Marijuana legalization and the Black Lives Matter movement regarding violence against African Americans by law enforcement are just two of the controversial topics being debated this election season. Caylin Taylor, a senior criminal justice major at Southeast Missouri State University, said she has developed views on both topics this year.

“Personally I don’t agree with marijuana being legalized. I don’t agree with any drug beside things that are beneficial to one’s health,” Taylor said.

Although the Black Lives Matter movement has been heavily discussed by supporters of both parties, she said the African American community needs to come together first to effect change. That responsibility shouldn’t be placed primarily on the president, she said.

“I said that the responsibility shouldn’t be put on a president because it is a problem that primarily lies and was created within our culture,” Taylor said. “Therefore, it should be something that we within our culture fixes and comes together to try to better.”