OPENWIDE v15.3

OPENWIDE THE ALTERNATIVE STUDENT PUBLICATION

OPENWIDEZINE.com

VOLUME 15, ISSUE 3

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I AM NOT CHARLIE 15.

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WESTERN LIFE

Black Student Experience

Zaena Harrison, Alisha Muchemi, Samah Ali, and Tara Magloire

Apathy is an antirequisite for mpi Madelene Lauris, Gloria Zhu, Melissa Peterson, Ramon Sanchez

USC, WHO CARES?

Stephanie Gordon

WORLD

EDITOR IN CHIEF Travis Welowszky

MANAGING EDITOR

VIVA LA CUBA Stephanie Gordon Robin Radomski

#blacklivesmatter Becky Meharchand

CREATIVE 19.A&E 25.

Ebony & ivy 19. BINGING BAD 25.

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TL;DR 23.

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Kevin Chao

“Thanks for believing all this has some meaning.”

Travis Welowszky

WESTERN LIFE EDITOR

Stephanie Gordon

CREATIVE EDITOR Rachel Kelly

ASST ONLINE EDITOR Becky Laufer

Samah Ali

Michael Usling

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT Michael Usling

Jacqueline Baker

Kyle Simons

whats in a reality housewife?

Marwa Hassan

ONLINE EDITOR

TAMAGOTCHIS & DISconnect Robin Radomski

WORLD EDITOR

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ILLUSTRATIONS Kyle Simmons

Emily Broughton, Kevin Heslop Openwide Magazine is a FIMS publication. Printing is made possible through the Undergraduate Student Fund.

Various authors

GRAPHICS

Robin Radomski Dana Mevorach

PHOTOGRAPHY Jocelyn Bick

We’re always looking for creative and

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dedicated writers, illustrators, bloggers, and other contributors to join the team. Be heard.

CONTACT TRAVIS OPENWIDEZINE@GMAIL.COM OR ONLINE AT OPENWIDEZINE.com

Disclaimer: The sole responsibility of this publication lies with its authors.

Contents do not reflect the opinions of the University Students Council of the University of Western Ontario (“USC”) or those of the Faculty of Media & Information studies Students Council.. The USC assumes no reponsiblity or liability for any error, inaccuracy, omission or comment contained in this publication or for any use that may be made of such information by the reader.

PROMOTIONS

Shannon Morgan Erica Wallis Paige Ozvald Cover Model: Marie Kamukuny

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experience Contributions from Zaena Harrison, Alisha Muchemi, Samah Ali, and Tara Magloire

elcome to Western University, an W institution known for the “Best Student Experience” in Canada. I would also like to welcome you to another BSE: the Black Student Experience. Even then, the phrase is still limiting because any person of colour can identify with some of the experiences shared. The personal stories add to Western’s Student Experience, sometimes in a negative way. However, these personal experiences that the contributors bravely express and share are not to be generalized as the student experience of every person of colour. The stories deal with micro-aggressions- verbal or behavioural actions implying negative or hostile racism whether intended or not.

Usually, it’s the target of the aggression that is affected in this scenario and that can be seen by the reflections following everyone’s stories. Their student experience is just as much part of the Western experience as anyone else’s.

RESIDENCE LIFE

I would like to start by saying that sometimes subtle racism can be just as disarming as direct acts of hate. Primarily because you are never quite sure how to react.

It was September 2013, O-week, and I was excited to be at Saugeen-Maitland Hall.

There were a lot of people socializing and making new friends in the common area, and so I went to join someone I had met

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earlier that day. She introduced me to the people she was talking to and everything was going great until she said “When I first saw you I thought, ‘Woah that black girl looks really scary,’ but you’re actually so nice.’” All the while her other friends were laughing amicably. This was my first day in Saugeen, my father had not even been gone more than 4 hours and already I was starting to feel uncomfortable in what would be my home for the next 8 months.

When this girl said that, I was at a loss for words. Here I was thinking that I was getting along with someone and they were still unable to get past the fact that they interacted with a black girl, who didn’t do something to scare the crap out of them after five minutes. And the fact that she specifically said ‘that black girl’ implying that my blackness was what made me scary, reduced me to a simultaneous state of fury and confusion.

That same night, a number of people around the building would stop me and ask me if I would teach them to twerk. This became problematic for me and I wondered if I would ever begin to feel comfortable in residence. It was clear to me that most of the people I met had already made assumptions about me because of the colour of my skin. It’s alienating to live in a space, especially one as large as Saugeen-Maitland Hall, and feel like you are being watched or judged because of

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the colour of your skin. And when people openly discuss stereotypes they associate with black people, it makes me wonder what stereotypes they choose not to voice but believe just as strongly.

Living in Saugeen was an overall positive experience, and I met people that I truly bonded with.

I didn’t experience any racism from the people who lived on my floor, and my roommate and I had many intellectual conversations about racism and other forms of discrimination so I did find some level of comfort living in residence. However, sometimes I think about those past instances and I beat myself up for not confronting their racial stereotyping and letting them know how damaging it is. But on the other hand I feel as if I don’t owe them anything and that I am justified when I choose simply to walk away from these situations. Talking about it in outlets such as this feels right because we clearly need to discuss these problems, and that’s the only way to even begin solving the issue.

class environment It’s safe to say that the black student body on Western’s campus is close to countable. So small that I, myself, am shocked when I see another black person pass by. Regardless of the size of the classroom, I feel the dynamic is the same. The seat next to you is never taken and your opinion in a conversation is rarely invited without your initiative, yet upon discussions of race, Beyoncé, or twerking, you are the beacon of light. You’re invisible until it matters to be black.

In my first semester year at university, I attended a tutorial session where the topic was race and ethnicity.

To this day, I still describe this as one of the most uncomfortable experiences I have ever encountered.

Allow me to provide some background: I was born and raised in North America in a very African household but completed high school in Nairobi, Kenya, where I am originally from. Moving back to Canada has been an eye opening experience. The racial lines, so prevalent and strongly defined in the Western world, were slowly

erased as I immersed myself in the Kenyan culture where I belonged to the majority. I had forgotten what it was like to be a minority; I had forgotten what it was like to be black. That is, until I found myself as the only black individual in a classroom.

I sat in the stiffening awkward air of my classmates afraid of uttering racial slurs at the risk of offending me, all while looking intently at me and awaiting a splurge on the forefathers of the civil rights movement, the fight of my people, and my struggle as an African American - none of which I could resonate with at the time. In efforts to cut the unbearably tension, I raised my hand and shared my views based on my short experience back in Canada.

After class, a girl who I befriended approached me noting that she found my perspective interesting and went on to jokingly say, “…but you don’t talk black, you talk normal.”

What does that even mean? Since when did black become a language? And if so, why is it not considered “normal”? What shocked me was not the statement itself but her ignorance, her shock that stemmed from my capability to express and articulate myself in the same manner she could, if not better. It was as if she had silenced me and negated everything I held true. She failed to recognize the racist undertones of her statement.

To me, it served as a representation of the automatic assumptions: as a black individual I am not educated yet I share a classroom with you at a reputable university, that my minority status should parallel minimal thinking, and even though I’m smart on paper my articulation should not match.

From my university experience, I have seen the crippling consequences of the oversimplification and generalization of the black race in and outside the classroom. Fact: I am black, but I am not the voice for all black people. My voice is tailored to my experience, which isn’t identical to the next black person’s. Beneath our skin lies rich differences, which I feel are rudely underestimated. We hold brilliant capabilities strong enough to differentiate us but powerful enough to solidify us. This is the difference and this is what I feel deserves to be recognized.

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of how I am always seen as a color before a stare blankly at the shattered body in my woman; guys expecting me to “drop it low”, twerk reflection. I wash my face and wish my running or all of the above, just because my skin bares foundation carried my excess melanin, so I too can a darker shade. Even in conversations: people look more like the people I refuse to be like. But dress up their comments, claiming I’m “the most these thoughts of assimilation don’t come from exotic girl in the club” or “they know I can dance the distaste of my rich, sun kissed complexion, better”, and always attach a stereotypical or racial they come from the experiences that are packaged connotation towards my being. Definitely not with it. what I need when the purpose of the It always starts out as an night was the have a good time. But innocent night out. Abandoning our of course, one can never be relaxed original plans to stay home, my when the constant reminder of friends and I end up going out your race is always looming. for a night on Richmond Row. “It’s frustrating to It’s frustrating to always be After entering the bar and seen as a color, especially when commanding the dance floor, always be seen as a someone who shares the same a fine gentlemen swoops in color, epsecially when race makes an exhibit out of you, with his friend, he with mixed someone who shares ultimately regretting your plans ethnicity and his sidekick the same race makes an to go out. It would be different if white. As the white friend this was a one-time experience gravitates towards my friend, exhibit out of you” but the acknowledgement of my another black girl, the mixed guy race is a guaranteed reoccurrence proceeds to make his way to me. every time I step into a bar. Deflecting We dance, incorporating some swingracial stereotypes and comments on campus like moves, but not after long I realize he is irritating enough, but for it to persist throughout was giving several props to another friend off the the night is another reason why going out is as dancefloor enjoying the scene. Did I mention this tedious as attending class. It would be lovely to friend he signaled to was black? go out and never think about the weight my skin Ignoring the signs, I continued to dance with bares, but others always find a way to incorporate my partner even though my friend had declined it into the evening. I don’t blame the skin that has the curious white boy. After a short while, I realized blessed me with a year-round tan and a wealth of that I was being watched and laughed at by both culture, but the baggage encourages me to stay in black and white friends as my dance partner and I and avoid attracting zoo patrons. And if this is the continued to bounce and twirl. Feeling objectified, I only solution for my sanity and self-respect then returned to my friend group and asked my friend if clearly there is something wrong with this system. she felt like she was being used. She did. Disgusted and furious, the event was another cruel reminder

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ays flow in and out and when you finally take a look around, another school year has passed. This school year specifically has come with its own file of racial tribulations.

For a regular student such as myself, Homecoming was the last place I expected to hear any ill-considered jeers. Let’s travel back to what was supposed to be an enjoyable day complete with purple pancakes, unlimited amounts of beer, and the traditional trek down Broughdale.

While walking across the bridge to meet my fairly intoxicated friend, an older Caucasian student stopped, looked at me from the opposite sidewalk, cupped his hands over his mouth and shouted, “Hey black girl with the purple bandana! Turn around and twerk that ass for me! I know you of all people can do it!” I stopped so suddenly that one could compare it to hitting a brick wall. In the few seconds it took for those words to register, I realized that this was new territory for me, and I did not know how to respond.

A cacophony of emotions trailed across my face, whatever liquor that was in my system dissipated in seconds, and before I took my next step I turned to my right and launched a string of colorful language that even surprised me. Here I was, decked out in purple, representing a school I have admiration and pride for, and that perfect image vanished.

The metaphorical curtain of smiles and happiness dropped the second those words left his mouth. What I witnessed was the underlying mindsets that quietly plagued campus become all too real. Never in my lifetime did I believe that racial subjectivity would ever directly impact me. Is it not the 21st century? Am I still prone to being singled out? And even worse, do I need to tiptoe around this issue to not draw attention to myself?

At that moment, I felt nothing but confusion.

Confusion that made me wonder why I, a socially active paying student, could only be identified in relation to the negative connotations of black culture broadcasted by subpar media outlets. And to make matters worse I almost

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decided to awkwardly laugh it off and to simply brush it off my shoulders. Why should that even be a viable option? Am I not allowed to be upset? I thought to myself how suppressing this incident would be me allowing my environment to manipulate my being. That because I attend a respected institution I must accept the standard of living that resides within campus grounds.

Since then I’m always expecting the next backhanded racial one liner, and I wonder if scapegoating the issue to the Miley Cyrus’ and Iggy Azalea’s make this attitude okay.

But what seems to happen is all social etiquette flying out the window in favor of the infamous “It was just a joke.” So no, I will not dance to x rap song to be the life of the party. I can only identify with so much in this EDM-crazed campus and that does not seem to be enough to distinguish my personality. Everyone loves to identify with the racially ambiguous Nicki Minaj’s & Beyoncé’s but lines start to be drawn with mention of Lil Kim, but I digress. If you ever get the opportunity to sit down with a few of my girls, they will spare no hesitation in rehashing accounts of stereotyping within the walls of campus. It is more common then we’d like to believe and that is undoubtedly racially problematic.

The “Western Student Experience” draws up images of the dominant student experience, which unfortunately isn’t the same for the marginalized student who faces hardships that other students do not. Stories like these go unheard because no one asks and no one truly listens.

Instead of taking the negative experiences from a certain demographic, specifically the Black Student Experience, it’s easier to acknowledge the positive stories and to ignore racial ignorance on campus. Sometimes Western’s Best Student Experience doesn’t apply to every student and it’s important to take time to reflect and acknowledge the different lived experiences of people.

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APATHY IS AN

antirequisite or mpi f

Every year MPI (Media and the Public Interest) students have to conduct an alternative media project. This assignment allows them to develop hands-on experience with non-mainstream media as well as blend their academic pursuits with critically informed social action. Essentially, they explore an issue they care about through alternative media.

This article reveals just some of the amazing projects our fellow students have undertaken and the diversity of issues they care about. Thankfully, they’ve condensed their 16-18 page reports into shorter summaries.

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Election Apathy Through Tinder Madelene Lauris

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Unquestioned Capitalism Melissa Peterson

Mark Fisher argues that “[f]or most people under twenty The recent London election coincided with the timing of in Europe and North America, the lack of alternatives to the assignment, and ending up inspiring my alternative capitalism is no longer an issue. Capitalism seamlessly media project. My original plan was to promote the elecoccupies the horizons of the thinkable.” Fisher observes tion to students and create an informative resource about the inherent acceptance or unquestioning of capitalism in all the candidates. What I found out was that this already today’s Global North. This acceptance can be observed existed – in multiple forms. This then made me confused in the practices of exchange: the way we buy and spend as to why so many students were unaware of the upcommoney. This activity has become second nature; it thereing elections. The resources are in front of us; why aren’t fore communicates how and what we think of our we using them? economic system—if at all. Furthermore this activ So I decided to switch my focus from ity is an aggregate of a set of specific gestures the candidates to the voters. I did something I had sworn to myself I would never do; I “I wanted to make (e.g. holding out our palms, facing up to receive change) and (pass) words (e.g. PIN) that have went onto Tinder. I justified my actions by people aware of become etched in our muscle memory and naswiping right for every UWO student and their own role in tive to our vocabularies; arguably, they constiasking them about the upcoming elections. tute what Roland Barthes would call a system I took the most ridiculous responses, made the elections” of signification and are therefore an expression them anonymous, and then posted them of capitalist culture. online onto maddyvoteslondon.tumblr.com.

In a project for my Alternative Media class, I The point of this wasn’t to present the apathy of worked to render this system visible through “culture jamTinder users but to show how silly people seem when ming.” For two weeks I refused to enact any practices of they purposely state they don’t care about societal issues. exchange, instead asking others to perform them in my People laughed when they saw the responses I got, but stead. To be clear, I did not ask other people to spend their who’s to say that couldn’t have been them? I wanted to money for my project, instead I would request that they make people aware of their own role in the elections, and take my wallet out of my bag and complete the purchase maybe even make them feel a bit guilty for being not interfor me, receipt and all. My attempt to jam the practice of ested in voting. In the end, I don’t know if I had any impact exchange was done for the purpose of inciting conversaon student voters, but I was happy that I at least got to try. tion with my stand-in consumer about what these gesIt became more than a project for me. I got to increase my tures represent in today’s culture and the significance of knowledge about some really amazing Western students having internalized them. and organizations, in addition to feeling closer to the London community.

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Throughout the project, the majority of the people I encountered initially thought I was asking them to assist me because I did not have enough money of my own; this lack of performance was immediately interpreted as a lack of the means to participate in exchange.

In fact, most of the people I approached to assist me offered to pay for me. After conceding to my pleas that they use my money for the transaction, people would often vocalize their discomfort in participating on my behalf—having to reach into my backpack was seen as especially intrusive. This was not a one-sided sentiment; what I expected to be a fun experience was also at times uncomfortable for myself.

The most meaningful conversation I had over the course of the two weeks was with someone outside of my circle of friends. After reflecting on what I told him I was doing, he said he was extremely uncomfortable for me that I had to give out my PIN to other people, that this was personal secure information he would not want to divulge in my position. Thinking back to that conversation and the project on the whole, I am glad that sacrificing the subjectivity of my consumption—by involving others in the process—led at least one person to think self-reflexively about the practices of spending money and what these practices meant to him.

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A Fish Out Of Water: Examining the Outsider Experience

Gloria Zhu

As someone who has moved to and lived in Canada for the past three years as a so-called “visible minority,” I realized Canada might not be as much of a diverse place as I initially presumed. We celebrate Canada as a place that is built on respect and diversity, while never acknowledging its problematic past. As a result, racial segregations and stereotypes keep circulating and go unchallenged most of the time. Instances of xenophobia are ignored, and this is where the problem arises. Not only does this problem matter to people like me, it is important when critically constructing what it means to be a Canadian.

Reflecting on my personal experiences in Canada, I launched the “A Fish Out of Water” campaign for the assignment. The title, “A Fish out of Water,” reflected my fear of being an outcast, of failing, of powerlessness, of anxiety, and of instability. I used various social media platforms, such as Facebook, to feature personal stories from students and staff at Western University, and in particular international students, immigrants, and nonwhite racial groups. “A Fish Out of Water” aims to create bridges between people and provide a space, where those who suffer from marginalization can speak out. It also strives to challenge the predominant iconography of Canadian as ‘white, European Canadian,’ as well as sparking conversation about racism in our society -

because anything is better than silence in this situation. I believe in the power of stories. Stories are the strongest way to make people realize the kind of life we’re living.

The issues students raised through “A little the “A Fish out of Water” empathy goes a platform are surprisingly unified. Though coming long way” from an array of cultures and backgrounds, there are common themes of struggle, culture shock, exclusion, and stereotyping. The message of this campaign is in the title: everyone could be a fish out of water. The feeling can suddenly emerge at any point in your life as you explore new situations. Nothing can be taken for granted and globalization encourages everyone to be a global citizen. Thus we need to understand and offer help to those who are encountering the struggle right now. A little empathy goes a long way.

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Campus as a Second Home, Literally Ramon Sanchez

Everyone is always saying ‘Campus has everything you could possibly need. That you practically never have to leave’ so for my project I wanted to see if living on campus as astudent would be possible. For a week, I permanently stayed on campus and continued to act out my regular routine. I ate at the Wave, drank at the Spoke, studied at Taylor, showeredat the gym, and tried to sleep in the UCC or any empty classroom. I only used resources and spaces that an average student would have access to. But after a full week’s worth of buffalo chicken wraps and almost no rest, I realized that though it’s technically possible to have a low living standard on campus, it will cost you your physical and mental well­ being, not to mention your academics too. Simply put, during that week I was not a student, but just a person trying to find shelter.

The idea stemmed from a conversation with one of my friends about the ever increasing cost of tuition and living expenses for students. We wanted to find a way to decrease the financial burdens students have to face.

Since universities and the Canadian government are no longer willing to fund higher education as a public good, it seemed that the only option was to decrease one’s own personal living expenses. I decided to remove the most costly expense in my student budget: housing. While the project initially was about the rising tuition and student fees, it also expanded into a very limited first ­person experience on what it might be like to be homeless. This is not to say that my project came anywhere close to the struggles homeless people face, rather it provided a small glimpse into a very real and detrimental societal issue.

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USC

Communication is a two way street

WHO CARES? WHY USC?

The majority respond to anything student government related with apathy, if not outright The initial reason to join criticism. “They’re just doing this for their student government resume.” “They can’t actually make a change.” is probably selfish.

“This doesn’t matter outside of school.” The However, why they impression of student government is sometimes choose to stay isn’t. For overpowered by the “government” aspect instead Emerson, he realized of the student one. Bureaucratic, slow to change, “in future years, it hierarchical. But in reality, the student aspect takes wasn’t just about me precedence. I had the privilege to speak to multiple learning and about me students involved with the USC, and in particular developing, it became pick the brains of your VP External, Jen Carter, and about actually helping your VP Communications, Emerson Tithecott. others, and I started I encourage those that pride themselves to realize that someone on critical thinking, to think differently who’s in a position at the about student government; with USC can really make a big some compassion instead of difference on campus.” For cynicism. most of the students on USC executive, they’ve been part of different councils throughout their time here.

This leads to the inference that councils are exclusive

Service

and prefer familiar over fresh faces. I can’t speak for faculty councils, but when it comes to a level such as USC executive – would you want someone without any prior council experience?

The application process for most fields, not just the USC, privilege experience over ideas, but that’s not to say that people with only ideas can’t get through. For Jen, it was surprising to hear that she had a fairly negative experience with the USC and “The reason why I ran for the USC was because I didn’t like the USC…the USC was never in my plans.” She ran because she thought she could do a little bit better than those before her.

Your relationship with the USC varies from student to student. It was very clear from Jen’s letter to The Gazette about what she is doing in terms of improving transit in response to all the criticism that a lot of students are unaware of what the USC is doing for them. Beyond advocating, USC is responsible for maintaining several services on campus whether it be The Spoke or Creative Services. This was a common sentiment during the interview and a point of frustration that “students don’t understand what we’re actually able to do for them.” In particular reference to the little things, Jen shared a story about helping a student on which grad school programs were eligible for financial aid – “something as simple as that, that’s what we’re paid to do.” Even though their positions oversee higher level decisions, Emerson remarked that “when students come up to our office, we’ll drop everything and talk to them, we’re not too busy for them.”

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However, Jen also remarked that it’s “difficult with a campus this large to communicate that we actually have the tools to help them and that’s what we’re here for” while Emerson added that “it’s not like a 5 step solution to telling students this information, it’s more of a systematic thing. So when you have a group of students in the USC… who want to help people and have different levels of expertise, different education, a different understanding of what student government is and should be, it becomes very complicated to mobilize that group systematically in a way that’s actually effective.

And we struggle with that every day.” Although Jen said that they “need to do a

Anyone “doing it for their resume” and who is not intrinsically motivated will have harder time getting through the banal aspects of the position. For Emerson, “it’s not so much about making people care about student government or forcing people to care about the USC and us and all the things that we care about - it’s about no matter what your interests are at Western, no matter what you want to do with your life, or what you do on campus, just knowing that when they need help we can help them and that’s our number one priority.”

better job communicating that we can help with the little things,” she also acknowledged that “students need to feel more comfortable coming to us with those questions.” The student government and its effectiveness is highly It can be seen that the USC is obligated to serve dependent on the students students regardless whether they appreciate it who it is supposed to or not, but at the same time the USC’s ability to represent. Their position serve is only helped by students. Student apathy is only bettered by your involvement. Jen “can be challenging and draining, but we summarizes this point appreciate that the onus is not on when she says them to have the knowledge, the “every story onus is on them to tell us how that a student Anyone they feel about things and has better “doing it for think things through and informs their resume” and think about them clearly.” what we do, who is not intrinsically The USC doesn’t have to and makes motivated will have harder be all “administration” us a better time getting through the or “organization,” it can organization, banal aspects of the be students helping it’s definitely position. a partnership students if we commit to in us reaching communicating. out to those students and those students coming to us.”

With or without

APATHY

That being said, it’s not always about recognition of the USC services. Emerson remarks that “if students are getting their bus pass and they’re having no problems and they’re happy with that situation, they don’t necessarily need to know or care that it’s us.” This attitude – doing things that benefit students without expecting anything in return, is admirable and is probably one that is adopted by those that thrive in student government.

ADMIN Now when it comes to the relationship between students and the USC administration, it’s not really an Us vs. Them dynamic but more of a partnership. The administration offers institutional and general support, but it should be noted that Western’s administration and USC administration are two separate things. With reference to the USC Emerson contributed, “They understand that we are the decision makers as elected by students to act on what students want to see from their government and they really respect that boundary but they also don’t hesitate to provide recom-

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mendations when they think it’s appropriate because for a lot of these people they have been involved…for over a decade, and that’s incredibly valuable to people like us who are in their early twenties and still figure this stuff out.” Jen offers a more holistic perspective, “So the USC has 60 full time staff, and even more part-time staff, and what ends up happening is that you now lead the direction of that corporation for an entire year. So on our staff, you also have to recognize that it can be challenging because every year they have a different leadership coming in. So kind of what I’ve learned from my experience is that as an elected official it comes with a certain amount of responsibility to make sure that your staff are happy in the workplace because they are the ones that are the institutional memory, they are the ones that allow us to be successful and say this is what went really well and this is what went badly...so it’s also a lot of responsibility on the [USC] executive members do everything they have to do on a day-to-day basis as well as make sure there is a positive and empowering workplace where you take the opinion of the people that work with you…into account and make them feel empowered in their own jobs even though it is you that ends up making the final decision anyway. It’s a really kind of challenging role to navigate.”

Both of them also reflected on their experiences on affiliate councils and noted that in a smaller environment there was less bureaucracy, so they were able to represent students in a way that is harder in the USC.

FINAL YEAR, DON’T CARE On a final note, those who are leaving university or you were going through… When you were in see no application of student government outside of first year you would have appreciated someone Western, it could be valuable to think about student who is generally interested in the community government as a precursor to civic engagement. thinking about these things to improve your Jen sums this point up when she says “If you don’t experience.” Those who have the least to vote because the politicians aren’t talking about benefit from the new executive are those that what you want to see, that will have the most to offer in terms of continue. For me, it’s not just knowledge of the system. about voting in the USC, that mentality translates into voting Essentially, nothing is black in any election period… It’s a and white. Not even student value that sadly our culture has government. Everything discussed “If you don’t lost, not just students.” It’s also in this article doesn’t reveal the vote because the as simple as helping out those whole story either. What you think politicians aren’t who have yet to go through of the USC is dependent on you, talking about university. Emerson touches on just don’t take the easy apathetic what you want this, “when you’re fourth year route. Think of it complexity, to see, that will and you’re leaving, someone critically, and compassionately. is in first year and someone is continue going through the same things

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bama’s announcement about Cuba in December was no small speech.

The prospect of ending an embargo lasting for over 50 years and normalizing relations between Cuba and USA is a historic feat. Change isn’t going to happen overnight, but it’s important to examine what is being proposed here. Historical context is key to understanding the magnitude of what was said, and the history between these two countries is intricately complex. What follows is only a snippet of the relationship that consistently defies definition. he U.S. has expressed a desire for the island ever since attempting to purchase it multiple times from the Spanish Empire. Although Cuba is independent, the States’ influence is not to be understated. The U.S. enjoyed a close economic and political relationship with the island up until the Cuban Revolution of 1959.

The revolution was situated in the heat of the Cold War, an ideological battle between USA and USSR, between capitalism and communism. Understandably, the proximity of Fidel Castro’s new communist Cuba to the American border posed a threat. The earlier years of his rule was populated with secret attempts by the U.S. government to undermine his regime and assassinate him, as was the case with the Bay of Pigs invasion. In particular, the infamous embargo was a response to the nationalization of U.S. corporations’ property by Castro. The Cuban Missile Crisis, a key moment for the world’s history as it teetered on the edge of mutual destruction, could also be interpreted as a time when Cuba was just another pawn in a larger game being played between the Americans and the Soviets. However, Cuba’s role should not be belittled. Cuba and the USSR remained close allies until its collapse in 1991. Up until recently, the U.S. and Cuba did not have formal diplomatic relations and the embargo established in 1960 still stood.

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Viva La Cuba What does USA’s new foreign policy really mean for Cuba?

Stephanie Gordon

Stephanie Gordon

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FREE(DOOM) Early on in Obama’s speech, and this policy of “freedom he states “we will end an and openness” is starting to outdated approach that, look more effective than an for decades, has failed to embargo in advancing their advance our interests.” What interests. exactly are “our interests” Obama does mention that and do they diverge off the “it does not serve America’s It’s important to note at this time that Obama’s speech path of USA’s quest for interests, or the Cuban does not terminate the embargo. He makes clear that “the Cuba? There is a possibility people, to try to push Cuba embargo that’s been imposed for decades is now codified that developing diplomatic toward collapse” – even in legislation” and that he looks forward to “engaging relations and increasing though their history indicates Congress in an honest and serious debate about lifting the communication might see otherwise. He continues embargo.” Basically, its removal requires an act of Congress. a liberalization of the Cuban to acknowledge that “we Analysts doubt a positive outcome given the lack of interest government better than the know from hard-earned to remove the embargo by current Congress and the embargo could have. This experience that countries are incoming Republican majority. However, the support seems policy opens Cuba up to more likely to enjoy lasting to be only domestic as the UN continues to condemn the more than just American transformation if their people embargo and its impacts as a violation of international law. goods, but to their values, are not subjected to chaos.” beliefs, and ideologies. The Just because the U.S. is power of American cultural switching from exerting hard imperialism reveals itself in power to soft power, does not lines such as “promote our mean it still isn’t exerting its values through engagement” power. Instead of economic the American and how “Nobody represents coercion, Obama refers to the embargo differently, stating “Proudly, America’s values better than way can be promoted and the United States has supported democracy and human the American people, and made attractive through the rights in Cuba through these five I believe this contact will “power of people-to-people decades” - a statement epitomizing Obama’s ultimately do more to engagement,” not to mention blatant propaganda.

The inherent messages empower the Cuban the speech does embargo was motivated by people.” America’s found within the medium of American economic interests, not do the issue cultural influence commodities. as well as its interest to put justice by covering it all over the globe an end to Castro’s regime. is undeniable, up with the typical “for As more Cold War primary documents are being democracy and human released, our understanding rights” narrative USA’s of the situation can only improve. During the formation colonialist actions This is not as simple as “U.S. is trying to make Cuba of the embargo, Assistant usually fall capitalist and replace its independence with economic Secretary of State for Interdependency.”

This article is a mere simplification in under.

American Affairs Lester D. Mallory hopes of inviting investigation into the issue. It’s important writes that “The majority of the Cuban to note that Cuba has changed significantly since the Cold people support Castro. There is no effective War era.

Raul Castro, in place of his brother Fidel, implepolitical opposition…The only foreseeable means of mented many new changes that free its people and econoalienating internal support is through disenchantment and my.

He established economic reforms that allow Cubans to disaffection and hardship… every possible means should buy, sell, and inherit property, and increased their freedom be undertaken promptly to weaken the economic life of to travel.

One Cuban journalist notes a shift in national Cuba.” Firstly, to economically starve a country invades psyche.

The appeals to Cuban independence and solidarity with its sovereign ability to choose its own social, political, as a justification for poverty and discontent is losing touch and economic system and is illegal. Obama’s speech does with its people.

Most journalists agree that change is not to not do the issue justice by covering it up with the typical “for be coaxed by the U.S. but organically grown within Cuba. democracy and human rights” narrative USA’s colonialist Both countries are profoundly different from how they used actions usually fall under. to be 50 years ago, so only time will tell. However, a Cuban democracy – if they choose to want one – should remain Cuban.

EMBARGO STILL A GO

PROPAGANDA

VIVA LA CUBA

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I AM NOT CHARLIE Robin Radomski

B

oko Haram, Charlie Hebdo – which headline are you familiar with? Chances are, it’s the latter one. #JeSuisCharlie continues to fill our twitter feeds and television screens. Meanwhile, the crisis surrounding the terror from Boko Haram is reduced to a sentence at the bottom of a news screen, seemingly barely relevant to major news establishments. Why is it that thousands die in Nigeria in the span of one week and nothing more than a peep escapes the Western world’s media?

For those of you who don’t know, the terrorist group Boko Haram was formed in Nigeria in the early 2000s. It initially focused on opposing western education as “Boko Haram” literally means, “Western education is forbidden” in the Hausa language. In 2009, the group launched military operations with the primary goal being to create an Islamic state. Before they were officially declared a terrorist group by the USA in 2013, thousands were killed in Nigeria. Close to three million people have been affected by their reign of terror. Thousands have been killed, enslaved, raped and tortured while the remainder end up either displaced from their homes or simply fearing for themselves and their loved ones.

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You’re probably wondering why the media aren’t reporting these atrocities. Well, they are – kinda. CNN tweeted, “Angelina Jolie has called on the United States and others to assist Nigeria”.

Sometimes, they feature two-minute tidbits with pretty maps and a few images. But rarely do we see the stories headlining on CNN, on the cover of TIME or on the front page of the NY Times. Yet, images, updates, and celebrities donning “political” buttons echoing #JESUISCHARLIE are front and center on all forms of media.

BLACK LIVES

It’s difficult to make the comparison between the two brutalities. Both are horrific and take their toll on innocent people. Both are committed in the name of a higher cause. Neither is more important than the other. It isn’t about the 17 versus the 2,000. What is important however, is the need to understand why the media is covering one event more than the other.

One conclusion many have jumped to on twitter was the white versus black debate. The Western news only reported about the Charlie Hebdo attack because it was on white people. Another conclusion is the rich versus poor debate. People in Paris live like us while those in Africa live in poverty; its the exact opposite of our lifestyle.

MATTER

TIME also claimed that the only terrorist attacks in non-Western countries that received substantial American attention were those on destinations that attract affluent visitors, such as the attack on the mall frequented by foreigners and wealthier Nigerians in Abuja.

Another conclusion is simply that Boko Haram related stories aren’t newsworthy. People are not threatened by the attacks of Nigeria because it doesn’t affect them. People are threatened by the attack in Paris because it is more relatable. It is relatable for tourists, it is relatable for journalists, it is relatable for white people.

Charlie Hebdo is about principles as well. It circles the notion of free speech and liberty; two rights both America and France fight for. The Nigeria “problem” is not relatable, not easily understandable and not sellable as a headline. It is too far away. Too “otherworldly.”

Becky Meharchand

“To neglect the suffering caused

by Boko Haram is to ignore the millions who plea for help.”

#BlackLivesMatter was initially created in 2012 in response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman for shooting and killing 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

Adding more insult to injury after the acquittal, Martin was posthumously placed on trial for his own murder.

Yet it involves human suffering; Human suffering of the genocide kind. We, in the media, should be screaming out these headlines.

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This happens all the time. According to the #BlackLivesMatter official website, every 28 hours a black man, woman, or child is murdered by the police or - in the case of Zimmerman - vigilante law enforcement.

More recently, however, #BlackLivesMatter has become a crucial part of the recognition of the wrongful killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. On August 9th 2014, after allegedly stealing a pack of cigarillos from a convenience store, Brown was stopped by Officer Darren Wilson. A struggle broke out between the two of them through the window of Wilson’s police cruiser, resulting in Wilson firing his gun. As Brown ran for his life, he was shot multiple times in the back.

When the people protested, they only faced more police brutality, including having tear gas being thrown at them, as well as being threatened by other kinds of militarygrade weaponry.

#BlackLivesMatter resurged in popularity, along with other popular slogans and phrases associated with the Michael Brown trial, such as “hands up don’t shoot”.

The #BlackLivesMatter website features several “demands” including:

We will seek justice for Brown’s family by petitioning for the immediate arrest of officer Darren Wilson and the dismissal of county prosecutor Robert McCullough.

1.

We will help develop a network of organizations and advocates to form a national policy specifically aimed at redressing the systemic pattern of anti-black law enforcement violence in the US.

2.

We will also demand, through the network, that the federal government discontinue its supply of military weaponry and equipment to local law enforcement.

3.

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Of course, the primary #BlackLivesMatter.

While concern of the entire the sentiment might be nice, movement is to ensure and people generally seem that people are aware of to mean well by trying to the racial profiling and the include people of all races deadly outcomes that many and ethnicities, it by and black men and women face. large misses the point of More than that however, it why #BlackLivesMatter was is a movement dedicated to created. implementing change in the Yes, all lives matter American criminal justice and no one is going to system, considering how claim that anyone’s life many black individuals often is worth more or less face unfair accusations, than anyone else’s. But questioning, and frisking #BlackLivesMatter was born from police officers. in response to issues that The responses to - really - only black people the movement have been have to put up with, and it generally positive from seems a little unnecessary to black communities, socially try and insert ourselves into conscious communities, and movements that aren’t about other communities of colour. us. The best approach is to #AllLivesMatter, a quasi- support the movement, and popular Twitter hashtag that bring as much awareness as has also risen to popularity, possible to the unfair racial is considered by many treatment that black to be the “most men, women, Every 28 infuriating and youth hours a black adaptation” of encounter man, woman, or on a daily basis. child is murdered by

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DISCONNECT

Writing & Images: Kyle Simons

the police or - in the case of Zimmerman - vigilante law enforcement.

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any of my afternoons in the summer of 2004 were spent with my best friend. Whether inside plopped in front of the television or in the steel forest of the playground, he and I were inseparable. I was a goody two-shoes with a perky attitude, buck teeth, and long gangly limbs; he was a set of pixels on a screen. That’s right – in addition to being immensely socially awkward, my 10-year-old self was obsessed with Tamagotchis.

I have often reminisced of my digital friend and his place in the emporium of nostalgic 90’s artifacts, so when I discovered the new branding of Tamagotchis across the Englishspeaking world I was shocked. What I discovered was not the diverse, aesthetically nauseating, zany patterned eggs that I had once so dearly cherished as a child. Rather, the new Tamagotchis come in pink and purple, and are adorned with silver ribbons, hearts, jewels, and excessive feminine signifiers and buzzwords.

The Tamagotchi came from Japan, where in the mid-1990s, a pet-enthusiast by the name of Aki Maita had an idea that would soon revolutionize the toy industry worldwide. She envisioned a virtual pet that could be fed, nurtured, and taken anywhere by its owner and promptly sold the concept to Bandai. In 1996 the company debuted the “Tamagotchi”, a combination of the Japanese word for “egg”, “Tamago”, and the word for “friend”, “Tomodatchi”. After being rolled out in various forms over the following 17 years, the company has pushed more than 79 million units to children across the globe.

With such salient success, it really doesn’t come as a surprise that the company would attempt another reincarnation of the toy, because one way to spice something up is to gender it, if it hasn’t been already been, right? But the question still remains as to why the marketing for the new toys is so heavily female oriented. While investigating possible reasons for this change, I revisited some 90’s commercials from Bandai’s virtual pet brand and the difference is truly astounding. The first ad for the English Tamagotchi release begins as a young girl enters her room to grab her Tamagotchi. As she brags incessantly about all of the incredible and astounding things that her virtual pet can do, her pet fish tries desperately to compete. The gender neutral clothing, colour palette, and inclusion of a fish’s male voice create an aura of inclusivity for children of either sex.

The ad for the 2004 re-release follows a much different format, but is equally gender-neutral in its execution. The rhetoric is both masculine and feminine, making mention of boys’ and girls’ pets while and how they can grow strong and find romance. Moreover, the ad shows male and female children dancing spastically beside the toys, which has an equally neutral aesthetic.

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My confusion can thus be understood when viewing the most recent advertisement for the “Tamagotchi Friends” line.

The ad features young girls sitting on rainbows, bumping their Tamagotchis together to a “Best Friends for Life” type anthem. The backdrop featuring sparkles, rainbows, hearts, and stars bouncing around, and is undoubtedly attempting to appeal to young girls alone. The ad also features a new logo for the brand: the words “Tamagotchi Friends” in a heart-laced font. The new product and it’s highly feminized marketing approach contrasts so sharply to the gendering of Tamagotchi toys from my childhood that it has left me wondering why Bandai ceased marketing to half of the population. Does something about caring for another being still seem somehow more feminine than the alternative virtual experiences available to children these days?

Answering this question becomes easier by examining the trajectory of the brand outside of its international circulation.

In the years that it was absent from North American and European markets, the product continued to thrive in Japan, branching out into a number of different industries including cartoons (anime) and video games. The vast majority of these goods were consumed by girls and the Bandai press release for the 2014 return even emphasizes that Tamagotchi has remained “one of the #1 Character Brands for girls 7-9 in Japan”. The growth made by the brand in Japan has demonstrated that girls are more responsive to the products and it may therefore make more sense to market to them directly. Since all of the virtual pets sold in North American and European Markets have been slightly modified versions of select Japanese products, it would make sense that these products would be designed using Japanese market research.

While I am sure that there were difficult decisions made in the marketing of Tamagotchi Friends, my inner 10-year-old can’t help but feel neglected by this new-fangled marketing.

Many of my fondest memories of childhood are “connecting” with my friends to play games or trade gifts with our very own virtual pets. The toys fuelled my curiosity, as I would even take the time to carefully disassemble my treasured eggs to unlock secret functions to improve game play. They also combated my childhood propensity for boredom and loneliness. While the success of Tamagotchi Friends in the North American market is yet to be collected, I can’t help but feel that the new direction taken by Bandai will leave many young boys feeling disconnected.

BING ING bAD I now find myself to be both mentally and physically incapable of focusing my attention on my television.

I used to be an avid cable TV viewer, but I’ve come to a point where watching television seems like a tiresome task. From the cliché sitcoms like Seinfeld to dark dramas such as Prison Break, television used to fill my life with wonder, adventure, and escape.

However, since the conclusion of AMC’s television series Breaking Bad, I have watched most television on Netflix, the service that many of us use as the chief online streaming platform.

Netflix is revolutionizing the format, quality, and way we experience television shows.

With streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Instant Video, the ease of watching programs on the Internet has become even easier than searching for pirated links, let alone through actual channels. It seems as though television has almost become more accessible through the ubiquity of on demand television channels and streaming services. It’s almost as if

television is experiencing a “golden-age” of sorts. But as I attempt to watch shows like Jane The Virgin, House of Cards, or Orange is the New Black online, I lack the exaltation I felt during an episode of Breaking Bad or Prison Break. For example, the aforementioned shows lack breathtaking cinematography, visual montages, and intricate plot details that foreshadow distant episodes.

It’s hard for a television show to maintain my attention for an entire season, let alone an entire series. I can’t remember the last time I’ve watched a show from start to finish and I know I’m not alone in saying this. Did Breaking Bad really raise a bar that high for me? Or is Netflix changing the way we experiencing television shows and the way television shows are made for us? Are we “binging bad”?

Way back when, the television set created a communal space you could say. Families and friends gathered around the set, collectively enjoying the experience, though entranced in another world.

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Whats In A

REALITY HOUSEWIFE?

For me, my life used to center around AMC’s programming schedule, cancelling dates and skipping dinners. Throughout the week, my imagination raced with dozens of potential plotlines, as each cliffhanger from Breaking Bad left me thinking about the story. Over the four years of the series, other than a short hiatus, Walt and Jesse Pinkman lived, died, made meth and wreaked havoc in my mind. With each episode of Breaking Bad, the emotions and thoughts I consumed through the dramatic narrative were on par with some of the best cinematic experiences I’ve had.

After Breaking Bad, Orange is the New Black shone a light into the gaping hole that Breaking Bad left in my heart. I didn’t hate it after a couple of episodes and I didn’t even fall asleep watching the first episode.

Although it didn’t seem to fill the emptiness Breaking Bad had left entirely. As I watched more episodes of the show I began noticing I was developing new television watching habits that were a result of binge-watching a show. This solo and selfish activity, as appealing as it is, shuts me out and isolates me from everyone and everything around me. Watching alone, I have no one to discuss any of the shows’ events with.

This is not like life as I once knew it. It is interesting that OITNB and other Netflix original series are written in such a way

that there are no cliffhangers at the end of each episode, essentially because they are not needed. The show encourages the ease of uninterrupted viewing through its very format. Rather than having a full week to think about and process time between episodes, now Netflix gives us all 15 seconds to wrap our heads around the episode and to decide if we want to play the next one.

But is Netflix really as empowering as it seems? Presenting us with the countless options to watch almost whatever, wherever? As we binge watch, we become isolated and selfish with the primary fulfillment of satisfying our pleasure principles through this method of instant gratification. You see, Netflix is almost like a drug, it has sucked me in, and like a drug, it is easy to become addicted to. I’ve begun muttering to myself, “just one more episode” as I feel the sun rising in the morning. With new streaming services recently launched in Canada such as BellMedia’s CraveTV and Rogers and Shaw’s “Shomi,” it’s both exciting and scary to see what the next innovation in television viewing will be. It will be interesting to see changes in audiences’ viewing practices as we continue to adapt to narratives produced for online streaming.

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When The Real Housewives of Orange County first premiered nine years ago it promised viewers “real-life ‘desperate’ housewives with an authentic look at their compelling day-to-day drama.”

10 years, 13 franchises and 9 spinoffs later, the Real Housewives format has come to define the most pervasive sub genre of reality TV: that of throwing a group of upper-class (or seemingly) rich people into a situation, promising them their 15 minutes, and filming it.

We have seen the format imitated time and time again with such series as Mob Wives, Basketball Wives, Married to Medicine, and the brand new, Corus-produced Hockey Wives, which promises to show viewers “how the many challenges and crises all relationships face are amplified when lived on the front page of the sports section” and “an insider’s look at how exciting and glamorous the lives of these ten independent women can be.”

Right. Because we haven’t seen enough rich white women plug their businesses and fight at nice restaurants. Yawn.

While these shows no doubt satisfy the audience’s desire for gratuitous drama, what is more important to note is that they have burgeoned into a prominent aspect of postmodern popular culture. Over the past two decades, the amount of reality shows on the air has skyrocketed because of the cheap production costs associated with the format (nobodies are obviously much cheaper to film than unionized actors). This increase in Real Housewives-style shows single handedly populates a very specific echelon of Hollywood celebrities. These are the D-list celebrities that launch and endorse numerous products, fundamentally feed tabloid journalists, and are the epitome of the celebrityindustrial complex. They are, dare I say it, famous for being famous – or rather famous for being made famous by networks. These are the celebrities whose fame will always seem unmerited in the sense that it can never be paralleled with the talented high brow culture-makers of Hollywood.

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Sam ah A li

ebony ivy

Brought to you by Dear White People

What I find interesting, then, is when one of these celebrities is able to circumnavigate the conventions of being a reality star, and leverage their fame into a more respected craft. Take NeNe Leakes of The Real Housewives of Atlanta for example. While starring in 7 seasons of the franchise, she guest-starred on Glee and became a series regular on The New Normal, in addition to landing stage gigs with Cirque du Soleil and in Broadway’s Cinderella.

Arguably NeNe used her reality fame to maneuver her way into stage and television and can now be viewed as both a serious actress and reality star.

However, if you’re looking for the archetype of reality fame

translating into mainstream success look no further than Bethenny Frankel from The Real Housewives of New York. Throughout seasons 1-3 of the show, she became the audience favourite as we saw the launch her Skinnygirl brand and its subsequent 100-million dollar takeover. We then saw Bethenny get pregnant and married on her three-season spin-off Bethenny Ever After.

After five years of reality, Ellen DeGeneres christened Bethenny’s transition to daytime talk, serving as Executive Producer for her syndicated talk show, bethenny, which ended up lasting for two seasons.

Bethenny was the very first reality star to host a solo talk show in history, and while it only lasted 130 episodes, it is They a significant feat are, dare I say nonetheless.

What is most it, famous for being interesting is famous – or rather famous that as a talk for being made famous by show host networks. These are the celebriBethenny ties whose fame will always seem continued to push her unmerited in the sense that it can S kinnygirl never be paralleled with the products talented high brow cultureas she did makers of Hollywood. on reality television, yet the show chiefly served as a platform

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for respected artists and actors to push their new projects and products, as many talk shows do. For this reason, the dynamic of bethenny’s stage always remained a little bit uncanny, as this inversion of a reality star providing vetted actors and musicians an arena for publicity is fundamentally a circumstance never seen before in popular culture.

In addition to her talk show, Frankel continued writing cookbooks, and expanding the Skinnygirl line.

There is now a full range of wines, chips, dips, blenders, sweeteners, diet-pills, etc. – all products further pushing Frankel’s “natural” lifestyle brand. In fact, the savvy businesswoman is such an early-adopter that she is currently working on a brand of Skinnygirl marijuana for states where it is legal that “won’t cause the munchies.”

Or as one article put it, “With Diet Weed, Bethenny Frankel Ruins Marijuana.” But I digress.

Back in October, when production for The Real Housewives of New York season 7 began and it was announced that Frankel, fresh off the announcement her talk show was cancelled, would return to the show, I began thinking about how this would impact the aura of authenticity surrounding her

brand. After graduating from reality TV to the respected talk show platform, but now back to reality TV, has Bethenny effectively circumnavigated the hierarchical power structure of being a reality TV celebrity? Or is it that she simply could not stand being out of the spotlight? Rumor has it she was brought back to the franchise to help wilting ratings, and she always did seem super stiff on her talk show. Perhaps the only genuine Bethenny is Bethenny the reality star.

As we begin to see more and more reality stars on television, integrated into conventional media across contemporary popular culture (TV, film, etc.), I am left wondering what the future of many creative industries looks like. As outlined with NeNe and Bethenny, (don’t get me started on the Jenner kids) ‘talent’ has become increasingly sought out based on the pre-existing audiences that come along.

As we continue to see the blurring of class structures in the sphere of Hollywood and cultural production, it seems as though reality stars may no longer exist only on the cusp of respected cultural industries, but may effectively be establishing their own.

While attending our prestigious school and admiring our ivy-encrusted towers, you are likely to participate in a conversation with someone of a different race. As a minority on campus, in this case black, you may be subject to certain comments, remarks, or actions towards your being: sometimes positive, sometimes racially awkward. In a collection of fun and stereotypical circumstances, here are a few situations and potential reactions to help you through those uncomfortable conversations!

1.

2.

3.

The new Bobby Schmurda song drops and your friend asks if you’ve heard it since it’s “your kind of music.” Do you:

A

Sadly inform them that you listen to Fleetwood Mac

B

Say it’s dope and Schmurda is your spirit animal #FreeSchmurda

C

Who is Booby Schnitzel?

After growing your hair out, a curious acquaintance asks to touch your hair and does so before you have time to reply. How do you react?

Smile and nod when Flick their hand and tell Join in on the petting zoo, they exclaim, “Oh my them the gesture is a form touch their hair and reply god, it’s so soft!” Like of assault with a witty comment what did you expect it to be? Bristle?

A

C

B

It’s a Thursday night and you’re having a great time when a potential lover approaches you.

The conversation is flowing and they seductively say, “I love chocolate.” You:

A

Wink and go along with the implication

B

Make an equally as degrading comment about them reminding you of a snack

C

“Believe it or not but I’m actually not a chocolate bar, dessert, or cookie.

I’m a human being!”

Unfortunately, dear students, there are no correct ways to react these stereotypical yet harmless comments!

Although there are good intentions when calling a black person exotic, appreciating our various cultures and admiring our “soul food”, there are situations where you might want to rethink your innocent comment.

Think about this: if you feel awkward saying the N word in the latest hip hop track, don’t say it; if you think two people would look cute together just because they’re the same race, your match-making skills are probably lacking; and the big one, if one black person says something, their opinion does not stand for the entire race! Mindboggling, right? It’s hard to control excitement for different races, and being culturally curious is welcome at all times, but try to recognize the underlying meanings in your remarks to avoid situations like these. Even though we shrug it off, most of us are secretly ripping our eyes out!

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Under pressure from the start of something If the government has been in my room, as a result of this month in the world, it is not the only thing that would be.

To be able to see the point of view (which means a lot more than one direction) admit that you are so cute and funny.

It was not immediately known if no one else would be a good idea.

But, it is the only thing that could be: thou shall be in my room for improvement, rough copy and paste it into my life, which is why I love you so much better now.

But I don’t think that I have a good idea, nor do I get my money back in time.

I wanted to check my privilege at the door but when I realized the door had been hung by male hands, complications, needless to say, arose.

Shall I say I love you so much better?

By contrast with my mom and dad and I? Weeds in my head hurts so bad for you guys, but I think it’s time to get the hang out when you have no clue who you want to be.

So much for the first time I try to be, so much for the rest of the best thing ever.

I wanted to check my privilege at the door but when I realized the door had been hung by hands referred to as male, complications arose.

And you have to go back in time to be, that was the first place I can see you at.

Sometime in my head and shoulders are you, it was the first place I want you back on.

Whose going to be the same as the new?

It is not the best of luck in your eyes…

Not Arnold, surely. Not a prick, just.

Not just, surely. Not surely. An idea?

If you don’t want it now I can’t wait for – Love’s not the only thing that could have been.

And you don’t know if it’s a little more…

Whereto is the best way to get my money?

That is a way to get the hang of it.

Or maybe I should go to sleep now but let us know if you don’t know what to wear, which is the most important thing in life.

TOO LONG DIDN’T READ

#BlackLivesMatter: Racism exists.

Apathy is an Anti-requisite for MPI: Not all students are apathetic.

What was male? What is?

USC, Who Cares?: We only care if they mess up.

Viva la Cuba: #nonewfriends

I wanted to check my privilege when I realized I had a door.

I wanted when I realized I wanted and that “want” knew my tongue like a hinge.

I realized I wanted to check my privilege at the door I realized I had when my tongue was surely male. Surely?

Just?

And I love you so much better than this.

I had a tongue. I had.

Was it mine? Surely?

I don’t have a lot of fun with my life O, I don’t have a lot of fun with it.

I wanted to realize I had.

Emily Broughton

TL; DR I AM NOT CHARLIE: Western Media=#JeSuisCharlie > Nigerian reign of terror Black Student Experience: Racism exists. Yes, even at Western.

Binging Bad: Breaking Bad destroyed television. Netflix destroyed it even more.

What’s In a Reality ‘Housewife’?: Who needs talent when you’ve got ratings

Complications arose.

Tamagotchis: Stop being such a girl.

Kevin Heslop

Ebony and Ivory: RACISM EXISTS. **Poetry summaries not included because we do not cater to such laziness.

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