Arguably the most contentious issue facing politicians is abortion, but when a candidate uses shocking and misleading language to debate the matter, it's the patient who suffers. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump used some of the most graphic terms ever heard by a presidential nominee when asked about the issue of abortion during the third presidential debate in October.

This election cycle, the top of the ticket is in the spotlight, and for good reason. However, California voters will also be considering a sizeable list of ballot propositions. Some of this year’s ballot measures address pressing public health issues like prescription drug prices, funding for healthcare programs, legalizing marijuana, tobacco taxes, and even the adult film industry. To help inform the UCSF community, the Health Policy Interest Group hosted a Know Your Ballot event featuring lively discussion and nonpartisan presentations on selected state and city-level ballot measures.

UCSF students and health care workers are campaigning to provide a free medical clinic for Native Americans facing violence while protesting a proposed oil pipeline in North Dakota. “Upon invitation by the Standing Rock Nation, we are partnering with tribal leadership and local health workers to provide health care at a time where many people have limited access to health care due to geographic location, limited resources at local hospitals, and are subject to a strong police presence in the area.”

Marybeth Gasman, in a recent article for the Washington Post, describes obstacles many professionals of color, mainly African Americans, face when applying for faculty positions in the U.S. Sadly, this article points out how our current higher education system is far from reaching equity. Nevertheless, Gasman acknowledges that “ensuring that African Americans have opportunity and equity means interacting with them daily, having to listen their voices and perspective,” and this holds true for all minority groups.

This election cycle has been a ride, hasn’t it? Donald Trump is grabbing everything but Republican endorsements, Hillary Clinton is proving that the permanent problems are the ones you delete, Gary Johnson is still figuring out what Aleppo is, and Jill Stein – well, her lack of media attention has probably bolstered her credibility more than anything.

“How do you make a movement sustainable with drastic change?”