With all these new aspects of college coming my way, I never found enough time to make sure I was okay. Instead of focusing on my mental health and making sure I was in a good place, I focused on other things like school, Greek life, and social events. Having programs to help reach out and identify those students who need help with transition or even for any other reason could play an important role in improving mental health. The University of Colorado at Boulder may initiate a program where each student has a mandatory meeting with a mental health counselor once every two weeks. This will force students to practice talking about their problems and give them the opportunity to work on them with a person trained in the field.
jason may, rock
Tyler Christian: Mental Health: Teach Kids to Be Aware of Social Media Overuse
According to Health Line, after using social media, 85% of children reported negative effects on self-esteem, 85% reported negative effects on self-image, 83% reported increased anxiety, and 81% reported an increase in loneliness. I have experienced these negative side effects first hand and can agree that social media is a major contributor to these problems and we need to regulate its use among young people. It is known to affect child development by making children inattentive, antisocial, and can even lead to addiction. This problem has been trending upward year after year and it is time to address it and make a change to save future generations.
To address these issues, it is important to teach teens to be aware of their use of social media and the potential risks of excessive use. Parents and educators should also take steps to educate teens about the potential risks of excessive use, as well as the importance of setting limits for themselves in terms of time spent on social media. It is important to help teach teens to be open and honest with the adults in their lives, such as parents, teachers, or counselors, if they are experiencing any of the negative effects of social media. By following these steps, we can help teens maintain a healthy balance between their online and offline lives.
tyler christian, rock
Austin Lamkin: Appearance: Stop portraying good looks above all else
People are so focused on their appearance that they put their appearance before much more important things, which will destroy confidence. Therefore, people will undergo cosmetic surgeries in the hope of “looking better”, which will supposedly make them “feel better” and cure their insecurities and shyness. But do these cosmetic surgeries really have a significant effect on that?
People just need to stop caring so much about how they look in public and instead care more about who they are and how they act in public. Sometimes the smallest things can control every aspect of someone’s life. But for the future, when you find yourself in that situation, take a step back and ask yourself, “Are these bad things about me really true?” Most likely, the answer is always no, not everyone thinks the same way. Everyone has different perspectives, and people should love you for who you are as a person, not for some physical feature of yours.
Society has to stop portraying good looks above all else. It is not healthy and can be harmful to specific groups of people. Plastic surgery can make you feel better, but is it worth doing based on other people’s perspective of you? Comparing yourself to others is one of the worst things you can do to yourself. Instead of sinking into sadness over the things you don’t like about yourself, find the things you like about yourself and embrace them. Don’t listen to what society has to say about you, listen to what you have to say about yourself.
Austin Lamkin, Rock