2,170 results
to satisfy the University of South Carolina’s language requirement. Since 2019, ASL has beenRead more
Kristen CarneyUnited States
1,422 supporters
Created February 1, 2022
Petition to Florida State University Students, Florida State University Alumni, Florida State University faculty
This petition is for the students, alumni, faculty and supporters of Florida State University urging the University to implement a new graduation requirement that all students be enrolled in a course relating to race and ethnicity, racism and/or Black history in the United States. As of now, no required credit such as this one exists for all students — it only exists for specific major/minor areas. This petition is suggesting that we add a NEW REQUIRED CREDIT to the graduation checklist for ALL FSU STUDENTS regardless of course of study. Not only would this policy increase education and understanding among the FSU student body on the issues that Black Americans face in the United States every single day, but it would be an opportunity for the university to act as a role model for the community.
After noticing that other schools such as the University of Florida and the University of South Carolina have taken action and started various petitions to change their academic curriculum in order to become part of a positive change, it is time that Florida State follows suit.
Currently, white students make up an overwhelming majority of the student body at FSU at 62.4%. Black or African American students make up only 8.2% of the entire student body. It is difficult to prepare students for a successful future when the demographics of the school do not represent the current society we live in. Students must learn about different cultures, backgrounds and ethnicities if they wish to be successful in the real world. Although Florida State students are required to fulfill humanities, social sciences and history requirements the course catalog is overflowing with options and therefore students are self-selecting which courses to take. Not to mention, many students come into college with these requirements already satisfied either through AP credits or dual enrollment and they are not required to take any supplemental classes. Emily Walton, an associate professor at Dartmouth College explains it best by stating that “requiring a course on race and ethnicity for all college students would send the message that both the university and society value the kind of learning that produces informed and critical citizens for a world after graduation. We can’t just drift into racial equity with good intentions, nor put much hope in generational change. We need to actively, purposefully take the blinders off.”
As a US News Top 20 Public University, Florida State has the resources and the ability to transform the future. We are in a unique position where we can influence the world around us and we must not be complacent. There is an abundance of courses, taught by highly educated and respected professors, already offered at FSU that relate to black history and racism in the United States. For example: Social Reality of Black Males (CCJ 3673), African American Experience in the United States (AMH 1091), Black America Since 1877 (AMH 4572), Black Families in America (AFA 3330) and several others. By compiling a list of appropriate courses and requiring that students choose a course throughout their four years at FSU, the university would be doing its part to actively promote change for generations to come. Every student at Florida State has a voice. Every student at Florida State can create a better future. This is a call to action.
It is understandable that classes centered around sensitive subjects may hinder class discussion and many students will have disagreements. However, differing opinions, anger, violence and ignorance are a part of the world. The most basic way to combat these issues that plague our society is through open discussion and education. Change begins in the classroom. These conversations are difficult but they are an absolute necessity.
President Thrasher himself has stated "It is important during these tumultuous times that we reaffirm the values that we, as a university, hold most dear — respect, civility, and diversity and inclusion — as well as our commitment to justice and equality." I urge everyone to sign this petition and illustrate that not only is Florida State an ally in this fight today, but everyday. My hope is that future graduating classes will leave Florida State armed with an education and ready to fight for change through words, but most importantly through action as well.
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Leila DugalicHollywood, FL, United States
8,987 supporters
Created June 3, 2020
Victory!
Petition to Board Chair Gery J. Chico
computer science courses to satisfy a math or science entrance requirement. Counting computer study it; it simply allows existing computer science courses to satisfy a core requirement that alreadyRead more
Don YanekChicago, IL, United States
3,225 supporters
Created November 27, 2013
Petition to Allegheny College
Body. We urge the administration to satisfy these demands for the betterment of the college.
WeRead more
Madi ShermanUnited States
129 supporters
Created October 6, 2020
Petition to Chancellor Richard Carranza, Matt Torrell, Office of Early Childhood Education, Chelsea Sexton, Tiffany Mobley, Senator Jeff Klein, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Councilman Andrew Cohen, Randy Martos
Riverdale Nursery School and Family Center (RNSFC) is about to conclude its first year with a PKA class. Our PKA class has received rave reviews from the families attending. Our Department of Education Consultant has stated, "Walking into this school is like walking into heaven." After families heard about our PKA class, many requested tours of our school with a particular interest in the PKA class. Approximately 165 families listed our school as a choice for placement in the PKA class for their child. At least 50 families requested RNSFC as their first-choice placement.Because of the strong interest in our school and the success of the initial class, in September 2017 we applied for an additional PKA class for the 2018-2019 school year. We have not yet received a definitive answer from the DOE regarding the new class despite numerous calls and e-mails from our staff. Nevertheless, we are interpreting the lack of response to mean that we were not granted the additional class. Besides significantly affecting the financial stability of RNSFC, families who did not receive their first choice placement with us have expressed extreme disappointment. Riverdale Nursery School and Family Center offers a high-quality, inclusive preschool education to children in all of its classes. Given that there is ample demand for PKA seats at RNSFC it seems only fair and reasonable that we would be given the opportunity to conduct an additional, high-quality PKA class.We need your support. We hope to be heard through this petition. Please sign and submit this petition and ask friends and family to support our cause as well.We very much appreciate your participation and support.Read more
Susan SmelinBronx, NY, United States
401 supporters
Created May 23, 2018
Petition to UCF Administration, UCF College of Arts and Humanities, Jeffrey Moore, Thad Seymour Jr.
At UCF, American Sign Language is accepted as a foreign language for graduation requirements for every college - except for the College of Arts and Humanities. They insist this rule remains in place because American Sign Language classes at UCF are taught under the department of Communication Sciences and Disorders rather than Modern Languages and Literature. However, ASL is a very popular and diverse modern language spoken by hundreds of thousands of people in the US and Canada. While not "spoken" out loud, it also has its own syntax, grammar, and rhetoric, and is altogether separate from English. Additionally, in a school that teaches visual mediums, such as film and design, ASL can be incredibly helpful in teaching students how to communicate visually. The Deaf community is also vast and diverse, and should be recognized as a community separate than those who simply speak English. I find the College of Arts and Humanities' refusal to accept ASL as a foreign language for graduation purposes ableist and unacceptable. Please join me in showing support for ASL and the Deaf community by making it clear that it is not okay to segregate ASL from other foreign languages; especially when it's only being done by one out of 13 colleges at UCF.Read more
Stephanie SommerOrlando, FL, United States
842 supporters
Created October 29, 2019
Petition to Trinh Thanh Thuy
stealing and smuggling of a large breed variety has grown to more than 1 million per year to satisfyRead more
Evlin LakeNew Orleans, LA, United States
1,854 supporters
Created August 1, 2014
Petition to Etsy
accessories. It’s estimated that as many as half of all animals raised for their fur are killed to satisfyRead more
Flavia SantiniLondon, ENG, United Kingdom
72,889 supporters
Created September 22, 2020
Petition to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
Gruesome murder of a pregnant elephant in kerala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A pregnant wild elephant originally belonging to Silent Valley National Park (SVNP), Palakkad, met with a tragic death after a hooligan fed it a pineapple packed with firecrackers inside, which must have been allegedly used as a snare to catch wild boars. The injured elephant remained calm though she was under excruciating pain and didn’t create any havoc much to the disbelief of the forest department officials. But in a rare instance, the elephant died at Velliyar River, Malappuram, on May 27, in a standing position with its trunk in the water.
The 15-year-old elephant had stood in the river to feel buoyant so that its mouth and tongue which had exploded could get some form of relief. The incident was brought to light by Mohan Krishnan, Section Forest Officer, Nilambur, on his Facebook page where he had acted as the Rapid Response Team official to rescue the elephant which was in distress. The post has since become viral with more than 1,200 shares. The elephant had allegedly come to the town hoping to get more food so as to care for its calf which was in its womb.
When the pathetic condition of the elephant came to the knowledge of the forest officials, they brought in two Kumki elephants, Surendran and Neelakantan to bring the injured elephant to the shore from the Velliyar River. But much to the disappointment of forest department officials, the elephant met its death in water. Postmortem examination revealed that the final cause of death of the 15- year-old female elephant was due to asphyxia where water had got into its lungs and trachea. Dr David Abraham, Assistant Forest Veterinary Officer, Thrissur, who did the postmortem told TNIE that on first observation itself it was clear that the elephant would not survive. The forest officials wanted to euthanize the elephant which was in severe agony. But unfortunately, the message from the top echelons of forest department was to return it back to the SVNP.
“I have so far done more than 250 postmortems of elephants alone in my more than two decades career. But this was the first time I was so moved as I could hold the foetus of the baby in my hands. Initially, none of us was aware that the elephant was pregnant. After I had seen its heart and then happened to see the amniotic fluid did I realize that it’s pregnant”, said Dr David Abraham.
Another senior forest official told TNIE that this is not the first time an elephant met its death due to explosion in its mouth caused due to crude country bombs or firecrackers being used in snares to catch wild boars by people afraid of destroying its vegetation.
During April also, another wild elephant in Pathanapuram in Kollam district had died in similar circumstances. But the latest incident in Palakkad is more touching as in another 22 months it would have delivered a calf elephant. Samuel Pachuau, Wildlife Warden, SVNP, told TNIE that already a probe is on into the incident which saw the elephant dying under tragic circumstances.
“We have increased our intelligence networking as well as boundary patrolling as the incident has happened between the park (which is on the buffer zone) and the plantation areas,” said Samuel Pachuau.Read more
Sutapa KarmakarBengaluru, India
2,200,578 supporters
Created June 3, 2020
Petition to UK Parliament
. These children are the poorest In the country and have had to satisfy the means testing to qualifyRead more
N A
55,143 supporters
Created October 22, 2020
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