The Bucknellian

Olivia Seecof
Writer

Take Back the Night, which occurred on Oct. 18, has grown to become an anticipated and highly respected event on the University’s campus with growing participation each year. Hundreds of students filled the science quad to participate in the rally. This event, originating in Philadelphia in 1975, has been taking place for many years.

“The roots of Take Back the Night lie in the issues of sexual and intimate partner violence, the voices of survivors and the voices of students who are taking a stand on our campus,” Tracy Shaynak, Director of the Women’s Resource Center, said.

This year, the Speak UP Bucknell Peer Education Program in conjunction with the Women’s Resource Center worked together to plan the event.

“The students were really involved in the planning. There was a committee of students who worked with Tracy Shaynak for about a month and a half to plan the whole event,” Stephanie Gonthier ’15, a member of Speak UP Bucknell, said.

“These are not easy issues to discuss, but we know we cannot make a difference without student ownership, dedication and commitment. Having the opportunity to work with students who are willing to help us address these issues head-on is incredibly valuable,” Shaynak said.

The event included students reading excerpts of stories as well as inspirational thoughts.  It then concluded with a walk around campus with students carrying glow sticks: teal for sexual assault and purple for domestic violence. During the walk, the campus a capella groups sang.

“I always love singing at Take Back the Night. It’s such a great cause and I was honored to be a part of it. It is awesome seeing our campus joining together,” Allison Gibson ’13, a member of the Offbeats, said.

“I think that Take Back the Night says what almost no other event on campus can.  To me, Take Back the Night tells anyone who is suffering the effects of sexual violence that there are hundreds of people who care and will take time out of their nights, forget about their exam the next day, maybe lose some extra sleep and often relive memories they don’t want to have just to be there and support you,” Will Evans ’14 said.

“I am grateful to all of the students who spoke at Take Back the Night, and hope that this event and others will help us continue the dialogue as we all work together to address the issues facing our campus community,” Shaynak said.

Paige Bailey
Writer

The Race and Politics panel on Oct. 22 was a reminder that despite the election of President Obama, the country has much to do in terms of racial acceptance. The Race and Politics discussion was the last in a series of conversations to help the campus community hone in on key themes in the context of a momentous election. Each participant highlighted key ways that the race has manifested itself in the political arena in both invidious and consistent ways dating back to the nation’s founding.

Associate Professor of History Leslie Patrick outlined a historical account of the politics of race. He said that while the nation deliberately worked to exclude African Americans from politics at its founding, there is “ample evidence that the past is still with us.”

Patrick said there is a key break with the past in terms of the language that is used in politics to discuss race. She argued that in fact, the 20th century is distinct because race is not directly referenced. Instead there is a “new code” that attempts to mask blatant racism with language of “law and order” and “states’ rights.” All four panelists agreed on this point. Specifically, Associate Professor of Economics Nina Banks defined this situation as “racism without specific terms.” This color-blind racism is now the “dominant paradigm” in America.

Professor of Sociology Linden Lewis also discussed the paradox between the primacy of race and the lack of an explicit discourse on race. For example, Lewis said that the continuing question of Obama’s nationality deems him as “other” in a fundamental way. However, questioning African American citizenship is not a new feature in American politics.

“We are witnessing … the sharpening of the discourse of race … racially coded language and terms in the political debate,” Lewis said. “[For the first time there is] someone in the White House whose citizenship and patriotism can be brought into question by racist members of society,” Lewis said.

Professor of Political Science Atiya Stokes-Brown highlighted how the increased diversity of the American population brings important questions for the Republican Party in particular.

“There is reason to suggest that despite the Latino vote being up for grabs that they in fact primarily vote for the Democratic Party,” Stokes-Brown said.

She said that the important role demography plays in elections “guarantees race’s role” in the political sphere in the future.

In the context of an election, the audience was able to engage in how racism still pervades American politics.

“ … Despite having an African American president, we do not live in a post-racial society. The issue of racism is now below the surface, rarely discussed, as we see in the current presidential election,” Paige Cobbs ’13 said.

The “Great Recession” our country is currently in has magnified the preexisting wealth gap between black and white Americans. The unemployment rate of African American men is double that of their white counterparts. Because of the failure to address racism, Banks said it is unsurprising that the recession was “particularly catastrophic to the African American community.”

Kerong Kelly
Writer

This year’s Homecoming campaign, scheduled for this weekend, is the largest effort the University has seen it its 161 year history. The goal is to raise half a billion dollars. To celebrate its most generous donors, the University will be hosting a gala tomorrow night, held in a tent that spans the entire width and length of the Academic Quad. The following day, there will be a BBQ for the faculty, staff and their families to show the University’s appreciation for their service to the school.

The tent measures approximately 275 feet long by 85 feet wide, over half an acre in area. It will take approximately one week to set up and one week to disassemble. As for the effect it will have on student transportation across the quad, the delays are minimal. Some students showed their displeasure with its location.

“I think the tent takes away from the fall foliage. The most beautiful views are from the academic quad,” Morgan Slade ’13 said.

Other events that are going to be held during Homecoming weekend include Corey Harris and Vertical Horizons concerts tonight and a conversation with Jim Cramer and Walter Isaacson tomorrow morning. Though the tent’s function is visible, some believe its placement is not completely practical.

“I don’t understand the location. I think a better location would have been the Sojka Pavillion,” Brandon Dellafave ’16 said.

The University would not release the total cost of the tent.

Jen Lassen
News Editor

A 21-year-old Lewisburg man was recently found and arrested by Buffalo Valley Regional Police after breaking into University students’ homes through an iPhone GPS tracking device app.

Tristan Swigart of Lewisburg was charged with burglary, criminal trespass, theft, loitering and prowling and criminal mischief.

On Sept. 15, police said that four University students reported a break-in at their apartment on 31 South Sixth Street. Three of the occupants were sleeping upstairs, but the fourth roommate was not home at the time.

Taken from the house was a 32-inch flat-screen television, a DVD player, a bottle of Three Olive vodka, a bottle of wine and a bottle of champagne.

Also, a student living at 108 S. Sixth St. previously reported that someone stole a TV, an iPhone and two MacBooks from her. She said she had GPS tracking software that indicated her iPhone had been taken to 113 North Third Street where the culprit was eventually found and arrested.

All tenants of both 31 South Sixth Street and 108 South Sixth Street were unable to comment on the case due to legal concerns.

“We always made sure to keep the doors locked before, but the burglars went through our living room window so we immediately made sure all of our windows were locked, and we keep the blinds drawn at all times. We also don’t leave anything of value in our living room. It was kind of scary, but I still feel pretty safe living downtown because I know we always have our doors locked. Other students downtown may not follow the same procedure as we do of locking their doors and windows, but I think everyone definitely should,” an anonymous student living nearby downtown said.