Author: Emily Guillen

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Letters to the Editor Opinion

Letter to the Editor: Pool Pass Project

To the Editor:

Lauren Buckley made an important omission in her article “Education class to fundraise for pool passes.”  The article stated that the project began after the tragic drowning of two children whose parents could not afford pool passes and used the river for recreational purposes. While that might be true, it is also true that the children were sent, unsupervised, to play in the river while parents remained back at the home, at least two blocks away. While it is a tragedy that these children drowned, it should be noted that beyond the issue of using the pool, they were young children allowed to swim alone in the river after their parents had been warned not to let the children “stick a toe” in the sometimes turbulent and rapidly changing waters. The drowning has more to do with parental responsibility and the dangerous Susquehanna than with a lack of pool passes.

Sincerely,
William A. Klaus

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Arts & Life Sleeping Around

Sleeping Around: The Art of the Hickey

By Stacey Lace

Columnist

This weekend, my boyfriend and I woke up late Saturday night to the sound of my neighbor giggling very loudly with some guy. I gave them some privacy, but the next morning, we decided we had to pay her a visit to get the dish on her hook-up.

When she opened the door, we immediately noticed the gorgeous hickey she was sporting on her neck. Ironically, it was in the same spot as my boyfriend’s; they’ve now bonded as hickey buddies.

This awkward encounter led me to start thinking about the art of the hickey. When I think of love bites, it takes me back to a fourth season episode of “7th Heaven” in which middle-school-aged Simon gives his girlfriend a hickey and is no longer allowed to see her.

Hickeys really are straight from the middle-school years, but I want to acknowledge that they still have merit six or seven years later on the college campus.

I enjoy the way that come Monday morning, they announce the details of your weekend. As in my friend’s case, even if you didn’t overhear her, anyone could guess what she’d been up to the night before. The bruise on her neck is a dead giveaway.

My favorite way to hide my indiscretions is to throw on a scarf since they’re so in right now. Unfortunately, this tactic might not work out for me as we head into warmer weather and scarves start looking European and douchey.

If I were in the wild, I would definitely be one of those “alpha females” willing to fight any other female to the death for her mate, babies, nest or whatever. With this quality, it’s important to me that I’m able to mark my territory.

Rather than getting sucked into some awkward encounter with another girl where I spend a lot of time with my face close to hers saying, “You didn’t know he had a girlfriend?” I’m able to do a little biting and sucking to get my point across.

Before sending my boy toy off for a night out without me, I like to leave a little trace behind, just to be there when I can’t be.

The hickey is also a really nice way to stifle moans, screams, panting, etc. After a neighbor overheard my sextracurricular activities overheard a few weeks ago (yes, we have too intimate of a bond), I needed to figure out a way to be a little quieter so I wasn’t always putting on an audio show.

I’ve learned you can’t make too much noise when your mouth is busy elsewhere. It’s nice to kill two or three birds with one stone–or one strong suction.

As we head into the weekend, start looking for signs of others’ play this weekend. I guarantee a neck bruise will give away all their secrets.

Categories
Arts & Life Sleeping Around

Sleeping Around: A Cosmo Life

By Stacey Lace

Columnist

As a person in Cosmopolitan’s target demographic, it’s no surprise to anyone that every month I page through the magazine to check out the latest sex tips and tricks. After reading this month’s issue, I’ve found some things I’d like to share with you, my readers.

1. Katharine McPhee is sexy. I thought she was completely irrelevant, but now I realize she might be back on the rise. In Cosmo’s “How I Unleashed My Sexy Side,” McPhee filled me in on her go-to sex kitten look of jeans and a t-shirt. While I think that’s it’s nice for class, I have to say, I don’t get ogled when I wear that to a party. I’ll stick to my short, low-cut getups for hitting the parties and bars.

2. The Circle of 6 app is what’s up when it comes to dodging a guy. The app sends out a text at a single touch to let your friends know they need to save you from some greasy creeper. It also lets you instantly ask them for a ride or a phone call as well. I know I can’t wait to use it when I get into a sticky situation. Thanks for giving me a ride, girls!

3. Gynos have no boundaries. A gyno actually tried to set a woman up on a date with her son while “huddled over [her] vadge.”  Another ate lunch while doing an internal exam. You’re really going to get that invasive, doc?

4. Guys creep all over my new Facebook timeline. My boyfriend claims he doesn’t use FB. I believe him, but apparently other guys are looking at my “map” to see where I hang out. Good thing I have my Circle of 6 app for when they find me …

5. Costco is a hot date locale. I often frequent Costco with my parents when I’m at home, but I’m not sure it’s the sexiest place to have a date. Maybe some of Cosmo’s other “25 Fun–and Free–Things to Do With Your Guy” could work for me. Also, I don’t know that a trip to Costco has ever ended up being “free.”

6. People like to see what’s going on when they’re having sex. According to Cosmo’s “The Thing He’s Dying to See During Sex,” seeing yourself get it on “taps into [your] craving for sexual power.” The magazine recommends giving your guy a view as well as taking a peek yourself. Even going above the waist, I can only tell you one thing, directly from the mouth of a 20-year-old male student: “Boobs are cool. I want to see them.” Really, someone actually said this to me.

While it’s nice that women’s magazines are providing us with treadmill material, it seems to me that most of it is bullshit meant to make me buy next month’s issue.

Categories
Arts & Life Sleeping Around

Sleeping Around: Morning Romps

By Stacey Lace

Columnist

You know how great it feels to take a hot shower right after you wake up? You get a feeling of refreshment and cleansing, giving you the strength to get through your busy day. It’s the second best way to start the day.

The absolute best is morning sex. Let’s not pretend it doesn’t feel so good. I wake up horny. I realize “morning wood” is usually thought of as exclusively male, but it’s not. My morning wood just doesn’t peek out from between the sheets. Rather than take a cold shower to cool off, I’d like to take advantage of the fact that I have a gorgeous guy in bed next to me. (No comment on my own bedhead. I like to think I wake up looking something like a naked Jackie Onassis—classy and well put-together, just a little more naked and alluring.)

It just puts me in such a great mood to get it on before I do anything else. It’s so nice to spend the morning lounging in bed, lazily enjoying each other. I love the way morning sex can be slow and sensual, unlike nighttime sex, when I typically tend to focus on getting to the main event and falling asleep while snuggled up close together. In the morning, I can be so much more cognizant of the moment and less concerned with everything else in my life.

Playing in the morning leaves plenty of time for giggling, caressing, massaging … basically all the best parts of having sex. I can spend my time indulging in every single tingle and feeling of pleasure I feel all over my body.

I love the way it can be so playful and fun, yet so serious and meaningful at the same time. There’s so much more playful touching and kissing when I do it in the morning. It’s less sex-with-a-prostitute “Risky Business” and more sweaty-hand-on-the-window “Titanic.” Honestly, nothing compares to that scene in the car when Leo and Kate just can’t keep their hands off each other. It’s so clear they just want to touch, and so clear that doing it with each other is super gratifying.

Another perk to doing it in the a.m. is my energy level. Like I said, at night, I just like to do it and head to bed. But in the morning, I’m well-rested enough to really make the encounter count.

This weekend, when you go through round one on Saturday night, don’t forget that round two on Sunday morning (and maybe round three in the afternoon) can be just as good, if not better.

Categories
Arts & Life Sleeping Around

Sleeping Around: (dis)Comfort

Stacey Lace

Columnist

With a new boyfriend in my life, I have to voice a concern that is starting to dawn on me. There will come a day when we get too comfortable.

Even in such a new relationship, I can feel the comfort level changing. It didn’t take long before he knew about my weird (and slightly embarrassing) hangover regimen: I turn on episodes of “Star Trek” while I sleep, and I sip tomato soup through a straw.

I’m sure whenever that first visit with my parents happens, the BF will hear all about my escapades as a child–every embarrassing detail. In fact, my father prides himself on remembering my worst moments so he can quickly recall them. There is actually a home video of me circa 1993 in which my mother is dressing me after a bath and my father says something along the lines of “Wait until your future boyfriend sees your naked baby butt, Stace!”

My mother had this converted from VHS to DVD so I really don’t see a way to keep this hidden.

Beyond my sometimes embarrassing past, getting too physically comfortable with each other creeps me out just as much. This week, I had an 8 a.m. class and the BF had stayed over. I felt bad waking him since he didn’t have class until the afternoon, so I left him asleep in my bed and went off to my four hours of regularly scheduled lectures.

It’s not really a big deal, but if we’re already at the point where it’s no longer weird to sleep in each other’s bed without the other, how much further is it going to go?

As someone addicted to “How I Met Your Mother,” I can’t help but reference the show. There’s an episode in Season One (“Zip, Zip, Zip”) when Ted and Victoria get a little frisky on the couch and Marshall and Lily end up stuck in the bathroom for hours on end. Even after dating for nine years, the couple had never gone to the bathroom in front of each other.

While it’s wonderful to be so perfectly matched for someone that you never worry about how they view you, certain things just don’t need to be shared. If I could keep a guy from realizing the extensive eyebrow plucking I and other women go through just to look presentable, that would be great. Also, while I know my guy plays basketball and other sports, I’m really grossed out by sweat and just assume he never sweats. I realize this seems utterly ridiculous, and while I agree, I’ve managed to avoid seeing him post-game thus far, and I intend to keep it that way.

I’m fine with things as they are, but let’s hope they don’t progress too far into the comfort zone. Since I haven’t discovered anything too strange yet, I’ll just keep myself on a need-to-know basis.

Categories
Letters to the Editor Opinion

Cartoon Offensive

To the Editor:

Yes, we have all made/heard the joke that philosophy majors are a bunch of stoners, but I was offended to see this depicted in last week’s edition.  The cartoon depicts a philosophy class and the featured homework assignment is a marijuana leaf, accompanied in the next frame of students smoking and remarking that “It all makes sense now!”  It offends and degrades the brilliant professors our university employs as well as downplays the efforts of philosophy majors.  A major myself, I can’t imagine smoking weed before reading Kant’s “Critique of Pure Reason” or Plato’s “Republic” and expect to get anything out of it, or expect the whole universe to finally make brilliant sense.

A knowledge in philosophy requires reason, deep thought and superb analytical skills—if anything, weed would prevent this.  Studies have shown philosophy majors outshine all other majors on LSATs, GMATs, etc. because of these exact skills.  I hardly think that these students are high when taking the standardized exams.

An understanding in philosophy—metaphysics, epistemology, ontology, ethics, aesthetics—is complicated and rooted in deep thought that requires legitimate reflection, not a stoner understanding such as “wow, everyone should just get along,” that is just the tip of the iceberg!

Hannah Zachary ’12

Categories
Arts & Life Sleeping Around

Sleeping Around: BDSM

By Stacey Lace

Columnist

Some people like it rough. I think the appeal comes from the thought of either being in charge or being totally dominated. So popular, the term “BDSM” has been coined to mean bondage, domination, sadism and masochism.

Rough play has even made its way into pop culture. In the first season of “Desperate Housewives,” Bree’s husband habitually visited a dominatrix prostitutional housewife. Rihanna released “S&M” in January 2011, debuting it at No. 53 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and moving all the way up to No. 1. The song has even been certified double platinum.

With all of this hype, it seems like some whips and chains might not just excite Rihanna, but could excite the rest of us, too. At first I was pretty skeptical to get involved in BDSM myself, but Rihanna’s urging has given me the encouragement to find out more. I feel as though the heat created by a dominating situation might put a little hot sauce on my otherwise red-pepper-flaked sex life.

Whenever people start thinking about BDSM activities, we can’t help but think of the props that might complete the experience. I’m particularly interested in handcuffs, whips, gags and a little blindfolding.

I’m not so sure I’d experiment with bondage quite yet, but the blindfolding could be fun and wouldn’t necessarily be as “rough” as other props. I realize this sounds like something straight out of “Cosmopolitan,” but I think the anticipation of not necessarily knowing what thrilling sexual act will be performed next can be a great turn on.

The BDSM attire also shouldn’t go unnoticed. Personally, I love the way black thigh high leather boots look. I have a pair that makes me my legs look rocking. I’ve also always been a big fan of sexy lingerie. A lacy black get-up can create a nice juxtaposition with the leather boots or a black leather jewelry piece with metal spikes. (I personally think the dog collar is a little much, but I can see the appeal for some.)

Every time I get down and dirty doesn’t need to be the greatest thrill I’ve ever experienced, but I think throwing in a little variety can kick up the satisfaction a notch or two. Sometimes, a little BDSM can get the job done.

Disclaimer: In no way are BDSM activity and non-consensual sex the same. Prior to engaging in any type of BDSM behavior, consent of all parties involved should be clearly stated.

Categories
Letters to the Editor Opinion

Letter to the Editor: Nelly sets bad example

To the Editor:

As a woman on this campus, I am deeply discouraged by the announcement of Nelly headlining the upcoming Spring Concert here at Bucknell. I am deeply concerned by the message that bringing such an artist sends to the Bucknell community, given Nelly’s notorious affinity for degrading and objectifying young females in the name of entertainment. Furthermore, I am disappointed that the University would endorse such a message given the overwhelmingly negative nature of the Campus Climate Report in regards to sexual assault.

The Campus Climate Report revealed that women routinely experience unwanted physical and verbal sexual advances at parties, and that as a university, Bucknell ranks in the top five among peer schools of reports of forced sexual interactions. The report also acknowledged that the social scene at Bucknell is controlled by men and driven by alcohol. As a woman who has been the brunt of these negative, alcohol-fueled interactions on this campus, and having both personally experienced the pain of sexual assault, as well as helped friends struggle through their own experiences, I am disgusted that a place I have considered my home for the past three years would sponsor an artist that shows no respect for more than half of Bucknell’s student population.

My first encounter with Nelly’s degrading portrayal of young women in his videos and lyrics was at Common Ground, a University-sponsored retreat. A documentary was shown that focused on the negative and hypersexual portrayal of women in the media. Nelly’s “Tip Drill,” along with its video, was a centerpiece in the documentary. Lyrics from the song include: “It must be your ass ’cause it ain’t your face,” and “It ain’t no fun unless we all get some/I need a tip drill/We need a tip drill.” The definition of “tip drill” also bears looking up; it brings to light much of the disgusting nature of the song. The video that accompanies the song contains images of barely clothed women having money thrown at them and champagne poured on their backsides, which culminates with Nelly taking a credit card and swiping it through a woman’s butt crack.

The use of women as sexualized props in music videos is not by any means confined to Nelly’s “Tip Drill,” but nobody can deny the pervasive nature that these videos have in the larger culture, and it sets a startlingly low standard of behavior for students. As an institution that is admittedly struggling with creating a respectful male-female dynamic on campus, it is troubling to me that as a student body, we would support hosting an artist who has historically stood in stark contrast to the ideals that we are trying to promote. It makes no sense to me that Bucknell would invite such an inspiring artist, John Legend, to come to campus, and then within the same semester, invite Nelly. In light of recent events, specifically the empirical evidence presented in the Campus Climate Report, how can we deny that these messages will unfortunately continue to inform our peer relationships here on campus? If there ever has been a pivotal moment to definitively change the campus climate and prove that we are actively working to become more informed and respectful students, is it not now? If we truly believe that the statistics in the Report were not indicative of the Bucknell student body, then why not prove it to ourselves?

Christine Perry

Class of 2013

Categories
Letters to the Editor Opinion

Letter to the Editor: Past editorial flawed

To the Editor:

The editorial, “Administration too power-hungry to realize realities,” (Feb. 17) presents an argument that is logically invalid. Moreover, even if we revise the argument to make it valid, its premises ignore the complexity of the issue. The editorial’s argument is as follows:

1) The University should be designed to prepare students to succeed in our capitalist society.

2) In a recent study, it was found that there is a correlation between social drinking and post-graduation income levels.

3) Greek Life promotes social drinking.

4) Restrictions on Greek Life will lower the post-graduation income levels of students.

5) Restrictions on Greek Life are against what the University is designed to do.

The reason this argument is invalid is because it confuses correlation with causation. The same students who socialize happen to be the same students who become high earners. This doesn’t at all imply that socializing will result in one becoming a higher earner. It could mean that there exists some third factor–such as being an affluent person–which causes you to socialize at a higher rate and to become a high earner. The editor might revise Clause II with a more plausible and logically valid claim, such as: networking causes a student to be a higher earner. However, once such a correction is made, it becomes clear that Greek Life, while it might promote networking, is certainly not the only way to do it–study groups also promote networking.

Clause I ignores the complexity of the University’s mission. A liberal arts university is not specifically designed to provide vocational training and its success should not be based solely on the wealth of its alumni–its mission is much more complex. It should at least offer students knowledge in a broad range of subjects and promote research. This is not to say that frat parties don’t offer some sort of knowledge and that they could not be a fruitful area in which to conduct research, although frat parties probably won’t teach you how to distinguish between valid and invalid arguments.

All that said, I do in some ways agree with the editor. The University should not restrict Greek Life, but it shouldn’t support it either. It might be better if Greek houses were not on University property, if there were no deans of Greek Life–instead I might suggest a scholarship for a student interested in studying the Greek language and culture–and public safety wasn’t monitoring Greek houses. The University might be better off if it treated students like citizens and left such monitoring to our societal infrastructures that are designed for it: the law and police.

 

Aaron Meyers

Graduate Assistant in Sculpture

Categories
Letters to the Editor Opinion

Letter to the Editor: Response to research

To the Editor,

I am prompted to write to you by the article that appeared in the Feb. 17 edition of “The Bucknellian,” entitled “Study shows drinking is not all bad” and the editorial that uses the research described in that article to criticize the University for failing to “realize realities.”  Can you tell me if Hoopes and Beeson’s study considered the race and gender of participants? I ask because if it is the case that Bucknell’s white male students more heavily populate the binge drinker category than do women and/or students of color, then it is no surprise that the binge drinkers tend to earn higher salaries.
Curious about the details,
Professor Lintott