Month: January 2012

By Nicole Della Cava

Contributing Writer

Famous comedians that humor and impress viewers are now, more than ever, females. Big hosts such as Ellen DeGeneres, Chelsea Handler and Tina Fey stun viewers and prove that comedy is not just for men.

New actresses and comedians have emerged with more energy than ever before. In the 2012 Golden Globe Awards, females took the lead in several movies that were nominated for Best Comedy or Musical Motion Picture. In particular, Kristen Wiig’s remarkable performance in “Bridesmaids” took Hollywood by surprise. Wiig is known for her incredible work on Saturday Night Live and continues to premier in top movies and TV programs.

The witty and powerful women today begin to change the way the media portrays females. As women show the public that they can hold their own talk shows or star in the best comedies of the year, gender roles continue to diminish in the workplace. The media has always portrayed women as beautiful and affectionate; however, women should not be restricted by these characteristics. Comedy is no longer portrayed as a job only acceptable for men and I feel that as I approach graduation within the next few years, my career options are unlimited, even as a woman. I have the option of taking on any job that a man can.

Although women can hold the same job positions as men, I think that men treat women differently and do not give them as much responsibility. Men still occupy the majority of leadership positions, and it is proven that men receive a higher salary than women do. Not that men are more qualified or more diligent than women are, but gender roles are definitely still in existence. Beginning in childhood, boys and girls are taught social norms and gender roles that used to be so widely accepted. Such an example is that women should be married and stay home with the children. Although women have come a long way to prove that they can be just as successful and as well-rounded as men, the gender roles have been continuously decreasing. Recently, men are taking more responsibility for cooking, cleaning and childcare. If there is a child at home, one of the parents must sacrifice at least some of his or her job and be a good parent. Almost always, women surrendered their job for children. The social dynamic has changed drastically and more women today stick with an occupation. While women change the entertainment world and become top comedians, men have also learned how to take on other responsibilities in the home. Women still need to make large strides to overcome the gender roles in order to be accepted as equally competitive in the workplace.

By Mike Wolf

Writer

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, women working 41-44 hour workweeks make about 86 percent of the salary that men in equal positions make. This is a fact and I can acknowledge that this discrepancy discourages the thought that the modern office promotes gender equality.

When one thinks of gender discrimination, most would probably think of the 1950s where typical male bosses could sexually harass any woman in the office without fear of repercussion. At this time, bosses were almost exclusively male and many jobs were designated as male or female work. I would say we have made great leaps in gender equality since that time.

I believe that men and women doing equal work should receive equal pay. Most would call that fair, but that is not the reality of the situation. Even today, business and industry favor a strong male leader over a female one. Call it ignorance or tradition, but men are more likely to make a higher salary when going into the same field as women. From the male perspective, this has almost no negative effect on me. As much as I want life to be fair, it isn’t. It is hard for me to argue against a system that gives me a natural edge.

At the same time, there is much to be said about earning what you get in life. This is really the reason I would argue for gender equality. I want everyone in the workplace to start out at the same point so that every raise I get, I know I deserved completely and earned over all of my peers, male and female.

Though I can honestly say I am for gender equality in the workplace, I also suffer from what some in gender studies call “gender fatigue.” This term refers to one who is tired of hearing about the issue of gender. As much as I understand women are discouraged, I am tired of hearing about women who feel they are treated unfairly in the workplace, or paid less because of their gender.

There are many people who complain about the unfairness of the situation. At the same time, many women don’t care. Many of these women are the ones who are CEOs of major companies, or have achieved such success in their fields. The days of women being prevented from achieving success are over. The women who put in more effort than their male counterparts and work as much as they can may easily surpass any man. The women who don’t complain about gender inequality are the ones who ignore the issue and keep their focus on advancement.

Overall, I would say gender equality is still an issue in today’s workplace. Many steps have been taken and much has been accomplished for the cause of equality, but the issue still exists. Now comes the time for women to step up and prove that they can be equal to or better than any man in a workplace environment. More women now go to college than men and I have total faith that women can take equal power within the office as well.

By Jennifer Mok

Contributing Writer

I personally like the dark. As odd as that may seem, there’s something calming about it. Granted, I most appreciate the dark when I’m in my room and 100 percent sure that I’m safe. Walking back to my room in the black, lonely and freezing cold night from the library, Bostwick Marketplace or a friend’s room is a different story. Because in truth, no matter what, you’re not exactly “alone.” To ensure our safety, there are a total of 43 blue lights all over campus. A majority of these lights seem to be located downhill while there is an evident lack of blue lights uphill. Is this really a problem? Should we be providing more security uphill?

Well, for starters, I’m not exactly sure how many people even use these emergency call boxes. I also have not seen enough people utilizing these security tools to even be sure that they work. So, does this mean that we are all safe on campus in the blinding dark of night? Yes and no. As a first-year, I can’t claim to have spent enough time on campus to attest to the trust and respect the students have for each other, but I can say that from the time that I have been here and from what I hear from upperclassmen, the University student body is a group of honest and trustworthy individuals.

This does not eliminate dangers and the unfortunate realities of an individual’s vulnerability at night, though. One of the foremost concerns on our campus is the possibility of sexual assault. This “possibility” is actually a crude reality not only on our campus but also on campuses nationwide. Our school as a whole has taken initiatives to address this matter by gathering the opinions of students and faculty members. Many can argue that the results and reports may seem skewed for several reasons but in the end, the students are faced with this potential danger no matter how safe the campus is perceived to be. So, could one step to ensuring the security of all students be the installment of more blue lights uphill? I believe so.

Why uphill? A great number of students spend an immense amount of their time uphill. It is where the Academic Quad is–-where we study, meet professors and engage in extracurricular activities. Students should not have to leave the library early and possibly lose study time for the sake of being safe on campus. In addition, why is there an uneven distribution of blue lights on campus? It may because of the perceived safer environment uphill in contrast to that of downhill, but this is a highly skewed and unjustified view on the two different sections of the campus. Each half should be secured and protected equally.

Lastly, I would like to say that in addition to the installation of blue lights on the Academic Quad, I believe that the school should encourage students to utilize them. Some of us are sometimes a bit too embarrassed or passive about the risks on campus and thus forgo using the blue lights. When your safety is in question, should you really be passive or timid? No. So, use the blue lights and hopefully, later in the future–-we will all have access to one no matter where we are: downhill or uphill in the Academic Quad.

By Sarah Morris

Contributing Writer

First Night was a bit of a mystery to me until the actual night it occurred. I kept receiving emails reminding me that some super-important event was coming up, blah blah blah, about inducting the first-years as University alumni.  Truthfully, I never read beyond the subject line.  Before I knew it, posters covered my hall demanding me to attend this event and to dress nicely: an idea I was not really at all for.

As a member of the volleyball team I was lucky enough to receive all of the ins and outs about Orientation before it occurred.  Never once did the upperclassmen mention an event called First Night.  So, I clearly thought it was neither important nor valuable. I actually considered skipping it so that I could shower, but due to my loyalty to our newspaper and the fact that my RA said it was mandatory, I attended First Night with as much as an open mind as possible.

I was actually thoroughly surprised by how enjoyable it was. I am not saying that there are not other things I would have rather been doing with my Friday night, but First Night was an experience I was glad I could take part in.

It was really fun to meet with the alumni and see what they had to say about the University so many years later. It was clear, due to the devotion and long travels back to their alma mater, that the University remained in their hearts. They definitely made me feel not only be proud to be a part of the University community but also hopeful for my future as a graduate. I loved listening to the alumni recount stories ranging in hilarity over weekend traumas to somber stories about final studying and class difficulty.  I felt as if I could really relate to the speakers, despite our age difference and different experiences.

I loved our class government’s presentation and collaborative speech. The words of Colin Hassell and Jen Lassen were motivational and really hit home.  Partially due to the communal feeling and the slide show of first semester pictures, First Night really made me feel more like a member of our University’s family.  This sentiment was far different from how I felt during orientation: a little lost, isolated and vulnerable.

I did think that the walk to the President’s House to sing to him was a little over-board. If it had been the summer, I would not have minded the treacherous hike, but the cold and snow made me a little weary of the walk.  Overall, though, First Night was a great bonding experience for our class.

I think First Night is an important way to connect with alumni and see all of the possible futures that result with diploma from our school.  But I am not certain an entire event in Rooke Chapel with a ceremonious walk to the President’s House is necessary to achieve that understanding of how such an education will benefit us in the future.