Author: Tracy Lum

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News

Low youth voter turnout for midterm elections

By Tracy Lum

Editor-in-Chief

In the 2010 midterm elections, 12,040 of the 22,383 registered voters in Union County cast ballots Tuesday, according to the Union County Bureau of Elections.

The approximate 54-percent voter turnout rate was comparable to that of the 2006 midterm election, said Greg Katherman, director of elections and voter registration in Union County.

“Almost the same number of voters voted,” he said in a phone interview, though he could not provide a definitive percentage comparison. The voter turnout was up from roughly 33 percent in the spring primaries, he said.

For the presidential election in 2008, Union County polls reported an approximately 72 percent voter turnout rate. Though Katherman anticipated a 60 percent turnout for the midterm elections, he said some people did not come out to vote because they did not perceive this election to be as important as the presidential election.

“My guess is that … younger voters didn’t come out in this election, whether it’s college kids or young working people,” Katherman said.

Looking at the age demographics from voters in the election, he said a more senior group came out to vote. Full data on voter demographics in Union County will not be available for two weeks, but according to a national exit poll conducted by CNN, about 11 percent of the electorate was between the ages of 18 and 24 and about 23 percent was age 65 or over.

Students from the University registered to vote in Union County cast ballots in one of four polling locations: Larison Dining Hall, the Weis Center for the Performing Arts, the Donald Heiter Community Center or the Union County Courthouse. The proper voting location depended on where students lived on campus when they registered to vote, unless they notified the government center of the address change.

Some students were confused about where to vote. Elliot Franz ’11 did not figure out his polling location until two hours before the polls closed. He noticed a lack of information and discussion about the election on campus, especially compared to the array of posters, signs and pamphlets that decked the campus two years ago.

“Nobody really talks about it,” Franz said, “but I think this election makes more of a difference than the presidential election in some respects.”

Other students believe that people were not well informed about this election.

“I feel that because of the Bucknell Bubble and the disconnect between many Bucknell students and the people of Lewisburg, many students were not even aware until it was too late to register that midterm elections were taking place,” said Sarah Coppock-Pector ’13, an intern at representative Chris Carney’s office in Lewisburg. Coppock-Pector and fellow intern Lucy Christensen ’12 focused their efforts on Snyder and Union counties instead of on campus.

Daniel Murphy ’11 said he did not vote in the election because he did not know who was running in the area.

“I didn’t want to vote when I don’t know the issues being discussed and what each candidate stands for, which comes off as irresponsible,” he said. “I know more about the candidates running in my hometown just from being home for three days … than I do of the candidates in this area.”

Scott Meinke, associate professor of political science, said the lower turnout of younger voters for midterm elections could be explained by their mobility.

“They’re more mobile, less likely to be motivated by the kinds of local connections that help get people to the polls,” he said in an e-mail.

Still, he said young voters participate in elections when candidates make serious efforts to engage the younger demographic.

“We didn’t see as much of those trends in this year’s midterm election,” he said, “so it’s not surprising that the electorate skewed older as the campaigns spoke more to older voters in issues and in organizational efforts.”

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Editorial Opinion

Editorial

Two years ago, Obama and McCain political propaganda swamped campus in a sea of red, white and blue. Posters, signs and stickers covered bulletin boards from top to bottom, and students donned supportive buttons. Chalked messages on sidewalks encouraged people to vote, while student activists marched through dormitories, knocking on doors to persuade other students to register to vote.

The same political organizations that so ardently promoted their candidates on campus made no similar campaign in the 2010 midterm elections. In fact, if it weren’t for the political ads on TV and the briefly advertised election panel discussion on Oct. 21, most students would have had no idea the election even occurred. The lack of interest in voting signals to us a failure of many students to become engaged and informed citizens.

While many may argue that the propaganda from two years ago spawned conflict and provided no real information, we believe having at least some information is better than none. Placing posters, signs and pamphlets in prominent locations around campus reminds students to take part in the democratic process. It also encourages students to conduct research and practice their analytical skills when deciding which candidates’ positions align best with their own interests.

Moreover, in the past, these organizations helped students register to vote in Union County. This time, many underclassmen were uninformed about how to register. Others didn’t know enough about the candidates or where they could even vote. While the political groups may have their own agendas at election time, they are usually successful in increasing voter awareness and turnout. Their absence this year was felt at the polls on campus.

The overall lack of information about the election on campus was disconcerting. Rep. Chris Carney (D-Pa.) even held an open forum on campus on Oct. 12, but the event was not well publicized.  Some professors mentioned the election during their classes, but few were able to convey the importance of the outcome on students’ lives. Many students believed their votes would not matter.

Still, we cannot fault political organizations alone for a subdued effort.  We as students are given the right to vote and we should exercise that right. If we are unwilling to go out of our way to gain more information about the election and its candidates, that is really no one’s fault but our own. It is unfair for people to arbitrarily choose names on a ballot, but it is also a travesty that we will not make a substantial effort to understand the policies that will undoubtedly affect us in the future.

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Editorial Opinion

Editorial

Lack of respect is a growing concern on campus that affects students, faculty and the greater academic community. Students bully each other online and leave hurtful comments on anonymous gossip sites. Others send text messages or surf the Internet in class and during guest speaker presentations.

Now, recent reports of sexual assault and violence at the University have attracted the attention of the administration and faculty, prompting the formation of several committees and movements to address the issue of our declining campus climate.

Despite of the attention the issue has garnered, we ask whether the University’s response is effective enough.

In response to the high number of sexual assault incidences, the University has implemented initiatives at the administrative and student levels. This month, President John Bravman announced the formation of a Campus Climate Task Force. The Interfraternity Council issued its Declaration Denouncing Sexual Assault. Many students joined a Facebook group entitled “Movement4Manner,” and others participated in this year’s Take Back the Night / March for a Better Bucknell.  Meanwhile, the Women’s Resource Center and V-Day Bucknell have been working continuously to prevent and stop violence on campus.

While we applaud the efforts, we believe many students still do not take the issue of sexual assault seriously. At the March for a Better Bucknell, some students complained about how pointless the event was. These students do not realize how big of a problem sexual assault is on campus. In 2008, The Bucknellian reported that the number of reported sexual assaults had increased during the fall semester, but that many reported cases go unpublished in the Public Safety Log. Assaults have persisted since, as indicated by the 2009 sexual assault survey conducted by faculty and students at the University.

Moreover, even though the event may not dissuade people from performing sexual assault, its turnout should show support for victims of violence on campus. It should also reiterate the importance of respect.

Still, showing support may not be enough to end the violence. The disparity between thought and action remains large. It is one thing for students to sign the wall “for a better Bucknell” in the Elaine Langone Center and an entirely different matter for students to actually implement change.  Similarly, signing a declaration to not tolerate sexual assault or wearing an “I (Heart) Consensual Sex” button to promote a message is different than truly reforming behavior.

What we need is a change in mindset that no committee or movement can accomplish alone. Students on and off campus must learn to treat each other as human beings. We need a culture in which non-alcoholic events are at least viable, if not superior, alternatives to partying and drinking. We need a culture of basic respect—of body, of mind and of each other.

The efforts in response to sexual assault and violence have good intentions and are fairly ambitious, but they are only the first step. In order to enact real improvements in our campus climate, we need students to change fundamentally their mindset and truly commit to change.

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Editorial Opinion

Editorial

The recent forum presenting the conclusions of the Special Committee on the Strategic Role of Athletics and Recreation at the University raised important questions about the future of athletics on campus. Created to address the role of intercollegiate and intramural athletics, the University’s membership in the Patriot League, the school’s Division I status and the granting of merit aid for athletes, the committee has brought to our attention the need to reaffirm the importance of athletics and its relation to academics at the University.

At the University, sports and athletics are important in most students’ lives. The University’s involvement in the Patriot League and Division I athletics provides student-athletes with the chance to excel in both academics and athletics, while also drawing sports fans and other spectators to campus. Athletics thus foster a sense of community, build the University’s reputation and constitute a source of revenue for the University. Many students who are not varsity athletes also live active lifestyles, participating in intramural and club sports, or frequenting the gym.

Still, fostering opportunities for sports and recreation is not the sole goal of the University. The stated mission of the University is to educate “men and women for a lifetime of critical thinking and strong leadership characterized by continued intellectual exploration, creativity and imagination,” according to the University’s website. Certainly athletics may enrich education, but when evaluating the reallocation of funds for athletic merit scholarships, we believe it is important to keep a focus on academics in mind.

Membership in the Patriot League is supposed to promote “opportunities for students to compete in Division I intercollegiate athletics programs within a context that holds paramount the high academic standards and integrity of member institutions, and the academic and personal growth of student-athletes,” according to the Patriot League website. If the University decides to allocate more money to provide merit aid for student-athletes, it runs the risk of becoming too sports-oriented. Merit aid scholarships could attract students who are gifted athletically, but who may not uphold the academic standards on which the University prides itself.

Of course qualified student-athletes should receive merit aid. Student-athletes enrich life at the University by providing diverse points of view in class, by contributing to the cultural atmosphere and by creating contests, events and causes around which the campus community can rally. Student-athletes are an integral part of the campus culture, and they should be rewarded for their talents. The model of superior academics and outstanding athletics is what differentiates the University from most other schools.

Currently the University policy is to spend $3 of merit aid on non-athletes for each $1 spent on merit aid for athletes. The policy as it stands seems fair for the time being. Student-athletes and non-athletes alike should receive merit aid, but as the University re-evaluates its policy in reaction to proposed changes in the Patriot League, it should ensure the student body stays representative of academic talent. We cannot and should not prioritize athletics over academics and arts at the University, no matter the financial or reputational incentives of doing so.

Moreover, if the University decides to spend more money on merit aid for varsity athletes, it should ensure that the decision does not divert resources away from non-athlete students. Non-athlete students still deserve to enjoy the benefits of clean athletic facilities, and policies that favor student-athletes over non-athletes should not be enacted.

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Letters to the Editor Opinion

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

As representatives of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), we wanted to express how disappointed we are that students may have walked away from the “Divine Nine” lecture last Tuesday evening with the impression that NPHC organizations are racist. The Bucknellian article printed in the previous issue misrepresented the purpose of his lecture. The article entitled “Diversity speaker promotes black fraternities” drew a deceptive and primitive picture of NPHC organizations’ history, mission and goals.

Matt Tilford, a respectable student leader, (Common Ground facilitator, Memphis Civil Rights Alternative Spring Break Trip Leader and Black Student Union ally) initially submitted a more robust quote to the Bucknellian. His intended quote read as follows: “My impression of the reaction of many students was that the idea of Black Greek organizations is racist, and therefore undermined the notion of the lecture as a ‘diversity speech.’ While this is certainly an understandable sentiment, students should understand that the existence of historically black fraternities and sororities stems from a long history of discrimination. It’s tough trying to preserve some of that history while simultaneously progressing on racial equality. It is easy to say historically black fraternities and sororities should just join IFC and Panhel, rather than have their own separate governance organization. But wouldn’t that just be another form of racial discrimination, forcing black organizations to assimilate into organizations that have been built upon years of white cultural dominance? The only true path to equality would be to completely start over with new, thoroughly integrated organizations, which I don’t think anyone would advocate. While Ross’s talk may not have been very equitable in tone, it certainly still accomplished its goal of discussing diversity. We have diversity, but if equality is the goal, clearly there is still a long way to go.”

We are historically African American organizations, but do not limit membership to only African Americans. The stated purpose and mission of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) in 1930 was “Unanimity of thought and action as far as possible in the conduct of Greek letter collegiate fraternities and sororities, and to consider problems of mutual interest to its member organizations,” as posted on the NPHC website (http://www.nphchq.org).

As current NPHC organizations on campus, we want to incorporate our programming and events in collaboration with Panhel and IFC to promote unity. We look forward to partnering with Greek organizations on campus as unification can benefit us all. Each Greek organization—whether part of NPHC, Panhel, or IFC—may have been founded on different principles, but we still share a common ground.

If any student attended the lecture and left with an unsettled impression of what the NPHC organizations stand for, the significance behind the foundation of them, or the purpose for these organizations on the University’s campus, please feel free to attend “Meet the Greeks” on Oct. 22, 2010 from 6-7 p.m. in Walls Lounge. Meet us in person, learn more about individual NPHC and National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO) organizations and ask any unresolved questions you may have. Please recognize that the NPHC does not discriminate for membership or for any event. This event is free and open to the public and will be an opportunity to meet us and ask questions. We look forward to seeing you and appreciate the opportunity to share with The Bucknellian readers more about the NPHC.

Jennifer Gutierrez ’11

with assistance from NPHC students

Categories
Letters to the Editor Opinion

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

I’d like to take a minute to address the article that appeared in last week’s Bucknellian regarding the diversity speaker, Mr. Lawrence Ross. Although I am no longer a student, I take great pride in being an alumnus of the University, and I am extremely proud of being apart of the Xi Kappa chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. In reading the article, I am truly disappointed that time was not taken to actually research the issue of historically Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLO) because had it been studied, the author would not have graciously taken the time insult the members of my organization, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. All of these organizations have at one time or another been a part of the makeup of Greek life at the University. None of these, or any other BGLO, has ever been motivated to racially discriminate against students, and to insinuate that these organizations are somehow racist, while having thousands of non-black members, is a slap in the face of the University’s black Greek alumni.

Black Greek culture is a very loving and accepting culture and, at least during my time at the University, bent over backwards reaching out to all of campus. What amazes me even more is that in a situation that could prove as a teaching point to all of the University’s Greek life, and all of campus, that somehow the only opinion that was fostered, or recorded, from the entire event was that “the idea of ‘black’ fraternities is racist.” In my opinion, either nobody listened, or there was a lack of journalist integrity and moral responsibility in writing the article. I understand that the idea of BGLOs being somehow racist may be felt by some, although it is 100 percent wrong. But the entirety of the article talks about the event from an “us” and “them” standpoint, as if BGLOs are somehow devoid of dealing with other Greek organizations. Unfortunately, what I learned from reading this article is that obviously the University still has a long way to go in helping foster an environment that gives students a chance to build an understanding about things that are foreign to their own life experiences and seeing things from another person’s point of view.

Somehow the idea that because African Americans have “something that belongs just to them” makes them the real racists, by not assimilating to the culture around them and “shunning” people of different backgrounds. The author of the article, in his own convoluted way, attempts to bring to light the fact that much of the reason that BGLOs exist is because African Americans were not allowed to join white Greek organizations. The fact that they are still relevant and hold importance in our society as a whole is evidence of the fact that we have not yet reached a point where we are a colorblind or post-race society. At the same time, these groups show a great deal of tolerance and understanding by not being African American-only groups and accepting people of different backgrounds, and especially on the University’s campus, weaving themselves into the fiber of the University, interacting with many different groups of various backgrounds. All in all, I just think that if you are not an ethnically diverse student at the University and you went to a talk about the Divine Nine and the history of BGLOs and all you took away from it was racial insensitivity, then you really weren’t listening at all.

Christopher Hayes ’09

Former Vice Polemarch

Xi Kappa Chapter

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Spring 2007 Initiate

Categories
Arts & Life

Australia: the land down under

By Sharon Muli

Contributing Writer

On my first day in Australia, I decided Australians must not really speak English.  As our international orientation leader spoke to our group on the bus moments after we got off the plane in Melbourne, I glanced at the other Americans near me and noticed their generally confused faces.  Most of us understood about half the words she said.  At the end of my four-and-a-half-month semester, I asked a friend sitting next to me on the plane ride home whether the flight attendant had just spoken in an American or an Australian accent.  She thought for a second and said, “Australian?”  She was right, but it made us both realize how much we had changed since our first day in the country.

Last semester, I spent my time studying and immersing myself in the culture of Townsville, Australia at James Cook University.  Although it’s about the size of the continental United States, Australia’s population is little more than three times that of New York City.  The tropical city of Townsville is on Australia’s northeast coast, adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef and near the rainforest.  Here, I made my home on the first floor at University Hall on JCU’s campus, among mostly Australians and a mix of international students, and always within earshot of Aussie accents, techno music and the birds in the palm trees beyond my balcony.

On my trip, I dove near the Great Barrier Reef, held a koala, sampled new foods and spotted wild kangaroos.  These were great adventures, but it was the simplest things that surprised me most.  I never ceased being fascinated by the wildlife. The first day in my dorm, I walked into the bathroom and was shocked when I saw a gecko running across the ceiling. In town later that month, I passed a tree full of squawking rainbow lorikeets. While camping, we saw pesky bush turkeys and giant lizards called goannas.  During class field trips, I went snorkeling on an island to identify reef fish, and “in the bush” I helped survey frogs, lizards, snakes and other vertebrates.

Simple cultural differences were always interesting to observe.  While eating in my dorm’s cafeteria, I spent countless dinners explaining the appeal of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Reese’s candy, apples with peanut butter or caramel and how to make s’mores.  The Australians I lived with in turn explained the apparently acquired taste of Vegemite on toast, as well as the many ways to make Milo and expressed their shock that anyone lived in a place without Tim Tams (delicious chocolate covered cookies).  We talked about differences in the school systems, the different styles of dancing, the time malls close and the “no worries” attitude of Australians.  Before this experience, I never really realized the range of cultural differences between Americans and Australians.

Initially, I defended my American background and believed all the things I had grown up doing were “normal.”  I thought driving on the right side of the road was natural and a squirrel-infested campus was the way it was, even if it wasn’t especially desirable.  Soon, I started to embrace the Australian culture, trying to use the word “uni” instead of “college,” becoming accustomed to turning the lock the opposite way to unlock doors and attempting to remember that the right side of the car is the driver’s side.  When I came back to campus, I told all my friends the wonderful things I learned in Australia.  I tried to teach them how to use the words “keen” and “arvo” (afternoon) in a sentence (Are you keen to go to the beach this arvo?), and I explained the differences in their music and television shows. I explained that, despite the venomous snakes, deadly stingers (jellyfish), vicious crocodiles and other frightening animals living in Australia, I made it home safely and would definitely go back.

Australia taught me so many things about following my dreams, trying new things and making the most of every experience.  I know the things I learned studying abroad could not have been told to me, but only learned through experience.  I will always remember the time I spent in the “land down under” and I’m heaps keen for another adventure.

Categories
Editorial Opinion

Editorial

Last Saturday’s Fall Fest was supposed to be a day of wholesome fun. Inflatable obstacle courses and jousting rings occupied Sojka lawn, along with a dunk tank and several tables sponsored by student organizations and campus organizations. Carnival-type foods like snow cones and popcorn added to the festive autumn atmosphere. Then, Na Palm performed on the Fall Fest stage, seeming to undermine the spirit of the event.

Na Palm, also known as Craig Steven Palm, is a rapper from Chicago whose electronic hip-hop songs are laced with expletives. His lyrics typically feature drug use, excessive drinking and partying. They also disrespect women.

In light of recent discussions on campus about sexual assault, respect for one another and proper decorum, we are concerned about the decision to allow Na Palm to perform at this year’s event. His performance and the lifestyle he represents through his music seem to perpetuate the problems the campus is trying to eliminate.

Na Palm opened for Sam Adams, whom the Campus Activities and Programs (CAP) Center and Activities and Campus Events (ACE) booked for the event. Na Palm was not mentioned in the Facebook event or posters around the University announcing Fall Fest.

What bothered us most about his performance was not the offensive content of his music. Each day we can hear similar tunes on the Internet or on the radio (though even broadcast radio must comply with regulations set by the Federal Communications Commission). The real issue was the inappropriateness of the performance for the setting.

Fall Fest is an annual event open to the entire campus community. Faculty, students and staff are able to participate. Since children were in attendance, we were especially worried about Na Palm’s obscenities. Moreover, we believe that since Fall Fest took place in a very public setting, it was unfair that so many people were subject to hearing the vulgarities. The sound carries well in the open air, and even those in the surrounding vicinity could hear the music. Many students at the event seemed uncomfortable or nervous during the performance.

Na Palm’s musical stylings were unexpected at the event this year. We do not question people’s right to listen to such music, nor do we condemn their taste. We simply believe that in this case, since Fall Fest’s entertainment was so prominent,  attendees were not given enough information to be able to make informed choices about whether to subject themselves to Na Palm’s potentially offensive performance.

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Letters to the Editor Opinion

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor,

We, the members of the Bucknell on the Susquehanna (BotS) program, would like to address some inadequacies in the article run about our program on Sept. 17. While the piece explained the basic itinerary and description of our “domestic study-abroad” course, it neglected to reflect any of the views of students who are actually participating and unfairly represented the ultimate goal of this experiential learning opportunity.

Rather than defining it as a form of study abroad, it may be more accurate to call the program a semester-long series of field trips and exercises.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn [about our area] hands-on, outside of the classroom,” Joanna Freeman ’12 said. Most mornings at about 9 a.m., the “BotSMobile” waits outside O’Leary to take us off to a wide variety of sites around the watershed of the Susquehanna River. So far already we have spent a week in the Chesapeake Bay area, toured quarries and a coal mine, observed the impacts of logging and mining on the watershed today and many more experiences.

The program is designed to create an altogether unique experience of total immersion in the complex and diverse geographical feature that is the Susquehanna River watershed.

“After going abroad and comparing BotS to that experience, BotS is not a substitute for a study abroad,” Rebecca Coldwell ’11 said.

Returning from a study abroad in South Africa last semester, Coldwell described this fall’s program as “a completely different experience … a chance to learn about the land you spend four years on, how we affect it and learn to appreciate it.”

The BotS program also extends beyond local day trips.

“Every day is an adventure! We aren’t just focusing on the Susquehanna, but the entire watershed from Cooperstown, NY to Oyster, Va.,” Morgan Davis ’12 said. “We then travel to the west coast and compare both watersheds on a geologic, ecologic and political level. Awesome!”

On behalf of the Bucknell on the Susquehanna Program,

David Manthos ’11

Categories
News

Local food movement hits campus

By Chris Main

Contributing Writer

The local food movement sweeping the nation has energized consumers and producers. The University community is no exception, with many students and faculty taking an active role in bringing local products to students’ plates.

According to DailyFinance, the shift towards locally produced food helps small farms stay afloat during a hurting economy. Consumers are becoming increasingly interested in where their food comes from and how it is produced. Local producers are often eager to discuss their products with interested consumers.

The University’s involvement in the local food movement spans both student life and education.

The University’s food service, managed by Parkhurst Dining Services, offers a variety of products from local businesses. As part of Parkhurst’s FarmSource program, at least 25 percent of their produce is purchased from local growers.  Parkhurst also holds a bi-annual dinner showcasing local producers and their products.

“Our embrace of buying local allows us to meet our guests needs with generally less processed products. We think it just makes good sense,” a Parkhurst representative said.

To increase student awareness, labels with the name and location of the producer are displayed near each local item. Examples of this include bagels from Georgie’s Bagels in Berwick, Pa., apples from Dries Orchards in Sunbury, Pa., pork products from Hatfield Quality Meats in Hatfield, Pa. and dairy products from Schneider Valley Farms Dairy in Williamsport, Pa.

“It is really interesting to see that the food that is going onto our plates is coming from the farms and fields around Bucknell,” Alex Thompson ’13 said.

Not all students have taken notice of the efforts of Parkhurst to buy local produce.

“I never really noticed the signs before—I guess I do not care too much about where my food comes from,” Tyler Chadwick ’13 said.

Faculty and students raise awareness of local producers both inside and outside of the classroom. Nancy White and Janet Knoedler, both professors of economics, teach a class devoted to the mindful consumption of consumer goods, including food.

White and Knoedler both belong to a local organization dedicated to community supported agriculture (CSA). A CSA delivers a box of local, farm-fresh food to a consumer’s doorstep each week during the growing season, making it extremely simple for consumers to purchase local products.

Students in White and Knoedler’s classes spend time talking to local growers and studying the effects of food production. The final project requires students to compile a list of local producers. Students are also asked to raise awareness of local producers in the University community.

“While not everyone may care about eating local food, it is at least nice to know that is available,” Kevin Shute ’13 said.