Emily Feldmesser – Page 2

If not now, never

Alison Parker and Adam Ward, the reporter and videographer killed in the shooting. Photo courtesy of thewrap.com.

When I first sat down to write this piece, it was going to be a welcome-back-to-the-year type of op-ed; you know, the standard “let’s have a great year, everyone!” rhetoric. Then the WDBJ shooting happened.

For those of you who don’t know, on Wednesday, Aug. 26, a reporter and a cameraman were killed, and an interviewee was injured, during an on-air interview by a former employee of the Virginia television station.

There are many issues with this latest shooting. One of the issues is that I had to say “latest shooting.” It feels like every time you blink, there’s a report of another gun shot, another killed.

Another major issue was that the killer, Vester Lee Flanagan (also known by his on-air name Bryce Williams), put his homemade video of the shooting on social media. His social media accounts have been taken down since the shooting, but the live, on-air report that was being filmed during the shooting still circulates.

A few years ago, I wrote my first-ever op-ed on gun control, spurred by the 2013 Navy Yard attack. How many more opinion pieces do concerned citizens need to write about gun violence?

How many more times will I hear about shootings at places that are supposed to be safe? Must we live in constant alert in every public space, holding our breath whenever we see a man by himself shift in his seat?

This latest act of violence will stir up another gun control debate again. And I’ll listen to the politicians and talking heads talk themselves in circles. The fact is, if gun control wasn’t reformed after the slaughter of 20 first graders, it never will be.

Editor’s note: After the writing of this story, Texas sheriff’s Deputy Darren H. Goforth was killed in an execution-style attack at a gas station in Cypress, Texas.

The courage of Caitlyn Jenner

The cover photo from Caitlyn Jenner's Vanity Fair photo shoot. Photo courtesy of vanityfair.com. — The cover photo from Caitlyn Jenner’s Vanity Fair photo shoot. Photo courtesy of vanityfair.com.

When I woke up this morning, my Twitter was all a flurry with news of Caitlyn Jenner. When I saw her portrait on the cover of Vanity Fair, I gasped. She was beautiful and looked happy. As someone who avidly watches Keeping Up with the Kardashians and follows the lives of the Kardashian/Jenner family more than my own, this was a big moment.

When Caitlyn, formerly Bruce, announced her transition a few months ago, I watched with rapt attention. I couldn’t believe someone who was so present in my life (or, as present as someone on a reality show could be) was making this enormous transformation before my eyes. When I watched the amazing Diane Sawyer special, I was on the edge of my seat with tears in my eyes. I couldn’t imagine what Caitlyn, then Bruce, was going through her entire life. It is said Caitlyn is the first major public figure to be making this transition in the public eye. That takes a lot of courage. It takes a lot of courage for anyone to transition.

I was pleasantly surprised at how well Caitlyn’s transition was received. Many Twitter posts were supportive and encouraging. Of course, there were the comments that she was doing this for attention or that this was part of a whole Kardashian scheme were there. Why would someone do this for attention? Kris Jenner, the matriarch of the Kardashian/Jenner family, is a media mastermind, but this is not part of her plan for world domination. This is obviously a very personal choice, and is not dependent on ratings or popularity.

Caitlyn Jenner poses during her recent Vanity Fair photo shoot. Photo courtesy of x17online.com.

The fact that Caitlyn so publicly announced who she is is a huge milestone, if you ask me. Not only are the portraits beautiful, the interview opens up and delves into Caitlyn’s mindset and who she is. It’s incredible to see the overwhelming support that is behind Caitlyn and her “new” life. I’m hesitant to say “new” life, because it has always been her life; she’s just now free to be who she really is. I cannot wait to see what Caitlyn will do with her newfound pedestal, and I hope she can be an advocate for those who need it.

SLUs saved: MFL and SAGE buildings to remain on campus next year

When the moderators and members of the Modern Foreign Language House (MFL) and the Sexuality and Gender Equality House (SAGE) received the email late last Monday that their buildings would be safe next year, the resounding response was one of relief. Residents of both houses now did not need to worry about finding housing for the 2015-2016 school year.

Instead of razing both structures this summer, the decision was made to leave them standing. There will still be construction on a new structure starting this summer. According to University President Rock Jones, deciding to keep MFL and SAGE this year was because of a combination of reasons. It was a response to the concern of current students, it was disruptive to students who would have to find housing and it made more sense to build one building instead of two at the time.

Junior Alanna Spalsbury, the current and future moderator of MFL said that they decided “as a house on where we would be comfortable living if MFL was torn down, but that was never even solidified.”

Senior Meredith Harrison, the current moderator of SAGE said, “Ideally, if the current SAGE house was torn down, the community would love to be placed in an off-campus house…The next ideal option if SAGE would not be able to live in a house would be to live in a residential hall that provides shared community spaces…It would help the members and moderator build community more naturally.”

Wendy Piper, assistant dean of student affairs and the director of residential life, said she, Craig Ullom, vice president of student affairs and Levi Harrel, a ResLife coordinator, had discussed alternatives with the members of the SLUs. Some of the options discussed were “renting a house not owned by the university, occupying a fraternity house or being clustered together on a residence hall floor,” Piper said.

“We are planning to begin construction later this summer for two new SLUs on the site of the existing House of Thought. We eventually want to develop the rest of the Rowland Avenue site with a total of eight new SLUs.”

Both SLUs stayed in contact with each other during this time.

“Alanna and I have had pretty open communication through this while process,” Harrison said. “I think the scare of having our communities put back into residential halls next year really brought our two communities together. The other houses also had our backs and wanted to help us in any way they could. I think in some ways, it brought the entire SLU community together.”

However, communication between SLU members and ResLife was not as strong.

Junior Nancy Ransom, a member of MFL, said, “The communication between residential life and us was very fragmented…We were under the impression that a donor was prepared to donate a large sum to the school, but upon meeting with Residential Life, a bunch of hypothetical situations were introduced, although measurements around our houses have been taken.”

Sophomore Lissette Gonzalez, the future moderator of SAGE, said, “I believe that Residential Life really tries to be as transparent as they can be, however, I believe that communication could definitely be improved.”

Upon reacting to the news that her house would be saved, Ransom said, “My first reaction was to drop my jaw, as this process has caused me a lot of stress and anxiety, but on deeper reflection, I worried there would be no way of holding Residential Life accountable if they went back on their word, as this was all done over email. I do not think this will be the case, or I hope this will not be the case.”

Gonzalez said she cried when she heard the news. “I love this house and I cannot wait to be the moderator next semester.”

Reading is good for you, kids!

I love reading. I love reading books, magazines, newspapers, online articles. Anything that has words printed on it, I’ll read it. And I’ve always been like this. My parents told me that when I was about three, they came in to read me a story before bed. Instead of welcoming their presence, they said, I told them they could go away and I could read it myself. And since then, I haven’t been able to stop.

I remember as a kid staying up way past my bedtime to read a book. I would hear my parents coming up the stairs and I would run to turn my light off. Once I heard their door close, I would turn it back on and continue my adventure. Sometimes, I got caught and heard the exasperation in their voices. “Emily, turn off your light and go to bed.” I like to think that they were secretly happy that I was up reading.

And even as a junior in college, I stay up way too late finishing books. It always goes like this, “Ok, only one more chapter, then I’ll go to bed.” The chapter finishes. “Well, that wasn’t a good ending point, one more.” Then, “That chapter was incredibly short, one more.” That would go on until I had 20 or so pages left in the book, and then I would have to finish it. And then I would wake up about three hours later for class and hate myself. But I never learn my lesson.

Growing up, I always carried a book on me. I took one to the dentist’s office, doctor’s appointments and even to sleepovers, you know, just in case we had some free time. And today, I keep one in my purse at all times.

However, one thing I never understood was when kids would proudly say, “I don’t read. I hate it.” I understand if it’s not your favorite thing to do in the world. Hey, I don’t like sports. But bragging about not reading a book for school isn’t cool. I knew people in high school who didn’t read any of the assigned books for class. Yeah, they got by alright thanks to Sparknotes, but I always thought it was ridiculous that they bragged about it. It was like they were proud of not reading. That always hurt my heart. Reading has been one of the only things that has kept me sane in my life; it’s a form of escapism.

When Greg Moore, an Ohio Wesleyan journalism alumnus, came, he told some of us that one of the habits of extremely successful people he has met is that they all read a book a week. Now, I’m not talking about Anna Karenina length a week. It could be anything. If fiction isn’t your style, that’s cool. There are so many genres of books it makes my mind boggle. Whatever you’re interested in, there is probably a book about it. Trust me, I know. I’ve read books about the creation of The Clash’s album, London Calling all the way to books about true crime throughout history.

Now that we are all at that points in our lives, I hope that telling someone you don’t read isn’t a sense of pride like in high school. And I’m not saying reading needs to be your favorite thing in the entire world, like it is mine. I’m just saying you should pick up a book every once in a while. It might surprise you how much you actually enjoy it.

After long wait, Kendrick Lamar delivers

How does someone follow up a critically and commercially acclaimed album? Many musicians had to do it- just ask Nirvana, Adele or a myriad of other artists. The latest artist that had to deal with the quandary was Kendrick Lamar.

Almost three years after his breakthrough album, 2012’s good kid, m.A.A.d city, Lamar released his third album, To Pimp a Butterfly. It was a long wait for Lamar fans; the album was supposed to come out late 2014, and he kept releasing songs, such as “i”. And on one of the last episodes of The Colbert Report, he performed an untitled song. But on March 16, Lamar dropped his latest masterpiece. It came out a week early, which surprised many fans.

Butterfly is a bit of a departure from his previous albums. It’s musically diverse, incorporating funk, call and repeat and traditional rap. His songs talk about everything from Wesley Snipes, Kunta Kente and a shout-out to Oprah Winfrey. The album grapples with Lamar’s simultaneous sense of pride being a Black man, while the self-hatred that he feels. Listen to the songs “i” and “The Blacker the Berry” back to back, and you’ll get it. The album also tackles the idea of race in America; for example, in “Wesley’s Theory”, Lamar comes to the conclusion that once a Black man becomes successful, everyone, including the government, will try to take it away, as evidenced by Wesley Snipe’s tax issues.

Lamar's "To Pimp a Butterfly" album cover. Photo courtesy of thefamedriven.com. — Lamar’s “To Pimp a Butterfly” album cover. Photo courtesy of thefamedriven.com.

There are obviously some cheekier, sexier songs (“These Walls”) along with a mournful, complicated ballad, which is seen as the opposite of “i” (“u”). The most interesting song on the album is the 12-minute “Mortal Man”, in which Lamar conducts an interview with the deceased rapper Tupac Shakur, one of Lamar’s idols. The interview is taken from a 1994 discussion on Sweden’s P3 Soul radio show. The discussion between Lamar and Shakur spans from subjects like legacy and how to handle success.

Kendrick Lamar has been hailed as the rapper of a generation. That’s pretty big praise, and a lot of hype someone has to live up to. But Lamar does deserve that distinction, and To Pimp a Butterfly is a prime example that Lamar intends to live up to those tags.

It happens at home, too

Growing up as a Jewish woman, I was always surrounded by other Jews. I went to Hebrew school, a Jewish overnight camp, the Jewish Community Center and part of a large, vocal Jewish family. So being Jewish was part of my blood.

I can’t remember the first anti-Semitic incident I encountered. I remember hearing rumblings in my high school that someone threw coins at another student and said, “Jew, pick them up. You don’t want money to go to waste.” There were some casual incidents I encountered, like people saying, “You don’t look Jewish!” or “Speak Jewish!” One time, my hairdresser told me I don’t have Jewish hair like my sister. When I came to Ohio Wesleyan, I met people who have never met a Jew before. They would ask me if I celebrated Christmas. I said no, and they asked me if I was sure. Was I sure I didn’t celebrate Christmas? Yeah, I’m positive.

But those incidents are minor compared to what’s going on for Jews around the world. In January, the French newspaper Charlie Hebdo was attacked. And outside Paris, a Kosher grocery store was also attacked, and is suspected to be connected with those attacks. There has been a rise in anti-Semitic attacks in Europe, which The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg illustrated in his brilliant feature “Is It Time for the Jews to Leave Europe?” But it’s happening at home, too.

I’m from Milwaukee, which has a large and active Jewish population. But go anywhere outside Milwaukee and our state capital, Madison, and Jews in Wisconsin are sparse. Unfortunately, Wisconsin saw a rise in anti-Semitic incidents in 2014, “more than twice those seen in recent decades,” the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. There were 33 confirmed incidents in 2014, compared with the 13 in 2013. One example of an incident was “at one business, a hairdresser told a potential client that she doesn’t cut ‘Jewish hair.’” And no, that hairdresser was not mine.

Even more disturbingly, over a two-day period, there were 39 acts of vandalism in Madison, which is supposed to be the bastion of liberalism in Wisconsin. The acts ranged from swastikas on garage doors and KKK spray painted on a side of a house, the Wisconsin Gazette reports.

So, what are American Jews supposed to do? Do we follow Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu’s advice and move to Israel? Do we stop openly calling ourselves Jewish? Do we wear yellow stars on our clothes? No. The answer is not as simple. Anti-Semitism has been around for thousands of years, and it will be around long after we’re gone. There is no easy way to combat or ignore it.

My concern is these incidents will get worse, possibly to the point in which people will be afraid to openly identify themselves as Jewish. There is no easy fix for this issue; there are some people who will just be ignorant or narrow-minded. Education could be an option, but there will always be people who will not want to learn.

I want a world where people can proudly wear their Star of David necklace or their tallit. I want a world where people don’t feel like they need to flee their homes in fear of their lives just because they have a mezuzah on their doorframe. My wish is for my children to be proud of their Jewish heritage and not have to be quiet about their religion. I also hope they will not be asked if they’re sure if they don’t celebrate Christmas.

Shame on you: leave my TV alone

I consider myself to be a fairly smart person. I read The New York Times every day, I understand world politics and I can hold my own in just about any conversation. But my ultimate guilty pleasure is reality television. And by reality TV, I mean the trashiest television possible. Keeping Up with the Kardashians, check. The Real Housewives of wherever, check. Any random television marathon that I stumble upon, I’ll definitely watch it.

I can’t help but like the outlandish drama that unfolds before my eyes. Maybe because my life is so boring, the only drama I can get is on television. But maybe that’s not the worst thing. As I’m writing this, I’m watching a Keeping Up with the Kardashians marathon in preparation for the new season premiere.

People like to make fun of me for my guilty pleasure. I mean, it’s not so much a guilty pleasure because I’m very vocal about my love of trash TV. But I see the scowl on some people’s faces whenever I bring up the Kardashian family in conversation. The disdain is apparent. I used to feel like I had to justify myself in my television habits. But I don’t do that anymore. Why do I have to justify what television shows I like? So what if I like to unwind while watching old seasons of Keeping Up with the Kardashians? There are definitely television shows that people watch that I turn my nose to, but I definitely don’t say anything to them. Well, except now.

Let’s be real: different people have different television preferences. And that’s completely normal. I try not to judge people’s television habits, but when they criticize mine, I can’t help but bite back. I get defensive and pull out the whole “smart” card. But why do I have to say I’m smart in order to watch trashy television? Watching trashy television doesn’t diminish my academic achievements or my political knowledge. It adds another facet to me; it adds to my popular culture knowledge. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

You never know how people unwind or what their secret television habits are. Now I’m not saying everyone watches trashy television like I do, but they could be watching something you may not want to watch. But hey, you could be watching something people may normally never turn on.

So let’s stop shaming people based on the television shows they watch. People are entitled to watch anything they want without judgment. Everyone has their guilty pleasures, be it television, music or movies. And who am I to judge your favorite show? If you don’t judge me, I won’t judge you.

Female-driven comedy is needed more than ever

For about 13 weeks, my favorite day is Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. It’s when my favorite show “Broad City” airs on Comedy Central. It follows Abbi and Ilana through their trials and tribulations as young women in New York City. It’s not one of those typical New York female shows, like “Sex and the City,” which I happen to love. It’s so much more.

If you’ve never seen this show, you’re majorly missing out. I think it’s one of the funniest shows out there. Abbi and Ilana are relatable; they’re young women who are working dead-end jobs while trying to figure out what they actually want to do. Every show includes some cringe-worthy moment, which makes it authentic. For example on last week’s episode, Abbi kicked a soccer ball while wearing roller skates to some cute men and fell. If that isn’t realistic, then tell me what is.

One reason why I’m so drawn to “Broad City” is because of its realistic approaches to sex, love and being young and naive. Both Abbi and Ilana encounter some unsavory situations concerning sex and relationships, but the way they handle these experiences is what makes the show brilliant. They’re frank and honest with each other and themselves, which in my experience is completely realistic. I mean, I’m not as funny as they are, but I’m working on it.

Another Comedy Central show (who would have thought Comedy Central would be such a trailblazer?) that I love is “Inside Amy Schumer.” Another female-driven show, but instead of a single story a week, Schumer’s show is a series of sketches interspersed with some of her hilarious stand-up comedy. Schumer talks about everything from sex to food to diets to therapy. I’ve seen every episode of both seasons of “Schumer” so many times I can recite some of the skits verbatim. Another strong woman in comedy not trying to be something she’s not. Yes, her comedy is more female-centric, but plenty of men find it relatable and hilarious.

If you ask me, these two shows are very important for women in 2015. Why? Because these are women who aren’t afraid of being funny; who aren’t afraid of talking about uncomfortable sexual situations or periods or typical “female” things. They aren’t trying to be “cool girls,” the girls who were made famous, rather, infamous, in that passage from “Gone Girl.” They’re authentically themselves, which comes across in their comedy. Their vulgar and stupid, but not because they’re trying to impress some guy or seem “cool”; they’re doing it because they can be stupid. They’re being vulgar because guess what? Women are vulgar; women are stupid. And these shows don’t hide it.

Female driven comedy is more important than ever now. With the unfortunate cancellation of “Parks and Recreation” with the amazing Amy Poehler (who is actually a producer of “Broad City”) there is definitely a growing chasm between male and female comedians. I mean, when Jon Stewart announced his retirement, the first person I thought of replacing him was Jessica Williams, a correspondent on the “Daily Show.” And on the “Saturday Night Live” 40th anniversary show, the strongest players in my opinion were the women. But it seems as though the television higher ups never realize it and end up hiring another white male.

Luckily, with “Broad City,” “Inside Amy Schumer,” Tina Fey’s new Netflix comedy “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” and the brilliant “The Mindy Project” by Mindy Kaling, I think female driven television comedies are making a strong presence in the media. These strong, funny women are needed to show young girls and women it’s okay to be stupid and silly, because it’s normal. And it’s okay to be funnier than men and not to hide your style of humor. These women are people that I look up to; to learn from my mistakes with. Now only if there was that much progress in the movie industry with giving meaty roles to women in films. But that’s another issue on itself.

Bishop Bash bringing Bell

After months of speculation and wild rumors, Ohio Wesleyan’s Campus Programming Board (CPB) announced its mystery guest for this year’s Bishop Bash: Drake Bell.

Bell, known for his role in the Nickelodeon television show “Drake and Josh,” also has musical talent. Sophomore Maddie Oslejsek, the director of entertainment for CPB, said Bell was one of the board’s top choices due to his name recognition.

Bell will be joined by Liberty Deep Down, a band from Powell, Ohio whose members met at Liberty High School. Levi Harrel, a residential life coordinator and one of CPB’s advisers, said the band has a large local following and reflect a “boy-band style.”

Freshman Elle Benak, a co-president of CPB said, “[Bell] is well-known by our generation for his work on ‘Drake and Josh’ and we knew that would draw many people to the concert. We focused on finding a name that everyone would recognize and believed that his name would do that.”

Bishop Bash will be a new addition to OWU’s entertainment roster. Previously, CPB planned events such as Spring Fest, which was not as successful as the board had hoped. Junior Nathan LaFrombois, the other co-president, said through marketing research and surveying OWU students, CPB decided it would be beneficial to revitalize a concert series, and that required a name change.

“When talking to students on campus there was great desire for a concert,” Benak said. “And even among CPB members, everyone wanted to put on a large-scale concert with an artist.”

Liberty Deep Down. Photo courtesy of Liberty Deep Down's management. — Liberty Deep Down. Photo courtesy of Liberty Deep Down’s management.

Oslejsek said CPB made a large list of possible artists and narrowed them by availability and price. CPB used a company called Concert Ideas to negotiate the act’s appearance and price.

After attending a concert management lecture last summer to learn how to put a concert together, LaFrombois said CPB had the ability to revitalize concerts and make them better than in the past.

The budget, which was provided by Wesleyan Council on Student Affairs (WCSA), was $50,000. Bell will cost CPB about $20,000. LaFrombois said the rest of the money goes toward hospitality, technology required for the concert, housekeeping, security and any “hidden costs.”

“Once you know the performer, everything else falls into place,” Oslejsek said.

Harrel said CPB plans on continuing Bishop Bash, but will rotate yearly between singers and comedians. He said future Bishop Bashes are contingent on WCSA funding.

Bishop Bash logo courtesy of OWU’s communications office.

Nancy Rutkowski, assistant director of student involvement for leadership and CPB’s adviser, said funding for next year’s Bishop Bash will be submitted in the fall before the spring budget deadline.

“Believe it or not…$50,000 really covers a small concert so if we wanted to do a bigger name someday, it would take more than that,” Rutkowski said.

The concert will take place on March 28 in the Gordon Field House of the Branch Rickey Arena. Doors open at 7 pm and parking is free. Advance tickets can be purchased at owutickets.com by OWU students, staff and faculty for $10 and the general public for $20. All tickets are $25 at the door.

One hundred OWU students will be able to purchase VIP tickets for $15. Students with these tickets get early admission through a special entrance, a Bishop Bash t-shirt and a VIP lanyard.

Where do seniors go now?

When the news broke that the brothers of Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji) would be getting their house back, I was ecstatic. The men of Fiji worked hard and tirelessly to get their housing privileges reinstated. The house is well deserved, and Ohio Wesleyan is proud of the men.

But where am I going to live?

See, next year I’ll be a senior. 35 Williams Drive, Fiji’s (old) new home, is a senior-only housing option, as is 4 Williams. So starting in the fall of 2015, there will be only one senior-only residence hall to choose from. And there aren’t too many spaces available in 4 Williams as is.

One of my main problems with OWU is the four-year residency requirement. I understand the philosophy behind it, but that philosophy leaves seniors without the choice they deserve. Why aren’t there any exclusive places to live for seniors?

Especially for senior women. Fraternities have their houses, which gives men the option to live in houses. But women, affiliated or not, do not have the luxury of living somewhere cool and exciting once they rise through the ranks of OWU. We have to live in the residence halls, which if you ask me, need a lot of work.

That isn’t fair. We deserve better than living in the grimy residence halls that we have lived in since our freshmen year. We deserve special treatment; we have earned seniority.

Most of my friends who do not attend OWU have the opporunity to live off campus in houses or apartments. Granted, there aren’t many places in Delaware for students to rent like there are in Madison or Milwaukee, Wis. Maybe OWU should designate certain off campus locations for senior living.

Now, I’m not advocating that OWU ship all students off campus, but I am recommending OWU let seniors off campus. OWU should buy some buildings or houses for the sole purpose of letting seniors live there.

These buildingswould still be considered OWU property and we would still pay OWU fees, but with the luxury of not living in the residence halls. Students look forward to living in 35 and 4 Williams throughout their college career. And now competition will be fiercer than normal to get one of those spots.

I’m sick of living in residence halls. No offense to OWU, but they’re gross. Yes, so are fraternities, but at least Greek men have the option to live there.

I don’t have the option to live anywhere else but the residence halls. As a rising senior, I think I should be able to have more privleges than that. I think I’ve earned it.

I’ve paid my dues at OWU.I don’t have any special privileges as a senior. Next year I could be living among freshmen for all I know.

OWU needs to have more options for senior living. Students are unhappy with the current status quo, especially me.

Even though I’m thrilled for Fiji and all they have accomplished, I’m upset at the lack of senior living options available to students, especially for female students.

OWU needs to make major changes in their housing policies in order to attract more students and to make current students happy. With the current policies in place, we cannot keep up with other schools our size, or bigger. It could turn potential students off, and I know it has left a sour taste in my mouth.

In order to satisfy the needs of students and meet the status quo of many other schools, OWU needs to let senior students, especially women, off campus. It’s only fair by that point in our college careers.