the preface
IU South Bend’s official student newspaper
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Hungry for better hours The University Grill fails to meet potential to serve students
Students hold remembrance night for Keith Brandt
the preface In our opinion... By CECELIA ROEDER Design Editor cmroeder@iusb.edu
INSIDE
I could really go for some warm food right now. As I write this, I’m sitting at my desk in the Preface office working on homework. It’s 9:30 in the morning. Campus is beginning to wake up a little, and I don’t have class for another two hours. An early lunch would fit right into my busy schedule, which is nonstop in the afternoons. The Courtside Café has some breakfast items, but I really want a lunch. A hot, warm lunch, not little snacks. I have dance class today, and I’ve learned it’s best not to go on an empty stomach. The University Grill has several options I like, such as Bosco Sticks, pizza, Asian foods, build-your-own salads, burgers and much more. I wanted to eat, so I quickly Googled their hours—11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday. What kind of hours are those? Not only is that an hour-and-ahalf away for me, but I’m in class almost that entire time. It’s great they’re open during the busiest time of the day, but if you happen to have class at that time, you’re out of luck. The Northside Express has a few options, like soup, salad and sandwiches, but that can grow old. Besides, they have the same inconvenient hours as the Grill. The hours are poor for not only my schedule, but for others. What
Keith Brandt
Photo: legacy.com/obituaries
By JOSEPH GRAF Managing Editor jograf@iusb.edu The Courtside Cafe is open more often than the Grill, but some find the offerings limited. Preface Photo/CECELIA ROEDER
about students who have afternoon or night classes? It’s unlikely that a food venue would be very busy at night, but I’m sure at least a handful of students wouldn’t mind grabbing something to eat while at IUSB after 3 p.m. besides a vending machine or a pretzel from the Courtside Café. Director of Dining Services Ziggy Pairitz took the time to explain to me why the hours are so limited. “The University sets all the hours,” said Pairitz. “I’m simply here with a third party company. [Dining Services hours of operation] are out of my control.” We discussed why the university has such limited hours at the Grill in particular. “We tried to expand into breakfast a few years ago, but the university took a hit and lost a ton of money,” Pairitz explained.
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As for expanding hours, Pairitz explained there was simply not enough demand for Friday service, as classes on Fridays are few and far between. “I could see there being more of a demand in the night hours, but again, that’s out of my control.” The hours for the Grill should be extended. I understand the hours may be slower than a busy noon rush. But the Grill should not be a for-profit restaurant. I was under the impression that it existed to serve students. The Grill sells food to students twelve hours a week. There are 168 hours in a week. Obviously, the Grill is far from reaching its potential. I don’t feel that the university should expand to such drastic hours that they might lose money, but certainly there is progress to be made.
It’s great that the Grill has been recently renovated and expanded. But unless hours are extended so I can actually enjoy their offerings, it’s a waste of my tuition money. IUSB will be deciding within the next couple of weeks if they will continue their contract with Sodexo, the contractor that Pairitz works for. Various companies will be submitting proposals for the dining services contract by March 29. There is always the possibility of a shake-up. Pairitz himself is only the interim director. He explained that the soonest any major changes could take place is in the fall. This would be a perfect opportunity for dining services to branch out some of their offerings, especially their hours of operation. Please, IUSB, expand the hours for the Grill! n
Titans of Virtue: Sex isn’t everything 6
On March 14, IU South Bend student Keith Brandt passed away in his suite at River Crossing Student Housing due to natural causes. On March 21, students gathered in the Community Building to hold a remembrance night for the memories that Brandt brought to their lives. A group of people gathered around the room, sharing stories of Brandt’s life and how he affected their own lives. While the event was somber at times because of the occasion, the lighthearted memories that were shared by his friends kept many of them smiling and thankful. Former IUSB student Charlie Parrilla, one of Brandt’s closest friends, shared some of his own insight into who Brandt was. “He was a very sweet person. He always wanted to help anybody that
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Mandi mourns MCR breakup 7
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The Preface is the official student newspaper of Indiana University South Bend, published every Wednesday during the fall and spring semesters. The Preface receives funding from the Student Government Association and through advertising revenue. The Preface is a student written, edited and designed publication. Editor-in-Chief Sarah Duis Managing Editor Joseph Graf Design Editor Cecelia Roeder Advertising Manager Stephen Kowalski Staff Writers Kelsie Ferguson Andrea Janesheski Mackenzie Jarvis Izza Jatala Bridget Johnson Taylor Neff Danielle Miller Malory Pecina Lauren Pajakowski Jessica Leigh Schliska Mandi Steffey Sarah Ward Nick Wort Columnists Mandi Steffey Christina Clark Cartoonist Traci Bremer Photographers John Batliner Staff Advisor Ken Klimek Direct all correspondence to: editorpreface@gmail.com Phone: 574-520-4553 The Preface 1700 Mishawaka Ave PO Box 7111 South Bend, IN 46634 Student Activities Center Room 220 Interact with us online: www.iusbpreface.com and facebook.com/IUSBPreface
Ortiz named dean of College of Health Sciences IU South Bend Report Mario Ortiz has been named the Dean of the College of Health Sciences at Indiana University South Bend. Ortiz is currently the Chair of the nursing department at Purdue University North Central (PNC) in Westville, Indiana. He will begin his duties at IU South Bend on July 1, 2013. Ortiz has served the nursing department at PNC in various roles since 2005. Previously, he worked in the Schools of Nursing at the University of Portland in Oregon, Cleveland State University in Ohio, the University of Nevada in Reno and DePaul University in Chicago. “Dr. Ortiz has a proven record of success in developing health care programs and has
Continued from front page that needed help,” said Parrilla. “He always helped me with homework and personal problems, and he didn’t just do that with close friends. He was the person that anyone could go to.” When asked for a favorite memory of Brandt, Parrilla said he couldn’t narrow it down to just one.
established and nurtured critical partnerships with healthcare providers throughout north central Indiana” said IU South Bend Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Alfred J. Guillaume, Jr. “He is a respected scholar nationally and internationally as a healthcare theorist, and has a rich portfolio of faculty and staff development.” Ortiz has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in nursing from Valparaiso University and a Doctorate in philosophy, nursing from Loyola University in Chicago. Douglas McMillen, professor of chemistry at IU South Bend, has been serving as interim dean since the death of Mary Jo Regan-Kubinski in 2011. n Mario Ortiz will come to IUSB from Purdue University North Central Photo courtesy of Indiana University
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“We never had a dull moment. Not one memory beats out another, we always had fun no matter what we did. But the memories I do have I will treasure forever,” said Parrilla. “I’m just hurt because my goal was to be back in school in the fall with the best friend that I had in college. I know that he is in a better place looking down on us and he wants us all to be happy and not stay stuck on the thought of him being gone.” n
IUSB Adventures
Illustrated by Traci Bremer
Wednesday, March 27
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South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg gives second State of the City address
South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg addresses a crowd of hundreds about the growth and future of the community. Preface Photo/JOHN BATLINER By MANDI STEFFEY Staff Writer asteffey@indiana.edu Hundreds of people were gathered in the LaSalle Intermediate Academy’s auditorium for South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s second “State of the City” address on March 20. The mayor spoke about several plans he and other city employees have for the city, but all of them require one thing: change. Before Buttigieg got down to the issues, he started off the address with a moment of silence for the victims of the deadly jet crash on South Bend’s west side that occurred on March 17. The mayor then wasted no time starting his address. “We have been through a lot in 2012,” Buttigieg said. He brought up several topics and plans for the city. With mostly good things to say about the state of the city, he cited several examples of how South Bend is turning around. A new police chief, dedicated city workers and further developing
police and fire departments were among the things Buttigieg cited that allow the residents of South Bend to live in a “safe, well-connected community where everyone can thrive.” According to Buttigieg, the thriving is already happening: he reported lower unemployment rates and plans for more jobs. One of the many things the mayor stressed was the need for openness. Buttigieg spoke on how he wanted the city of South Bend to be open to new ideas and open to each other. He stressed the need for a “unity of purpose” to push South Bend to be the city it can be. Buttigieg also shared some recent press involving South Bend. He said that a publication associated with Cysco Systems IT firm published a report on ten “Smart Cities” around the world that are changing the fate of their cities through the use of information technology. The cities mentioned included Boston, San Francisco, Singapore, Stockholm—and South Bend, Indiana.
“We are transforming our future, and the consequence is that there is a great buzz about South Bend right now,” Buttigieg said. The mayor shared many recent and future developments happening in South Bend. He announced for the first time that the city would be developing the Luther J. Taylor Sr. Fire Safety Training Center, which garnered hearty applause. Buttigieg also spoke on the city’s new “311” phone system, which will allow residents access to a one-stop call center for issues like reporting potholes or asking a question about a water bill. He said the call center takes calls in both English and Spanish. Buttigieg plans to clean up the city in terms of abandoned houses and untended lawns. He spoke on how he particularly would like to clean up the stretch of Lincolnway West that leads from the airport to the downtown area so visitors didn’t have to look at so many abandoned houses. He also mentioned a plan to renovate an 800,000 square foot
“We have given ourselves permission to believe in our city again. No city made up of the kind of people we are, that’s been through what we’ve been through…no such city can fail unless we let it.” - South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg
abandoned warehouse building into data centers and high-tech office space. He said the city plans to call this area the “Renaissance District” upon completion. Buttigieg said this has investors that are committing $17.5 million into the project. The mayor said the city has a “long way to go,” but he said he has hope.
“We have given ourselves permission to believe in our city again. No city made up of the kind of people we are, that’s been through what we’ve been through…no such city can fail unless we let it,” said Buttigieg. “The state of our city rests on old strength and new hope, and we have everything it takes to open the next chapter in South Bend’s story.” n
F Sudoku Corner
Solution on page 8
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Campus makes switch to single-stream recycling By LAUREN PAJAKOWSKI Staff Writer lpajakow@gmail.com The campus has recently switched to a single-stream method of recycling. This simplifies recycling for users and expands the types of materials that can be collected. The bins themselves will remain the same. Hailey Hennessy, a student at IUSB and the chair of the recycling committee, wants people to think about the centuries it takes for a plastic bag to break down in a landfill. “Not only does the garbage need to break down, the plastic garbage bag also needs to break down first,” she said. “Until then, there is not enough oxygen inside the bag to allow the inside materials to decompose.” With streamline recycling, Hennessy and the recycling committee are hopeful the campus will see an increase in the amount of materials recycled. On Friday, May 10, and Saturday, May 11, the Center for Sustainable Future, will host the Electronic Waste Recycling Fest 2013. It’s an annual campus event where local businesses and community members can dispose of old consumer electronics from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the IUSB parking lot at 20th and Vine St. For more info, contact Hennessy at hhenness@umail.iu.edu. n
Donate used books to Schurz Library or in book containers on campus
Things that can be recycled
Things that should be taken elsewhere Aluminum and steel cans: rinse first
e.g cans of soda, beans, soup, tuna
#6 plastics: egg cartons, carry-out containers, aspirin bottles Electronics: Contact the IT department about recycling campus electronics. The Electronic Waste Recycling Fest is at IUSB on May 10 and 11
Other plastics labeled #1-5: e.g. plastic silverware, plates that do not have food residue, plastic cups that have been rinsed.
Plastic bottles and containers: Discard cap, rinse first, if possible
Wax Paper
e.g. juice, soda, yogurt, peanut butter, shampoo, detergent bottles Foil and pie tins Paper: e.g. looseleaf paper, spiral-bound notebooks, file folders, newspaper, magazines, Post-it notes, envelopes, telephone books, glue-bound/hardbound books
Paper and Cardboard:
flatten and place behind paper recycling bin
Packing Styrofoam
Items contaminated with food: e.g. the top of pizza boxes may be okay, but the bottom is usually contaminated with grease. Grease will ruin an entire bag of recycling material Packing peanuts or containers contaminated with food. CDs or printer cartridges: Printer cartridges can be mailed to the manufacturer or dropped off at Staples or Office Depot. Preface Art/CECELIA ROEDER Graphics courtesy of wikimedia.commons
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Riding solo: A guide to safe spring bicycling By CHRISTINA CLARK Staff Writer christinalee1788@gmail.com The weather is getting warmer (well, let’s hope anyway) and with that comes the drive to get outside a little more. To stretch one’s legs a bit. Some choose to take the tops off of their Jeeps, and some put the tops of their convertibles down. Others will hop on bicycles to get where they’re going. A few brave students have already started riding to class (with some dedicated ones cycling throughout the winter). With events like “Bike The Bend” and “Bike to Work Week,” South Bend has been raising more awareness for bicyclists on the road. Continuing the trend of awareness, the South Bend Common Council’s recently passed an ordinance requiring three feet of room between a bicyclist and a passing motor vehicle. Violation of the new law carries a small fine of $15. South Bend is a Bronze Level “Bicycle Friendly Community” with the League of American Bicyclists. The city has created many bike paths, designated roads to be shared and installed bike lanes on busy routes. But even with all these programs and projects, there are still lots of things cyclists and motorists can do to watch out for each other, making commutes and leisure rides safer for everyone. According to Indiana bicycle law’s found on www.bicycleindiana.org, bicyclists riding on a roadway have “all the rights and duties under this article that are applicable to a person who drives a vehicle.” This means that a bicyclist should ride with the flow of traffic on the side of the road. Riding against the
flow gives motorists and cyclists little time to react to each other. A cyclist should behave with caution like any other vehicle on the road. Riding two abreast is illegal on a roadway but allowable on designated bike paths away from roads. Riding two across to talk to a friend at a leisurely pace is somewhat acceptable in residential areas (with caution) and on wide bicycle paths. Another law is that a bicycle on a highway or regular road needs to have a white lamp on the front and a red lamp on the back, visible 500 feet in both directions. Making the bike more visible from behind prevents cars from coming up too closely, and the front lamp doubles as a headlight and visibility marker. Local Granger bicycle shop Spin Zone Cycling has posted “Traffic Basics,” interpretations of Indiana bicycle laws, on their website. Hand signals are how bicyclists must alert surrounding traffic to what they’re doing. Hand signals include rising your hand up from the elbow to signal a right-hand turn, sticking your hand straight out from your shoulder to signal a left-hand turn, and bending your elbow so that your hand is down by your side to signal a slowing or stop. It is safer to ride in the middle of the lane when you’re moving the same speed as traffic, when the lane is too small to pass safely or when you’re avoiding potholes and parked cars, according to the website. Riding predictably is a major point that is stressed throughout the section. When a motorist knows and can anticipate what a cyclist is doing, it is a safer situation for both involved. Helmets are also an integral part
Northside is just one building on campus that offers bike racks for cyclists. Preface Photo/CHRISTINA CLARK of riding a bicycle. While there are some exciting new developments on this front (see www.hovding. com for essentially a discreet airbag for your head that comes in many fashionable designs), the good old standby bicycle helmet is still best. Fashionable hair is less important than an intact skull. According to www.helmets.org,
seventy percent of cyclists killed in accidents 2010 were not wearing helmets. Motorists should be aware that cyclists are on the roads, and that the city has taken steps to encourage this. There are more bike racks are available in downtown South Bend, an increase in bike lanes and “Share the Road” signs and more
people are participating in bicycle events. Being alert, focused and courteous will help motorists and cyclists coexist peacefully. Learning the laws and practices of the road is important for both parties to create a safer environment for everyone. Happy spring and safe cycling! n
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IU South Bend goes dark for Earth Hour By SARAH E. WARD Staff Writer saeward@iusb.edu On Saturday March 23, more than 1 billion people in 7,001 cities and 152 countries and territories participated in the annual Earth Hour, a cause supporting climate change action. The IU South Bend Sustainability and Wellness Club sponsored the IUSB campus observance. The hour to turn off or dim the lights was from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. and IUSB’s facilities management darkened the atriums of the Student Activities Center and the Franklin D. Schurz Library. Both facilities agreed to keep them dim for the entire weekend. Student Housing also participated
by shutting off public lighting in and around the buildings for the hour. Former student and IUSB alumnus Myles Robertson helped to get participation from local businesses like the State Theatre, who will be turning off their marque to raise awareness downtown. Robertson is a big supporter of the Earth Hour movement and other sustainability causes. “Earth Hour has become more than a symbolic act,” Robertson said in a press release. “What it challenges us to do for an hour is really to plant a seed. Over time that seed germinates and we become a tree, and together we become a forest of change.” The first Earth Hour was on March 31, 2007, in Sydney, Austra-
lia with 2.2 million Sydney residents and 2,100 businesses participating. By 2012 Earth Hour had broken records as the largest voluntary action for the environment. Earth Hour has become such a global movement that the Eiffel Tower, the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Empire State Building all participate. The annual event has also started an “I will if you will” campaign which currently has 4 million participants. The participants challenge themselves to do things like not eat meat for a week if 1,000 people eat a vegetarian meal once a week for a year. To start your own “I will if you will” challenge visit www.earthhour. org. n
The SAC moments before going dim for Earth Hour Preface Photo/SARAH WARD
Guest Column: Titans of Virtue Chastity: “Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.” By JOHN BALDWIN Guest Columnist Our desire for sex, like hunger and thirst, allows human survival, and as Bertrand Russell remarked, is “enormously enhanced by abstinence, and temporarily allayed by satisfaction.” But the similarities end about there. Much can (and has) been said on the delectable pleasures of a perfectly paired wine or a decadent dessert, but Venus and Aphrodite were worshipped for a reason. You see, like all things divine, sex can and should be an unutterable but unforgettable experience—and that makes it special. As you may know, Ben Franklin was no stranger to the erotic arts and was quite famous, or perhaps infamous for his seductive pen. Consider this verse: “Fair Venus calls; her voice obey. In beauty’s arms, spend night and day. The joys of love all joys excel And loving’s certainly doing well.” Sounds amazing, right? But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. On the flipside, to buy a ticket on the transcendent train to O-town, emotional vulnerability is a common currency. And I say “train” because the acceleration is often slow and obvious, but eventually the speed, weight and momentum make it hard to stop. The iconic and beautiful Mae
West once quipped, “sex is emotion in motion,” and try as we might, emotion just doesn’t stop on command. There are two opposing camps when it comes to sex. The abstinence folks think it best that sex be avoided and postponed until a suitable monogamous relationship can be formed, and preferably one endorsed by the church and state. The big problem here is that married or not, women still lay their monthly eggs and men still produce 1000 sperm per heartbeat. Sparks are bound to fly. Abstinence until monogamous, even if we grant it as ideal, is biologically unrealistic. On the other side, proponents of Marquis de Sade-like sexual indulgence see it as something to be actively pursued and enjoyed whenever and with whomever possible. To them, sex is the physical activity
par excellance, and the more of it we get, the better off we’ll all be. This view too has its problems. Oxytocin, the brain hormone causing breastfeeding mothers to bond with their infants, can also be released during intercourse, thus forging connections between lovers. The “benefits” in a world with utmost promiscuity would not appear to outweigh the emotional costs associated with constantly violating this biological pair-bonding system. Thankfully, abstinence and absolute indulgence aren’t the only ways to approach this topic. Franklin’s virtue of chastity is neither one nor the other as it advises, big surprise, a middle path. If hunger and thirst are natural urges that can be abused by improper choices or by consuming too much or too little, maybe the same holds true for sex. So when might it be appropriate to board, and when should we alight from this train? The way I see it is that we only have a finite number of orgasms during our lifetimes. I hate to be the one to break it to you, but at some point, you will have your last one, and that will be it, as far as orgasms go. In the meantime, we should strive to do all our squirming and moaning in situations where we have good reason to believe that the peace and reputations of all involved can remain intact—and this includes people both in and out of the bedroom,
kitchen, front seat, swimming pool, elevator, what have you. Lovers aren’t the only ones who can be harmed. Sometimes sex involves the breaking of vows or commitments to significant others, and children can be exposed to the collateral damage. So take a moment to think about your last sexual encounter. Did anyone get hurt? If your answer is no, great! But if you’d rather not go there, let’s at least see what we can do about things going forward. To calculate who might become damaged by our acts requires clear and level-headed thinking; but at a time when we need it most, reason often eludes us. Blood flow to the brain—the physical location of our reasoning faculties—is diverted to other the erogenous extremities. As previously mentioned, oxytocin levels can spike unawares. “What a silly thing Love is…,” wrote Oscar Wilde, “For it does not prove anything, and it is always telling one of things that are not going to happen, and making one believe things that are not true.” So let’s recap this phenomenon of sex. We have to do it—biologically speaking. We really, really want to do it. Someone might get hurt in the process—maybe even us. But we may become too unreasonable to sort through it all. Talk about a catch-22. Fortunately, we are not without recourse. Here are three things we
can do that can help us have our cake and eat it too. 1) If you’re in a healthy monogamous relationship, stay put. This is the often-unrealizable ideal for many, but if you have it, keep it. If you don’t, this might make a fine goal. Having a long-term lover and friend brings many benefits both in and out of the bedroom. 2) Be honest. If you want a committed monogamous relationship, say so. If monogamy is not for you, that’s fine too. We’re all in different places. If you’re just looking to bang it out for a night, a few weeks, a summer, say so. There’s probably more than few out there who aren’t looking for anything more than just that – and that’s OK. Have fun and be safe. But don’t assume the other person just intuits your intentions. Make them known and talk about them. Don’t be afraid to share what is on your mind, but don’t forget to also listen to what your partner says in response. 3) Be willing to walk away. If the relationship is bringing more harm then good into the world, it is time to let it go. Sex is a wonderful thing, but perhaps not so wonderful that we ought use it to accomplish our own selfish ends at the expense of others. If harm is present, see if you can fix it. If it works out, great! If not, have the strength and courage to walk away. n
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Wednesday, March 27
The death of my middle school years: Rape culture: Yup, I’m sick of hearing about it too My Chemical Romance broke up By MANDI STEFFEY Staff Writer asteffey@indiana.edu My Chemical Romance’s new stuff is not good. I don’t enjoy it. Many fans of their older material agree with me. That fact didn’t soften the blow when I heard MCR broke up on March 22. According to Rolling Stone, the band announced the breakup through their website. It’s not really a surprising announcement, but I’m sure their fans are crushed. “Beyond any sadness, what I feel the most is pride,” tweeted MCR’s lead singer Gerard Way after the breakup. When I heard the news, visions of heavy black eyeliner and pink eyeshadow popped into my head rather quickly. My Chemical Romance was huge when I was in middle school. My friends and I all jammed out to “I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” on a regular basis. I even saw them live a few times. Thinking about me as a young teen with spiky black hair trying to be a hardass at an MCR concert is a hilarious thought. Even though their new material is
Mandi Steffey less than thrilling (okay, I don’t like it at all), a little piece of me is heartbroken for the band. My Chemical Romance represents a lot from my youth. Listening to them and other bands from that era changed who I was—and it wasn’t only me. Those were the days that Hot Topic and band tees were in their prime. Everyone was on the punk rock bandwagon. And it felt invigorating. Through their rollercoaster time as a band together, switching genres and styles at the drop of a hat, MCR has adapted to a new set of fans. Old and new fans alike are sure to look back (or to the present) on this angsty, young-at-heart music with fondness and reminiscence. I wanted to ignore their breakup, but I just can’t pretend I wasn’t the creepy kid dressed in black hanging
out at the cemetery with my friends. This music helped to form my ideals as a kid. So to everyone else who worshipped Gerard Way and religiously wore only red, black and grey—you have a partner in grieving. The announcement for the band’s breakup was short and sweet: “Being in this band for the past 12 years has been a true blessing. We’ve gotten to go places we never knew we would. We’ve been able to see and experience things we never imagined possible. We’ve shared the stage with people we admire, people we look up to, and best of all, our friends. And now, like all great things, it has come time for it to end. Thanks for all of your support, and for being part of the adventure.” n
Sorry Gerard Way fans, this chemical romance is over. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
christina clark
By CHRISTINA CLARK Columnist christinalee1788@gmail.com I absorb a lot of news during the day. I’ve got the “Pulse” app on my phone to follow five different news source’s headlines. I listen to the radio for news in between classes and work. Of course I check the South Bend Tribune on Sundays, and check local news online. It’s a lot of information. I’m pretty sure it probably bumps out some more personally important things (like how I really need to work on homework or “it’s been how long since I did laundry?”). But one thing is for certain, the term “rape culture” keeps coming up. Whether it’s the most recent atrocities in India, or referring to events like what happened in Steubenville, Ohio (and how the media handled it), it’s clear that this is a hot topic right now. And shouldn’t it be? We’ve broken through the barrier in the media where we can talk about atrocities in a certain light. Sure, it isn’t something everyone wants to hear about when they sit down to eat their dinner after work, but this is the world we currently live in. Rape should offend all of us: male, female, or otherwise. It is an act of intrusion into another’s most sacred, personal space. It’s offensive. It’s uncomfortable. Talking about rape makes people squirm. Nobody likes to think about it happening to themselves, someone they know or even somebody that they don’t know. It’s just not something that most of us are programmed to think about in a comfortable manner. Are we living in a “rape culture”? It would seem so, to some extent. Seeing the reaction of major news networks to the Steubenville rape story, you would think the athletes were the true victims. Their once promising futures in sports and academics are now ruined. But not to mention or gloss over the fact that the poor girl was raped at a party when she extremely intoxicated, and what that has done to her, is a
telling sign of the times. A few notable campaigns have stuck out in recent months bringing awareness to the issue. On Valentine’s Day (V-day, as referred to by the group), One Billion Rising staged dances to raise awareness to the fact that one in three women
When rape has been politicized, and the rapists are being defended for their actions, that is when we know we live in a rape culture. will be beaten or raped in their lifetime (onebillionrising.org). Patrick Stewart (Captain Jean Luc-Picard? Star Trek: The Next Generation, anyone?) spoke on International Women’s Day about his personal experiences with his mother’s abuse and encouraged men to join the “One million men. One million promises.” Movement, which hopes to make a tipping point in the movement against violence against women. As a woman, it is good to see men get involved in the conversation as well (in a not so-“women’s bodies have the ability to shut down that sort of thing” type way). That being said, I do think that a more well-rounded education as to how anatomy works might be something to think about as well. Protecting our fellow women and men from the terrors of domestic violence and rape is something that we should all be able to agree on. When rape has been politicized, and the rapists are being defended for their actions, that is when we know we live in a rape culture. It is an offensive fact of our times. It is something that we can and need to change, because frankly, I’m sick to my stomach from hearing about it too. n
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