6 The Loquitur Perspectives Thursday, Oct.

28, 2010

Warped body image an issue on campuses

By Kelsey Alvino More
Staff Writer predomi-
nantly than
most in
We s t e r n
culture,
body im-
age plays
a huge roll
in many
p e o p l e ’s
lives. With
the cul-
tural perspectives being shoved
down our throats as a society it
is hard to view our own selves as
acceptable. Many people strug-
gle to find what makes them feel
accepted or comfortable and the
perception of skinny versus fat
has waged an all out war on the
men and particularly the women
of our generation.
Instead of feeling united with
each other in a particular gender
many turn their heads to people
they believe to be physically in-
adequate to themselves. Being
fat used to be a sign of wealth
and power. However, now being
overweight is a sign of laziness,
sloppiness and even incompe-
tence. On the other hand if you
are skinny one might make com-
ments about being anorexic, self-
centered or mean, not in shape or
happy.
The stereotypes of both of
these body shapes are completely
ridiculous however it is interest-
ing to see where these labels come
from and why they have become
part of our culutre. I believe these
comments, critiques and judg-
ments come from a culture that
is insinuating the fact that indi-
viduals are not good enough. Not
good enough to look like people
displayed in magazines or on
television and as a generation we
strive to be in this image of per-
fection. This is where the defen-
sive side comes into play when
we feel our physical appearance
is under attack.
Due to the defense some peo-
ple have about their personal im-
age, it takes pressure off of one’s
own self to criticize another per-
son. I have heard many critiques
in my life from fat individuals to
thin and vice versa, ranging all
over the board from “eat a sand-
wich” to “six packs of rolls” to
“tub of lard” and “body like a 12-
year- old boy." These insults are
ones that are common and bring
out a side of each individual who
is struggling with their own body
perception.
Understanding both sides of
the spectrum is easier said than
done especially when it comes
to the fashion world. Thinner
people fit into any clothes they
want to wear. This is a common
misconception. Many thin people
struggle with the self confidence
that comes along with not having
curves and are often frustrated
when items do not fit in certain
areas, bringing their self confi-
dence down.
Self confidence is also drained
from larger people when they
do not fit into the clothing at the
same stores thinner people shop
at. Having to go to special stores
and not fit in with the “norm” can
be hard on an individual who is
only trying to seek acceptance.
Many believe that there is
nothing more annoying than a
skinny girl referring to herself as
fat, as well as there being nothing
more confusing than a bigger per-
son squeezing into sizes that are
clearly not the best fit.
In my opinion skinny girls
who constantly talk about them-
selves as being overweight have
a serious self esteem problem and
they are trying to fish for compli-
ments from whoever is listening.
This is a major problem and a sad
issue that women never feel hap-
py with themselves regardless of
their weight.
Large people trying to fit into
clothing that clearly does not fit
is frustrating to me. I believe that
doing this injustice to yourself is
only going to cause negative at-
tention your way. Who cares if
you wear a larger size and look
good? But squeezing into jeans
that are three sizes too small will
not fool anyone into thinking you
are actually that size.
Regardless of what store one
shops at, it is extremely impor-
tant to know your body, and how
to make it look its best. Knowing
what size you are is crucial. Span-
dex is not acceptable for every
body type and if nothing is hold-
ing your halter top up, you will
just look ridiculous. Just because
something is in style does not mct
mean it is your style. Dressing the This is an example of a common exercise that identifies warped
best way for you and your body body image. Participants draw what they think they look like
will increase your self esteem. It and after are traced on top to compare.
is easy to see why some would
put others down to feel happy constantly trying to be like some- ing our society needs to stop. We
or adequate with how they are one else. Judging someone or need to come together and accept
viewed by the outside world. being judged is something that each other for who we are and we
Certainly I believe that people everyone has gone through in need to put ourselves in a position
put others down because they their lives, it never feels good and to look our absolute best, inside
feel unhappy with themselves as making fun of someone makes and out.
a person. Regardless of body im- you feel in power for an entire
age, people may find themselves 10 seconds. The negativity fac- kma69@cabrini.edu

Still surprised by inequality in America

Growing
By Melissa Szymborski
up I was al-
Staff Writer
ways taught
that everyone was
equal. It doesn’t
matter whether
you’re male or fe-
male, black or white,
Jewish or Catholic,
everyone is the same
and deserves the
same rights.
By this I mean
they deserve to be married, have jobs and
kids. Just as long as it agreed with their re-
ligion, race or if they are heterosexual.
In reality, if you marry outside of your
race or have a same sex marriage you will
not be accepted by everyone. So really be-
ing taught that everyone is equal was a lie.
In elementary school we all learned
about slavery and the Holocaust, and how
the world grew from inequalities like that.
I was led to believe that since then there
was not much of a problem with race, faith
or sexuality, and that none of that mattered
if you were happy. After almost 15 years
of Catholic education I can say that I was
led to believe something completely false.
In today’s world people do judge you on
religion, race, sexuality, everything. There
is no such thing as equality in any parts of
the world.
It’s hard to believe in the Catholic re-
ligion because it is so back and forth. The
Bible says that God will love you no matter
Without the legal right to marriage, same sex couples lose their right to health
care coverage, family leave, child custody protections and tax protections.
what; however, the church will not allow
same sex marriage. While I do appreciate
the fact that I was sent to Catholic school
because my parents thought it would be a
better education, I can’t help but wonder
how I was so naïve to the world.
Gay marriage is one of the most con-
troversial topics right now. Only five out
of the 50 states in America allow gay mar-
riage. So what about the other 45? What
is so wrong about gay marriage? These are
questions that I constantly ask myself.
While today’s generation is more ac-
cepting of gay marriage, interracial mar-
riage and all types of religion, we still have
those from previous generations who are
set in their ways. People of older genera-
tion believe that we should marry within
big deal.
Being gay does not make you any less
of a person. In my opinion it makes you an
even stronger individual. One of my good
friends struggled for years with coming
out. Because being gay is such a contro-
versial subject, a lot of gays are so fright-
ened to come out due to what may happen
to them. I believe that the prejudice against
gays needs to come to a stop.
With the recent suicides because of sex-
uality, it makes me wonder how long until
we are done this battle? We have overcome,
for the most part, interracial marriage, so
why can’t we accept same sex marriage?
Last month a 13 year old hung himself
from a tree and a 18 year old jumped off a
bridge because of their sexuality. Add three
our religion and race, and also marry the
more boys under the age of 19 and that’s
opposite sex.
how many lost their lives just in the last
It’s sad to think how many people could
month.
have been happy, if they could have broken
Are we going to sit and let this happen?
away from the norm. An article from MS-
These innocent children are killing them-
NBC says that just in the past 40 years how
selves because they are constantly made
different things have become. As of 2005
fun of or have a fear of rejection because
more than 7 percent of Americans are in a
of their sexuality. Every suicide is a loss
interracial relationship compared to 1970
to the world, who knows that person could
where it was only 2 percent.
have made a big difference.
Many times I often wonder if this
Think about the parents of these vic-
change will help same sex marriage be-
tims, having to live with the fact that their
come legal. I believe that anyone, no mat-
child killed themselves because they were
ter who they are, should have the right to
gay. These parents will never be able to
get married. After all isn’t it our right to be
forgive themselves for letting this happen.
happy? What people need to start realizing
How is society okay with this?
is that this is 2010, things are ever chang-
ing, and same sex marriage is really not a
mas439@cabrini.edu
Thursday, Oct. 28, 2010
Cabrini can only gain from
more international students
Despite be-
By Nick LaRosa
ing a small
Staff Writer
school, diversity
at Cabrini Col-
lege has never
been much of an
issue. Accord-
ing to the col-
lege’s website,
there are 1,600
undergraduate
students on-
campus, many
of whom come from a variety of back-
grounds and cultures. These students
represent different genders, races, reli-
gions and some are even international
students.
Wait, international students? At
Cabrini?
If you haven’t encountered any
international students at Cabrini then
you are probably not alone. On its
website, the International Student Ex-
change and Study Abroad Resource
Center lists the number of internation-
al students at Cabrini College at 23.
If you combine undergraduate and
graduate students, those 23 interna-
tional students make up fewer than 1
percent of the student population.
Another way to look at this is
through class size. While Cabrini’s
average class size is 17 students, it is
not out of the ordinary to see classes
with up to 25 students in them. Imag-
ine walking past a full classroom in
Founder’s Hall, knowing that inside
was the entire international student
population – what would you think?
The bigger question to ponder is
quite simple: how would the addition
of international students enrich the
campus of Cabrini College?
In my opinion, there is no one solid
answer to this question, but there are
certainly a number of possibilities to
ponder.
Cabrini College may not have the
name recognition that other colleges
boast, but they still put a lot of effort
into bringing international students to
the city of Radnor.
In addition to the detailed applica-
Perspectives
One option for traveling abroad is to exchange families with a student in
another country so an American student can experience another country
while an international student is attending their school.
tion process for international students,
information about the college’s Inter-
national Club, run through the Stu-
dent Diversity Initiatives office, can
be found on Cabrini’s website. The
International Club allows the interna-
tional community to gather as a whole
and discuss their interests and back-
grounds.
I think that the enrollment for in-
ternational students could potentially
increase if changes were made to the
current study abroad program. Once a
student begins the second semester of
their freshman year, the opportunity to
study abroad is available, regardless of
major. Time for studying abroad can
range from eight to 10 days all the way
up to a year.
Now, imagine if the word “ex-
change” was added to the study abroad
program. If 10 Cabrini students opt
to study abroad for one semester, then
there are 10 less students living on-
campus. While those students learn
about the lifestyles and cultures of
other countries in a foreign setting,
there are no new international students
learning in our classrooms or studying
in our library during that time period.
Students who study overseas in
The Loquitur 7
mct
Windmills:
an ugly way to get clean energy
By Eion O'Neill Whenever you plug your
Staff Writer hairdryer in or turn on that
light you’re using energy. It
doesn’t matter where that en-
ergy comes from, there’s some
sort of consequence. In recent
years, there’s been a push for
green energy but it’s impor-
tant to understand that while
some energy sources may be
cleaner than others, someone
is still feeling the effects of it.
mct
I personally am a witness
to the drama unfolding behind looking for new re-
sources. My family’s cabin is in a rural part of Penn-
sylvania where gas companies are searching for en-
ergy sources. In fact, our 17 1/4-acre plot is being
countries like England, Greece and
surveyed right now. The company comes in, leases
Italy are learning about the cultures of
the land, pays a nominal fee and then observes to see
those countries and relaying what they
if there is potentially anything there and then if there
learned to their peers upon their return
is they will drill. So far nothing has been found on
back to America. What if an interna-
our land but miles in the distance is an energy gold-
tional exchange student was doing that
mine.
all along during one’s trip overseas?
Right across from my cabin’s deck is a scenic
The benefits of having a larger inter-
view of upstate Pennsylvania where the green trees
national student population at Cabrini
enliven the hills for miles on end. There’s nothing
would be tremendous, regardless of
except green, not even a single cell phone tower or
whether that student is here short-term
utility pole. It’s stunning to see a piece of nature un-
or to receive a four-year degree. Meet-
scathed by human development.
ing someone who lives a different life,
According to the grassroots environmental jus-
has different hobbies and speaks a dif-
tice organization, ActionPA’s website, in 2005,
ferent language can go far in terms of
Japanese developer Marubeni and Cincinatti, Ohio-
better understanding life outside of our
based Duke Energy Generation Services came and
country.
proposed windmills be built along this thrilling
More international students would
stretch of scenery in Lycoming County. Naturally,
also mean an increase in diversity.
the neighbors around my cabin started to protest the
People from different ethnic back-
destruction of the scenery they’ve grown up with or
grounds adapting to a new lifestyle in
moved to the area specifically for and have done so
a new country. College students could
ever since.
be roommates with an international
Some might tell me that such a proposal would
student rather than simply meeting
bring in good jobs and help America’s sustainability.
them during a trip abroad.
I see that side of the argument and honestly if this
As much as we learn in the class-
hadn’t happened so close to what I call my second
room at Cabrini, we could learn so
home, I probably wouldn’t have batted an eyelash
much more just by having a larger
but it’s here in my backyard. Everything is a threat
presence of international students on
when it’s in your backyard.
campus.
Those who push for wind power may also point
nal42@cabrini.edu
out that windmills impact the community less nega-
tively than say a nuclear power plant or coal power
plant but asthetically, windmills are equally as dis-
pleasing as a nuclear power plant's monstrosity of a
cooling tower or a coal plant's smoke stack. While a
wind-powered turbine may not have as many nega-
tive effects as a nuclear power plant or coal plant,
the point is that it is not a miracle power source. A
wind-powered turbine may not be as much of a risk
to a meltdown or terrorist attack or releasing danger-
ous toxins but it has effects on the local communities
that it is placed in, no matter how big or small. Ev-
erything has a consequence, it's just a matter of what
we personally consider a consequence.
For example, I may not fear nuclear meltdowns
so I may fight for nuclear power but it's only because
I don't live near one so I don't necessarily think the
consequences impact me. Ultimately, those con-
sequences affect me in some form or another and
clearly affect someone else.
It is very easy for me to say that energy from
windmills is good and that the windmills be built
somewhere else, but after arguing against them in
my backyard, do I have a say in them going in some-
one else’s backyard? I do believe this country needs
to use less fossil fuels and wind and solar power are
the way to go but how do we combat aesthetic and
light pollution in the process? As we go green, we
need to think these things over but most importantly,
we need to think of consequences that everything,
no matter how seemingly innocent, has on all of us.
ego722@cabrini.edu