The Robinhood Effect

The Robinhood Effect

Peyton Stanley
Investing

What was once an industry exclusive to only the “A-list” of Corporate America, is now accessible to the average person. The financial trading industry has a scope like no other. It measures and regulates the economy worldwide and its impact goes even deeper. In the rise of online trading, we have seen the inclusivity of the investment world erupt. The expansion has made investing more popular, but has also made it more vulnerable to ignorance and sometimes being left at the mercy of the inexperienced.

The World at Our Fingertips

The World at Our Fingertips

Jasmine Rawson
Technology

The average human attention span is 8 seconds. The amount seems minuscule, especially considering that the average attention span of a goldfish is 9 seconds. However, this was not always the case; in 2000, the average human attention span was 12 seconds (Stefanski 2020). It seems that people are unable to concentrate without multitasking or being distracted. It may be easy to simply accept this fact as inevitable human nature, but it’s worth considering how this decline in attention span came to be. It’s no coincidence that this substantial change in average human attention span occurred from 2000 to 2013, exactly matching the exponential rise in technological growth. Over the past few decades, devices have provided over 4.93 billion people with the ability to access countless websites and apps (Broadband Search). Even more recently, social media has risen to prevalence as the most popular apps for teens and adults alike. Despite the overabundance of information available on the internet, people seem to have become lazier and unable to focus for more than a few seconds. However, laziness has driven the growth of innovations such as artificial intelligence that have automated simple tasks and revolutionized the world.

The Coding Interview

The Coding Interview

Ina Patrice Gonzales
Technology

About four years ago, in August 2017, I began my journey to obtain my undergraduate degree as a biology major on the pre - health track. For the majority of my life, I dreamed of wearing the iconic white lab coat, listening to patients, and providing aid for their ailments. However, all of that changed when I enrolled in the first four courses of my freshman year of college: General Chemistry I, Introduction to Biology I, Composition II, and Faith and Critical Reasoning. I struggled through my first two science courses and after receiving my horrible midterm grades, I promptly decided that biology was no longer for me. I felt lost with what I wanted to do in my life, but I knew that I had to achieve my undergraduate degree one way or another. On average, about 36 million Americans attend college but are unable to complete all of their coursework in order to obtain their respective degrees (Fain, 2019). Although I was incredibly lost in my future, I knew that I wanted to push myself further and finish college as it is an extreme privilege that many do not have. This led me down the path of mathematics where I rediscovered a passion for logical reasoning and calculations. Following this, I enrolled in my first computer science course, Computer Science I.

Raising the Minimum Wage: Evidence from Empirical Research

Raising the Minimum Wage: Evidence from Empirical Research

Celia Schurman
Economics, Current Events

With the Biden administration looking to deliver on its campaign promises and ease the country’s political tension, the minimum wage debate has resurfaced with more potency than ever before.The issue is largely partisan and is often divided into two sides: advocates for a higher minimum wage argue that workers would benefit from having more of a living wage and that they are entitled to such pay, while opponents argue that paying higher wages will cause businesses to pass expenses onto consumers via inflation, lay off workers, cut hours, and shut down entirely. While this simplification doesn’t capture all of the arguments’ nuances, it gives the main strife: will people be better or worse off?

Remote Work: The New Commonplace?

Remote Work: The New Commonplace?

Jasmine Rawson
Current Events

The CDC confirmed the first coronavirus case in the United States on January 21, 2020. Although it was the first of many, no one foresaw the perilous snowstorm to come. Rapidly, more deadly cases popped up around the country and the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020 (AJMC 2021). It was then that fear began to spread, and businesses worldwide began to close their in-person operations due to health concerns. Thus began months of work from home. Due to health concerns, opportunities for businesses to cut costs, and increases in employee productivity from working remotely, remote work will likely become a more common and frequent occurrence after the pandemic ends.

Immigration Under President Biden: Expectations, Reality, and Everything In Between

Immigration Under President Biden: Expectations, Reality, and Everything In Between

Naomi Buchanan
Politics, Public Policy

Joe Biden ran as an antithesis to his predecessor, but what does what mean now that he is in office for those most affected by his decisions? As a candidate, Biden promised to not only reverse the unjust immigration policies of the previous administration but to prioritize protecting immigrant families who are essential to our country. Since Inauguration Day, most of Biden’s immigration actions have been centered around reversing Trump’s policies. Biden ran on promises to go beyond rolling back Trump administration policies, but his time in office has not exactly mirrored those campaign promises.

The Food Delivery Industry During COVID-19: Pinnacle Perseverance

The Food Delivery Industry During COVID-19: Pinnacle Perseverance

Jasmine Rawson
Current Events, Economics

Nowadays, we expect our packages to arrive within two days. Convenience has become so highly desired that it is now prioritized over other features, such as quality and price. Due to the widespread implementation of technological advancements in our everyday lives, convenience has become ingrained in our daily lives. Given the huge desire for convenience, the food industry jumped at the opportunity to capitalize on this trend. Companies created websites and apps, allowing customers to simply add an item to cart, and press order for food to be delivered right to their front doors. With this easy accessibility there has become a lack of transparency in the food delivery industry as it is unclear what goes on behind the scenes of an order. Surprisingly enough, the partnership between restaurants and food delivery apps is more parasitic than appears at first glance.

How Will We Go Forward?

How Will We Go Forward?

Keri Gilligan
Current Events, Political Theory

For almost a year, the United States has experienced the horrors of the COVID-19 virus. From the hundreds of thousands of lives already taken, to the questioning of America’s leadership, this year has been nothing short of chaos. As we look forward, there is still a high level of uncertainty and anxiety amongst many. With a new president comes new policy; president Joe Biden took immediate steps in trying to overcome the pandemic that has already proved to be destructive. As one of his first presidential actions, on January 20, 2021, Biden implemented an executive order to require anyone who is working for or with the Federal Government or in a Federal building to wear masks and maintain social distancing. These orders were put in place to “halt the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by relying on the best available data and science-based public health measures,” showing that this new administration is using scientific evidence to back their policies (The White House, 2021). While this may help certain parts of the United States, Section 3 “Encouraging Masking Across America” merely provides a suggestion to the American people. There should be more local and state-level intervention to mitigate the spread of the virus. As of March 29, 15 states have no restrictions with the use of masks. Moreover, there are six states that sometimes require masks (The New York Times, 2021). Although there are not clear trends with states with no-mask policies having higher COVID-19 cases, it is clear that this inconsistency across the country reveals the differing values between states, but also the United States’ values.

ESG: The Future of Investing

ESG: The Future of Investing

Peyton Stanley
Finance, Investing

As society moves towards more sustainable measures and public consciousness increases, ESG components will become more prevalent and a determinant in investing. Pivotal investment companies, such as Morgan Stanley, are already prioritizing ESG in their strategies and integrating monetized measurements to provide a competitive advantage. Currently, ESG proceedings are primarily symbolic over substantive. Many ESG topics will not have prompt impact but over time, companies can reap the benefits from the longevity of their ESG investments (Insights, 2020). However, as research and technology prevail and society looks forward, tangible initiatives will transpire and ESG investing will promise a future edge for progressive investors.

Technology's Impact on Business

Technology's Impact on Business

Peyton Stanley
Business Current Events

As society emerges into a period of scientific acceleration, the business world prevails. The definition of business has evolved from strictly physical commerce to an ambiguous construct. Many companies have taken advantage of this opportunity, especially those coming out of the scientific sector. In a dynamic world of unknown challenges and heightened curiosity, companies like Surfacide are on the frontlines of Corporate America’s newest endeavors.

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