WikiLeaks

Julian Assange is the famous founder of the website WikiLeaks, whose activities around the world forced him to take refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London in 2012, where he still resides to this day. Assange established WikiLeaks in 2006 in an attempt to find a way to publish and release sensitive information about governments around the world. It is essentially a non-profit whistle-blowing organization. Anyone from anywhere in the world can submit information to the website to be published. In 2010, WikiLeaks published information titled “Afghan War Diaries” and a video titled “Collateral Murder,” which featured information and footage of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan. After that, the U.S. and other governments opened criminal investigations against Assange. Two women in Sweden also file charges against Assange for refusing to take an STD test after he had sex with them. Assange was placed in jail for a short amount of time and then released on bail, after which he was placed on house arrest. The investigation has been frozen since 2010. At one point, Assange tried to force his employees to sign nondisclosure agreemenst but many refused, arguing that he was asking them to do the same kind of thing that their organization was trying to uncover. According to friends and colleagues, Assange became arrogant and secretive.

            I think that WikiLeaks is a whistleblower. The organization, in several instances, released sensitive information to the public in several different countries, including the United States. According to Investopedia.com, a whistleblower is “anyone who has and reports insider knowledge of illegal activities occurring in an organization. The video “Collateral Murder” showed American soldiers killing innocent civilians in Afghanistan. The soldiers thought the civilians were enemy combatants, but they were really journalists. Though the video and war diaries included names of people in the U.S. military who could potentially become targets, Assange decided to publish the information on his website because he believed that the good outweighed the prospective harm. In addition to publishing the information on his website, Assange worked with media outlets like The Guardian and The New York Times. While Assange was subjected to a criminal investigation for the publication of this material, the newspapers were not.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say that WikiLeaks is a spy because there is a difference between a whistleblower and a spy. A spy is someone who actively works against a country or organization (with that country or organization’s enemy) to obtain information about or against that country. In contrast, a whistleblower releases the information they find to the media and to easily detectable places, whereas a spy gives the information they attain directly to whoever they are working for. Assange worked in tandem with different newspapers to release the information about the war in Afghanistan and published information openly on his website, with the possibility that he would be criticized in the media and arrested for his actions. A distinction must be made here, however. Assange is the founder of WikiLeaks and published the information he found on the WikiLeaks website, but some of his actions as a human being, separate from his website, were not very commendable. Journalists must maintain a constant balancing act between reporting the truth to the public and minimizing harm to the public. In the instance of the Afghan War Diaries, Assange decided to publish information that could potentially bring harm to different people. He fulfilled his journalistic obligation of reporting the truth but also allowed possible harm to come to multiple people. Assange also refused to take an STD test, as was demanded by the Swedish police and the two women that he slept with there. Though Assange’s actions outside of WikiLeaks were not admirable, WikiLeaks itself was and is acting as a whistleblower exposing the secrets of governments and corporations.

I believe that WikiLeaks has the right to reveal classified and hidden secrets of governments and corporations. If WikiLeaks is truly acting in the form of a whistleblower, then it is fulfilling its role of reporting the truth. After all, journalism’s first obligation is to the truth. As stated before, I do think there is sometimes a line that shouldn’t be crossed when releasing sensitive information. Journalists should aim to minimize harm to the public with which it is reporting information to, so I think that a whistleblower should weigh the possible consequences of reporting information that could bring harm to someone. 

UNT partners with local shelter to raise awareness

A friend tells you that their partner is abusing them. As you listen to their story, you wonder how you can help them. You know you have to do something but you do not know where to turn for answers.

Denton County Friends of the Family is a resource in the Denton community that many UNT students do not know about. Friends of the Family was founded in 1980 and is the sole provider in Denton County for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.

The Dean of Students office at UNT is attempting to educate students about resources like Friends of the Family by implementing awareness campaigns throughout the year that aim to inform students about the resources available to them.

“UNT has a great relationship with Denton County Friends of the Family,” UNT Survivor Advocate Renée LeClaire McNamara said. “They have many members who sit on our committee, the Committee on Prevention & Education on Sexual Assault & Intimate Partner Violence. They help plan different events and do a lot of trainings around campus.”

The primary resource Denton Friends of the Family offers the community is an emergency shelter for victims of violence. Along with the shelter, Friends of the Family provides individual and group counseling for survivors who are looking for help in overcoming their abuse.

“As a staff counselor at Friends of the Family, I provide individual counseling, play therapy, and activity therapy services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault/abuse,” Staff Counselor Bissera Nitchovska said. “I work with children, adolescents, and adults.”

In addition to after-care services, Friends of the Family offers legal aid, community outreach programs, help with budgeting, financial planning, and career planning and hospital accompaniment for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.

Not all of the services that Friends of the Family offers are for survivors. The Violence Intervention and Prevention Program (VIPP) is a 27-week program geared toward helping individuals who are abusive in their relationships. The program addresses the belief system of the abuser and teaches new respectful behaviors to replace the abusive behaviors.

Friends of the Family also has several programs that teach young people in the community about healthy relationships and domestic and sexual violence. Community Education Specialist Nathan Richardson works to implement education and awareness programs in schools and events throughout Denton.

“Primarily, my job is to go into schools and teach about domestic violence and sexual assault,” Richardson said. “We have programs that teach kids how to have healthy relationships, setting boundaries, decision making, and those sorts of things. With older kids, we start getting into dating violence and gender socialization.”

There are several ways that students can get involved at Friends of the Family. Volunteers are always needed in areas like advocacy, shelter programs, office work and childcare.

“Volunteers are crucial to Friends of the Family’s ability to deliver services from rocking babies, painting shelter rooms, and giving presentations, to helping at our Thrift Store or serving on our Survivors Advocacy Team,” Violence Intervention & Prevention Program Counselor Taylor Cameron said. “Our volunteers make it possible for us to provide services to individuals and families in our community impacted by violence.”

If you would like to know more about volunteer opportunities, visit Denton County Friends of the Family’s website at http://www.dcfof.org/pages/become.php.

If you or someone you know has been impacted by domestic violence or sexual assault on campus, email SurvivorAdvocate@unt.edu or call Denton County Friends of the Family’s 24-hour crisis line at 940-382-7273 for more information on resources and what to do next.

UNT celebrates national News Engagement Day

It’s the bane of a young person’s existence; the persistent assumption that young adults today don’t care about what is going on in the world. Though keeping up with news may look different than it did 20 years ago, many young people care about the news and learn about it in many different ways.

Oct. 6 was the 2^nd Annual News Engagement Day, an event sponsored by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication that aims to engage people in news and emphasize why news matters. The Mayborn School of Journalism participated in the event and encouraged students to get involved.

The hashtag #newsengagementday was created to encourage schools, media, and organizations to take part in the event on social media and to highlight the importance of staying informed.

“I think keeping up with the news is important because I see it as a way of opening your mind,” sophomore fashion merchandising major Stephanie Casas-Salas said. “It helps you to be more open-minded about different issues.”

With the advent of online news, people today get their news from a variety of sources. While many people still rely on print and TV, growing numbers of people turn to sources such as social media and mobile applications to stay informed.

“That’s the first thing I do in the morning, is go through my apps and read different news stories,” senior English literature major Diana McBarnes said. “I don’t have games on my phone, so whenever I’m sitting in between classes or waiting somewhere, I’m always reading the news.”

Not everyone gets their news online, however. Several students said that they watch the news on TV because it makes them feel more involved with the news they are consuming.

“Obviously online news is the most accessible, but I’m more comfortable with the TV news format,” junior marketing major Sarah said. “With online news, I feel like I tend to miss things only because you get little blurbs.”

Students also believe news is important because of the ways in which it could potentially affect them. National news is important but there are many events that happen on a local level that are just as important.

“I personally think news is important, and not just news from where I live,” sophomore economics major Zach Welke said. “It’s important for young people to know what’s going on, especially if it’s something that could affect you.”

Many people agree that keeping up with current news is an integral part of being an informed member of society, but that doesn’t mean that you have to let the news form opinions for you.

“For me, it’s important, but it’s not like over-consuming,” senior English secondary education major Amber Fonseca said. “I want to know what’s going on and be informed, but I also want to be able to formulate my own opinion.”

Outfoxed

The Fox News channel was created by Australian media mogul Rupert Murdoch in 1996. Former Republican Party consultant and NBC executive Roger Ailes was hired as the founding CEO of the news channel. The channel is broadcast to millions of homes around America and places a heavy emphasis on graphics and audio effects to catch the attention of viewers and keep a steady audience. Fox News has often been criticized as a biased media outlet that confuses commentary with news and derides the views of people whose ideologies do not line up with their own. There are many principles that journalists are expected to uphold and stand by, such as reporting truth and accuracy, never adding anything that was not there, being as transparent as possible and having accountability for consequences. 

Fox News has had the same two slogans for years: “Fair and Balanced,” and “We report, you decide.” Though Fox News claims to be a fair and balanced news outlet, this does not always seem to be the case. One of the five concepts from the foundation of the discipline of verification says “Be as transparent as possible about your methods and motives.” The documentary includes interviews with several former reporters for Fox who say that each morning, reporters would receive a memo from their bosses telling them which stories to focus on throughout the day. Oftentimes, these memos would tell employees to do things like discredit liberal agendas or liberal politicians. This style of reporting does not reflect a desire to be transparent in reporting methods; rather, it demonstrates how Fox News attempts to present an often skewed view of what is going on in the country and push their own agenda. Another concept from the foundations of the discipline of verification says to exercise humility. Fox News has several shows with specific reporters/hosts, some of which include “The Bill O’Reilly Factor” and “Hannity.” On his nightly show, Bill O’Reilly sometimes invites Liberal guests to talk about certain issues and is frequently rude to these guests, telling them to shut up and yelling at them when they express an opinion contrary to his opinion. O’Reilly’s show on Fox News is just one example of how reporters and hosts for the news channel do not always exercise humility and even tell guests to leave, as in the case of Jeremy Glick. 

One of the Radio Television Digital News Association’s guiding principles says that journalists should hold “accountability for consequences.” Over the years, Fox News has let journalistic and ethical slippery slopes pass in order to keep a reporter where they are. One such case occurred when correspondent Carl Cameron interviewed presidential candidate George W. Bush during his presidential campaign. This may not seem like a problem except for the fact that Cameron’s wife was working on staff for Bush’s campaign. For most, this would seem like a conflict of interest, but Fox News did nothing about it and treated as if it were not a problem. Reporters for the channel often say things like “Some people say” in an attempt to expand on something other people say when really, the reporter is the person who expresses that opinion. These statement are not usually attributed to an actual person and it is not difficult to realize that the reporter is trying to state their own opinion but not outright say it. All in all, it would seem that Fox News does not adhere to many of the principles set out for journalists to uphold journalistic integrity, accuracy, and transparency in reporting. 

UNT raises awareness for national Domestic Violence Awareness Month

You are walking through campus, barely noticing the people around you. Suddenly, you look up and see tiny red flags scattered throughout the grass in front of you. Squinting to get a better look at the writing on each flag, you notice words like "coercion" and "stalking" scrawled across the surface.

October is national Domestic Violence Awareness Month and one of the ways UNT is tackling this issue is by implementing the Red Flag Campaign campus-wide.

The Red Flag Campaign is a project of the Virginia Sexual & Domestic Violence Action Alliance that utilizes a bystander intervention strategy to address and prevent sexual assault, dating violence and stalking on college campuses. The campaign endeavors to educate students and community members on how to recognize warning signs (“red flags”) of an unhealthy relationship.

Daisah Riley, a Peer Advocate with the Dean of Students office, said that the campaign is geared toward getting people to think about domestic and dating violence, as well as issues like sexual assault and verbal abuse.

“The month goes so much deeper than physical violence,” Riley said. “Domestic violence doesn’t just happen to married couples and it can be present in same-sex relationships too. Even if it hasn’t impacted you, it’s impacted someone you know.”

Domestic violence is defined as a pattern of behavior used to establish power and control over another person through fear and intimidation. Research shows that one in four women and one in seven men have been victims of some form of physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.  Women ages 18-34 are at the greatest risk of becoming victims of domestic violence. 

Taylor Cameron works with Denton County Friends of the Family as a Violence Intervention and Prevention Program Counselor. As part of the UNT Committee on Prevention & Education on Sexual Assault & Intimate Partner Violence, Cameron helps to plan events, campaigns and trainings on the UNT campus to educate students and faculty.

“I think the biggest thing for domestic violence awareness month is to get the message across that abuse is a choice that somebody makes to control or to have power over another person,” Cameron said. “It’s not the victim’s fault. So instead of asking ‘why does the victim stay?’ we need to be asking ‘why does the abuser keep abusing?’”

College is a time of transition and many young people are in the process of figuring out what they want to do with their lives. Relationships can be an integral aspect of a young adult’s life, and learning how to have a healthy relationship is important.

“The Red Flag Campaign is important because we have a large group of individuals [students] who are in a time of their life where they’re figuring out what they want to be,” College of Education senior lecturer Uyen Tran said. “A part of being a mature adult is knowing how to have healthy relationships. In order for us to change the dialogue on campus about sexual assault and domestic violence, it’s going to take all of us; students, staff, and faculty. ”

For any questions about ways to get involved in domestic violence and sexual assault awareness, please email Renée LeClaire McNamara at Renee.LeClaire@unt.edu or visit the Dean of Students website about sexual violence at deanofstudents.unt.edu/compliance/title-ix.

If you or someone you know has been impacted by domestic violence or sexual assault on campus, email SurvivorAdvocate@unt.edu, call the Dean of Students office at 940-565-2648, or call Denton County Friends of the Family’s 24-hour crisis line at 940-382-7273 for more information on resources and what to do next.

UNT welcomes Simon Tam to talk about racial bias

The College of Public Affairs and Community Service hosted its annual Fall Forum today featuring musician and social activist Simon Tam at the Coliseum.

Simon Tam is the founder and bassist of the all-Asian American dance rock band "The Slants." He has been highlighted on media features across the world and has presented at events like TEDx, SXSW, and Comic-Con. He utilizes social media to start conversations about race, culture and justice.

 Tam presented a talk titled "We Can't Stop Racism If We Can't Talk About It" to students in which he talked about the existence of racism in our society and shared helpful ways to start meaningful conversations about racial bias.

 "I agree that we should start a conversation without being uncomfortable because I know firsthand that I've encountered people that don't want to talk about racism," Psychology major Thomas Urbina said. "I think it's good that he tries to get people more comfortable with the uncomfortable." 

Throughout his talk, Tam highlighted the reasons that people hold biases against each other and shared ways in which people can fight back against racism. He stressed the importance of asking questions rather than simply making assumptions about who people are.

 "Not all meaningful conversations between people have to be framed as a debate," he said. "Asking questions can be a very powerful thing and requires us to be more compassionate toward others." 

Tam spoke about the power of our everyday experiences in helping to frame conversations that combat racism. He shared some of his own experiences with racial bias as well as the prevalence of prejudice against people of color.

 "I'm a mixed background person, so I feel like I have encountered certain kinds of racism," International Studies major Elizabeth Palpan said. "With this presentation, racial biases that I grew up with got taken away through the power of education and asking the right questions."

 At the end of his speech, Tam talked about the ways in which people can affect change in their lives and communities. Tam acknowledged his own biases while also highlighting the power of staying informed.

 "There is power in having meaningful conversations about racism, especially when people feel uncomfortable, and combining that with fighting systems of oppression," Tam said. "That's how we create change in our society."


 To view the live Twitter feed for this event, go to the following link:
https://twitter.com/Sguenther_1395


To view photos from this event, go to the following link:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/135581782@N02/show

Blawk Hawk aircraft crahses in water

8:05 AM
A Louisiana National Guard Black Hawk aircraft was involved in an accident in Navarre, Florida today. Seven marines were on board the helicopter on a training mission. The helicopter was reported missing at 8:30 pm last night. The accident is under investigation.

8:24 AM
The helicopter was found near the waters of Santa Rosa Sound in Navarre, Florida, Louisiana National Guard spokesmen Ted Smith said. A search and rescue mission is under way at the accident site near the waters of Santa Rosa Sound in Navarre, Florida. The names of those on board the aircraft are pending notification of family members.

8:31 AM
 Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has released a statement. "This morning I spoke to the general of the National Guard offering my prayers and support," Jindal said. "These soldiers represent the best and we are praying for them and their families."

UPDATE 9:00 AM
Eglin Air Force Base Spokesman Andy Vourland has released a statement. "We have found some human remains." Vourland said that the downed helicopter crashed over the water. The chopper was accompanied by another copter on the training mission. That chopper returned to Eglin base safely, located 45 miles east of Pensacola. We have no further details on the human remains.

10:00 AM
Approximately 50 people, many carrying flowers, are gathering at a fence in Navarre near the crash site. Many of them are praying and several are crying. This impromptu vigil appears to be growing. We have talked to several people who said they are there to support the servicemen.

UPDATE 10:22 AM
Aircraft debris has washed ashore along with human remains. Poor visibility due to fog is hampering the rescue operation. It appears that stormy weather overnight during the operation and weather issues may be a cause for the accident. Service members from Eglin Air Force Base search for the down helicopter The aircraft was from the 244th helicopter battalion stationed in Hammond, Louisiana.

10:56 AM
Andy Vourland has released another statement. "We have now learned that the aircraft has been recovered from the waters of Santa Rosa Sound,” Vourland said. “I can confirm that all seven marines aboard have been killed. They're all gone." Louisiana National Guard Captain Ted Smith has released a statement. "We are preparing to release the names of the marines killed in the helicopter accident today,” Smith said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families."

UPDATE 11:38 AM
The names of the Marines killed in the accident have been released.
Top row: Andrew C. Seif, Trevor P. Baylock, Thomas A. Saudners, Liam A. Flynn
Bottom row: Stanford H. Shaw III, Marcus S. Bawoll, Kerry M. Kemp

UPDATE 12:16 PM
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal tweeted the following: "Today is a sad day for our military families in Louisiana. God bless and keep the families."

UPDATE 1:00 PM
Ted Smith has released the following statement. "We are now in a recovery operation,” Smith said. “We are now in the process of recovering the remains of the Marines. They will be transported to Eglin Air Force Base. Investigators from the Air Force are on scene conducting a probe into today's accident. The waters of Santa Rosa Sound are closed to any boaters until the accident scene is cleared. We expect our accident scene to be cleared by 9 PM tonight."

*This is not an actual story, but was an assignment for my reporting class. 

UNT sets its sight on education and awareness on domestic violence

October is national Domestic Violence Awareness Month and UNT is gearing up for a month of education, awareness, and prevention on this prevalent issue, as well as awareness around sexual assault and bystander intervention.

Renée LeClaire McNamara, Assistant Director for Student Advocacy, Crisis Intervention and Violence Prevention for the UNT campus, said her job consists of advocating on behalf of students who have been victims of violence and to let students know the resources available to them, whether it be counseling or criminal assistance.

“My job is to work with students who have been impacted by violence,” LeClaire McNamara said. “I can be their advocate, give them reporting options, and help them find resources. My job is also about violence prevention, so asking myself, ‘What can I be doing to make UNT a safer community?’”

The month of October offers students many opportunities to learn about domestic and sexual violence. Oct. 1 is the kickoff event on the Onstead Promenade, where representatives from the Dean of Students office will be tabling and spreading awareness. On Oct. 2, Denton County Friends of the Family will be hosting the Clothesline Project from 7-9 p.m. at the Denton Courthouse Lawn, which is a national campaign to address the issue of violence against women.

During the week of Oct. 12-16, UNT will host the Red Flag Campaign, which uses a bystander intervention strategy to recognize and address sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking on college campuses. UPC is hosting writer, public speaker, and social activist Beverly Gooden on October 12 from 7-9 p.m. at the Gateway Ballroom, where she will talk about her experiences with intimate partner violence. The Women’s Studies Department will host a showing of “Private Violence” at 4 p.m. in the Chilton Media Library as part of their monthly Fem Flicks series.

Many students aren’t aware of the abundant resources available to them on campus and in the Denton community. Dean of Students Maureen McGuinness, known to her students as Dr. Moe, decided it was time to change that. In June of 2014, Dr. McGuiness created the Committee on Prevention & Education on Sexual Assault & Intimate Partner Violence. The committee aims to educate students about domestic violence and sexual assault and to promote prevention and bystander awareness.

“The big push was the Violence Against Women Act, and looking at it from a perspective of, ‘We need to do more to educate our students and find preventative measures,’” Dr. McGuiness said. “I believe it’s our responsibility to educate students about things like that while they’re still in college.”

One resource that offers counseling and a crisis hotline, as well as volunteer opportunities, is Denton County Friends of the Family. Friends of the Family is often involved in issues dealing with sexual assault on campus and is an invaluable resource to students and survivors.

“Denton County Friends of the Family is involved with UNT in multiple areas,” Friends of the Family representative Taylor Cameron said. “We have UNT students seek various services at our agency every year, and we also have UNT students volunteer and intern in each of our departments.”

Many students have been inspired to take action on campus to combat sexual assault and domestic violence. Junior Marketing major Daisah Riley, a peer advocate for the Dean of Students office, said she chose to join the Committee on Prevention & Education on Sexual Assault & Intimate Partner Violence because of her own experience.

“My personal experience as a survivor inspired me to advocate in any way I can while at UNT,” Riley said. “I enjoy working with others who are passionate about the issues surrounding Sexual and Intimate Partner violence. Ultimately, being a resource for students is what excited me the most about being a Peer Advocate with the Dean of Students office.”

Students are encouraged to get involved in measures to educate and bring awareness to issues surrounding domestic violence and sexual assault on campus. One way to get involved is to join the Committee on Prevention & Education on Sexual Assault & Intimate Partner Violence. For any questions about meetings or resources, or other ways to get involved, please email Renée LeClaire McNamara at Renee.LeClaire@unt.edu, or visit the Dean of Students website about sexual violence at http://deanofstudents.unt.edu/compliance/title-ix.

If you or someone you know has been impacted by domestic violence or sexual assault on campus, email SurvivorAdvocate@unt.edu, call the Dean of Students office at 940-565-2648, or call Denton County Friends of the Family’s 24-hour crisis line at 940-382-7273 for more information on resources and what to do next.

UNT hosts event on Marriage Equality and Religious Liberty to honor Constiution Day

Hundreds of students gathered in the auditorium building Thursday to listen to a debate by guest speakers on the Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision on marriage equality.

The debate was hosted by the University of North Texas Honors College and the Department of Political Science in honor of Constitution Day. Rebecca Robertson, legal and policy director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Texas, argued on behalf of the decision while Chelsey Youman, associate counsel for the Liberty Institute, argued on behalf of religious liberty. 

"I think all of us have different views on the issue, which is why we're excited to hear from both sides today," Honors College representative Rafael Major said.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that the right to marriage is a fundamental liberty guaranteed to opposite-sex couples as well as same-sex couples. The 5-4 decision held that exclusion from same-sex couples from the right to marry violates the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment as well as the Equal Protection Clause. 

First to the stage was Robertson, who argued that the right to marriage for same-sex couples does not interfere with religious liberty. 

"The court wasn't being asked to decide whether same-sex marriage was Godly or moral," Robertson said. "There's nothing about the Obergefell decision that forces any of those people [people of faith] to change what they believe."

On the other side, Youman argued that the decision has caused religious people to be called out for their beliefs, to the extent that many are being sued if they speak out against the decision or refuse service to same-sex couples. 

"Should the government force people to go against their conscience?" Youman said. "The irony for me is that, in the name of exclusion, religious minority groups are being asked not to participate in the public sphere."

Both Robertson and Youman argued that that both sides of the issue can find a way to coexist.

"I think our Constitution is big enough for both [issues]," Robertson said. 

One student said that he enjoyed the debate and that he thought both of the speakers argued their sides well. 

"I think both people defended their sides well," he said. "I think the woman from the ACLU had an easier time because she's at UNT, which is a more liberal school."

The debate was held at 11 a.m. in the Auditorium building.