World View

I am a design student (I know this) but I have only more recently begun to realize what that really means. Because I see the world completely different than everyone else. I know technically everyone does see the world differently but I just have not really made the connection between being a designer and my world outlook.

But it is not just designers as recently, on a trip with two other design students, I said, “What a great view” and they said, “Yeah look at the row of greenhouses.” When what I saw was the hill/mountains beyond the immediate row of greenhouses. Is it my optimism and desire to see the world in a good light? Do I just notice the good things? Or do I acknowledge everything but remember to enjoy the good I see? Do I just take pleasure in the little wonders of life?

I wish everyone could see and appreciate their surroundings in the same way I do.

Wherever I go, I notice the space I am in and how it is designed, decorated and its layout. I notice the world surrounding me on all levels the sky, the flowers, the people and buildings, how the light connects one object to another through its shadow. Also, I pick up on the nuances of people and how they act and what they say. I can tell if they are “being real” or not, even if I just met them. My attention to detail means I can recall a situation almost exactly. Although I might not remember everything that was said, I could describe the situation and the space and who was doing what where. I remember faces and not names. I remember appearance and locations.

Some people walk through life and barely notice what they are passing. The world becomes so familiar that they stop looking and noticing its little pleasures, much like how driving the same way every day we stop noticing the journey and only notice if we have made it to our destination. Some are caught up in the world of politics, while others revolve around work, school or family. All topics dominate their thoughts and noticing the world becomes a distant thought.

How can people become so consumed with life that they forget to look around them and see the world for what it is? Do we only notice what we deem important? What is important? What do you notice? Do you only see the destination or are you aware of the path?

One Voice by The Wailin' Jennys

One voice. Voices Two. Voices Three. Harmony. Distinct yet the same. Different and blending together. That is what we must do as a people as a country and within the democratic party. We must form a harmony of different voices. Though this can only be accomplished if we are singing the same tune. The question still seems to remain what will the tune be?

Letter to the Editor

Last week I wrote in to my school paper, The Barometer, in response to a very sexist anti-women article written by Dan Fitzpatrick. As it was a “Letter to the Editor” I had to keep my sentiments short to refute Fitzpatrick’s crazy ideas regarding “true masculinity.” So I would like to take this opportunity to expand on my many thoughts towards that article.

Fitzpatrick starts by saying that the presence of the “Women’s Building, a Women’s Center and the Women’s Studies program” somehow hinders the “cultivating of true masculinity.” I believe he was blatantly attacking these programs as he seems to not know anything about what they stand for and what they accomplish on campus. If he did he would not have included this in his article and would possibly not have written it at all. Not to mention the Women’s Building is just a name. Historically it was the women’s physical education building. I am sure had the women worked out with the men we, women, would have been seen as a “distraction.” So they built a completely different building. I would also like to point out that the men’s physical education building was called, no not the Men’s Building, but Langton. I don’t understand how a title of a building hinders the cultivating of masculinity. Is there something scary about the word “Women?” I guess Fitzpatrick thinks so… As he seems not to dislike the organization, as the women’s building is not an organization, but rather just the words woman/women. He is foisting his problems of true masculinity on women … that’s right ladies … we can shrink a man’s masculinity just by being on campus .. who knew?

However, I seriously do not understand men feeling threatened by the presence of such organizations. The Women's center and program do nothing to hurt men and in all truthfulness help everyone by breaking down stereotypes. Both the Women’s Center and the Women Studies program have been on campus for 35 years. We as women have come a long way in all those years. The center and department have been as much a refuge as a platform for change. And both continue to grow and expand furthering the education of many students with non-tradition subject matter and topics that relate to popular culture.

Before my first women studies course, I did not understand what a feminist was. I came to realize that although I had not applied the term to myself before, it described many things I had fought against my entire life. It described my feelings towards life and lined up with my point of view. Finally I found a word, a group, a commonality with others. Finally, I found myself. I found a new passion and refuse to stay quiet about injustices I see or read in newspapers.

Fitzpatrick continues in his article to mention those tasks he feels are "unique" to men where the title of women can't seem to interrupt the masculinity. However, he uses football, the military, and religion to display his points and these fields are not limited to men nor are the characteristics he says they invoke.