Author: Elizabeth Bacharach

By Molly Brown

Contributing Writer

To be blunt, the University has a lot of clubs. Whether your interests lie in sports, volunteering, fantasy role-play or Harry Potter, there is definitely a place somewhere for you and your like-minded peers. All you have to do is show up to have a good time, right?  Not exactly.

How exactly do you join a new club, anyway? Do you rely on the barrage of emails after you signed a ridiculous amount of clipboards at the Activities Fair back in September? Do you travel in a pack with your friends, joining what they are interested in just for the sake of having someone to go with you for the inevitably awkward first meeting? Do you eavesdrop on people’s conversations in the Bison? Do you wander around and hope for the best? Whatever your approach, it is difficult to join a new club, both in clearing the communication hurdle of when and where a club meets and also in the more personal obstacle of putting yourself out there.

It is one of the greatest social fears to find yourself in a situation in which you do not know anyone. But when you join a club, you are inflicting this upon yourself voluntarily. Let us say you have ascertained the correct meeting time and place for a club based on one of the omnipresent neon flyers plastered around campus. You show up and those who are there are already divided into their groups of friends. If you are lucky, you might see someone you know from class. You sit down alone, clearly an outsider to the normal order of things. You feel so alone, all you wanted to do was find others who are interested in the same extracurriculars or continue doing what you love to do outside of class. You debate just getting up and leaving, wondering whether you would attract even more attention if you did. Someone turns to you and says hello, so you return the courtesy. The conversation continues and, gasp, you have a new friend! Then the meeting starts and all of a sudden, you are in.

As a first-year, I understand the quandary of joining a club. In fact, this very article represents overcoming the above situation entirely: it is my first article for “The Bucknellian,” assigned to me at my first meeting last week. I went, awkwardly sat by myself and was then included in the meeting with a smile just like that. First-years might feel especially nervous about putting themselves out there because they might feel apprehensive about joining a club that already has an organized agenda or perceived rigidity in membership. This is not the case. Students and the clubs they form are open to anyone who is interested and are helpful and encouraging of any students who want to join. The key thing about joining a new club is to keep in mind that every person in the meeting was in your position at one point or another too, and that you are all in the same club because of your unifying interests. And perhaps, in the future, when you are a seasoned club member and you see a person sitting alone before a meeting with a panicked look about him or her, you might be the one to extend the hello.

By Connor Small

Writer

We wait for it every year. The lights, the spectacle, the (usually) lame half-time show, the best-of-the-best commercials and, of course, the most hyped-up sporting event in America: the Super Bowl. What is it about the Super Bowl that is so attractive?

Last year, Super Bowl XLV had the highest TV rating of all time, with close to 170 million viewers tuning in for at least some of the game, most likely the commercials. These whopping numbers were a surprising bright spot for a football season filled with an array of new rule changes. It also marked the first time that the No. 6 seed, the Green Bay Packers, had reached the Super Bowl and we all know how that turned out.

This year’s contest, taking place in Indianapolis, pits the New York Giants against the New England Patriots, a rematch of Super Bowl XLII. As a Philadelphia native and diehard Eagles fan, I think I can speak for every Eagles fan when I say it tears me apart to root for either of these teams. Yet, I can’t help but admit that this will be a memorable Super Bowl. The two teams match up solidly and it should be a good game to watch, as both teams have high-flying pass attacks and sub-par pass defense, which should hopefully lead to a shootout.

Maybe the main reason why the Super Bowl has become so popular and such a vital event in American society is that it combines many of the elements of American culture. Ideas such as togetherness, competition, consumption, commercialism and pop culture are all prevalent during the event. Advertisements for every conceivable product are shown in creative and often humorous ways, and in fact, many Americans admit to only watching the Super Bowl for the commercials. In other words, there’s something for everyone.

Another crucial aspect of the Super Bowl, and probably my favorite non-football portion, is the half-time show. This year, the lineup looks promising with Nicki Minaj, Madonna and M.I.A. sharing the stage during half-time. Hopefully these three ladies will be better than last year’s entertainment consisting of Christina Aguilera, who forgot the lyrics to the national anthem, and the Black Eyed Peas, whose half-time performance left everybody scratching his or her head.

The Super Bowl has been, and will continue to be, a staple of American culture because of all the aspects of our culture that it combines. Everybody is kept entertained all the way through from the game, commercials and half-time show. 

High powered offenses, hard-nosed defenses and the rematch of the century: one could not ask for a better Super Bowl. After a very memorable season that saw all varieties of ups and downs, this matchup seems to be an appropriate end. While some fans have been crushed, and many are on their way to a chance for a repeat title, I think, just as last year, that this Super Bowl will be a highly rated, highly talked about match and the best-commercial-of-the-night battle will be as competitive as ever.

By Sara Blair Matthews

Contributing Writer

“How to Drop Five Pounds in Five Days,” “Why Fat is Deadly” and “Cut Carbs, Live Longer” are prominent headlines in our society. Clearly, America has an obsession with fat. We have come up with countless diet fads, shows such as “The Biggest Loser” and “Fat Chef,” and tabloid campaigns judging celebrities on how much weight they have gained. All of these areas feed off each other between making people feel simultaneously horrible and happy about themselves in relation to others. How many times have you or someone you know picked up a tabloid with someone’s face blocked out, reading “Guess who gained 50 pounds?” just to see who that person is and perhaps feel better about yourself? Think of the swimsuit picture of Tyra Banks, former supermodel, which blew up a few years ago. Yes, it was clear Tyra was not her former size-zero self, and the tabloids completely tore her apart for it. However, she had the guts to fight back and ended up wearing her swimsuit on her talk show to show the world that she was happy with how she looked and that she wasn’t intimidated by others’ criticism.

Most people cannot face their critics head on. For example, Paula Deen shied away from criticism for years by concealing her diagnosis of type II diabetes. Recently, she has faced much criticism because she waited three years to reveal her diagnosis to the public and waited to do it with an endorsement deal on hand. To many, it appears she is using her disease for profit and that she is not taking this seriously. She is well known for her “the more butter, the better” attitude, which has led her to her current predicament, but I’m not going to criticize her for her choices. Though she may not be the most healthy role model for Americans, she has never falsely preached about the health benefits of her food. She often says, “here’s a little mint, we have to have our vegetable!,” but most who watch her show know she’s kidding.

It is true America has a rising obesity problem, but I do not think fat chefs such as Paula Deen, Ina Garten and Mario Batali are to blame. I think it is up to the viewer to determine whether their food is the most healthful option for his or her lifestyle. If someone wants to cut down on his or her fat intake, he or she should know that when Paula cooks a recipe that uses two sticks of butter, three cups of sugar and one cup of heavy whipping cream, nutrition is not the aim of the dish. Americans should be held responsible for their own choices, and I don’t think it is right to blame it on these celebrity chefs just because they are more visible people in our society.

You also have to consider the viewing demographic of these shows. Most seven to 13-year-olds are probably not watching the Food Network in their free time. Food Network shows are mostly generated for middle-age adults, who frankly should have some idea of what healthy eating means. My dad loves to watch Paula’s show while working out, and he will come home and tell us how many sticks of butter she used throughout the course of that show. We love Paula, but we rarely cook her food in our home because we understand it does not lend well to a healthy diet. I think a lot of people probably feel the same way. Viewers love her personality, but realize that her food does not fit the kind of lifestyle they want to lead.

I think we should be responsible for our own choices. Yes, celebrities are very visible, and they do have the power to influence a lot of people, but we don’t always have to follow their lead. It’s in our hands to create a life that works for us each specifically. I would love to be friends with Paula, but I would never take weight loss advice from her. Ultimately, we need to focus on people’s strengths, especially celebrities, versus trying to use them as scapegoats for our problems. They’re only human.

By Nicole Della Cava

Contributing Writer
The rumor that eight women living in the same house is considered a brothel started in the 1960s, during a decade that saw a huge spike in the number of women attending college. No one seems to know at which school the rumor began, but the truth is that there is no such state law or any University prohibition against sorority houses.

Greek women at our University were asked whether they wanted sorority houses or a sorority dorm. Sorority girls opted to not have houses because they liked the camaraderie of a sorority dorm and dues are less expensive than if women owned their own houses. Therefore, Hunt Hall was built in 1928 to act as a sorority house for all the sisters of each sorority.

On the other hand, every one of the 11 active fraternities on campus has its own house. The only advantage that I find is that each fraternity has its own chef. Besides that, there are many responsibilities and liability issues that come with having a fraternity house. Fraternities host the parties and must register with Public Safety, as well as take responsibility for anyone who gets hurt or sick at their party. I do not think that it is unfair that fraternities have houses on campus while sororities do not because I would not want to live in such a filthy house. I would not get work done if there was a party downstairs every night, nor would I want to sit in the common room if it was covered in spilled drinks and food. The clean up that every weekend renders definitely takes a long time and that would be the last thing I would want to do on a Saturday or Sunday morning.

There is a trade-off that fraternity brothers make when choosing to live in their house. The brothers get to choose which sorority they want to have a party with each night. The sororities have little say in their social schedule because they are simply guests at the fraternity houses. Despite this, I find the sororities have parties with the fraternities they like and that is what matters. It is important that men have fraternity houses because it creates a more unified group. Together, they plan parties and events, while they talk and hang out during meals. Sorority girls bond and become sisters in the same ways even without the unifying factor of a mutual house.

Greek life on campus does not discriminate based on gender nor is it patriarchal. Fraternities and sororities have the same values on campus and coordinate parties well with one another. There are a variety of parties going on every night so no females on campus are restricted to be at a party that they do not want to be at. The sorority girls on campus are smart not to have their own houses because they are never denied entry into parties based on what sorority they are in.

By Jessica Isgro

Contributing Writer

I know that as a relatively conservative individual, I should support SOPA and PIPA. However, the prospect of this legislation passing incites within me a deep sense of revulsion. On the surface, these bills may seem at most annoying and unnecessary, but the harm they can inflict on this nation and our cherished ideals is vast. From a limited freedom of expression to an unprecedented means of censorship, these bills embody the antithesis of what we, as Americans, hold dear.

The intent of these bills is to protect the entertainment industry. I would be remiss to ignore the common knowledge that this industry has taken many a financial hit in recent years due to counterfeiting and online copyright infringement. This is something we should especially recognize as college students focused on spending our money on tuition, room and board and endless cups of coffee; not on over-priced DVD/Blu-Ray combo packs of movies that are readily available online. However, the answer to this problem is not to shut down such websites, to block them on our search engines or to penalize perpetrators with extensive jail time.

Those in favor of this bill claim it will decrease the unemployment rate by creating new jobs. However, if Internet companies fear liability or prosecution under these new laws, what is not to say they won’t take their business elsewhere? Companies may move overseas, taking not only our jobs, but also our citizens with them. Rather than solving a problem, an entirely new conflict is created.

The biggest pitfall associated with these bills is the concept that if the government can control what websites we can access, what can’t they do? More than anything, this seems like the beginning of a downward spiral that can only lead to a stronger hand in governmental control and a narrower definition of free speech.

Granted, back in the day when the founding fathers decided which freedoms we do and do not have, they were not concerned with intellectual property, economic stability bred from job opportunities in the entertainment sector and copyright infringement deep-seated in our technologically savvy nation. Yet this cannot be used an excuse. Their decisions were, conceptually, what we are entitled to as Americans, and it is up to our current generation to figure out how to accommodate these rights with our laws.

While in some ways, taking a stand against these proposed legislations is dicey (it’s undeniable that copyright violation is wrong and is illegal), the bigger picture is not a pretty one. I am not saying no to fining perpetrators of online theft. I am saying no to excessive punishment, to unfair censorship and to the ability of the government to legislate with an iron fist.

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.

By Ben Kaufman

Sports Layout Editor

In my Education 308 class about democracy in education, my group sent out an informal poll about funding in higher education. Some questions included: “Do you think students currently attending higher education are getting their money’s worth?,” “Where do you think your tuition money is going to?” and “Where do you think cuts should be made in higher education?” In response to the first question, one student said: “No. I think I could get the same education at another lower cost school, but I’m paying for my degree to say ‘Bucknell.’”

When it comes to higher education, I personally do not think such a belief is the best reason to decide which college to attend. In the state of our economy, I can understand why people think this. Our university is a prestigious school with alumni in powerful positions. It seems students choose a school for its reputation more so than for the education the school provides. It would be as if I went to an Ivy League school solely to tell my future employers where I attended. In reality, you are going to get out of your education what you put into it; if you explore new opportunities at school, your education is going to be more worthwhile and where you get your degree will not hold such weight. For example, there are two English teachers from my high school who make similar salaries and went to two completely different colleges. One attended Harvard and the other, a state school. There are plenty of occupations in which the same job is available no matter the school attended.

What you receive from your higher education also depends on what you do on campus. I participate in four clubs and have three different jobs, and for this reason, I think our school is going to be worth the tuition because it is allowing me to gain practical experience for the future. From all my experience outside of the classroom, I have gained a lot of knowledge about a potential future for myself. Therefore, I can say I am getting my money’s worth because I am taking advantage of all the opportunities presented to me. There are a lot of people who sit around, don’t do any activities or join clubs, and they wonder why they attend our university as opposed to another school for half the price. Plenty of people say they would be just as happy paying half the price for their education as they would be at our university. One thing that sets our university apart is the experience you have and connections you make while here. It is clear we have a unique environment and a very close-knit campus that provides a great learning environment for both educational and personal growth. But if you are someone who does not take advantage of what our university has to offer, your money may not be in the right place.

It is easy to simply apply and get in to a well-known school solely for the degree once you graduate. Is that really what you want your college experience to be like? You’re not taking advantage of opportunities right in front of your face. If you know what you want to do after you graduate and our university can help you achieve that goal, good for you. But if you are simply applying somewhere because you know it is a prestigious school and want a degree from that school, then you may be taking the place of a student who would be better suited there. For example, I have two friends who both applied to Washington University in St. Louis. One wanted to go there for a writing program, and the other applied as a safety school as he recognized the caliber of a “WashU” degree. Guess what happened? My friend who applied as a safety got in over the other friend who actually wanted to attend.

It is unfortunate when someone doesn’t get in to a school he or she wants to go to. But if you are able to take advantage of the opportunities at the school you are at, then you will be getting your money’s worth.