Obituary Page
Well, now.
A whole new swath of you are graduating.
Use the comment section below to write an obituary of your college career. Talk about what you loved and what you didn’t. Talk about your successes and your regrets. Talk about the RealLife Afterlife, and whether you’re excited or apprehensive.
You wouldn’t know
In the massive discussion of the Vagina Monologues below, Dr. McPherson raised an interesting matter. Since him and I were both of male gender, were we really qualified to judge The Vagina Monologues as a play?
It’s that implied question of criticism that permeates academia: the question of how important identity and experience are when we are judging our surroundings.
Can I talk about black issues if I’m white? Can I talk about gay issues if I’m straight? Can I talk about the AARP if I’m twenty-three? Can an old pretentious guy like A.O. Scott judge a movie like “Space Chimps,” if he’s *clearly* not the intended audience?
A large part of this goes back the notion of identity. To many in academia, ‘Identity’ — a few pieces of census data — are the most important part about who you are.
If I’m black, my entire life is consumed with my blackness. If I’m gay, my entire essence is gay. Not only that, but it immediately makes me an unassailable expert on these topics…right?
This is the same type of thinking that leads a person who took a two-week trip to South America to believe he or she automatically knows more about how to solve South American problems than a person who’s been deeply studying the issues for years, but has never shelled out the $400 for a round trip ticket to go.
Experience, in this mindset, trumps everything.
To me, such thinking shuts down debate. It’s a matter of Ethos trumping Logos - “Why should I have to explain myself to you. I just KNOW. I am, after all, an expert.”
There are several fallacies inherent in that thinking.
First is the notion that there’s a complete unity of experience within a certain demographic. To do so ignores the fact that we’re not just the part of one demographic.
We’re a part of multiple ones: wealth, class, religion, race, gender, philosophy, region, entertainment exposure.
Second is the fallacy that experience always leads to equal conclusions.
People with the exact same experiences can often come to multiple conclusions. I can find Whitworthian women who found The Vagina Monologues compelling, and some who find it pretentious and silly, and still others who find it horrifying…but there’s a bigger philosophical aspect here.
The notion that our beliefs, our actions, and our creed are our everything is the sum total of nature and nurture. We are the effect of a cause. The world is the stimulus, and we are the mindless response.
From a purely naturalist perspective, that’s the only way to look at the world. Of course, with this philosophy there’s no such thing as morality. With no such thing as “choice” we can no more blame a serial killer for serial killing than we can blame a rock from falling when dropped. It’s the result of immutable scientific laws. (Of course, so is our outrage)
I however believe in free will, which by its very nature is an unscientific, downright magical belief. It’s a belief that we can, somehow, defy the laws of cause and affect. That we can come to conclusion ourselves.
Thus, I believe that we can break free of the philosophy of our surroundings and experience. We are not lashed to the mast of our identity.
Otherwise, of course, the whole effort of seeking knowledge and truth is utterly pointless.
And even if our identities make up the majority of who we are, unique the perspective we bring to an argument is just as valuable. I bring a dude’s perspective to judging the Vagina Monologues. Sure, I’m not Ensler’s intended audience, but what makes my perspective any less valuable, or even correct, because of the inherent fact that I’m male?
I don’t have personal experience with many of the issues involved, but because of that, I can analyze in a different way. Personal experience can taint and bias one’s perspective – as well as crystallize it.
The “You wouldn’t know – you wouldn’t understand-” belief is a common one – no, an understandable one. But that doesn’t mean you should stop trying to teach me or help me understand. And I’ll help you understand my perspective as well.
That, not the competition to whose backstory is more pertinent to the topic, is more important. Where we should go and who you should become is always more important to talk about than who you are or where you’ve been.
Hate.
As most of you probably know, a hate crime was committed this week near campus. Here’s a link to the updated Whitworthian article.
I have to admit that, when I was first told about the incident, I couldn’t even formulate a reaction. See, I’m so naive when it comes to acts of hatred. The way he phrased it was that one of his friends “was gay-bashed last night” near campus. To be honest, I didn’t know what that meant. Someone dissed on his friend because of his sexual orientation? That’s an awful thing in itself–and I don’t mean to trivialize that–but it didn’t even cross my mind that maybe his friend had been physically assaulted. I think I just sat there with a dumb stare until he went on: “Yeah, he got his nose broken.” Even then all I could muster was a dumbfounded “oh my gosh.” Then the conversation moved on. For all I expressed, I might as well not have cared.
I know there are stages for processing events like this. My first was obviously lack of understanding. Later, the lack of understanding turned angry. I’m a philosophy student; I like to think that the world fits into this orderly pattern. My mind doesn’t know what to do with such an obvious non-sequitur as “x is gay, so I will hurt x.” That doesn’t fit anywhere in this little Core 250 worldview of mine. Maybe that’s why people haven’t seemed to be up in arms about the assault: it doesn’t make sense, so it doesn’t sink in. It threatens the paradigm.
My other barrier to reacting properly to the assault is that I’m an optimist, a liker. I think well of people. When I think about the world, I forget to factor in the strong engines of hate which drive people to commit acts like this. (Yes, it’s hate: not ignorance. It drives me crazy when people attribute acts of bigotry to ignorance. As if people didn’t know any better. As if there were an excuse.) Then two blocks from home a violent act of hatred is committed.
There are other stages. Sadness at the state of humanity. Hurt on behalf of the victim and others who share his sexual orientation. The need to talk. The need to do something.
I don’t know if all this is my need to self-justify, or stems from guilt at my initial reaction. Maybe you had a similar series of reactions. Maybe not.
Let’s talk about it. Let’s talk about the rally that’s happening next Wednesday, and what students are doing for the victim, about what we’re thinking and rethinking, about what we’re feeling and not saying.
Let’s react.
My Two Cents on “The Vagina Monologues”
First off, I am tremendously proud of Whitworth for finally having the gumption and wherewithal to put on a work like this. I know that we have tried to put on a production of the Vagina Monologues for years, and I am glad that it finally happened. Moreover, I always felt that college should be a time of hearing different perspectives, and tonight exemplified that to a tee.
Second, I am also proud of all of the incredible maturity displayed by all of the performers, and how the play has challenged the way you think about certain issues raised in the play. Well done.
Third, I am hugely impressed with the turnout, for two reasons. Firstly, it was one of those rare times I have actually seen a line snaking around in order to enter a theatre production at Whitworth. Secondly, there were quite a few men in the audience (myself included), and that impressed me. I talked to Jim McPherson a little bit before the start of the show, and he said he had a friend who went to a production of the Vagina Monologues, and he ended up being the only guy in the audience.
As for my thoughts on the play, I think it imbued a sense of community, as cliche as that might sound to us on the Whitworth campus. I think all of us, regardless of our gender, can relate to the overall message of being comfortable in our skins, and being able to be proud of the fact that we recognize sexuality as part of ourselves.
Furthermore, one of the most powerful things for me, was the fact that all of the stories in the play were true. That adds a new dimension to the work, and creates a sense of connection that cannot be ignored. It simply reinforces the whole community aspect that I mentioned earlier.
Lastly, and it was touched upon during the post-play discussion, the subject matter contained in the play isn’t necessarily something that is outwardly expressed here on this campus. Having said that, I hope conversation will either continue, or get started because of what was done tonight.
Anyways, that’s what I have been thinking. What say you?
Dear G-Unit
Introducing Whitworth’s only advice column, written by a Whitworth student, for other Whitworth students! For your edification, amusement, & pleasure: it’s Dear G-Unit!
Dear G-Unit: I’m writing you today because I feel my parents are starting to like my roomate better than me. The first thing they always ask when they call is “And how is *roommate name witheld to protect the innocent* doing?”. They give him care packages, and they lavish him with compliments when they see him. What can I do to reassert… ahem… “parental focus” back on to moi?
Belittled in BJ
Hi BB! Wow, how insensitive. I suggest getting new parents….No, wait, that’s not cost-effective. Never mind. Um. Let’s see.
I assume you have already tried standard techniques like whining on the phone. It’s time to get drastic. Stage a crisis.
I’ll go ahead & assume you’re a freshman, because, after all, Baldwin-Jenkins is a freshman-only dorm. It is a well known fact (at least to us upperclassmen) that most freshman are more concerned with friends then they are with grades. Plan carefully. Begin mentioning the names of friends that you are hanging out with (make up names if you have no friends or your friends hate you and refuse to hang out with you). Begin mentioning these names at an exponentially increasing rate. Eventually, if they are the kind of parents I think they are (by which I mean, parents who like to see some evidence that you are putting all that money they are forking out for tuition to practical use), they will begin to ask about homework, classes, and grades. Downplay the grades, at first. Mention classes, but when they ask how said classes are going, mumble and change the subject. Mention tests but then don’t mention your final grade. Et cetera. Eventually they will catch on, being the savvy adults they are, and demand proof. Proof of grades. Proof of success. Proof that you are not on academic probation. At this point, break down. Begin to sob. Tell them about how much time you have been spending with your friends, instead of poring over your homework. Tell them the love of your friends is only a poor, shabby substitute for their love. And beg them to fly up/down/over and visit you next weekend. And they, sobbing by now as well, will proceed to do exactly as you ask.
I know, I know, I’m a genius. You don’t have to tell me.
Dear G-Unit: I just starting dating this AMAZING girl from Warren. I think she may be the one. We agree on everything; from how it is TOTALLY wrong to call people gay as an insult, to that apples are the best fruit! My question is: how do I tell when we’re annoying people? We really love each other and like holding hands and kissing and being all ridiculous, but even so, I don’t want to be THAT couple, who totally alienates everyone they meet just because they are just so SO.
Warren Peace
I’ll try to make this quick and painless for both of us, Tolstoy: I’m afraid you already are that couple. The ones making goo-goo eyes at each other across their Saga tables. The ones constantly referencing stupid inside jokes that nobody else gets, even if we cared to try and figure them out. The ones walking each other home in the Loop, shrieking loudly at 3 AM. The ones breaking the ‘quiet’ rule in the back shelves of the libraries.I have three words for you and your girlfriend: GET. A. LIFE. I know, I know, you are SOOOOOOOO IN LUV, and you NEVER want to be apart and you ALWAYS want to be together and you are TOTALLY ring-by-spring-ing, but my point stands. The relationship will die (I know, I know, HEAVEN FORBID OMG) without space. You need space, especially if you are seriously considering getting married and aren’t just flinging that around like so many Whitworth couples do. By space, I mean time apart, and having things you enjoy doing WITHOUT the other attached to your hip.
And, are you annoying your friends (really the only ‘people’ who matter)? I don’t know. I am not your friends. Perhaps you should, you know, ask them.
Dear G-Unit: Recently this really awesome band came to visit Whitworth. They played the HUB multipurpose room. Me and a couple friends started dancing. We just couldn’t help it. The music was so good! It was really awkward though, because it’s like the band on stage, and then that little square of light, and then everything else is dark. And there were, seriously, like four of us dancing, and everyone else just outside in the dark, standing still, maybe swaying a little, all spooky like. How lame! How can I get people to join in the fun next time?
I’ll March to the Beat of Any Drummer with a Good Bass Line
Well, I.M.B.A.D.G.B.L., all I can tell ya is to lead by example. Whitworthians are a little, how do you say, challenged in the R&B department. Trust me, get em a little excited, or, just, you know, turn ALL the lights off (Warren Rave, I’m talking to you), and they go absolutely nuts. Try not to stare at them, though. I know, I know, that dance move was out of style when your granddad was a kid, but progress is progress. You have to do the Running Man before you can waltz, as they say.
If you’d like some words of wisdom from the most straight up G advice columnist this side of Seattle, shoot an email at dearg-unit@live.com, and you could see yourself in print! Er, type! Er…Whitworth Forum post! Yeah, that one.
Just Don’t Censor the Sweatshirts
“So, people get more fired up about sweatshirts than censorship?,” Elizabeth Johnson commented on her own article. “Great.”
She had a point. The article chronicling the administration’s censorship of the intended title for the annual senior art exhibition had received precisely one comment from the Whitworth community in the week it had been posted. Conversely, the article attacking the average Whitworthian’s propensity for wearing sweatshirts to class (also penned by Ms. Johnson) received five comments in its first week and thirteen as of this posting. It also inspired a Letter to the Editor, notable as being the only Letter to the Editor that the Whitworthian has published in 2009.
I won’t even get into the Vagina Monologues incident, which spurred the writing of two Whitworthian articles and an opinions column, but apparently failed to garner any attention from individual students (at least judging from the lack of comments upon said articles/columns).
It is, as a recent In the Loop column stated, “an upsetting trend.” But what I find more upsetting than the administration’s actions is the lack of response from the Whitworth community at large – a community that erupts in outrage when someone makes negative remarks about their everyday attire, but says not a word when the artistic expression of their peers is imperilled! What kind of attitude is this?
One friend who I pestered about the administration’s actions vis-a-vis the senior art exhibit said, “Well, I don’t really care about art. It’s not my [rights to free speech] that are being infringed upon.”
I hate to subcribe to an obvious logical fallacy, in this case the slippery slope argument, but indulge me. In recent years Whitworth has been moving more and more toward a particular image, the image of a hallowed institution of learning. This is fine, but their image apparently does not include seniors who wear wigs and make silly faces for their ID card photos, or advertisements that don’t have a “Whitworth University” stamp on the corner, or students who bedeck the other university in town’s campus with fliers declaring Whitworth’s societal, academic, and athletic superiority (in unapologetically silly terms, of course).
Understandable? Maybe…but the administration’s objections have now cut a little closer to home. No ironic art show titles. No productions of plays that dare to criticize traditional sexual mores.
How many more such decisions will have to be made before students as a whole start taking notice?
I asked. The candidates answered. Somewhat.
I sent an email to every candidate running for an ASWU position, requesting that they tell me, in one sentence or less, why they were the best choice. Here were their responses (mostly more than one sentence).
ASWU President
Tyler Whitney said, “I will effectively represent students in front of external groups, such as the Board of Trustees, B-Rob’s Cabinet, and the faculty.”
EVP
Tyler Hamilton said, “I am the most passionate and experienced candidate for the position.”
Mac Senator
Stephen Jansons said, “I like the quote you took from my page. I feel it really represents some of the enthusiasm I have for my dorm and me wanting to represent my fellow Mac men in ASWU…On a more serious note, I would like to stress the tradition of Mac Senators. Just looking at the past three Senators of Mac, one was a junior and the other two were sophmores. If you were to ask anyone who lived in BSchMac when those guys were around they will tell you how great of a Senator each of them were. The benefit of simply having a younger Senator is that they have more enthusiasm for the position and they are mentally present throughout the year. Seniors check out early in the spring because they have to start making final decisions about the rest of their life. There’s nothing wrong with that, I’ll do it too when I’m a senior, but a senator should be focused on his or her duties the entire year.”
East Senator
Kara Heatherly said, “‘If you wait for the perfect moment, when all is safe and assured, it may never arrive, mountains will not be climbed, races won, or lasting happiness achieved’…This quote…is one of my favorites for a lot of reasons. Ever since a very young age, I’ve been an active member of most things I’ve participated in. I’ve learned that if you want something, most of the time your best bet is to go out and make it happen, if you believe in something, you’re only doing yourself a disservice if you don’t act on that belief. Sometimes it takes a walk on the wild side to go out and make a difference…I am SO excited about this job and I think what sets me apart is simply my passion and excitement. My hope is that from me my passion and my love for Christ will flow into this new leadership team in the new dorm next year.I look forward to setting traditions for this new dorm and building yet another community that Whitworth students are proud to be a part of.”
Duvall Senator
Jonathan Deal said, “As Senator, I plan on bringing residents of Duvall together through service projects, dances, and other activities. I promise to keep everyone well informed of current events at Whitworth, and will listen to any ideas or concerns anyone has.”
Stewart Senator
Brittany Roach said, “I love the Stewshke community and being Representative this year and I would love the opportunity to serve it again next year; to another year of laughs!”
Arend Senator
Beau Lamb said “Serving currently as dorm Rep, I feel I have a great understanding of what my dorm needs and believe I can serve them best.”
GO. VOTE. NOW [PT. TWO].
Ha ha ha…..really though. Vote. The sooner the better.
Same deal as last time, people. I logged into Facebook and typed each candidate’s name into Facebook search. Their first name I made a link to either the picture they’re using to campaign with, or their profile pic. Their last name is a link to whatever picture on their Profile Pictures Page amused or intrigued me most. And after that I quoted an intriguing, amusing, or just plain WHAT?! quote from their “Favorite Quotations” section on Facebook. And after THAT I linked you to any existing Facebook support groups. Only difference: this time it’s the people who became, as the email said, “official candidates through the write-in process.”
Duvall Senator
- Jonathan Deal (We must not look to government to solve our problems. Government is the problem [Ronald Reagan].)
- Peter Pascacio (We’ll go with that [Alex Haley].)
Off Campus Senator
Warren Senator
About my quote below…
Hey guys! This is Marissa Connolly writing and I am running for East senator next year! I just wanted to quickly address my quote that is posted next to my name in the Forum because it’s a pretty funny story that you all should hear. [Smiley face]
So, a couple of weeks ago a few friends of mine (guys) thought it would be a fun joke to hack into my facebook account and change some subtle things to inappropriate things.
Long story short, I did not notice the changes in my “about me” section and so as a result I did not change them. You can imagine my shock and horror when I saw that quote (is it from a movie?) that I have never heard before.
I hope you all can understand that that quote does not represent who I am – in fact it’s the complete opposite! If any of you have any other questions about me or what I plan to do if elected senator for East next year, feel free to ask away! And don’t forget to vote in the general elections on Wednesday, April 8! Have a great day, Forum readers!
GO. VOTE. NOW.
…before you forget, ’cause you were busy doing @#!# CORE homework!
OKAY, here’s what I did. I logged into Facebook and typed each candidate’s name into Facebook search. Their first name I made a link to either the picture they’re using to campaign with, or their profile pic (in many cases, both [in one case a Paint interpretation of a particularly evocative campaign poster]). Their last name is a link to whatever picture on their Profile Pictures Page amused or intrigued me most. And after that I quoted an intriguing, amusing, or just plain WHAT?! quote from their “Favorite Quotations” section on Facebook. And after THAT I linked you to any existing Facebook support groups. WHEW.
President
- Tyler Whitney (Those who say religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion is [[Ghandi])
- Michael Harri (I‘m not weakened by the fears/that you have applied/See I’m now learning in these walls/that You have supplied./Slow, slow down boy./Slow down to/Control [Collective Soul]) The Official Facebook Support Group. The Website.
EVP
- Tyler Hamilton (If at first you don’t suceed, then lower your standards.)
- Charley Brinkman (We cannot all do great things, but we can all do small things with great love [Mother Teresa].)
FVP
- Carl Chan (Spirituality is not religion. Religion divides people. Belief in something unites them.) The Official Facebook Support Group.
Boppell Senator
Mac Senator
- Jesse Prichard
- Stephen Jansons (..when I’m going through the hard times I like to punch dance away life’s problems…) The Official Facebook Support Group.
Ballard Senator
Stewart Senator
- Brittany Roach (life is a series of images that change as they repeat themselves [Andy Warhol]
East Senator
Arend Senator
- Beau Lamb (I feel like I’m in some Greek play, you try to control your fate, but the gods have other plans.)
- Rachel Busick (violence is not the answer [though it is a solution at times]) The Official Facebook Support Group.
Off Campus Senator
- David Kuraya (The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work [Emile Zola].) The Official Facebook Support Group.
Off Campus Rep
- Dan Lewis (The world will never be safe as long as millions live in poverty so the few can live as they wish [Shane Clairborne].) The Official Facebook Support Group.