By Marcus Lavergne
INTERNATIONAL
U.S., China take reigns during Paris climate summit
On Monday, Nov. 30, world leaders discussed combating the growing threat of global warming. President Obama spoke first at the summit, stating, “Our nations share a sense of urgency about this challenge and a growing realization that it is within our power to do something about it,” which he said should give the 195 countries in attendance hope.
The World Resources Institute think tank reported that the U.S. and China make up around 40 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, and after talking with Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Obama said it is the “responsibility” of both nations “to take action.”
The final decision on splitting the bill remains up in the air.
NATIONAL
21-year-old arrested after social media death threats
Jabari Dean threatened to kill students and staff at the University of Chicago on social media this past weekend. Nonessential members of the school were told to stay away from classes and inside dorms Monday after the post was discovered.
The publicized plans revealed intentions to kill 16 white male students and staff in the campus’ quad area at 10 a.m. along with “any number of white policemen” in the process. Dean also stated that he would be armed with fully loaded firearms, including an assault rifle.
It’s been reported that Dean chose the number “16” in reference to the 16 times that Laquan McDonald, a black teen, was shot last year by Officer Jason Van Dyke. Dean allegedly plan to avenge McDonald’s death after video of the shooting surfaced in mid-November. Van Dyke has since been charged with murder.
Dean was arrested before carrying out the threat and was expected to appear in court on Monday.
LOCAL
New report from UNLV administrators offers insight into Hey Reb! controversy
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas, has seen widespread media coverage over a controversy involving its Rebel nickname and its mascot, Hey Reb!
A 60-page report detailing searches through school records, student conversations and other research that was requested by UNLV President Len Jessup in June led UNLV Chief Diversity Officer Rainier Spencer to defend the mascot against the accusations Monday. He claims that Hey Reb!’s look is that of a “Western frontiersperson, not of a Confederate soldier.”
Hey Reb! replaced another mascot, known as Beauregard, in the 1980s, who was believed to be conceptualized from the image of Confederate Gen. Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard.
Although the debate has happened in the past, the pressure to replace UNLV’s nickname and mascot was rekindled after protests involving began at the University of Missouri, Columbia, in October. Those protests arose out of several alleged incidents of racial discrimination and lack of action by Mizzou’s administration.
Marcus Lavergne can be reached at mlavergne@sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @mavergne21.