Opinion
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EDITORIAL@MIAMISTUDENT.NET
TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2017
Redhawk Snaps has potential to do damage to students The following piece, written by the editorial editors, reflects the majority opinion of the editorial board.
I
n recent months, Miami has seen the return of a phenomenon that many schools across the state and across the country are experiencing. The resurfacing of the Snapchat account Redhawk Snaps marks the resurgence of a user-generated content-based forum that projects a less than flattering image of our university on a daily basis. Flipping through the Snap Story, one might see videos of students “pregaming” in houses off campus, snorting lines of cocaine and Adderall, shotgunning beers, making bongs out of water bottles and pictures of men about to have sex with women with the caption “Pre-Smash.” The function of Redhawk Snaps is simple. Users send in their pictures and videos to an account, “Redhawk-snaps1,” similar to how one posts things on their own Snapchat Story. The mystery person and mastermind behind Redhawk Snaps then has the decision of whether or not he or she posts the sender’s content onto the Redhawk Snaps main story.
“Be kind to your fellow Redhawks when deciding what to send in and be cognizant of the image you create whenever you participate in a platform that carries Miami’s name...” While multiple Redhawk Snaps accounts have existed in the past, this year’s account is developing itself as a Miami brand, boasting both an Instagram and Twitter account with even racier content. There are a lot of students watching these stories, and while a small percentage of them are submitting content, they are inherently and unconsciously subscribing to this image of Miami. And we at The Student see several implicit issues with the simple existence of an account such as this. Primarily, the ambiguity of not knowing who runs the account is something that con-
cerns us and should concern you, too. This person wields all the power in this situation, having access to your username and knowing your online identity while we are oblivious to his or hers. This person also singlehandedly decides the image of Miami that gets crafted on the account (even if based on submissions). You are directly attached to any image of a video you send in, whereas the Redhawk Snaps director is completely free of consequence. In addition, the vetting process for which submissions do and don’t get posted is practically nonexistent. The only process that ex-
ists is snapping in your ID with everything but your birthday blurred out. Thus, this forum easily has the potential to be used by underage persons. We aren’t saying the idea of students sharing content via Snapchat is bad in itself – but with the way that it is run and the content that it is showing, it has the potential to put a black mark on Miami and its students as individuals. It’s not just a casual, cavalier thing; it’s significant. Be kind to your fellow Redhawks when deciding what to send in and be cognizant of the image you create whenever you participate in a platform that carries Miami’s name (or in this case, mascot). Additionally, though it is not illegal to take pictures of others (with exceptions, of course), be aware that it is not courteous to take pictures of your fellow Redhawks and send their image to a platform that has a less than flattering reputation. Social media gives us great power to connect, but that power can easily be misused when we don’t stop to consider the consequences.
Speaking up about mental health is key MENTAL HEALTH
DEVON SHUMAN MANAGING EDITOR
After the fourth shot of vodka, I screwed the cap onto the bottle, put it back in my desk’s bottom drawer, hoisted my backpack onto my shoulders and left for my 11:30 class. It was a Wednesday morning, and I was drunk — it wasn’t something I planned. It wasn’t a way to keep the previous night’s party going, or to make myself look cool by catching a buzz during class. It wasn’t even something I enjoyed. When I pulled myself out of bed that morning and reached for that bottle, I was drinking to cope. I needed something that could dull my brain, that could push away the thoughts that had been gradually seeping into my mind and tormenting me over the past year or so. They made me feel worthless. They made me feel like a failure, like I had thrown away any potential I’d come to college with, and like my recent failures excluded me from any sort of success down the road. They put me in a constant state of panic, always worried that a catastrophe was lurking just around the corner. They invaded my mind and destroyed me from the inside out, making me feel empty, like I’d lost any sense of the person I was once proud to be. I lost all enjoyment in the things that once made me feel alive. I retreated from my friends, disengaged from my classes and often found myself lying in bed well into the afternoon and evening, the thought of facing another day unbearable. Most of all, these thoughts made me feel alone, isolated. I wasn’t sure exactly what I was experiencing, but whatever it was, I was convinced it was not normal. I was alone in this dark place, and the more I told myself that, the deeper I receded. Despite having a core group of close, understanding friends, as well as a loving and supporting family, I couldn’t bring myself to tell anyone for fear that I’d be viewed as weak, that they might consider I was just being lazy and self-pitying. But, as I sat in my 11:30 lecture
hall, my head swimming from the liquor inside of me, I knew it was time to speak up — before it was too late. I’d turned to substance use to cope with my mental state, and that realization forced me to confront the severity of my situation, to recognize that even if I might be judged, seeking help for my issues was better than the path I was headed down. I started by telling my roommate and some of my closest friends. Eventually, I went to Student Counseling Services for an initial consultation, and later that day, I explained to my parents over the phone what I was going through. Today, through a combination of regular therapy and mental wellness activities, such as meditation, I’m learning to cope with my anxiety and depression in a healthy manner. When I opened up to my peers about what I was going through, I found that not only were they helpful and supportive, but many actually responded that they were going through similar struggles. The World Health Organization recently announced that depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, but ironically, because it can be so isolating, people suffering often think that nobody else feels the same way. To be sure, every individual’s experience with mental illness is unique. However, there are similarities, and when one person speaks up about their struggles, it can help others to see that they’re not as alone as they may feel. And no matter what you’re dealing with, even if it’s just stress, the first step to recovery is talking about it. The fact of the matter is: SCS currently does not have the resources to accommodate every student on campus that requires its services. But that doesn’t mean you can’t speak up. There are always people you can talk to, whether that be a professional, a professor or even a close friend. So even if you’re feeling overwhelmingly alone, even if you feel that there’s no way out of the darkness, please don’t be afraid to reach out.
SHUMANDB@MIAMIOH.EDU
It’s time to see through Miami’s typical body image BODY IMAGE
JORDAN GILLIGAN COLUMNIST
If you ask anyone on campus if Miami University has a certain “image” many students would answer yes. Anyone who would disagree would have to just take a look
around and notice the plethora of Lululemon, Vineyard Vines, Patagonia, and various other brand names that make Miami... well... Miami. Sometimes I see all three on one person plus that Louis Vuitton tote bag, and I’m thinking to myIMAGE »PAGE 7
A.J. NEWBERRY NEWBERAJ@MIAMIOH.EDU
Ask Angela: Embrace the kinks, how to enter the world of BDSM SEX
Angela, I’ll admit I was a little nervous to ask this question, but from reading your other articles, it sounds like you’re someone who’s open to trying new things, so I’m assuming you won’t judge. Anyway, my girlfriend and I have been seeing each other for about six months now. At first, the sex was amazing — I mean, we were going at it three times a day. But lately, well, things have simmered down. We’re still knockin’ boots on the reg, but it’s like we’ve run out of ideas. It’s just the same old routine over and over again. Recently, she saw the film, “50 Shades Darker,” and she suggested that to spice things up we try some BDSM. But here’s the catch: She wants to be the dom. On one hand, I’m kinda open to it. I like the idea of her taking control and dominating me in every sense of the word ... But I have my reservations. What if my friends find out? They’re all tough, conservative guys who would say I’m whipped if I gave her a ride to class — What would they say if they knew she was literally taking a leather whip to my bare ass? And also, I saw her on her computer the other day browsing strap-ons — that might be a dealbreaker for me. I want to try new things, but how do I let her know where to draw the line? Anyways, I hope that you can point me in the right direction. Sincerely, Nervous Submissive Dear Nervous Submissive, Yet again, my advice column
provides me the opportunity — the honor, really — to give someone my two cents on the wonderful world of all things kink. It’s a great day to be a Redhawk, folks. Nervous Submissive, if you are into the idea of your lady dominating you then you just gotta go for it. Balls deep. Literally. I’ve never been one to worry much about whether or not my friends will judge me for my sexual tendencies and you shouldn’t give a damn about it either. It’s your body, not theirs. It’s your dick, not theirs. And it’s your pleasure, not theirs. Your friends — and yeah, I’m gonna go out on a limb here and assume that these friends of yours are also your “brothers” — have no place judging you for what you’re doing in your bedroom. Wondering what would lead me to assume that these friends are the frattiest of frat stars? Perhaps the part about them being tough, conservative guys who would say you’re whipped if you let your GF give you a ride to class … *sips tea* And who knows, maybe if you tell one of them about it, the one that’s least likely to judge you — your best pal of your crew — they’ll confide in you that they have their fair share of kinks too. Like waterboarding. And then you can give them shit for that. Because that shit’s just fucked up. So if the thought of seeing your girlfriend clad in leather, whip in hand, telling you what to do and being a total dominatrix badass makes you all hot and bothered then do the damn thing. Sex is great. Kinky sex is better. You can only make whoopie for so long before the routine starts
to get boring and, as you’ve said yourself, you’re starting to reach the point where getting down and dirty is about as familiar and mundane as watching your clothes dry on the spin cycle. Thus, it is time to sexperiment. The stigma against BDSM is baseless and if judgment is what you’re afraid of, then you’re going to just have to snap out of it, wake up and smell the damn coffee. What people think about your sex life doesn’t matter. It’s none of their damn business. You and your lady seem to have a good thing going. If the sex is good, that means the chemistry is there and that’s important in a healthy, functional relationship. But the communication has to be there too. If that hot and bothered sensation completely evaporates at the thought of your GF sticking a dildo up your butt, then you just have to say that point blank. Don’t beat around the bush, don’t try and say it in a way that’s nice like, “Hey … maybe not … I’m just not that into strap-ons, I guess … ya know?” Just say, “Hell no girl, my butthole is a one way street and crossing hella boundaries!” Kinks are great if communicated properly. So go for it Nervous Submissive, but be clear about your wants and expectations. Not much can go wrong when you are open and communicative with your partner. And if you’re feeling the kink, and she’s feeling the kink, I guarantee you’ll have a delightful time.
TMSASKANGELA@GMAIL.COM