Welcome back to Did You See This? — The SUNN Post’s biweekly column spotlighting news that students like you (and me!) need to know. Here are today’s headlines.
The Headline
A fatal shooting by law enforcement in Madison, Wisconsin, has sparked protests and reopened conversations about police brutality.
The Rundown
On Wednesday, a Madison, Wisconsin, police officer shot and killed Corey Durrell Ruiz, a 38-year-old homeless man, following a confrontation and physical struggle. According to Madison’s police chief, John Patterson, the man resisted arrest and injured an officer with a knife before being shot. Patterson also noted that police used a Taser before resorting to gunfire. Though the Madison Police Department has confirmed the incident was not caught on body camera footage, bystander videos have circulated online.
The shooting has reignited national conversations about gun violence and police brutality. Wisconsinites, and people across the country, are questioning whether the officer’s use of force was justified under the circumstances. The president of Madison’s city council, Sabrina Madison, emphasized in an interview with CNN the speed with which the officer resorted to fatal force. “There are three seconds where the officer at close range shoots him in the head three times,” she said.
Madison, Wisconsin’s capital city, is also home to the main campus of the University of Wisconsin. University-affiliated advocacy groups have spoken out in the wake of Ruiz’s death: Students Demand Action at UW-Madison, a chapter of a national gun violence prevention group, took to Instagram Thursday with a response to the shooting. “Fighting gun violence necessitates addressing police gun violence. The use of deadly force should be strictly scrutinized in all cases, including this one,” the group wrote.
Where to Find More:
Responses to the shooting are still unfolding. For live updates, check out coverage from local publications like The Wisconsin State Journal and Madison’s Capital Times.
The Headline
Cyclosporiasis outbreak continues as authorities explore potential sources beyond lettuce distributors.
The Rundown
In recent weeks, American consumers have been warned to steer clear of lettuce products for fear of contracting cyclosporiasis, which is caused by a diarrhea-inducing parasite. While the outbreak was initially linked to lettuce supplied to some Taco Bell locations by Taylor Farms, a Mexico-based distributor, officials are now exploring other potential sources. On Wednesday, the FDA announced a new outbreak of the same parasite — unrelated to the Taco Bell-linked cases — which has already infected at least 72 people.
Left-leaning commentators have pounced on the government’s response to the outbreak, framing it as an example of the incompetence of President Donald Trump’s public health officials. Food safety is an issue that affects every American, and regardless of the cause, problems in the system can have far-reaching consequences for public health.
For young people who overwhelmingly source their news from social media, it may be challenging to make sense of contradictory advice populating TikTok and Instagram. While some social media users have suggested that steering clear of recalled lettuce is enough, news of a new outbreak suggests that more precaution may be necessary. The most recent recommendation from the CDC urges Americans to avoid iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms and to be vigilant about thoroughly washing any other fresh produce.
Where to Find More:
For more in-depth reflections on what the response to the outbreak says about the country’s public health infrastructure, take a look at the Atlantic’s “The Worst Part of the Cyclosporiasis Response.”
The Headline
“The Odyssey” has made more than $300 million worldwide in its first week in theaters, a sign of an optimistic future for in-person movie watching.
The Rundown
Christopher Nolan’s reimagining of “The Odyssey” released in theaters worldwide on July 17. The film is a faithful adaptation of Homer’s epic, launching viewers into the sights and scenes of ancient Greece as they follow Odysseus (Matt Damon) on his 10-year journey home after the Trojan War.
In a post-COVID world, theaters’ ability to recoup pandemic losses and remain relevant for younger generations has been in doubt. Some seemed skeptical that consumers could justify spending on the theater experience in a direct-to-streaming world. According to Variety, though, half of the viewers who watched “The Odyssey” in its opening weekend were between the ages of 18 and 34. Box-office successes like “The Odyssey” show that the movie-going public still has plenty of interest in seeing buzzy releases on the big screen — even when their runtime pushes three hours.
Where to Find More:
Reviews of Nolan’s “The Odyssey” have largely been positive, but some critics have questioned the director’s approach to adaptation. New Yorker critic Richard Brody argues that “it is probably viewers who haven’t read Homer who are likeliest to enjoy ‘The Odyssey,’” noting Nolan’s avoidance of depicting Homer’s Greek gods as a weakness. On the other hand, Variety’s Guy Lodge lauded the film’s grandiosity but wondered whether it may have missed the mark on emotional depth.
The Bonuses:
A few longer stories to dive into over the weekend!
- From the Wall Street Journal: “It’s Easier to Dance on a Grave Than Argue a Point”
- From the New Yorker: “‘No One Knows When It Will End’: A Doctor on the Ebola Emergency”
- From the Atlantic: “One Morning of Controlled Chaos in Maine”
