Innermost Parts » Break Blogging

Live Blogging Ocuppy Wall St

sriester — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 20:11:40 +0000

Scott and Shea from Fung Wah. We past the auburn Mall. Were going to eat in china town, then go dumpster diving at 830 all around NYC with tons of people we dont know to gather food for the occupiers. Adventure!

We share this quote that we want to hold in non-violent spirit tomorrow:

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

We come to Wall street to spread love and advocate human life over corporate profits. We hold no grudge, nor hate anyone working in finance. We are going to Wall street to put our ideals into action. We are the 99%, though we have only love for the 1%. Let us have a peaceful dialogue, not cause any more suffering!

Kevin Spacey Shows Off His Brandeis Hat

NathanJRobinson — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 04:07:50 +0000

From the film Casino Jack, about esteemed alumnus (and former College Republicans president) Jack Abramoff.

Arguments Against Same-Sex Marriage

elly — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:00:26 +0000

In the landmark case of Lawrence v. Texas, Justice Kennedy delivered the majority ruling, stating “When homosexual conduct is made criminal by the law of the State, that declaration in and of itself is an invitation to subject homosexual persons to discrimination both in the public and in the private spheres.”

However, we still criminalize it in many states today, and the effects are seen in many aspects of life: the higher rate of suicide amongst gay teens, the only recently repealed Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy which allowed individuals to be fired by the U.S. government because of their sexual orientation, the very fact that many gays remain closeted out of fear that they will face repercussions if their sexual orientation is known.

Although legalizing same-sex marriage is only one step in the process of ending discrimination, it is one of the most tangible steps we can take at the moment.

Same Sex Marriage and the Constitution lists 4 of the most often cited reasons for “heterosexual monopoly on marriage” and then gives counterarguments. Here is my brief summary and extrapolation of these issues.

Definition, Tradition, Religion
In Jan. 2000, Sen. Clinton said “Marriage has got historic, religious and moral content that goes back to the beginning of time, and I think a marriage is as a marriage has always been: between a man and a woman.”

Traditions in marriage have changed much over the course of time. In Roman times, before Christianity became the adopted religion,same-sex marriages were commonplace. As for the religious component, there are even Christian sects in favor of gay marriage now, but since when has religion dictated civil policy in America? Some churches do not recognize divorce, but civil divorces are still legal.

Natural Law
Women and men are meant to reproduce, therefore a coupling which cannot result in offspring is not natural.

Immanuel Kant recognized that if satisfaction from marriage came from the potential for reproduction then sterile or post-menopausal marriages would not be allowed. In today’s society many couples choose not to have children or are biologically unable to, but they are not seen as “unnatural” in the eyes of the law, and their legitimacy as a couple is not questioned, why can’t those same benefits extend to same-sex couples?

Equation of Marriage with Procreation and Child Rearing
Same-sex couples can’t provide a stable and nurturing family structure for children since they are not comprised of a mother and father.

Assuming a gay couple wanted to have kids, it is a double-standard to examine their ability to provide for their children, when there is no system in place to monitor opposite-sex couples’ relationships and ability to provide for their children. (In addition, there is not credible data to support the claim that same-sex parents would be any worse than opposite-sex parents.) If adoption comes into the equation then the same policies should apply to couples of all sexual orientations, but otherwise, it is not the state’s right to approve or deny consenting individuals’ right to procreate and raise their children.

Eroding Institution of Marriage
If same-sex marriages are legalized, it is a slippery slope of moral depravity and legal malaise. It will harm the family unit and institution of marriage.

There is no evidence that same-sex marriage has had much of an impact on opposite-sex marriage or divorce rates, and in fact Denmark, (the first country to recognize same-sex couples as “registered partners”) has the highest marriage rates it has had since the 1970′s. Although allowing more people into the marriage club will make it less exclusive, why would that make marriage less attractive to opposite-sex couples? This same argument was used when interracial marriages were still illegal, but that does not seem to have hurt the incidence or sacredness of marriage.

If you know of other arguments for or against that you would like to discuss, please post them.

A Question of Legality

elly — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 16:00:30 +0000

I’m always trying to get readers to respond to posts, but this time it’s a blatant call to arms — I honestly have a question to which I do not know the answer, it’s not just an act to get you to read this.

Recently, I filed a complaint about the abundance of mice and rats in public parks with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. I waited some time and then thought they forgot about me. Now, a week later, I get an e-mail from one of the P&R Division Managers informing me of what steps the Department is taking to solve this problem.

Much encouraged, I wanted to post a copy of his e-mail to Innermostparts, to demonstrate the action the Department is taking and to comment on some of the specifics.

Nowhere in the e-mail did it say that it was confidential, and in fact the Manager had CC-ed another employee in on the e-mail (without consulting me). However, when I asked if I could quote section from the e-mail, the Manager told me to get in touch with his Press Office, a step I have not yet taken.

I’ve scoured online forums but have not found an answer to my question: Am I allowed to reproduce any or all of the e-mail I received, without the sender’s direct permission?

If anyone has sufficient legal knowledge, or just wants to hazard a guess, please feel free!

Hurry, Cane! Liveblogging the storm with you

elly — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 01:23:42 +0000

I don’t like discussing weather unless it’s an analysis of sociopolitical impacts or global warming, but I don’t have the energy for that and Brandeis keep sending out these parking changes and warnings to returning upperclassmen not to move in, so let’s talk about it.

I’m blogging from New York City and it’s been pouring for a while, but the real fear isn’t about the winds or the rains, it’s about a power outage. The NY State National Guard are being deployed to Long Island and New York City, and ConEd’s main power plant, located by West Point, is expecting a power outage once water levels rise.

Rumors abound that we could be out of power for a week or more.

How are you guys doing? What’s the level of panic where you’re at? Anyone have horror stories about having to evacuate?

I’d love it if people used this post as a public forum to update people on what the weather is like where you’re located, and post any concerns/news/updates you hear.

“Sexuality, especially Queer Studies”

elly — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 16:00:13 +0000

Brandeis will be joining the ranks of many other liberal arts schools this fall, by offering a new interdepartmental minor in Sexuality and Queer Studies.

Read Brandeis’ description of the minor:

The undergraduate interdisciplinary minor in Sexuality and Queer Studies offers students the opportunity to examine socially and historically specific experiences, meanings, and representations of sexuality and gender and the centrality of sexuality and gender to personal and collective identities in modernity. Students in the program critically consider the relationships among sex, gender, and sexual orientation, desire and identification, and erotic and affectional behavior, as these intersect with other cultural formations including gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, disability, and class.

(Let me specify that I am using the Wikipedia definition of Queer as “an umbrella term for sexual minorities that are not heterosexual, heteronormative, or gender-binary” for this post.)

I’m glad we’re offering the minor, since I think it’s an interesting area of study and it will surely expand people’s conceptions of sexual orientation and gender.

But I’m not happy about the name, for the same reason that I don’t like the title of the Women’s and Gender Studies major: Why include one specific group in the name, to the exclusion of the others?

While I understand some of the reasoning: both women and queers have been discriminated against historically, and they are definitely underrepresented in textbooks and course offerings across America, I do not see why they should be named in the broader, overarching category title. Sexuality encompasses sexual minorities, just as gender encompasses women.

By saying “Sexuality and Queer Studies,” true, we are giving prominence to a group of people who do not usually receive the recognition they deserve, however what kind of principle is it to name something illogically in order to make up for past wrongs? The “and” serves to differentiate two groups, even though one group comes under the heading of the other!?

If the true intent was to state that the focus of the minor will be on the minority group (Queers), then why not make the title “Sexuality, especially Queer Studies,” or “Sexuality feat Queer Studies?”

I’m sure there are a plethora of ways to demonstrate emphasis, without having to grammatically compromise the meaning of the title.

91 Years of Women’s Votes

elly — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 14:00:17 +0000

Yesterday, New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand sent out an e-mail honoring the 91st anniversary of the enactment of the 19th amendment (you know, that one that helped women).

The amendement reads:

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Similar to Obama’s e-mail commemorating the passage of the amendment on August 18th, Gillibrand’s e-mail discussed how far women have come and how far there is to go.

One step Gillibrand has taken towards achieving gender equality* is creating Off the Sidelines, a website which encourages female empowerment, providing women with resources as well as “a place to share their stories.”

Read Gillibrand’s description of her site and an accompanying petition, below:

For me, getting off the sidelines means women making a difference by speaking out about the issues that matter to them. How about you?

Click here to share what getting off the sidelines means to you and join Off The Sidelines.

The fact is, we still have a long way to go until women have full equality. Currently in the US, women make on average 78 cents for every dollar a man makes; and even though women make up 51% of the population, we hold just 17% of seats in Congress and only 6 governorships; and as a result of the 2010 election, for the first time in 30 years, the percentage of women in Congress actually declined. This is unacceptable.

The fact remains that too many women are sitting on the sidelines – we must get them involved. It can be as simple as registering to vote, writing a letter to the editor, giving money to a female candidate who shares your values or running for office yourself. There are so many ways we can get more women involved in the political process.

A larger conversation I would like to have is what gender equality would look like? It’s all good and well to talk about more women taking on political positions and being paid the same amount as men, but from a sociological and psychological standpoint, what would true equality mean?

Please post ideas or critiques in the comments section.

*The phrase ‘achieving gender equality’ was first referred to me by Paolo Singer.

Recycling…Let’s Do More of It

elly — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:00:09 +0000

While I was on Brandeis’ JBS Mississippi semester this summer, I met with several elected officials. One encounter stands out in my head.

During my 2-month stay in Mississippi, the only place I saw a recycling bin was on the campus of the University of Mississippi, up in Oxford. Although we passed other recycling factories and warehouses in Jackson, the state’s capital, and sanitation workers pick up recycling from certain residential areas, nowhere did I find any public recycling.

On our third week in Mississippi we visited McComb (Britney Spears’ birthplace) and ate at the Dinner Bell, with the city’s mayor. Afterwards, we got to ask him questions. So, I asked the mayor if he intended to improve the recycling situation. His answer was surprising.

While he acknowledged that there was a scarcity of recycling, especially in McComb, he said that it is too expensive for small municipalities to create recycling programs. Because materials are so valuable now, however, private companies want them, and so are often willing to create recycling programs in order to take them off people’s hands for cheap.

Basically, the city does not have any plans to increase recycling except to wait for the private sector to become interested and do something about it itself.

Now, what puzzles me is why more universities aren’t getting in on the craze. While it can be expensive and difficult for cities to coordinate recycling (although they should still try), universities have more incentive (it figures into some rankings) and are generally smaller and easier to organize.

When I e-mailed the head of the Residence Halls at Jackson State University (where we stayed during the course of the program) about recycling opportunities, she responded that it was something they only do during the year. However, my friends who go there told me that in fact a student group is trying to bring more recycling to campus but as of now, there is little to none even while school is in session.

Therefore, I’ve compiled some resources. If you go to a school or work or live in a community where there is little to no recycling, here are some organizations which are supplying free recycling bins and/or support. The rest (seeing how your sanitation workers feel about picking up recycling in addition to garbage, promoting recycling efforts, writing the applications to these groups) is up to you!

Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality along with the Alcoa Recycling Company, the Mississippi Recycling Coalition, and the Southeast Recycling Development Council are giving out grants for recycling bins to schools, colleges, universities, and public and non-profit office buildings, according to an article in the Mississippi Link published earlier this year.

The Keep America Beautiful- Dream Machine project is giving out free recycling bins to community-based organizations, and all the proceeds from the can and bottle recycling kiosks go to “support Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV), a national program offering free, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management to post-9/11 veterans with disabilities.”

Lastly, RecycleMania has an annual competition amongst schools as to which institutions can “collect the largest amount of recyclables per capita, the largest amount of total recyclables, the least amount of waste per capita or have the highest recycling rate.” The competition runs from February 5th to March 31st this year, and did you know that Brandeis has competed the past 2 years? We jumped from 13.6 to 21% between 2010 and 2011!

How can I be both a Book Collector and a Recycler?

elly — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 14:00:17 +0000

If you love reading books that you can physically hold in your hand, how can you also be environmentally conscious?

My family collects books- not specifically rare ones, not ones that would necessarily be worth a lot of money, just ones we enjoy reading. My grandmother’s house is cluttered with overwhelming piles of books, and we probably have a few hundred in my house as well. We try just to keep books we would want to read a second time, and donate the rest, but it can be hard to give something away that you’ve read, that you’ve experienced, when it’s still in good shape.

At the same time, I’ve become an avid recycler. This transformation took place pretty recently; sometime between January and this July. I went from being someone who proclaimed an apathy towards the environment (everyone supports animals and the environment; why do I have to?) to someone who picked receipts out of the bathroom garbage to carry downstairs to the recycling bin for paper.

Just knowing I have so much paper lying around my room (old class notes, cards, receipts, newspapers) which could be put to good use bothers me. It may not be logical, but I feel like for every paper I hold onto, a tree is being cut down in a rain forest somewhere, to print another paper for me to use. I’m sure on a small-scale it doesn’t work this way, but think about it; if we all contributed all of the papers we had but didn’t need to the companies that are printing paper in the first place, we’d definitely decrease the “need” for deforestation.

So, as you can imagine, I’ve started to feel pretty guilty about holding onto all these books when they could be recycled (either by circulating them to others, or literally sending them off for their pages to be ripped out and reused). At the same time, I keep buying more books, adding to this problem. While I frequent the library, there’s something special about owning a book and taking your good time reading it. E-books are a whole separate issue, since you need to have a portable device with you to read them, and they just don’t have the same integrity as paper.

In my quest to recycle, I came across 1-800-Recycling, a site which tells you what you can recycle and where, calculates your distance from the closest stores that accept your kind of recycled goods, and links you to resources listed by state. 1-800-Recycling’s advice is to make accessories out of your old neglected books, or cut through them to create intricate 3-D carvings. While both of these ideas sound cool, there’s still something sacrilegious about cutting up books.

So I’m asking you for input: what do I do with my old books? Should I give them all away to a library or school, donate them to a place where they will use the paper to print new books, make them into works of art, or is there a brilliant new idea no one has even considered?

Interview with Herbie Rosen

elly — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:00:34 +0000

Here’s the latest interview we conducted in our series of Student Leader Interviews, this time with 2011-2012 Student Union President Herbie Rosen ’12.

Herbie, the former Secretary of the Student Union, has a long list of affiliations with Brandeis groups, including: Orientation Core Committee, Senior Week Volunteer, Tour Guide, Waltham Group, Liquid Latex, Hillel, Crowd Control, Undergraduate Theatre Collective and the Varsity Men’s Swim Team.

Now, with a new responsibility to add to his already-brimming plate, Herbie shared with us what he envisions for the Student Union, how he views his new role, and even a secret event he has planned called Union Day.

*The majority of questions were submitted by Brandeis students. Is there a Brandeis community member you want us to interview? Working on a project you want to share? Comment or e-mail ideas, suggestions, questions to c...@innermostparts.org and we’ll try to make your dreams come true!

Responsibility
IMP: What is your biggest fear about being President of the Union?
HR: Haha, sounding like an idiot in interviews like these.

IMP: You have not been President for that long, but would you describe it so far? Has it been overwhelming at times?
HR: On my first day I got a bunch of emails about a bunch of different things, and I had somewhat of an (pardon my language) “Oh Shit” moment. But honestly it hasn’t been too bad. My biggest problem is that there isn’t enough time in the day. I can’t have all the meetings I want; I won’t be able to get to everything I want to do. So the worst thing this year will be picking and choosing what to do next.

So far it’s been fun being President. I get a lot of freedom to explore different aspects of campus and meet people from all around the University. I am really bad at remembering names though. So if I hesitate a second after saying hi, please forgive me. I am getting better, I promise.

Experience
IMP: You’re involved in many things on campus. If you had to choose, which would you say have prepared you most for your role as President?
HR: Being on the Orientation Core last summer! It’s a huge leadership training program, and I definitely emerged knowing what worked and what didn’t in my leadership style. It was the kind of experience where you learn your flaws first, and then get to capitalize on your strengths. I really enjoyed being able to usher in the Class of 2014 with my peers. It was that kind of work that made me confident in my abilities as President.

And of course by being Student Union Secretary, I got to learn about what the Student Union was, and how it worked. So obviously that ended up being pretty important as well.

IMP: Do you think you will be able to continue your involvement in your other interests on-campus?
HR: No, not to the extent of the past years. I am an Orientation Leader this fall, and I still will be giving weekly tours, but that’s pretty much it. I love my improv troupe, Crowd Control – so I’ll at least try to rehearse with them, though probably not perform. I’ve Co-Produced Quickies (the Student Written-One Act Festival) for the past two years, so I’ll continue that but I have a lot of help from my Co-Producer, and it doesn’t take up too much time. No, other than classes, Student Union will have to be my biggest priority.

The Student Union and Student Activism
IMP: The age old reputation of Brandeis Student Union is that it simply does not represent the students nor does it appeal to most. Do you plan to rebrand the Union to include those who are currently not engaged? If so, how?
HR: Of course! I totally understand where that reputation came from; I used to feel the same way. But I think the Union has slowly been combating that. I intend to add some rocket boosters to that fight.

We are going to be a lot more visible this year. I have a lot of ideas that have already gone into motion, and I’ll be focusing on getting every part of the Student Union to be just as active as the Executive Board. I intend to keep close tabs on how the student body is feeling. We will stress our office hours, and hold them outside of the Union Office. Meanwhile I hope to reach out to several groups of students who typically aren’t engaged with the Union (ie International Students & Athletes). These are just the first of many steps to rebrand our Union. More plans are in the works, and I promise that students will see a difference by the end of the year.

It’s time that people actually care about what the Student Union is doing. We are not just a group that gives out money, though that is important as well. We have a high potential to make a difference this year, and our main goal will be to prove that to the Student Body. It’s time to make the three flame emblem of ours well-known all around campus. It’s time that the Union is something exciting.

I want to add that I’ve got plans for something called Union Day. It will hopefully be every month – but I can’t tell you much else. It’s going to be a fun surprise!

IMP: Do you have any plans to make Brandeis more environmentally sustainable, and further, should the campus be bottled water free?
HR: Yes, I am very interested in pursuing options to make our campus more environmentally sustainable. I am currently setting up meetings with SEA and other student leaders – hoping to discuss what possible actions the Union may take. If students have ideas as to what we should do – share them! Please email me; any opinion is welcome!

Before going completely bottled water free; I would want to research the financial impact on the school. I am all for inexpensive ways to limit bottled water, so if the option presents itself: we will go after it. Should the campus be completely bottled water free? Personally I think we need to have some bottled water around, but I think its presence should be radically decreased.

Events
IMP: With the 2012 elections coming up, does the Student Union have any plans to aid activist groups with voter registration, particularly for incoming freshmen?
HR: Currently no. In fact, it wasn’t even a note in my agenda. But it’s something to think about. The Student Union has no political leaning, and I don’t want students to think of us as a political activist group. We are a group that provides a service. Sure, we will make sure that all our clubs have the best funds possible to make their events happen, but we currently won’t be planning any 2012 campaign-related programs.

I believe that the right to vote is an important one, so personally I will encourage students to sign up and vote – maybe we’ll make a few posters and send out a couple emails. But no, I don’t see us making that a big part of our efforts at this time.

IMP: How many ‘black tie events’ will you hold as President?
HR: Haha, well I can’t actually correctly tie a tie. So probably not too many.

Challenges
IMP: What is the biggest challenge the Brandeis Student Union faces with President Lawrence’s office?
HR: We just need to make sure that all of these new administrators understand the Student Body. It’s going to take strong and energetic voices to teach our administrative additions about Brandeis Culture. Our biggest challenge is starting off on the right foot. We have to consider how to help their Orientation to campus, and then how to move towards making a difference. Of course changes will come right away from these new administrators; the Union has to make sure that these changes benefit the student body.

So far I have really enjoyed working with President Lawrence. I think he is very honest and down-to-earth. He spent last year well, learning all about the student body. I am confident that his popularity will continue throughout this year. We as the Student Union will do our best to both advise and advocate to President Lawrence. The positive feeling everyone has been feeling with President Lawrence’s arrival needs to continue.

IMP: The Herbie the students elected is kind, smiling, and calm. If the students expressed interest in an issue counter to what the administration desires (for instance, meaningful exploration of the details of union contracts for employees in usdan) do you see yourself willing to stand up to their authority, even if it means compromising your personal relationship with them?
HR: I was elected to represent the student body. Thus, if there is a great interest in something counter to the thoughts of our administrators, I should act. Now, I will do due diligence. I will meet with students, investigate facts and consider all opinions involved. I can’t represent the student body unless I know both sides. I have no problem confronting administrators with something different than their opinion.

But I will not attack! My relationships with the administrators, staff and faculty, both personal and professional are still full of respect. I am not afraid to argue, push back or tell them that I disagree with their actions. But I will not try to tear them down. Civil discourse is my approach; I can be aggressive but I will not bully. Nothing gets done when one lashes out on first instinct.

I promised to be the student’s strongest advocate. And you all can rely on me to push, protest and fight – with reasonable cause. But I will not act without respect. And you need not worry that I will stay mum or neutral on some student concern because I am worried about ties with administrators. I am your President; I am not supposed to act that way.

Accomplishments
IMP: What is your proudest social justice accomplishment?
HR: For the past two February breaks, I went on Volunteer Vacations. It was really rewarding to work along side my peers at sites such as the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter (Maine), and the Gay Men’s Health Crisis Center (NYC).Those have definitely been my proudest social justice experiences. This summer, I’ve been working at the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism; it’s been an eye-opening experience, and I hope to later pursue my interest in the criminal justice system.

Honestly, I can’t call one event that stands above all others. But hopefully I will have several to remember after this year. The Student Union is currently planning a few social-justice projects such as the SoJust Career Fair (partnered with the Ethics Center, Hiatt Career Center & the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism, see the facebook group) and the Local/Global Social Justice Fair (partnered with the Ethics Center). More to come on that later!

(L to R: Andy Hogan, President ’10, Daniel Acheampong, President ’11, Herbie Rosen, President ’12)

A More Cooperative ‘Monopoly’

elly — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:00:03 +0000

A new game called Co-opoly is in the works.

This board game resembles monopoly in its bare-bones objective: to succeed in business. However, rather than players competing to earn the most money, players must work together to win the game. “Everyone wins – or everybody loses,” the game advertises.

Unlike Monopoly, which encourages an ultra-competitive attitude and is the source of numerous fights amongst friends and family members, Co-opoly teaches about the value of collaboration and solidarity, still through a hands-on economic model role-playing game accessible to children and adults.

As Co-opoly’s founders explain:

Cooperatives are not a form of charity, they are a means of self-help and solidarity…By playing Co-opoly, players will learn about the unique benefits, challenges, and operations of the cooperative world – as well as the skills needed to participate in a co-op!

Co-opoly is being advertised on Kickstarter, a new online forum where individuals can promote their projects and solicit donations.

On Kickstarter, anybody can pledge money to a project, but the project will not receive any of the money unless it reaches its full fundraising goal by a certain date. Co-opoly’s creators, The Toolbox for Education and Social Action, are asking for $8,800 by October 2nd.

I’m a big believer in the abilities of games to teach important life skills. There are a lot of interesting articles on why gaming can be good for educational purposes.

Escapist Magazine, referred to me by a fellow Brandeisian, has a good video on how interactive games can better be utilized in the classroom, and the Christian Science Monitor discusses a UN-program for college students in Vermont to bring attention to domestic violence for South African youths through cell phone games.

Check out the Social Justice games category for more games and their social justice analyses!

Anniversary of Suffrage but Still Fighting for Equality!

elly — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:00:48 +0000

This post comes directly from Get Involved | Obama for America | 2012.

On the heels of reading this blog post honoring the women’s movement, I received an e-mail from NY Senator Kirsten Gillibrand telling me about how women are still treated unfairly in the work place, receiving .78 per $1 earned by a man.

Not that this statistic is very clear- does this mean for the same job, or are men making more because they tend to be in higher positions (a whole separate problem)?

Paycheck Fairness Act, which would

“…provide justice to victims of gender discrimination, protect employees who share information about their salary with their co-workers, and require employers to prove that wage discrepancies are based on work performance and not on a person’s gender.”

My initial reaction was disbelief that we haven’t gotten to this stage yet. Even in my short life term I seem to recall hearing about several pieces of legislation going through Congress, if not being passed, which would balance the pay scale for men and women. With multiple laws in place against gender discrimination, I am mystified by the idea that this is not a mute issue by now.

However, the fact that it is still an issue is an even better reason to support this legislation. So, in honor of suffrage, sign the Paycheck Fairness Act and celebrate gender equality across the U.S.!

Herbie! Answering questions? YOUR questions?

elly — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:00:21 +0000

The next student leader to be interviewed is….

Herbie Rosen ’12! Did you know that Herbie is the Student Union president for this upcoming school year, as well as the former Student Union Secretary, active in Brandeis theatre, and much, much more?

What would YOU like to know from Mr. Rosen? It can be anything from when Herbie first started to go by the name Herbie, to which former Brandeis student president he liked the most!

You have until Thursday night at midnight to suggest questions or topics to cover! Submissions will be chosen based on relevance and the number of people that suggest similar themes.

Your name will not be attached to the question unless you ask for it to be, and you can e-mail questions to c…@innermostparts.org if privacy is an issue.

Note: In the spirit of opening dialogue as to various groups’ roles on campus, and to preview what these groups have planned for 2011-2012, I’m going to be asking student leaders to participate in online interviews, to be posted here. If you would like to be interviewed or have a suggestion of someone you think is worth interviewing, let us know and we will try to make your dreams come true!

Corporations are not People, but they ARE comprised of them

elly — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:00:23 +0000

Republic presidential candidate Mitt Romney was recently lambasted by the media for telling hecklers that “Corporations are people,” at the Iowa State Fair on Thursday.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I even got an e-mail from NY Senator Chuck Schumer (D) ridiculing his comment, saying:

“Republicans can’t even tell the difference between a flesh and blood human being and a business entity that doesn’t exist outside its legal definition.”

This raises the question: What is the definition of people versus that of corporations?

The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines people as:

plural : human beings making up a group or assembly or linked by a common interest

Merriam Webster defines a corporation as:

a body formed and authorized by law to act as a single person although constituted by one or more persons and legally endowed with various rights and duties including the capacity of succession

Now, seeing as how People make up Corporations, I don’t agree with the grammar of Romney’s statement, but overall I agree with his point.

While it is easy for liberals to accuse conservatives of not caring for individuals’ well-being, it’s just as easy for conservatives to accuse liberals of not caring for groups of peoples’ well-being. Taking money away from corporations does take money away from their workers, in one way or another.

The real question is whether or not taxing the richest corporations more will help the general public in the long run; however, there’s no use denying that you’re still taking money away from some individuals when you give it to others (including the government). So I don’t think the criticism Romney has faced was well-deserved.

*Corporations does not appear but the plural is assumed to be analogous to the singular.