Bad News or bad news: which do you want first?

Happening in the World: The Pillar of Shame is being removed. Built in remembrance for the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre, the statue resembles the mangled bodies of the fallen. It’s been a part of the University of Hong Kong for twenty four years, but the University now wants it gone. This removal will follow the 2020 banning of Tiananmen’s yearly vigil, attended in past years by thousands (BBC).

Happening in the US: The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has resumed Texas’ abortion ban. The bill went into effect at the beginning of September, banning all abortions for women six weeks pregnant. The ban is for all pregnancies, regardless of cause (rape, incest, etc.) This past Wednesday saw a brief blockage of the ban by US district judge Robert Pitman, but now abortion clinics and patients are holding out hope for a hearing from the Supreme Court (BBC).  

Happening in NYC: The city’s public schools are going through a rough transition with Mayor Bill de Blasio’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.As trained employees are leaving and being let go, their spots are being filled by Central staffers used to working desk jobs or security detail. Now, these staffers are working in classrooms with preschoolers and have their hands more than full. Teachers who are vaccinated are finding themselves in between classrooms, trying to make up for this discrepancy in training (Gothamist).

Happening in Our Community: The Biomedical Engineering (BME) 20th Anniversary Alumni Day has been rescheduled. A new date has not yet been set. There will be lunch, panel sessions, a cocktail reception, and a raffle to cap off this day of fun. See here for updates.

The Pillar of Shame via Wikipedia