All the Juniors Put Your Hands Up

Junior Year is the hardest, they said. That’s when things really get serious. Being at it’s the second week of class and I feel like it’s midterm week, the proverbial “they” seems to have been correct. After a summer of interning, sleeping, and going to the beach, coming back to the real world has been a shock to my system. I’ve already read Beowulf (again), learned to recreate the Bloomingdale’s logo as well as a New York Times article (the technophobe is taking a desktop publishing class), and run a meeting filled with excited English majors.

Don’t get me wrong, I am loving it. My classes are fantastic and I’m leading some clubs that are going to do some amazing things this year, but I am tired. Very, very tired. Like, slice me open and nothing but coffee will spill out level tired. But I know myself well enough to know that there’s a bad kind of tired and a good kind of tired. Bad tired is the mental exhaustion that comes from doing things you don’t like to do and surrounding yourself with negative energy. Good tired comes from filling your life with stimulating activities and people that challenge you and push you to do more. I’m happy to say I’m the good kind of tired. This will, by far, be my most difficult semester. I’m learning how to be a good journalist and novelist and publisher all at once, but I have that expectant feeling that I get when I’m entering an exciting time in my life. My life has always been very cyclical (as most people’s are) and I’ve noticed this especially applies to school. In both high school and college, my years can be characterized as follows:

Freshman year: What the hell am I doing?

I don’t think I like it here, there’s no way I’m going to make it through the year, never mind another three. Nope.

Sophomore year: Hey, this isn’t so bad!

While still insecure, I’m beginning to figure out what I like (especially toward the end of the year). The year ends with excitement for the following year and a sense of things falling into place.

Junior Year: Bring it, because I’ve totally got this.

This is where I am right now. I’m crazy busy, just like I was in high school. Back then I was well on my way to running the choir, as well as the yearbook, and the morning announcements. Here? I’m doing PR for the literary magazine, vice president for a pre-professional club for all of my fellow student journalists, not to mention a tour guide. I feel like I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing here. For some people, that sense of belonging comes from finding a “friend group” or joining one club that takes over their entire life, but for me it’s always been the same: I want to do everything. I want to do different things, all of which make me happy. I want to surround myself with many people, not just stick to one group. I feel like I’m finally doing these things and in doing so I find myself busier and happier than I’ve been in recent memory. I’ve still got a lot to figure out (I am 20, after all) but everything has that bright and exciting feeling that I love.

Senior Year: This is my house.

By the time I reached my senior year of high school, I was on top of my game. I knew what I wanted, and despite some bumps I got almost all of it (or even better). Here’s to next year following this cycle, because senior year of college marks my last year before being a grown-up with real grown-up problems.

For all of my fellow undergrads that have entered the latter half of their college experience: take a sip of that coffee, hold on tight, and buckle up because we have two more years of adventures ahead of us. I, for one, am ready.

Sexual Assault: A College Epidemic

Lena Sclove is a 22 year-old Brown University student that is being forced to make an impossible decision: transfer, or see the student charged with sexually assaulting and choking her on campus everyday. In an interview with the Huffington Post, Sclove said, “They’re letting him come right back, so either I need to take two years off until he graduates or I need to transfer somewhere else. … I did not do anything wrong, and yet I’m the one who’s going to take time off or transfer.”

The perpetrator, who Sclove had considered a friend, was convicted on four counts of misconduct, including sexual violence resulting in physical injury. Originally, he was sentenced to a two-year suspension from the university, a punishment that would have allowed Sclove to complete her degree. The powers that be at Brown University decided that this would not be the case. The perpetrator charged with the sexual assault of Lena Sclove has officially been sentenced to a one-year suspension. Brown University students, as well as the nation, have a lot to say about it.

A junior at Brown University who wished to remain anonymous said, “It could have been handled better by treating the rapist like the criminal he is. Outside of the Brown bubble, the penalty for rape and strangulation is more than a slap on the wrist and a suspension.” This feeling of unrest and dissatisfaction is both echoed, and amplified, by the Brown community as a whole. Protests have broken out on campus, featuring signs says things like “Justice for Lena” and “I Stand in Support of Lena.” When asked about the protests, Rebecca Rose, a Brown sophomore, said, “The environment at Brown is somewhat different than usual. We get surges of activism, but few that I’ve seen so far have angered and united so many people. Not everyone can make themselves care about divesting from coal or giving up meat, but this is far more personal, and more can be done here and now; the possibility of success has been far closer, and it impacts so many lives directly.”

The Brown case is not an isolated one. Emma Sulkowicz is a student at Columbia University who was accused of lying by the conduct board when she recounted being sexually assaulted by a fellow student. Her accusation was dismissed and the student, who had been accused of sexual assault two times in the past, walked away unscathed. These stories have become so commonplace in American society that they tend to fade into the white noise that is news, and these young victims are tossed aside and forgotten. Lately, more cases like those at Brown and Columbia are surfacing, stirring outrage from the public.

In recent weeks, the protests from college students across the nation were heard loudly enough in Washington that they were answered. On May 1st, the US Department of Education released a list of 55 colleges and universities nationwide under Title IX investigation for the mishandling of sex related crimes. Among the schools on the list were Dartmouth, Boston University, and both Harvard and Harvard Law. Institutions found in violation of Title IX can be forced to, among other things, rewrite policies and require staffing changes.

In a further show of support, The White House released a star-studded video featuring male celebrities like Daniel Craig and Steve Carell, all speaking out against the prevalence of sexual assault. “We’ve got a real problem,” the video begins. The statistics certainly seem to support this statement. According to a list compiled by Sarah Lawrence College, “At least 1 in 4 college women will be the victim of a sexual assault during her academic career.” (It is worth noting that Sarah Lawrence made it onto the list of 55 colleges).

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So the real question is, what’s next? With tensions rising on college campuses nationwide, the general consensus is that many are tired of the culture of acceptable assault being allowed to perpetuate. With rallies like those at Brown and student advocacy groups taking a firm stand (like the one featured in this podcast), college administrations are being pressured by both their student bodies and the federal government alike. The institutions on the list are reporting that they are cooperating fully with the investigation. Boston University released a statement saying:

“While we believe the university provided the student with a prompt and equitable resolution of the complaint in full accordance with the requirements of Title IX, we are cooperating fully with OCR in its investigation and are always open to improving the manner in which we respond to any complaint of sexual misconduct reported to us”

Statements similar to this one have been released by nearly every institution on the list. Whether or not this apparent cooperation will continue is yet to be seen. The squeaky wheel gets the oil, and the cries of college students feeling at risk to the epidemic of sexual assault are being heard loud and clear.

Staying Healthy at College

Being active and eating well is a struggle at college. I’m stressed constantly and running around like a crazy person isn’t always conducive to eating healthy and going to the gym regularly. Here are a few things to remember that help to keep me on track!

1. Free food is awesome but, for the love of God, don’t eat all of it. 9 times out of 10 it will be pizza or cookies which are awesome (don’t deprive yourself!) but aren’t exactly the most healthy things. If clubs start giving out veggies and fruit then by all means, go nuts! But until then, maybe limit yourself.

2. Find time to go to the gym. It seems so simple, but it’s so easy to get into a pattern of school-work-Netflix. Instead, swap an hour of Netflix for a run, or try to make it to your school’s gym. Most schools offer fitness classes which are a great way to get in an hour of cardio without having to figure out how to use all of the machines in the weight room. Check out more ideas about what to do once you’re at the gym here!

3. Swap that caramel latte extra whip for some good old fashioned coffee. I know, the sugary drinks are a delicious way to get a jolt of caffeine, but they’re also filled with sugar and fat that you don’t need to be starting your day off with. Try getting some good old fashioned coffee with skim milk if you can, and if you need some sweetness add as little as you possibly can.

4. Make sure you’re eating a balanced diet. If your school’s meat selection is questionable or you’re just not into milk, you may be not be getting the nutrients you need. Try to get enough of each food group to avoid being sluggish.

5. Make going to the gym fun. Instead of something you have to do, make it something you want to do. Do you have a friend that you don’t get to see often? Set up a gym time together. That way, you can motivate each other and it won’t seem like such a chore.

New for Netflix Junkies

If you’re in college and not a Netflix junkie, I commend you. If you spend a huge portion of your free time binge watching series and movies in which you probably have nothing more than a menial interest; welcome, you are among friends. Netflix publicizes its new additions to instant watch each month, sometimes even sending out emails to customers that they think would be interested. Here’s a list of what’s new on Netflix for the months of March and April, and why I’m extremely excited!

1. Mad Men (Season 6)

Excitement is an understatement. I went through the five seasons of Mad Men on Netflix in an embarrassingly short amount of time, but once I finished season 5 I went on a Mad Men hiatus. I’m busy, so when I finally settle in and want to watch something, I don’t want to search the vast expanses of the internet to find something, I want it right there so I can vegetate and watch Don Draper’s latest escapades. For anyone that hasn’t gotten into Mad Men, I highly recommend it. The characters are lovable and awful, in other words, painfully human. You will look down your nose at them, want to pick them up when they fall, and see bits of yourself within them.

Best Quote: “When God closes a door, he opens a dress.”

2. Dirty Dancing

If you don’t like Dirty Dancing, I probably don’t trust you. If you don’t watch it and cry a little bit and/or want to try the famous lift, I definitely don’t trust you. Dirty Dancing is my definition of a classic. Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey are flawless and their romance is timeless. I consider it on my list of films that everyone should see, much like the next on my list.

Best Quote: “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.”

3. Roman Holiday

I’m of the school of thought that anything featuring Audrey Hepburn should be considered a classic, but Roman Holiday is doubly special because it also features Gregory Peck (To Kill a Mockingbird, The Omen). I’m a huge fan of all of Hepburn’s body of work, but Roman Holiday is, to me, special. Hepburn plays a princess dissatisfied with her lack of knowledge of the real world, so she runs away in Rome and befriends a handsome, young journalist (Peck). Rome is beautiful, Hepburn is beautiful, the story of beautiful, and Gregory Peck is beautiful (sorry). Roman Holiday was on Netflix early last year and adding it to the instant watch collection once again was definitely a great choice in my book.

Best Quote: “I’ve never been alone with a man before, even with my dress on. With my dress off, it’s MOST unusual.”

4. Rocky

I remember watching Rocky with my dad for the first time when I was young and absolutely loving it. It makes me feel motivated and pumped up, while also making me want to run up the Philadelphia Art Museum’s steps or scream “ADRIAN!”

Best Quote: “Stay in school and use your brain. Be a doctor, be a lawyer, carry a leather briefcase. Forget about sports as a profession. Sports make ya grunt and smell. See, be a thinker, not a stinker.”

5. Jumanji

I don’t know if I’m the only one who likes to watch children’s movies when I’ve had a rough day, but if I am, you should try it. Watching movies I loved as a kid remind me of when I didn’t have endless amounts of work (Disney especially) and relax a bit. Jumanji will definitely be added to my list of stressful-day-go-tos. Jumanji is whimsical, fun, and will be added to my watch list.

Best Quote:  “You think that mosquitos, monkeys, and lions are bad? That is just the beginning. I’ve seen things you’ve only seen in your nightmares.”

 

 

 

“So, what are you going to do with that?”

During his State of the Union Address, President Obama encouraged students to go to to college so that they would be prepared for a competitive job market. These were wise words, but a close listen to his message was disconcerting. He encouraged young people to go onto study engineering, math, and the sciences.

Each of these fields is interesting and lucrative, but what about all of those he missed? He excluded so many of the liberal arts, like English and philosophy, as well as the fine arts. This exclusion did not go unnoticed by students and patrons of the liberal and fine arts alike. These are the studies that shaped our society, and by discrediting them Mr. Obama is fostering a generation that will see the arts as impractical. To that I say, find me a job that doesn’t value someone who can write or speak eloquently. Find me a job that doesn’t value someone who can think critically, or has an understanding of the human condition. The arts foster these skills and leave a richer, more beautiful society in their wake.

If you ask an average person if they can imagine a world without art, their answer will undoubtedly be no. Without artists our buildings would crumble, our lives would be visually monotonous and, frankly, boring. Despite this, if you ask the average person if they would want their child to study art, their answer would probably be no. Somewhere along the line making the world a more beautiful place has become “impractical.” When choosing what to study in college students are encouraged to be “practical.” The ridiculousness of expecting an 18 year old to not only be “practical” but to also somehow know what they want to do with their lives aside, how is something like art, music, sociology, or anthropology impractical? The job market is tough. Hands on skills are important, but so is knowing where we as humans came from and using this knowledge to help encourage our movement in the right direction is crucial to our society continuing to function.

A list of English majors that went onto great success, both directly related to English and otherwise, was featured in a recent article by The Huffington Post. The list included Mitt Romney, Barbara Walters, and Stephen King. According to Mark Edmundson, “Becoming an English major means pursuing the most important subject of all — being a human being.” This can easily be extended to anyone that devotes their lives to the arts and humanities. When the humanities were rediscovered during the Renaissance, the self-aware society that we have come to know, love, and (sadly) take for granted, was born. If suddenly these disciplines were to disappear, a bleak, ugly society would be left in its wake.

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The pieces above were created by Amanda Bentley, a sophomore Fine Arts major. An interview with her regarding her choice to major in art, as well as her answer to the far too frequently asked question, “so, what are you going to do with that?” can be found below.

Interview with an Artist 

It’s That Time Again

For any of my fellow undergrads whose desks have been eaten by Shakespeare, political science midterms, and media ethics papers, fear not; spring break is almost upon us! For the lucky few that have spring break this week, enjoy it, some of us are still cramming and typing until our fingers bleed and we want nothing more than to curl up, cry, and possibly eat a cookie. Hang in there, OCU’s, the time of homemade food and family time (or maybe even an actual vacation!) are so close I can almost taste it. So buckle down, chug that coffee, make those flash cards, and get those papers in on time. The semester is almost half-way over and it’s almost time to take that breather and before no time you’ll be in the home stretch. Happy studying!

The Academy’s Latest Attempt to Draw Us In

Some people flock to the TV for the Super Bowl. It’s their holy day, so take a step away from the TV and no one will be hurt. That’s how I am with the Oscars. While some find it up tight and stuffy, I find the pomp and circumstance enthralling. As much of an awards show buff as I am, I do believe that The Academy needs some rejuvenation if they want to draw in the audiences that the Golden Globes have attracted since landing comedic queens Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

Their first attempt to draw in a younger audience came in 2011 when young Hollywood’s Anne Hathaway and James Franco hosted the awards. Despite media hype that this pairing would save the Oscars, viewers and critics alike largely viewed the attempt  as an epic flop. The broadcast brought in 37.9 viewers, down from the previous year’s 41.62. Numbers aside, the two had a serious lack of chemistry and Franco appeared to be half-asleep (while some speculate that lack of sleep wasn’t the issue) for most of the show. In an effort to recover from this over-shot attempt to draw in a younger, fresher audience, The Academy chose to retreat into its cave of tradition and go with their old faithful for the 2012 ceremony: Billy Crystal. No one can deny that Crystal puts on a great show and has for the grand total of 9 Academy Awards shows that he has hosted (Crystal’s 9 shows is second only to Bob Hope’s 19). Some may argue that the Academy was right to go with a safe choice after their risk-gone-wrong in 2011, but no one can deny that it was just that: a safe choice.

2013 brought The Academy’s latest attempt, Family Guy and Ted writer Seth McFarlane. Yet again, props to The Academy for taking a risk rather than bringing back Billy Crystal for round 10. That being said, they probably should have known that the man responsible for the aforementioned works might not be the most politically correct choice. McFarlane was criticized for off color jokes that had viewers in the audience and at home squirming in their seats. While it surely wasn’t the attention The Academy was looking for, the show did bring in over a million more viewers than the past year.

Now, we’ve come to the 86th annual Academy Awards, and, I would argue, The Academy’s best attempt to draw in viewers yet. Ellen DeGeneres will be hosting her second Oscars show, the first being back in 2007. DeGeneres is being hailed by some as being just what the doctor ordered. Anyone who has ever tuned in for her show can agree that she is undeniably hilarious without antagonizing anyone. She’s witty, she’s fun, and  she’s a current and recognizable brand that all different kinds of people will tune in to watch. For the 18-25 bracket, DeGeneres is a reminder of a simpler time. She isn’t just an endearing television host, she’s a reminder to “just keep swimming.” DeGeneres will be reprising her role as Dory from Finding Nemo in the 2016 film Finding Dory.  The Daily Beast agrees that Ellen is the perfect choice.

“The most entertaining award-show telecasts make an audience feel as if they’re at a dinner party thrown by someone who could be one of their best friends. Watching is easy and comfortable, and viewers at home can believe they would belong with that crowd if they were in the theater. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler did a masterful job creating that atmosphere at the recent Golden Globes, easily the best award-show broadcast in recent memory. Staging that dinner party should be remarkably easy. Hire a host with a sense of humor that’s current and edgy. (Note: “current” doesn’t mean “crass,” something MacFarlane seemed to confuse.) Ditch the idea that award shows should double as A-list roasts. Who wants to attend a party where they’re in constant fear that they’re the next to be insulted and skewered? And, most important, forget pandering to a specific audience demographic.”

We’ll see if The Daily Beast, myself, and the rest of the DeGeneres fans out there are right Sunday, March 2nd when the movie buffs and awards show enthusiasts tune in for the 86th annual Academy Awards.

To Juice, or Not to Juice?

Juice cleanses seem to be all the rage on and off college campuses, joining a long list of health fads that have spread like wildfire across the country. A juice cleanse is said to rid the body of toxins by consuming nothing but juices made from raw fruits and vegetables for up to seven days. Many companies have cashed in on this fad; some that make the list are Blue Print Juice, Cooler Cleanse, and Juice Press. For those that love a good bacon cheese burger, the concept sounds exhausting. For those that have been told balanced diets with plenty of things like protein and calcium, the concept sounds dangerous.

According to the websites of some of the companies partaking in this juice cleanse culture, a cleanse is exactly what an over-stressed, bad-habit possessing body needs. For anyone that finds the aforementioned description extremely familiar, a cleanse can seem like a great solution. Cooler Cleanse’s website says that a juice cleanse will help your body “run better, look brighter and younger,” as well as feel “cleaner, lighter, more energized, clearer in mind and body.” Juice Press’s website says, “fasting with juice is a safe way to eliminate dietary mistakes while maintaining needed nutrition.” However, this claim is quickly followed by a disclaimer stating, “we do not diagnose illness or prescribe treatment of any type.”

In an interview with Health magazine, Dr. Glenn Braunstein said that our bodies have natural detoxifiers, so they don’t need to be forced through a cleanse. The article also went onto say that while the discipline involved in a juice cleanse might help to get rid of some nasty habits, it won’t cause any lasting weight loss like many people think it will. Slate.com took a very firm position in the juice craze, posting an article entitled “Stop Juicing: It’s not healthy, it’s not virtuous, and it makes you seem like a jerk.”  Slate summed up its analysis by saying that “Juice cleanses accomplish exactly none of their physiological or medical objectives; they fetishize a weird, obsessive relationship with food, and they are part of a social shift that reduces health (mental, physical, and, sure, spiritual) to a sign of status. They’re annoying as hell.”

So, bottom line? Be careful. Fruit and vegetable rich diets are great, but depriving your body of essential vitamins and minerals can be risky in the long term, especially if you have a preexisting health condition or like to exercise a lot. So juice away, but at the first sign of trouble, see a doctor.

What Exactly is Obama Care, and Why Should I Care?

For anyone that hasn’t been radio silent for the past few years, ObamaCare has been a major topic in the media. It’s something so frequently discussed and debated, but it seems to be a common phenomenon to not truly understanding what it is. There has been so much confusion as to what ObamaCare entails that there’s a website called obamacarefacts.com for people like me who were curious as to exactly what congress has incessantly been bickering over for so long. The first question I’ve asked myself is, what exactly is ObamaCare? And perhaps just as importantly, how does it affect me? Here’s a basic breakdown of what it is, and how it’s going to affect college aged students.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, more commonly known as ObamaCare, is an effort by the government to reform the federal healthcare system. It was signed into law March 23rd, 2010 and has caused a lot of unrest on the part of the conservative congressional base. A fact unbeknownst to many, college students included, is that ObamaCare is nearly identical Romney Care, which is Massachusetts’s health care reform law that was implemented while Mitt Romney was governor. According to obamacarefacts.com, “ObamaCare’s heath care reform does a number of important things including offering Americans a number of new benefits, rights, and protections in regards to their healthcare and setting up a Health Insurance Marketplace where Americans can purchase federally regulated and subsidized health insurance.”  The website healthcare.gov was launched (somewhat unsuccessfully, at first) and became a resource for those looking to reap the benefits of the Affordable Care Act. 

So, what exactly does this mean for me? The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is massive, with countless rules and stipulations, but the following aspects of it jumped out to me in particular. The major impact of ObamaCare is that there will be a monetary penalty for those that don’t obtain health insurance. ObamaCare didn’t forget about collegiate women out there. The list of issues impacting women that ObamaCare addresses is long, but includes contraceptives, sexually transmitted disease counseling, HIV screening, and mammograms. Most of us, both male and female, are going to have to start worrying about obtaining health insurance of our own at some point (insert collective shudder here), but one relieving part of ObamaCare for those of us that aren’t quite ready to be grown-ups yet is that you can’t be denied coverage for past conditions.

Perhaps the most important feature of these reforms for those of us that are on our parent’s health insurance is that we can now stay on their plans until the age of 26. Now, let’s pause and think about what this means for a moment. Within the next few years we will be entering one of the most difficult job markets that out country has ever seen. Some of us will choose to go onto graduate programs or other types of further schooling, some will seek internships and fellowships, and others will dive into a competitive, grueling, and extremely limited job market. Of the aforementioned possibilities, very few offer benefits. When our parents graduated college they could answer a want ad in the newspaper and know that they would have employment and benefits for as long as they wanted them. It’s not the case anymore. This particular part of ObamaCare ensures that health care will be off our list of worries, at least for a few years.

The list of benefits, as well as some ambiguous and perhaps questionable aspects of ObamaCare go on for days, and for those curious about what they are I encourage you to check out the links below! A big thank you to these websites for their clear-cut breakdowns of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

https://www.healthcare.gov/

http://obamacarefacts.com/

Where Should I Start?

The internet is a vast place, so it’s easy to get lost or caught up in things that aren’t exactly what you’re looking for. As a college student, I don’t always have time to sift through the cat videos and listicles to find things that really matter: things that affect my everyday life. Obsessive Compulsive Undergrad is a collection of posts that are of direct interest to college students: anything from politics, to pop culture, to health issues that are important to us now, and that will shape our future’s after we cross the stage in search of our first jobs and apartments. For those of us that fill our everyday lives with classes, internships, work, and meetings, but still want to have some fun and remain an active member of society outside of school grounds, here’s the one stop option to glance at whilst balancing your latte and sociology textbook. It can get crazy out there, but here is where my fellow Obsessive Compulsive Undergrads can find a moment of solace and read about what really matters.