Susanna Leighton is a freelance writer and editor based in Southeast Michigan. A graduate of Eastern Michigan University, Susanna holds degrees in speech pathology and human services. She is a former special education teacher, an avid lover of all things science, and a steadfast supporter of justice and equality for all. She is currently working on her first book of personal essays entitled, 'A Day Leighton, A Dollar Short.'
Back in June of 2013, 16-year-old Ethan Couch killed four people after hitting them with his car when driving while intoxicated (presumably from the liquor he and his friends had stolen from a Walmart earlier that night.) At the time of the accident, he was speeding while driving illegally on a suspended license with a
It was a late night in January, 2015. There was alcohol involved. There was dancing involved. There may have even been flirting involved. What was NOT involved, however, was consent. Thankfully, two Stanford University graduate students were out for a bike ride when they came across a man thrusting himself on top of an unconscious,
On August 29, 2016, the world lost one the greatest comedic performers, in my opinion, of all time. Gene Wilder, known to many as the iconic “Willy Wonka” from the classic film “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” succumbed to Alzheimer’s Disease at the age of 83. Before his passing, only those closest to him
First, props to Tom Petty for lyrics that perfectly sum up the message behind this truly inspiring story. Amr Arafa originally hails from Egypt. A Harvard graduate, the 34 year-old has had his share of heartbreaking experiences throughout his quest to obtain his green card. Arafa first emigrated to the United States in 2005 where
Ryan Lochte has officially joined ABC’s upcoming season of “Dancing With the Stars.” But before we get into that, let’s take a walk down memory lane for a quick refresher on why this matters in the first place. I’m sure by now, most people have heard about what’s been termed “Lochtegate.” Olympic gold-medalist Ryan Lochte,
Many supporters of the pro-life movement argue the issue is a religious one; that it has to do with God and His intentions and therefore, those who support women’s reproductive rights are wrong without question. God is generally the center of these discussions as being the reason women get pregnant in the first place (though
Just last week, Mylan Inc. decided it was a good idea to raise the price of the life-saving EpiPen, which is used to stop a person from going into anaphylactic shock after experiencing an allergic reaction. Life-threatening allergies are on the rise and millions of people rely on the EpiPen to maintain their quality of
While watching TV the other night, I saw a commercial featuring a man perched atop the front of a humble desk while donning a smart sweater, hands folded peacefully in front of him, backlit by soft lighting, with a smile that seemed desperate to proclaim, “let’s be friends.” It was somewhat reminiscent of an old
On Friday, August 12, 2016, U.S. Magistrate Judge William E. Duffin overturned the conviction of Brendan Dassey, one of the accused murderers of 25 year old photographer Theresa Halbach who was showcased in the wildly popular true crime Netflix documentary ‘Making a Murderer,’ ordering he be released from prison within 90 days of his ruling.
People like having sex. All kinds of people. Sex is good. Sex is healthy. And as long as it’s consensual, it’s a helluva lot of fun. I can’t imagine this comes as a surprise to anyone who has engaged in mutually agreed upon sexual activity. That’s apparently not the case for The Daily Beast reporter