Categories
News

Brigade raises money for Nicaragua community

By Christina Oddo

Writer

 

The Bucknell Brigade hosted a raffle and silent auction on Feb. 17 in Larison Dining Hall for University students and faculty to benefit the Nueva Vida community in Managua, Nicaragua. Attendees enjoyed live entertainment by Dave Miller as well as hors d’oeuvres. Tickets were $5 for students and $10 for general admission.
“In the months leading up to the date, members of the Bucknell Brigade worked to collect donations from local vendors and friends of the Brigade in order to have a mix of items to raffle off or put up for bid as silent auction items,” Carolyn Breden ’12 said.

Some of the items auctioned include a five-night stay at the Palm Ocean View in St. Thomas and four months of home cupcake delivery. There were also many raffle prizes, including gift certificates and video rentals.

The Bucknell Brigade is a group of students, faculty and staff dedicated to aiding the people of Nueva Vida.

“Each year, we send two to three delegations to the community of Nueva Vida in Managua, Nicaragua to do service work and we spend the rest of the year raising awareness and supporting the community,” Breden said.
Each year, the Bucknell Brigade is committed to raising $40,000, in order to support the health clinic in the community.

“There was a steady crowd of about 50 people with people constantly coming and going, so in the end, I’d say we had 85 to 100 people in total show up to the auction. We made just under $2,500 with our auction prizes,” Katie McAvoy ’13 said.

The proceeds raised by the raffle and auction will go directly to the Nueva Vida community.

Categories
Opinion

School concerts lack diversity

By Connor Small

Writer

Get ready. It’s time to relive all of those awkward middle school dances: Nelly is coming to the University. Last week it was announced that our Spring Concert this year features Nelly, with Timeflies opening. While I can understand the hype around his coming to the University, I (along with many of my peers) question the decision to bring him to campus.

Now, before I say anything else, let me say this: I do enjoy Nelly, and I recognize the talent he has. He has had many chart-topping singles, including the songs “Ride Wit Me,” “Hot in Herre” and most recently, “Just a Dream.” His album “Country Grammar” has been certified nine times platinum, and for good reason. He is truly talented—that is indisputable—but I am disappointed the Concert Committee couldn’t find an artist from a genre other than hip-hop.

The three big concerts this year, Chiddy Bang/The Cool Kids, Wiz Khalifa and now Nelly will all have featured hip-hop, and I feel the Concert Committee is not doing justice to the many appealing artists in other genres. Bands such as Arcade Fire and Bon Iver (who won Grammys for the 2011 Album of the Year and 2012 Best New Artist, respectively) are both popular, versatile and mind-blowingly good live.  Besides coming from a genre other than hip-hop, I can guarantee that people would buy tickets to see both of these bands, as well as many others.

I understand when people our age attend a concert, they want to dance and party, and finding an artist that people like to dance to may have been one of the driving forces behind the decision to bring Nelly to the school. But the University used to have a great tradition of bringing in artists on the rise, just before they became big, and with a diverse range of genres (past acts include Kanye, Jay Sean, Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews, The Goo Goo Dolls and Rusted Root).

Another aspect to consider is campus climate: how does Nelly reflect the principles and morals of the University? Is the man who sings about taking off all of our clothes, and who sponsors the energy drink “Pimp Juice,” really, in the eyes of the University, the best choice to echo the goals the school has been working towards? With a higher focus on Campus Climate, this selection has, understandably, made some faculty members upset. While this might not be important to many students, it should definitely be considered.

I don’t mean to rip on Concert Committee, nor do I want to seem as if I am telling it how to do its job, I am simply stating there should be more diversity in terms of concerts in the future. I know part of the committee’s job is to find artists that will appeal to the largest number of students possible, but they have ignored the fact that the University has a diverse range of musical interests, and that not everybody likes rap. I have great respect for all members of Concert Committee and their efforts in trying to provide fun concerts for us, and I know that they have the capability to bring in artists that everyone will enjoy.

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
Categories
Opinion

TV shows push the limit

By Jasmine King

Contributing Writer

In recent years, TV shows and movies have become an outlet for many producers and/or directors to illustrate their frustration with current events. Between reality TV shows and the dramas that air every night on FOX and ABC, it is no wonder that our nation’s “right to free speech” now has a negative context. The producers and directors frame their shows to expose the truths about today’s society, but in some cases they go too far, over-dramatizing and even poking fun at serious situations to make them seem less important.

In almost every show on television, there is at least one controversial subject, like rape, abortion, the death penalty, illegal drug use and the list goes on and on. We tell more about a person from his or her actions than from his or her words. In viewing these television shows, it is no wonder the world believes that if it is shown on TV, then it must be okay to do in real life. For example, in “Glee,” Quinn was determined to destroy the reputation of the woman who adopted her child in order to regain custody of the child. I was outraged by this episode, not only because she framed Rachel’s mother, but also because there were no true consequences shown of her actions. Without showing the consequences, TV is teaching citizens that it is okay to do acts like this, because there are no repercussions in the next episode.

Controversial issues have been seen in shows like “Glee” and the infamous “Family Guy.” Both of these shows touch upon controversial subjects in every episode and yet, they continue to be aired each week. Don’t get me wrong, I watch both shows. However, there is a point where the producers should draw the line in terms of what to show in each episode and how far to take it. For example, the University claims to be working on the issue of gender stereotypes, but how can we (as a University and a nation) say we are not condoning the seriousness of women’s rights when even our TV shows make jokes about it? To give “Family Guy” credit, the newer episodes have been more conscientious in terms of portraying more serious subjects, but after all, it is comedy. In the latest season, there is an episode in which Glenn Quagmire’s sister is being physically abused and although this is a very serious matter, the producers utilize comedy in subtle ways that do not take away from the real issue at hand. This is one of the most serious “Family Guy” episodes, as it illustrates the life of an abused woman, and I give credit to the makers of “Family Guy” for having the guts to take on such a hushed issue.

Our country does not want to see an abused woman or a child being neglected when we come home at night; we want to be humored, even at the expense of our morals. Humor has become a way of dealing with the things we cannot resolve. Thus, if we are making fun of the subject, at least we are acknowledging it is there.

Categories
Opinion

Unpaid internships unfair, but important for career

By Jessica Isgro

Contributing Writer

Some people see internships as corporate America’s way of saying “pay your dues.” Undoubtedly, it’s easy to see it this way: the unpaid work, the undesirable position, the obscure hours, the fierce competition. In reality though, this is a glass-half-full approach to what is simply a reality of the working world. Whether we, as college students, want to admit this or not, internships are merely a way to get a leg-in to our industries of choice.

Now, bear in mind I have no intention to disparage the part of universities in training students to work in their desired fields. However, there is only so much that can happen in the hallowed halls of any institution; as much as higher education tries to simulate whatever real-life experiences we may encounter in future jobs, nothing compares to the working world like the working world. We can discuss situations, even simulate them in role-play exercises, but until we experience them we do not know how we would truly react.

Think about the massive leaps of faith employers would have to take if all they were presented with in an interview was a list of grades and extracurricular activities. Straight As, leadership positions and varsity sports show intellect, initiative and versatility to employers, but they do not indicate that you will be valuable to their team. What does show them your capabilities in the field is real working experience. This way, they know you have some practical skill, that you have worked in a professional environment and they have yet another reference to contact to see if you excelled in your position.

For individuals just entering into the working world, there is an interesting, and seemingly unfair, duality to contend with. This duality is that of entry level positions which still require prior experience. The only way to have experience without yet fully being a part of the industry is to partake in internships. Even if employers do not necessitate this prior experience, they will likely choose the candidate with the most experience.

At the end of the day, are these students being exploited by a process that has become more and more commonplace in our society? No. You cannot be exploited by something that is completely voluntary. Yes, internships feel compulsory; if you don’t participate, then you lag behind in the competition against all those candidates with more experience. Yet when it comes down to it, technically, no one forces you to be an unpaid intern. When walking into an internship, a given student knows he will not be paid, he may receive “grunt work,” and he will not have the exact experience as an employee. There is a difference between this intern feeling exploited and being exploited.

It is a process laden with competition, stress, interviews and training. The eventual payoff of scoring the big job is worth the seemingly tedious journey. So do we condemn businesses for offering unpaid internships? Do we challenge them as instilling in us the concept of unpaid work? Or, do we thank them for the advantage they give us when we become a part of the “real world?” This is truly a matter of personal preference, but it seems logical to me that we swallow our pride, gain some experience and use internships as a means of preparation for the careers we hope to one day obtain.

Categories
Arts & Life Sleeping Around

Sleeping Around: What’s your number?

By Stacey Lace

Columnist

During the fall semester of my first year at the University, students and faculty were plagued by the swine flu. With half of my English 101 class quarantined, and my own symptoms from a stomach bug, I turned into a hypochondriac and made my first visit to Health Services.

Luckily, I managed to avoid swine, but I didn’t manage to avoid the poster in the examination room providing me with the six degrees of sexual separation. I recently started thinking about how my “number” and “exposure” stack up.

I decided to look up a similar chart online entitled, “Sexual Exposure Chart.” The chart is based on the idea that every partner you’ve engaged in sexual activity with has had the same number of previous partners you have. In my case, I’ve had two partners, so under the chart’s assumption, Partner #1 had no previous partners and Partner #2 had one other partner. This brought my total exposure to three people.

A sexual exposure of three didn’t seem so bad, but with one more partner added, my exposure jumped up to seven. While my traditional “number” may only go up by one for every new partner, my exposure to others goes up by many more.

I started asking around to figure out what a typical 20-year-old female student’s number would be and got a variety of answers. Yes, I actually walked up to women to ask for their number. My extremely small and impromptu survey yielded results anywhere from zero to eight, with most answers being one or two.

Surprisingly, every girl I asked outright gave me her number without hesitation. No one seemed concerned it was too low or too high. In one case, the girl had to think about and count up her number of partners, indicating a lack of concern regarding it.

Based on a survey by the federal government, men had a median of seven and women had a median of four heterosexual partners. According to “The Myth, the Math, the Sex,” an article from the New York Times in 2007, it’s expected that men overestimate and women underestimate their partner number.

With those numbers being said, I think it’s important to realize a few things.

First, half of all people are above the median and half are below. To be honest, this median isn’t really about the “typical” number of partners; it’s about the number of partners at the middle of the spectrum. It doesn’t indicate how heavily populated different parts of the number line are.

Regarding my own life, I think two is fine. Realistically, my number is going to increase, and that’s fine with me. What’s important isn’t the number, but the decisions we make that got us to it.

Categories
Arts & Life

Q&A with Jonathan Lyons, artist currently featured at Cherry Alley Cafe

By Heather Hennigan

Contributing Writer

For the next six weeks, Cherry Alley Café will be showing copper and patina art by Jonathan Lyons, College Core Curriculum lecturer and Posse faculty mentor for D.C. Posse Four.

Q: How did you make the pieces in Cherry Alley Café ? What inspired you to do this kind of work?

A: “I love working with copper because it’s so reactive, and because the metal reacts in such beautiful, colorful ways. It’s also quite forgiving as a material for sculpture. The pieces in Cherry Alley are almost all 12″ x 12″ copper sheets. I use a variety of compounds to produce the colors, ranging from vinegar, to a rust/corrosion-inducing compound, to a number of patina compounds designed to work well with and produce specific colors with copper. I also use leaves and other organic materials sometimes because as they react with some compounds, they’ll etch an impression into the copper itself.”

Q: What is your favorite part about creating these pieces, and what is the hardest aspect of the process? 

A: “I love seeing what I can do with this set of tools and a”‘canvas,” if you will, of copper. Difficult things include when a piece just doesn’t go the way I’d hoped and I have to scrap it–-though I recycle those for other artwork–and working with steel. I haven’t had much luck getting steel to react, probably because that’s just what most people don’t want their steel to do.”

Q: What do you hope people get out of viewing your work?

A: “I hope they’ll see them and enjoy them. The results, when they work out, can be striking. And who knows? Maybe some will want to take a piece home with them.”

Q: How has the reception of your pieces been so far? Are you excited about the display in Cherry Alley? 

A: “People do seem to like them–the people who mention them to me, anyway. I’m glad that Cherry Alley supports local artists and authors. We live in such a small community that I feel quite lucky to have local business and community support for the arts and artists in the area.”

Q: Any plans or hopes for the future with your work?

A: “My wife and I are planning a permanent installation of probably nine pieces in our home. And I’ve been thinking of doing more sculpture. I’ve worked in the past mixing metal art and textual elements, and I have some ideas for doing more of that in the future. I’m always looking for other businesses that feature local art.”

Categories
Men Sports Track & Field

Athlete of the Week

By Chris McCree

Sports Editor

 

Player Profile:

Justin Hicks

Junior

Sprinter

Hometown: Wilmington, Del.

Major: Neuroscience

 

2011-2012 Personal Bests:

60m:  6.84 seconds

200m: 21.88 seconds

400m: 50.58 seconds

 

Behind the record-breaking performances of third-year sprinter Justin Hicks ’13, the men’s track and field squad ended its 19-year Patriot League Indoor Championship drought this past weekend at Gerard Fieldhouse, beating out a talented Navy squad by 8.75 points. Hicks led the Bison with a pair of gold medals in the 60-meter and 200-meter dash events and anchored the 4×400 relay to a fourth place finish, earning him the title of Outstanding Track Athlete of the Meet. In his first event of the meet, Hicks posted a program-best time of 6.84 seconds in the semifinals of the 60 meter dash and followed it up with a time of 6.88 seconds in the finals, making him the first Bison to earn gold in the event. Later, Hicks once again moved up the records book after posting a 21.88 in the 200 meter finals, the second-best time in program history.

Since joining the Orange and Blue in 2009, Hicks has continually proven to be one of the league’s most talented sprinters. In 2010, Hicks earned Patriot League Indoor Championships Rookie of the Meet honors. Last season he earned a critical gold medal during the outdoor championships last season to help the Bison earn the title.

With the indoor title under their belt, Hicks and some of his teammates will get the week off before heading off to Boston for the IC4A Championships.