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AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE » FALL 2015 » ZINE ISSUE 003

THE UNHEARD VOICES ISSUE

+ WELCOME TO THE FAMILY: GAMMA RHO LAMBDA + UNTYING STIGMAS: BDSM: SAFE, SANE, CONSENSUAL + GOD BEFORE GOVERNMENT: CHANGES IN MENNONITES’ APOLITICAL CULTURE

AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE » Fall 2015 » ZINE ISSUE 003

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MISSION:

of the Voices Network, which is

AWOL is a progressive magazine run by American

a part of Generation Progress,

University students in Washington, DC. Founded in the spring of 2008 with support from Generation Progress, we are a recognized publication of American University.

and with support from AU Student Activities as a part of the AU Student Media Board. For more, visit genprogress.org and

We exist to ignite campus discussion of social, cultural

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and political issues, and serve as an outpost for students to explore solutions to local and global problems.

We hope to build bridges between American University and the world around it, ultimately making our campus more inquiring, egalitarian and socially engaged.

AWOL is not affiliated with any political party or ideology. Our stories have an angle, which is different from having an agenda; our reporting is impartial and fair, but our analysis is critical and argumentative.

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF: Jess Anderson, Pamela Huber ART DIRECTOR: Ellyse Stauffer

COVER ILLUSTRATION

by Ellyse Stauffer BACK COVER PHOTO

by Megan Yoder

MINIMAGAZINE ASSISTANT: Evie Lacroix

WEB EDITOR: Rachel Falek

EDITORIAL: STAFF EDITORS: Lydia Crouthamel, Evie Lacroix, Andrea Lin, Alex Mazzarisi, Laura Saini, Jessica Wombles WRITERS: Reina DuFore, Lindsey Grutchfield, Kaitlin

LIKE A STORY? HATE A STORY?

Haraughty, Evie Lacroix, Maris Laughton, Paloma Losada,

Want to join AWOL? Write to us:

Alex Mazzarisi, Shelby Ostergaard, Thomas Pool, Hannah

awolau@gmail.com

Wilson-James, Megan Yoder, Kendra Yoshinaga

FIND US ONLINE:

ART:

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DESIGN ASSISTANT: Andrea Lin

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Mithila Samak, Jessica Dodman, Megan Yoder

03 AU’S BATTLE TO SAVE THEIR BEES JUST KEEP BUZZING

by Thomas Pool

THE UNHEARD VOICES ISSUE

04 MUSIC MAJORS PLAY WITH PRIDE TAKE NOTE

by Kaitlin Haraughty

06 GAMMA RHO LAMBDA WELCOME TO THE FAMILY

by Hannah Wilson-James and Evie Lacroix

08 SMOKING CREATES TENSION ON CAMPUS GOT A LIGHT?

by Maris Laughton

09 BDSM: SAFE, SANE, CONSENSUAL UNTYING STIGMAS

by Alex Mazzarisi

10 THE DARK SIDE OF ANONYMOUS VOICES YUCK YACKS

by Shayna Vayser

12 THE STRONG LADIES OF WOMEN’S RUGBY DOWN AND DIRTY

by Lindsey Grutchfield

13 WORKING AROUND IMPOSTER SYNDROME WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

by Kendra Yoshinaga

15 PHOTO ESSAY

HOLY HILL

by Megan Yoder

17 CHANGES IN MENNONITES’ APOLITICAL CULTURE GOD BEFORE GOVERNMENT

by Paloma Losada

19 AU DEBATE SOCIETY RANKS NATIONALLY NO ARGUMENT

by Shelby Ostergaard

21 FREEGANS FIGHT FOOD WASTE DINNER’S IN THE DUMPSTER

by Reina DuFore

AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE MAGAZINE

AU’S BATTLE TO SAVE THEIR BEES

JUST KEEP BUZZING

By Thomas Pool

Andreas Elterich used to be afraid of bees. That was until he joined the American University Beekeeping Society (AUBS) and realized how important they are to the community, the economy, and ultimately, the world.

“It’s not like your average club,” Elterich said.

The beekeeping society has been around since 2011, when professor Eve Bratman, a professor in the School of

“It is the mysterious disease causing devastating losses to bee colonies all around the world.”

Photo by Jeffrey W. Lotz / CC BY 3.0

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International Service, founded it along with several AU students. Bratman said that originally the organization had only one hive on the roof of the SIS building, but they have added two more hives on the second floor of the Mary Graydon Center, known as “Game of Drones” and “Susan Bee Anthony.”

Members of the beekeeping society are the primary beekeepers for the hives, though according to Elterich, that is not all they do. The society also sells homemade lip balm and candle products made from the beeswax in the Davenport Coffee Lounge.

New members are encouraged to participate from the beginning.

“I definitely want to get some hands-on experience with the hives,” said Yarrow Randall, a sophomore who joined this year. She believes the club needs more exposure for people to understand that its work with bees has become even more urgent in recent years, especially with the discovery of

colony collapse disorder (CCD).

“It is the mysterious disease causing devastating losses to bee colonies all around the world,” Bratman said of CCD in her TEDx Talk on beekeeping. She says that in 1947, there were 5.7 million honeybee colonies in the United States, while today there are only 2.5 million. Those bees, Bratman said, are responsible for onethird of produce and produce-based products.

According to Bratman, the disorder may result when hives are invaded by varroa mites, a parasite that kills honeybees. Though AU’s hives have suffered from parasitic invasions, Bratman says that since AU uses all-organic vegetation management, they do not have to worry about the effects of dangerous neonicotinoid pesticides. According to Bratman, these pesticides are considered to be one of the leading causes for CCD. Elterich says the beekeeping society receives funding from the university via a start-up Green Eagle grant and AU Club Council. Working with the society, AU has the opportunity to research the dangers of CCD and to help mitigate the havoc it wreaks on the food production system, though Bratman believes more could be done.

“I would love to see more research surrounding the bees,” she said.

Thomas Pool is a sophomore studying communications and literature.

MUSIC MAJORS PLAY WITH PRIDE

TAKE NOTE

By Kaitlin Haraughty

It’s nine o’clock on a Monday night and most students are trudging their way through a reading or socializing with hall mates. For most, the day is coming to a close.

However, across Massachusetts Avenue, in Katzen Arts Center, students are still in the thick of things.

Musicians have been practicing their four pieces in orchestra for about an hour, and that practice has been sprinkled with conductor’s direction, choruses of laughter and swells of symphonies.

“You spend a lot of your time in Katzen,” said Bridgette Pressley, a sophomore and the only clarinet major in her year. “I try to spend an WWW.AWOLAU.ORG » FALL 2015

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AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE MAGAZINE

hour or two every day practicing.”

American University could well be home to a future president or United Nations ambassador, but a discipline all too often forgotten about is music. The class structure for music majors is much different than that of a political science or an international relations major. Many music theory classes are mandatory, and as students progress through their degree, they are encouraged to take more one-credit lesson courses.

According to Parchment, a website that breaks down AU’s demographics, the top majors among students at American University include political science and government, international studies and business. With the majority of AU students taking classes and succeeding in these areas, any musical success stories coming from AU’s campus often get overlooked. Many artistic, musical alumni have attended AU including Cass Elliot, the lead singer of the Mamas and the Papas; Goldie Hawn, an American actress, director and producer; and Nancy Meyers, an accomplished film director.

Yubin Choi, a senior at AU and music major, says that originally, she was drawn to AU for its international studies program. Choi didn’t think of becoming a music major until she was encouraged by her cello instructor to pursue what she loved.

“Music shouldn’t be about competing,” she said.

This isn’t an uncommon sentiment among music majors at AU. Jess Bauer, a junior majoring in psychology and music, started her freshman year undecided.

“Music is a smaller major, so it’s easier to double major with stuff,” she said. “So, music and psychology, they’re both relatively small majors but it works when I double.”

Although AU has earned a reputation as a social sciences school, the music students and staff here prove that the school has even more to offer. Of the tiny by engaging community, Bauer said, “It’s small, but those of us who are in it really love it.”

Kaitlin Haraughty is a freshman studying political science.

Kaitlin Haraughty is a freshman studying political science.

Photo by Georg Feitscher / CC BY 3.0

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GAMMA RHO LAMBDA

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY

By Hannah Wilson-James and Evie Lacroix

A product of her environment, Chloe Krueger, a senior, is a self described “total effing liberal hippie.”

her intersectionalities came in contact and flourished. She found this space with Gamma Rho Lambda, American University’s multicultural, LGBTQIA+, siblinghood.

“Having this multicultural, LGBTQ inclusive space was amazing,” Krueger said. “I wasn’t finding these niche spaces for me until I found Gamma Rho Lambda.”

GRL is a nationally recognized sorority founded at the University of Arizona, Tempe, in 2003. The AU chapter, Pi, was created in 2013 and is one of 16 chapters across the country. It is not a part of the Panhellenic Council or the Interfraternity Council at AU. GRL’s practices are based on the Divine Nine, a group of historically black sororities and fraternities.

“Being a multicultural woman, I knew I did not fit into a white space,” Krueger said. “I [also] didn’t really fit into an Asian “We take trans women, cis women, space when it came to Greek life.” trans men, nonbinary people...

She was looking for a place where

basically anyone who’s comfortable with the label ‘sorority.’”

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AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE MAGAZINE

As a nod to inclusivity, the sorority now calls members “siblings,” instead of “sisters,” reflecting the diverse gender identities of its members.

As a nod to inclusivity, the sorority now calls members “siblings,” instead of “sisters,” reflecting the diverse gender identities of its members.

“We take trans women, cis women, trans men, nonbinary people… basically anyone who’s comfortable with the label ‘sorority,’” senior Caelan Tietze said.

The group works to be inclusive towards those with disabilities, designing their posters to be easily read, captioning all images and remaining seated while reciting part of their probate.

Many members join GRL because they feel that it represents multiple facets of their identities.

“There are people in our sorority who didn’t want to join a historically black organization because they felt that would ignore their sexual orientation, but who also didn’t want to join a lesbian sorority because they felt it would ignore their heritage,” Tietze said. “We value both aspects.”

And they aren’t the only ones who do. When activist and actress

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Laverne Cox spoke at AU, members of GRL extended honorary siblinghood to her during the Q&A portion of the event.

“Laverne Cox, as a trans woman, sits in with what GRL is all about,” said senior Naomi Waltengus, a former GRL sibling. “She is a woman in our siblinghood. Although we take in gender nonconforming people as well, GRL is a siblinghood mostly constituted by women. Whether you are cis or trans doesn’t matter. It was really cool that we got the opportunity to invite her.”

On campus, a large part of GRL’s advocacy is geared toward the inclusion of intersectional voices in different conversations. Because their focus is on intersectionality, Krueger says that when in spaces with people of color, GRL stands for the LGBTQIA+ community, and when in LGBTQIA+ spaces they represent people of color.

“The gay community is far more accepted and talked about and there are way more resources than [for] people of color,” she said. “And it’s changing, but that is the reality of it.”

Hannah Wilson-James is a freshman studying international relations. Evie Lacroix is a sophomore studying journalism.

His roommate Rocco Cimino, also a freshman, knew prior to moving in with Herrera that he smoked cigarettes, but wasn’t aware that Herrera would be smoking while Cimino was around.

No Smoking On Campus

SMOKING CREATES TENSION ON CAMPUS

GOT A LIGHT?

By Maris Laughton Illustration by Jessica Dodman

Many teens in today’s society find cigarette smoking to be a stress-relieving social trend. If discovered in high school, the habit can continue throughout college and into daily life.

Felipe Herrera, a freshman at American University, has been smoking socially for the past two years. He enjoys the burn of smoke on his throat and says it helps him relax. Herrera has hidden his smoking habit from his parents, smoking about one pack per week and sometimes borrowing cigarettes from his friends.

When he moved to AU his habit didn’t change, but he did run into some issues he didn’t have at home.

“I only know about 10 people here who smoke and all my other friends don’t,” Herrera said.

“It bothers me deeply,” Cimino said.

“When we go out, even with large groups, he’ll smoke and it alienates our friends.

They don’t want to be around him when he does it.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2013, 17.8 percent of adults in the District of Columbia smoked, and of those adults that smoked, 18.7 percent were between the ages of 18 and 24.

AU’s tobacco and smoke-free campus policy and Cimino’s caution regarding secondhand smoke have kept Herrera from smoking in the residence hall. Since Herrera must leave campus to smoke, he goes to the area closest to his dorm, Fletcher Gate.

“Despite being friends and roommates with a smoker, I make the conscious decision not to smoke,” Cimino said. “[We’re all victims] of the tobacco-causing-cancer media storm that’s emerged in the past 16 years.”

According to the American Lung Association, active smoking contributes to 90 percent of lung cancer deaths in the United States, but fewer than 10 percent of lifelong smokers will get cancer.

“I’m actually considering quitting soon,” Herrera said. “The other day I had a nightmare that I got cancer so that made me reconsider.”

Maris Laughton is a freshman studying print journalism.

WWW.AWOLAU.ORG » FALL 2015

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AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE MAGAZINE

BDSM: SAFE, SANE, CONSENSUAL

UNTYING STIGMAS

By Alex Mazzarisi Illustration by Ellyse Stauffer

A lot of the general public’s knowledge of the concept of BDSM is limited to the book 50 Shades of Gray, Rihanna’s hit song “S&M” and perhaps a few scenes from the film “The Wolf of Wall Street.” Other than that, the activities of the BDSM community tend to remain a mystery and many people who participate in these activities like to keep it under wraps out of fear that people might judge them. It does, after all, seem a bit shocking that some people feel safer hearing the question “can I tie you up?” than “can I buy you a drink?”

So what exactly goes on in the community? BDSM stands for bondage, discipline, submission and masochism, but the acronyms letters S and D can also stand for dominance and sadism.

The acronym SSC, safe, sane and consensual, is also deeply ingrained into the practice.

Safety is a top priority as many of the practices like fire scenes (briefly lighting the skin on fire), rope scenes (binding people tightly in rope) and water scenes (simulating drowning) can easily cause serious injury or even be fatal. This goes hand-in-hand with the

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sane component, which emphasizes the importance of not being in a state of mind altered by drugs or alcohol while performing any BDSM. Finally, consent is of the utmost importance with any BDSM activity.

“It’s more safe than any other sexual interaction you would ever have,” says an anonymous student. “Consent is the name of the game.”

Despite the activity providing a safe and consensual environment, those who lead more “vanilla” sex lives, which don’t involve BDSM, may still be apprehensive about putting on a collar and leash. Some students, however, think that these activities are more commonplace.

“Everyone has a kink,” says a student who was previously in AU Kinksters, an on-campus community of students who participate in BDSM activity. “Even if they don’t know it. It could even be as mild as liking girls who wear red nail

“Everyone has a kink, even if they don’t know it.”

polish.”

Thanks to the culture of consent in these communities, it is considered normal to simply observe others do “scenes” with one another at sex clubs.

Health codes vary among sex clubs as some clubs prohibit intercourse, but all provide sanitary wipes for equipment, and condoms are always available.

“In any sexual situation, an open dialogue in which each person feels free to express their wants, needs and preferences is key to achieving consent,” said Haley Hawkins, the director of Women’s Initiative. “BDSM is no exception and, though many have misconceptions about this, those within the BDSM community will often tell you that consent is essential regardless of the sexual act or context.”

Despite remaining a stigmatized practice, the BDSM culture provides a “safe, sane and consensual” environment for people to explore their sexuality. While BDSM is not the cure for a culture that still struggles with consent and healthy attitudes towards sexuality, setting clear boundaries and maybe even putting on handcuffs (safely, sanely, and consensually, of course) are some lessons everyone can learn from the community.

Alex Mazzarisi is a senior studying public communication and anthropology.

THE DARK SIDE OF ANONYMOUS VOICES

YUCK YAKS

By Shayna Vayser

Over three billion people have access to the Internet, and those who reside within 1.5 miles of your location can get 200 characters of unregulated, entirely anonymous social publication with just the click of a “free download” button.

“We were naïve,” admitted Yik Yak co-founder Brooks Buffington in a statement following the application’s mandatory prohibition in Chicago. “Using the app the way we intended it to be used requires a certain amount of maturity and responsibility; we were idealistic about who possessed that.”

The Yik Yak ban was enforced citywide following reports of cyberbullying in several Chicago high schools. Within four months of the app’s creation in 2013, reports of aggressive and offensive posts creating tensions within schools nationwide began to make headlines, culminating in a false bomb threat at San Clemente High School in southern California.

“Most of what you find on Yik WWW.AWOLAU.ORG » FALL 2015

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AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE MAGAZINE

Yak is mean-spirited,” said freshman Rachel Bracken. “I don’t know why people post stuff like that.”

In March of 2015, American University administrators and staff were confronted by a series of controversial “yaks” posted by AU students that targeted the university’s African American population.

Screenshots of the posts went viral on Twitter, garnering media attention and student outrage— specifically those in which students were referred to as “monkeys” and “cottonpickers.” The Vice President of Campus Life, Gail Hanson, released a statement asserting that, “These posts stand in stark contrast to American University’s core values of respect for human dignity and appreciation for diverse cultures.”

or beliefs, demanding that the “short girl with the dark hair” stop walking around without any makeup on or that all Republicans are “homophobes and molesters.” Instances of cyberbullying like these are often motivated by frustration, boredom or the desire to get a reaction. Seventy percent of teens will be a victim of online bullying at some point in their lives, according to NoBullying. com. The Cyberbully“It seems to have ing Research Center a very high-school found that about 20 mentality. I thought percent of teens are harassed online regupeople would have larly. This can result grown out of in higher risk of depression, anxiety and it by this stage suicide among people in their life.” ages 15 to 29.

Anonymous offensive comments have not been limited to race on AU’s campus. There are daily posts scrutinizing individuals for their physical assets

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“It’s incredibly disappointing that such an abusive online presence exists in college,” said Ranya Shannon, a freshman.

“It seems to have a very ‘high-school’ mentality. I thought people would have grown out of it by this stage in their life.”

Shayna Vayser is a freshman studying international relations and foreign policy in media.

STRONG LADIES OF WOMEN’S RUGBY

DOWN AND DIRTY

By Lindsey Grutchfield

Rugby is an intensely physical sport.

With 80 minutes of nonstop play and only a 10 minute halftime, it is more punishingly cardiovascular than football, with all of the contact and none of the padding. Needless to say, bumps and bruises are common occurrences for the American University Women’s Rugby players.

“It doesn’t cater to women,” she said.

“It doesn’t try and bend the rules a little bit. Rugby is that one place where men and women are equal.”

Yet, Ngo finds that, “Men’s rugby is a bit more popular. People are a fan of the intensity of men’s rugby.” As for the women who join her team, she said, “A lot of people are very hesitant because they’re afraid to get hurt.”

Rookie Hannah Wohlfahrt, a freshman, was not sure what to expect when joining the team this semester.

“I felt a little bit emotionally drained after my first game–but also excited,” she said. Despite any initial reservations rookies may have, the AU Women’s Rugby team puts just as much energy into the game as their male counterparts.

Because of the raw physicality of the game, some team members like Christina Ngo, a junior and a back on the team, think that others see female rugby players as “big and tough–they just lift 24/7.”

“Rugby is a very demanding game in terms of the physical standard that you kind of need to be at just to keep yourself safe,” Ecker said. The challenge and physicality holds much of rugby’s appeal for Winchell.

However, this stereotype does not hold true for AU’s Women’s Rugby team.

Anyone can play rugby, according to Rebecca Winchell, a senior and forward on the team.

“When you come out of the game, you feel like you accomplished something– and like you got run over by a truck,” she said.

“There’s this image of big, butch lesbians,” Winchell said. “But we have girls who are five-feet-tall and 90 pounds and they still do rugby. There’s a place for everyone on the pitch.”

Rugby is somewhat unusual because the rules for the game do not change between men and women. Co-Captain Maddie Ecker, a senior, appreciates the inherent equality of the sport.

Above all, the women of AU’s Women’s Rugby team is in it for the game and nothing else.

“This is a group of girls who are giving everything to literally just play rugby on Saturday mornings,” Ecker said. “There is nothing more to it than that.”

Lindsey Grutchfield is a freshman studying journalism WWW.AWOLAU.ORG » FALL 2015

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AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE MAGAZINE

WORKING AROUND IMPOSTER SYNDROME

The common thread in each woman’s story is impostor syndrome. According to Klawe, the term applies to successful people who are unable to internalize their achievements. They may feel like they’re fooling the people around them into thinking that they’re more competent than they are. They may attribute their own success to luck, computer errors or may downplay their accomplishments.

By Kendra Yoshinaga

Tracy Callandrillo, director of American University’s Counseling Center, cautions against conflating impostor syndrome with garden-variety self-doubt.

Impostor syndrome, she says, involves a pattern. For example, failing a test could make someone more determined to try harder next time. Others, however, dwell on their failures.

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor once told the New York Times that she was always looking over her shoulder, wondering if she measured up. Author Maya Angelou said that every time she wrote a book, she felt like she had “run a game” on everybody, and they would find her out.

“In every job I’ve had in the last 25 years, I’ve been the first woman to hold my position,” Maria Klawe, president of Harvey Mudd College, wrote in an op-ed for Slate.

“As my career progressed, so did the intensity of my feelings of failure.”

“Failure is a big piece of attaining success,” Callandrillo said. “But the difference is, when you attain your success, are you able to own that? Or is there a pattern of [telling yourself] ‘I got that because I was lucky,’ or ‘Someone made a mistake?’”

Imposters suffer from more than just self-doubt, according to Valerie Young, an author and educator who specializes in

I have spent my years since Princeton, while at law school and in my various professional jobs, not feeling completely a part of the worlds I inhabit I am always looking over my shoulder wondering if I measure up. —Sonia Sotomayor

Official White House photo by Pete Souza

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impostor syndrome.

“But the difference is, when you attain

“Most everyone exyour success, are you able to own that? periences self-doubt— Or is there a pattern of [telling yourwhich is normal and healthy because it self] ‘I got that because I was lucky,’ or keeps us humble,” ‘Someone made a mistake?’”

Young said. “People who feel like impostors, however, feel like the fact that they do doubt their compe- alized groups, ultimately concluding in an tence just ‘proves’ they’re less competent article for the American Psychological Association that “differing in any way from [than] people think they are.” the majority of your peers — whether by Impostor syndrome can be an intense- race, gender, sexual orientation, or some ly shameful experience, and for those other characteristic — can fuel the sense who feel like a fraud, the prospect of be- of being a fraud.” ing outed can be terrifying.

Instead of suffering in silence, Callan“That’s one of the central ways in which drillo advises students to pay attention impostor syndrome has power,” Callan- to their internal dialogues and to look for drillo said. “Especially in college, there’s a patterns. very strong pressure to act like you have it “Noticing patterns helps you change together when, in reality, pretty much no your patterns,” she said. She also recomone has it together all the time.” mends talking about it to others.

Researchers have found that impostor “Getting it outside of yourself makes it syndrome can affect anyone, regardless of identity. However, it does disproportion- less powerful,” she said. ately affect certain groups.

“While both men and women experience impostor syndrome, women are far more susceptible,” economist Kate Bahn wrote in the Chronicle of Higher Education. “Given the messages of inadequacy that many women have internalized throughout their lives, it’s hardly surprising that many of us are wondering if we can hack it.”

The syndrome is also more common among people of color, as well as those who do not identify as straight and cisgender. Science journalist Kirsten Weir researched imposter syndrome in margin-

Klawe, for example, gives presentations on what she calls “impostoritis” to students and fellow scientists. She believes that developing coping mechanisms and building a support system can be beneficial.

“I wake up most days with a voice on the left side of my head telling me what an incredible failure I am,” she wrote. “But the voice on the right side tells me that I can change the world — and I try to pay more attention to it.”

Kenra Yoshinaga is a senior studying broadcast journalism and legal studies.

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AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE MAGAZINE

PHOTO ESSAY

HOLY HILL

By Megan Yoder Washington, DC, practically shut down from Sept. 22 to 24 in anticipation of Pope Francis’ high profile visit. Roads closed to make way for his motorcade as he visited the White House, Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the Capitol, St. Patrick’s church and the Catholic Charities headquarters. The pope’s address to Congress on Sept. 24 drew supporters, critics, and observers alike. His repeated calls to action in support of moral and social issues led many to use the visit as a platform to express support for a variety of causes.

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Hundreds gathered on the National Mall to rally in support of Pope Francis’ anticipated remarks on climate change.

Megan Yoder is a junior studying journalism, graphic design and justice.

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AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE MAGAZINE

Photo by Martin Falbisoner / CC BY

CHANGES IN MENNONITES’ APOLITICAL CULTURE

GOD BEFORE GOVERNMENT

By Paloma Losada

The Mennonite community in the United States hasn’t been known to line up by the hundreds outside polling stations, hold picket signs protesting unjust laws or advocate for a certain candidate. Though they have traditionally stayed within their community, voluntarily withdrawn from the rough and tumble of American politics, this stereotype doesn’t always fit the younger generation.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say that I’m apolitical,” said Jacob Leaman, a Mennonite and junior at American University. However, Leaman explains that the group has historically been labeled “un-American” and imprisoned for exercising conscientious objection.

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For the Mennonites, the laws of God are different from the laws of man, with the former trumping the latter. Though the separation of church and state is written into the Constitution, for Mennonites it is religious law that takes priority, a choice that has led to backlash. Mennonites, including members of Leaman’s community, were jailed for rejecting the draft during World War I, and faced public outrage when they refused to fight in the Civil War. Other Christian denominations allow participation in war, but for Mennonites, pacifism is the direct response to the Sixth Commandment: “Thou shalt not kill.”

“If you are forced between the two choices, if you had to pick what the Christian be-

lief says you should do and what the state is telling you to do, you’d probably pick the first one,” Leaman said.

Traditionally, Mennonites have also refrained from voting. Jake Short, administrative assistant at Hyattsville Mennonite Church, explains that many Mennonites refuse to vote because “their consciences would be compromised too much one way or another.” To vote Republican, for example, would mean to vote against pro-choice legislation. It would also a mean a vote in favor of mass deportation when Mennonites tend to advocate for immigration reform, including amnesty.

Like any other community, Mennonites have changed throughout time.

“I think just in general, this generation is not really into the church as an institution as much, and I think that trend carries over to Mennonite communities as well,” Leaman said.

He votes, as do many other members of his particular church. He says that some even participate in multiple parts of the political process. They endorse candidates, write letters to congressmen and debate the best political course of action. However, Leaman qualifies that his church is more progressive than many other Mennonite churches, with members tending to identify along the political left.

Short explains that the Mennonite faith is quite diverse, with each congregation having its own set of rules.

“Mennonites are very local in terms of polity, and there isn’t a lot of top-down hierarchy,” he said. Multiple churches can group together into conferences, with a bishop overseeing each one. The bishop of

one conference can decide that the members of his community cannot participate in politics, while the bishop for another might decide that his conference can.

“Not to generalize too much, but urban congregations would probably have more politically active members than not,” Short said. Pastors and bishops must meet the needs of their community and provide them guidance in faith. With cities often holding more diverse populations, leaders may try to respond to particular issues within their community, like police brutality or the rights of undocumented immigrants.

Even so, there is still one part of the political process that the majority of Mennonites have shied away from: running for office.

“Personally, I don’t think I could run for president hypothetically speaking, and I don’t think other Mennonites would be terribly comfortable with that either, just because there’s a lot of decisions that would be necessary to make,” Leaman said.

While it isn’t something he believes would be frowned upon, he also doesn’t believe it would be encouraged. He says that some of the decisions government officials must make would compromise strongly held beliefs, which many Mennonites see as blackand-white issues.

“I think that Mennonites are a little more absolutist in terms of a right and wrong decision, versus some people see it more as a spectrum, so compromising their beliefs, even slightly, would probably make them uncomfortable.”

Paloma Losada is a freshman studying political science.

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AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE MAGAZINE

ally spent competing at tournaments across the East Coast, from Boston to Chicago.

“We travel every weekend to a different tournament at a different school,” she said. “We get to compete, which basically means you get to go with any prepared topics that you want to talk about and get to engage in very interesting ideas and conversations with college students around the country.”

Though the team gets around, it often flies under the radar. And telling other students that she had a good weekend because she and her debate partner, Matt Sokol, moved up to Team of the Year rankings–they are now in the Top Ten–usually leads to some head scratches.

AU DEBATE SOCIETY RANKS NATIONALLY

NO ARGUMENT

By Shelby Ostergaard Illustration by Mithila Samak

When someone asks American University junior Frankie Orrico if she had a good weekend, her answer is a bit complicated. As president of AU’s Debate Society, Orrico’s weekends are usu-

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AU’s Debate Society has been a member of the American Parliamentary Debate Association, a student-run competitive debate league, since 2008.

Every weekend, a different school in the league hosts a tournament, with debaters going head-to-head on issues ranging from whether Emma Watson’s “Strong Men Fight For Women” campaign is normatively good for feminism to whether Jewish people should be able to transfer their Israeli citizenship to Palestinians. They’ve even debated which breakfast cereal mascot would make the best roommate.

“One fun topic was a hypothetical concept based on the movie Ruby Sparks,” Sokol said, describing a round that smashed philosophy and pop culture together, asking whether the au-

thor of a book whose main character came to life should continue writing.

what it was like to be so nervous before rounds.

In a debate, one team sends the first “There’s a challenge to it, you need speaker, known as the Prime Minister, to be able to keep up with current to read a seven-minute speech explain- events and have some understanding a case. This is ing of what’s going where Emma Waton with the world,” son’s campaign, or Sokol said. “But the the plot to Ruby great thing is that Sparks, would be you are able to ask explained.

The as many questions other team’s first as you want in a givspeaker—the Leaden round. So even if “One of my favorite er of Opposition— there is something things about this simultaneously lisyou don’t know a format is that it’s not tens and writes a ton about, you can based on a ton of reply. always ask.”

research, or who The Leader of OpAlthough knowing position then must the facts beforehand knows the most about stand up and delivcan help, that’s not a certain topic, but is er an eight-minute what the students instead about how well speech, addressing are ultimately there the original points for. In the age of the you logically make and bringing new Internet, where evconclusions off the ones to the table. eryone can always information you have.”

Each side is then use Google to prove given an additional their point, Sokol eight minutes for said that this can secondary speakers come as a relief. to engage with the “One of my favorarguments presentite things about this ed. Lastly, the Prime format is that it’s Minister and the not based on a ton Leader of Opposition deliver shorter of research, or who knows the most speeches designed to sum up the disabout a certain topic but is instead cussion in whatever light is most flatabout how well you logically make contering to their side. clusions off the information you have.”

According to Orrico, this is nervewracking at first, but quickly becomes routine. She has to strain to remember Shelby Ostergaard is a senior studying CLEG. WWW.AWOLAU.ORG » FALL 2015

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AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE MAGAZINE

FREEGANS FIGHT FOOD WASTE

DINNER’S IN THE DUMPSTER

By Reina DuFore Infographic by Ellyse Stauffer

While most consumers stroll through supermarket aisles meticulously, searching for the reddest apple or the perfect pear, a different kind of search takes place nearby. Some people flock instead to the big metal bins that offer free food only 50 feet away from the supermarket doors. For them dumpsters do not hold trash, but waste.

For Grace Kronmiller, a 27-year-old from Eugene, Oregon, dumpsters outside of wasteful corporations hold her daily meals.

“Some stores throw away food a day or two before their expiration date,” Kronmiller said. “This is such a crazy thing because they’re just arbitrary dates that are made back [at] the manufacturer, [but] mean nothing. The food is still perfectly good.”

find. Kronmiller, an avid dumpster diver, maintains a blog called “The Funky Freegan Journal.” She says that being a freegan is more than a lifestyle. For her, it means advocating to limit consumption and to cut down on food waste.

According to reports by NPR, American households throw away about $1,500 worth of food yearly, which is about 25 percent of all food and beverages purchases.

“It is really horrifying the amount of food that people waste,” said sophomore Brianna Hall, a teaching assistant for American University’s “Environmental Ethics” University College seminar. “It is also something that we don’t even realize that we’re doing.”

Big corporations contribute to Kronmiller is a “freegan,” a term this problem as well. The Departused for people who recover edible ment of Agriculture estimates food that would otherwise be wasted.

Freegans o r g a n i z e dumpster dives “You can walk down the street and and create neighborhood dumpsters are always meals from the food that they full of things that are just fine. ”

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that supermarkets lose $15 billion annually in unsold fruits and vegetables alone.

According to a report by the National Resources Defense Council, “a packer of citrus, stone fruit and grapes estimated that 20 percent to 50 percent of the produce he handles is unmarketable but perfectly edible.”

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MILLION TONS of food waste was generated in 2010.

97% of this food went to landfills.

“You can walk down the street and neighborhood dumpsters are always full of things that are just fine,” Kronmiller said. “Waste goes beyond food and permeates every part of our being. Because things are so abundant, we don’t even think about it.”

Jessica Balerna, a junior and founder of Zero-Waste at AU, agrees.

“People see food that is bruised or kind of deformed and they don’t want it,” she said. “On the huge industrial agricultural scale, [companies] have to throw that food away because people won’t buy it. [This] is a huge portion of food waste.”

According to reports from the United Nations Environment Programme, organic waste is the second highest component of landfills after paper, but the largest source

Source: Patterson Clark, The Washington Post; BioCycle, EPA.

of methane emissions.

“Food waste is specifically toxic if sent to landfills instead of composting facilities,” Balerna said. “It is harder to break down because they purposefully make landfills so that food doesn’t break down. Because of that, the food just heats up where it is and releases a lot of methane… which is even worse for the environment and climate change.”

Kronmiller, and other freegans like her, aim to decrease waste that would otherwise be sent to landfills. “[We] should be conscious of what we’re wasting and where it goes,” she said. “We need to realize that we each have an impact.”

Reina DuFore is a freshman studying international development and economics.

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