The University of Utah's Independent Student Voice

The Daily Utah Chronicle

The University of Utah's Independent Student Voice

The Daily Utah Chronicle

The University of Utah's Independent Student Voice

The Daily Utah Chronicle

Social Issues

The Utah State Capitol Building in Salt Lake City, Utah on Feb. 15, 2023. (Photo by Andrea Oltra | The Daily Utah Chronicle)

Langley: Paid Leave Bill Still Excludes Many

By Jeffrey Langley Jr., Opinion Writer February 26, 2024

  Compared to other developed nations, the U.S. is less exceptional than it would appear. As time goes on, the criticism levied against America has begun to sound more reasonable. However, we...

The Utah State Capitol Building in Salt Lake City, Utah on Feb. 15, 2023. (Photo by Andrea Oltra | The Daily Utah Chronicle)

Hufford: Keep Utah’s Children Safe

By Olivia Hufford, Opinion Writer February 21, 2024

  The turbulent emotion brought on by parent custody battles often affects more than just the couple involved. Children caught in the middle of situations like these experience heavy impacts,...

(Photo via the Daily Utah Chronicle Archive)

Jang: Utah Shouldn’t Require Parental Consent for Sex Ed

By Eseudel Jang, Opinion Writer February 13, 2024

  In H.B. 112, Rep. Tim Jimenez (R-Tooele) proposed amendments to sex education in Utah public schools, emphasizing a need for parental consent and ensuring students’ grades remain unaffected...

People rallying at the Minnesota capitol building to support the Wisconsin unions that are against the attempt to reduced the collective bargaining rights of public unions by Wisconsin Governor Walker and Republicans in other states on February 26, 2011. (Courtesy of Fibonacci Blue via Flickr)

Hufford: Dear Legislature, Unionizing is a Constitutional Right

By Olivia Hufford, Opinion Writer February 12, 2024

  Utah lawmakers are pushing a bill that restricts public employee unions statewide. H.B. 285 requires unions to recertify every five years and block automatic deductions from paychecks. It prohibits...

(Photo courtesy of Shelby Jarban)

Nshangalume: Access to Justice is a Right

By Iragi Nshangalume, Opinion Writer February 11, 2024

  The Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees legal assistance to all Americans, regardless of their financial status. Utah, however, needs to do a better job following directions. Utah...

Protestors hold and wear transgender flags at a demonstration against H.B. 257 at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City on Jan. 25, 2024. (Photo by Elle Cowley | The Daily Utah Chronicle)

Hall: Trans Hate Must End

By Lexi Hall, Opinion Writer February 8, 2024

  Utah’s legislative session once again took a controversial turn with the passage of H.B. 257. This bill is set to alter the legal definitions of “female” and “male,” effectively excluding...

Muskan Walia poses for a photo on the University of Utah campus on Dec. 8, 2023. (Photo by Sophie Felici | The Daily Utah Chronicle)

Jarvis: Environmental Justice with Muskan Walia

By Caroline Jarvis, Opinion Writer February 7, 2024

  Before she knew what environmental sustainability was, University of Utah student Muskan Walia was engaging in it, gardening with her mom and grandmother and mixing spice blends with the herbs...

National flags on display at the the A. Ray Olpin Union in Salt Lake City on Monday, Jan. 29, 2024. (Photo by Sarah Karr | The Daily Utah Chronicle)

Hufford: Utah’s DEI Legislation is Ignorant at Best

By Olivia Hufford, Opinion Writer February 5, 2024

  During this legislative session, a bill was introduced that will dismantle diversity programs statewide. In late January, H.B. 261 was approved by the House, despite having virtually no data...

(Design by Brenda Payan Medina | The Daily Utah Chronicle)

Lezaic: Hit Utah Where It Hurts

By Angela Lezaic, Opinion Writer February 2, 2024

  Year after infuriating year, the Utah State Legislature votes on new bills targeting trans people and DEI efforts, bills like H.B. 257 and H.B. 261 being their newest forms of terrorization....

The Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Sophie Felici | The Daily Utah Chronicle)

Langley: Playgrounds and Piety: Rep. Petersen’s Plan to Bring Faith to Schools

By Jeffrey Langley Jr., Opinion Writer February 2, 2024

  Last year, lawmakers in Texas proposed the now-infamous Senate Bill 1515, which aimed to require public schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms. To the dismay of fundamentalists...