114 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(01/11/08 1:29am)
Indianapolis Star political columnist Matt Tulley reported earlier this week on an interesting plan from Governor Mitch Daniels. The governor, like many of the other 98.56 percent of Americans who live in states other than Iowa and New Hampshire, is frustrated by the fact that these two states have so much influence in choosing the presidential candidates every four years. Tully says that Daniels went so far as to call the current system “wretched.”\nWow. We would have thought that a softer word like “disturbing” or “frustrating” would have done the trick, but “wretched” works, too.\nWe imagine you’ll agree that it is aggravating that Indiana really doesn’t have much influence in primary elections. It’s especially disappointing for your humble opinion staff. We preach our little hearts out talking about politics and our favorite – and least favorite – candidates, knowing that most of our readers can’t even vote until May. \nOn the other hand, it must be annoying to live in Iowa or New Hampshire in an election year. Think of the ceaseless phone calls residents must receive from all the different campaigns and special interest groups (invariably at dinner time). Think of the endless literature and fliers that fill their mailboxes. Think of the constant barrage of negative campaign ads that invade their TV and radio airwaves. Is having a say in the nomination of presidential candidates really worth all this?\nThen there’s the shameless pandering and condescension that we’d have to put up with from candidates for an entire year: \n“Indiana is such a great state!”\n“You know, I’ve always loved Indiana!”\n“The people of Indiana are so wonderful and hardworking!” \nAd infinitum, ad nauseum. \nAll in all, we still think it would be nice to have more of a say in nominating candidates. But we’re not totally on board with the governor. He wants to tie our primary date to whatever date New Hampshire chooses for its primary; That way, if Indiana moves up to the same day as New Hampshire, it will be unable to leapfrog us. We’ll just vote the same day as New Hampshire, no matter when \nit does it.\nWe’re not sure that all the states simply moving up their dates and frontloading the race is the best idea. Primary elections give candidates a unique opportunity to focus on a state and go out and connect with the people; If all the states voted in January, this would be impossible.\nWe believe that more people should begin putting pressure on the parties and the states to come up with a system that is fair for the whole country. Perhaps they could agree on some type of rotating schedule, giving different states the opportunity to be first to vote. Or maybe they could break up the states into groups of five, holding 10 primaries from January through May to distribute the power more evenly. \nThe governor’s plan might not ultimately prove to be the best one, but we applaud him for considering ways to give Hoosiers a bigger say in nominating presidential candidates.
(01/10/08 3:44am)
Last month, a transgender student at Southern Utah University named Kourt Osborn was turned away from the all-male dorm residence hall where he wanted to live. Born a female, Osbourn identifies himself as a male and has had hormone treatments, but not a surgical procedure to complete the transition. So, according to the university, Osborn doesn’t qualify to live in the men’s dorm. He is, however, welcome to remain in the all-female dorm where he had previously lived. \nAs a result of the university’s decision, Osborn has gone public with his case and filed a grievance. His current plans are to live off-campus, but his preference would be to live in an all-male dorm. The university has responded that the use of communal bathrooms in dorms could potentially make other students – or the parents of other students – uncomfortable living alongside Osborn. \nAdvocacy groups for transgender individuals have spoken up about the situation. For example, the campus director of the Gender Public Advocacy Coalition, Brittney Hoffman, is planning to formally object to the university’s policy.\nIt seems the easiest solution to this problem would be for more universities to provide gender-neutral housing, which seems to be the top request of transgender students. We encourage all universities, especially public, to consider building new dorms or reassigning floors to create gender-neutral housing options whenever they would normally schedule building new dorms or reassigning floors. \nHowever, we are wary of universities being forced to make unreasonable accommodations for the preferences of transgender individuals immediately. universities should not be required to allow biological females to live in all-male residences, and vice-versa. Transgender individuals, like Osborn, choose to go to certain universities knowing the housing options and presumably knowing they might run into problems with them. Osborn was not made any promises about housing when applying to Southern Utah University and could have anticipated resistance about moving into an all-male dorm. It seems a bit unfair to be claiming entitlement to something he was never promised in the first place. For the moment, his best bet is to live off campus, as he has planned.
(01/09/08 1:30am)
Puppies. Cute, fuzzy puppies. Why would anyone – anyone with a soul, that is – ever want to hurt them?\nAlthough the primary cause for it has never been pure malice, animals have long been used in medical teaching laboratories to give students a hands-on opportunity to learn the ins and outs of mammalian anatomy without having to reach their not-yet practiced hands into a human body. The norm at most med schools used to be that canines were operated on to help students understand the cardiac system, and after students had examined the dogs’ hearts, they would dispose of their subjects. Because this time-honored tradition has been so widely used in the past, is it OK to use animals as test subjects and then dispose of them afterward? Does the potential of saving human lives justify turning dogs into guinea pigs, so to speak?\nAs much as we hate to think that anyone has to be used and, as in the case of the canine cardiac subjects, be discarded in order to train future medical practitioners, if animal experimentation can further medical practices and no alternative technology is available, it might have the potential to end the suffering of innumerable humans. While we by no means condone animal cruelty, if small-scale, scientifically based testing has the potential to prevent the deaths of someone’s grandparents, parents or siblings, it is very difficult to argue against it.\nAnimal experimentation has, in the past, been used to develop such crucial medical breakthroughs as the polio vaccine. When the polio epidemic was at its worst in 1952, nearly 60,000 Americans were infected and 3,000 people died, but when the vaccine had been widely administered, it was virtually eradicated from the United States. \nThink about the rampant mistreatment of animals in today’s world. Puppy farms and shelters continue to provide squalid living conditions for them, and everyone from pet owners who fail to adequately care for their animals or NFL stars (cough, hack) who exploit them for their own entertainment and financial gain are guilty of ill-use of “man’s best friend.” While millions of animals are literally wasting away in shelters or starving on the streets, is it really fair to single out medical experimentation, which has a viable purpose behind it, as one of the chief concerns for animal rights crusaders?\nDog lovers everywhere should celebrate, however, because by the end of February, all American medical schools will have phased out the use of dogs for surgical training in favor of echocardiogram technology that allows students to view the functioning of a human heart within live volunteers – no blood and guts required. \nOf course, if alternatives like this are available, we’ll certainly throw our puppy-loving hearts and souls into them. As technology improves on a daily basis, we’re confident that researchers will be able to develop other reliable, innovative options. So relax, Fluffy, the overall trend seems to imply that you’ll be all right as we strive to make animal rights and scientific progress go hand-in-hand.
(01/08/08 2:06am)
Do you enjoy a nice, fruity cocktail? How about a strong Jack and Coke or a cold screwdriver packed with lovely vitamin C goodness? Do you usually stop at one? Four? If this last number sounds more like you, then you have been classified into a category you may not know much about. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claims that when a woman intakes three drinks and a man four on a “single occasion,” binge drinking has taken place. According to a 2002 study by Harvard University, 44 percent of college students are binge drinkers. A lot of first-year college students, fresh from high school and possibly a tightly disciplined home life, dive into the glorious world of vodka, rum and tequila with little to no experience and end up getting a little too crazy. Considering that 30,000 college students are treated for alcohol overdoses every year, this issue deserves more attention than it may be getting. This information makes us wonder what would happen if parents took a more proactive approach to preventing their children’s future episodes of excessive drinking and maybe even preventing alcoholism. \nOne of the best ways, in our omnipotent opinion, to alleviate this problem is to have parents introduce their children to alcohol early. Children who see their older family members drinking will have a more responsible view of alcohol and will therefore be less likely to binge drink behind their parents’ backs during high school and during their first year, or even the entire duration, of college. We’re not saying parents or guardians should host a party and let little Tommy watch Uncle Bob and his bar buddy, who stopped by for the free cheese fondue and booze, get trashed. But parents who like to drink should not be hesitant to drink – moderately, that is – in front of their kids. They also shouldn’t be against letting their kids try some for themselves. \nSome parents are letting kids take some sips, as a recent study from the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center found. The study included surveys of 452 children aged 8 to 10. More parents should strive to have a healthy enough relationship with their kids that they never feel the need to sneak around anyone’s backs to get a few sips of a drink, whether it’s red wine or Coors Light.\nIf children see their parents or other family members drinking responsibly, and are maybe allowed to take a few sips here and there, it serves as a great example. Parents have an opportunity to practice what they preach while their kids’ behavior is the most malleable. If young people are raised to enjoy alcohol without bingeing on it, they will probably be less likely to jump on a drunken band wagon when their parents turn their backs ... or when they go out for their college frat party.
(12/07/07 1:53am)
The Palm Beach (Fla.) Community College recently decided that gay employees of the school cannot obtain health insurance for their partners.And while that move angered gay rights advocates in the area, the trustees then made a decision that baffled just about everyone, including the Editorial Board: They added a new health insurance benefit plan for unmarried employees’ pets.\nThe College’s reasoning is even worse than the idea itself. According to the school, a pet is a defined, true member of an unmarried person’s family, but a life partner is not.\nA wide variety of plans are offered, which cover wellness care, X-rays and vaccinations, among other things. “Your pet is a member of your family – his quality of life is important to you,” the veterinary insurance company said.\nFirst of all, it must be said that we at the Editorial Board are definitely not anti-pet by any means, but Palm Beach’s idea is stupendously dumb. The main issue at hand isn’t that pets should not be eligible for some sort of health insurance plan.It’s that the College has taken it upon itself to decide that pets are more important than people. And regardless of what the folks at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals say, the truth is, they just aren’t. \nPets are definitely crucial to the homestead in today’s world, and their needs should always be met, but the needs of human beings are definitely more important. Especially when it comes to a necessity like health insurance. \nThe decision to live an alternative lifestyle should never be subject to any sort of discrimination, and Palm Beach’s absolute neglect of the evolving definition of “family member” is ludicrous. More and more homes are being created by gay and lesbian people, and if the employees say that their partners are members of the family – and that’s as close as they can get because of the ban on gay marriage – then they should at least be able to add them to their insurance plans. \nIf people love their pets enough and think them to be members of their families, the Editorial Board believes they should have every right to seek out forms of insurance for them, but only after the humans in the family that need to be covered are covered. \nThis decision by Palm Beach Community College is yet another instance when people are able to take their love for their pets to the furthest extremes. Some people already treat their pets better than some of the humans in their lives – better clothes, expensive drinking water, etc. – but this behavior has to stop when it treads on the rights of people. There’s a final issue to consider: What happens when people decide to have a domestic partnership with their pet? Would the coverage continue? Let us hope it never comes to that because the Palm Beach Community College would have a difficult choice in front of it.
(12/06/07 5:39am)
Studying abroad is a great way to differentiate yourself as a student, possibly cheaper than a semester’s tuition at IU, and apparently a major threat to your mental health. \nDuring the annual conference of the Canadian Bureau for International Education last week, several officials stressed the mental health-risks associated with studying abroad. Students who are miles away from home may endure long periods of extreme loneliness and cultural isolation, which can lead to severe mental health problems including depression, suicide and other psychotic incidents.\nIn order to combat this problem, some at the conference, such as Lynne A. Mitchell, who is director of international programs at the University of Guelph in Ontario, suggested setting up mental health aid programs. These programs would work on the same principle as first aid, giving non-professionals the tools to deal with an immediate mental health crisis instead of waiting for that crisis to blow out of proportion. \nIU should be mindful of this suggestion, especially given the recent acknowledgment that we are one of the top schools for international education in the country. Being a university in the top 20 nationally, both in terms of international students here on campus and IU students in study-abroad programs, means that we should be wary of the health risks associated with such programs. \nHowever, there are also risks associated with putting too much of our mental health care in the hands of those who are not trained professionals. Even trained psychiatrists, if not careful, can do more harm than good to their patients. \nSome also pointed out the risk to student privacy. Students going to see counselors shouldn’t have to worry about the confidentiality of things said in confidence. It is true that when someone talks about topics such as suicide that information can no longer be private but the line between being distraught and being dangerously distraught is not always so clear. If, in an effort to increase access to mental health resources, non-professional counselors are employed, how are these counselors supposed to accurately judge whether what a student says is dangerous or not? \nDespite these risks, this Editorial Board is largely in favor of expanding mental health services, even through non-professional means, both to international students here and to our students abroad. The risks are real, but as long as mental health aid programs are structured in intelligent ways, they clearly have benefits.\nThere is still no substitute for professional help when it is needed, but giving staff involved with international programs the tools they need to help in a crisis will help identify those who need help in time to prevent further breakdown. Calls to have counselors attached to the international office, where international students whose culture does not include counseling may feel more comfortable, are probably also long overdue.\nStudying abroad is going to become more important, not less, for college educations. We need smart policies to keep the students involved in these programs healthy.
(08/21/07 11:09pm)
Welcome to Indiana University! Welcome to the hassles, the joys and the lessons that are college life.\nThis year will be full of surprises – some good, some bad – and you will not be the same person by the end of it as you are right now. We particularly welcome the freshman class and hope to give some insight into the complicated transition phase that is the undergraduate experience.\n1. Eat, drink and be merry. This is a time when you will be pushing your mind and body to new limits and dealing with an unprecedented amount of stress. Find out what diet is right for your lifestyle. Bloomington offers a wide variety of reasonably priced cuisine close to campus. Challenge your palate while trying new things and supporting local businesses. It’s not just pizza and tacos (but try the pizza and tacos).\nIf you drink, remember to do it responsibly, legally, in moderation and with friends. Know how much you can handle, and don’t drive after even one drink. Once legal, discover all this town has to offer, from “Sink the Biz” at Nick’s to wine tasting at Oliver Winery. \nHappiness at IU, though, isn’t dependent on drink alone. Your happiness is your responsibility, not your romantic partner’s, not your friends’ and certainly not your parents’. Take advantage of the endless free cultural events around town and the natural attractions near campus. There are amazing classes at the Student Recreational Sports Center, spiritual centers for every faith and social groups for every inclination. Getting involved in the community can help you find home while you’re here. \n2. Learn. Yes, we are suggesting that you actually attend class. They are technically what this University stuff is all about. It’s not hard. Wake up, make coffee and go. Not that your lecture halls and discussion groups are the only places you will learn life’s important lessons, but class time and office hours are specifically what you’re paying top dollar for. Take advantage of your professors, frequent their office hours and try to stay awake. Classes make up just a few hours of your day, and you actually might end up learning something. If not, we recommend crossword puzzles, or hiding an IDS in the folds of your notebook. \n3. Memento Mori. Remember that you are mortal. Your physical body is squishy and easily bruised and can only withstand so much abuse before it rebels in ugly and expensive ways, so be kind to it. Doing everything you can for your health will help you enjoy your time here exponentially.\nBecause your time here is limited, find out what your limits are and take the social risks to discover what fulfills you personally, politically and spiritually. It’s all here in little Bloomington, Ind. You just have to be willing to leave your comfort zone to find it. Carpe Diem! Have a great year!
(05/10/07 3:13pm)
Listen to the IDS editorial board meeting podcast.
(04/26/07 4:00am)
Some clarification is called for to your April 17 editorial (“Up and down the Hill”) raising questions about why Congressman Baron Hill addressed students at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. The editorial suggested that Congressman Hill came to Bloomington to get the attention of those sympathetic to his political views rather than to address “budding policymakers” at SPEA. In fact, Representative Hill was here solely to address students. He had been invited to speak to SPEA students by Dean Astrid Merget a month earlier, and he graciously accepted. In light of the national debate surrounding legislation related to war funding, we asked the Congressman to speak on the topic of Iraq.\nDuring his visit, he also met with SPEA student leaders to discuss careers in public service. SPEA regularly invites public officials from local, state and national level offices to address our students – our nation’s future leaders – to elevate and sharpen their thinking on critical public policy. \nThe editorial also questioned Congressman Hill’s dedication and support for higher education. We have found it to be absolute. During Mr. Hill’s tenure in Congress, he has been supportive of every funding request Indiana University has submitted. Earlier this year, he voted for legislation that would lower the interest rate on federal student loans by 50 percent. Just this month, Congressman Hill urged his colleagues on the Appropriations Committee to support increased funding for the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, the two agencies from which IU receives the bulk of its federal grants. These grants allow faculty and students across IU disciplines to engage in important and meaningful research. \nWe in Government Relations appreciate and do not question Congressman Hill’s support of Higher Education, Indiana University, its faculty and students.
(04/23/07 4:00am)
Throughout this year a task force, led by former IU Student Association Director of Women’s Affairs Lindsay Kerrigan, reviewed the effectiveness of the Rape Crisis Fund – a voluntary fee assessed on students when registering. The task force has now announced its decision: Middle Way House, a Bloomington nonprofit organization helping the victims of rape and domestic violence (among other services), will lose a significant amount of income formally associated with the fund. \nWhile 100 percent of the Rape Crisis Fund previously benefited Middle Way, that number will now be 25 percent. The remaining money will stay with the Office of Women’s Affairs. \nThe funds do come from IU students and therefore IU has the right to allocate them in the manner that it deems best. The money will still benefit its intended cause – rape prevention, awareness and crisis support – except that 75 percent of it will be managed by the IU Office of Women’s Affairs. \nIt seemed noble at first that a task force was looking to truly help the fund. However, the decision of the task force has led to a significant loss for Middle Way House. \nWhile Middle Way House invariably has sources of funding other than the $3 students may or may not give when registering, the sudden and substantial loss of the majority of the Rape Crisis funding will send ripples though the organization. It may have been better for the task force to gradually cut the amount of money being given to Middle Way House, rather than cut them off without warning. We sympathize with Middle Way House in this instance, and hope the actions taken by the task force will not diminish the quality of the necessary services provided by the organization. \nHowever, we will stop short of fully criticizing the decision. In preparing for the review of this fund, the IUSA held open forums to discuss how to proceed with its review. One of the members of the editorial board attended such a forum and found the dialogue productive. After this meeting, we commended IUSA in an editorial for its decision to review and improve the Rape Crisis Fund. We also requested that the student government abide with the decision of the task force. \nUnfortunately, the decision has put us in a quandary. How can we praise the decision while fully remaining sympathetic to Middle Way’s situation? In short, we cannot. While we recognize the hard work and outstanding efforts of the task force and IUSA, we cannot help but question the process by which the decision was made. We understood that staff from Middle Way House as well as multiple student groups would be represented on the task force. It appears this was not the case, or at least not what we expected. \nTherefore, we respect the decision of the task force, although we question whether the process was as inclusive as it could have been. Above all, however, we lend our full support to Middle Way House: Keep up the good work, in whatever way possible.
(04/23/07 4:00am)
I did it in four years.\nIn the summer of 2003 I came to IU; two Bachelor of Arts degrees, 10 pounds and dozens of new friends and acquaintances later, I will graduate. It is important – mostly for my own sense of closure – that I share my most important lessons from college with you readers. \nNo worries – these lessons aren’t along the lines of “Be yourself lol omg.” I like to think they’re much more relatable and amusing than that. I also hope to recommend sandwich variations and Bloomington deli options somewhere in these 500 words; in addition to comforting myself as I transition out of the college bubble, I seek to enjoy and discuss sandwiches as much as possible.\nWe’ll start with the gushy stuff. Relationships. I identify as a heterosexual woman, so I am coming from the perspective of desiring and getting my heart pooped on by men. I was fortunate to experience only one real heartbreak in my four years at IU, and I’ve come out of it (almost completely) knowing that I cannot blame myself for getting hurt. Nor can you, my female peers who liked that guy who said he would call but never did. Don’t be angry at yourselves for believing him, or “letting” yourself get too involved with him. He hurt you. You’re the victim. Of course this lesson can be applied to all sorts of intimate partner relations, can’t it? \nUnfortunately, I’ve no advice or practiced method of actually getting over a dude (or a lady). That part just sucks, and can take a lot of time.\nProbably my second most important collegiate revelation happened in the classroom. I will never forget being excited to go to my G101: Women and Society class as a junior. I was so enlightened every course period after encountering social history from a feminist perspective for the first time. I am more media literate and thoughtful because of gender studies, my second major, and I will never be ashamed to let people know that sex and gender are different. Sex is determined by a human’s biology whilst gender is a social construction. Please remember that, you! Take G101 for an extension on this thought – you will not regret it unless you hate intellect. Or gummi bears.\nMy third contemplation is maybe just personal and realized only very recently: that I am my only worst enemy. We are all probably our own harshest critics. No one but myself makes me feel bad about the brown scar from a spider bite on my left shin, for missing a workout or for saying that vaguely inappropriate, awkward thing at the party. I’ve found out that unless you physically harm them, people are generally receptive and uncritical, if you are too.\nThere is so much else. Volunteering is important and rewarding. Tell your parents you love them (if you do). Participate in class. Try the monster cookies at Sugar ’n Spice.\nLove college. Be OK with yourself. Be good to your friends. Good luck.
(04/16/07 4:00am)
Without fail, every semester produces the same sad story: A student walks into the bookstore, diligently collects between four and 48 textbooks (assuming all the required books are actually in stock), proceeds to the cash register and subsequently dies of a massive heart attack upon seeing the total bill. If you haven’t heard this unfortunate news, we recommend you pick up the paper more often.\nJoking aside, while the prospect of students keeling over dead from the price of books is noticeably absurd, what is not absurd is the reality of difficult financial burdens being placed on students when purchasing class materials. Yes, we realize that pricey textbooks are a fact of higher education, and that bountiful financial aid packages (including federal loans) supposedly compensate for this cost, hopefully for more students than not. However, being students ourselves (who leave the newspaper office once in a while to attend class), we see the utility and positive benefits of any proposal to lessen the impact of textbook costs on students’ pocketbooks (or their parents’ credit card).\nTake, for example, a bill currently waiting to be signed into law in Washington state. Under the proposed law, which is expected to be approved by Gov. Christine Gregoire in the near future, textbook publishers would be required to share book prices with faculty members before the professor decides to use the text in class. Currently, publishers such as Houghton Mifflin may send free copies of their books to professors in an effort to “show off” the book and entice its usage in a particular class. Sadly, the actual price of the textbook (i.e. what the professor’s students would pay at the bookstore) is not revealed, potentially leading otherwise noble instructors to select a rather expensive text, say $150 for a chemistry book, just as an example. The theory behind the legislation is that professors (they are noble, remember) may think twice about using a text with such a high price tag, especially when other, more affordable options, may be available. After all, competition and the free market are supposed to produce the wisest, most efficient outcomes, according to our $130 economics book.\nWe applaud the sponsors of Washington’s legislation, as well as those fighting for similar proposals in Arkansas, Illinois and Minnesota. As an aside, the reform in Washington came from the likes of you: students. The actions of the Washington Student Lobby and the Washington Public Interest Research Group – a student organization – are to be commended, as are the legislators who foresaw the usefulness of such legislation. We’d also be remiss not to mention the efforts of our own student association, who have fought this year to reduce textbook costs by exempting such items from state sales tax.\nThere seems to be a pattern developing: Students have a voice, and given the proper motivation, can affect state policy. Congratulations, fellow students, and thank you. \nOur last request is that publishers and professors alike will truly take to heart why such reforms are necessary in the first place.
(04/16/07 4:00am)
Get low.\nIn fall of 2003 Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz hit it big with a track by that name. If you don’t recall, maybe these lyrics will refresh your memory: “to the window, to the wall, to the sweat drip down my balls, to all these bitches crawl.” The songs lyrics are all demanding of females, probably in a nightclub sort of scenario, in which sex at the end of the night is hoped for and presumed – by both men and women. Still, the words are aggressive towards women and express little thought for what she might find enjoyable. \nSurely I could make these statements about any number of popular songs – rap and other genres – by male songwriters. If a song isn’t explicitly sexually demanding of a woman, it is describing her lips or her legs or the way her body looks when she’s grindin’ on the dance flo’. (Ludacris’ “Pimpin all over the world” is a relevant example for this.)\nMy intent isn’t to directly condemn this type of music – it danceable and gets ample mainstream radio time. But I want to consider that these rappers aren’t often marked by critics in reviews as addressing gender in their music. Lyrics sexualizing (and, a lot of times, degrading) women are “normal.” \nReinforcing this point is Peaches, an electro punk rocker (woman) with songs like “Fuck the Pain Away” and “Boys Wanna Be Her” and lyrics like “Feels great, just simulate, your prostrate.” Yes, Peaches is the one calling the shots in her largely obscene songs about sex.\nI’m not necessarily Peaches biggest fan, but I can understand her intent to even things out when it comes to objectifying one’s opposite sex in popular culture. What’s interesting about Peaches though is that, unlike her male counterparts in the music industry, she is pegged as being preoccupied with “gender bending” and singing primarily about sex.\nA Lexis Nexis search of “Peahces music” for articles in the past year retrieves 125 results with headlines containing the words “saucy,” “gender politics,” and “unabashedly raunchy.” A search for “Lil Jon” in the past year produces headlines about “complex beats” and “hip hop’s hottest hitmaker” – nothing about lyrics about gender. \nThe message here is that a woman expressing sexuality and enjoying a man’s body is remarkable, while a man can degrade a woman all day without sparking much conversation or being excluded from mainstream pop culture.\nPeaches’ has expressed interest in evening out the objectification of men with women in pop culture. But I don’t think men should be objectified more, I think women should be objectified less. Songs that instruct women to get on their hands and knees and suck it like they like it should be discussed on radio shows and blogs more about their implications. All popular culture text producers should consider having more respect for human being’s bodies and how the words they put out for millions to hear can make an impact.
(04/12/07 4:00am)
In response to, as an IU alum living in the South, I often hear about the political correctness of removing such symbols of historic fact, tradition and heritage, such as “Rebel” mascots or Confederate flags. While some of the ideals that those symbols may represent are not enlightened, there is no disputing the fact that they are a significant part of history, some of which is good and honorable. Should we deny the past and remove any symbol that represents ideals with which we disagree? If so, then let’s remove all signs of Christianity as it represents the Crusades. Same for the Jews and the Muslims. Let’s abolish all things Middle Eastern, German, Japanese, English, American Indian, Chinese, Mexican or Spanish. Gays and gay-bashers. For all of those represent current or historical views which certainly are not in step with today’s America. For that matter, half of America disagrees with the other half on most issues and would not be able to agree on what is “best.”\nWhen I started to write this note, I was writing to agree. But as I thought through it, it seems like a very slippery slope. Racism is ugly and brings with it a long history of ugly. Let’s not ignore it, or we’ll forget it. My suggestion would be to add a plaque underneath the Wildermuth sign, as a tribute to Coffee, and tell the story of his role in the integration of IU, in the context of the story you just wrote.\nAgree with me or not – I applaud your column, and am glad you raised the issue to the attention of folks today. I graduated 22 years ago, and I never knew the “rest of the story.”
(04/12/07 4:00am)
Most of the times I find Colin Dugdale’s column incredibly juvenile and silly (a typical Dugdale column can be paraphrased as follows: “I’m gay! Here’s a penis joke. By the way, I’m gay. My penis is gay, too. Penis joke.”). \nHis April 5 column, “Man pickles,” represented quite a remarkable maturation of Mr. Dugdale’s typical formula. Yes, he still used his shtick of homosexuality and penis jokes, but he did so in a refreshingly mature way (if a penis joke can be considered “mature,” that is) and found the right balance of comedy and heartwarming anecdote. After finishing today’s column, I found myself thinking, “Well done, Colin! Why aren’t all your columns like this?” Here’s to hoping this trend continues in his future work.
(04/12/07 4:00am)
My letter is in regards to Edward Delp’s column “Turning on victims” printed on April 5. A closer look at the Indianapolis Star article that Mr. Delp referred to, which I’m assuming is the only source of information he used for his argument, is needed for the situation to be communicated fairly.\nMr. Delp wrote that College Park Church “turned its back” on the alleged victim. However, looking at the same article that appeared in the Star, it is evident that this is untrue. \nAs Mr. Delp even noted, the church has given financial aid to the alleged victim’s family for counseling. Nowhere in the article does it say for a fact that the church has done anything against the alleged victim’s family; the only inferences that this is so are given by claims from disgruntled former church members. One must keep in mind who the people are who made these claims: the alleged victim’s father and someone who stopped attending the church months ago. Common sense tells us that these are probably not two of the most detached, objective or even knowledgeable sources in this situation.\nAlso, near the end of the column, Mr. Delp suggests that the Justice Department should investigate the church. From what the Star tells us, the alleged molestation did not occur at the church; it was at Van Gorp’s home. Mr. Delp also implies that College Park is no longer safe for children. If he is referring to the fact that Van Gorp is still allowed in the church, this is a moot point because Van Gorp is only allowed in the building with an escort, and those who run the children’s ministry are aware of him and the charges against him.\nMr. Delp stated his belief that child molesters do not deserve sympathy and support – only isolation and prison – and that the church is supporting “evil acts” like child molestation. Nowhere in the Star article does the church say it is supporting the alleged crime; rather, it is supporting the alleged criminal, who lost his job. There is a difference.
(04/12/07 4:00am)
Christians in AmeriKKKa just celebrated another Easter. Easter, the third day after their god got nailed and was miraculously alive once more. I don’t know about Jesus but I’ve been pretty badly nailed before, hammered in fact, and it took me at least three days to feel as if I was really alive again. It was a miracle to me too!\nChristianity is a completely artificial religion composed of various other “pagan” religions of the time. Emperor Constantine was instrumental in making Christianity popular as a method of controlling the military and populace. The character Jesus was probably fabricated completely from other god figures of the Egyptians, Babylonians and other cultures. In a police lineup, it’d be tough to tell Mithras, Osiris and Attis apart from Jesus.\nAll the Christian traditions come from other cultures and religions. Sunday, as a sacred day, comes from pagan Romans. Easter came from the Egyptians. Christmas came from Babylonians. The Greeks gave the concept of immortality, and the “triune god” concept came from the early Gnostics. Any competent historian can give anyone all the evidence that is required to show the truth about this primitive religion. \nChristianity is responsible for a vast percentage of the horrors unleashed upon the world by humans. Without Christians, Jews never would have been accused of killing a god. Imagine the world of 2007 without the Holocaust, without the Crusades, without all the hatred and prejudices that Christianity created. What a concept, eh?\nChristians are not all bad, of course. The basic philosophies of how a Christian should live are admirable. The Ten Commandments are decent, and the “golden rule” is a philosophy to live by. \nI know I’ve picked on Christianity, but other major religions are nearly as violent and intolerant. Isn’t it time to discard the violent religions of humanity’s primitive days and embrace humankind as a whole? Isn’t it time for humankind to grow up? We have advanced so far technologically and yet we have barely started to advance spiritually.
(04/12/07 4:00am)
Today, a fellow classmate, and good friend, and I went to the Shalom Center to provide information about the Earned Income Credit for a social work project. As we were walking in, coach Kelvin Sampson yelled at me for wearing flip-flops. He was accompanied by some players and another coach.\nMy friend and I got to talking and were thinking about how great it is that coach Sampson has his players and coaches volunteer. We spoke with an employer there and he said that Coach wanted his players to not forget there is life off campus. Coach Sampson started having his players volunteer in Oklahoma and wanted to continue that here in Bloomington. The employee also told us he inspired the soccer team to get involved. So the men’s soccer team volunteers on Wednesdays and the men’s basketball team on Fridays.\nGreat work, Coach Sampson – and I’ll quit wearing flip-flops when it’s 40 degrees.
(04/12/07 4:00am)
In response to “Analysis: IU building should not be named after a racist,” April 10: This was an extraordinarily well-written and compelling column. I had no idea of the history behind this story. I find it impossible not to agree with the writer. Andrew Shaffer has quite a future ahead of him. Good luck in the effort.
(04/12/07 4:00am)
In response to “Go to hell, NASCAR (and stay there)” (IDS, April 3):\nMr. Shaffer, there are so many aspects of the sport of NASCAR that could have been editorialized in a thoughtful and insightful manner. You could have talked about how many tires or gallons of gasoline are used up in a single weekend or the controversies surrounding the Car of Tomorrow and the points system. However, you don’t talk about any of this in any depth if you even mention it at all, which really begs the question: How much do you actually know about any of these things? Instead of addressing anything which might be considered a legitimate concern, you take a low and base approach by attacking of all things, the fans.\nTo attack a sport for its fan base is simply irresponsible writing on your part. It’s rude and cruel and a low blow to say the least. You lump 75 million American fans into one of two types. Either we’re Brick Tamlands or indulging in incest in the infield. Yes, thank you so much for your oh-so-creative linking of NASCAR to white trash. We’re all so glad someone’s finally found a new way to make fun of us. How clever.\nI’m not entirely sure that America’s “problem” has much of anything to do with NASCAR, sports or reality TV at all. Maybe the problem has more to do with indulging in stereotypes as if they are facts and the “my way or the highway” mentality, which you sum up so well in the title of your column. I suppose I could tell you to take your column on with you to hell (and just stay there), but I won’t, and that’s giving you a heck of a lot more respect than you’ve given me.