March 7, 2018 The Signal page 17

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April‘84

Campus Style

Women’s studies enters general curriculum

Photo courtesy of the TCNJ Digital Archive

The major now encompasses women’s, gender and sexuality studies. Every week, Features Editor Lily Firth hits the archives and finds old Signals that relate to current College topics and top stories. Recently, the women’s and gender studies major at the College added another component to the major — sexuality. The major now encompasses women’s issues as well as sexual identity and sexual discrimination. In 1984, women’s and gender studies courses were approved to be a part of the general education curriculum to inform students who normally would not have taken these courses about common societal issues rooted in gender.

Students may be more inclined to fit Women’s Studies courses into their course load this fall than in the past. The Academic Policies Committee gave final approval on Monday to include four courses in Women’s Studies as options in the general education requirements, Dr. Nadine Shanler, professor and member of the Women’s Studies faculty, said. Three of the courses, Introduction to Women’s Studies (WGS 200), Psychology of Women (PSY 350) and Women in World Perspective (SOC 303), can be counted towards Group B requirements or the history and social sciences and one course, Women Writers (ENG 233), can fulfill an arts and humanities requirement, she said. Before, these courses were only available as part of the Women’s Studies minor, general electives or a major discipline area. “Having Women Studies’ as general education distribution requirements makes them more accessible to students,” Dr. Karen Howe, Women’s Studies coordinator and assistant professor of psychology, said. “It’s a statement by the college that it’s important that students take courses that deal with women’s lives honestly and

openly, past and present,” Shanler said. Howe said she hoped that eventually the subject matter of the Women’s Studies courses would be part of the rest of the college curriculum. The lack of focus on women in traditional courses led to the development of the Women’s Studies program, she said. “The idea behind Women’s Studies courses in general is that many different fields have been very male oriented; the research has usually been done by men and the people who were studied often were men, Howe said. “So the male experience is really what has been studied in these fields.” “What Women’s Studies courses do is try to make up for the male bias by exploring women’s lives, studying research by women and focusing on various influences in women’s lives,” Howe said. “In Women’s Studies, you see people being able to use the information and ideas in their own lives, to deal constructively with relationships at word, at home and literally to make things better.” Most of the men who take the class also reap rewards from them. Howe said they learn about women, about themselves and about relationships with women. The number of male students in the Women’s Studies courses is very few. “They are reluctant to take the course. Some women are afraid to take the course as well.” Women who do take the courses usually feel more positive about themselves. Shanler said. “Women become more sure and more assertive Often they explore and reevaluate their relationships, values and career aspirations,” she said.

The Culinary Club Presents...

Lions Plate

Left: Olive green utility jackets spice up neutral outfits. Right: Versatile bags are an essential wardrobe component. By Lexy Yulich Columnist As fashion trends come and go, it is important that you have a few staple pieces in your wardrobe to complement the edgy leather jacket or stylized denim you bought on a whim. I created my wardrobe by finding a few timeless pieces that can go with any outfit, and then built up from the basics to create my own signature style. Here are five wardrobe essentials that every college student needs. 1. Collection of neutral t-shirts. V-neck or crew neck t-shirts pair well with essentially any outfit, and they are very comfortable. I love pairing a soft black tee with ripped jeans and a cream cardigan. 2. Olive green jacket. These jackets come in an assortment of styles such as bomber, tailored and even leather or suede. I purchased mine from Nordstrom about four years ago, and I’ve been wearing it almost everyday. You can dress up the jacket or wear it casually. While I wear my olive green jacket with many outfits, I like to pair mine with comfortable leggings, grey

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suede slip on sneakers and a t-shirt. 3. Form fitting jeans. As much as I love ripped or embroidered jeans, it is important to have at least one pair of regular denim jeans. I personally gravitate toward dark wash jeans over light wash because it is easier to dress up dark wash jeans. I try to find jeans that are comfortable and soft, but still fit my body type. 4. Little black dress. You truly never know when you are going to need a black dress. Little black dresses come in many styles, so you can find one that suits your preferences. For example, I am under five-feet tall, so I need a more tailored look with a shorter hemline. 5. Versatile bag. Having a staple purse or tote bag is just as important as essential wardrobe pieces. I’ve never been one to own a lot of purses. Instead, I save up for one purse and use it for years. I love having a bag that is fit for any occasion. Currently, my favorite purse is a large black tote bag that I purchased from Nordstrom. It is big enough to hold my laptop, keys, wallet, notebook, planner and any other random items that I carry around.

Rich Dark Chocolate Bark

Left: Adding crushed nuts to chocolate bark adds a rich, salty flavor. Right: Cherries are a sweet complement to bittersweet dark chocolate.

By Julia Dzurillay Columnist

We’ve all heard rumors about the health benefits of dark chocolate, but most chocolate lovers will tell you that the real reason they flock to this dessert is because of its smooth, rich taste. This week, Lions Plate incorporates this delicious dessert with a quick and easy dark chocolate bark recipe. There are many ways to make chocolate bark — my family makes peppermint bark with melted white chocolate and crushed candy canes during the holidays. This recipe, however, uses dried cherries and roasted pistachios to bring both sweet and salty elements to rich, bittersweet dark chocolate.

Makes: Six servings

Ingredients: 1 cup roasted shelled pistachios 3/4 cup dried cherries Zest of one orange 1 tsp sea salt 1 tbsp coarse sugar (optional) 24 oz. dark chocolate chips Directions: 1. Pour pistachios in a large plastic bag and seal it. Using the back of a spoon, smash pistachios until most of the

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pieces are broken in half. Add dried cherries, orange zest, sea salt and coarse sugar. Shake bag until ingredients are mixed well. 2. In a microwave, melt dark chocolate chips in 30-second intervals until smooth. 3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Pour melted chocolate onto baking sheet. 4. Coat chocolate with pistachio-cherry mixture. Add more sugar, if desired. 5. Place in refrigerator to harden for at least one hour. 6. Remove bark from refrigerator. Using a knife, cut bark into large chunks. 7. Enjoy!