With the relentless news cycle and single-minded media coverage of the past few weeks, it’s easy to be absorbed by one story. It happens to the best of us. But to be well-rounded students, it’s important to keep our heads above the news cycle and gain perspective.
While the world focused on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s suspended confirmation, several key events went unnoticed and untouched: President Donald Trump’s North American Free Trade Agreement re-negotiation faded out of public interest quickly; an Indonesian tsunami last week has left more than 350,000 without running water or electricity; and Michigan’s Attorney General opened an investigation into the state’s Catholic diocese. These might seem unimportant compared to the Kavanaugh hearings, but each has the potential to directly affect students’ economic and social well-being.
Of course, the ongoing Kavanaugh controversy is relevant, important, and worthwhile. But we can’t allow ourselves to get sucked into “the one big thing.” To be informed students and citizens, it’s important to filter out the noise.
Take time this week to step away from the media circus of the Kavanaugh hearings and find out what else is going on in the world around you.
