Fall 2005 by Artemis

fall2005

Letter from the

Editor

Women’s rights issues spurred front-page headlines on a daily basis this fall. The shake-up in the Supreme Court’s composition,

Artemis

Contents Escorting Abortion

Pro-Choice vs. Pro-Life

The Future of Roe v.Wade

Living with Rape

Menstruation

Alternative Fashion

due to the death of William Rehnquist and the retirement of Sandra Day O’Connor, has put the future of legal abortion in question. The abortion debate is not black and white. No side is completely right or wrong. It is an ugly issue. While abortion allows women the freedom to control their reproduction and their lives, it also robs the world of future artists, groundbreaking scientists and other would-be historic figures. However, one thing is certain – whether it remains legal or not, abortion will not stop. Either women will do it in clinics or in back alleys. I hope Artemis makes you think about this important topic in a new way. You may notice this is not a normal women’s magazine. We are not telling you to look like any movie stars or to behave in a certain way. This is not a magazine for beauty shop brains. This is a magazine for every woman. This is a magazine to inform you about important issues affecting women, to entertain you and to spark conversation and imagination. I am proud to bring you this issue of Artemis. The staff has worked hard to pull Artemis back to its roots. I am happy to say it is a feminist magazine again. Inside you will find hard-hitting stories about topics that will open your mind and make you pleased Artemis is back. Enjoy! Erin Roof

artemis • fall2005

Escorting Abortion Editor’s Note: To protect their identities and ensure their safety, it is the policy of abortion clinic escorts not to use or give out their last names. This is a first-person story from an escort and Artemis is not using his name in keeping with the escorts’ policy. A woman sits quietly looking out the window. She is nervous about the procedure, but is

sure this is the right decision for her. As the

car nears the clinic, she sees a small crowd

gathered out front. Grotesque images of mangled fetuses bombard her as her boyfriend Photo by Maria Jenkins

artemis • fall2005

steers the car into the parking lot. She diverts her

and explain to her that I am here to walk her

parked in front of the clinic. Her heart thumps in

protesters to leave the sidewalk and come onto

eyes from the horrific signs mounted on the van

her chest with increasing intensity. The car pulls to a stop, and her boyfriend turns off the engine.

“Are you ready?” he asks.

“Just a minute,” she replies. She leans her

head back against the seat, closes her eyes and slowly takes a few deep breaths.

“Okay, let’s go,” she says. She opens the door

The screaming begins.

and steps out of the car.

“You will always remember October 5, 2005,

as the day you killed your baby!” yells a man from the sidewalk.

The woman takes a few steps across the

“I speak for the baby inside your womb!”

parking lot and then hesitates.

another woman shrieks. “Mommy, Daddy, please don’t kill me! Please don’t let them tear me limb from limb!”

“You don’t know me!” her boyfriend erupts in

rage. “I don’t want to hear this shit! You don’t know my situation!” Photo by Maria Jenkins

“God hates those who shed innocent blood,”

Tears fill the woman’s eyes and then spill

the first man shouts back.

down her cheeks. She stands frozen in guilt, shame and fear.

Scenes like this can be witnessed daily out-

side of abortion clinics in the United States. The

belief that women in Cleveland should not have to endure such harassment has led a group of vol-

unteers to intervene. They are pro-choice escorts, and I am one of them.

For three years I have spent one Saturday

morning each month escorting women into two abortion clinics in Cleveland. On my assigned

morning, I join a team of two to four other escorts in the parking lot of the clinic. When a car comes

into the lot, I approach it and wait for the passengers to step out. I immediately greet the patient

artemis • fall2005

into the clinic. I inform her that it is illegal for the the parking lot. Just before the patient enters the clinic, I explain that the escorts will wait outside until the protesters leave.

What we do for women is simple, but I feel it

makes a difference. Deb agrees. That is why she

has been recruiting and training escorts in Cleveland since 1998. In addition to her work with the

escorts, Deb is a patient educator who talks with women about abortion procedures, birth control and HIV.

“The escorts provide women with non-judg-

mental support and help them feel more dignified when they go in,” Deb says. “It’s a hard enough decision without people screaming at them.”

The protesters’ screams have an impact on

“Each person responds differently,” she says.

the patients, Deb says.

She explains that emotional responses from

patients include shame, fright, irritation, guilt,

anger, amusement and confusion. As an escort, I

Photo by Maria Jenkins

personally have seen women laugh, cry and yell at protesters, while others completely ignore them.

Most protesters, like Tom Raddell, say they

must stand up for the unborn that are “mur-

“We’re here, first of all, because this is

are motivated by strong religious convictions.

something God wants,” says Raddell, director of the Cleveland pro-life group Life Link. Raddell is one of a handful of protesters who regularly

protest outside the clinic. They have done so for

years. The number of protesters on a typical day usually ranges from 10 to 20 men and women,

but as many as 100 protesters, including families

with young children, have turned out for specially organized pro-life events outside of the clinic.

Raddell explains his beliefs this way: Because

all children are a blessing from God, the protesters, as Christians, have a moral responsibility to

speak out for them. Just as God always protects the innocent, Raddell says that the protesters

dered” in abortion clinics.

Some of the protesters refer to them-

selves as “sidewalk counselors” and try to

explain to women that abortion is not the solution to unwanted pregnancies and that they

can offer the women “real help.” While some

protesters hold signs and focus their attention on the patients, others congregate in front of the clinic reciting the rosary.

“Every woman I’ve talked to who has

had an abortion, who is honest with me, has regretted it,” Raddell says.

While the protesters are sometimes able

to get women to interact with them, they are

largely unsuccessful in convincing women not to abort. Deb says that abortion is an impor-

artemis • fall2005

tant decision that women do not make without

her, “I know what I need to do.”

reinforced my awareness. One morning a pro-

a great deal of thought. She says patients tell

When there are no patients in the parking

lot, the protesters turn their attention toward the escorts. They call us “deathscorts” and regularly warn us that we are going to hell. While we ignore most of the “advice” and

insults they hurl at us, we do work with the

knowledge that some pro-life activists advo-

cate the murder of abortion doctors, staff and escorts.

“I am mindful of the fact that some ‘antis’

[pro-life protesters] think of me as an ac-

complice to abortion and think that I deserve to die as part of God’s will,” says Zirca, a

23-year-old Cleveland resident who has been an escort for five years. For this reason, she

Like Zirca, I am conscious of the possibility

of violence, and there have been incidents that

tester reached into his pocket to make me think he might have a gun. On a separate occasion, a man threatened to kill me.

Despite these threats, my escort colleagues

and I remain committed to stepping into this volatile environment to support women in their choice

to have an abortion. We believe that women know what is right for them and should not be harassed for making that choice.

Zirca agrees.

“My respect for women is a huge motivation”

Zirca says. “I believe they are strong and smart,

and should not be bullied or scared out of having abortions.”

and all other escorts protect their identities by using only their first names at the clinic while keeping their last names secret.

Wick Poetry Center

artemis • fall2005

Pro-Choice

v e r

Two couples sound off on their abortion views.

Pro-Life

s u s

Story by Imani Salahuddin Abortion is difficult to discuss. Talking about abortion raises many questions, and the answers are rarely black and white. Although the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision legalized abortion 32 years ago, American people and politics are still strongly divided on the issue.

artemis • fall2005

and should not rely on abortions.

should have a role in abortion laws.

lege students. Here, two couples, one pro-choice

The option to abort is a real possibility for col-

and the other pro-life, explain very different feel-

sex,” she says. “It’s not your baby’s fault that you

should vote on it,” Potter says.

ings about abortion.

made that choice. It shouldn’t have to reap the

Jackie Sabado and Mark Hausman, both

“You have a choice whether or not to have

“We are a democratic society, so the nation Benins says she believes abortion laws

consequences and die because you weren’t ready

should reflect what the people want.

sophomore art education majors, are pro-choice.

to have a kid, but you were ready to have sex.”

They say they believe abortion is a private,

and then act on that,” she says.

personal matter and that a woman has the right

nins and Potter say life begins at the moment of

to choose since she carries the baby inside her

conception, when egg and sperm unite. Sabado

body.

and Hausman say life begins once the fetus has a

The couples also define life differently. Be-

“You have a choice whether or not to have sex. It’s not your baby’s fault that you made that choice. It shouldn’t have to reap the consequences and die because you weren’t ready to have a kid, but you were ready to have sex.” – Amanda Benins

“It took lots of stepping stones for women to

heartbeat and is moving.

Although the couples

life begins, both say they share

If choosing to abort:

a deep respect for it. Both

• Center for Women’s Health 11710 Shaker Blvd. Cleveland, Ohio 44120 (216) 295-2500 • Preterm 12000 Shaker Blvd. Cleveland, Ohio 44120 (216) 991-4000 • Abortion Akron Women’s Medical 3535 Lee Rd. Shaker Heights, Ohio 44120 (800) 858-8980 • Capital Care Women’s Center 3040 N. High St. Columbus, Ohio 43202 (614) 268-2273

couples say they are against

partial birth abortion and think people should make decisions before the sixth month of preg-

live in a Christian society that views abortion as a

nancy.

sin against an unborn fetus, I’m not willing to give

up my choice. It’s our bodies, why shouldn’t we

role of government, politics, people and abortion.

have a choice?”

Sabado and Hausman say they identify a gap

between political agendas and the people. They

Both couples have plenty to say about the

but emphasizes that abortion is a private matter.

say they believe laws and elected representatives

should represent the people, not individual feel-

“Laws and opinions are very generalized,” he

says. “They are taught in mass form and they’re

ings or agendas.

not cooperative with individual situations. They

make something very personal very vague. Each

an abortion type of situation aren’t the people be-

circumstance is different.”

ing represented,” Hausman says. “They [conser-

vative elected officials] don’t know what’s up now.”

Amanda Benins, sophomore dietetics major,

“The majority of people who would come into

and Ben Potter, sophomore architecture major, are

pro-life. They say they believe abortion is murder

ment that is forgetting the events that led to Roe v.

and should be illegal except if it threatens the life

Wade.

or health of the woman.

Wade happened,” she says. “Women were going

Potter says he is against abortion because it

Sabado says she is distrustful of a govern-

“They’re completely ignoring why Roe v.

is a form of murder.

in the back of street corners and sticking hangers

up themselves to get abortions because they were

“It’s wrong,” he says. “I think it’s killing a living

being and that would be murder. It’s immoral to

illegal. We have a testosterone driven government

commit murder. Murder is against the 10 com-

made up of white, Christian, dominating males.

mandments.”

Until that changes, they shouldn’t have a role.”

Benins says people have a choice about sex

artemis • fall2005

Pregnant women in Ohio have many options for both abortion and adoption.

have different ideas of when

have a choice,” Sabado says. “Just because we

Hausman says he shares the same opinion,

“The government should listen to the people

Benins and Potter say they feel government

If choosing to adopt: • Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Cleveland District Office 615 West Superior Avenue, 10th Fl Cleveland, OH 44113-1882 (216) 787-3400 • Adoption Specialists, Inc. 3373 East Scarborough Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 (216) 932-2880, Ext: 880 • Applewood Centers, Inc. 2525 East 22nd Street Cleveland, OH 44115 (216) 741-2241 • Building Blocks Adoption Service, Inc. P.O. Box 1028 Medina, OH 44258 (330) 725-5521

The Future of

Roe v.Wade

Story by Erin Roof

Illustration by Lindsay Shutt

January 23, 1973, “Jane Roe” divided the United States into two staunch factions: pro-life and

three decades ago, the future of women’s right to control their reproductive systems

new court will handle Roe v. Wade.

pro-choice. Even though the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade ruling legalized abortion more than still remains in question.

artemis • fall2005

The death of William Rehnquist and the retirement of Sandra Day O’Connor left two open posi-

tions on the Supreme Court. Now, both pro-life and pro-choice Americans are speculating how the

Kellie Copeland, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, says she is concerned the

artemis • fall2005

Supreme Court, with new Chief Justice John Rob-

to both Planned Parenthood and California Right

says. “Two-thirds of the state legislature is anti-

erts, will overturn the case because little is known

to Life. The tradition of tolerance has been upheld

choice, as is Governor Taft.”

decision is by having a law overturn a previous

about Roberts’ views on abortion.

in the Supreme Court, such as in Planned Parent-

decision,” Brinkman says.

“The truth is, we have a mystery man on

Making abortion illegal in Ohio is exactly

“The only way to overturn a Supreme Court

hood v. Casey, which retained the right to abor-

what Brinkman is aiming to achieve with House

the court,” she says. “Certainly the chances are

tion. Also, the court that decided Roe v. Wade had

Bill 228. The bill, which Brinkman introduced this

likely have to wait years for the Supreme Court

higher than they have ever been because of John

a Republican majority, which might indicate that

spring, not only moves to ban abortion in Ohio,

to rule on abortion, and even longer for states to

Roberts’ confirmation. Right now, it doesn’t look

conservative representation on the court does not

but suggests those who perform abortions face a

decide. But the fiery debate has already begun.

encouraging.”

necessarily threaten Roe v. Wade.

possible 15-year prison term.

Wade would be a victory for the unborn. Yet Cope-

Denise Mackura, executive director of Ohio

Still, many believe Roe v. Wade is at risk.

“This law would outlaw abortion,” Brinkman

Both pro-life and pro-choice supporters will

For pro-life Americans, overturning Roe v.

Right to Life, a pro-life organization, says she is

Judges Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas con-

says. “I am 100 percent pro-life and against abor-

land says if states ban abortion, women would still

not positive the court will overturn Roe v. Wade.

sistently say they do not view abortion as a right

tion. I will certainly try to ban abortion.”

seek control over their reproductive systems. Only,

She says a third new conservative justice is

and note the Constitution does not mention the

instead of having safe abortions in clinics, women

needed to cement a majority to overturn.

specific right to privacy, the factor that decided

Wade is still in effect, thus canceling any means

would undergo dangerous “back alley” abortions.

“I’m not at all certain [the Supreme Court] will

Brinkman introduced his bill while Roe v.

Roe v. Wade. Also, recent Supreme Court abortion

for the ban to go into action. Brinkman says his

overturn Roe v. Wade,” she says. “They still need

cases, such as Carhart v. Gonzales and Planned

strategy is to have the Ohio Legislature pass the

it won’t happen,” she says. “American women

another vote.”

Parenthood v. Casey, led to a 5-4 decision, sig-

bill, then wait as it travels through the appeals

have been terminating pregnancies whether it has

When the Supreme Court decided Roe v.

nifying that even a slight change in the composi-

process until it reaches the Supreme Court.

been legal or illegal.”

Wade, nearly every state had laws banning abor-

tion of the court could have a drastic effect. The

tion except in cases to preserve a woman’s life

federal government’s Partial Birth Abortion Ban of

and health, instances of rape and incest and fetal

2003 may also increase the chance of overturning

anomaly. Roe wanted to safely and legally end

Roe v. Wade.

her pregnancy, but was barred from doing so by a

similar statute in Texas.

make abortion illegal, Republican State Represen-

tative Tom Brinkman says.

When Roe’s case reached the Supreme

The court recognized, for the first time, a consti-

the decision back to the states,” he says. Brink-

“All [overturning] Roe v. Wade does is send

“The truth is, we have a mystery man on the court. Certainly the chances are higher than they have ever been because of John Roberts’ confirmation. Right now, it doesn’t look encouraging.” – Kellie Copeland

man says striking down Roe v. Wade would leave each state to decide its own limits of abortion rights.

Mackura says she does

not believe Ohio would make

tutional right to privacy, saying in its ruling that the

all types of abortion illegal.

right “is broad enough to encompass a woman’s

decision whether or not to terminate her pregnan-

highly unlikely we could ban all abortion,” she

cy” (Roe v. Wade).

says. “We could ban some, but not all.”

“If Roe is overturned tomorrow, I think it is

Copeland disagrees. She says she believes

America since the colonial era, so long as the

without Roe v. Wade the Ohio government would

pregnancy was ended before “quickening,” or

ban abortion.

when fetal movement is first detected, according

artemis • fall2005

Overturning Roe v. Wade does not, itself,

Court, the justices struck down the Texas statute.

Historically, abortion has been tolerated in

“It is naïve to think outlawing abortion means

“It is very likely it will be made illegal,” she

artemis • fall2005

Living with Rape Story by Beth Vild

Editor’s Note: To protect the identities of the rape victims, only their first names are used. Rape affects most aspects of survivors’ lives, from their relationships to their psyches. Women have many different stories about being sexually violated and every story has left lasting problems for the women. For some people, the word “rape” would not shake their souls or turn their stomachs queasy. For these women, it does. Photo by Jill Kinkus

artemis • fall2005

Protect yourself against Sexual Assault Jennifer Reed

According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National

Yet, despite her experience with rape, Kerri

using men, she says it is as if she is trying to get

says it is possible to move on with her life.

back what she has lost.

“The most important thing is to take that awful

Christine says rape showed her sex does not

experience and try not to let it break you,” she

determine a woman’s character.

Ryan Houk

It may seem natural to fear being attacked in a

says.

Network (RAINN), over 80 percent of women who re-

she says. “Everything has been defined in these

dark alley by some random, desperate stranger, but few

port being raped are under 25 years old. Here are some

major, says she went camping with a group of

sexual codes and rules, but that is not real.”

sexual assaults occur on unfamiliar territory. Statistics

tips to protect yourself and prevent sexual assault.

friends. Kerri says she wasted no time getting

Both women say they went through a period

show most reported incidents take place not far from

At parties:

drunk, but was reassured by a friend that he

of denial and self-blame after their attacks. Kerri

home and involve someone the victim likely knows.

• Do not leave your beverage unattended. Never let

would take care of her. Kerri says she did not think

says she blamed herself after nobody would

When it comes to personal safety, information is the

other people make drinks for you.

he meant she owed him her body in exchange.

believe her.

best form of defense. Here are some facts to consider.

• Go with a group of friends. Arrive together, watch out

for each other and leave together.

rape. She could not say yes or no. The next morn-

on herself that it is the worst thing you can do,”

• Every two and a half minutes, someone is sexually

• Be aware of your surroundings at all times.

ing she says all her friends called her “slutty.”

she says. “It is not your fault, no matter what any-

assaulted in America.

• Don’t allow yourself to be isolated with someone you

She says they told her it was her fault, and she

one else says.”

• Seventy to 74 percent of victims know their assailants.

don’t know or trust.

believed it.

• Forty four to 50 percent of victims are assaulted by a

• Think about the level of intimacy you want in a rela-

of rape, Christine says she believes it is possible

friend or acquaintance.

tionship, and clearly state your limits.

sexual behavior.

to rebuild.

• Forty percent of all sexual assaults take place in the

On campus:

victims’ homes.

• Do not walk alone. Call for a campus escort. If you

might as well become one,” she says.

strength, because I have been raped and I am

• Twenty percent take place in the homes of friends,

must walk alone, walk in a well lit, well populated area,

OK!” she says.

relatives or neighbors.

such as a sidewalk next to a busy road.

attack happened at a music festival while she was

• The average age of assailants is 31.

• Let someone you trust know you plan to walk alone.

setting up camp with two of her friends. She had

• Fifty two percent of assailants are white males.

Give a time you expect to arrive.

offered a hitchhiker a blanket and a place to stay.

• Twenty two percent are married.

• Carry your car keys in your hand while walking.

• Walk confidently, with your head up, and stay alert.

she says.

Two years ago, Kerri, freshman exploratory

Kerri says she could not move during the

She says her friends’ opinions influenced her “Everyone thought I was a slut, so I figured I Christine, senior chemistry major, says her

“Sex does not define who we are as women,”

Harm is Close to Home

“I would tell every woman who put the blame

Even though she still experiences the effects

“I believe in women and I believe in our

• Only 40 percent of sexual assaults are reported to

“I saw him as a brother in the human race,” If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted and needs help, there are resources available.

authorities.

Don’t listen to music while walking.

At home or in the dorms:

her. Christine says the most frustrating part about

• Do not leave doors propped open or unlocked even

the attack is she tried to wake her friends while it

when you are expecting someone. Do not let strangers

was happening, but could not.

into your dorm or house.

Christine and Kerri say rape was their first

Kent State Psychological Clinic

their attacks for a number of reasons. Statistics show

• Avoid being in the public laundry room or parking

intercourse. Now, when a man gets a little rough in

(330) 672-2372

less than 20 percent of rapists go to prison. No unre-

garage by yourself.

the bedroom, Kerri says she gets freaked out.

Town Hall II

portedsexualassailantscanbeincarcerated. Speakup.

That night the hitchhiker gagged and raped

“It feels as if he is ripping through me all over

Information courtesy of:

again,” she says.

www.Rainn.org and www.tempe.gov/cpu/sapc.htm

Women who have suffered through the

trauma of rape cite this as a normal reaction. Kerri says she has become disinterested with sex and only does it to satisfy her boyfriend. Christine says

Kent State Women’s Resource Center (330) 672-9230

(330) 678-3006 Coleman Professional Services (330) 673-1347

• Fifty percent of reported crimes lead to arrests. • Eighty four percent of arrests lead to prosecution.

Victims of sexual assault may hesitate to report

Information courtesy of: www.rainn.org

Cleveland Rape Crisis Center (216) 619-6192

she finds that she can only reach orgasm if she is emotionally unattached or if the man is drunk. By

artemis • fall2005

Fun Tampon Facts Erin Roof

Feminist Do’s and Don’ts of Dating Angel Wilson

• Don’t spend more time in the bathroom than he does.

Special Thanks

• Do open doors for yourself • Don’t allow him to introduce you as “the girlfriend.” You have a name and an identity separate from his. • Do bring up the three “don’ts” in conversation: politics, abortion and religion. If there is a disagree ment, it is OK. He needs to understand and respect your opinions, too. • Don’t go on a second date with any guy who has a Photo by Dave Foster

pyramid of empty beer cans that is taller than you. • Don’t let him win just to save his ego. If he can’t

Tampons are one of the world’s smallest wonders – and one of the best inventions since before sliced bread.

take losing at a game of Life, then he should

Because of them, women can now go swimming during their periods!

stick with Solitaire.

Thank you tampons!

• Don’t depend on him for the support you can give

Evan Bailey

Jan Leach

Lori Cantor

Audrey Lingenfelter

Ellen Davis

Russ Lynn

Jeff Fruit

COMPO

Lisa Hofmann

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yourself, be it financial or emotional.

Did you know... • Ancient Egyptians first invented tampons made out of softened papyrus. • Ancient Greeks also fashioned tampons in the fifth century B.C. from lint wrapped around wood. (Ouch!) • Dr. Earle Haas created the first applicator tampon in 1929. This tampon was later mass produced with the Tampax brand. • Tampons with applicators have two tubes. The bigger tube is called the “penetrator.” • “Ultra” absorbency tampons can hold up to 18 grams of menstrual fluid. • The o.b. tampon brand got its name from the words “ohne binde,” which means “without napkin” in German. • Women use an average of 600 lbs. of paper during their lifetime menstrual cycles. • Most tampons are made from cotton and rayon, but some tampons use other materials, such as sea sponges.

Informal courtesy of: inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bltampons.htm, www.edinformatics.com/inventions_inventors/tampon.htm www.obsimple.ca/en/questions.asp, www.jadeandpearl.com/tampon-sponge.htm

artemis • fall2005

Menstruation

A journey from bloody ignorance to bloody enlightenment

artemis • fall2005

Story by Ryan deBiase | Photos by Dave Foster

In my younger days, I was not keen on the whole

served only to be swept under the carpet. Anytime

idea of menstruation. From the onset of puberty,

the subject would surface, I would shift uncomfort-

periods. I became just another ignorant guy who

I didn’t care to know a bloody thing about

I took to the male dominated stigma that periods

ably, remaining completely confused and having

would cringe anytime someone mentioned a pe-

were a “dirty” time, a biological event that de-

no desire to learn.

riod. Like a petulant child, I would raise my hands

artemis • fall2005

to my ears and run screaming from the room. A tampon represented a nuclear bomb to diffuse; Midol, some type of “ladies only” opiate.

A person trying to write a “period piece” from

that point of view would have asked questions such as, “So, do you, like, feel gross when you’re on your period? ‘Cause I’m, like, totally grossed out by it.”

And so would continue the trend of male men-

strual ignorance.

By my early twenties, something shifted within

me. I realized that being insecure about a biological process is just plain silly. Holding a grudge against something I cannot experience does little to open my life to any type of diversity.

To attempt to make menstruation understand-

able to myself, I first had to find out women’s own feelings about it. Three years ago, could I ever see myself asking women detailed questions about their periods? Definitely not, but it goes to show how people can change.

Some women I spoke with were more open

about their periods than others. Some welcomed it, embracing the freedom of not being pregnant. Some were accepting of the occurrence, but not

necessarily excited about it. Some viewed it as an

experienced menstruation, pregnancy and child-

excuse not to have sex.

birth, the substance in question was determined to

be urine, not uterine lining.

And still others were quite disgusted, saying,

Upon investigation by a woman who had

“It’s basically chunks of flesh falling out of your

vagina.” Whereas before, such graphic dialogue

Dorsey says. “My pee was maroon. I didn’t know

would have left me curled up in a corner some-

what color a period looked like, so I just kind of

where, this comment evoked laughter.

assumed.”

The funniest anecdote I came across in my

“I had eaten a lot of pickled beets for dinner,”

I also “kind of assumed.” I assumed that

menstrual travels came from Kelly Dorsey, senior

periods were dirty, disgusting little occurrences

graphic design major.

that neither men nor women should even acknowl-

edge. They may not be the most pleasant thing

Dorsey says she was a prepubescent girl

of 10 when she thought she had her first period,

to experience or even discuss, but it is something

glancing between her legs at the purplish liquid

that happens and should not be looked down upon.

mixing with the toilet water.

“Mom! Mom, I got it!” she yelled from the

bathroom to a mildly confused matriarch.

artemis • fall2005

Alternative Fashion

Photo by Jill Kinkus

Story by Erika Meyers Be yourself, as long as you are like everyone else...

artemis • fall2005

This is the big message when it comes to the

mainstream’s interpretation of underground fash-

edge,” she says. “I’m influenced by the very

ion styles.

seductive, yet clean-cut, pinup girls – still being

sexual without revealing a lot.”

Alternative fashion emerged to distinguish

“My style is very classic with a punk rock

subcultures from the mainstream. In reaction to

aggravating social and political climates, many

the mainstream’s image of sex appeal, Amy Tucker,

people adapt an alternative look to reject the

junior English major, says it is the people inside the

expectations of society and instill a shock value.

clothes that make them sexy.

Amy Mathews, senior communications major,

Even though alternative fashions may not fit into

“I think all fashion has a sense of sex appeal if

is one of the many people who wears a self-de-

worn correctly,” Tucker says. “You are wearing clothes

scribed eclectic style.

that reflect your personality, which I think is sexy.”

artemis • fall2005

From Tunics to Vinyl: A Brief History of Women’s Fashion Ryan deBiase

195 B.C.: Roman women sport the tunic, a loose-fitting garment they slip over their heads. 1450-1600: DuringtheEuropeanRenaissance,women’s gowns were heavily pleated and used wire or wicker hoops. 1820-1901: The corset thrives in the Victorian Era, promoting the popular hourglass figure. 1920’s: The flapper represents an image and an attitude. Hair lengths are chopped and breasts bound close to the chest in an attempt to look more ‘boyish.’ 1966: The mini-skirt is born. Late 1970’s: Punk women no longer strive to be fashionable, as torn clothing, vinyl, bondage and chopped haircuts define this style. Information courtesy of: www.earthlydelights.com.au/renaissance.htm, www. history1900s.about.com/od/1920s/a/flappers.htm,www.comnet. ca/~rina/fashion.html,www.fashion-era.com/the_1960s_mini. htm, www.costumes.org

artemis • fall2005

From Left to Right: Erin Roof, Ryan deBiase, Amy Mitten Photo by Gavin Jackson

Trish Homsher, sophomore English major and

alternative dresser, agrees. She says sexiness exists in all fashion styles, mainstream or alternative.

“I wouldn’t say it is different from other sex

appeal, it is just approached differently,” Homsher says about alternative fashions.

When commercial stores mass market alter-

native style, like Homsher’s, she says it cheapens its image. Clothing stores, like Hot Topic, exploit young people’s rebellious urges, she says.

“It’s a style for a reason,” Homsher says. “It

has its own distinct uniform qualities and all of teenage America is doing it. I think [commercial stores] play on preteens search for identity and willingness to do whatever their moms hate.”

Mathews says these faux alternative fashions

go against the belief system of authentic alternative dressers.

“It’s not genuine,” Mathews says. “It’s

everything that people who would wear that are against.”

Artemis Staff

Editor Managing Editor Photo Editor Art Director

Erin Roof Ryan deBiase Amy Mitten Rick Salsberry

Writer Writer Writer Writer Writer

Ryan Houk Jennifer Reed Imani Salahuddin Beth Vild Angel Wilson

Illustrator Photographer Photographer Photographer Photographer Illustrator Advisor Advertising Manager Advertising Designer Production Manager

Patrick Davison David Foster Gavin Jackson Maria Jenkins Jill Kinkus Lindsay Shutt Jan Leach Russ Lynn COMPO Evan Bailey artemis • fall2005

Artemis is the Greek goddess of the hunt, wilderness and fertility. Very early in life, she asked her father, Zeus, to grant her eternal chastity. As one of the few virgin goddesses, she was very protective of herself and punished any man who dishonored her. Armed with a bow and arrows, Artemis resided in mountain forests with her virgin nymph followers and promoted the virtues of purity and fertility.

Cover Illustration by Patrick Davison