Equity

Valerie Reyes Editor-in-Chief valeriereyes@stfrancis.edu

Jessica Scroppo

Assistant Editor & Art Director jessicascroppo@stfrancis.edu

Saba Aamir Layout Designer sabaaamir@stfrancis.edu

Sarah Vandermolen Sports Editor sarahvandermolen @stfrancis.edu

Hannah Mitchell Commentary Editor hannahmitchell@stfrancis.edu

Noëllie Inard Entertainment Editor Rory Richards Advertising roryrichards@stfrancis.edu

Dr. Scott Marshall Advisor smarshall@stfrancis.edu

Elvia

Mielcarz

Jessica Scroppo Noëllie Inard Elvia Cardenas

Policies

The USF Encounter is published by the students of the University of St. Francis, 500 Wilcox Street,Joliet, Illinois, 60435. The newspaper office is located in room S413C of Tower Hall. The USFEncounter phone number is 815.740.3816.

As a member of USF Campus Media, the USF Encounter strives to produce a publication that stresses quality writingand design.By reporting on issues that may be sensitive in nature, the USF Encounter aims to educate, inform andpersuade students on topics that affect their lives on and off campus. Editorial pages provide USF Encounter staffwith opportunities to express thoughtful views on controversial topics. Letters to the Editor represent the opinion ofthe author and are not necessarily opinions of the USF Encounter Staff. Publications of letters to the editor are subjectto space availability and management discretion. Letters are also subject to editing. Letters to the editor or anyother submissions may be dropped off at the USF Encounter office or emailed to encounter@stfrancis.edu. The USFEncounter is printed by RICOH Services on the campus of the University of St. Francis.

As a Catholic university rooted in the liberal arts, we are a welcoming community of learners challenged by Franciscan values and charism, engaged in a continuous pursuit of knowledge, faith, wisdom, and justice, and ever mindful of a tradition that emphasizes reverence for creation, compassion and peacemaking. We strive for academic excellence in all programs, preparing women and men to contribute to the world through service and leadership.

Sarah Vandermolen

Valerie Reyes Saba Aamir

Hannah Mitchell

Jessica Scroppo

Noëllie Inard

Rory Richards

Letter From the Staff

Thank you for picking up the October edition of the USF Encounter “Equity.” In this issue, our staff hopes to address important issues, such as inequality, representation and diversity, while adding a student perspective.

Students at the University of St. Francis may have different opinions concerning topics that are "controversial." However, one thing is not controversial: these topics need to be discussed.

As a Catholic university, the USF Encounter also acknowledges the point of view of the Catholic Church. Below are excerpts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church relevant to what is being discussed in the "Equity" issue:

Homosexuality: "They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved" (2357).

Gender: “By creating the human being man and woman, God gives personal dignity equally to the one and the other. Each of them, man and woman, should acknowledge and accept his sexual identity” (2393).

Equality: "Every form of social or cultural discrimination in fundamental personal rights on the grounds of sex, race, color, social conditions, language, or religion must be curbed and eradicated as incompatible with God's design" (1935).

It is our hope that students and staff can read and discern the need for change and equity in our world.

All the Love, USF Encounter Staff

CAMPUS

By: Encounter Staff

The 31 Annual St. Francis Writers' Conference

The University of St. Francis will host the 31 Annual St. Francis Writers’ Conference on November 12, 2022.

Each year, undergraduate students from various schools, such as Lewis, Trinity Christian, Bradley and USF, present their 10 to 15 minutes abstracts to an audience of peers and professors. By participating in these presentations, students are provided with an opportunity to improve their writing and presentation skills.

This year, Tom Montgomery Fate will be the Keynote speaker. He is the author of six nonfiction books, including The Long Way Home: Detours and Discoveries, a travel memoir, Cabin Fever, a nature memoir

and Steady and Trembling, a spiritual memoir. Additionally, he is a regular contributor to the Chicago Tribune and many of his essays have also aired on National Public Radio (NPR) and Chicago Public Radio.

The submission for the conference is now closed. The genres of work classified for submissions were Literature, translation, comparative Literature, critical theory, film, creative writing, teaching English, history & politics, philosophy & theology, science writing, business writing and ecocriticism.

For more information, visit www. stfrancis.edu.

WCSF Mega Music Rummage Sale

University of St. Francis’ radio station, WCSF 88.7 FM, hosted its annual Mega Music Rummage Sale on Saturday, October 29.

Thousands of items were sold at the event, including vinyl LPs, CDs, DVDs, 8-tracks, cassettes, instruments, audio equipment and other music-related items.

The local community donated all items available to the public at the rummage sale to the radio station.

The station hosts the rummage sale every fall semester. All the proceeds go to support the educational mission of WCSF-88.7 FM.

The radio station is available to listen to on the radio and online at wcsf. streamon.fm.

Pictured left: Tables of records and donated media at the 2021 Mega Music Rummage Sale.

Photo: www.stfrancis.edu

Photo Courtesy of Cosme Lozano

USF Faculty Named 2022 Chicago CFO of the Year Awards Program Finalist

Julee Gard, Vice President for Administration and Finance at the University of St. Francis, has been named one of the six finalists for the Not-For-Profit Company Category of the 2022 Annual Chicago CFO of the Year Awards Program.

“I am honored and humbled to be named a Finalist in the 11th Annual Chicago CFO of the Year Awards," Gard said, "I am incredibly fortunate to be doing work that I love at the University of St. Francis – an organization whose mission and core values ring true to me. None of this would be possible without the group of talented professionals I am fortunate to call my team at USF."

The program hosted by the Chicago Chapter of Financial Executives International (FEI) will take place on Tuesday, November 1, at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile.

At the program, the Finalist and one Winner will be recognized in each of the following categories: Public Company, Large Private Company, Mid-Size Private Company, Small Private Company, Large Not-ForProfit Company, and Mid-Sized NotFor-Profit Company.

Visit www.chicagocfo.org for more information

USF To Host American Red Cross Blood Drive

The University of St. Francis will be hosting an American Red Cross blood drive on Tuesday, November 15.

The blood drive will run from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Assembly Hall Gymnasium at USF’s St. Clare Campus, located at 1550 Plainfield Road in Joliet.

To make an appointment, call 1-800RED CROSS or visit www.redcrossblood. org and using the “Give Blood” link, search “60435”.

You can also donate by using RapidPass which can save you up to 15 minutes. Visit www.redcrossblood.org/RapidPass for more information.

Consider making a Power Red donation if you have blood type, O, B – or A –donor as red blood cells are the most transfused blood component.

For additional information, please visit www.redcrossblood.org.

Photo: www.stfrancis.edu

Photo: www.pybuspublicmarket.org

LOCAL

By: Encounter Staff

Walmart's Next-Generation Fulfillment Center

On September 28, leaders from Walmart, government officials and community members joined Walmart associates in Joliet to celebrate the grand opening of Walmart’s 11.1M square-foot Next Generation fulfillment center.

According to www.businesswire. com, this new center will be the first out of four next-generation fulfillment centers that were announced this year to feature “a new patent-pending process powered by the combination of people, robotics and machine learning.”

Because of the new technologies available in this new Walmart fulfillment center, the speed of the process will be increased.

According to www businesswire. com, Walmart would be able to provide 75 percent of the U.S population with next or two-day shipping.

The New Walmart fulfillment center seems to ensure a promising experience for customers who can expect fast delivery time thanks to this new high-technology facility.

The AABA Separates from the Joliet Chamber

The Joliet African American Business Association (AABA) will become a separate organization on December 1, 2022.

According to chamber representatives, after several months of planning between the chamber staff and the AABA representatives, it is "with pride" that they announced this opportunity to the community.

AABA will continue to provide its actual resources such as business and economic development, job readiness,

professional development, and networking/special events.

The development of AABA into its own organization represents adequate and equitable support for all Black-owned businesses in Joliet and it means taking the next step “in realizing the potential of African American Businesses,” said Christopher Parker.

More details will be shared in the upcoming months regarding the transition of the chamber.

Photo:

Photo: AABA

What's With All the Construction on I-55?

On September 9, J.B. Pritzker, governor of Illinois, announced a $93 million investment in I-55 improvements and a new interchange with I-59.

This project aims to enhance safety, create jobs and promote economic opportunity in Will County.

The $93 million investment is all thanks to the Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan that was passed in 2019. Rebuild Illinois is not only considered the largest capital program in state history but also the first one that touches all modes of Illinois transportation.

Pritzker shared, “...we are making several capacity, access, and safety enhancements – all while building a new diverging diamond interchange

with Illinois 59. This major project to rebuild I-55 and Illinois 59 is an investment in our communities, in our families, in our workers, and in our future – one that is prosperous for all Illinoisans.”

The centerpiece of the project involves IDOT (Illinois Department of Transportation) building a new bridge to convert the I-55 interchange with Illinois 59 into a full-access, divergingdiamond design to improve safety and traffic flow, with the East Frontage Road relocated and reconstructed.

According to an article by Effingham Radio, “Auxiliary lanes will be added to I-55 between the Illinois 59 and U.S. 52 interchanges to improve safety by better accommodating vehicles entering and leaving the interstate.

The Illinois 59 intersection with Seil Road will be improved and modernized. Pedestrian access will be built across I-55, with the addition of sidewalks and a multi-use trail. New noise and retaining walls also will be built along I-55.”

Advance work started in 2021. The entire project is expected to take two full construction seasons to finish, with an anticipated completion date in late 2024 or early 2025.

The traffic environment may seem to be a mess now, but in the end, this project will serve the citizens of Will County as well as many others by making traveling easier, safer, and will promote economic opportunity.

Photo: www.shawlocal.com

www.nbcnews.com

Cuba Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage

On September 26, Cuba approved a referendum for a new "Family Code" that legalizes same-sex marriage.

The 100-page Code allows same-sex couples to marry and adopt children and extends protection for women, children and the elderly.

This reform marks a major advance for the communist-run island where the LGBTQ+ community has faced discrimination for decades.

According to www.apnews.com, 3.9 million Cubans (66.9%) voted in favor of ratifying the measure, which had more than 400 articles, while 1.95 million (33.1%) did not.

The evangelical movement and other Cubans strongly opposed the reform despite an extensive government effort supporting it.

Additionally, the country that usually has a high voting rate saw a 26% abstention rate at the referendum.

Cuba’s national election commission (CEN) data showed that the number of abstentions, blank ballots, null votes and "No" votes totaled 4.4 million, meaning that almost half of the population did not explicitly support the Family Code, according to www.elpais.com, a Spanish-

language daily newspaper. Experts stated that the blank and null ballots were part of the protests against the government rather than an opposition to the new Code.

According to www.elpais.com, some LGBTQ+ activists announced on social media that they would be voting "No” to protest the ongoing political situation in the country.

Regarding the opposition against the Code, President Díaz-Canel stated, "There are people who demonstrate against the Code, especially on social media, using vulgar and hateful language."

He added, "If the Code said the opposite of what it says, those haters would be criticizing it too. It is not a problem of convictions, reasoning, rationality or feelings; people adopt that position because they consider that if it is a Code within the Revolution, then it should not be valid."

The 100-page Code was subjected to hours of discussion in community meetings and more than two dozen drafts. The final version, which replaces the 1975 Family Code, recognizes step-fathers and step-mothers as legal guardians, allows surrogate pregnancies and forbids child marriages.

By: Saba Aamir Layout Designer

In an interview with Hypermedia magazine, prestigious jurist Julio Fernández Estrada described the new Code as a "very progressive law."

He also stated, "It is a Code for an ideal country, for the country I would like [to live in], but not for the country that exists in reality. We are fighting for bread and antibiotics and we have a hard time looking at the part of justice hidden underneath our material and basic survival."

According to www.bbc.com, the reform was the culmination of efforts by LGBTQ+ rights activists in Cuba.

Following the referendum results, many same-sex couples announced their engagement and celebrated the new Code.

Further, President Miguel Díaz-Canel tweeted, “Justice has been done. It is paying off a debt with several generations of Cuban men and women, whose family projects have been waiting for this law for years.”

It is the first step for a Latin-American country to have this law and allow samesex couples to adopt children. The new Code proves that the communist-run island is adapting to the recent times and showing progress and hope for other countries as well.

*The Catholic Church does not approve of same-sex marriage.

Photo: www.thedailycougar.com, www.apple.com

JOIN

By: Sarah Vandermolen Sports Editor

Movement

In 2017, the #MeToo movement founded by Tarana Burke in 2006 swept across all social media platforms and made victims of sexual abuse not feel alone. Every day, people come forward sharing their experiences on different platforms — even some celebrities such as Reese Witherspoon, Lady Gaga and Terry Crews have shared their stories.

Since then, social media has become more than just a place to share pictures of your vacation or to watch videos of cute animals. Apps such as Twitter, Instagram and TikTok have made it easier for people to amplify their voices and share their message to an audience.

Below are movements and organizations you should consider following and supporting on social media:

#TimesUp

TIME’S UP is a non-profit charitable organization that has launched several initiatives such as TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund, TIME’S UP Impact Lab and more. According to www. timesupnow.org, this movement focuses on creating, “...a world where everyone is safe and respected at work. A world where all women have an equal shot at success and security. A world where no one lives in fear of sexual harassment or assault.”

15 Percent Pledge

The Fifteen Percent Pledge is centered around getting more exposure for Black-owned brands. “Black people make up 15% of the US population. So, we asked businesses to dedicate 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned brands” explains www.15percentpledge.com. This movement is in partnership with Google, but other companies have pledged, including Sephora, VOGUE, Athleta, Old Navy and many more.

The Trevor Project

According to www.thetrevorproject.org, the mission of The Trevor Project is “to end suicide among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning young people.” This is a non-profit organization that offers support for the young members of the LGBTQ+ community. The Trevor Project hopes to “serve 1.8 million crisis contacts annually, by the end of our 25th year, while continuing to innovate on our core services.”

Although it does help to repost and share messages and videos on social media, nothing benefits these organizations more than actually going out and helping. Whether you donate, attend a rally, organize an event or volunteer for the cause, being an active member of these organizations is the best thing you can do to make a change and support the different causes.

LGBTQ+ INDIVIDUALS Stereotypes or Good

Equity lgbtq+ BL World Series

The representation of LGBTQ+ individuals in television shows has always been an issue in different countries. More recently, the representation of male-male relationships has become more prevalent across the world, predominantly in Asia with the creation of a sub-category of TV shows called Boy Love (BL). While the increased representation of non-heterosexual relationships is a big step for the LGBTQ+ community, there is quite a difference in the portrayal of those relationships across the globe.

Western countries have many stereotypes about homosexual men and the way they are expected to behave. We all know the white gay best friend background character who’s only included for comic relief; usually, their whole personality evolves around their sexual orientation. From Damian in “Mean Girls” to Kurt in “Glee,” being openly gay in American movies and shows means wearing pink, liking fashion and being overly dramatic. Masculinity in itself is a concept that, in the West, has been tied to values that tend to feed a patriarchal culture of toxic masculinity.*

In the same way, homosexual men in the media are almost exclusively white, allowing no representation for people of color in the LGBTQ+ community. When they are represented, they are tied to the same gay best friend role, known only for being gay.

An example of this phenomenon can be found in “Emily in Paris” with the character of Julien, or in “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” with the character of Lucas.

Some shows have built on this stereotype to give depth to the character as it is the case with Eric in “Sex Education.”

However, on a broader scale, racism and homophobia continue to obscure the entertainment industry that continuously left out people of color from the LGTBQ+ community and from any type of fair representation in shows and movies.

In the East, a new genre of TV shows has appeared in some countries, displaying more representation of the LGBTQ+ community, especially for males. Boy Love (BL) is a genre that portrays non-heterosexual men as first leads while also acknowledging them as human beings instead of making their sexual orientation their only persona.

Countries producing this content are Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand and South Korea. Through those TV shows, we can see how the perception of masculinity is different in this part of the world.

Male characters are just male characters, and some happen to have a sexual orientation that is not heterosexual. Making members of the LGTBQ+ community the first leads brings people to see that sexual orientation doesn’t matter that much. What matters is the story that unfolds on the screen. The lead actor in the Thai BL drama “Not Me,” Atthaphan Phunsawat, has talked about one of his scenes taking place during a huge rally for marriage equality : “...the actors and actresses in the scene were real LGBTQ+ members, with a strong desire for their rights, together with being underneath a real pride flag used in a parade, inspired me and my emotion” according to www.teenvogue.com.

INDIVIDUALS ON SCREEN:

Representation?

Series GL Encounter Tv Shows Movies

Nevertheless, an issue that seems to arise across many of those TV shows is the hypersexualization of male-male relationships. Indeed, some TV shows take it to the extreme, and to appeal to a majoritarian feminine audience, tend to hypersexualize the relationships between their characters. Moreover, the LGBTQ+ community as a whole has a history of being hypersexualized and objectified. Gay men are portrayed as having sex all the time, lesbians are fetishized by straight men, bisexual and pansexual people are assumed to be sleeping around and transexual people are perceived as predators.

One surprising thing about movies and TV shows portraying lesbian couples is that, despite having a history of being sexualized and objectified by people, lesbian relationships are not often portrayed on screen, even in Asia. When they are portrayed, they are usually a background couple as in the Korean drama “Nevertheless” or in the Thai BL drama “Bad Buddy,” which still portrays a heterosexual couple or men as the main leads.

Women in the LGTBQ+ community do not get the representation they deserve in the media, mostly because the media is biased by patriarchal values that still let men decide how and when it is decent for a woman to show her body and express herself. Few TV shows give queer women a true sense of representation, and as much can be said for bisexual, pansexual, transgender and cisgender people.

Progress has been made, and the two South Korean actors Park Seo Ham and Park Jae Chan winning an award for Best Couple in their BL “Semantic Error” is proof of it. However, even with this progress, there is still a long way to go until the entertainment industry stops stereotyping the LGBTQ+ community or stops using a special etiquette for shows that portray non-heterosexual main leads.

* The Catholic Church does not approve of homosexuality.

By: Noëllie Inard Entertainment Editor

LGBTQ+ good representations

Photo: www.transom.org

By: Saba Aamir Layout Designer

Break the Norms!

Have you ever experienced social pressure to behave a certain way? Well, that's because the patriarchal nature of our society makes you feel that way. Certain societal gender roles represent “acceptable” qualities of how men and women are supposed to dress, act and present themselves, and we are expected to act accordingly.

In our society, men are associated with strength, dominance and aggression, while women are associated with being nurturing, submissive and emotional.* These gender roles not only hold men and women to commonly held preconceptions and stereotypes but also restrict their capacity to grow personally, pursue occupations and make decisions about their individual lives.

Additionally, young boys and girls conform to these roles at a young age, which adversely affects how they develop into adults. According to www.usatoday.com, "The biggest myth perpetuated about gender, researchers found, is that once girls hit puberty, they are vulnerable and in need of protection to preserve their sexual and reproductive health, while boys are seen as strong and independent." Having children fit into society's expectations prevents them from developing their gender identity, finding their interests and expressing themselves.

I asked a University of St. Francis junior, Lissette Perez, how gender roles affected her growing up until now. She said, "Growing up, my dad always encouraged me to be more than what society expected me to be, but he does have this idea on how women should act and be like. I have had people tell me, mainly aunts and uncles, I should be more "feminine" or not hang around my boy cousins so much but I've never let it question who I am. I think gender roles are stupid because it has nothing to do with whether you're a man or woman but more of what you can and cannot handle."

Inequalities and unequal treatment are also sustained through wrongful gender stereotypes. For instance, in many workplaces, women are not treated equally to male employees and receive lower pay grades than men. In the world of sports,

feminine sports, according to www.thesporsjournal.com

Nowadays, people are challenging these gender roles. They point them out in various media mediums and speak up against sexist comments. Lissette Perez stated that Gen Z is the leading group of the change: "Gen Z is stepping out of the older Generation expectations and stereotypes, and they're doing it for themselves and no one else, and I am here for it."

Breaking gender norms allows people to express their best selves. It is admirable to see people challenge the stereotypes and build a society where everyone is respected equally because nobody should be forced to fit into a box of these expectations.

Photo: www.freepik.com

Photo: www.thevarsity.ca

Pink Tax:

Pink Tax:

A Markup We Can't Refuse

By: Jessica Scroppo Assistant Editor

If you walk down the aisles of a Walmart, you’ll see thousands of products on the shelves. There is packaging of all colors, shapes and sizes. However, there is one eyecatching color you can’t ignore – pink.

At this point in American consumerism, it comes as no surprise that marketers have a few tricks up their sleeves. If you aren’t in the know already, the same massproduced products are being color coded to appeal to different markets: men and women. The term “pink tax” has been around for several years to explain this phenomenon, as American women are continually paying the price.

According to www. healthline.com, the pink tax is “…an upcharge on products traditionally intended for women which have only cosmetic differences from comparable products traditionally intended for men.”

Men, when you go out to buy a razor, are you paying an extra $2 for it to be pink and not work as well? We women are. Love our luscious locks? We’re paying up to 48% more for shampoo and conditioner, according to www.healthline. com. Nearly every product women use is prone to an unnecessary upcharge.

Women often gravitate towards men’s products because

they are simply cheaper. Do we want to smell like Old Spice all the time? Not necessarily. However, a few dollars saved in the deodorant department can translate to a new mascara (which we also seemingly need to purchase).

The pink tax doesn’t stop at personal care products. A graphic t-shirt in the women’s department will most likely be double the price of one in the men’s department. This goes for socks and underwear too – things that need.

From a human perspective, it can be very frustrating to base our spending habits on factors we have no control over. However, it becomes even more frustrating to gravitate towards a pink product and refuse the purchase simply because it’s cheaper to go the dark blue route.

According to www.weforum.

“In the United States, one government study analyzed 800 gender-specific products from nearly 100 brands… the study concluded that “women are paying thousands of dollars more over the course of their lives to purchase similar products as men.”

Discrepancies in product pricing may be the least of America’s problems, but it is definitely something to “pink” about.

Mahsa Amini:What Happened in Iran?

By: Saba Aamir Layout Designer

Anti-government protests took place in various cities of Iran after Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman, died under the custody of the country's morality police. Now, you might be wondering why Amini's death sparked such intense and risky protests. It is all a result of the country's strict rules on proper hijab-wearing and modest clothing for women.

On September 13, Mahsa Amini was traveling with her brother to Tehran, Iran, when she was arrested by the "Guidance Patrol" for not complying with the country's hijab regulations. According to www.ohchr.org, the United Nations (U.N.) reports indicated that Amini was severely beaten by the Iranian authorities during her arrest and transferred to the Vozara Detention Center. Amini fell into a coma at the detention center and died in the hospital three days later on September 16.

Iranian authorities denied the reports and claimed that Amini died from a heart attack. However, Amini's family stated that she had no medical conditions that would have caused her sudden death. Due to this, the U.N. human rights experts have demanded the Iranian government investigate Amini's death and hold the perpetrators accountable.

Following the news of Mahsa Amini's death, thousands of people took to the streets of many Iranian cities, demanding accountability for the death of Amini, putting an end to

violence and discrimination against women as well as an end to compulsory wearing of the hijab. The protestors are doing this by taking off their hijab, burning it and cutting their hair off to show their opposition to the strict dress code for women in Iran.

By participating in the protests, Iranian women are putting themselves at risk. According to www.crikey.com.au, “… flouting the dress code can result in fines, prison or flogging — during these protests, already more than 80 people have been killed in the police crackdown.”

As the Iranian women bravely fight oppression and discrimination, social media is helping in getting their message across the world. Women are using social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok to show their support. In the videos, they are taking off their hijab and cutting their hair, just like the Iranian protesters. It is a powerful message that is being shared and copied worldwide.

The Iranian government tried to stop news of the protests from spreading online by shutting off mobile internet connections and interfering with data services; however, it is impossible for them to restrict the power of the internet. According to www.crikey.com.au, the protesters were aware that their government would attempt to take down the internet, so to get around it, they urged others to share their posts and messages using the hashtag #BeOurVoice.

Photo: www.theguardian.com

Photo: www.marcomelgrati.com

Regarding the protests and Mahsa Amini’s death, I asked University of St. Francis student, Sufia Atiq, how she feels about this. This is what she had to say:

“Women already go through enough battles in their dayto-day life and it is sad to see that, yet again, their rights are being wiped away. As someone who wears a hijab, putting it on is a big and difficult choice already for you. So, when people are being forced to put it on and harassed for not wearing it “correctly,” it brings pain to my heart as not only takes away all the meaning to the hijab but also what it stands for in people’s eyes.”

While the protests did begin with Mahsa Amini's death, it is much more than that. The stricter rules for Iranian women came after the Islamic Revolution of 1979. According to intpolicydigest.org, modernization was at its peak during the reign of the Shah of Iran before 1979. At that time, women were allowed to live the way they liked. They participated in society, availed educational opportunities and mixed with men the same way women in the west do.

Things changed for Iranian women after Ayatollah Khomeini, who favored conservative Islamic values, took over the country. Khomeini revoked all modern rules and women began to be treated as second-class citizens. They were required to stay home and only care for their children. The changes reached the point that women lost access to healthcare and had no protection or support from their families.

I asked one of the University of St. Francis’ history professors, Cathleen Schultz, what her thoughts and reactions were to the Iranian protests. She said, “Iran has experienced widespread protests like this in the past, but eventually they fizzle out because the Islamic government's control is too strong.”

As Iran has become a conservatist state after 1979, there are still, as Professor Schultz mentioned, “many highly educated people who are pro-western and chafe against the government controls” and are the ones who are “involved in the protests today.”

She further added that there are also “Iranians who are deeply traditional and conservative” and “don’t have a problem with the morality police that patrols Iran in search of women who aren't wearing the hijab correctly.” Based on this, the tension and split in Iran because of different thoughts and opinions is always going to be there.

However, the protests today may lessen the strict rules in Iran, and as Professor Schultz ended, “we’ll have to wait and see.”

By: Noëllie Inard Entertainment Editor

On Monday, September 26, 2022, Cuba legalized same-sex marriage. According to www.cbsnews.com, the family code that was voted protects women, children and the elderly while allowing LGBTQ+ couples to marry and adopt children. This marks a huge change for the LGBTQ+ community not only in Cuba but also in Latin America.

LGBTQ+ RIGHTS THE GLOBE

In Cuba, Mexico, Bolivia and Ecuador, LGBTQ+ individuals are constitutionally protected from discrimination based on sexual orientation. Regarding same-sex marriage, it is now legal in Cuba, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador and Argentina, the first Latin American country to legalize it.

.Although most western countries like the Europe Union, the Americas and South Africa allow same-sex marriage, not all allow adoption.* However, countries like Costa Rica allow more freedom for same-sex couples than the United States, which is supposed to be a more developed country. With the overturn of Roe v. Wade on June 22, 2022, the United States seems to have lost its title as a socially developed country.

Moreover, in August 2022, Uganda suspended the leading gay rights organization. In July 2021, Ghana proposed a bill giving ten years of imprisonment for individuals in the LGTBQ+ community and people who "advocate for their rights, express sympathy or offer social or medical support...," according to www.theguardian.com. This bill would not only send LGBTQ+ individuals to prison but also ban health care for trans people and ban LGBTQ+ individuals from fostering or adopting a child.

Another region of the world with fewer rights for LGBTQ+ individuals is Western Asia. In Afghanistan, Brunei, Iran,

Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen, homosexual activity is punished by the death penalty. Samesex activities have been outlawed by at least twenty Asian countries, while only certain parts of Israel, Cyprus and Taiwan have laws that protect LGBTQ+ individuals and allow them to marry. In fact, according to www.taiwantefl. com, in May 2019, Taiwan became the first Asian country to pass same-sex marriage legislation; however, same-sex

couples are still not allowed to adopt a child or use assisted reproductive technology.

Even though many other countries in Asia do not legalize same-sex marriage, according to www.news. un.com, countries such as Philippines, Thailand, South Korea, Japan and Israel have shown their support in a 2011 United Nations General Assembly declaration for LGBTQ+ rights, where countries were given a chance to express their support or opposition to LGBTQ+ rights.

In one of my previous articles, I talked about the development of a new entertainment genre called Boy Love (BL), a term used for TV shows with non-heterosexual male

first leads. The genre was developed in Asia and some of the countries that make the most out of this content are Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand. It is not surprising for a country like Taiwan to create content about homosexual relationships knowing its opinion on the subject. Still, for the other countries that don't have laws giving rights to LGBTQ+ individuals, it is surprising to see.

Nevertheless, even if BL is a way to open the discussion about homosexuality and share a different view of masculinity worldwide, not every country is ready to accept it. In 2016, the 15 episodes of Chinese BL "Addiction" was banned by the Chinese government. The show was removed from all Chinese websites three episodes before its season finale and the two main lead actors were banned from appearing on screen or at any event together.

Even though media plays a huge role in shifting the culture, the reality is that LGBTQ+ individuals don't have the same rights to love, freedom and expression as heterosexual people do. The LGBTQ+ community is still the target of many hate crimes, even in countries where laws protect their rights.

For countries that create a lot of LGBTQ+ content and make a lot of money in the entertainment industry because of it, it is hypocritical not to have laws that protect and give rights to LGBTQ+ individuals.

However, the popularity of this content shows a slow cultural shift in those countries and many actors who play in those BL TV shows have been more vocal about it. The openly gay actor, Paolo Pangilinan, from the Philippines BL, "Gaya Sa Palikula," stated, "BL is important in that it turns the knob. But there still lies a long way ahead, where you still must push the door open and get inside and stay in the frickin room and let people in" according to www.teenvogue.com.

Being a part of the LGBTQ+ community means being unable to be who you are. From a worldwide point of view, let's remind ourselves that LGBTQ+ individuals have been granted the right to marry since 2001 and in only one country, the Netherlands, which was the first country in the world to give LGBTQ+ individuals this right. Now, 32 countries in the world have legalized same-sex marriage.

Progress is being made but there is still a lot to do for LGBTQ+ individuals to acquire rights that heterosexual people are born with. We live in a world where countries sentence LGBTQ+ individuals to death for being themselves while legalizing marital rape among heterosexual couples.

* The Catholic Church does not approve of homosexuality.

The USF Encounter staff chose to title this issue with one word: "Equity."

Equity, as defined by Merriam Webster Dictionary, is justice according to natural law or right, specifically: freedom from bias or favoritism.

When looking at discrimination in all forms as it applies to all people, it is important to highlight that equity is as relevant as equality. The term equality is typically coined when referencing the LGBTQ+ community, minority groups and other underrepresented groups. However, the USF Encounter wanted to empasize and commemorate past and current struggles for justice by using the word equity.

Our greatest hope is that this issue respectfully acknowledges the challanges diverse groups face both in America and abroad.

Students from USF were asked two questions: “How do you feel about diversity on campus?” “Do you feel like you are represented?”

This was their response.

There's definitely diversity, yes, but it’s not the best. It can be so much better. Personally, I don’t feel represented. I kinda feel lost when I’m here, in the sense that I feel like my language and culture slips away. If that makes sense, you know? Having more people that value AND provide that representation. That would be an easy start, as a school, to provide value and acceptance of diversity.

Chloe

I feel that USF does a good job of representing everyone. Yet, sometimes, there are moments where I don’t feel represented in my major because of gender. Especially because all my professors are of the opposite sex.

Jaxton

Something I love is that the social work department started a scholarship fund last year for students of color in the major. I think more departments should do that. The school becomes stronger and richer when we have more diversity. Also, with Allison Heard leaving, I would like to see her replacement be a minority/POC and/or someone local to the area.

Sally

I believe that we are a predominantly white campus with non-inclusive views. We require every sports team to pray before a match without considering their religious beliefs and standings. A wide majority of professors on campus are white, and staff are minorities.The clubs on campus promote cultural differences, they tend to be overlooked unless they have a bigger presence on campus.

*All students were given fake names to protect their identities.*

Marla

Coffee and Conversation

Coffee and Conversation is a weekly hang-out that happens every Thursday from 3.30 PM to 4.30 PM. It's a time where International students gather and have the opportunity to hang out with each other and talk about different things.

There are usually weekly topics and we encourage international students who are in the English Learning Program (ELAP) to come and participate since it is a great opportunity for them to better their English without having the pressure of the accent/language barrier.

Though it is targeted at international students, every student and faculty on campus is welcome. It is especially great for everyone to discuss with others and learn about other cultures, traditions, and points of view. We usually have coffee, snacks, and game.

The goal of Coffee and Conversation is to bring students together and help students connect with one another. After COVID it was a little hard to bring back students in Coffee and Conversation, but we are slowly getting back into it this semester. So, don't hesitate to stop by at any point during the semester!

"Coffee and conversation was super fun since we tried to do something different every week!"

-Jessica, Student

"When new people came it was so exciting to invite them to join our little 45 minutes of just doing whatever!"

-Fernanda, Alumni

"Coffee and conversation was really helpful when I first arrived at the University."

-Noëllie, Student

Follow us on Instagram @usf_ipo for any updates related to International events and diversity on campus!

MONTHLY THEME: SERVINGS OF GRATITUDE

Gratitude and love can be shown in many ways and at Quest we put our hearts into both the food and the people we serve. In November, we will focus on

back to our team,

07 MONDAY WORLD KINDNESS DAY

students, and

To celebrate World Kindness Week, Quest is treating every student to a complimentary Sugar Cookie during their lunch period. Being kind is oh so sweet!

11 FRIDAY RED, WHITE, & BLUE

In honor of Veterans Day, Quest will create a patriotic fruit and yogurt parfait, using the red, white and blue colors of our flag in a fun and colorful way!

21 MONDAY NO PLACE LIKE HOME

During Thanksgiving week, students will have the opportunity to explore homestyle recipes and comfort foods that feature some of their favorite dishes of this holiday.

WORLD CUP OF CONTROVERSY

As the calendar turns from October to November, the sports world turns its attention to the world’s game at the World Cup. This attention comes with a hefty amount of consternation about the controversies surrounding this year’s games.

There are already ample concerns already occurring around this event: the heat, disruption to the normal World Cup schedule and the feasibility of Qatar adequately supporting the event. However, there are many more pressing questions that must be asked of the decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. This decision is made by Sepp Blatter, the former President of FIFA who is banned from all FIFA related activities as a result of a 2015 corruption case.

The celebration of sport is unequivocally in part due to meritocracy and the strident belief that the winner is the most capable of flourishing in a given arena—soccer is the most global exhibition of this trait. This is not a feature of the society this year’s Cup will be played in.

Qatar has invited more scrutiny for their human rights reputation in response to their successful bid in 2010 to host the 2022 World Cup. There are many unprecedented aspects of this year’s event, some of which are not related to the morality of the beholders, that can be of concern for the sporting fan.

The games have been moved to the winter months, for one, with the first match scheduled to kick off November 20. The second sporting concern is the interruption this will provide for the Euro League soccer season, forcing a decision to be made by some of the world’s top performers: a choice that was not applicable to previous World Cups.

Along with being the first Cup held in the Middle East, this is the first Cup

By: Mathias Woerner Staff Writer

that will be pieced together as it goes. Without any semblance of a soccer background, the Qatari have had to designate $220B towards the World Cup enterprise, according to Nick Miller of Bleacher Report. This total could have undoubtedly been used to address issues of diversity and inclusion for the citizens who are disenfranchised.

An instant referendum on the choice to award the games to Qatar was the death toll in the 400’s among the Nepalese migrant workers tasked with building the necessary accommodations to properly hold the event. This is despite the fact that these workers only compose 20% of the total work force devoted to the games, according to Jamie Doward of The Observer.

This is just the tip of the iceberg for the treatment of migrants in Qatar. Even preceding the World Cup itself, Qatar has laws targeting women, encompassed in the guardianship system and LGBTQ+ people. Homosexuality is illegal, along with any other non-traditional practices, with penalties being swift and powerful. It is difficult to not beg the question about the decision to hold the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, for these and many other reasons.

Ecuador and Qatar are set to face off at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar in twenty days’ time to kick off the event, and the attention inevitably will fade in favor of the results, stars and storylines of the play on the pitch.

So, in the small amount of time before the soccer season begins, think about the people of Qatar, and wish THEM luck for this year’s event— they’re going to need it more than anyone wearing a jersey.

Photo: www.lagalaxy.com, www.fifa.com

Photo: www. gunnoracle.com, www.freepik.com, www.unsplash.com

Short ShorterSkirts,Patience

The creation of women’s sports clothing dates back to the early twentieth century. Athletic clothing for women has not always been designed with women in mind. More often than not, uniforms have aimed to achieve a feminine look over functionality. In past decades, women had to wear clothing such as corsets, full-length dresses, boots and hats and were required to follow “decency codes.” As the years went on, women’s athletic wear began changing to become more practical. However, women are still fighting to wear what makes them comfortable today.

By: Valerie Reyes Editor-in-Chief

1887 Wimbledon Champion, Charlotte Dod, was only 15 years-old when she challenged the tennis uniform policy by leaving the corset and full-length dress behind due to her young age. This caused some controversy as older opponents argued that her less restrictive clothing gave her an advantage. More recently, tennis star Serena Williams continues to challenge the typical tennis attire by wearing fashionable and practical outfits— proving that athletes don’t need to wear traditional uniforms to be successful.

When comparing men’s and women’s uniforms, there are distinct differences to note. Men typically wear uniforms that are loose and provide more coverage, while women wear tight fitting and revealing clothing. In July 2021, the Norwegian

women’s beach handball team had to pay a $1,764 US fine for being improperly dressed. According to www.npr.org, “The Norwegian team said the bikini bottoms aren’t practical in a sport that constantly sees players diving into the sand. Some have also said the requirements are simply degrading to women.” Female athletes are beginning to speak out and protest uniform policies. Policies can be difficult to get around when women can be fined for showing too much or too little of their body.

University of St. Francis junior, Lissette Perez, says, “I believe women should have less restrictions for sports uniforms. Women have been and continue to be sexualized. Their uniforms don’t help the situation. At the end of the day, people should be more focused on the sport rather than being worried if a women’s team is going against the uniform policies.”

Beyond the fact women’s uniforms can be seen as sexist, athletes who cannot wear revealing clothing need to be considered. Olympic medalist, Angela Schneider tells www.cbc. ca, “There’s all kinds of sports uniforms, and sports companies designing all kinds of different things; from women who need to…wear something closer to a hijab, or women who, like the Paralympian [Breen], who want to wear what is standard issue for that particular sport.” When uniform policies are being enforced, it’s important to keep in mind that there are many cultures and religious communities in the sports industry that don’t allow revealing clothing.

Athletes should be allowed to have more of a say in what uniforms they wear without the fear of being criticized. Uniforms need to be designed with different choices to help athletes feel confident and comfortable while playing their sport. As time goes on, uniform policies are slowly becoming more flexible as athletes are sharing their thoughts and supporting each other’s decisions to wear what makes them feel comfortable.

Women's Soccer Culture:Women's Soccer Culture:

By: Alex Mielcarz Staff Writer

On October 3, the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced the results of an independent investigation that found sexual misconduct and emotional abuse ran rampant throughout the league, according www. si.com. The investigation was headed up by former U.S. Attorney General Sally Q. Yates, and, according to her written report, “...last season, half of the [NWSL’s] ten teams separated from coaches following player allegations of misconduct...”

Following the publication of the investigation, the Chicago Red Stars, Chicago’s NWSL franchise, announced on October 5 that they had voted to remove Arnim Whisler as the chairman of the board, according to www.si.com. This national scandal has hit close to home, and it’s time, as fans, that we take a long look in the mirror.

This edition of the Encounter focuses on equity, and many of the stories will tell you about the steps we need to take as a society to make things more equal, more inclusive and better for everyone involved. This column will certainly do all those things, so I apologize for the repetitive nature of this edition. However, it is becoming excruciatingly necessary that pieces like this one, and editions such as this, are written.

For every bit of progress we make, it feels like we take one step back. It’s sickening. Reading this report left me with a pit in my stomach. They knew. They all knew. Front offices were aware of the verbal abuse of their players, but they let it continue. It’s not just the front offices and boards of directors. It goes all the way up to the governing body of soccer in this country: the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). The USSF is just as compliant as the NWSL in this debacle. The USSF failed to respond to these complaints. Their inaction left not only

current victims at risk, but future victims as well. A quick and swift action by the USSF could have saved countless athletes from unnecessary and sometimes unbearable sexual misconduct and verbal abuse. Also, by not punishing the offenders, they were never given a reason to stop. It enabled their behavior and emboldened them to continue.

Chicago is mentioned at length throughout the report. The Red Stars suffer from a similar culture problem. Yates explains that former Red Stars head coach Rory Dames was “like a God,” and that “Dames’s behavior was ‘very unpredictable,’” according to players interviewed in the report.

Dames’ treatment of his players was described by Yates as “toxic and uncondonable.” This made me sick to my stomach. People inside the organization knew. Report after report and complaint

Photo: www.wallpaperflare.com

Effects On and Off the FieldEffects On and Off the Field

after complaint from players and staff alike should have set off an alarm somewhere. Yet here we are, with the only retribution for abuse of our beloved athletes being the firing of the chairman of the board. Those members of the board of directors that voted Whisler out had to have also known.

There’s no way anyone could look at me with a straight face and tell me they didn’t. It would purely be to save face — a last second maneuver to save face. It’s a publicity stunt. No matter how many internal reviews are promised, nothing will ever change if those in power remain.

How do we go about fixing this? Where do we start? Women’s soccer has a culture problem. The word “culture” is mentioned 34 times in Yates’ report.

Chicago Red Stars player Samantha Johnson was quoted in the report, saying that “at the Chicago Red Stars, ‘abuse was part of the culture.’” It’s not just at the professional level.

The USSF has done a poor job of creating a healthy culture for young women at the youth soccer level. Dames, yes, the same Dames who abused his professional players, abused his youth players at the club he worked at prior to his time with the Red Stars: “Former players recalled him screaming and calling them ‘cunts,’ ‘fat ass,’ ‘pussy,’ ‘retarded’ and ‘bitches.’” There is no way that a girl, sometimes as young as 10, should be spoken to in such a way. This treatment beginning at a young age “impacted their ability to discern what was out of bounds in the NWSL,” according to players interviewed by Yates.

Youth soccer should be a place where young girls find their self-esteem. It should be an empowering place for these athletes as they try to find out just who they are in this world. The USSF and the NWSL have failed our women athletes. It’s time we finally take real steps to make amends and to end the mistreatment and abuse of our women athletes.

Pictured left: N.W.S.L players protest abuse scandal as League returns to field. Photo: www.nytimes.com