The recent blackouts in Puerto Rico might have interfered with your regular news consumption. Here’s a summary of this week’s news:
-Beneath the Turban: Afro-acknowledgement
The turban becomes a form of resistance against the discrimination and stigmatization of curly-haired women.
In Puerto Rican society, curly hair has been stigmatized for centuries. These women pushback by celebrating their African heritage on International Afro-Latin American and Afro-Caribbean Women’s Day.
–Recount of the youth’s vote in Puerto Rico’s general elections
The State Election Commission reported 33,580 new voters between the ages of 17 to 19 who are now eligible to participate in the November 2020 elections.
Those who wish to vote, and are 18 or older, have until September 14th, 2020 to acquire a Voter Registration Card.
-Floods reported in the RUM after the passage tropical storm Isaías
The University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus (RUM, in Spanish) has experienced flooding in its’ sports court, football park, one of its entrances known as “el calvario”, many parking lots and the Department of Band and Orchestra as a consequence of the passing of the tropical storm Isaías last Thursday.
Many students living in the affected areas have also reported having to leave their flooded residences with their belongings and complained about the uncooperativeness of nearby police officers.
-Troubling future for businesses in Río Piedras
Small establishments in Río Piedras like El Calzón de Sofía’s Café have been forced to cease operations by circumstances such as Puerto Rico’s Executive Order that was implemented on March 15th, 2020, which halted most of the area’s local economy.
Businesses in Río Piedras have suffered the added effects of protests, Hurricane María, the economic crisis, earthquakes, and a reduced student population during the last four years.
-New faculty member gets appointed without community input at the Medical Sciences Campus
The unannounced appointment of Dr. Juan L. Salgado Morales has caused discontent at the Medical Sciences Campus’ (RCM, in Spanish) Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Juana I. Rivera Viñas said, during a conversatory with the president of the University of Puerto Rico Jorge Haddock Acevedo, that “there are other more important needs».
