As the number of civilians protesting police brutality against Black people and people of color continues to increase, we find that we, too, cannot stay silent. The systemic police killings of countless Black Americans — including the recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Tony McDade — have gone unchecked for far too long, and police officers have continuously been applauded and excused for their violent and lethal actions.
Biological tests reduce subjectivity in mental illness
Every once in a while, I hear concerns that biological testing for mental illness undermines the emotional struggles of those who live with it. There are warnings against chalking these struggles up to the disregulation of neurotransmitters (the chemicals in our brains which dictate psychological responses).
Dining hall dish names are culturally appropriative
If Dining Services would like to continue using these names, I recommend that they do research into the cooking practices of these cultures in order to include cultural backgrounds in a respectful and inclusive manner. Refusing to do so does the opposite; it takes ownership of a less dominant culture without being mindful of their unique customs and practices.
Celebrities should retain their humanity in death
The way we address these issues is also important and at times this accountability is actually glorified bullying. Posting on Instagram about things celebrities did wrong in their lives does not have a positive impact, and doing so on the day they pass away is cruel to their friends, loved ones and fans.
Common swear words are rooted in misogyny
Swear words have become an integral part of our everyday vocabulary to vent out our anger and frustration, or to use as an offensive insult. For instance, I often find myself swearing while driving in traffic or when stubbing my toe. A subset of the swear words commonly used are sexist and derogatory to women. Removing gendered profanity from modern culture is imperative — it’s alright to swear and vent frustration, but it can be done without disrespecting women.
Bernie Sanders is not the Donald Trump of the left
There’s a popular theory among moderate observers of the democratic primary that Bernie Sanders is just as much of a populist as Trump in his supposed pandering to the working class. To say that Trump and Bernie are the same sides of a different coin, or that their strategies are somehow similar, ignores the diligent, honest work that Sanders has put into his political career, as well as the lives the Trump administration has endangered with his policies.
Children should be free to explore gender identity
Children begin understanding and categorizing gender around the age of two to three, and, as per Lawrence Kohlberg’s theory of gender identity development, they then move from understanding their own identities to the larger landscape, associating what behaviors go with what identity. Developmental psychologist Laura Zimmerman discusses how childhood experiences play a role in this gender development.
Critical thinking-based education should be valued
Study breaks aid student productivity, not stifle it
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), American college students are among the most stressed people in the world. While Mount Holyoke makes an active effort to alleviate students’ stress with its wellness program, a change in students’ mindsets is necessary for these services to be effective.
Reality TV shows suffer from a lack of body inclusivity
Reality TV shows provide alluring and indulgent entertainment. From shows like “The Bachelor” to “Keeping up with the Kardashians” and “Love Island,” they project a glamorous world which draws viewers in and sometimes inspires emulation. This harbors danger: lurking behind the glamor of these shows, there are misleading stereotypes which can often influence judgments as well. Reality shows should attempt to break past these barriers and promote diversity and inclusion of all body types.
Award shows will never be diverse. So why watch?
The award show season has just wrapped up for this year, with the Academy Awards rounding out as the finale. Award shows naturally inspire disappointment, spurring a plethora of “biggest snubs and winners” articles and heated debates. However, with the excitement of the awards, this year’s persistent lack of diversity went almost unnoticed.
Stick and poke tattoos deserve respect as an art
MA rideshare tax bill will hurt financially disprivileged students
Last month, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker proposed a one dollar per trip tax on ridesharing companies such as Lyft and Uber. While the fee is intended to help those serviced by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), which is set to receive 70 percent of revenue generated, it will hurt students in remote areas like Western Massachusetts, who rely on ridesharing apps.
Memes about serious topics trivialize their subject
Democrats must stop searching for the perfect candidate
College marketing uses idealized media references
Colleges have found a way into the movie industry, with many beloved on-screen characters attending or being associated with different universities. Colleges control their on-screen characters and use this as a marketing strategy. However these representations are not a complete and honest representation of what these colleges are.
Pornography should be blocked at Mount Holyoke
In the age of the internet, pornography usage and distribution has skyrocketed. College students are no strangers to PornHub and its contemporaries, which has sparked debate across college campuses like Notre Dame, Georgetown, Harvard and Princeton: should access to porn sites be restricted on school wifi?
