Little Hawk Feature Magazine

GIRLS IN GOWNS

21 09

volume 78 | february 14, 2019 | city high school

DESPITE GROWING GENDER EQUALITY IN COLLEGE, DISPARITY STILL LINGERS

Hello, dear readers, Happy Valentine’s Day! This publication is a fun mix of Valentine’s Day date ideas, sweet recipes, and more serious subjects. We hope this magazine brings a smile to your face and enlightens you at the same time. We’ve certainly enjoyed putting it together. Wherever you are in your love life—maybe you’re dating someone, maybe you’re single—we hope you remember that today is a day to appreciate your loved ones. Give a call to a grandparent, younger cousin, parent...they’ll appreciate it.

Thank you for picking up 2109 and at least making it to the inside cover. Also, make sure to check out the “Teachers Give Love Advice” video that will be up on The Little Hawk. We wish you a lovely day, and if nothing else, you know there will be discounted chocolate EVERYWHERE tomorrow!

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table of contents 4

DEAF: NOT DISABLED

by Rachel Meehan, Ruth Meehan

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FOOD FEATURE: RED VELVET CUPCAKES

by Zoe Miller

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WHAT SHOULD I TELL MY DOCTOR?

by Zoe Miller

GOTH LOVERS

by Zoe Butler, Olivia Lusala

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CUTE DATE IDEAS IN IOWA CITY

by Maya Durham

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LOVE ADVICE

by Maya Durham

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Deaf: Not Disabled.

Common misconceptions, an in-depth history, and everything you never knew about deaf culture

By Rachel & Ruth Meehan

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ART BY MAYA DURHAM

he term “Deaf culture” is something most have never heard of. Most people don’t realize that it even exists. People have heard of, and are familiar with, terms such as pop culture, Black culture, and jazz culture. Deaf culture, however, is something that isn’t often recognized nor studied, though its impact affects thousands of lives on a daily basis.

To fully explore the world of deaf culture, we must first understand what exactly it is. According to “Introduction to American Deaf Culture,” by Thomas K. Holcomb, deaf culture is a tight-knit community that a deaf person is born into. Deaf culture is known as being an incredibly strong community, filled with resources for people to enhance their visual communication skills, speaking skills, and a place to increase their signing skills.

“Deaf culture is about Deaf people’s own community, language and shared experiences,” said Brenda Falgier, a Deaf professor at the Kirkwood Community College.

The traditional way society views deaf people is only in what they don’t have—the capability to hear. Not only does Deaf culture accept deaf people, but it actively encourages pride in being deaf. They do not focus on what they don’t have; rather, they explore the community surrounding them, making their own version of the world.

Some people refer to this “different world” as Eyeth. EARth is described as the place where people use their EARs to communicate, and EYEth is described as a world where people use their EYEs to communicate. Using this terminology, people in the Deaf community bond and feel more connected to each other.

Even though people in Deaf culture are extremely close within their community, there is no “initiation” to join the Deaf culture.

“I didn’t just become involved [in Deaf culture], I lived it. That was just my daily life experience. There was no getting involved. It’s a part of who I am,” Falgier said. “That’s my community. For a hearing person, how do they get involved in hearing culture? They just live in it. It’s just their world. It’s the same thing for Deaf people.”

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Though Deaf culture is known for being very inclusive, several prominent stereotypes can be linked to this community. Stereotypes are a huge part of life, regardless of who you are or where you come from. They are known to negatively affect a person or group of people, and spread exaggerated or untrue facts about them. Unfortunately, deaf people face stereotypes all the time. For example, when people hear the word Deaf, they often associate it with a disability or the condition in which someone is not able to hear.

When asked about her initial reaction to the word ‘deaf,’ Sierra Josephson ‘21 said, “I think of [deaf] as a disability because they are missing out on the ability to hear.”

Josephson’s reaction is very similar to what many people said. The typical view of deaf people is pictured as lonely, isolated individuals with close to no education and no employment.

An interesting fact about deaf culture is the difference between Deaf and deaf. Deaf (capital d) is a general term used to describe people involved in the deaf culture. This includes all people, regardless of how much that individual can actually hear. The word deaf (lowercase d) is a word used to describe a person’s lack of hearing.

Though this kind of terminology is not widely practiced, it still sets the Deaf culture apart from other popular groups in the community today.

In reality, being Deaf is so much more than the stereotypes that society exhibits.

“Hearing people tend to be more surface level [in conversations],” Falgier said.“Deaf people want to really get into things and talk about the details.”

Stereotypes against deaf people have been part of Deaf culture for years. Deaf people however, have developed their own opinions and thoughts on hearing people throughout the years. In the book “Introduction “DEAF CULTURE IS ABOUT to American DEAF PEOPLE’S OWN D e a f C u l t u r e , ” COMMUNITY, LANGUAGE, AND EXPERIENCES.” the author Thomas K. Holcomb BRENDA FALGIER

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asked his deaf students how they think hearing people differ from deaf people.

Some of the student responses included, “Hearing people talk without looking at each other, hearing people knock on the door before entering, hearing people need to listen to listen to music while on hold,” and “hearing people feel bad for deaf people.” These are examples of things that hearing people do on a day-today basis, rarely recognizing that many people in society don’t participate in these everyday activities.

Most people recognize the name Alexander Graham Bell for his accomplishments involving inventing the first telephones. America views him as a hero. In the world of Deaf culture, his name actually brings an antagonist’s perspective to the way people used to view Deaf culture.

To many people’s surprise, he is actually an evil character in the history of deaf culture.

Alexander Graham Bell once said, “We need to teach deaf people to forget that they are deaf.”

During his lifetime, Alexander Graham Bell made himself known as an accomplished inventor and scientist, as well as an extreme oralist. Bell believed that deaf people shouldn’t use sign language, because it marked them as “different.” This is very surprising, when you uncover the fact that his mother and wife were both Deaf. Mabel Gardiner Hubbard, the wife of Bell, was his student and one of the first deaf children in the United States to be able to lipread and speak. Many deaf people prefer not to speak to hearing people, as it implies a two way form of communication while the deaf person cannot actually hear them.

“It’s a resistance among hearing people thinking that deaf people must speak,” said Falgier.

Bell believed that signing prevented deaf children from learning how to speak. He also supported schools where deaf children were taught how to lip-read, use rhythm, and speak.

Bell taught at a school in Boston and was

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determined to provide deaf children with a language they could use to better communicate with others. To accomplish this, Bell took to oralist methods of teaching. This involved using mouth vibrations, mouth shapes, and lip-reading through immense repetition. The goal in this was to provide deaf children with the ability to communicate using speech and lip-reading rather than sign “I DON’T THINK THAT MY language.

In FAMILY RELATIONS HAVE reality, less than BEEN AFFECTED BY THEM 20 percent of Deaf people BEING DEAF BECAUSE I’VE can lip-read.

NEVER EXPERIENCED HAVING Lip-reading is A HEARING FAMILY. I’VE ONLY so difficult is EVER HAD A DEAF FAMILY AND because letters look very similar THEY’RE PRETTY GREAT.” on the lips while they make very TAYLOR FALGIER different noises.

Most schools that taught these methods were opened in the 186070s, many of which were boarding schools.

In addition to Bell’s impact on deaf education, he also believed that deaf people shouldn’t get married, so they wouldn’t have deaf children and pass the ‘deficient’ genes to another generation. This concept was entirely false. 95 percent of deaf children’s parents are hearing and most deaf parents have biological hearing children. Many deaf children during this time period went to speech therapy in the hopes that they would be able to speak like a hearing person. Some children had lots of success, but others didn’t. Sometimes the speech therapists would accuse a child of being lazy or not trying if they couldn’t advance as fast as the other children.

“My therapists would say, ‘You the other team, who were also deaf “I NEVER THINK THAT THERE IS told me you were going to practice, and knew sign language, couldn’t SOMETHING MISSING FROM WHO see the plays. This method spread right? Then you’ll be able to talk I AM. THERE IS NO LOSS. I WAS like a hearing person.’ But I was fed rapidly throughout the football false information,’” said Falgier. community. The huddle is now a BORN INTO WHO I AM” In these speech therapy sessions, staple in professional and college children were often excluded if they level football leagues. This tactic BRENDA FALGIER couldn’t speak as well as the others benefited both deaf and hearing in the class. players.

“The students who did very well However, football is not the only speaking would be chosen to be part of a play or skit, and sport affected by deaf players and sign language. Another those of us who weren’t very successful would be left out,” sport is baseball. In the game, the umpire will call balls, said Falgier. strikes, being safe or out with not only their voice, but with In the early 1800s, education and training opportunities their hands as well. Dummy Hoy was a deaf baseball player for the deaf were very limited. Parents of deaf children who played for three different teams during his time in the were unaware of the capabilities of their children and majors. Hoy was the reason that the umpires started using did not know the best way to get their children an their hands to call the plays. Hoy went on to umpire games education. Deaf people did not know all that they could for Deaf teams, and is now an important figure in the deaf do or what they were capable of. It was understood that community. deaf children were incapable of receiving an education Nowadays, society believes deaf people are incapable at all. This all changed in 1817 when Thomas Hopkins of being independent and finding a permanent lifetime Gallaudet opened the first permanent deaf school in carer that provides for them and their families. Many Deaf America in Hartford, Connecticut: the Paris Institution people pursue a variety of different professions such as being for the Deaf. This school only had seven students and teachers, scientists, actors, directors, mathematicians, and one teacher. Though the Paris Institution for the Deaf so much more. If a mother gives birth to a deaf child, it is was recognized as a small school, it acted as the building perceived to the hearing world as a great loss and should be block for future deaf schools and colleges across America. pitied, as that family will face many hardships in caring for Many deaf schools in the past used the method that their disabled child. In Deaf culture, giving birth to a deaf Alexander Graham Bell supported, the oralist method of child is looked highly upon. People also look at children of teaching, and did not teach sign language to deaf students. Deaf parents as uneducated and outcasts in society.

Most outlawed the use of sign language completely. One Taylor Falgier, the daughter of Brenda Falgier, said, “I school that used similar methods and rules was the Clarke don’t think that my family relations have been affected by School for the Deaf. Teachers and professors at the Clarke them being Deaf because I’ve never experienced having a School for the Deaf used speech training as the main hearing family. I’ve only ever had a Deaf family and they’re education method for deaf children. Not only did this pretty great!” prevent children from learning their native language, sign Deaf culture is virtually unknown to the world of language, but this also prevented deaf teachers from being hearing people. Many don’t know the full extent of the employed at schools that taught using oralist methods. impact and history of the culture, even though Deaf culture Deaf culture has influenced millions of people around has impacted millions of lives around the world, and done the world, hearing and Deaf people alike. One example numerous things to make this world a better place for both of this connection is something that lots of people have hearing and Deaf people. heard of and taken part in: the football huddle. The huddle “There are two views of Deafness,” Falgier said. “One was invented at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., is viewing it as a deficit, that there is something lacking in by a man named Paul Hubbard. Gallaudet is a school for that Deaf person [who] can’t hear. But me as a Deaf person, the Deaf and the hard of hearing. Paul Hubbard played who was born Deaf, I never think that there is something football at the university in 1892 and came up with the missing from who I am. There is no loss. I was born into huddle. The team would huddle and sign to each other so who I am.”

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Red Velvet Cupcakes A sweet Valentine’s Day treat to share with loved ones YIELD: 18 regular-sized cupcakes CUPCAKE INGREDIENTS: 1 stick unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled 3 tablespoons canola oil 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1 cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs + 1 large egg yolk, at room temperature 1 cup all-purpose flour, not packed 1/4 cup cornstarch 2 and 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar 1/2 cup buttermilk 1/2 cup full fat sour cream 1 tablespoon red food coloring (use more or less to suit your color needs) FROSTING INGREDIENTS: 8 ounces cream cheese, VERY soft 2 ounces unsalted butter, VERY soft 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 3 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted (more if needed to reach preferred consistency)

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PHOTO BY ZOE MILLER

CUPCAKE INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 12-cup cupcake/muffin tin with cupcake liners and lightly spray the liners with non-stick spray. Set aside.

2. Place the butter in a large, microwave-safe bowl. Place the bowl in the microwave and melt the butter, heating it in 30-second increments, stirring in between. Add in the oil and vanilla and whisk smooth. Add in the sugar and whisk until well combined. Add in the eggs and egg yolk, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the flour, cornstarch, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt to the wet ingredients and lightly combine them with a whisk before beating them into the mixture, stirring until it's just combined (be sure not to over-mix here). Whisk in the apple cider vinegar and buttermilk and whisk smooth. Fold in the sour cream. Finally, stir in the food color, whisking the mixture just until combined.

3. Divide the batter among the lined cupcake molds, filling each 3/4 of the way full (you will have enough batter for about 18 cupcakes). Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.

FROSTING INSTRUCTIONS: In a large bowl using an electric handheld mixer, beat the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla on medium-high speed until completely smooth, about two minutes. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the sifted confectioners' sugar and salt. Once all of the sugar has been added beat on high-speed for one to two minutes. Once the cupcakes have completely cooled, spread the frosting over the cupcakes or use a piping bag to pipe it into decorative swirls. Store these cupcakes in the fridge, covered, for up to three days.

Recipe courtesy of Baker by Nature

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ART BY KATE GOODVIN

What should I tell my doctor?

The United States healthcare system is complex. Through those complexities, teenagers can get lost in understanding what their rights are...specifically ,what stays confidential

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By Zoe Miller

eenagers navigate a sea of choices as they grow up. This includes their healthcare. Some of the different questions teens may face include: Should I see a doctor alone?

Should I come out to my doctor? What should I tell my doctor?

“I’ll tell my doctor stuff about my sexual activity, but that took me a bit because I was scared about my parents or anyone in my family finding out.

If [doctors] say anything like, ‘Do you use drugs or alcohol,’ I say no even if that is the case,” Jane* said.

According to a recent study by The Journal of Adolescent Health only 43% of teenagers had a private meeting with their doctor. Many teenagers express nerves about sharing personal information to their doctor and having a parent in the room can height-

en those nerves. Many teenagers are unclear on what stays confidential between themselves and their doctor.

For many teenagers, the biggest question they have is, What should I tell my doctor?

“Ideally, everything, because it matters. If [the minor] is there with abdominal pain, it could be a sign of a sexually transmitted infection that won't be necessarily investigated if you’ve told [the doctor] that you haven’t had sex. We are kind of taught at med school to never believe a teenager, [to believe] that they’re all lying, but I know they all aren't,” Michelle Miller, MD, said.

Anything that is told by a minor to their doctor in private is considered confidential unless it has anything to do with the minor hurting themselves or others. According to Iowa law, a minor can be tested for

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sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy without having I’m sure your parents would love to have this information, but I'm their parents notified. Minors can also learn about contraceptive not going to tell them. Sometimes people say I'll tell them, but I care from their doctor and they can donate blood if they are 17 or want you to be in here. That's all protected,” Miller said. older. Conversations about running STI tests or At about the age of 12 to 13, doctors ask if the getting a pregnancy test are anonymous. However, patient would like their parent to leave the room.

“I’LL TELL MY DOCTOR While this is suggested to the parent, the parent if they are run through insurance, the parents will get the bill. While the parent can’t tell the result does not have to comply.

STUFF ABOUT MY of the test, it will show them that a test was done.

Doctors try to ask these questions in private, SEXUAL ACTIVITY, BUT The only exception to this is that HIV-positive rein hopes that minors are more likely to be honest THAT TOOK ME A BIT sults will be communicated with parents of the without a parent in the room, yet Miller has found BECAUSE I WAS SCARED sometimes it helps to have a parent in the room. minor.

If the minor wants to be sure their parents ABOUT MY PARENTS OR Miller asked a 13-year-old boy if he knew people don’t find out they were tested, they must pay ANYONE IN MY FAMILY who juuled while his mother was in the room. for the test themselves. While pregnancy tests are When he responded yes, it alerted the mother to FINDING OUT.” cheap and accessible through drug stores, STD start a conversation about juuling. Miller said the testing is more expensive. mother told her that they spoke about juuling on “If people really want to have that done confithe drive home.

JANE* dentially they need to go to Planned Parenthood The state of Iowa has some of the strictest aboror somewhere else, or be willing to pay for sometion laws in the country. One of them is specific thing like that out of pocket,” Miller said. to minors.

For teenagers, one of the reasons they choose not to tell their According to the Iowa Department of Health, minors cannot doctor everything comes from the fact that it’s personal. receive abortions without getting consent from parents or grand“I feel like it’s the way [doctors] bring it [sexual activity and drug parents 48 hours prior to the abortion. A judge can excuse a minor usage] up. They’re just trying to make conversation, but it makes me from telling their parents. The other way that an abortion could be uncomfortable and it’s in the realm of personal stuff so it's hard confidential would be if the minor is emancipated, has been marsometimes to share. They’ll say, ‘Oh, it’s for your own safety.’ But ried, or was ever married. my mind will say, ‘Oh, you can’t say that because that’s illegal,’” “I think it’s important that minors’ parents know what surgeries Jane* said. they are getting. Like I would nevDrug usage is also covered under er go get a surgery without asking patient confidentiality laws. my mom. I know that abortions OUT OF PEOPLE LIE “[Drug usage] is still covered unare a procedure not a surgery, but less they say that when they’re using I think you should be able to tell TO THEIR DOCTORS drugs they think they may kill someyour parents something like that, one or that they may harm thembut if certain people can’t it’s selves. That’s still all protected,” a good thing you can talk to a Miller said. judge,” Isabel Jones ‘19 said.

If a pregnancy test comes back When people turn 18, their positive, or a minor tells their docpatient confidentiality laws shift. tor they are pregnant, that is also still While everything is still confidenconfidential. tial, if they are still on their par“Even if [minors] come in and ents’ insurance bills, those tests they're pregnant, I can’t tell their parents without their permission. could be found by the parents.

Our conversation with the patient is that this information would be “After 18, people have the chance to sign something that says, best shared with [their] parents. It’s better to tell them than to have ‘My parents are privileged to information about me.’ A lot of them find out. You have this information, I have this information, 18-year-olds sign that not realizing that it does also cover the other

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things that they might not want their parents to have access to,” Miller said.

At the age of 18, some high-schoolers will transition away from a pediatrician. Each person’s unique needs change how many and what types of doctors they should go to. Some people choose to go to their pediatrician through their post-college years. There is not a medically necessary time for people to transition. Miller suggests that by the age of 21, women should be seeing a gynecologist.

“Generally, females would need to have their first gynecologist visit sometime before 21 but definitely by 21. Some women feel that is all they need and they don’t get an internal medicine doctor or family practice doctor. Some people like to go to the gynecologist for that only and then go for everything else to an internal medicine doctor,” Miller said.

People can stay on their parents’ healthcare plan until the age of 26. While this does mean a person’s medical records are connected to their parents’ insurance for longer, it doesn’t mean they lose their confidentiality.

“For most, it’s not an option to just get off [their parents’ insurance] because they want to not have this come up to their parents, because they don’t have other good options. Most people stay on as long as they possibly can,” Miller said.

People who are part of the LGBTQ+ community face another question: Should I come out to my doctor?

“It matters just a little bit more in the form of STD risks with males who are homosexual, because there are higher disease rates with male homosexual sex than female homosexual sex. Just because of anal sex, they need testing sooner and there is [a] higher risk of STIs,” Miller said.

For students who are unsure about coming out to their doctor, there are clinics that are specifically LGBTQ+ friendly. There is a sticker that these offices tend to have on their door. It is rainbow with the caduceus on it.

“Generally we’ve gotten better over the years of saying, ‘Do you have a boyfriend or a girlfriend or are you dating someone?’ instead of assuming opposite sex relationships,” Miller said.

To find more information about patient confidentiality laws, you can go to the Iowa Department of Health website, which has a more-indepth look. Those who identify as LGBTQ+ also can use the Center for Disease Control website to find resources for clinics and other hotlines. *Names have been replaced to allow for anonymity.

INFOGRAPHICS BY ZOE MILLER

“I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT THAT MINORS’ PARENTS KNOW WHAT SURGERIES THEY ARE GETTING. LIKE I WOULD NEVER GO GET A SURGERY WITHOUT ASKING MY MOM. I KNOW THAT ABORTIONS ARE A PROCEDURE NOT A SURGERY, BUT I THINK YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO TELL YOUR PARENTS SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT IF CERTAIN PEOPLE CAN’T IT’S A GOOD THING YOU CAN TALK TO A JUDGE.” ISABEL JONES ‘19

43%

OF TEENAGERS 15 TO 18 HAVE HAD PRIVATE MEETINGS WITH THEIR DOCTORS Infographic facts from Jama Open Network and Reuters

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GOTH

PHOTOS BY ZOE BUTLER AND OLIVIA LUSALA

LOVERS

Iowa City ideas for ev

By Maya Durham

winter Lunch at the Bread Garden A tour of the Natural History Museum Catch an independent flick at FilmScene Enjoy some pancakes at The Encounter Cafe Double date or just goof around while ice-skating

Spring Venture out to Red Vespa in Solon for pizza Compete with each other in bowling at Colonial Lanes Make each other some painted pottery at Fired Up! Enjoy retro vibes while roller-skating in Wellman Live out a 1980s movie scene at dinner at Hamburg Inn No. 2

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Area date very season Summer Swim at Lake MacBride Explore the farmer’s market Make a picnic in Hickory Hill Park, maybe in a hammock Catch some art, music, and local cuisine at the Arts & Jazz Fests downtown Make a picnic and a blanket and watch a cute, usually animated, movie at the Free Movie Series on the Pentacrest

Autumn Eat some turnovers and wander around Wilson’s Apple Orchard Take a yoga class together!

If the weather is bad, build a pillow fort in the living room and watch a cute movie! Chocolate milk and popcorn is encouraged See a free speaker at The Englert, or catch a play or band there!

Eat some falafel sandwiches at Oasis, and see a true Iowa City staple

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GIRLS IN GOWNS

By Mariam Keita and Rhys Holman

Institutional oppression in the college system of the United Sates has unique effects on the female population. More women go to college than men

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n America, there has been a history of discrimination in every facet of society based upon factors like race, gender, sexual orientation, and more according to many scholars. It has been particularly apparent in higher education, where, for many generations, there existed vast discrimination that reinforced inequality.

But in some areas, this is improving. According to Forbes, female students have outnumbered their male peers on college campuses since the late 1970s. Today, the nation’s public college student population is about 56.4 percent female, while private college enrollment is even higher, at 59.3 percent. Additionally, according to an article in the Washington Post, women earn the highest number of college degrees across the country. This is not only the trend nationally but has as well occurred here into Iowa.

“Historically I would say Iowa has been fairly split about 50 percent men, 50 percent women, if you’re looking at the sex binary,” said Danielle Martinez, an Associate Director in Academic Support and Retention at the University of Iowa. “I think that as time has gone on we’ve swung so we have more women than men about closer to 60 percent women and 40 percent men.”

This even extends to small, private, liberal arts colleges like Grinnell College. Located in a small town in Poweshiek County, Iowa, Grinnell has a student body composed of 55 percent women and 45 percent men. But the progress doesn’t end at who is going to college, but who is succeeding in college as well.

“For my graduating class of 2016, 82 percent of female students and 72 percent of male students graduated in four years,” said Katherine Tucker, an admissions officer at Grinnell.

Regardless of the success in that area, the fight for equity in higher education still has a long way to go. Issues like race and economic class are still detrimental for students seeking a college education all

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WHITE-BEAN PARMESAN SOUP

45%

55%

Grinnell College has a student body composed of 55% women and 45% men. 72% of male students and 82% of female students in the graduating class of 2016 graduated in four years.

around the country.

The racial inequalities in universities are shown in a 2015 report by the Brookings Institute which reported that nearly half of white women ages 25-35 had completed four years of college while only 24 percent of Black women had. In addition, Black women with degrees are also less likely to accumulate the same levels of wealth later in life as their white female counterparts.

Race and class still serve as instruments of inequality that, through multiple institutions, including universities, ensure that the current social order stays the same. Equality in one area isn’t enough if it doesn’t help other areas of structural inequality as well.

There is the risk of creating the illusion that enough progress has been made because of growth in one area, and those that aren’t helped ould be left behind.

At the University of Iowa between 2012 and 2014, first-year African American students had a 17 percent dropout rate, while white first year students dropped out at a 3-percent lower rate. As well on a national level white students graduated at a 17 percent higher rate than African American students and 13 percent higher than Hispanic students.

Race isn’t the only factor that correlates with higher dropout rates. Socioeconomic status also serves as one of the most important indicators of ability to go to college as well as succeed there.

According to Tucker, about 85 percent of enrolled students receive some form of financial aid, and in 2016 the college was ranked #1 for economic diversity among liberal arts schools in the United States, which is something that has resonated with students.

“The biggest thing that drew me to Grinnell, other than being good academically, was the socioeconomic diversity,” said Esme

Rummelhart ‘17, who is now a sophomore at Grinnell. “You get these kids who are from all over the board, but they all end up in this place, which makes a cool environment.”

The University of Iowa report found that students who received a Pell Grant had a 64-percent six-year graduation rate, while students who received no federal loans had a 76-percent graduation rate. These structural issues can even hurt students in the Iowa City Community School District as they pursue a college education.

One such case is Jade Merriwether, a genderqueer student who went to West High. Merriwether is in their second year of college studying Culture and Media Studies, with a minor in Urban Studies at The New School in Manhattan.

Growing up in a college-educated family, Merriwether never doubted that they would one day walk the grounds of a college campus, but this assuredness came not without its challenges.

“I was kind of following in the footsteps of my mother and my grandmother,” said Merriwether. “The logic that they used was, ‘You know it’s already hard for us. You know as Black women you’ve got to work a little harder in academic spaces, so you might as well put that foot forward and do what you can right now.’ They just wanted me to have the best options available to me.”

Merriwether’s college search eventually landed them at The New School, which boasts such alumni as Lorraine Hansberry, author of “A Raisin in the Sun.” It has a student body that is 74 percent female and describes itself as “progressive,” with ideas like challenging convention and analyzing power through creative thought being impwortant ideas that the college espouses.

“I really wanted to be a part of a school that prioritized thinking about the systems at play that are set up against marginalized

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groups, and also be inside of a larger culture of New York City ties, and an annual Social Class Awareness Week with panels and where I could explore those systems and actually live what I am workshop events,” said Tucker. learning in class,” Merriwether said.

Martinez also expressed the importance of, in some cases, focusMany universities acknowledge that their systems are not perfect, ing on specific areas of need in order to solve the structural issues and for that reason faculty and staff at colleges all around the coun- that exist in many departments within universities. try are thinking about ways that they can be more equitable and “We have WISE, which stands for Women in Science and Engibeneficial for all students. neering, so they take seminar class[es] together, they have peer men“I think the University [of Iowa] can always improve in different tors, and those types of projects and programs,” said Martinez. “I ways,” said Martinez. “There’s a lot of programs. There’s some that would love to see similar types go into things like neurobiology or are monetary-based and some that are more social- and emotion- computer science or business as we know that that those programs al-based, [including] Advantage Iowa, a scholarship program for don’t do as well with maintaining their students.” first-generation students or students of color and obviously...women However, even those institutions which are aware of issues with of color as they come in [are] maybe their campus and take an active high-achieving in high school, but stance in working to combat there might be a inability to pay so them can still find it difficult to there’s a scholarship program.” enact an effective response.

Advantage Iowa and programs “The [New] School does of support like it are what Martiits best, but can’t always reach “THE BIGGEST THING THAT DREW ME nez believe are key to improving where they need to reach beTO GRINNELL, OTHER THAN BEING the university system, not only for cause it’s such a fragmented GOOD ACADEMICALLY, WAS THE those that these programs help the campus,” Merriwether said.

SOCIOECONOMIC DIVERSITY. YOU most, but for everyone who has ac“There’s not really one place to cess to them. go, because it’s literally all over GET THESE KIDS WHO ARE FROM “There’s a wonderful researcher the city, so I think a lot of the ALL OVER THE BOARD, BUT THEY named Dean Spade out of Seattle support networks come from ALL END UP IN [ONE] PLACE, WHICH University that looks at the idea of the students.”

MAKES IT A COOL ENVIRONMENT.” the trickle-up effect. So if [colleges] Despite faults with univercenter [their services around] those sities, Merriwether does not [who] were most marginalized, then think these institutions should ESME RUMMELHART ‘17 those services also benefit everybe given up on. Their experibody, whether it’s providing more ence at The New School has free resources or providing access to helped them grow academically. things,” Martinez said.

Merriwether, along with MartiThis idea of trying to improve nez, finds that the value of coltheir campus and system is comleges is that they allow students mon in colleges around the country and central to what many at to find and develop their passions, and the focus of universities those universities think about when it comes to changes for the remains despite a shift in cultural values. school.

“I think the culture has shifted a little bit. I wouldn’t say dra“We are always looking to find new and improved ways of sup- matically, but...our focus is student success. Previously, as stuporting low-income students at Grinnell,” Tucker said. dents fell through the cracks, it would often be put on the stuThrough looking for solutions, sometimes similar conclusions dent like they didn’t do something right or something where are found. An example of this is in financial aid, which has a major we think the ownership is on us. If we admit students...we have role in both the University of Iowa’s and Grinnell’s efforts to com- an ethical obligation to support them and that’s really importbat socioeconomic inequality. ant to us,” said Martinez. “Not only reaching the expectations “In addition to providing financial support beyond the tuition laid down [for an] institution, but also their individual goals— package—e.g., increasing aid for study abroad, funding unpaid in- if folks want to be engineers or doctors or lawyers or go to PT ternships, making all campus events free—we offer a first-gen men- school that they can do that and we can support them and torship program, a textbook lending library, an “essentials” closet their journey of reaching their own academic and career goals.” for income-eligible students to pick up food and personal necessi-

19 | THE LITTLE HAWK

“I WAS KIND OF FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF MY MOTHERS AND MY GRANDMOTHER. THE LOGIC THAT THEY USED WAS, ‘YOU KNOW, IT’S ALREADY HARD FOR US. YOU KNOW AS BLACK WOMEN YOU’VE GOT TO WORK A LITTLE HARDER IN ACADEMIC SPACES SO YOU MIGHT AS WELL PUT THAT FOOT FORWARD AND DO WHAT YOU CAN RIGHT NOW.’ THEY JUST WANTED ME TO HAVE THE BEST OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO ME.” JADE MERRIWETHER, STUDENT AT THE NEW SCHOOL, MANHATTAN

FEBUARY 14, 2019 | 21

dating advice From City High students DISCLAIMER: The advice given was based on the personal experiences of City High School students. The advice may not work the same for everyone.

Don’t start anything if there’s not a real connection. Sometimes, you start flirting with someone because it’s a good way to just have some fun. Sometimes it’s because they’re paying attention to you and it makes you feel good about yourself. But somebody is going to get hurt if you enter a flirtationship or relationship without actually being interested, so as a general rule try and make sure your feelings are there before you do.

Always listen to what they’re saying, and always try to care.

When someone feels comfortable with you, they might start to open up about themselves...their past, insecurities, worries, and problems. If they feel comfortable with you, it means the world to them if you listen. Pay attention to what they’re saying, respond when it’s appropriate, and always always seem interested. It makes the relationship so much deeper and brings a lot more trust and security for that person when opening up in the future.

22 | THE LITTLE HAWK

ART BY MAYA DURHAM AND NOVA MEURICE

Don’t sweat the little bad things that other person does; just care about the big stuff. In a relationship, platonic or romantic, the other person is going to do little things to annoy you or make you mad—that comes with the territory. Try not to focus on the little things that rub you wrong if you can, focus on the big gestures—good and bad.

Focus on when they remember a little detail about you and put it into a grand gesture, or when they go out of their way when you’re feeling blue. It’ll make the relationship a whole lot more fun.

Put loyalty and honesty at the front of your priorities. In any relationship, it’s so important to be honest and loyal to your partner. If they do something to hurt you or to make you happy, tell them.

Openly communicate with them, and if they ask you to keep something between the two of you (if it’s not harmful), honor that request.

If you don’t love yourself, the universe will send you people who won’t love you back.

It’s a pretty well-known cliché that you can’t truly love anyone until you love yourself. Another one is that people accept the love they think they deserve. This doesn’t mean that if you don’t love yourself, you’re not capable of receiving or giving love; it means that you most likely won’t open yourself up to kind and healthy love. Be careful about accepting love that just almost makes you feel loved, versus love that actually goes the extra mile.

FEBRUARY 14, 2019 | 23

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