Professional Opportunities
WORK FOR THE NEWSLETTER!!!
We are looking for a first-year MAP student to become the editor for the 2025-2026 school year! If you are interested, please email russwswpn@gmail.com
Communications Associate - Council on American-Islamic Relations, NJ Office (hybrid: Newark, NJ)
Staff Writer - ACLU of NJ (hybrid: Newark, NJ)
Policy Associate - AAPI New Jersey (hybrid: Montclair, NJ)
Manager, Admissions & Placement - SEEDS - Access Changes Everything (hybrid: NJ location TBD)
PAID Fellowship Opportunities:
Graduate Fellowship - Eagleton Institute for Politics (New Brunswick, NJ)
Leonard Lieberman Philanthropy Fellowship, Program Associate - The Fund for New Jersey (hybrid: Princeton, NJ)
Fellowship Initiative - Twelve Plus (Camden, NJ)
Engagement & Leadership Summer Fellow - National Council of Jewish Women (Washington, DC)
Civic Health Fellowship - Vot-ER (online)
National Policy News Highlights
Columbia student protester can’t be detained for now as she fights deportation, judge rules
The Associated Press
“The order marks at least a temporary reprieve for Yunseo Chung, and a setback for the Trump administration’s efforts to throw noncitizens out of the country for participating in campus protests that the government deems antisemitic and sympathetic to the militant group Hamas. The students say the government is targeting them for advocating for Palestinian rights.”
Under Pressure From Trump, ICE Is Pushing Legal Boundaries
ProPublica
“Attempting to fulfill a campaign pledge to deport millions of people, the Trump administration has turned to tactics that have prompted a flurry of court challenges across the country and created an atmosphere of fear. Each week has brought a new example, as agents have detained immigrants and shuttled them out of the country to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Panama; and, most recently, a dangerous prison in El Salvador without hearings, much less opportunities to communicate with lawyers and relatives.”
Putting $880 Billion in Potential Federal Medicaid Cuts in Context of State Budgets and Coverage
KFF
“Following years of robust revenue growth, states are now contending with weakening tax revenues, budget shortfalls, and uncertainty in their long-term fiscal outlook, leaving some states with difficult budget decisions. At the same time, there are several options under consideration in Congress to significantly reduce federal Medicaid spending to help pay for tax cuts, with the recently passed House budget resolution targeting cuts to Medicaid of up to $880 billion or more over a decade.”
E.P.A. Investigations of Severe Pollution Look Increasingly at Risk
The New York Times
“E.P.A. enforcement actions will no longer ‘shut down any stage of energy production,’ the March 12 memo says, unless there’s an imminent health threat. It also curtails a drive started by President Biden to address the disproportionately high levels of pollution facing poor communities nationwide. ‘No consideration,’ the memo says, ‘may be given to whether those affected by potential violations constitute minority or low-income populations.’”
Regional Policy News Highlights
Federal cuts threaten affordable housing in New Jersey, officials and advocates say
New Jersey Monitor
“By almost any metric, the housing situation for many New Jersey residents is bad and getting worse…The Trump administration, though, is making things worse by firing federal workers tasked with helping vulnerable residents secure safe, affordable housing, according to Sen. Andy Kim (D). ‘Right now, more than ever, what we see is an attack by President Trump, by Elon Musk, against public servants, against people who are serving this nation, against people who are trying to deliver services to the American people in this incredibly difficult time,’ Kim said [last week].”
Rutgers study debunks argument that guns make people safer
NJ Spotlight News
“Gun rights advocates frequently argue that private citizens who own and use a firearm for self-defense can help save lives. But new research from the Rutgers School of Public Health finds gun owners rarely use their weapons for protection. The national study from the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center published in the JAMA Network Open revealed less than 1% of more than 3,000 gun owners surveyed across the country have used their firearm for self-defense within the last year. Roughly 92% have never used firearm to protect themselves.
Another U.S. judge issues temporary ban on Trump’s removal of transgender service members
WHYY (NPR)
“A federal judge in New Jersey has issued a temporary ban on the removal of two transgender men from the Air Force, following a similar ruling last week from a judge in Washington, D.C. U.S. District Judge Christine O’Hearn after a hearing Monday said the pair have shown their separation would cause lasting damage to their careers and reputations. She issued a two-week ban on enforcement of President Donald Trump’s executive order banning transgender people from military service.”
Teenage voters in Newark are set to make history
NJ Spotlight News
"More than 1,000 16- and 17-year-old Newark students are now registered to vote in school board elections, with one day left to reach the superintendent’s goal of 3,000 registered voters. The April 15 election will mark the first time 16- and 17-year-olds in Newark can vote for candidates to represent them on their school board. The change comes after a statewide student-led campaign to give students a voice in an election that directly impacts them.”
Upcoming Events
What is a Constitutional Crisis, and Are We in One?
Facilitated by the Rutgers Democracy Lab and the National Constitution Center
Monday March 31st 2025
9:00am - 10:00am
*online*
Join the Eagleton Institute for Politics for a discussion moderated by President Holloway with Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, centered around the topic: ‘What is a constitutional crisis and are we in one?’ This inaugural event is a part of the Rutgers Democracy Lab’s ‘fireside chat’ series and is co-sponsored by the National Constitution Center. To register for this event and submit questions, click here.
Professional Job Search Workshop Series for Social Workers: Professional Interviewing
Facilitated by the Rutgers School of Social Work
Thursday April 3rd, 2025
3:00pm - 4:00pm
How do I answer "what's your biggest weakness" without sounding ... weak? How do I talk about why I want the job and how I'm a fit for it? What do I wear? How are Zoom interviews different? Learn some helpful, concrete strategies for responding to common interview questions, pitching yourself clearly and persuasively, and presenting yourself well.
This event is part of a four-part series designed to prepare upcoming and recent social work graduates with tools for successful professional job searches, including writing great resumes and cover letters; interviewing to put your best self forward; negotiating compensation packages to "do well while doing good," and understanding the complexities of career job benefits (like how health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off work). Having trained social work students, alums, and professionals on job search strategies for the last 25 years, Professor Anna Haley will review key strategies in these sessions as well as take participant questions. Register for the Workshop Series here.
Highlight of the Week:
The New Jersey Gubernatorial Election
New Jersey and Virginia are the only two states in the country that have their gubernatorial elections after a presidential election, which puts us in an interesting position...especially with Governor Murphy terming out. November will see the election of a new NJ governor for the first time in eight years. Despite Ed Durr dropping out of the race this week, there are still nine candidates running for governor:
The Democrats:
- Ras Baraka - Newark mayor
- Steven Fulop - Jersey City mayor
- Josh Gottheimer - House member
- Mikie Sherrill - House member
- Sean Spiller - New Jersey Education Association president
- Stephen Sweeney - Former State Senate president
The Republicans:
- Jon Bramnick - State Senator
- Jack Ciattarelli - Former State Assembly member
- Bill Spadea - Radio host
With less than 75 days until the primary elections on June 10, it's essential to take some time to learn about the candidates and their stances as one of them will be the next governor. On March 24th, the New York Times sent a survey to each of the candidates to get their feedback on popular topics like housing, immigration, abortion, transit, affordability, schools and the climate. Click the link to begin learning about where the candidates stand on issues important to you!
