October Edition by screws@collocue.com

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What We Stand For The purpose of this magazine is to provide a venue for issues & concerns, local & global, to be presented in a manner conducive to young adults. By imparting knowledge and awareness, we will be better equipped to survive in a global economy and workplace. We will be armed with the power to impact our world. This magazine is non partisan and non political. We do not promote one viewpoint, idea, policy, religion etc. over another. We are an information resource only. We do not seek to be the final authority; rather an instrument to be used by the reader for educational purposes.

ColloCUE is Eternally Grateful To: Matthew Ladd Chief Editor Diane Kulseth Society Editor Aurienne De Rudder ViewPoint Editor Nneka Okona Eye On Editor Anne Pellecchia Cicero’s Corner Editor Chloe Edwards Meiji Editor Valencya Taylor Fuse Editor Corey Randall Sketch Editor

Our Talented Design Department Frank Baker Karen Goheen Cait Chebook Taylor Stalf Matt Bolt Daniel Crosswell Web Design Extraordinaire And Our Fantastic Writers Goodbye & Good Luck to All Our Summer Interns !!

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A Lack of Communication by Amy Russ Country Profile by Corey Randall Melody To Gets Her Feet Engulfed in French by Matthew Claiborne People For Sale by Corey Randall

Cicero’s Corner

Eye On

Tuning In

Fuse

Humanity

Point

Meiji

Society

08 09 10 11 13 14 15

19 21 23 25 27 29 33 33 35 36 37 37 40 41 42 43 45 47 48 50 51 52 53 55 56 57 60 62 64

Apes at a Typewriter? The Intersection of Apes, Language, & What it Means to be Human by Anna Pellecchia The Facebook Fixation: Individuality & Identity by Lindsey Anderson The Toast of a Screwtape: No Child Left Behind by Michalina Norris What Iris Manion Young’s Exisentential Phenomenology & Juno have in Common by Anna Pellecchia Child Labor in Trokosi and Ghana by Emilee M. O’Leary Homelessness: A Global Dilemma by Ian Brown India’s First Female President by Kiran Bhat Ready for Preschool? Neither are They. by Emilee O’Leary Homeschooling on the Rise by Robert McKenzie Lockstep: The Problem with Standardized Testing by Roshani Chokshi Educating Expectations by Kali A. Mobley The Cost of College: Then & Now by Liz Donohue Avoiding the Curse of The College Loan by Matthew Ladd Leaving The Harbor by Kali A. Mobley The Greatest Teacher by Kara Gilligan The Energy to Struggle Together by Matthew Claibourne Roles & Personas by Ian Brown Be Grateful by Valencya Taylor Just Do It by Valencya Taylor The Beijing Olympics & the Specter of Repression by Matthew Ladd Zimbabwe in Crisis by Anthony Brino Freedom to Love: Same Sex Marriage in the U.S. by Joanna Pettet War Against Me by Erin-Jennifer Dunn Attack of The Killer Tomatoes: Western Civilization Isn’t Ending…Is it? by Auriane de Rudder Don’t Get Hung Up On Being Hung Up On by Liz Donehue A Whole New World by Kara Gilligan Virtue or Vice: Is it Too Late for Values? by Amy Russ You Are Already Perfect by Shainna Tucker Learning From the Best: A Look Inside Finland’s Educational System by Chloey Mayo For Peace or Honor by C.Y. Grant We Can All Get Along: Cooperation Between the Public & Private Health Care Sector by Amy Russ A Continental Schooling by Chloe Edwards The Voices Never Heard: Disabled Americans in Our Schools by Kiran Bhat Outlet Shopping: Saving With Style by Diane Kulseth Exploring the Life of a College CEO by Chloey Mayo Designing a Label: Fashionable Teens Create Individual Styles by Joanna Pettet

Table of Contents

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Sketch Hey Readers!

This section of the magazine is going to get you thinking. As writers for Sketch, we’re going to touch on some big topics and generate some big thoughts. We’re not going to dig too deep or try to sway your opinions. Instead, we’re going to give you facts and uncover some amazing things that are going on in this big planet around us. The idea is to get you thinking. We want you to take what you read in Sketch and run with it. The sky is the limit, because in this section there are no borders. Everything we talk about here is globally focused. We want to tie our country and our issues in with the rest of our world. Each month we will profile a different country and a different issue. We will also include a few longer pieces that go a bit deeper into certain issues or industries here and around the world. We’re going to “Sketch”-out some big things, and we hope that you’ll color in the rest. Corey Randall

A Lack of Communication

quickly approaching superpower status), and that Japan is already a world superpower with the strongest ties to the United States in the Asian sphere, the importance of these two nations for the US pretty much bypasses the importance of Mexico. Having the option to learn Japanese or Chinese in high school would greatly improve our nation’s ability to increase relations with both of these nations.

by Amy Russ

rowing up in Florida, it is impossible not to hear Spanish every day. It is spoken in stores and restaurants, and all posters pertaining to any employment issue are written in both English and Spanish. In other words, we Floridians are used to it. In my high school in Chipley, Florida, Spanish was the only foreign language offered. We had no other options.

Then, there is the ‘War on Terror.’ Very few people in the United States speak one of the critical languages needed for this ongoing conflict. How is the United States going to combat global terrorism when we can only speak one other language besides English? For instance, during the Cold War, Russian was taught in classrooms across the US. Now that we are in an even deadlier conflict, we need to invest in educating ourselves about the nations and cultures that, for better or worse, we hear so much about—especially in the Middle East. The US has been slacking in its diplomacy efforts because, as a nation, we rarely bother to teach our children about cultures outside of the Western hemisphere. Truly, this hampers our ability to diplomatically solve international conflicts: How are we supposed to spread ideas and knowledge, if we cannot talk to others?

There are hundreds of other languages out there, and when we only have access to one, this poses a huge problem. It’s definitely helpful to know Spanish: under the North American Free Trade Agreement, for example, there is practically unrestricted trade between the United States and Mexico. But to consider Spanish such an integral part of the education system in the United States that other languages are being ignored is very foolish. Spanish is important for two reasons: the growing Spanish-speaking population and the trade agreement. This is exemplified by the fact that “Spanish speakers grew by about 60 percent and Spanish continued to be the nonEnglish language most frequently spoken at home in the United States.” Yet even though the United States has a strong trade agreement with Mexico, Spanish should not be the most important staple in US schools. After all, trade with Japan and China totals about 9% of our international trade. This may seem small, but considering the fact that China is the largest nation in the world (with its economy

Learning Spanish may be important, but there are other languages, just as important, that are simply not being taught in American schools. What about Arabic? Farsi? Mandarin Chinese? If we want to be thought of as a responsible, peace-loving nation, then we must more fully integrate other foreign languages into our language programs. Only then can we cultivate a better understanding of those cultures that lie outside the US and the Western Hemisphere.

Country Profile by Corey Randall It’s one big world out there, and we’re going to try to explore it all. Each month the Sketch section will profile a new country to help with one of our missions: to make us all more globally aware. We’ll spin the globe and explore this planet one nation at a time. So read on for this month’s slice of the world!

Papua New Guinea Official Name: Independent State of Papua New Guinea Geographical Size: 462,840 sq. km.; about the size of California. Location: It shares the eastern half of the island of New Guinea with Indonesia. It is also comprised of many smaller islands in the Pacific. Capital: Port Moresby Climate: Tropical, as it lies just below the equator and close to 85% of the main island is rainforest. Population: 5,931,769 million. Median Age: 21.5 Annual growth rate: 2.118%. Literacy: 57.3% Currency: kina Exchange Rate: kina pr. US dollar 3.03 Population below poverty line: 37% (2002 estimate) Official Languages: English, Tok Pisin, and Motu. More than 800 other languages have been identified. Government Type: Constitutional parliamentary democracy. Major political parties: National Alliance (NA), People’s Progress Party (PPP), United Resources Party (URP), PNG Party (PNGP). Suffrage: Universal over 18 years of age. GDP (purchasing power parity): $11.94 billion (2007 estimate) GDP (official exchange rate): $6.001 billion (2007 estimate) GDP (real growth rate): 6.2% (2007 estimate)

Far, far away in the Pacific Ocean lies a group of islands that make up one of the most intriguing nations. It is a country divided not only by natural water barriers, but also by languages, customs and traditions, making it one of the most heterogeneous places on earth. And though its population is smaller than that of New York City alone, nearly one-tenth of our world’s total languages are spoken here each day. This month we’re taking a quick look into the vast, tropical islands of Papua New Guinea.

**All information was taken from the most recently reported data in the CIA factbook.

Sketch

Melody To Gets Her Feet Engulfed

ushing over from the piano lab with French books and Bach in her hands, Melody To flings the door to room 241 wide open and is greeted with blank stares from her classmates who took their time getting to Advanced French Grammar, also known as French Immersion III. Attempting to make a good impression, as all students do on their first day of class, she is dressed in a yellow-and-blue breezy floral sundress with white flip-flops. Her hair is curled to complement her casual chic look.

in Louisiana, which has been a unique, culturally diverse state ever since. Students usually begin the immersion program in the first grade, and they are taught in French for 60 percent of the school day in subjects like math, science, and social studies. Other schools have slightly different programs where students take at least one French Immersion class per semester. Their tests, books, homework assignments, and even conversation in the classroom must also be done in French.

With butterflies fluttering in her stomach, she nervously scans the room and realizes she has miraculously arrived before her teacher, Dr. Madame Nathalie Malti. She also realizes that two of her suitemates are in the room, as well as a friend from her piano class. After about thirty seconds—though it feels like thirty days to Melody—Madame Matli strolls into 241 with a refined, leisurely gait. Melody sits erect in her chair; she can feel the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stiffen as Madame Malti walks over to her podium, checks roll and quietly says, “Bonjour.” The class responds in a monotonous unison, “Bonjour.” Some students respond with a “hello” and are quickly reminded by Madame Malti that this is a French immersion class. Everyone speaks in French at all times no matter what—even on the first day.

Melody was not introduced to the program until she was a junior in high school at the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA)—a selective gifted residential high school in the small town of Natchitoches, Louisiana. The school was only accepting high school juniors and seniors when Melody attended. Before matriculating to LSMSA she attended Tioga High School, where she took French I and II her freshman and sophomore year. These classes, however, were taught in English. “I took the placement test at LSMSA, and I was surprised I did so well on it. I think French is just a part of me. It’s in my blood. It’s natural for me.” Tioga High School did not give Melody the strong French background and understanding she desired, though, and the appeal of living on a campus at just sixteen years of age was overwhelmingly tempting. Besides, she says, “the best way to learn a language is to be thrown into it, to be fully immersed.”

Melody is fortunate to be a part of the popular, although tedious and sometimes demanding, French Immersion program. Since the 1980’s, French Immersion has been used only in South Louisiana as an attempt to save the French language in the state. Louisiana’s rich French heritage extends back to the mid 1700s, when the Acadians of Nova Scotia, Canada were forced out by the British in what is called the Great Expulsion. The Acadians sailed around the eastern coast of the United States and settled

When most people see Melody and hear her speaking French, they’re often perplexed: Melody is Vietnamese. She speaks English, French, and Vietnamese fluently. “My mother and her sister each speak French fluently. They

in French

by Matthew Claiborne

went to French schools when they were living in Vietnam. It’s not an uncommon thing. I even remember when I was little my mother used to use French words around me, and I just thought she was speaking Vietnamese. It wasn’t until I was older that I learned they were actually French words,” says To. In fact, many Vietnamese speak fluent French, largely due to French missionaries who came to Vietnam in the 18th century to spread Catholicism. The missionaries were followed by French entrepreneurs who set up businesses and trade arrangements. Because of the long-established French presence in Vietnam, Melody is finding French in her soul. She is taking it to the next level at Louisiana State University by double-majoring: in French with an International Relations concentration, and in Mass Communications with a concentration in Advertising. She is also a Business Administration minor. “I definitely plan to use French in my future. Perhaps I can intern with a French advertising company and act as a liaison between the US, France and Vietnam,” said To. “And I think I would like to study abroad somewhere near Paris.” Today’s global community almost requires one to be proficient in another language other than their native tongue. “I think in today’s society, it is important to be aware of other cultures, and immersion programs helps us communicate better with other people and other countries,” said To. One thing is certain: immersing yourself in another language takes time and practice, but it is enormously beneficial in today’s global economy and global job market.

Sketch

People for Sale

This growing epidemic is quickly becoming one of the most profitable and dangerous crimes in the world. Although the exact number of people trafficked across borders is not known, the U.S. State Department estimates that some 800,000 people are trafficked worldwide each year and of that number, an estimated 14,500-17,000 people are trafficked into the United States annually.

by Corey Randall

have a few questions for my high school history teacher, the one who taught me about the Civil War. If I remember correctly, I learned that slavery was abolished in 1865, when Congress passed the 13th Amendment. It was this horrible practice that happened in our past, but now we are much more civilized and humane. Nothing like that goes on today. Right?

When we hear about human trafficking, it is a common misperception to think that only sex crimes are at issue. Although approximately 80 percent of the victims are women and girls, and up to half are minors, the fields of labor are not just limited to child prostitution and sex crimes. For example, forcing people to work as indentured servants is an extremely lucrative and growing form itself. This can Why don’t we ask the hundreds of thousands of men, range from domestic jobs to sweatshops and commercial women and children forced into forms of slavery in our agricultural sites where force, danger and abuse are prescountry, and around the world, every year. Right now, this ent. minute, they are working 14-hour shifts at some of the most dangerous jobs and making less than $1.00 an hour. No country is excluded from these awful crimes. They are They are being forced to work as prostitutes at the age of happening in every corner of the world, in every state, in 8. They are right here, in this country, living among us. every major city. When we hear the word “slavery,” we ofIt is shocking. It is disturbing. It is real. It is modern-day ten think of some ancient and embarrassing practice that slavery. our country condemned long ago. However, we need to realize that this isn’t ancient, and this isn’t foreign. It’s Just for a moment, picture your life as an 8-year-old boy here and now, and if we continue to sit on our hands and waiting on the street corner as a prostitute. Or imagine pretend that it doesn’t exist, we become just as horrible that you’re a 12-year old girl watching as men bid on you and inhumane as the traffickers themselves. and your virginity. Picture a mother of three, forced to work 13-hour days in a dangerous factory, not even earning enough money to feed herself or her children. These people have been ripped of all of their rights, treated as if they are nothing, and forced into a life that is anything but their own. They have been trafficked into the United States and countries around the world to work in slave labor, an industry that the Council of Europe estimates as a $43 billion global market. Each year the U.S. State Department releases an annual Trafficking in Persons Report that examines individual countries’ efforts to end human trafficking. In the eighth annual report, released in June 2008, fourteen nations were identified as Tier 3 nations, meaning that they are not making significant efforts to combat this modern-day slave trade. Those nations include Algeria, Cuba, Fiji, Iran, Kuwait, Moldova, Myanmar, North Korea, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Syria.

Eye On Welcome to Eye On! Every month, our writers will scour the globe in search of topical and relevant news stories that the mainstream media, for whatever reason, has overlooked. This month we begin by focusing on the child-labor industry in eastern Africa and the worldwide problem of homelessness. Then we turn out attention to the US, asking how multicultural Americans deal with having to define their race, and we close with a profile of Pratibha Patil, the first female president of India. You won’t find these stories on FOX. In fact, chances are you won’t find them anywhere but here. Read on!

Child Labor in Trokosi and Ghana by Emilee M. O’Leary

Ghana established the Commission in 2000 and produced a report detailing the demands the government should take to “deal with its history of egregious human rights violations.” It also mandates government involvement in pursuing human rights violators. Utilizing the child workforce is, according to the World Bank Economic and Sector Work, much more prominent where poverty threatens the livelihood of the household. Studies show that Ghanian households are willing to send their children to school as long as they have enough resources to do so. However, when the justification for giving a young child up to sexual and physical slavery is to atone the sins of the family, it’s clear that the government is falling short on the effective reinforcement of its laws.

he U.S. Department of Labor describes Trokosi as a practice that pledges children and young women to atone for family member’s sins by helping with the upkeep of shrines. In the West African country of Ghana, there are 51 known Trokosi shrines. The original purpose of Trokosi was for the young person to serve the Trokosi priest for three to five years and then return home, but the period of servitude has turned into decades of sexual exploitation. The United States has its own history of an economically-dependant child workforce, thriving off the poor and Even though Ghana outlawed slavery in 1998, Trokosi disenfranchised. But a dramatic change occurred between continues to slide under the radar of the law. The country the mid-18th century, where industry relied on Britishof Ghana – roughly the size of Oregon, but with a popu- mandated family workers, and the Civil War era, when our lation six times greater – has a long, soiled history of hu- conscience began convicting the States to provide for the man rights abuse. Practices like Trokosi, which have been general protection of children. After years of passing childaround for 300 years, reveal how some people remain so labor laws, and making sure they’re enforced, the U.S. has heavily reliant on legends and ancient folklore that they ended 18th century-style child labor. turn a blind eye when human rights are violated. Now the United States currently supports direct action to As indicated by Ghana’s National Reconciliation Com- improve the lives of working children around the world by mission Report (or, the Commission): “The impact of leg- committing $37.1 million to fund activities that address ends and folktales on the belief systems and motives of tra- international child labor, according to the Report on the ditional religion may drive some people to resort to such Youth Labor Force put out by the U.S. Department of practices that invariably trample upon people’s rights.” Labor.

And yet, even as recent events unfold, such as the polygamist compound raid in Texas, we are reminded that the U.S. isn’t immune from controversy, especially regarding individuals who run their lives by different moral standards. The difference between the U.S. and Ghana is that the U.S. doesn’t grant immunities for violators because of their association with a religious organization, while a clause in the Ghanaian Commission Report does.

Throughout the last four years in particular, organizations inside the U.S. and the U.N. have been putting money into anti-Trokosi programs. These activist groups, like ING, ILO-IPEC, and UNICEF, “strive to take children out of the workplace and place them in the classroom without jeopardizing family units and incomes.” Our progressive, money-loaded culture is capable of restricting minors from working in hazardous conditions, but in countries where poverty and disease walk hand-inhand, staying alive is the primary concern regardless of the working environment. If parents are convinced their hardships are due to the sins committed by the family, they may continue to give their children up to corrupt religious leaders as penitence, in the hope that their lives will improve.

It is unclear, however, if the failure to stop certain religious factions from taking advantage of this clause is directly related to any half-heartedness the government has to stop violators. Since the exploitation of child labor is no news— which is not to underemphasize its tragic effects—the culprit appears to be those religions that draw their own moral line when they are expected to work alongside the government and eliminate the abuse on human rights. Try telling any devoutly religious person within the borders of the U.S. that their religion is immoral and they’ll scream the first amendment until they’re put on Oprah. But there are international laws that protect the undefendable, protecting children who can’t protect themselves and are exploited at the hand of those seeking a profit.

Homelessness: A Global Dilemma

The U.N. Declaration of the Rights of the Child states that “a child is entitled to a name and nationality; to adequate nutrition, housing, recreation, and medical services; to an education.” But the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, a limb of the DRC, is based on a family-oriented society, in which a child is expected to contribute to the betterment of his or her family before regarding any individual rights. And although the Charter specifically addresses the protection of “women and girls against rape and all other forms of violence, including trafficking,” merely creating laws and establishing proper conduct ordinances will not abolish heinous practices and rituals. The Ghanaian parliament banned ritualized child labor in 1998, yet it continues. Another active ingredient needs to be added.

by Ian Brown

he widespread issue of homelessness has no bounds, affecting millions of people worldwide. The National Law Center for Homelessness and Poverty reports that, in America alone, over 3 million men, women, and children have become homeless in the past year. Some have poor incentive to work, while others are suffering the unfortunate results of violent crimes or substance abuse. Many are mentally unstable and can no longer find a steady job. They have few resources for decent healthcare, and many go for days without food.

The solution is in filling the gap between the haves and the have-nots. It’s more than giving money to charities; it’s about actively getting involved with organizations that are committed to improving lives, to putting money and tangible resources into the hands of children laboring under conditions the U.S. outlawed nearly a century ago.

The Stewart B. McKinney act states that a homeless person is one who “lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence; and . . . has a primary night time residency that is: (A) a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations

Eye On . . . (B) an institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized, or (C) a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.”

own. At that time, the Salvation Army was established to aid those in need, but to this day it is still working diligently to achieve what it set out to do 150 years ago. In the 1930’s, after legends of the homeless freight train hoppers swelled to all parts of the country, the Great Depression struck and millions lost their job, their fortune, and their home. Forty years later, after the Vietnam War ended, many veterans came home and settled on the streets with mental illness, substance addiction, and little help from the government and the Veterans Administration. And many homeless people in the South still face racial discrimination—they are certainly not the top priority of local government and police forces. What this suggests is that, since homelessness is a deeply entrenched problem, we must work even harder to find ways of making it truly a part of our past.

Although homelessness is a widespread issue, its dynamics differ from country to country. In America, for instance, the homeless face poverty, starvation, violence, substance addiction, hostile weather, and illness. But is it possible that there are worse fates for those without homes in other countries? In Europe, the population of homeless individuals has become larger this year than in any of the last fifty, and it is still rising. Entire families are falling through the cracks of Europe’s social safety net and becoming homeless as units. The most accurate estimated number of homeless individuals in Europe is around 3 million. This is most likely far shy of the truth, however, since Europe has not yet properly begun a thorough census. For example, France’s national statistics agency claims that at least 86,500 homeless individuals have visited a soup kitchen this year, but skeptics say that the actual number may linger around 200,000. The British Government says that there are 596 people without homes, while aid agencies see over 1,000 in London alone. Reports are very unreliable, and the only accurate ones seem too terrible to be real.

India’s First Female President

In southern Asia, flash floods have killed many in India by Kiran Bhat and Malaysia and left over 200,000 homeless; the 2004 tsunami alone left over 94,000 without shelter. The recent earthquake in China? Five million homeless. Many homeith the international press having detailed less children and preteens in Sudan are known to make Hillary Clinton and her now failed bid as mattresses out of street trash, and sanitation is a foreign presumptive Democratic nominee, other word. There are many homeless children in America, but women in power have vanished from meSudan, a country many times smaller than America, is host dia coverage, lost in the shuffle of other news. Women to over 35,000 homeless minors merely in the capitol city. such as Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of Argentina, GloThe total number is suspected to be close to 1 million. ria Arroyo of the Philippines, and our very own House Leader Nancy Pelosi have made considerable strides withHow has this happened? What are people doing to stop it? in their respective countries. However, their accomplishWhen will it end? In America, there are many historical ments fade in comparison to those of Pratibha Patil, the precedents for the problem of homelessness. Originally, first female President of India. when American settlers picked up and moved west, the Native Americans were displaced—the first- ever account Patil was born in 1934 in the Indian state of Maharashtra. of a homeless people in America. After the Civil War, After a career in law, she became a member of Congress in many African-Americans were displaced from their homes the 1960s. She entered India’s parliament in the 1990s, as well, with no opportunity to find work to afford their serving in both the lower and upper chambers. Then, in

2004, she was elected governor of the northwest Indian state Rajasthan. But her relatively limited political experience made her nomination as the presidential candidate (by Sonia Gandhi, the leader of India’s Congress Party) a national shock. Some political opponents sensed preferential treatment, viewing Patil’s loyalty to the Gandhi family as the reason for her nomination. Others highlighted her inexperience at national political activism and her shaky character as reasons to reject her candidacy. Claiming her criticism was a result of political mudslinging, Patil bided her time, preaching her nomination as a momentous victory for women’s rights in a patriarchal country. Patil beat her presidential opponent, Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat of the Bharatiya Janata Party, on July 21st, 2007. Patil has created symbolic change not only within her country, but also globally, by shattering the glass ceiling that exists for women in the political domain. Institutional sexism remains rampant in many countries. The fundamental belief in female domesticity in developing countries has relegated the idea of employed females, especially in politics, as a laughable matter. A similar but diluted mindset still prevails in developed countries as well. Most female politicians are painted as weak and fragile in comparison to their equally qualified male counter-parts. Likewise, the glass ceiling affects the United States. During the campaigns of both Nancy Pelosi and Hilary Clinton, the media opted to focus on their maternal lives instead of their political careers. The media dubbed Hillary as aggressive and malicious in her campaign, when a male would have been labeled as assertive or confident. With her election, Patil has taken an impressive step against international sexism. Patil’s job, as the national high-profile voice of an oppressed group within India, is not finished. Most daughters are treated as liabilities due to their expenses as brides, resulting in neglect and abuse in their education and health. Approximately ten million female children have been aborted within India on the basis of their sex. Patil’s election, fortunately, is the result of a difference between the mentality of the Indian elite and the Indian lower classes. Now she must transcend her figurehead role as president in order to provide broader human rights for women in India.

TUNING IN: EDUCATION

WELCOME TO COLLOCUE! A

Japan—take about ten seconds to solve. Earlier this year, Susan Jacoby, author of the book The Age of American Unreason, declared, “Although people are going to school more and more years, there’s no evidence that they know more.” She cites some pretty depressing stories to back up her claim, such as that of the two grown men who thought the Vietnam War began with the attack on Pearl Harbor, or the 2006 survey of college students in which “only 23 Within the past ten or so years, we seem to have become ex- percent . . . could locate Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Israel traordinarily anxious about the state of American schools. on a map.” About once a week, a magazine or newspaper will lead off with a headline like “Dumbing Down College” or “Is Your The good news is that US colleges are widely seen as the School Making You Stupid?” Sound familiar? The media best in the world. In last year’s Academic Ranking of is crammed with stories about American high-schoolers World Universities, published by China’s Shanghai Jiao scratching their heads over the same algebra problems Tong University, only three schools from outside the US— that fifth-graders from Belgium—or Sweden, or Italy, or Cambridge, Oxford, and Tokyo University—made the top nd welcome to the first pages of Tuning In, Collocue’s feature section, devoted to exploring current events and national issues of importance. This month, for our online inaugural issue, Tuning In has focused its gaze squarely on a subject that anyone who can read will likely approach with some very strong opinions: the US education system.

20. International students, for example, routinely decide can study for midterms when we’re up at 7:00 AM serving to pursue their studies in the US: a degree from an Ameri- coffee, or up until midnight closing out the restaurant? can university will often guarantee them a job when they return home. This month, Tuning In takes a closer look at some of the problems underlying the precarious state of many US But problems remain. The most obvious, of course, is ris- schools. Emilee O’Leary examines the curse of the ‘readiing costs. Even after adjusting for inflation, colleges cost ness gap’ in our nation’s preschools. Robert McKenzie much more to attend than they have in the past. Graduat- delves into the mysterious world of private homeschooling high-school seniors are forced to come up with increasing, while Roshani Chokshi offers a critical evaluation of ingly creative ways to pay for college. In contrast to many our government’s obsession with standardized testing. In countries in Europe, where even non-scholarship students higher education, Kali Mobley questions the benefits of can attend school for next to nothing, the most talented overspecialized college curriculums, Liz Donohue tackles American teenagers often find themselves working mul- the problem of tuition inflation, and we finish with a look tiple jobs just to pay for classes. And when they graduate, at how, with a little research, you can earn a degree withthey’re saddled with hefty loans that can take decades to out putting yourself up to the ears in debt. pay off. No wonder we’re afraid of being left behind: who

TUNING IN: EDUCATION

Ready for Preschool? Neither are They. by Emilee O’Leary

here is a box. Actually, there are many boxes. But the one I am referring to isn’t so much a stereotype as a large outline in the sand. Standing around it are American students, clad in all their diversity. Some are inside the box, some are outside, and some are so far outside they aren’t even caught by the box’s radar.

But since these statistics only reveal the existence of minorities in preprimary centers, and not the quality, type, or nature of the preschool and its subsequent effect on the child’s educational success, it’s harder to pinpoint which students were maximizing their learning potential and which students are most likely to widen the readiness gap.

Public education, by necessity, is built upon principles that present students with an education in its most basic form. Throughout a child’s education, these principles either do exactly what they’re supposed to – prepare students – or they become roadblocks. But suffice it to say that, while student populations are quite diverse, public education has a skin color of its own. As the readiness gap among students increases each year and specialized education has become the norm, it is more vital than ever to figure out where the tear in the gap began, and what needs to happen in order to mend it.

Here, briefly, are the results of a general census of the U.S.’s preprimary diversity statistics. The U.S. Department of Education reports that among 3- to 5-year-olds enrolled in preprimary programs, 64.8 percent of Blacks, 44.6 percent of Whites, and 36 percent of Hispanics were defined as “poor,” or below the poverty threshold.

When children fall behind in school, many parents want to cry foul and claim their children are being given a lowquality education due to their minority status. The inequalities claimed most by parents are race and ethnicity. But sometimes the diversity of the student body has less to do with the readiness gap than the cookie-cutter education they receive, and the overlooked inequality of social class. In September of 2007, the National Center for the Education Statistics (NCES) put out a report detailing the status and trends in readiness gaps among racial and ethnic minorities. The report shows that “intensive, high-quality preschool programs can have positive effects on the cognitive and academic development of low-income minority children.”

Among the children defined as “nonpoor,” or 100 percent or more than the poverty level, 67.8 percent were Black, 61 percent were White, and 47.8 percent were Hispanic. What these numbers show is the colorful spectrum of children enrolled in preprimary programs, not that any particular ethnicity has a greater potential in a preschool. Since every institution that qualifies itself as a preschool is required to hire employees with teaching degrees in order to be involved in leadership, each should clearly have the tools it needs to prepare the students for their future education. But one standardized method of structuring a classroom is like telling every child they have to play in the sandbox—even if they eat the sand. Many preschool centers follow what is known as the Montessori approach to education: “Children in a Montessori classroom learn by making discoveries with the materials, cultivating concentration, motivation, self-discipline, and a love of learning,” reads the mission statement on the Montessori website. The Montessori classroom, therefore, transforms the environment to suit the learning style

of the child, and not the other way around. This often dren suggests, “that the preschool environments of poor leaves the child further behind, rather than encouraging and minority children are deficient in supplying the types improvement. of experiences that promote school readiness,” or, when minorities make up 42 percent of public prekindergarten Additionally, because preschool centers often double as to secondary populations, some children just need more a daycare, more as a convenience for the parent than any and individualized attention. real desire to best prepare the child, the quality of the Typically, a low score on any preschool is always questionbasic assessment test is a sign able. Parents often put their that a student is not prepared children into a preschool for to advance to the next subject non-educational reasons: the or grade level. But lawmakers stresses of a single-parent still insist that advancements home, an economic struggle take place without intimate that forces both parents to regard for a student’s readiwork, or simply a feeling that ness. The best place to catch they’re ill-suited to prepare this symptom is at the pretheir child for kindergarten. school level, where these gaps in achievement are most noSo the culprit of a student’s ticeable and can be rectified ill-readiness is not in parents’ before a child reaches an inwell-intentioned enrollment, surmountable stage in his or nor in the intentions of the her education. preschool centers themselves. The mission of one And since the quality of edusuch preschool, New Horication is hard to judge bezon Academy, states, “New cause of the diversity of learnHorizons for Learning is ing, it’s hard to point fingers an international network of at preschool institutions and people, programs, and prodclaim they didn’t properly ucts dedicated to successful, send the kids on without preinnovative learning.” But of paredness. The tools are all course, no organization is gothere, but the gap still exits. ing to phrase their mission statement as, “We don’t alThe gap exists because we’re ways get the best candidates sending children into the for the job, but we work with throes of education when what we have” or “At least they aren’t ready. It has very you don’t have to leave your children at home alone.” little to do with the color of our skin, or how much money we carry around in our pockets, and much more to do According to The Future of Children, an organization pro- with where a child is educated and how much personal atmoting educational policies and programs, out of a test tention he or she is given. Giving each child his or her due group of children enrolled in preschool, “black and His- attention, and addressing each child’s unique needs (and panic children score substantially…below white children” not immediately diagnosing “special learning” or ADD), and “disproportionately minorities from low-income fam- is what will ultimately close the readiness gap. ilies” suffer at the outset of elementary education due to improper preparation. Either it is as The Future of Chil-

“The gap exists because we’re sending children into the throes of education when they aren’t ready.”

TUNING IN: EDUCATION

Home Schooling on the Rise

by Robert McKenzie

or many years I wondered why any parents would homeschool their child. I had met several young adults who had been home schooled, and all seemed severely deficient in their ability to interact with others in social situations. Although they struck me as very bright and intelligent individuals, many seemed relatively ignorant in areas of basic knowledge, such as literature and world history. I began to change my view of home education when I was twenty years old. I met a guy who became a good friend: he was very social, played the guitar, went out on dates, and in general seemed to be completely normal. I found out later that he had been homeschooled all the way through high school. It was the first time I had met a homeschool student who didn’t fit the stereotype. I began to wonder more about home education, why some parents and children choose it, and its effectiveness versus public or private schools. No matter how effective homeschooling is, its numbers are definitely on the rise. In a recent article from the magazine The World and I, writer Helen Mondloch states, “Approximately 1.5 million American children have now retreated from traditional classrooms in favor of learning at home--a more than 30 percent increase since 1991.” Naturally, the first question on my mind was always: why homeschool? Why do so many families choose this route over the more traditional educational experience? Of course, each family has its own reasons for homeschooling, including wanting to provide a better moral environment, a more focused education, or a safer learning environment. Mondloch goes on to say, “John Taylor Gatto, award-winning New York public school teacher of thirtyfive years and author of Dumbing Us Down, attributes the “massive stupidity” in our culture to the “complex, comprehensive social agenda [that] has unfolded through the agency of public schooling.”

of Answers by Linda Dobson, is that public schooling has deprioritized “meaningful study,” with the result that “each generation ... knows less than the generation before it, and hence is less able to counteract the training of schools.” Dobson’s book goes on to say that not only concerned parents, but many students as well, favor the homeschool approach because they see it as liberating. The book highlights the case of Lindsey Johnson, a teenage student with a firm belief in the benefits or her home education: “I wouldn’t dare give up my educational freedom to an institution. . . . In school, the idea is presented that learning is a chore and a race for the finish. It is not. It is a wonderful aspect of life and a great journey.” Unfortunately, not every home student chooses this path because of the educational freedom. Recently, a Florida teen was assaulted by eight classmates. The beating she received was videotaped and posted on Youtube. As I watched the teen and her mother speak to the press, the mother mentioned that she would be homeschooling her daughter. The Youtube video had been seen not only by the students at her own school, but also by the students of every other school in the area. As a result, the young girl was unable to escape the humiliation of the video.

Although home schooling may offer more educational freedom, many people—especially certified teachers, of course—are concerned that the parents may not be qualified to teach. Like the education offered by our public schools, not all home schooling programs are created equal. I have been beaten in chess by an eightyear-old home student, but I have also met teenage home students who are almost completely illiterate. This responsibility, for better Gatto’s argument, published in the Homeschooling Book or worse, rests squarely on the shoulders of the

parents. When they choose to homeschool, they and they out the sometimes-stressful interaction that public school alone are determining the level of education their child creates, an individual is more likely to come off later in life as awkward or socially inept. will receive. I would not say I am a proponent or an opponent of homeschooling, but having met many who fit the stereotype, and many who don’t, I have noticed that I’m now more open-minded about the idea in general. Many young students, unfortunately, are shortchanged by irresponsible parents, parents who can’t or don’t offer an adequate homeschooling program that promotes both mental and social growth. However, homeschooling may provide an atmosphere in which children can thrive and grow, depending on the parents. The bottom line is that there is more at stake with a home education, simply because the responsibility belongs completely to the parents.

Finally, another major concern among parents is the social learning that comes from interaction with other students. Proponents of homeschooling argue that the environment offered by the public school system is more of a socialization hindrance than a benefit: students at public schools (as so many of us can remember from our own experience) are routinely humiliated by classmates and criticized by teachers, returning home at the end of the day with eight hours’ worth of resentment, fear, and confusion. Thus some parents believe that the best environment in which to learn healthy social skills lies within the aegis of a loving family. Critics of homeschooling believe that, with-

“Dobson’s book goes on to say that not only concerned parents, but many students as well, favor the homeschool approach because they see it as liberating.” 22

TUNING IN: EDUCATION

Lockstep: The Problem with Standardized Testing

ntellectual elites prize their work as being based on “critical thinking.” Their work poses new questions, addresses unconventional themes, or explores a different range and thought process. Often, these intellectual elites attribute their accolades to the Socratic method that their professors or mentors taught with. The Socratic method is a form of philosophical inquiry in which the questioner probes deeply into the nuances and implications of rational thinking. It is hailed as the best kind of teaching: the heart of the educational model and the true source of knowledge. So why has America suddenly transitioned to abrasive scantron sheets and standardized test after test ad nauseum? The reasons for its development remain unsettled; however, its aspired goal has sparked a hotbed of educational questions. On one hand, many hail the rise of testing as an inevitable product of expanding technology. On the other, critics claim that standardized testing has stripped schools of the creative clash necessary to promote individual thinking. As our own lives are “upgraded” daily to instant gain with minimal pain, our own education has been loaded with steroids to join the rat race of high speed.

by Roshani Chokshi

The ubiquity of standardized testing truly began in the 1920s. The college Entrance Examination Board, affectionately called the College Board, used to give essay exams, which were graded by professors. Around 1926, the multiple choice SAT was introduced as a speedier way to test applicants. One means of categorization led to another, and in 1988, before it hit Americans full-throttle, Congress created the National Assessment Governing Board. In accordance with this federal trend, President Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002, thus bringing us to the point in our history where, like Zagat restaurant critics, we annually test public schools in order to rate them. Welcome to the 21st century. By the second standardized test kids see, usually in kindergarten, they are firmly glued to the testing wheel. The obsession with standardized tests has led to SAT preparation at age 6. What has led to the rise of testing is the almost aesthetic

appeal of concrete reasoning. We cannot claim to be fooled by abstractions, because the SAT and other standardized testing measures students on a tangible metric. But to scale success, especially when it is neither advanced nor inhibited by location or age, seems to retard the growth of our thinking capabilities. Bush’s No Child Left Behind “initiative” has taken standardized testing to an unprecedented level. Its implementation has forced schools to be responsible for the results, and the national mandate raises stakes to ridiculous heights. Principles get replaced if the school doesn’t measure up. Many teachers, for fear of being fired, end up simply teaching the test, ultimately doing more harm than good. To place this third wheel within the scope of a student’s education is to invite a different motive for success: selfpreservation. Thanks to excessive federal micromanaging, teachers sacrifice the Socratic method, which has recently fallen on deaf ears in favor of monetary gain and consistent ratings. Furthermore, many students’ social development itself is crippled because they are less likely to partake in thought-provoking discussion. And while supporters argue that the tests create incentives for schools to upgrade their teaching methods, a fair number of others feel that the “objective” chasm divides students simply based on how well they can take a test. When you look at a website about Harvard or Yale’s prospective students, the grade pool far exceeds normal expectations on standardized tests. So the need for exclusivity has gilded the worth of standardized testing: high test scores are now seen as the main tools of measurement for intelligence. The higher the score, the brighter you must be. However, in what reasonable stretch of the imagination does the SAT or ACT or MCAT or LSAT truly measure the success of a student in the real world? Does it develop the attitude we need in order to see through the brittleness that a ratings-driven society has cultured? No. Bubbling in letters of the alphabet does not create perspective, nor does it provide any actual insight into the way the world works.

“The obsession with standardized tests has led to SAT preparation at age 6.”

TUNING IN: EDUCATION

hen I was a little girl, my mother made me repeat a phrase every day to remind me of my expected goals in life. She would ask, “What do you do when you get older?” and I would reply, “Go to high school and graduate; go to college and graduate, and then, get a good job.” That phrase and my mother’s emphasis on its importance shaped my educational expectations, and I was not alone. When I was in college, it seemed as if everyone had the same expectations from the university: acquire a college degree in order to get a job. Today’s expectations for the need of speedy success have changed the student’s role in higher education, which has consequently led to the narrowing of the university’s purpose. Like most students, I understood that my role as a student was to acquire knowledge that would lead to a successful career. When I was in high school, the importance of finding a prospective university was my priority. Throughout my senior year, I spoke with several university recruiters about various degrees or professional programs. This process of emphasizing and understanding the importance of higher education has not changed. According to the data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “67.2 percent of high school graduates from the class of 2007 were enrolled in colleges and universities.” Frank T. Rhodes, author of The Creation of the Future, agrees when he states, “There has been a major increase in the proportion of the traditional college-age population enrolled in college, from 30.2 percent in 1950 to 43.5 percent in 1998.” Therefore, the importance of receiving a college education has grown significantly, creating pressure for the university to satisfy the students’ expectations and changing its purpose as an institution.

uate and get a “real” job—enter the “real” world. After my college graduation, I have found that obtaining a “real” job has been very difficult. Most companies prefer experience to education. According to Marcia B. Harris and Sharon L. Jones, “The experience gained as a lifeguard or ice cream shop counter clerk doesn’t compare to that which comes from an internship (paid or unpaid) in the career field that he or she aspires to enter. Future employers will seek graduates with relevant, real-world work experience.” Contrary to my expectations, the education I received never stressed the importance of internships, only that of acquiring lifelong knowledge. Universitas and collegium both refer to a group of people who are organized for a purpose, which is to provide a well-rounded education, or a “curriculum of universal studies.” In the beginning, the rapid development of new universities reflects the increasing need for general education. According to Rhodes, “Knowledge has become the dominant economic force, the importance of the university can only grow and its influence increase in the new millennium.” The university was once the only place for eager learners to obtain an education. But due to the desire for success in specific fields of study, that is changing. The Internet now provides people with endless fields of information, and education can be obtained without leaving one’s home via online colleges, like the University of Phoenix. Therefore, universities have acted to meet the new standards set by their consumers. There has been a rapid increase in community and vocational colleges,

Throughout college, students have a common purpose: grad-

Educating Expectations by Kali A. Mobley

which reflects the value of technical skills needed for employment. Universities have provided more professional programs, programs that offer specializations, which in turn contribute to finding successful careers. Rhodes believes that this increase has shifted the student interest from pursuing an education to getting a job. As more and more students use college as a pathway to a job, university programs will continue to diminish into specialized vocational majors instead of pursuing more general liberal arts degrees.

lace. With every missing pearl, the strand suffers a substantial loss: its purpose. If the university threads its programs to meet professional and educational standards, then students should understand that they need only rely on themselves to keep the pearls of education connected. It is ultimately the student’s role to seek his or her future, not the university. The university is an institution that can only provide knowledge—not the key—for success. Like Rhodes says, “A university can no more ‘give’ an education without the student’s initiative and effort than a restaurant can give a meal, or a travel agent a vacation.”

With the increasing development in obtaining field-specific information, general knowledge as a whole remains skin-deep. Individuals are increasingly ignorant in areas outside their own field of expertise, because that expertise has lead to a too-specialized or too-refined knowledge. The typical student who only seeks an education as a path to a career wears blinders to universal studies, such as humanities or foreign languages, because those studies are irrelevant to his or her major field of study. According to Rhodes, “There are 8,500 definable fields and subfields of knowledge. . . . [P]rofessionalism has caused knowledge itself to be seen as a commodity.”

If this miscommunication between students’ expectations and the university’s purpose continues to exist, then so will the problem of keeping a well-rounded education for the public good. Starting with elementary and secondary education, students should be informed about the significance of learning for personal growth—not just for their future career goals. Students should have goals, but everyone—scholars, teachers, parents, and mentors—needs to keep the focus realistic. All students have the power to seek knowledge or a career for its own sake—don’t let one be a necessary path to the other. In order to meet both goals for the students and the university, knowledge Professionalism may be self-sustaining, but it threatens the c a n only be a map, and as David O. McKay once said, university’s traditional purpose. The “curriculum of “Your thoughts are the architects of your universal studies” is becoming more destiny.” like a broken pearl neck-

“It is ultimately the student’s role to seek his or her future, not the university.”

TUNING IN: EDUCATION

The Costs of College: Then and Now

by Liz Donohue

eginning July 1st, many students around the country can now receive more financial aid loans, enabling them to attend college more cheaply. Current interest rates on federal loans for students have dropped, making it more affordable for students to pursue an education. The College Cost Reduction and Access Act, which passed in September of 2007, will be adding 20 billion dollars in loan money for students in the next 5 years. And though this may be a milestone in education in the US, many are still wary of the fact that these loans still must be paid off. The Act will not completely erase the loans that US college students owe to the government after they graduate.

talk about the differences in the price of education and financial aid from thirty years ago to today. I asked her about how she found out that she was eligible for financial aid in 1971 at the University of Washington. “My parents were divorcing and I was working on the weekends,” she said. “I ended up getting fired because I had acne. So I was pretty worried about how I was going to fund school. So I went to the financial aid office at UW. I met an advisor and he was very sympathetic. He said it was too late to apply for financial aid that year, but he could get me emergency money and I could apply for next year.”

“But regardless of how many hours I worked or how much overtime I put in, it is clear that even with today’s change in how much middle-class students can be awarded, I will still be in debt after I graduate.”

In the last thirty years, the economy has struggled, along with many students who are trying to make ends meet in order to prosper in their educational field. Curious to know how the experience of today’s students compares with students of the past, I sat down with my mom a few nights ago and asked her about her own dilemma with the financial aid process, and how it compared to mine. As a working middle-class parent, she has found that it is now more difficult to support a college student, especially with the economy taking a major dip and tuition costs constantly rising.

She went on to tell me some astonishing figures about her tuition and minimum wage. In 1971, she paid just under $600 for a year for tuition and happily earned $1.65 an hour while working various restaurant jobs. When she attended school, just under two bucks could get you 2 gallons of gas, 7 cups of coffee, or an entire pack of cigarettes. Now you’re lucky if you can scrape by with some gas station beef jerky or a pack of Wrigley’s.

I asked her how she managed on such a low income: “Well, that summer I lived at home. Of course, things weren’t as expensive then. I managed to buy a coat and some other Over the course of an hour, my mom and I sat down to things over the summer to get ready for the fall. Then of

course shit hit the fan in the fall with my parents. Even college or try and get extra money without having to ask then I still received some help from them.” for it is more rewarding and will get you more of a feel for how life will actually be after you graduate.” Asking her these questions got me thinking about my own financial situation. Every summer since 2005, I have I experienced this debt from student loans personally worked at restaurants because of the social environment when I telemarketed for my college’s annual fund prothey provide, as well as the extra tip money. During the gram during my sophomore year. For four days a week, school year, I worked part-time because I didn’t want to I contacted parents, alumni, and friends of the college to fall behind in my studies, and I felt my dedication to my see if they could give to the program to support scholareducation was more important than making a few extra ships, activity and research grants, and new research matebucks at a Chinese take-out restaurant. rials for the library. Probably 50 percent of the students I contacted declined my request for them to give—they were Now that the economy is hanging by a thread and mini- still in debt to their student loans. These were students mum wage has risen quite a bit in many states, with Wash- who had graduated from the college less than six months ington State having one of the highest in the country, I asked her about my expenses compared to hers. She started off by telling me about the increase in tuition costs for current in-state students. My tuition for an in-state education, for example, is around $8000, and about a third of that is paid for by the government in financial aid loans. However, she added that this particular figure seems like a reasonable amount of money for an education. I also asked her if she helped contribute to her education financially, in addition to getting loans. “I worked my way through college, doing odd jobs and serving at restaurants. In the end, I found it more rewarding because I was able to contribute to my education rather than just my parents paying it all for me.”

before and were still working minimum wage jobs to pay back what they owed to the government in federal loans.

It was interesting to know my mom felt the same way I did about trying to support myself and my parents due to the rising cost of education. But regardless of how many hours I worked or how much overtime I put in, it is clear that even with today’s change in how much middle-class students can be awarded, I will still be in debt after I graduate. Recognizing this, my mom said, “It’s really great that you can contribute to the cost of your frivolous expenditures.” She also noted that “as long as you work through

I started wondering if I was inevitably going into more debt than originally expected, even though I was now receiving more money. In all, the recent Act of July 1st will be great for the time being, considering it has relieved my parents of a larger financial figure for me to attend school. But in the end, my parents and I will still be in debt and, for a few more years, will undoubtedly be a part of the federal loan system’s vicious cycle.

TUNING IN: EDUCATION

ith the economy in a deep slump and banks foreclosing mortgages like they’re going out of style (which they just might), it’s no surprise that many middle-class students are entering college with a greater sense of financial anxiety. Almost all of us have experienced the shock, after two hours spent waiting in line at the financial aid office, of finally seeing what a single year of college will cost. Southern Methodist University? $43,000. MIT? $36,000. The University of Virginia? $20,000—and that jumps up to $40,000 if you’re out-of-state. Of course, every university offers a wide array of scholarships, grants, loans, and workstudy programs. Hardly any incoming student (unless his parents are oil barons) can afford to arrive on campus with a check that covers every expense.

Almost every four-year university requires its incoming students to take basic prerequisites, such as writing and humanities classes, mathematics, science, and a foreign language. But community colleges and two-year schools usually offer identical classes at a phenomenally reduced rate, and you can easily transfer the credits to a four-year school. In Columbus, Ohio, home of the prestigious and massive Ohio State University, freshmen can take a basic composition course at Columbus State Community College for $237. The same course at OSU? $762. Many

Avoiding the Curse of the College Loan

The 2007 College Cost and Reduction Act, which lowers federal loan interest rates and increases Pell Grants, will be somewhat helpful. But most students are still leaving school weighed down by debt: last summer, Forbes magazine reported that average debt after four years of college is almost $20,000. That’s a lot of money to pay off, especially if you have a high-interest private loan or parents who can’t afford to chip in. So what can we do to avoid the skyrocketing costs of higher education? Here are some suggestions:

1. Stay in your state. Teenagers are usually desperate to leave their parents’ house by the end of high school. Nothing wrong with that! But you don’t have to go to the ends of the earth to escape your parents, especially if you find a state university that can put you at a comfortable distance. It will certainly save you money: there’s a $7000 difference between attending SUNY (State University of New York) for a year as a native New Yorker and coming in from out-of-state. Many state universities also offer scholarships specific to in-state students, in an effort to keep local talent. And if you’ve absolutely got to escape, look for schools that offer discounts or tuition grants for outof-state students. You won’t be getting as good a deal as by Matthew Ladd your roommate whose parents live five blocks away, but at least you’ll know what you’re getting into when it comes students opt to simply take basic prerequisites at commutime to cough up for class. nity colleges, then transfer to a major university for their advanced classes. So by the time you graduate, you’ve still 2. Don’t ignore community colleges. Many students got that vaunted university diploma—and you’ve saved elect to go to a community college for a year or two be- thousands of dollars in the process. fore transferring to a more popular four-year institution.

3. Cheap Ivy-Leagues? Surprisingly, many Ivy-League schools have begun to offer deep tuition discounts for middle-class students. Unless they procure an outstanding scholarship, many high school students assume than an Ivy education is going to break the bank. And it often does: average yearly tuition at a school like Princeton, Yale or Cornell is over $45,000. But that’s not the whole story. Aside from the numerous scholarships and grants available to high-GPA high-schoolers, some Ivy schools now offer reduced tuition—depending on your family’s in-

sume that they won’t be able to afford an Ivy education. 4. Research, research, research. It may feel easier just to bite the bullet and take out loans, but with a little extra time at the computer, students can dig up an abundance of online sources that assist in the search for scholarships. For example, websites like StudentScholarshipSearch.com and Edvisors.com provide a variety of links to merit-based scholarships and need-based grants. Rotary Clubs and government programs offer assistance to students wishing to travel abroad. And your school’s own financial aid office should be willing—with some persistence on your part—to help you discover more scholarship opportunities based on your academic interests, family history and background. Finally, try to avoid taking out private loans whenever possible. Last year, the New York Times pointed out that regardless of government regulation, “the student loan business will still be, well, a business.” The article went on to compare private lenders to credit card companies: the larger the loan you take out, the more the company profits from interest and fees. In other words, lenders such as Sallie Mae aren’t offering you money because they’re interested in your education—they’re offering you money because they want to make money.

“No aspiring collegian should ever have to forego the dream of a degree...”

It’s always encouraging to see the U.S. government take an active role in reducing our educational costs. But there’s still a lot of ground to cover: on both the federal and state level, Congresses should work harder at finding ways to keep students from leaving school with a millstone of debt around their necks. And universities themselves should be actively seeking ways to recruit talent. Gifted teenagers from low-income families should not have to work fulltime just to buy books, for example. And many female students are coming out of high school with children: how many colleges offer child-care services for young single mothers? No aspiring collegian should ever have to forego the dream of a degree, and our country—if it truly wants to see this generation succeed—must actively seek come, that is. Harvard, for example, cuts your tuition if out ways to provide an affordable education. Who knows your parents make less than $120,000 annually. And ear- how many future surgeons, psychologists, teachers or comlier this year, MIT announced that if your parents earned munity leaders are simply falling through the cracks? less than $75,000, you could go for free. That’s only if you’re accepted, of course. But it’s a welcome change: too many cash-strapped students simply as-

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LOCUE’S LGilligan O C O T U O Y E by Kara C U D O by Kali A. Mobley I’M HAPPY TO INTR ARD TO W IN K O O L E W E R E my future aspiraWHI see Growing up, I never felt so much at home as I did in N,see? IOyou CloseU your CTdo Eeyes.SEWhat S B I-so close to my own creative powers F A Mfelt , S L A school, and I never O G , tions—my dreams. S N A L WN P a “dream” is as I did when I wasElearning. UR ODictionary, According S. I once believed that educaDISCtoUtheSSOxfordOAmerican S S E C C U S D N A S ENofTas a pos- tion was the path to personal growth and one of the best defined as “an ambition, A anP ideal” or “to think TM POIN IS D , S N A- planes of human experience. I IO ways to access T PIRhigher INSthe sibility.” My harbored ambitions are to be a non-starving F O S E IV T A R R A N S fantastic writer with E a loyal children. really felt sorry for the kids who didn’t do well in school, FERSandUthree OFhusband S U MitEor even care. “Boy, they must be F CtoOlike R E V who didn’t seem O N A It’s the typical American dream: success, family, and love. C E W HOW and con- missing out!” I thought. Boy, OF obstacles RIEseeSvarious : STIOalso With these . was I wrong. Eevents TIONdreams, IF L N R E D O M F O There were two in my life that pretty much S IO Ncoupled cerns; I fear the dangers at bay. Why is R aspiration T A T S U R F Y IL A shatteredFIN every T H EWhyDdo some people fear the possibilityTorHthe THAT notion I had of education with fear? D preconceived U O Y R E E H W (or not so important) it really is. The chance to do R something LESS OorF to be someone and how important GARDspectacular, E D N AS College. I mean, come on, A S N IO S first was going to Dartmouth U L C N noteworthy? O C E M A ES ED orTH Ivy League school! For a person like me, REAareCH fanciful realistic, a person people, this is an E E OU’VEdreams P YWhether X E M A S E H like skipping the dying part and going straight to D Tthat’s HAthe must rely on himself or herself toO achieve them, EN but V E R — S R E IT R W IE pictured UR IESof noble-minded men in togas, task ofO achievement can be clouded with fear of inability heaven. STOaRbunch S E H T D IN F L ’L U books, and smiling warmly upon one another with or failure. However, I— believe I HOthatPEfearYisOa mere excuse carrying S E C N Y their heads. Then I got IE R HEaround SofTlight A these faint to not conquer the treacherous waters of one’s dreams. I URAGINGhalos O C N E L AND EFU S HOPwhen agree with he says, “Our deepest there and realized that I was! a woman, that it was freezing BE AMandela TONelson NJOdry,Y the sun rarely came out, and Ewere . M cold, my classes E H T E fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is T O R W O OSE WIt H O THmeasure. that we W areE powerful is our light not that people seemed to like talking about their dads a lot. RE Tbeyond

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our darkness that frightens us.” Our dreams are our light, our inspiration. With every morning light, we all face various obstacles. Some people struggle to cope with the memories of lost ones, meeting financial standards, or acquiring a good job. While some struggle, others run toward the light with an obstinate spirit, refusing to surrender to the dark. These people climb the mountains, seek impossible opportunities, or live life to the fullest. Life will always have its daunting struggles and fleeting victories, but it’s those moments that create the people who we are today. I’ve dealt with several losses in both family and wealth, but I refuse to dwell on the bad, especially when the bright light in my mind tells me to go for my goals. Whether you are ready or not, adventures call us to act, to live, to fail, and to excel. Don’t fear rejection of intimacy or success. Close your eyes and follow your dreams. Live with no regrets, because as Mark Twain said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

It was such a letdown. This is not the place you come to get enlightened— it’s the place you come to get a title! I proceeded to lose the only faith I ever had, and I became very, very depressed. I barely got through those four years. I really wanted to drop out. I finished my degree at the urging of my parents, accepted my diploma, and moped my way back home to Florida. Not even the sunshine state could lighten my mood. Life was over. Then something amazing happened. I accepted a teacher position at an alternative school for children with learning differences. The children that went to this school had IQ’s ranging from average to above average. However, they all processed information differently than what traditional teaching methods were able to accommodate. Because of this, they were often ostracized by “the system.” Sometimes teachers would think that these students were stupid or lazy or that they just didn’t care. Other students would often make fun of them because they looked or acted differently, and many of them developed low self-esteem and behavioral problems. The school I worked for was founded as a place where students with learning differences could come to recover and have the

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LEAVING THE HARBOR

THE GREATEST TEACHER

by Kali A. Mobley

by Kara Gilligan

Close your eyes. What do you see? I see my future aspirations—my dreams. According to the Oxford American Dictionary, a “dream” is defined as “an ambition, an ideal” or “to think of as a possibility.” My harbored ambitions are to be a non-starving writer with a loyal husband and three fantastic children. It’s the typical American dream: success, family, and love. With these dreams, I also see various obstacles and concerns; I fear the dangers at bay. Why is aspiration coupled with fear? Why do some people fear the possibility or the chance to do something spectacular, or to be someone noteworthy? Whether dreams are fanciful or realistic, a person must rely on himself or herself to achieve them, but the task of achievement can be clouded with fear of inability or failure. However, I believe that fear is a mere excuse to not conquer the treacherous waters of one’s dreams. I agree with Nelson Mandela when he says, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that frightens us.” Our dreams are our light, our inspiration. With every morning light, we all face various obstacles. Some people struggle to cope with the memories of lost ones, meeting financial standards, or acquiring a good job. While some struggle, others run toward the light with an obstinate spirit, refusing to surrender to the dark. These people climb the mountains, seek impossible opportunities, or live life to the fullest. Life will always have its daunting struggles and fleeting victories, but it’s those moments that create the people who we are today. I’ve dealt with several losses in both family and wealth, but I refuse to dwell on the bad, especially when the bright light in my mind tells me to go for my goals. Whether you are ready or not, adventures call us to act, to live, to fail, and to excel. Don’t fear rejection of intimacy or success. Close your eyes and follow your dreams. Live with no regrets, because as Mark Twain said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Growing up, I never felt so much at home as I did in school, and I never felt so close to my own creative powers as I did when I was learning. I once believed that education was the path to personal growth and one of the best ways to access the higher planes of human experience. I really felt sorry for the kids who didn’t do well in school, who didn’t seem to like it or even care. “Boy, they must be missing out!” I thought. Boy, was I wrong. There were two events in my life that pretty much shattered every preconceived notion I had of education and how important (or not so important) it really is. The first was going to Dartmouth College. I mean, come on, people, this is an Ivy League school! For a person like me, that’s like skipping the dying part and going straight to heaven. I pictured a bunch of noble-minded men in togas, carrying books, and smiling warmly upon one another with these faint halos of light around their heads. Then I got there and realized that I was a woman, that it was freezing cold, my classes were dry, the sun rarely came out, and that people seemed to like talking about their dads a lot. It was such a letdown. This is not the place you come to get enlightened— it’s the place you come to get a title! I proceeded to lose the only faith I ever had, and I became very, very depressed. I barely got through those four years. I really wanted to drop out. I finished my degree at the urging of my parents, accepted my diploma, and moped my way back home to Florida. Not even the sunshine state could lighten my mood. Life was over. Then something amazing happened. I accepted a teacher position at an alternative school for children with learning differences. The children that went to this school had IQ’s ranging from average to above average. However, they all processed information differently than what traditional teaching methods were able to accommodate. Because of this, they were often ostracized by “the system.” Sometimes teachers would think that these students were stupid or lazy or that they just didn’t care. Other students would often make fun of them because they looked or acted differently, and many of them developed low self-esteem and behavioral problems. The school I worked for was founded as a place where students with learning differences could come to recover and have the

learning differences could come to recover and have the opportunity to learn. Well, I walked in on my first day in this hapless cloud of self-pity, saying to myself, “So, it’s come to this, has it?” But when I saw my classroom, a sweet wave of nostalgia hit me. This was the place I loved so much growing up—the place where all the magic happened! Then I met my students and nearly cried. These were all the kids I used to feel sorry for. . . . The next leg of my educational journey began. It was difficult, incredibly challenging, confusing, heart-wrenching, hilarious and beautiful. Almost all the methods I tried to use with my students failed. Actually, let me re-phrase that. Whenever I tried to teach my students what I thought was important, what I thought they needed to know, almost no learning took place, and usually I left frustrated and drained. So did my students. I would later march into my supervisor’s offices wailing about how impossible it was for these kids to learn Algebra, or whatever subject I was trying to teach them, and my supervisor, who’d been at this a while, would pat my hand in condolence and softly say, “Kara, you cannot make these kids learn anything. You can only provide them with the opportunity to learn.” She would then remind me, “If I had wanted to hire a trained teacher, I wouldn’t have hired you. These kids need someone who can look at them in a new light.” Getting a new perspective in that classroom was one of the hardest things I ever did. I was appalled at how attached I was to textbooks and all the neatly structured assessment tools that came with them. I was even more appalled at how persistently my own little narrow-minded beliefs continued to rear their ugly heads. I eventually learned to recognize these stool pigeons by phrases like, “you can’t,” “must,” “have to,” “it is necessary,” “never” etc. I had plenty of failures. In fact, I failed so miserably in achieving my idea of success at that job that I stumbled into a new and strange territory: I got to the place where failure was no longer an option. The word had lost its meaning, as had its counterpart “success.” They were vestiges

of a strange system, one whose presence cramped the landscape but whose potency had somehow faded. It was nonmaterial now, and I was free to create anew what mattered. I looked around in wonder and awe. “So this is postmodernism,” I said to myself. But then I was startled by the cries that rang out all round me. “Ms. Gilligan! Ms. Gilligan!” It was my students! They had been there all along. From that point on, I became teachable again. I learned so much from those students that year, and they continue to amaze me with their extraordinary perspectives. Schooling is great for teaching us a lot of things, and most of us spend mattered. I looked around in wonder and awe. “So this is postmodernism,” I said to myself. But then I was startled by the cries that rang out all round me. “Ms. Gilligan! Ms. Gilligan!” It was my students! They had been there all along. From that point on, I became teachable again. I learned so much from those students that year, and they continue to amaze me with their extraordinary perspectives. Schooling is great for teaching us a lot of things, and most of us spend our formative years learning and living in that kind of environment. But now, wherever I go in the world, I take a lesson with me. I look at problems as opportunities to learn and grow. Don’t get me wrong—usually it takes some grumbling, complaining, whining, and making a few forced attempts to do things my way, before I admit that I need to change my perspective if I want to progress and feel better. But once I accept it, I am free, and usually very excited because it means I’ve entered the realm of potential and possibility—the place from which we create. We are all students here, so I’ve learned, and our differences are indeed our greatest teachers.

THE ENERGY TO STRUGGLE TOGETHER by Matthew Claiborne

SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1”All mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated...As therefore the bell that rings to a sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come: so this bell calls us all: but how much more me, who am brought so near the door by this sickness....No man is an island, entire of itself...any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” —John Donne “Today I was on the bus, and I ran into a guy who was on his way to an interview. He is an ex-political prisoner and member of the Black Panther Party. He told me that one day he was on his way to a Panther meeting and he was beaten. He is not the same guy anymore. Now he can’t get a job. He was on his way to an interview at a pizza joint.” Corina McCarthy-Fadel finds energy rather than inspiration in people like the man she met on the bus. “I don’t like to use the word inspiration,” said Corina. “I like to use the word energize instead because you need energy to live, and I believe you can find energy from everything and anyone including your enemies.” Corina’s philosophy is that mankind needs mankind to survive. It is the belief that everyone in the world is connected. The actions of one person have consequences that affect everyone. In the words of John Donne, “No man is an island, entire of itself.” Corina is a native of Boston, and has been doing work as an advocate for change since she was in high school. Her biggest focus is on providing positive outlets for the youth of America. While

in Boston, Corina worked for several youth empowerment organizations. Through their positive influence, she gained the confidence that shadows her everywhere she goes. Among these organizations were the United Youth and Youth Workers of Boston; both were part of a citywide coalition that lobbied for votes to secure $8 million towards programs focused on ending youth violence. Seven hundred youth activists stood outside the city hall on the day of the vote. The bill was not passed, and Corina came up with the idea of the Bloody Budget Campaign: “The Bloody Budget Campaign was an attempt to hold the city accountable for violence among youth. Since the city is not attempting to end the violence, they are responsible for it whether they acknowledge it or not.” Corina is a sophomore at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia. While in Atlanta, she has continued her involvement with youth organizations through Project South, a community organization that combines political education with popular education. Popular education is the idea that one can learn something from everybody and all experiences. Corina also works on the Front Lines Tour, an underground hip-hop artist community tour, and she is also involved with the Hip-Hop Media Lab as their hip-hop organizer. The Hip Hop Media Lab’s goal is to reclaim communities through culture. Corina’s intense involvement is only possible because of the high-voltage energy she brings to her projects. Drawing energy from radical heavyweights like Assata Shakur, Muhammad Ali, and Sandra Graham, Corina is able to remain positive in a seemingly negative world. Above all, Corina finds energy from her mother. “I find energy from my mother because she’s done a lot, and she is not afraid to try new things,” said Corina. “She is very energetic, and she energizes me. It’s like looking into a mirror.” Corina has learned to absorb positive energy even from negative circumstances. By observing how people close to her have sometimes taken the wrong path, she has learned to take the right path. Her life motto is “work as if you’ll live forever; live as if you’ll die tomorrow” because she believes

that one will take more chances and really be able to see the fruits of his or her labor if life is lived in this manner. The truth according to Corina is that when we look around ourselves, we have all the energy we need. “Lute Juntos,” said Corina. “Struggle together.”

ROLES AND PERSONAS by Ian Brown Throughout adolescence it is very common for one to be asked, “What do you want to do with your life?” This question usually brings about laughter, the rolling of eyes, and a graceful change of subject. There are those lucky few who seem to know from birth that they want to train dolphins, or travel through deep space, but to most the future is ominous and uncertain. As we study in college, or even near the end of high school, the time to look a career in the eye rapidly approaches. We have a tendency to do what I like to call “role playing” during this time. You see it in many forms throughout college, high school, and even sometimes in late middle school: the forming of cliques, gangs, fraternities, clubs, and any basic social structure of education. I’m talking about the “jocks,” “preps,” “nerds,” etc. We take on temporary roles that define us in our environment in order to satisfy the need for an identity that, quite plainly, just isn’t there yet. It is literally a continuous form of dress-up. Now most people, adults especially, give this practice a negative connotation. They chastise their children who give in to it, and they punish those who let it disrupt their schoolwork and productive goals. One must wonder why each generation continues to play this game, despite the terrible experiences that come with it. I think I’ve found the answer. Let it be known that I think of myself as no psychoanalyst; I have, however, spent months speculating and taking an honest inventory of my behavior and myself. This driving need for a permanent identity, a place to say we currently exist in, and a place to say we

are heading toward, drives us to take on whatever persona we find appealing. The answer is obvious, whether we accept it or not: in a very real way, being without a persona almost feels like being close to death! Do you ever wonder how you’d react in certain situations? For instance, after listening to someone talk about a certain experience that was dangerous, or maybe exhilarating, people always say, “You know, I would have done something totally different,” or “That’s just stupid! I would have…” Humans are frightened by not knowing how to deal with something. Sometimes, choosing a temporary role to cling to may be the only thing keeping the demands of adolescence from driving us insane. Parents in particular must realize that this experimentation is crucial to the realization of one’s approaching future, career, and lifestyle. Experimenting with these archetypal characters allows us to choose positive attributes from what we have experienced and, in turn, allows us to grow as diverse adults. (This plays a lot into the debate of “nature vs. nurture” and I am suggesting that what we often believe to be nature is merely masked nurture.) If I have any advice for those perplexed by what their roles in life will be, it is simple: give in to the game, and live your life through all of the personas that seem to take hold of you. They are all you, and they will all find their place in your eventual, solid, adult self. You will naturally pick out what you like and don’t like from the roles you’ve played, and your true persona will reveal itself. When your true persona manifests, it will bring with it your skills, likes, dislikes, and a place in the world for you to fit it all. Let us be patient in defining ourselves and simply enjoy the roles we take on: after all, patience is a virtue. We should try to embrace it, at least until we display the finished product.

BE GRATEFUL by Valencya Taylor

Today I woke up frustrated about my financial situation. After rummaging through Wal-Mart yesterday with only $10 in my hand, I had to make quick decisions about what food I could buy, at minimal cost, that would last at least two or three days. Needless to say I was feeling down and out, along with sorry for myself for not having more at my age. I was even more frustrated waiting for a check that had been sent to a previous address. I had been given the run-around from the payroll officer about her needing to trace the check before she could void it out. At this point I was thinking, “Would you just cut the check please!” But after hearing one of my closest friends vent about her own personal woes, I was reminded of an old gospel song—Be Grateful. That was Reminder #1. The other day, I actually found myself getting in an argument with someone because I had to pay $5 for a MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) kiosk card! Next thing I knew, I found myself standing on the MARTA platform, patiently awaiting a southbound train and trying to hold back tears. I soon found myself on a train crowded with people. A man entered the train and said in full voice, “Excuse me, may I have your attention please. My name is Corey, and I am now homeless due to a recent house fire. I have no money because I was unable to work last week due to my being hospitalized with a hernia. There is a place down the street called ARS where I can take a shower and clean myself up. Even if you are not able to help me, I would like to thank you for taking the time to listen. God bless you. You all have a good day.” The train was completely quiet, and again I wanted to burst into tears. But this time it was because I wasn’t able to help my friend. Jesus calls me friend, so I call you friend. Be Grateful. Reminder #2. Like many Americans, I currently have no health insurance. If I need to see a doctor, I have to stop by my local Health Department. When I visited the Health Department this past July, however,

everything appeared to be going entirely wrong. There were long lines, bad service, and employees with bad attitudes. To top it all off, I was informed that a $100 non-refundable deposit would be required at the time of my visit and that they couldn’t provide me with an estimate for my total cost. I was thinking: I could be at an actual doctor’s office for all of this. I then asked an employee about what people who can’t afford the $100 deposit should do, and she replied that I’d need to go to the Department of Labor and request a waiver. She had no phone number to give me, but instead referred me to the blue pages— which she didn’t have either. But I eventually found it. And later that day, as I proceeded into the Department of Labor, I was again reminded of that song— Be Grateful. And I thought to myself: I could be one of those single-parent mothers who have to take off work to go back and forth from office to office, probably not in a car but a bus, just so that her sick child can receive treatment. Reminder #3.

JUST DO IT! by Valencya Taylor Anybody who knows anything about me realizes that February was a month full of adversity, tacked onto an already very interesting year. For those of you who are just beginning to know me through my work, I hope that you will find something to relate to in this piece and can call upon my words the next time you happen to feel attacked by all that life can offer. I turned 25 years old on February 14th. My brother got into a bad car accident on February 15th. My grandmother passed away on February 19th. My little cousin ran away on February 21st. All the while my car was breaking down, and my plans for next year were becoming a little shaky. I’m certain you must be sarcastically thinking, “Wow, this sure is inspirational!” I promise if you hang on a little longer, it gets better. Through my many trials, I came to realize the supportive network

of people surrounding me, and I thank God for that. I also realized how much I’ve learned in the past year of my life, more than any other year. Of course there were moments, very brief moments (that’s all that my hectic schedule would allow for) where I took time to grieve. I even moved beyond that point to a place where I would begin to sulk and try to get others to feel sorry for me while I tried to force myself to feel sorry as well. Hitting that painful point of nowhere, and making one more attempt to get someone else to show their empathy, I began to rattle off a long list of things I had to do at one time. It was at this moment where I was told by a new acquaintance to “just do it!” Wow! It finally hit me. He’s right, I thought. What’s the point in sitting here to complain when my complaints will not solve any of my problems? If anything, it will only further my negative thoughts and keep me in the same situation. I finally decided that it was important for me to rejoice! You may ask why, but I realize as a woman of faith, it is important for me to rejoice at all times and be thankful for all that I have, if only to encourage others to ask, “Why is she so happy? She’s been through so much, but she still manages to walk around with a smile on her face.” I also realize that, if I sit, pout, and worry, nothing about my situation is going to change. But if I take the opportunities presented to me, decide on the best move to make next, and take action, the possibilities are endless. To act is very rewarding in many ways. If you take action you won’t have time to feel guilty about all that you have not done. Instead, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment because of everything you are able to do. Being active allows one to get a head-start on living a healthier lifestyle physically, spiritually, and mentally. The physical aspect is directly obvious: getting things done requires movement, and I always feel great in burning extra calories without really “exercising.” The spiritual body is fed as one completes tasks that allow for that person’s will to become in line with the will of God. Finally, one’s mental being enters a state of peace and clarity as one releases the millions of things from his or her internal task list, item by item, upon completion. “Just do it” may be seen as a cure-all

for many ailments that we face in life, as long as what you are doing is satisfactory to your personal needs. Allow me to bring this home to you. If you are a student, you are more than likely trying to balance a hectic schedule that may include a heavy academic workload, one or more part-time jobs, and responsibilities to campus organizations. There will be many times, simply because of pure exhaustion, you’ll want to complain about all that you don’t have time for, or be tempted to blow off writing your paper because you have given your all to the rest of your day. Or maybe you suffer from an imbalance of social activities versus academics and are feeling down about your current grades. It is in moments such as the aforementioned that I challenge you, my friend, to push a little harder and “just do it!” It may not seem like it now, but by the end of the semester your GPA won’t care about all of the other things that kept you from making academics your first priority as a student. If you are a part of the working world, perhaps you have personal things to take care of when you’re “off the clock.” Some of these things may even be relevant to you achieving your other goals, but your job demands so much of your time that you would much rather go home, collapse into bed, and not give a single thought to doing anything else. I would say to you, dear companion, remember that your success is in your hands. If you continue to do the same things, you will receive the same results. We all have to live with the decisions we have made. At the end of the day, whether those decisions will cause positive reflection will be determined by the actions we take or fail to take. It is very easy to come up with a thousand excuses and shift the blame about why we didn’t do something. I am asking for you to choose the alternative and instead take action: “just do it.” Try me. I promise, you’ll feel better.

FIVE REASONS TO BECOME AN INTERN • • • • •

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intro

Humanity The issue of human rights should be of paramount importance to every American, not least because the US is, ideally, the world’s most visible guardian against its abuses. The truths enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, those “we hold to be self-evident,” are so basic that few Americans would dare directly question their value. Yet in many countries abroad, and in the United States itself, we often see human rights cast aside in favor of state security of political expedience. In the following five articles, Collocue’s Humanity writers—Anthony Brino, Erin-Jennifer Dunn, Matthew Ladd and Joanna Pettet—investigate some of the globe’s most recent and most willful human rights crises, wherever they occur. The material may not always be uplifting, but it is timely. And we hope that, regardless of whether you agree with every word, you will find in these pages some galvanizing food for thought.

The Beijing Olympics and the Specter of Repression by Matthew Ladd

Yet now, as the athletes are framing their medals and the members of the International Olympics Committee are jetting away on vacation, doubts still linger about the Chinese government’s ability—and even its desire—to handle political dissent without trampling over basic human rights. One controversy centers around China’s own people: the thousands of laborers who were hired to build the massive arenas, sports complexes, and hotels designed for the Olympic Games. China spent over $400 million alone in building the Beijing National Stadium (a.k.a. the “Bird’s Nest”). Both the Bird’s Nest and the National Aquatics Center (the “Water Cube”), designed by world-famous architects, have already become symbols of China’s economic strength and cultural modernization. For many—especially the Chinese themselves—the stadiums are a proud statement: China wants to be recognized as a major global player. But its success in doing so has come at a price.

he Olympic Games have never been far from controversy. During the 1936 Berlin Olympics, presided over by none other than Adolf Hitler, African-American runner Jesse Owens won four gold medals: a welcome slap in the face to Hitler’s dreams of Aryan superiority. In 1972, during the Munich Olympics, a Palestinian group called Black September captured and killed 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team. Twenty-five years later, during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, a bomb exploded in Centennial Park, In order to create room for the Olympic complex, the wounding over 100 people. The culprit was Eric Rudolph, government had to evict many Chinese citizens from their a homegrown pipe-bomber from central Florida. homes. Some sources report that, by the time the Games began, over one and a half million Chinese had been forcCompared to these incidents, China’s hosting of the 2008 ibly evicted, and given little or no compensation in return. Olympics proved remarkably successful. Even though Many of these people are still living on the streets, unable Interpol had warned as early as last April that a terrorist to find or afford alternate housing. attack during the Games was a real possibility, no such attack occurred, and they went off with the usual amount of Earlier this year the London Times also reported that the fanfare, fireworks, and international glad-handing. In the government had tried to cover up the deaths of 10 workers wake of numerous protests and controversies, China badly who had died while building the Bird’s Nest. Additionneeded the Olympics to boost its standing in the global ally, the report claimed that the families of some workers community, and it seems to have succeeded. killed on the site were paid more than $20,000 in compen-

sation—much more than the usual worker’s comp. In ex- Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay are etched in the minds change for this hush money, families of the dead workers of people worldwide, and it would look pretty silly for the would be less likely to complain. US to berate China for violating human rights while its own military is still doing likewise. But the biggest headlines of the pre-Olympic days invariably mentioned Tibet. Since 1959, Tibet has been a prov- More importantly, though, the US is China’s second-bigince of China, an “Autonomous Region” that is nonethe- gest trading partner, after the European Union. By 2006, less controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. The vast US trade with China was worth more than $340 billion, majority of ethnic Tibetans resent, with good reason, the and it has only grown. Our government is extremely hesiheavy-handed approach the Chinese military has taken to tant to publicly criticize a country that proves us with protests and demonstrations against its rule. Last March, so many of our clothes, computer parts, and audiovisual when Tibetan monks took to the streets of Lhasa (Tibet’s equipment. The computer I’m typing on—a Macbook— capital) in protest of Chinese rule, they were dealt with was assembled in China. So was my Canon digital camruthlessly: beaten, arrested, and in many cases critically era—right down to the instruction manual. Though global wounded by Chinese police. trade has arguably made life better for thousands of Chinese, the fact is that it also gives the Chinese government a Journalists were prohibited from reporting on the situa- great deal of bargaining power when it comes to negotiattion; the only videos of the violence that leaked came either ing with the west. from western journalists working undercover, or Tibetan civilians taking videos with their cell phones. China has a The first step in responding to human rights violations long history of cracking down hard on political protesters; in China, then, must be in recognizing that our country’s during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, thousands economic dependence shouldn’t prevent individual voices of Chinese civilians were killed, many of them students. from speaking out. Groups like Human Rights Watch But for the police to disrupt peaceful protests by a group and Amnesty International have made great strides in of Buddhist monks—recognized as much for their commit- identifying human rights abuses and refusing to stop talkment to nonviolence as for their bright orange robes—is ing about them, regardless of the mainstream media. You completely unacceptable. probably won’t get much out of watching Fox News at the gym. But the stories are definitely out there—you just have Unfortunately, criticism of China’s crackdown was luke- to go out and find them. warm, and it quickly sputtered out. Just as worrying— though not as highly publicized—is China’s involvement with the Sudanese government, which is responsible for the ongoing atrocities in Darfur. The problem, predictably enough, is oil: China buys millions of dollars worth by Anthony Brino of oil from Sudan each year. What’s more, China supplies the Sudanese government with military equipment and ver the past few months, the crisis in Zimarms. And although China recently bowed to the UN by babwe—meticulously documented by the pressing Sudan to do more to alleviate the suffering in BBC, probably more than any other news Darfur, this has not kept its officials from continuing to agency— has seemed to increase daily in comdo business with a country that is basically slaughtering plexity, uncertainty, and human suffering. The country its own people. has the highest inflation rate in the world: 100,580 perWhat’s ironic about this is that the United States has been cent, according to the CIA World Factbook. Paper money mostly silent on China’s abysmal human rights record, es- is meaningless. Thousands of Zimbabweans have fled to pecially compared to many European countries. Why? For South Africa in the wake of regular fuel and food shortagstarters, the past few years have seen the US entrenched in es. Many are the victims, or survivors, of political violence ugly human rights controversies of its own: images from and repression.

Zimbabwe in Crisis

Humanity Zimbabwe’s June 27th presidential run-off election— labeled fraudulent by the international community—saw President Robert Mugabe as the only candidate in the field. The opposition party refused to participate, in the face of violent intimidation sponsored by Mugabe and his ruling party ZANU-PF. On June 30th, Mugabe, 84, was sworn in for his sixth term as president.

er-sharing deal. But critics doubt that Mugabe will be willing to relinquish much, if any, of his power. Abusive, tyrannical, degrading political behavior is certainly not new to African government; neither is the large-scale human suffering that comes with such behavior after years of equally repressive colonial rule. So what happens now? Zimbabwe has an 80% unemployment rate. 1.8 million of the country’s 12 million people are affected by HIV and AIDS, according to World Health Organization statistics. In every regard, it is still in deep crisis. Commentators are offering plenty of advice: for instance, during a BBC interview, the former President of South Africa said that change may come from the moderate sects of ZANU-PF.

But by the end of July, post-election condemnations of Mugabe have differed in intensity and specifics, depending on the continent. The US and the UK, for example, have been heavy in rhetoric and so far nil in action. A UK foreign secretary, referring to refugees, recently said Zimbabwe’s plight is “infecting the whole of southern Africa.” And he asked other Western nations to support harsh United Nations sanctions against Mugabe and his associ- Possibly. But it is doubtful that real change will come to ates, freezing their financial assets and limiting their travel Zimbabwe so long as Mugabe still clings to the Presidenoutside Zimbabwe. cy. A power-share between Mugabe and Tsvangirai could very well be the first step toward rebuilding Zimbabwe’s So far, however, the UN Security Council has only offered economy and infrastructure. As Zimbabwe settles back limited condemnations of Mugabe’s actions, and any sanc- into its all-too-familiar pattern of inflation, joblessness, tions seem doubtful, given the thin line many African lead- and dictatorial rule, the US and Europe should not forget ers feel they must tread in criticizing Mugabe, an African that it is still on the cliff-edge of disaster. The violence has independence leader turned ruthless tyrant. thankfully ended, but the problems remain. This past July, Zimbabwe was the primary topic of discussion at the international G8 summit in Japan. The US and UK suggested an international arms restriction on Zimbabwe, in addition to financial punishments. But these types of sanctions have been rejected by leaders of the African Union, who claim that Zimbabwe is a problem isolated to Africa and can be dealt with by the continent. China and Russia also vetoed acall for sanctions at the UN.

Freedom to Love:

At the moment, President Mugabe is still free to act with impunity: international sanctions aren’t coming, no Western nations will remove him from power with military force, and the African Union will not even offer a reprimand specific to Mugabe’s violent behavior. Thabo Mbeki, the President of South Africa and chief negotiator in southern African, said Mugabe and the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) should work towards a government of national unity. Surprisingly, this seems to be happening: Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition candidate who won the majority of votes for during elections in March and who had formerly refused to work with Mugabe, has now agreed to work with him on a pow-

ay 17, 2004 will be remembered as a day that changed civil rights in the U.S for gay couples. At precisely 9:15am on that day, Tanya McCloskey and Marcia Kadish were the first same-sex couple to be granted a marriage license in the state of Massachusetts. It was the shot heard around the nation that began the revolution desperately needed for gay civil rights. Over 1,000 other people filed applications for marriage the same day.

Same-Sex Marriage in the US by Joanna Pettet

As expected, this controversial decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court caused a nation-wide backlash. This did not just affect the citizens of Massachusetts.

It caught the attention of the entire nation. Many couples from neighboring states traveled to be wed in Massachusetts, they did not succeed because the Marriage E E Eeee vasion Law of Massachusetts prevented non-residents from being married in the state. There were other issues as well, since same-sex marriage was not permitted in any other state. After the Marriage Evasion Law was challenged, the Supreme Judicial Court ruled that same-sex couples residing in states that did not blatantly prohibit homosexual marriage would be allowed to wed in Massachusetts.

This highly controversial ruling was being fought before there was even a verdict. In November, residents of California have an opportunity to vote for Proposition 8. This proposition is a clear ban on same-sex marriages within California State. There have been many previous attempts to get a similar proposition on the ballet, but this is the first one to qualify. This Proposition is extremely prejudiced and would segregate the gay community and deny them to the legal and emotional benefits of marriage. The battle for equal civil rights has been ongoing for years now. However, this election will be one of the most crucial moments the gay civil rights movement in the United States. Many people have changed their minds about the issue since Massachusetts permitted same-sex marriage. Brian Lees, a former sponsor of the amendment to ban gay marriage in Massachusetts said “Gay marriage has begun, and life has not changed for the citizens of the commonwealth, with the exception of those who can now marry… This amendment which was an appropriate measure or compromise a year ago, is no longer, I feel, a compromise today.”

In 2006, New York and Rhode Island did not permit same-sex marriages like Massachusetts, but neither have prohibited it. This allowed the homosexual residents of New York and Rhode Island to celebrate a marriage in Massachusetts. New York honors marriage licenses from other states. The bold, but necessary law changes in Massachusetts forced neighboring states to deal with similar issues. The answer they created was called domestic partnership. New York, New Jersey, Washington, Oregon, Maine, Hawaii, and the District of Columbia all permit domestic partnerships for homosexual couples. Domestic partnerships grant some of the rights that a marriage license does varying within the different states. Although a compromise to this issue, domestic partnership is not the solution and will not bring equality to gay couples.

This is the beginning of a long revolution. People are still fighting for equality no matter what gender, race or sexuality. Some say the battle has been won in Massachusetts, but the California legislation is being challenged and there are still 48 other states where same-sex marriages are not permitted. There have been baby steps with compromises such as civil unions and domestic partnerships, but as long as those are in place, there is segregation and degradation of the gay community. Until same-sex couples can have the complete legal rights as an opposite sex couple, no matter where they reside in the United States, we are living in a country that promotes segregation.

The federal government still does not recognize the rights of a domestic partnership. It is a decision of individual state governments to administer marriage licenses. However, the federal government has refused to view this matter as a civil rights issue and not just an issue of marriage licenses. They have been ignoring the issue and their neglect has allowed for the problem to grow.

War Against Me

On May 16, 2008, the California Supreme Court declared the ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, allowing by Erin-Jennifer Dunn homosexual couples to marry in the state of California. The ruling stated that “limiting the designation of maromen are always fighting a war between riage to a union ‘between a man and a woman is unconstithe sexes: a battle to prove their worth, tutional and must be stricken from the statute.”” On June their value, their divine right to respect in 17, 2008, same-sex marriage licenses began to be issued in the male-powered world. As my GrandCalifornia. This victory was celebrated by many couples, but California is only the second state to legalize same-sex mother said, “It is us who birth the babes, but the husband is the one that feeds you both.” In every corner of marriages.

Humanity the world there is a woman who is being oppressed in one way or another. But the biggest focus of women’s rights groups all over the globe is in Africa. African women daily face misogyny, sexism, oppression, gender genocide, genital mutilation, rape, exposure to AIDS, torture, and powerlessness. Every thirty seconds a woman is raped. Every ninety seconds, a woman is raped as a trophy of war and genocide. Right now, a young boy is being forced to rape his mother, then kill her to show his compliance with being drafted into a militia. And if that wasn’t enough, all of these facts aren’t spoken of beyond civil rights groups. Defenseless, gender-based violence has to stop, and it has to stop right now! Eve Ensler speaks to gender-based violence in her play “The Vagina Monologues.” We hear the voice of a war torn Iranian woman who tells of how the soldiers raped her until her genitalia was deformed and torn. We hear her speak of the pain, the loss, and the emotional withdrawal from being an object of war.

cially the poor, are still being used as objects, trophies even, of war and genocide. Women of Africa right now need not only an iron-jawed angel but a whole army of iron-fisted saviors to help them fight oppression, degradation, maliciousness and injustice. Let me paint two pictures for you. If an American woman is raped, she decides to report it, and the perpetrator gets busted, locked up and punished for a really long time. Sadly, a small number of women don’t report rape out of shame or fear. But US law enforcement takes rape seriously, and most sexual offenders end up in jail. Many African countries are stable enough to enforce their laws. Countries such as Botswana and South Africa, for instance, punish those who commit sex crimes, and the officials behind their justice systems want to see the criminals in jail. But in war-torn countries such as Sudan, The DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo) or Liberia, things are completely different. There, if an African woman is raped—assuming she lives through it—she decides to find the nearest authority figure, praying that he isn’t part of the very militia looking to kill her. More often than not, the local authority laughs and tells her she should feel lucky a man wanted her. Refugee camps are even worse: there, women are likely to get raped by members of roaming militia groups, and there have even been cases of women being sexually assaulted by aid workers.

In this day and age, we cannot afford to be innocent and naïve about gender-based violence. Here in America, women are still battling for protection against sexual and physical violence. We’ve been fighting this imbalance of power, hatred and anger for centuries: in the 18th and 19th centuries, women were typically seen as sport for men to “conquer.” Men were the powerful leaders, whereas women Activists across the globe are crying out for justice to be served to the women and children of Africa, but many of were just the meek followers who had to follow along. us are scared to rock the boat and actually focus on endThen—finally—came the revolution: the early 1900’s suf- ing poverty and violence. Just remember: every woman frage movement. Alice Paul—an iron-jawed angel of the in Africa has a name. It could be yours; it could be mine. movement—starved herself of food until women got the She has a face, a story to tell, a dream, a wish, some desire right to vote and spoke out about women being in charge she wishes to see fulfilled. Every woman who suffers from of their bodies and minds. Emma Goldman—a known gender-based violence suffers because women are still not Communist enthusiast—spoke out about how women equal, still not free, in many corners of the world. needed to take charge of their lives and become less dependent on men. Rebellions against the male-driven hi- Although the women’s suffrage movement in America acerarchy have grown ever since, most recently in the early complished a great deal, there is still work to be done, and 1990s, which saw a handful of women become corporate battles still to be fought. The best ways to get involved are CEOs. And this year, of course, we saw Hilary Clinton through the United Nations, V-Day.org and Save Darfur come very close to winning the Democratic nomination organizations. Additionally, the National Organization for Women (NOW) and Men Against Rape are excellent for President. organizations that need your help in stopping violence in African women are not nearly so fortunate. Many, espe- America and abroad.

ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES: WESTERN CIVILIZATION ISN’T ENDING…IS IT? BY AURIANE DE RUDDER

VIEW POINT

Welcome to Viewpoint, Collocue’s section devoted to strong, opinionated discussions of current events, media, and the ever-changing face of American life. You won’t find unbiased journalism in these pages—but what you will find are smart, clever and highly individual essays on the world as we know it now, and as it might look in the future. From Liz Donohue’s experience as a minimumwage telemarketer, to Amy Russ’s examination of white-collar crime, to editor Auriane de Rudder’s hilarious—and vaguely terrifying—remarks on our toxic food supply, Viewpoint’s articles aim to enlighten and entertain us, and to broaden our view of the fascinating world of which we are all a part.

I consider myself to be a normal 24year-old woman. I am healthy, happy, and employed. I live in a one-bedroom apartment with a dog named Sinatra, and I enjoy going to the pool in the summertime. Each morning, I sit down to a cup of coffee, and—if it’s Sunday, my New York Times—read that my world is rapidly ending. Wait…did I suddenly become less normal? Actually, no. Skim any newspaper, or flip on any news broadcast, and you are bombarded with stories on international conflict, energy crises, and dangerous infections introduced to us through our food supply. My life is pretty standard, sure, but with each morning paper I read, I feel like something is coming. Something big. Civilization is defined by several characteristics. There is a political structure and class system, literacy amongst citizens, and most importantly a stable agricultural supply, or--put simply--an abundance of food. Literacy in our country is down, but still thriving. Our class-system is fragile but intact. But our food seems to be turning toxic. This is where I start to freak out. Last month, I’m in McDonald’s. I order a McChicken-something-or-other and a side of fries. The sandwich arrives, and I am surprised to find it lacks its sliver of tomato. I assume the missing tomato is the result of a labor dispute with McDonald’s tomato-pickers, a battle in the name of incremental wage increases for laborers, and move on with my day. But later that evening, the tomato bandit has struck again. This time, all of the tomatoes from my grocery store are missing. I run to the checkout, and flip open a newspaper. There it is in black and white: “Tomato Scare.” What is this? Now I’m

“ Is our abundant food supply, the very basis of a successful civilization, collapsing from underneath us? No. But after some research, I realized the FDA certainly is.

”

supposed to be afraid of tomatoes? And so another American food-battle has begun. First it was spinach. Then it was lettuce. Now it’s the tomato. Is our abundant food supply, the very basis of a successful civilization, collapsing from underneath us? No. But after some research, I realized the FDA certainly is. And if we’re not careful, our food could easily go with it. According to a fact sheet on released by the U.S. House of Representatives, despite a 2006 raise in FDA funding from $407 to $439 million, the Food and Drug Administration is still in the red. In 2006, alone, the FDA was short 136 million dollars. Add to their increasing debt Bush’s 2007 decision to cut funding for food and drug testing from his budget plan, and the situation only gets worse. And this administration is not alone in its negligence. The FDA’s funding has been decreasing gradually since 1972, when federal food inspections were 81% more frequent than they are today. To make matters worse, the few remaining food inspections are often only visually-based tests, and do not rely on the sampling of crops. And so we arrive at killer tomatoes, poisonous bag-spinach, and toxic iceberg lettuce. In October of 2006, spinach infected with e. coli was sold in grocery stores across the United States.The same year, e. coli outbreaks were linked to two separate taco-chains, contaminating more than 150 people nationwide. As of July, tomatoes carrying salmonella have infected over 1,000 people from 42 states. And those infected with either illness are the not the only victims. Farmers are also feeling the aftereffects of the FDA’s inadequacies. Even years after the 2006 e. coli outbreak occurred, spinach farmers admit the industry has not completely bounced back.

Tomato farmers fear the same impact will affect their future crops. Although the Bush Administration has most recently responded to the obvious need for improvement by tossing $275 million toward the FDA, many smaller, independent farmers may be too deep in the dirt to recover. Also, the specifics of the added funding--including where funds will be distributed, and how they will help-are yet to be outlined. In the meantime, anyone in search of a sandwich is forced to worry about the downfall of civilization, the impotence of the FDA, and the possibility of being poisoned. Executive Chef of San Francisco’s Chez Panisse and founder of the Slow Food movement, Alice Waters, likely worries less about contamination. Her pack of politically astute “localvores”--people who eat only from local farms and emphasize knowing where their food comes from--have little hesitation in the wake of today’s food-scares. Still, movements like Waters’ are expensive to maintain, and sparse in popularity. I still consider myself to be reasonably normal. If you’re normal, too, and sometimes fear the world is ending, too, it may be time to get to know your country’s decision makers. If all else fails? Perhaps it’s time we all get to know our local farmers.

V I E W POINT

DON’T GET HUNG UP ON BEING HUNG UP ON BY LIZ DONEHUE

When i started my sophomore year of college, I had three things on my mind: 1.) Get to class on time, 2.) Make sure I was asleep before the ungodly hour of 4 AM, and 3.) Find a job to support my impulsive collegiate spending habits. And so I applied for a position in my school’s Annual Fund group, a telemarketing program that was run by students. It was our job to contact parents and alumni of the college to support various areas of interest in the college. Or, in other words, to collect donations. A usual day of working at the Annual Fund included working four hours a night with a paid half-hour break. However short the shifts may have been, these four hours of calling seemed like endless torture, depending on how successful I was in my endeavors. Each night, I sat in a rickety office chair in front of a computer and sported a pre-Gulf War headset. The prospective donors I contacted were called automatically by the computer, and if an answering machine was reached, the next number was called in a number of seconds. Our average employee reached roughly 80 answering machines an hour, and if we were lucky, someone picked up. Many prospects were upset afterbeing contacted year after year. Most of these people denied us, usually with a phrase like, “I guess the one hundred dollars I gave last year wasn’t good enough for you.” What most prospects didn’t understand was that I was just a student caller: I was only trying to support myself (and the college) through a minimum-wage job. I learned two things through telemarketing. One was that in order to succeed in getting prospects to donate, smiling is a must. Everything from what you say to how you say it is the difference between a $25 gift and a $500 gift. If you

were upset that your girlfriend dumped you over Facebook, it would usually show through to the person on the other end. But fake a smile and pretend like you’re really interested in what they have to say? Most likely they’ll take the time to talk with you and consider making a larger contribution. The other thing I learned at the Annual Fund was how important it is to stick to the subjects I like to study. For every prospect I contacted, I had to ask, “Can I collect your employer’s information tonight? Why? Your career information is crucial to the statistics center on campus. What? Use fewer words in explaining myself? Basically the college wants to know what job you landed after you graduated.” Most of the time, prospects were happy to give me their career information, which allowed me to ask them more questions about their education and interests. There were a few who asked me to connect them with one of my supervisors-- just in case I was part of a covert operation to hijack their identity. Obviously, working with the KGB or a terrorist organization would require that I dig deep and discover that they worked as a server at the local Outback Steakhouse. Right.

“ As I reflect on my experience in the minimum-wage world, I com-

fort myself with the knowledge that I wasn’t the only student out there trying to make her way.

”

As I reflect on my experience in the minimum-wage world, I comfort myself with the knowledge that I wasn’t the only student out there trying to make her way. Other notable women who have made excellent careers for themselves also got their start in minimum-wage positions. Jennifer Aniston, star of the hit TV sitcom “Friends” and tabloid sweetheart, worked for a telemarketing company before hitting it big. Even Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright worked as—are you ready for this?—a bra saleswoman. That is, before her expertise in politics helped her land a position with President Clinton. I realized after eight months of being employed by the Annual Fund that the last place I wanted to be working was in a minimum-wage, thankless job. Still, I’m proud of the skills I attained working in the call center. I could have taken an equally brutal position as a Subway Sandwich artist, or drive-thru slave, but I’m glad I didn’t. Telemarketing provided me with the incentive to be a more expressive, opinionated, and versatile speaker than ever before. I had to convince people to donate, or at bare minimum, convince them not to take their aggression out on me as a random caller. My language skills blossomed, and helped to point me toward a career where I use language daily. Perhaps, however mediocre my start may have been, this is the reason why I continue to dream in text.

A WHOLE NEW WORLD KARA GILLIGAN

I was born into a generation whose model for change has been one of anger, violence and destruction. As a young person coming into her responsibilities as a citizen of this planet, I tango with this sort of intrepid, adolescent “idealism” from time to time.You know. It’s like, here I am— this wonderful being, learning, growing, becoming conscious of who I am and what the purpose of my life is for. And then it’s like the world slaps me in the face with a list a 5,000-year-old list of resentments, wars, crimes, injustices, and other atrocities committed by humans against other humans and continuing to this day. It feels as if I don’t somehow fix, or at least contribute to the fixing of these problems, I have failed in my responsibilities to the planet. My name will be lost- my generation will pass away without leaving any meaningful record of our toil, resistance, and reformation. My children and my children’s children will suffer needlessly. The world will probably end. And oh, I don’t know, I suppose this is where heaven and hell come in, and a whole lot of fear. . . . But then I stop myself and say,“Hey, you’ve gone to far. You’re only trying to contribute to the healing of the planet, remember?” “Only.” Ha-ha. It is quite a task, isn’t it? For a while, the plights of our nation, and the plights of the planet (because they are innately tied to this era) filled me with sorrow. And then I found an outlet for my grief and indignation. I jumped on the political bandwagon as it cruised through my college campus, fiercely protesting the

I jumped on the political bandwagon as it cruised through my college campus, fiercely protesting the state of the nation with my friends and professors, wildly searching history for precedents of reform, bravely claiming solutions, and yearning in earnest for a reform movement to rise in my time. I so much wanted to be a part of a great change in America— such disdain I had for the tides of apathy and ignorance that seem to engulf the mass of American citizens. Too often this emotional cocktail— sorrow, grief, indignation and thinly (or not so thinly) veiled hatred— has fueled the pundits of reform in our country and in our world. But it is not just for this era. It has been true for all time. The human model for change— or at least the one put down in our history books—has largely been one of anger, violence, and destruction. The wars our country is currently engaged in, and the devastation of September 11th, are good evidence of this fact. These are the results of a fiery current of pain and zeal running too long in a group of people without amelioration. And this stuff spreads! It has leaked from one generation to the next, probably since the beginning of mankind. Problems have compounded over time, given the different circumstances of that age, of the group of people in power, of their customs and values—but more or less, not much has changed. It would take a miracle to solve most, if not all, of the world’s problems!

We’re in way over our heads! But I’ve always still felt there must be something I could do… Over time I have discovered my own way to be a contributing citizen to my nation, which I believe helps both my community and the planet at large—or at the very least, keeps me from adding fuel to “the fire.” It is a model of change as ancient as our historic model, but it’s less talked about because it is passive and thus often overlooked in its effectiveness. It is the way of non-resistance— taught by many great spiritual teachers of the world as a means to bring about peace. In disarming my spirit of anger and indignation, I have found that I am infinitely more useful in my job, with my family, and with friends—just think of all the extra energy I have to give which might otherwise have been needlessly burned up! I’ve been able to diffuse heated situations or political exchanges by not reacting strongly or forcing a particular viewpoint on someone—you should see what wonders this works with my parents! I still have views and opinions, of course; I just try to remain unattached to them. It’s a process and it takes practice, but I am enjoying looking at a new world. And it does seem like a new world to me now. Really, I know that nothing’s changed, that things in the world will probably never change. But you see— I had gotten it all wrong. All along I had thought that I had to change the world, but really it was the world that had to change me.

VIRTUE VS. VICE: IS IT TOO LATE FOR VALUES? BY AMY RUSS

When I was young, I remember my mother saying: “Patience is a virtue, virtue is a grace, put it all together and you have a happy face.” Now, I have never been a patient person, especially when I was six years old, but I understood her message. Virtue: good. Patience: also good. Put them together and essentially, you will be happy. But as I grow up, I have started to notice that all this patience and virtue my mother spoke of is not as simple as her rhyme made it sound. The virtues we are told to follow as children are not always followed in adulthood. A prime example of this modern lack of virtue? White-collar crime. Evidently, some people don’t practice prudence or self-restraint. Some are not honest or patient. When examining whitecollar criminals, patience seems to be the first thing to fly off of their moral radar. Why work hard, and gradually earn your fortune, when you can cut corners and steal it rapidly? While the world watched as Enron’s Ken Lay and Jeffrey Skilling were indicted for charge after charge, other white-collar criminals around the country continued to steal, cheat and connive their way to the top. Surely, some of those impatient, virtue-less snakes were brought to justice, but for those who stayed slightly lower on the

the corporate ladder, perhaps their crimes paid off. Someone’s crimes must have: according to a broadcast on MSNBC shortly after the Enron scandal broke, U.S. losses from corporate fraud have grown steadily, even after these large-scale corporate scandals have paved the way for harsher penalties and sharpened accounting control methods. In today’s society, virtues are pushed aside like Raggedy Ann dolls being replaced for Barbie. Obviously, this is frustrating. What kind of society lets its values system slide like this?What kind of place are

ing found guilty, he managed to die while on his last vacation in Aspen. Way to avoid sentencing, Ken! Now there’s a contemporary role model. Society teaches us to be virtuous because it is convenient for society. By maintaining an outward appearance of virtue, it is possible for society to function in the way predicated by Scottish philosopher Adam Smith in his book The Wealth of Nations Simply put, society is driven toward one massive goal: profit. Today’s society is based on the instinct to make money.The economy and the economic prin-

“ In today’s society, virtues are pushed aside like Raggedy Ann dolls being replaced for Barbie. ” we living in, if harsher punishments and a greater likelihood that we will be caught can’t even discourage us from theft? And if we’re embracing vice as opposed to values in order to get ahead, why bother teaching these virtues at all? If I hadn’t been taught about patience and virtue as a girl, and perhaps did pursue white-collar crime, would I be more successful? Can utilizing vice help me succeed without a need for patience? Chances are, if I am caught, my punishment will be severe. But then again, I may never get caught. Many white collar criminals slip by unnoticed for years, if they are even noticed at all. Even Ken Lay--one of Enron’s indicted executives--managed to dodge the law. Instead of serving his sentence, Ken croaked. But don’t feel bad for him: after be-

ciples behind the economy are just a science of making and increasing your wealth. Virtues have become a cover for society’s true purpose. This may seem cruel to some people, but it is a viable explanation of the disintegrating American values system and steady increase of fraud and white-collar crime. So what would life be like if we embraced vice instead of virtue? Would I be more successful if my mother would have made up a rhyme teaching me to steal? If people were not bound by their virtues, any vice necessary could be used to push toward the goal of wealth. We would feel no guilt, no remorse, and no hesitation about taking and making money. Sharing would be a thing of the past.Criminals would rule. But we would, at least initially, prosper financially.

V I E W POINT Does this mean that we should throw everything that we have learned about virtues out the window? Of course not. However, it does mean that patience and virtue alone may not necessarily be the right path if you‘re looking to be financially successful. Just being virtuous will not yield the American dream. It will take a mixture of virtue and vice to achieve the goals of this society. In the meantime, let’s make a new rhyme for our children, shall we? How about, “Virtue is done, vice is what’s in, but if you get caught, go for one last trip in…Aspen?”

YOU ARE ALREADY PERFECT BY SHAINNA TUCKER

What is the ideal body image? Is it the simplicity of the beautiful Halle Berry? The physique of the ever-desirable Victoria Secret models? Or the positive image only you yourself can see? This is a question our society and a little thing called The Media have always struggled to address. Every day, whether it is on MTV or on the cover of Seventeen, Americans are exposed to the glamorous world of Hollywood and the physical perfection that comes with it. Women are slim and slender, with perfect skin, perfect teeth, and gorgeous flowing hair. Men are tall, dark and handsome, built with a chiseled body. Average people see what is on the outside—how “happy” these “beautiful” people are—and often believe that their lives could be better if they were just as perfect. But is it normal for young men and women to go to such great lengths to become perfect? We must keep in mind that this is a two-way street.The beauty industry is merely doing its job, but it is also up to individuals to realize that they are beautiful in their own exclusive way. Young people today internalize the stereotypes they see to judge themselves by

the standards of the beauty industry. And negative body image affects both young men and women. In order to fill the void, we look to the perfection of the A-list stars. Diet pills and working out are no longer about being healthy, but about becoming a size or two smaller to fit that new pair of jeans. Our society, especially the beauty industry, seems to see nothing wrong with the idea that anyone who does not fit the mold is an outcast. It is imperative that we remove this bias when looking at body image. Being plus-size, or not being slim and slender, does not mean being unhealthy, out of shape, or lazy.We need to show young people that even if you have curves or are a little thick, you are not a problem. Loving and respecting your self starts and ends with the person inside. When I look at my own body, I absolutely hate my thighs, but I adore my dimpled smile. I am not, nor will I ever be, a size 5. Instead, I’m a proud size 18. And instead of complaining about it, I like to think of successful plus-size women like Mo-nique, or Ms. Queen Latifah. I idolize women like them because they do not conform, and that is what young people need to see.When I see a woman who looks like Halle Berry, I have no urge to be her. She is beautiful, yes, but I am too, and my body size will not change that. Although we are constantly fed these images of slender celebrities, we need to know and understand that the stars we worship are just like us. What we are actually fascinated by is their abundance of confidence, and we have to understand that confidence is inside each and every one of us, if only we can tap into it. In order to appreciate your body, you have to see that with every flaw comes a unique and positive feature. Young people need encouragement now more than ever. Whether you’re a size 4 or a size 24, you can always be beautiful. We need to be able to look in a mirror and see that the real true beauty lies in the real person. Most of us may not be able to realize our ‘ideal’ body image, but if you can appreciate your body regardless of the media’s idea of perfection, then you are already perfect.

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Society

Outlet Shopping:

Saving with Style M

any students and their families mark the beginning of the school year with a ﬂood of new clothes to add to the wardrobe. With designers changing the fashions for every season, it can be very difﬁcult for students, especially those who pay for college themselves, to afford such fashions. But it’s possible, with just a little perseverance and creativity, to get the designer look for a fraction of the price.

by Diane Kulseth

There are numerous outlet malls across the country, offering a wide variety of shops to investigate. For more information on the department stores offered at outlet malls near you, take a look at outletbound. com. They also offer some great reviews on stores and products to optimize your shopping experience. Another place to ﬁnd great bargain clothing online? Ebay. While it may seem crazy to bid on clothing that you can’t even try on in a dressing room, Ebay is a great resource. It offers great protection on your purchases, and a huge variety of styles in all sizes. In addition, you can often buy brand-new clothing at a signiﬁcant discount—great for those who are wary of buying used.

One well-kept secret of designer fashions is to check the outlet malls. Many department stores will send last year's fashions, or items that are slightly ﬂawed, over to the outlet stores. You can easily purchase something at 80 percent or lower than the original cost. Just check the item over to make sure there are no rips or tears that affect your desire to purchase it. And if you like to create your own look, slight alterations that bring down the retail price may be perfect.

From this writer's perspective, if you investigate the quality of the Ebay seller and you ﬁnd that she is reputable, see if you can’t ﬁnd the same product in a

Some stores also offer used name-brand merchandise. Clothes Mentor and Plato's Closet, for example, both offer the chance to sell back your own gently-used clothing and purchase similar merchandise. It’s a great opportunity: you can get paid to rid your closet of fashions from five years ago, giving you more money to buy some new ones. For ladies who are always looking for the right purse, there’s an option for you too. Perhaps you saw the reference in Sex and the City—there is indeed a designer handbag rental site. Bagborroworsteal.com is a wonderful place to make all your designer handbag dreams come true. For a small fee, you can rent a handbag for up to a month and then swap it out for another one. Or if, after borrowing, you just can’t part with your Gucci dream, you have the option of purchasing it at a discounted price. Even if these options aren’t appealing to you, don’t despair! Be creative and innovative, and you can find other bargains. Whether it means rushing to the clearance department every time your favorite store has a sale, or going to retail stores such as Target or Walmart to piece together a similar without-the-labels look, your option is out there. And there’s always the option of skipping a daily coffee or weekly outing with friends to save up the money for the large department store. Try it on at the store for sizing, name-brand purchases. Since and then bid on it online. If that doesn’t work financing college expenses (perhaps the outfit is from last season or is out comes before fashion exof stock), many sellers will have the exact meaBe creative penses—for some of us, at surements for the size. Then you can simply and innovative, least—we can always choose take a tape measure and go to work! But be on the watch for scam sellers: Ebay offers a lot of and you can find to save part of our income to put towards a designer articles on how to make sure that your deother bargains. shopping spree. Of course, if signer clothing is authentic, so if you have any you don’t care about dressconcerns, be sure to do some research. ing to fit a certain style, you may end up saving lots of money If you feel that trying on the clothes before you buy and developing a style that really suits them is still your best option, there are a variety of you. These years ahead are the perfect time to truly stores to take a look at. Some stores, such as TJ Maxx develop your wardrobe in the fashions that you like. or Marshall’s, offer great designer fashions at very afSo start shopping! fordable prices. And many stores hold clearance sales throughout the year, so if you time it right, you can get a bargain outfit with little damage to your bank account or credit card.

Exploring the Lifeby ChloeyofMayoa College CEO t first glance, it would appear that Alexandra Lewandowski lives the life of a typical 20-year-old college student. Her time is consumed with research papers, extracurricular activities, studying for exams, and figuring out ways to pay the rent at her own place. Combine that with inventory, sales, and filling complex orders, and you’ve got the life of the student entrepreneur: a balance that thousands of high school and college students are making work all over the country.

bottles, wiring, stones, beads, and crystal. “People started requesting designs, and since I didn’t have an inventory as of yet, I would just make everything custom. And no two pieces looked alike. It was a lot of work, but at the time I wasn’t thinking about how much money I was making or anything like that. My main thing was getting the customers what they wanted.” In order to gain popularity and create buzz surrounding her product, she hosted neighborhood parties and open houses advertising her business, for which she got ofﬁcial licensing in 2001. Eventually, she had a steady stream of orders coming in, with requests for bridal and prom jewelry as well. “Word of mouth is the best advertising,” says Lewandowski, “especially in

Lewandowski, a junior at University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, has owned her own jewelry business since the summer after her freshman year in high school. She started Crystal Treasures Jewelry and Design in her hometown of Hutchinson, Minnesota, after being inspired by a guest speaker in her careers class. He shared that he started a cucumber business (!) while still in high school. Since then, his business ventures have extended to a successful landscaping business, a barber shop, and several strip malls. What impressed Lewandowski most is the fact that the man started with nothing. Motivated by this, she set out to start her own business. The high school freshman had been toying around with beaded jewelry with friends, and it quickly became more than just a hobby. “I thought, people would probably pay for something like this.” So she convinced her mom to loan her $135 to buy supplies, and she organized a payment plan to pay her back. “When I ﬁrst started, I sold a lot for really cheap,” says Lewandowski, who made the necklaces and bracelets out of her home. She would make the jewelry from broken wine

a small town like mine. People will see someone else with your pieces and go, ‘Where’d you get that?’ And that’s really where most of my advertising came from.”

that I was a wholesaler for someone, but I had little to gain after that. I think it would have been too much responsibility at the time, and she wanted to bring my prices down. I’m still young, I don’t want to spend all of my time working and not get a chance to experience this time in my life as a young adult.”

After three years of developing her product by experimenting with new materials, creating an inventory of her more simple pieces, expanding her catalogue, and showcasing her work at art shows, she decided to go And that is, in a statement, the life of a full time on the road to bigger and more popular trade shows. student-entrepreneur: trying to balance work with life. And once she graduated from That is why, no matter how much high school, she took the risk of she works, Lewandowski feels that putting all $2000 of her graduahaving some sort of outlet is es“It’s true, I don’t tion money into the business. “It sential to a business owner: “Music was a huge emotional rollercoaster know what I’m going is my escape from business.” She for me,” admits Lewandowski. “I to do. But the main sings, and she also plays the trumdid a bunch of art fairs in Minpet and piano. “When I was in thing is that I know nesota and I lost some money at high school, I might have had stress my opportunities.” anxiety, a couple of times. I felt these. At the end of the day, the small county fair ended up makhorrible. Now I know that time ing the most money. My parents management is key. If I could go were a little nervous about me doing it at first, but back to high school, I would have done that a little bit then they were proud of me once I did it. I was so differently.” proud to be able to break even. Business is all about taking risks and putting yourself out there. You’ll With all of her experiences, Lewandowski says that never know unless you try. I learned so much about nothing can compare to the feeling of cutting herself business and myself that summer.” that first check. “I remember the first time I paid myself. I was at Hutchinson Arts and Crafts,” she remiJust as with any other venture, the business major says nisces. “That was the moment I finally saw the outthat there are some downsides to being in business for come of my work. It was for about $250, and I was yourself, especially at such a young age. Sometimes so proud of myself for that. I thought, ‘Finally my people want to turn her prices down or negotiate them hard work has paid off.’” Now she has other business lower than they already are, which she says are already ventures in mind: a home painting franchise, and goal below their value. She charges anywhere from $10 of eventually owning her own coffee shop. With all to $65 for her jewelry, with the most expensive gemof these plans, some might say that she has too many stone-beaded necklaces garnering the highest price. paths and not enough roads. To which Lewandowski About a third of her sales go back into the business. replies: “It’s true, I don’t know what I’m going to do. But the main thing is that I know my opportunities.” She also emphasizes that being an entrepreneur does Spoken like a true businesswoman. not always equal a lot of cash. “You have to always think about your business first,” says Lewandowski. “Timing and location is everything.” She recalls a time when a woman from Hawaii offered to make her a wholesaler for the woman’s jewelry store. After considering the pros and cons of the opportunity, the fact that she was still working at a coffee shop after school, and how much physical labor and time would go into making so much jewelry with such a short turn-around, Lewandowski decided against it: “The fact was I still had a part-time job at the coffee shop, I was in college, and I wasn’t really going to gain much financially from it. It would have been cool to say

Designing a Label: Fashionable Teens Create Individual Styles by Joanna Pettet

reppy, punk, gangster, geek, bohemian... what category would you label yourself as? Many teens struggle for years trying to answer that question. Restricting yourself to one style is difficult. The label becomes part of your identity. So what can be done if you don’t fit into a certain category? Create your own. For many teens, being fashionable is about expressing your true identity through clothes, not having your clothes become your identity. For Jenna, Lauren and Emel, three college students, creating a style is like creating an identity: it takes years to develop. Joanna: How would you define the words trend, fashion and style? Jenna: A trend is a phase; a fad. It's something popular that people catch on to liking as quickly as they move on to something else. Lauren: Style is who you are. Things that you create to be yourself look how you want to look. Emel: Fashion is a continuously evolving aesthetic which most people use as a form of expression. Whether it pertains to politics, gender, sexual, religious, and social issues, there is more to the article of clothing than what meets the eye.

Joanna: Would you say that you have your own style? Jenna: Yep. It is ying and yang; light and dark. Opposites working together to create an obscure version of myself. But it usually tends to fall towards the darker side due to the fact that it's where my thoughts go. I also tend to find beauty in odd places, and I like to bring that in as well. Lauren: Oh, most definitely. No one dresses like I do, really. I guess I would say it’s a cross between Japanese street wear and a little kid, maybe some 80s thrown in there. But not often. It’s hard to describe my style. Emel: Yes, because I just love to have variation. I find it monotonous to dress simply—my style is rather inconsistent. I have a tendency to dress according to my mood. For instance, I would dress low-punkish one day and classy the next.

Joanna: When did you begin to develop this style? So what Jenna: I realized I could use style to express myself can be done if you don’t fit into a at about 14. Lauren: When I was 13, I certain category? started realizing I didn't Create your care what people thought of what I wearing. So I did own. little things like dye my hair and wear brightly colored shoes. At that time I really didn't care what people had to say. I would dress to please myself, and not please other people or try to ﬁt in like most kids in high school do. Emel: I would say second year in high school. Elementary through early junior high my mother usually dressed me—she would have my outﬁt laid out the night before.

Jenna: I want to, but I'm poor at sewing! Lauren: I tried once but I can't sew. So I have my friend do it for me. But usually I just take old clothes and modify them. Emel: On occasion, whenever I’m cleaning out my closet I usually stumble upon a few articles of clothing I can imagine reusing with a few alternations. Joanna: Can you describe your favorite outfit? Jenna: I love wearing my gypsy lace skirt my mom made for me when I was 5 years old, combined with fishnets and stripy stockings. I'd wear my small, long ankh and my spiked collar. I'd wear this stripy white and red tank top with it as well. And for shoes, I'd wear my knee-high laced heels and put in my black bow. Lauren: Ah, that's so hard! I would have to say my new favorite outfit is my bright pink tutu with either a black or white shirt or blue stockings, with my red shoes and bullet belt. Emel: One of my favorite outfits would have to be my long black three-quarter sleeve shirt-dress, worn with my black strapped belt and green diesel flats.

Joanna: Do you have any major influences for your style? Jenna: My nightmares tend to be the main influence. Also, my childhood, I love Halloween. Then there's my music. Black metal/industrial/darkwave/gothic rock is what I listen to mostly, so it influences me as well. And I absolutely adore Japan and all its strange combinations of happiness and morbidity. Lauren: Not major. But when I see how Japanese girls dress I feel like I can do that. Seeing pictures of Japanese street wear is almost like looking at circus people, but it’s something crazy and cool at the same time. So I feel like sometimes I could do that too. And I feel like I do that in my own way. Emel: The flapper movement during the 1920's and the androgynous glam rock during the mid-1970's1980's are definitely top on my list.

Joanna: if you had to name your style something, what would it be called? Jenna: Um . . . random? [laughs] Seriously, I think I'd call it ‘Gonzo.’ He was described as a whatever. That tends to be how easy going I am with combinations of things. Lauren: Uh, I guess Latoure. [laughs] Like Lauren Cotoure. I'd charge a lot of money. Emel: This is a hard one . . . I suppose versatility because as I mentioned before my style is continuously evolving. Therefore, it would be hard to precisely deﬁne my style, I see it more with an ambiguous name.

Joanna: Where do you find your clothes? Jenna: I started at thrift shops, finding singular pieces of clothing I liked and collected them over time. Lauren: I shop mostly at Trash and Vaudeville. I also shop on a few websites on-line like theorginalcult. com and random stores. American Apparel sometimes. Wherever I find something I like, usually. Emel: I think I am an innovative shopper; I would purchase any new clothing item I see regardless of the location. If I were to open my closet, you would find a vast variety of labels. Joanna: When you can’t find what you want, do you ever make your own clothes?

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