5 Things to Know This Week: Jan. 22

1. Kamala Harris announces her bid for Democratic candidacy in 2020

Senator Kamala Harris announced her campaign for the 2020 Democratic presidential candidacy on Monday, Jan. 21.

Harris, 54, has served as California’s Junior Senator since 2017, and has also worked as Attorney General of California and of San Francisco. Her campaign is based on donations from people, and she doesn’t accept money from corporate political action committees — corporations that raise and spend money on elections based on their interests — according to her website.

Harris’ bid for the candidacy adds her to the Democratic pool — now consisting of nine official candidates — including Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and New York Senator Kirstin Gillibrand.

2. Supreme Court approves Trump Administration’s ban on transgender people in the military

The Trump Administration’s request to reverse the policy created under the Obama Administration regarding transgender military service was granted by the Supreme Court on Tuesday, Jan 22.

The Court’s approval lifts two previous injunctions allowing transgender service, meaning many who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria will be discharged until Trump’s new policy is challenged. Those without the condition may continue serving, with the stipulation that they do so with the gender they were assigned at birth.

The Supreme Court stated in a brief that this policy will continue to be evaluated, denying the Trump Administration’s request to short circuit the normal litigation process.

According to the brief, “Once the parties have [completed the litigation and developed a full record], the courts— including this Court — will be much better positioned to resolve the constitutional issues raised by this case.”

3. The date of the State of the Union address has been pushed

Plans for the State of the Union address — originally scheduled to occur on Tuesday, Jan. 29 — will change due to disagreement over the shutdown. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who traditionally holds the role of inviting the President to speak, wrote a letter to the President regarding the location of the speech.

“The House of Representatives will not consider a concurrent resolution authorizing the President’s State of the Union address in the House Chamber until the government has opened,” Pelosi wrote.

President Trump has since conceded and plans on pushing the date of the address, although the new date has yet to be publicized.

4. Lancer Bowtique Opening

The Lancer Bowtique, the first ever new or gently used formal-wear shop at East, opened on Thursday, Jan. 24, and plans to open again during seminar on Thursday, Jan. 31.

The Lancer Bowtique, set up in the choir room, received over 50 new and lightly worn formal items in preparation for WPA.

“It’s for anyone. But, specifically, I wanted it to be for people who don’t have access to formalwear,” founder and senior Reagan Smith said. “So I was hoping that when they heard about this… they could find what they wanted or needed.”

5. Rockhurst vs. East Chick-fil-a competition

The annual East vs. Rockhurst Chick-fil-a competition will end at 4:00 pm on Friday, Jan. 25.

The competition began the previous Monday, Jan. 21 at the Chick-fil-a on State Line in honor of “Coaches vs. Cancer”.  A portion of each sale went to the respective school’s efforts in fundraising for the organization.