Massachusetts Daily Collegian: Feb. 27, 2014

Page 1

JUST ENOUGH SCRUFF

A WIN IS A WIN

UMass escapes with 70-67 win against Rhode Island.

Love beards? Check out Emily Brightman’s review of Rouge’s Beard Beer.

PAGE 8

PAGE 5

THE MASSACHUSETTS

A free and responsible press

DAILY COLLEGIAN DailyCollegian.com

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Serving the UMass community since 1890

News@DailyCollegian.com

Redefining the term ‘manhood’ Active Minds hosts discussion Club talks about eating disorders By Marleigh Felsenstein Collegian Staff

Editor’s Note: One of the members of the panel currently works for the Massachusetts Daily Collegian. This in no way influenced the writing of this article.

ROBERT RIGO/COLLEGIAN

Ted Bunch spoke about social norms for men and ending violence against women on Thursday.

By Julia Mclaughlin Collegian Correspondent

Ted Bunch, an internationally-recognized educator and activist on ending violence against women, spoke to UMass students on Thursday about challenging social norms and redefining manhood in today’s society.As cofounder of A Call to Men, a national movement focused on the prevention of domestic and sexual violence towards women, Bunch offered insight into “healthy masculinity.” In his talk, he allied his own organization with V-Day, a global movement to end this violence, which has been gaining awareness on college campuses for the past 15 years. The main focus of the talk involved inspiring men to break stereotypes and re-

analyze the way they view their identities as men. He stressed the role of men in preventing violence against women. Bunch used personal accounts, academic research and engaging conversation to connect with students. Often throughout the talk, he surveyed the crowd by asking questions related to gender stereotypes and the way men typically view women today. In this way, he explained socialization and how it impacts all of us, especially young adults, on such a significant level. He initially described a hypothetical situation of a six-year-old boy playing football who is told at a young age that he “plays like a girl.” Bunch then discussed not only how this statement places women on an inferior

level, but also how it reinforces social discrimination against girls and women. He furthered the analysis of male socialization by describing how boys are expected to be tough and “be a man,” while never showing their weak side. Because of these harsh expectations, Bunch argues, males suppress emotions at a young age, which heightens their frustration later on in life. Bunch also analyzed the role that history plays in the way stereotypes and discrimination against women engender and how this root in social distinction still affects us in the 21st century. He highlighted the universality of discrimination against females while evaluating the intersectionality of sex, gender and sexuality of socialized men.

‘Stand your ground’ law still debated Verdict in Florida challenges statute By JeFF Weiner Orlando Sentinel

ORLANDO, Fla. — Two years after Trayvon Martin’s death, Florida’s “stand your ground” law remains a flash point in a still unsettled national debate over the limits of self-defense. After a Jacksonville jury this month failed to decide whether Michael Dunn murdered 17-yearold Jordan Davis, the same questions about the law surfaced anew: Is it too vague or too confusing? Is it being applied as the Legislature intended? And what role did it play in George Zimmerman’s acquittal and Dunn’s partially hung jury?

As lawmakers prepare to begin their springtime session, the head of a key committee has vowed not to change “one damn comma.” But others – including the law’s author and Zimmerman’s former attorney – have suggested it could use some tweaking. And like Martin’s parents before them, Jordan Davis’ parents have vowed to seek changes to what they say is a flawed selfdefense law in Florida. Though Zimmerman claimed he shot 17-yearold Trayvon Martin in self-defense Feb. 26, 2012, his defense lawyer consistently disputed the notion he was using a “stand your ground” defense. Attorney M a rk O’Mara contended that Zimmerman was being pummeled when he opened

fire, and had no option to retreat. A debate was born: Was Zimmerman’s a “stand your ground” case or one of traditional selfdefense? O’Mara says that true “stand your ground” cases – in which the shooter could retreat but doesn’t represent “an overwhelmingly small percentage” of self-defense cases: “The minuscule exception was defining the terminology.” But Zimmerman’s jury instructions contained some key language: that he “had no duty to retreat and had the right to stand his ground” if he “reasonably believed” it was necessary to prevent great bodily harm or death. The same language appeared in the instructions for Dunn’s jury, which failed to reach a versee

FLORIDA on page 2

In recognition of this talk, UMass is holding another event, “Are You Man Enough to Talk About Masculinity,” a conversation on fostering healthy masculinity in the UMass community. In conjunction with Massachusetts White Ribbon Day, this effort will take place on March 6 at 7 p.m. in the Commonwealth Honors College Residential Community Events Hall, and is open to the public. The event, held in the Student Union Ballroom, was sponsored by a variety of organizations, including Hampshire College, Amherst College and the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, as well as a variety of on-campus UMass groups. Julia McLaughlin can be reached a jmmclaughlin@umass.edu.

To raise awareness about eating disorders during National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, the University of Massachusetts club Active Minds held a panel discussion about eating disorders and how to beat them on Tuesday night. The panel had three speakers – Kate and Milana, who are both current UMass students, and Angela Rowan, the director of the Walden Behavioral Care clinic in Northampton. Kate, a freshman journalism and public health major, told her story about her experiences with an eating disorder. She has been diagnosed with EDNOS, or Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, which she developed in high school. She said that, one day, “guided by magazines and media,” as well as ideas like “thinspiration,” she decided that she was going to “eat healthy and exercise.” The concept of thinspiration can refer to anything that a person uses to motivate themselves to get thin, such as the well known quote from supermodel Kate Moss, “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.” Kate talked about how

“The understanding of eating disorders has evolved.” Angela Rowan, director of Walden Clinic easy it was to become obsessed with an eating disorder and how dieting can get out of hand. She also said that she did not think that her disorder was a problem, as she did not appear “skin and bones.” “Skin and bones is a stigma,” she said. Milana, a sophomore who studies psychology, was born and raised in Russia. She said that she had grown up in a strict culture, and when she developed Bulimia nervosa, her parents did not understand how severe this illness was. Milana said that she was always very hard on herself, and her gymnastics coach said that she should lose weight. One night after purging too hard, she remembers thinking, “This is it, this is how it is going to end.” She told her high school guidance counselor about her illness, and eventually told her parents and began going to therapy in the Walden clinic. The panel also discussed what eating disorders are, how to treat them and what to look for in order to identify one. Angela Rowan, the director of Walden, said that she began to work with eating disorders after taking a class in college about them. “The understanding of eating disorders has evolved,” she said. Eating disorders can see

PANEL on page 2

Meghan McCain to speak at Mt. Holyoke Resilience is a major In her talk, McCain will be discussing what it is like to be a Republican and how people topic for speaker By Marleigh Felsenstein Collegian Staff

Meghan McCain, daughter of Senator John McCain, will be speaking at Mount Holyoke College on Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. in the Gamble Auditorium in the Art Building. Educated at Columbia University, McCain is a young republican and blogger with political views following in the footsteps of her father, who ran for president in 2008 against current commander-inchief Barack Obama. In her talk, McCain will be discussing what it is like to be a Republican and how people reacted when she spoke about being a one. McCain is often quoted saying, “I am concerned about the environment. I love to wear black. I think govern-

reacted when she spoke about being one.

ment is best when it stays out of people’s lives and business as much as possible. I love punk rock. I believe in a strong national defense. I have a tattoo. I believe government should always be efficient and accountable. I have lots of gay friends. And yes, I am a Republican.” She will also be talking about how she influences people, particularly women and younger voters. McCain is the author of three books, including a children’s book about her father. She has appeared on television programs such as “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” and, according to an article by Adam Sneed on Politico. com, McCain is planning to host a weeknight news talk

show with Jacob Soboroff called “TakePart Live.” The program will be shown weekdays at midnight on Pivot. McCain is currently a columnist for The Daily Beast and began appearing as a contributor for MSNBC in 2011. In 2013 she began hosting a show on Pivot called “Raising McCain,” in which she uses her personal experience to address issues facing Americans aged 18 to 34. McCain’s speech is sponsored by Mount Holyoke’s Weissman Center for Leadership, and it will be free and open to the public. Marleigh Felenstein can be reached at mfelsenstein@umass.edu.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
Massachusetts Daily Collegian: Feb. 27, 2014 by Massachusetts Daily Collegian - Issuu