April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Here at West Virginia University, several activities have been planned to raise much-needed awareness about the prevalent issue. Sexual assault and abuse is “any type of sexual activity that you do not agree to,” including inappropriate touching ,vaginal, anal, or oral penetration, sexual intercourse that you say no to, rape, attempted rape and child molestation, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. It can be verbal or visual or anything that coherces a person into experiencing unwanted sexual contact or attention.
Just below 3 percent of college women become victims of rape in a 9-month academic period, according to the US Department of Justice. When this figure is translated to a five year college career, it means one in five women will experience rape during college. The Justice Department also compiled some other frightening statistics. In between 80 and 90 percent of rapes, the victim and assailant knew each other. Half of all student victims do not label the incident as rape. This is more likely when no weapon was used, no sign of physical injury is present, and no alcohol is involved. Less than 5 percent of rapes of college students are reported to campus authorities and/or law enforcement.
To combat the problem, women who are victims of sexual assault have to report the crime. Alerting the authorities will lessen the chance that their assailant will repeat the same act again. Women should use common sense tips like being aware of their surroundings, projecting confidence, not walking alone and being wary of drugs and alcohol. They should also know how to defend themselves. The WVU Student Recreation Center offers a self-defense class designed especially for women, “Fight Like a Girl.” But they must also know that sexual assault is never their fault, they are worthy of respect and they don’t “deserve what they get.”
Bill O’Reilly, when describing the rape and murder of a woman in New York City, felt it was important for his listeners to know what she was wearing. On the August 2 edition of The Radio Factor with Bill O’Reilly, he said, “She was 5-foot-2, 105 pounds, wearing a miniskirt and a halter top with a bare midriff. Now, again, there you go. So every predator in the world is gonna pick that up at two in the morning.” He also made sure to point out that “she’s out of her mind, drunk” and “moronic.”
Even if a woman is wearing revealing clothes, walking alone and under the influence of alcohol, sexual assault is not her fault. It is irrelevant what she was wearing. No behavior is ever worthy of provoking an attack. Women never ask for it, and they never deserve it.
Preventing sexual assault also takes the education of those who become the assailants. WVU could devote some of its sexual assault prevention efforts at men. Among some, it’s considered acceptable to use alcohol in aiding sexual assault, and some believe that it’s not rape unless it’s violent. All-male peer education classes have been shown to decrease beliefs in these rape myths . Minnesota’s Star Tribune described an experience by a student at the University of Minnesota who had been through one of these programs. Tyler Jones was drinking with friends when one said, “Hey, see that girl over there. She’s almost drunk. Not quite drunk enough. … What shot should I buy her?” Jones retorted, “Man, that’s not right. That’s rape. That’s sexual assault.”
His friend was shocked to be called out because his behavior has become a social norm. Students need to call out their friends who allow these myths to persist. When students hear remarks like Bill O’Reilly’s, they should ask “Why is it relevant what she was wearing or what she had to drink?” When they hear friends blaming the victim, like in the recent case of Rihanna and Chris Brown, they should argue that no one ever asks to be assaulted. Exchanges between men, like that of Tyler Jones and his friend, could be an especially powerful way to decrease sexual assault. Stopping sexual assault requires women to know how to protect themselves and not be afraid to report it. It also requires the elimination of rape myth acceptability in the campus culture.
What Both Sexes Can Do to Stop Sexual Assault
Ultimate Best-Of White Stripes Lyrics
“dont let them tell you the future’s electric
cause gasolines not measured in metric.”
-The Big Three Killed My Baby
Yeah you’re pretty good looking for a girl
your eyes are wide open
and your thoughts have been stolen by the boys
who took you out and bought you everything you
want now
-You’re Pretty Good Looking for a Girl
Find a canary
a bird to bring my message home
carry my obituary
my coffin doesnt have a phone
-Hello Operator
The motion of her tiny hands
and the quiver of her bones below
are the signs of a girl alone
and tell you everything
you need to know
-Truth Doesn’t Make a Noise
Soft hair and a velvet tongue
I want to give you what you give to me
and every breath that is in your lungs
is a tiny little gift to me
-Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground
these two sides of my brain
need to have a meeting
can’t think of anything to do
my left brain knows that
all love is fleeting
-Fell in Love with a Girl
Well I’m sorry but I’m not
interested in gold mines,
oil wells, shipping or real estate
what would I liked to have been?
everything you hate
-The Union Forever
300 people living out in
west virginia have no idea
of all these thoughts that lie
within you but now
-This Protector
You’ve got her in your pocket
And there’s no way out now
Put it in the safe and lock it
’cause it’s at home sweet home
-You’ve Got Her in Your Pocket
Don’t you remember?
You told me in December
That a boy is not a man
Until he makes a stand
Will, I’m not a genius
But maybe you’ll remember this
I never said I wanted to be a man
-The Air Near My Fingers
Don’t even need a drink of water
To make the headache go away
Give me sugar pill
And watch me just rattle
Down the street
-Girl, You Have No Faith In Medicine
Jack it’s too bad about the way you look
You know I gave that horse a carrot
So he’d break your foot
Will the two of you cut it out
And tell ‘em what it’s really all about
-Well It’s True That We Love One Another
Forever, just the word that she said that means never
To be with another together
-Forever For Her (Is Over For Me)
Well, let’s do it, let’s get on a plane and just do it
Like the birds and the bees and get to it
-Forever For Her (Is Over For Me)
She’s been singing it all along
But you were hearin’ a different song
-The Denial Twist
‘Cause everyone that’s under your shoe
And every bird and bee in the jungle, too
And everything in the ocean blue
They just happen to know exactly what to do
So why don’t you?
-Instinct Blues
White Americans, what?
Nothing better to do?
Why don’t you kick yourself out
You’re an immigrant too.
-Icky Thump
Well there’s three people
In the mirror
And I’m wondering
Which one of them I should choose.
-300 MPH Torrential Outpour Blues
Look another way girl I’m telling ya
God gave seven minutes right to ya.
And your mother put her money into platinum
So that you wouldn’t have to pay
Attention.
-Bone Broke
And there was a time when all I wanted was my
Ice cream colder, and a little cream soda
Oh well, oh well
And a wooden box, and an alley full of rocks
was all I had to care about
Oh well, oh well, oh well
But now my mind is filled with rubber tires
And forest fires
And whether I’m a liar
And lots of other situations where I don’t know
What to do at which time God screams to me
“there’s nothing left for me to tell you.”
-Little Cream Soda
I dig your little laugh
And I’m loving your quick wit
I even love it when you’re faking it
-I’m Slowly Turning Into You
I ain’t saying I’m innocent
In fact, the reverse
But if you’re headed to the grave
You don’t blame the hearse.
-Effect and Cause
Jack White Interviews Cate Blanchett
jack white, from mtv
Jack White, singer/guitarist of the Raconteurs and White Stripes, recently spoke with Cate Blanchett for Interview Magazine. Both are incredibly talented artists, and their conversation was fascinating and thought-provoking.
A few quotes:
(On children)
JW: …We’ve got a girl and a boy now. Scarlett White and Henry Lee White. They’re holding each other’s hands right now. Each moment doesn’t last long enough, does it?
CB: I know. That’s why we just have to have more of them. The world is so massively overpopulated, but if you’re halfway decent-looking and you make nice ones, then I think it’s probably your responsibility to make more.
(On passion and the theater)
CB: I do think, though, that as a species we have been bleaching out our passion. The situation of existing in extremes-and I don’t mean violent, dangerous extremes, but rather extremes of thought or living with contradictions-is kind of considered increasingly abhorrent and antisocial. I think that’s why good theaters are really important. They allow you to exist in a space with other people and deal with these things, and not in a passive way.
(On live performances)
JW: The thing I love about live performance the most, though, is that the doors are closed, the lights are turned down, and the audience has to be reverential to what’s happening onstage. It’s not like being at home where you can change channels, fast-forward, turn it off, put the book down, or walk away. It’s this phenomenon where we all, as a community, go to church and sit and experience this thing together.
(On the Internet)
CB: I think the downside of the Internet is that speaking-or writing-has become the point in and of itself. I’m of the opinion that it’s okay to be silent, to not speak if you don’t have anything to say. Someone was talking to me the other day about her teenage daughter who is very creative. Now, to become a painter or a sculptor or a graphic designer is quite an isolated way to spend your life. But this girl’s passion, she said to her mother the other day, was being with her friends, and she said there’s this sense that she doesn’t exist without the other people there. It seems like people increasingly just can’t be by themselves because they’re so used to having an epicenter on the Internet that actually exists for other people. Until someone clicks onto your Facebook page, it doesn’t mean anything.
(On solo performances)
JW: Well, when you go out to give a performance, you’re putting yourself out there into the world to share with other people. If you just do it in your room by yourself, no matter how beautiful it is, is it dead?
CB: It’s always better in your room. It’s always perfect in your room. And then other people get in the way.
JW: It’s dead, though, in your room. It doesn’t live.
CB: It doesn’t mean anything beyond you having a little narcissistic moment.
Cate Blanchett, from Interview Magazine
And by the way, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a fascinating must-see. The plot was layered and creative, inspiring emotion and thought. I usually can’t stand long movies, but this one held my attention. It’s highly recommended.
The Airing of Grievances
As we all know, on Dec. 23rd we celebrate Festivus. One of the many traditions of Festivus is to gather one’s friends and family and express all the ways they’ve disappointed you in the past year. (Idea blatantly stolen from C.G. Shields.)
1. You didn’t involve me in one of the most important days of your life.
2. You proved, once again, that you don’t want to control your anger. It’s not that you can’t; you just prefer not to.
3. Rather than telling me a problem with me to my face, you chose to blast it like a high-school kid on a social networking site. You also chose to attack the person, rather than the opinion.
4. You’ve never liked me since I’ve been old enough for you to be jealous, but wanting to confront me about my personal beliefs among family during a holiday? There’s a time and a place…
5. You still haven’t realized that the way you’ve been brought up is horribly, horribly wrong. I thought maybe you would realize it with your newfound freedom.
6. You refuse to free yourself from a bad situation. In other words, you refuse to allow yourself to be happy.
7. You are incredibly judgemental, but I chose to look past this, because you see, I’m not. The way in which you chose to end a friendship was cowardly and childish.
8. You are overworked, and allow this to affect your own well-being and relationship with friends and family. Some of the things you forget are really important.
If you want to know if it’s you, ask.
Mormon Church Should Not Be Tax Exempt
Yes We Did… now what?
Barack Obama, do not let us down.
You have achieved the trust of millions of Americans who had stopped believing politicians long ago.
You have inspired the hopes of millions of young people. We have allowed you to set the path for our futures. Prove that we were right.
Those with little money to give have found the cash to make $10 or $20 donations. Those with little time to spare have spent it working for the campaign.
This was the election of our generation. Years from now, will tell our children we supported you.
For many of us, this was the first election in which we could vote. Let us remember that milestone with pride.
End the war in Iraq, as you said you would. Too many of our friends have died in vain.
Guide our country back into prosperity, while allowing for other countries’ economies to improve as well.
Be wise in spending, but realize the priority of education. No Child Left Behind needs to be reformed now, and the American Opportunity Tax Credit must be enacted. We cannot allow troubles in the economy to keep Americans from learning and growing.
Reach out to Republicans and Independents. This was an integral part of your initial platform. We are all in this together.
Ensure that the campaign fervor will have a chance to survive.
Deliver.
Postpartum Depression in China vs. the United States
Mental health is a universal issue, but in each country, citizens view it differently. The government may address mental illness, but most likely it must first face denial and stigmatization. Postpartum depression is no different. In China, where rapid economic growth has brought new hope for many, it has also raised new mental health issues resulting from urbanization. Of course, depression previously existed, but it is only beginning to be given a name.1 In the United States, there is a longer history of mental health evaluation and treatment,2 but Americans are only beginning to understand postpartum depression.
Why I’m Voting for Barack Obama
My family is disappointed in me. Born and raised into a family of conservatives, Fox News was usually on tv. I am embarrassed to admit that age 18, I voted for George W. Bush. Then, I went to college. Or, according to my family, I crossed over to the “dark side.”
I was warned. I was told that most of my college professors would be liberal, and that their political leanings would seep their way into their curriculum.
But if most professors are liberal, they don’t infuse their viewpoints into their lectures. (Remember, my experience only applies to West Virginia University.) Because of the nature of the subject matter, most professors leave politics out of the classroom. In history and political science, controversial subjects may be addressed, but it is in the form of historical facts. Professors have heard the claims about liberal universities; they know we’re waiting for it. My American Government professor made jokes about how he knew we were “taking notes,” trying to figure out his political leanings. But if I had been, I would have never figured it out.
I originally thought the most likely candidates for such a practice would be my political science professors, but they seemed to have intensely studied government for so many years that strongly identifying with one political party would have been ignoring facts. Neither party has it exactly right.
College did not turn me liberal, although my family might perceive that it has, since they finally pulled it out of me that, yes, I am voting for Barack Obama. College has made me more closely identify with those beliefs I perceived in my political science professors. I believe that neither political party has it exactly right, so I will be voting for the candidate, not the party to which he belongs.
I still believe in what I initially thought were Republican values; I don’t want government interference in how I choose to live my life. But since the Republican party believes no interference regarding guns makes more sense than no interference regarding gay marriage, I no longer associate that value with the Republican party. If there is interference, it should be for the betterment of American’s lives, not to dictate “moral values.”
So why have I chosen Barack Obama as my candidate? The media seems to be fascinated about Barack Obama’s appeal to younger voters. John McCain thinks it’s because he’s the “biggest celebrity in the world.”
Give us a little more credit, Mr. McCain. There’s a little more to it than that.
Read the rest of this entry »
I Love Secret Diary of Call Girl
I’m excited for the new episode of “Secret Diary of a Call Girl” to air tonight. I hadn’t really been a big fan of any new shows for awhile until I finally gave in and bought Showtime. “Call Girl” and “Weeds” are both appealing because they feel so fresh and uninhibited.
But that’s not exactly it. Aside from the fact that it’s a genuinely fun show to watch, the show is tempting because women don’t just wonder about the kind of women who become prostitutes.They wonder “Could it have been me?
What Sex and The City Was Selling
It’s obvious that the gorgeous fashion in Sex and the City: The Moviewas a form of advertising for Vivienne Westwood, Manolo Blahnik, Prada and the rest of the designers whose clothes were featured. The outfits worn by Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha have been heavily commented on by the media and lusted after by viewers like me. While the fashion on the show was more quirky than high-end, it was still a major trendsetter, and the filmmakers knew this movie would be scrutinized to the extent that a single episode of the show could not be. Thus, they took advantage of the the chance to make some extra cash in advertising revenue.
So if knowing we would intently study the movie, and chose to “sell” us some clothes, they too made a constant choice to “sell” us some ideas.
I want to preface this by saying yes, I realize the television show didn’t exactly glorify intellectualism. It too had a tendency to simplify complex ideas, focused on relationships over career and family, and encouraged stereotypes.
But we as consumers don’t place so much blame on television shows when they do this, because it’s only a half-hour to hour span of time, and a new episode each week. In this format, it’s hard to “say” much of anything with each episode. We do enjoy watching characters evolve. But a half-hour is not enough time to peel back layers of personalities, revealing characters’ unexpected traits, or dive into complicated issues and ideas, in the hopes of unearthing a pure truth. Only a long-running show with devoted viewers can do that. Sex and the City, the series, did meet this criteria, and succeeded by choosing to focus on creating situations viewers recognized from their own lives.
But the movie was an opportunity to take an as yet uncovered topic or situation, and really say something. The show made viewers say “That’s me! That’s how I feel!” The movie could have used its two hours to help them discover why.
Instead, it chose to perpetuate lingering stereotypes about women and men.
