[the] 451 - Volume 1 Issue 1. February 2010

Volume 1 Issue 1

[the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451

February 2010

[the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451 http://fourfiftyone.org

[the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451 [the] 451

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The Inside Cover

[the] 451

Table of Contents

So, what the heck is this thing, anyway?

Well, we’re glad you asked! As you might have guessed, this shiny new publication is called [the] 451, and it’s a new, independent, studentrun paper here at DU. Anyone can write for this paper, and we hope to encourage otherwise-unheard student voices to use this as a venue for expression and discourse. [The] 451 is the result of students coming together and demanding a new, authentic place to speak and be heard.

We are all about catalyzing interesting conversations.

Remember the [dis]claimer? Yes, that’s us (sort of). During Fall Quarter of 2009 the D-Claim staff realized that the paper had become something of an elitist jizz-rag which pontificated endlessly on subjects of no importance or interest to the average DU-er, and we realized that this was not something we wanted to be. After much conversation and libations, we decided to kill the [dis]claimer and start fresh. Don’t get us wrong, we loved the [dis]claimer a whole lot, but it had turned itself into the archetypal pheonix which must burn to be reborn, yadda yadda yadda.

Consider [the] 451 the “new and improved!” [dis]claimer, if you will. We are keeping d-claim’s fun and lack of censorship, but working to become more relevant and more accessible to readers and writers of all political/ ideological spheres.

This is [the] 451. Pick up a pen.

With Love, [the] 451 Staff

Club Funding - Blythe Pollard, 3 PinS - Lauren Golder, 3 Woodstock West - Sheila Schroeder, 4

Denver

Devin‘s Guide to Denver - Devin Pitts-Rogers, 5 Denver Climbing Gyms - Chris Bair, 5

Arts and Such

Cavities - Blythe Pollard, 6 Las Olas - Lauren Golder, 6 The Greatest Weapon - Luke Niforatos, 6 Facade - Russell Takeall, 7 Entrance - Adam Golder, 7

Featured

“We’ll only meet one-on-one” - Michael Neil, 8 Pedestrians, Cyclists, Drivers - Ben Waldman, 9 Prop 8 Update - Kayla Martin, 9

Other Interesting Stuff

Missives from Abroad - Nate Knife, 10 Australian Internet Censorship - Chris Bair, 11 Gotta Love This Americana Life - ErinBleakley, 11

Op-Ed

About [the] 451

The Inside Cover

Around Campus

Every beginning has an ending. As the world around us continuously moves, we have to learn to cultivate our ideas from nature. As the seasons and scenery change we have learn to maintain a cycle of death and resurrection, learning from our past but looking forward. We always orient our eyes toward the sky but, we would be guilty not to acknowledge the shoulders on which we stand upon. This is [the] 451.

[The] 451 exists to ignite the fire of discourse. Everyone has a voice but, not everyone has a place to speak. We seek to be the vehicle of expression, art and personality. This is [the] 451. Pick up a pen.

A Blow to the Democratic Process - Luke Niforatos, 12 Keep it Real - Eliot Andre, 12 A Better Way - Robin Cassedy, 13 A Historical Lesson - Michael Neil, 14

Sex and Health

Phthlalates - B. Frank, 13

Profile

5 Questions With a DU Alum, 15

The [Very] Back Page Events Calendar, 16

Dramatis Personae Lead Editors

Section Editors

Lauren Golder Russell Takeall

Kayla Martin - Arts and Such Robin Cassedy - [Inter]national Blythe Pollard - Denver Chris Bair - Around Campus

Web/Business Ben Waldman Steven Hathorn Gina Eldridge

Published with Support from

Around Campus

[the] 451

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Club Funding: What’s the Deal?

Blythe Pollard

blythe@fourfiftyone.org

Part I It’s a late night in Sturm Hall and I am reading a poem aloud to my restless classmates. I trip over my words distractedly but nobody notices—all we can think about is the smell of pizza and Lil Wayne’s rasp reverberating through the hallway. Finally, 7:50 rolls around, and with a communal sigh of relief we pack our bags and head out the door. Upon stepping outside, we are immediately hit by a bombardment of brightly clad undergrads rushing toward the source of activity.

“Ugh. This reeks of The Alpine Club,” I tell a classmate, dripping with disdain. She looks at me strangely and asks, “What’s wrong with the Alpine Club?” I draw in a deep breath before I realize that I have absolutely nothing to say.

The resentment I have felt to-

ward the Alpine Club since my first day at DU may be a little— here goes—unwarranted. As a member of multiple small clubs on campus, the Alpine Club embodies my frustration with what I have perceived to be the injustices of the club funding system. This year alone, the Alpine Club received $30,000 from the AUSA Student Organization Committee, while the Free Tibet club received a whopping $130.

Other than the Alpine Club and Residence Hall Association, the highest funded club is the Undergraduate Women’s Council with $7,000—that’s still $23,000 less than the amount that the Alpine Club received. My poor little clubs can barely afford to feed their members and these Alpiners are throwing a rager! It’s remarkably easy to develop anger out of jealousy, and that’s where I stand, speechless, as I try to figure out how the hell to respond to my classmate’s question.

After being exposed to my own glaring ignorance, I decided that it was necessary to gather some actual information to back my conviction that the Alpine Club is nothing but a moneysuck. I talked to members of the AUSA

finance committee and gathered some data regarding club funding for the 2009-2010 year.

However, I did not realize that the issue of club funding would be such a multifaceted and clubspecific topic. Because the factors of funding are so varied, one must look club-to-club in order to figure out why each club receives the amount it does. Regardless, I did gain an elemental understanding of club funding, and I will impart my basic knowledge to you lucky readers.

The relationship between a given club and the AUSA Senate is imperative to how much money they receive; clubs benefit greatly from a close relation to the finance committee. The extent of a club’s responsiveness and accountability to the Senate is key—clubs are expected to submit quarterly reports, present a plan for future budgeting, and plans for specific programs that will require a set amount of money. These requirements indicate the importance of good organization and recordkeeping within the club itself; if a club is less accountable to the finance committee, they will likely receive less funding the next year.

PinS: DU’s Most Awesome Secret Lauren Golder

lauren@fourfiftyone.org

Are you jonesing to see new places? Want DU to pay for it? Enjoy feeling snooty and academic?

We’ve got just the thing. If you are a student at DU and have never participated in the Partners in Scholarship (PinS) program, you are probably missing out. PinS is a fantastic resource that many undergrads haven't heard of, and is the perfect way to finance that special project you've been dreaming about (don't deny it; we know you have). The program, part of the Undergraduate Research Center, provides up to $1,500 ($3,000 during the Summer) to fund student research, travel, and a

number of other school-related things that require money.

During Winter break, I received a PinS grant to visit the International Institute for Social History (IISH) in Amsterdam to do research for my Senior Thesis in History. Since my thesis topic is rather obscure (news reports of anarchist terrorism in the 1890s), PinS was the best option for finding primary sources, most of which exist outside of North America. With a considerable amount of help from DU, I was able to spend a week in Holland looking through 100-year-old documents and newspapers by day and wandering around town (frequently gawking) at night.

After initially panicking about being alone in a foreign city, I grew to like Amsterdam very quickly. It was freezing, yes, but gorgeous and thrilling all over. Everyone

at the IISH was extremely helpful and made arduous archival research a relative breeze. Al-

though the trip was primarily research-oriented, I nevertheless had time to wander next to the canals, see the Red Light District, and eat Surinamese food for dinner (Surinam is a former Dutch colony, which is why you can get their food in Amsterdam). http://fourfiftyone.org

Jason Lundberg, the former chair of the Senate Finance Committee, states that “The club’s use of funds in previous years factors highly into their funding for future years.” If, for example, a club is reported by the Student Comptroller to have spent a large amount of its funding on pizza for club members (that’s you, physics club!), the finance committee will give the club less funding the following year.

If a club fails to utilize its funds for club-related activities and events, their funds will likely suffer the following year as a result.

Finally, club size is an obviously important factor in deciding club funding. However, this issue presents a paradox in itself: if a club receives smaller funds because it has less members, how can it be expected to afford the student mobilization activities that are often necessary to obtain new support?

How greatly does each club’s own action impact the amount of money they receive? Is the system corrupt? Are under-funded clubs victims of injustice and cronyism in the DU system, or are we to blame?

The whole time I was there, I kept thinking, “DU is paying for this! How is everything so awesome?!”

If you have a special project tucked away in the back of your mind (or someplace you want to visit on the pretext of research), I would highly recommend going for a PinS or Student Travel grant. Just find a faculty partner, write up a budget and research proposal, then start packing.

The program is arguably underutilized given how awesome it is, so apply before people catch on and use up all the monies!

The deadline for Spring PinS applications is February 17, 2010.

Check out du.edu/urc for more info.

Igniting the Fire of Discourse

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Around Campus

[the] 451

Woodstock West: Generations Changed Sheila Schroeder sschroed@du.edu

Let me take you back to a time when bell-bottoms and tie-dye first roamed the campus.

When buildings like the Daniels College of Business and Penrose Library did not exist. A time when The Doors playing DU was the hottest ticket in town, and when the most political and well-respected Rice on campus was not Condolezza but her father, Dean John Rice. This is a time when The Old Barn, not Magness Arena, was home to the hockey team and was the largest building on campus. I want to take you into that Old Barn. A large, unsettled crowd has gathered. This is May 8, 1970.

I must admit, I’m no expert on what happened prior to or following this pivotal meeting. I’m simply a part-time independent filmmaker, full-time associate professor, and part-time activist. I’m working on a film about this meeting and all the things that happened to make it necessary and what it accomplished. It’s a film about DU, activism, and the legacy that activism imprints on one’s life. I know that there is a film here, buried on the dusty shelves of the Penrose Library archives and in the foggy memories of those who lived through it. So take what follows knowing that I’m trying to complete a 1000-piece, double-sided, 3-D puzzle without the picture on the box top to show me what the finished product should look like.

So let’s return to The Old Barn.

A similar crowd had gathered here nine days earlier, on April 28, 1970, but the circumstances had changed drastically in that short time. On April 28, radical lawyer and civil rights activist William Kunstler had spoken to a largely student audience gathered in The Old Barn that night. Kunstler is most famously associated with his defense of “The Chicago Seven.” These were seven men (originally eight) who were on trial for conspiracy and inciting a riot at the 1968 Democratic convention. At this time, Kunstler was perhaps the most well-known lawyer in Igniting the Fire of Discourse

Part 1 of a 3 part series the United States. Student activists at DU had invited Kunstler to address the campus, where various groups like the Black Panthers, Students for a Democratic Society, and others were trying to gain a foothold within the student body. Film footage of the event that April at DU recorded his words as follows: “They [the government] are facing a generation of embittered, frustrated young people who no longer can be channeled off into other rights and who are insisting that this country do no less than live up to all of its platitudes. That this country do no less than be what it was originally designed for, a free and open society which it is not today and has not been for generations. I don’t think we’re in the revolutionary stage. I think we’re in…the resistance stage…. I think we’re perilously close to that stage. I think people need to make very important decisions for themselves in the near future. I think the country is teetering on a revolutionary fulcrum and whether it goes the whole way remains to be seen.”

His words were prophetic. Two days later, an event tilted that fulcrum

their rage by setting campus buildings on fire, staging sit-ins, going on strike and taking to the streets in protest. Remember, it was their generation that was being drafted, many against their will, into the armed forces. It was their generation carrying out the orders of the political elite in Washington. It was their generation that was sustaining the casualties, losing limbs, and living through trauma in the jungles of Southeast Asia.

It was this generation who protested on Monday, May 4, upon the Kent State University campus in the middle of Ohio. At what seemed like the end of a yet another anti-war protest on the campus, National Guard troops appeared to retreat. However, at the top of a rise known as The Commons, the guardsmen stopped, turned, knelt on the green grass and opened fire on the students for 11 seconds. Four students, two of whom were simply walking to class, died, while several others were injured. Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer and William Knox Schroeder, (no relation) died of bullet wounds. Their deaths at the hands of our own troops shook the nation to the core.

Before news of this tragedy could filter up from Driscoll’s basement teletype machine, DU students were holding a meeting about whether to go on strike in order to show their solidarity with other campuses throughout the country. Yet once students began to see the headlines and photos in newspapers and watching the evening news, 1,500 of them gathered on the Carnegie Lawn and called for a strike. Almost immediately, Chancellor Maurice Mitchell released a statement that the University of Denver “is not on strike.”

Thus was born one of the central conflicts of what came to be known as Woodstock West, an encampment built, supported, and run by students. Tents, homemade lean-tos, and teepees turned the grounds where Photo Courtesy of Penrose Library Special Collections Penrose Library now stands into to the revolutionary stage. Newspaper a campground of protest, a makeshift headlines on April 30, 1970 hit many place of mourning, and an outdoor classAmericans like a brick to the nose: Presi- room where students guided the lessons dent Nixon had ordered bombing raids during informal rap sessions. It was a into Cambodia. Why was this the tipping place of music and performance and all point? Nixon had run in 1968 on the plat- were invited. form that he would end the Vietnam War, But Chancellor Mitchell was not and many saw this bombing as both an about to let student activists take over expansion of a terribly divisive war and a his campus. So he called everyone to The complete betrayal of his campaign prom- Old Barn. ise.

Find out what happens at the Old

On campuses from New York to Barn in the next installment of WoodWashington state students expressed stock West: Generations Changed.

http://fourfiftyone.org

Denver

[the] 451

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Devin’s Guide to Denver Devin Pitts-Rogers

devin@fourfiftyone.org Though you may not realize it, there are a fair share of interesting attractions outside of the DU bubble.

The local community has shown its support for the DU population, and even supports their presence in the community.

There are plenty of businesses nearby, but some seem to go overlooked for one reason or another. Perhaps there’s a similar business nearby with larger signs. Perhaps you do very little business on Broadway.

For whatever the reason, you ought to expand your horizons and give these places a shot.

First up is Tokyo Bowl. The name sounds a lot like Tokyo Joe’s; Joe’s, however, has a much larger sign and is right

across the street from Chipotle.

With this in mind, Tokyo Joe’s is already in a great position to garner attention: Those who don’t want a burrito can go right next door and get something else, meaning that most of the DU demographic is funneled into one of these places.

But Tokyo Bowl is great in its own right; the spices in each dish are easily as good as at Joe’s, and in many cases even better. There is also a lot of variety in the dishes, and the employees are just as nice as the food. If you find yourself close to University and Evans, drop by and give them a try.

Perhaps food isn’t your thing?

Maybe you want extreme fitness without the extreme threat to your health. Picture a place like the climbing wall that we have here in the Coors Fitness Center, only better, and the result is Thrillseekers. Head over to 1912 South Broadway to try them. For non-members, the fee is $13 to climb and $10 to boulder (climb without ropes).

That’s right, bouldering. Despite my suggestion earlier about the lack of an extreme threat to your health, Thrillseekers offers bouldering. You must sign a liability waiver to climb, as a fall from that height could otherwise very easily result in a lawsuit. Check out www.thrillseekers.cc to learn more.

If those spots don’t appeal to you, then perhaps you could give music a try. If you’re in the mood for a great acoustic performance or maybe looking to learn a few tricks yourself, pay the good people at Swallow Hill a visit. Located on Yale just east of Broadway, Swallow Hill is always up to something. They have live performances by local and traveling musicians, as well as great workshops and classes.

There is an intro to Jazz bass class next month right after finals week, which costs $25 for non-members. There is also a songwriting class that looks particularly. (Renowned guitarist Laurence Juber even taught lessons here this past month.)

Also check out Swallow Hill’s

Best of the Open Stage, a oncea-month showcase consisting of five artists who perform in 20-minute sets. There are also performances by Orion’s Bow and Bearfoot w/ The Hollyfelds, to name a couple. This year, Swallow Hill’s annual Rootsfest will feature Neko Case.

Still, to do any of this you need some sort of source of disposable income. While none of these activities are not terribly expensive, the price does indeed add up. That said, if you can try any of this out, I would encourage that you try it (even the bouldering). Boredom is a state of being, not a state of mind.

Denver Climbing Gyms Chris Bair

chris@fourfiftyone.org We’re in the dead of winter and that means all the best alpine climbing and bouldering in Colorado is buried in snow. And unless you’re into ice climbing or mountaineering, you’ll need some way to stay in top climbing shape for the spring and summer. For that, I recommend checking out some of Denver’s climbing gyms.

Denver Bouldering Club Newly opened in the summer of 2009, the Denver Bouldering Club (DBC) has quickly become my personal favorite climbing gym in the Denver area. One reason for this is that it’s purely a bouldering gym. No ropes, no belayers, just a great collection of high quality boulder problems on a wide variety of walls

ranging from vertical to 45 degree pitches. There are always new and interesting routes going up and the gym is getting more and more developed all the time. It’s hard to ask for more from a climbing gym, but it gets better: 24/7 access, free member Wi-Fi, and a training area equipped with weights, a campus board, and a system board. The DBC is located in a warehouse off 4th Ave. and Bryant St. (close to 6th Ave. and Federal) so it’s not easily accessible by foot, but is a short 10 to 15 minute drive from DU. The biggest downside to this gym for most DU students is going to be the cost. It’s a members-only gym and the $75 initial fee along with a contract agreement to pay $55 a month over the course of a year (or $65 a month for 6 months) can appear pretty daunting. That being said, you can suspend your account when you’re not in school so you aren’t paying for nothing over vacations. It’s also a great deal if you plan on climbing two or more times a

week and relatively comparable to Thrillseekers’ prices. You can also climb on Tuesday and Wednesday nights as a guest for $10 if you’re not ready to commit to the fees and want to have a look at the facility.

All things considered, I am inclined to say that this is the best climbing deal in Denver from a cost-quality perspective.

ROCK’n & JAM’n My old stomping ground from my high school days, ROCK’n & JAM’n is a fantastic climbing gym with two locations, albeit rather inconvenient ones for those living in Denver. But if you have a car, these are great gyms for climbers of all abilities.

Though I am most familiar with ROCK'n & JAM'n south, I have been to both facilities and they have similar amenities. The roped walls are an impressive 35 feet tall and have a wide range of route difficulties ranging from 5.5 to 5.12. Both gyms are also equipped with bouldering caves which usually have some http://fourfiftyone.org

interesting routes on them. Additionally, they have a campus board, a treadmill, a slack line, and even offer classes to help you begin to climb, learn to lead climb, or improve your climbing in general. Quite the facilities in my opinion.

But as I said before, these gyms aren’t exactly built for those living in the heart of Denver. On a good day, either location is a solid 20 minute drive from DU and they’re not exactly cheap with a day pass during peak hours costing $15 and month passes going for $55 to $70 each. However, for indoor lead climbing and top roping, it’s hard to find better in Colorado.

If none of these gyms seem appealing and you’re willing to make the drive, there are about five other gyms in Boulder to check out as well. If the cost is your issue, well, there’s the Ritchie Center too if you’re really looking to climb on a budget, but I can’t say it’s much fun at all.

Igniting the Fire of Discourse

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[the] 451

Arts and Such

Cavities Blythe Pollard

blythe@fourfiftyone.org It’s that feeling under a cadaver light belly-up-mouth-stretched squinting at a well-groomed-moustache tutting “three more” like a disapproving grandparent.

As if someone flicked your nose hard and you cry, “I’m not a god damn dog!” but you think suddenly— maybe that’s not entirely true.

There’s a point between hook and floss when you think god—I should get out! and drool bubbles from flaccid lips at the thought of open sky.

But the overwhelming buzz of the electric toothbrush and the feeling of mint grains stuck between teeth is all too much in itself.

A guilty spark ignites, ashamed of itself and knowing quite well that it only has itself to blame, that it can only feed its own flame

The Greatest Weapon

—and the perfect hovering moustache

Luke Niforatos

asks you What’s the weekend forecast?

luke@fourfiftyone.org

and that image of cloudless serenity, perfect wild shatters into dust of cliché in such a way that you are sure you’re the butt of some profound mockery.

You hear about the power of the pen, How it can change the minds of menCreating change, revolution, social upri -sings, And when it’s all over, each word still sings.

But what of the tongue?

How about the voice of man?

The very tremors of our tongues, Can cause hearts to skip beats, even unite the minds of all.

Infuse the fire of passion, and the result is a vocal spectacle never before heard, And quite possibly never to be heard again.

The voices of those demagogues of history still ring.

Passed down through oral histories, and the annals of kings.

Igniting the Fire of Discourse

http://fourfiftyone.org

Las Olas - Lauren Golder

Who hasn’t heard the thunderous Dream of Martin Luther King, And not been stirred to immediate action?

Or read accounts of Patrick Henry’s earthshattering ultimatum, And not been consumed with the righteous anger of the centuries old patriot?

Close your eyes, and listen.

The voices of the great, of the magnificent, The leaders of men, the impassioned orators, The men and women who swayed the hearts of mankindAgainst all odds, against all probabilitiesTheir voices still ring across the world today.

Can you hear them?

The pen is powerful in that it preserves the words of men, But, in truth, it is the tongue that is more powerful than the sword.

Writing is the fuel, and the tongue is the resultant purifying inferno.

Both are inseparable.

[the] 451

Arts and Such

Facade That lasted more than four hours

No more honor

russ@fourfiftyone.org

Others strike out

Cowering they are

Survival of the fittest

Never see a third world first

Façade is America

From the side effects

Its about honoring the empire

Where revolution made it’s last stand

People in the streets

That’s why most high paid occupations

Russell Takeall

And then enslaved the black man Pursuit Of happiness Like it says in the Constution Then killed Native Americans As a manifest solution Cinematic Evolution Pollution In the creation In the Birth of Nation But we’re all citizens So I guess you can let it go Where genocide in Mexico Is“ Remember the Alamo” INFALLIBLE America Where peace is hysteria Where choices about colored folk Is made in the Ivory tower Where the system falls Like Niagra CEOS get drunk with power That they mixed with Viagra Created a market hard on

Want Heads And they tired of threats Government wants it down

Are retrofitted With the high jumping niggers Be careful with defintion

Son obey your thirst People struggle We say nothing Till our pay get worst

So they can cash checks

Cause you can be a million dollar slave

So they give you your own money

But it’s not limited to one practition

Or go to prison

Call it stimulus

One race, or one religon

Cause these days fucking us

Like when they stole your land

The chase of something more

Sounds like Just us

And called you immigrant

Is what we profess

Be really it’sjustice

Facades

More money, More problems

Fast food justice

Where the Richest in the world

Probably some more stress

Rationalist sinners

Can be the deepest in debt

Facades

And idle time on your hands

My forefather was Washington

Quick n speedy trial have em jail before dinner

Presents a untimely threat

Just kidding they lying

Like that unemployment check

If I believed in fantasy

That helps your starve of death

He probably be Poseidon

Usually what right

The bastard children of Ham

Is not what’s left

Blew us from the native island

Low money, no money

Said we were wylin

With raising a price

Behind some lying eyes

Will the bare essentials

Truth disguised

Be Enough to suffice

Half died on the trip

Like when you pay the Grim Reaper

But we’re uncivilized

But you can’t feed life

Genocide on the ride

Life is good

Strife and you’ll hit it

Its Pride

Life is hard

That won’t let us tackle

Life is freedom

Make it nice

But life a job

Imagine a cruise ship

You can still stand tall

Where enslaved traded shuffleboards

Though the size is small

For shackles Façade Is like book cooking Striking out looking System coming full circle

Entrance - Adam Golder

Like get in the hearse

Grouped as criminals Never as individuals Gotta keep the system tight Wipe off extra residue Painted like the mountaintop You should check the easel Freedom was not titled Separate but equal The sequel Façade

Don’t be fooled When these cats swing they axe And talk back with big verbs Be safe and check their rear They got backs big bird

Through halfway crooking

All we need to do is embrace our past

New comandments

A façade will never be

Rule this planet

Free at last

http://fourfiftyone.org

Igniting the Fire of Discourse

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Featured

[the] 451

“We’ll Only Meet One-On-One” An Update On the Sodexo Living Wage Campaign Michael Neil, michael@fourfiftyone.org

On Friday January 15, 2010, the first step of engagement between Sodexo food service workers, DU students, union organizers, community activists, and Sodexo management began. After briefly coordinating our words and positions, we went to meet with Sodexo General Manager Nori Yamashita. While we had been warned by our union representatives and allies that managers often “disappear“ or “find themselves busy“ during such encounters, Mr. Yamashita welcomed us into his office . . . initially. Once in the door, the situation became much more predictable.

Three vocal Sodexo workers emotionally and forcefully stated their demand for dignity and fair working conditions (five workers had joined in the meeting).

Celeste Lascano has worked for Sodexo for three years and has worked on the DU campus for one. When she became pregnant she was told she would either be laid off or should take a personal leave of absence. She did the latter, and when she returned there was no permanent position for her.

“I had to fight three months to get my position back, they gave my position back just last week, [there is] a lot of disrespect, they try to intimidate you,” said Lascano, mother of six children. “My kids are on Medicaid because I can’t afford the health care. My husband’s a dishwasher here and we still can’t afford it.”

Students stated reasons for coming to this meeting. The workers had asked us to back them in their struggle and we were glad to do so. Collectively, we attempted to submit a petition of nearly eight hundred student names to Mr. Yamashita, as well as a petition drafted by the workers.

The petition charges that employees are also not being allowed to take their full 30-minute breaks and yet the entire time is still being deducted from their paychecks, said SEIU union organizer Victoria Harris after hearing several different workers’ complaints.

“I went almost seven hours before I went on a break,” said Barbara Ross, who has worked in the Nagel Hall dining facilities for over a year.

Among Ross’s other concerns, management does not hold safety meetings, but gives employees paperwork to read and sign during their shift. Ross also says she has also been cursed at by management and disrespected in front of students. “There’s no one we can talk to about this, management is so unreceptive,” said Ross. “They say we will talk about it and we never do.”

At orientation, employees were told they get one free meal each shift they work, but they are only given breaks when food is not available. There is also discrepancy about who can eat when and where.

“It’s my kitchen, I’ll feed who I want,” is what Lascano has heard Igniting the Fire of Discourse

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when she asked a supervisor why the kitchen staff was allowed to eat and not the retail staff.

“For a while nobody was eating,” said Lascano.

After the worker‘s testimony and while attempting to present the drafts, the situation became almost comically scripted— if tragedy could ever be amusing.

Almost as soon as the meeting had begun, it ended. Mr. Yamashita said that we needed to leave and that he would gladly meet with students and workers on a „one-on-one basis“. Not only does this diminish the power of our workers, most of whose grievances are similar or identical, it is also a common managerial trick in negotiations, or „boss-fights“ in union terms. According to Harris, such „one-on-one“ meetings occur both before and during confrontations and serve two purposes. Threats and anti-union propaganda, such as films, are often shown to workers. They are often told they will lose pay or hours (leading to a loss of benefits) if they continue to work with union organizers. (The majority of employees signed on as full-time are working 30 hours or less, noted Ms. Harris.)

If this tactic fails, management will often introduce a carrot in addition to their stick. Often, they will single out an individual and promise them a raise, promotion, or better working conditions in exchange for breaking with and/or badmouthing union activity.

Some may even ask workers to turn other workers in for their activities. The strategy of divide-and-conquer often prevails.

In the case of our student and worker delegation, we were handed to another Sodexo manager, who repeated that he could not speak with the group but would gladly meet one-on-one. He also gave the number of a Sodexo labor representative in California.

Colorado does not have one nor does it have a human resources manager available. When such individuals are brought in, they are often unresponsive. According to Lascano, “[the representative] questioned certain people. An employee called [the representative] a year ago and she didn’t get a response until last week.“ Such delays and painful rejections could make for disappointment among activists, yet they are common. I hope to introduce another possibility. Like the recent loss of Edward M. Kennedy‘s Senate seat in Massachusetts on January 19th 2010 and the deletion of the public option in the final health care reform proposals, setbacks should not make student or worker activists depressed.

Insofar as I am allowed to become polemical, it is time we get angry and for every managerial roadblock, fight that much harder. It may not look like a fight we can win, but we simply cannot afford to lay down.

Featured

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entire lane on roads with sharrows which may be aggravating to drivers in a hurry. Still, bike advocacy groups argue that this practice is best for safety, making sure cyclists stay clear of parked vehicles’ door zone.

Another solution is creating designated bike lanes, which are very popular in Denver. Bike lanes provide separate space for cyclists, drivers, and pedestrians, usually leaving all parties happy. The largest obstacle to the creation of bike lanes is the already-narrow width of High Street. Emily Kreisa, the Denver Public Works Bicycle Program liason, explained that the current configuration of High Street would not accommodate bike lanes:

Pedestrians, Cyclists, Drivers: Who Will Win On Campus?

Ben Waldman

ben@fourfiftyone.org Infamous among first-year students for its suggestive name, High Street is perhaps more often remembered for its consistent congestion and clashes among its users. Drivers are spooked by the daredevil cyclist blowing through stop signs and weaving around cars. Others cannot help but feel irritated waiting behind a cyclist who is blocking the entire lane. Unsuspecting pedestrians walking down High Street also feel spooked after a cyclist, too nervous to ride in the street, blows past them on the sidewalk unexpectedly. And of course, the cyclist can not help but feel outraged after a driver, late to class, squeezes pass the cyclist on the narrow confines of High Street and nearly runs them into the curb.

Establishing High Street as a designated shared bike road would be the most affordable solution and would require very little infrastructure work. Under current Denver ordinances, every road must be shared with cyclists. However, drivers tend to pay more attention for cyclists and slow down when signage is used. A designated shared road requires both signage on the curb and shared road arrows (sharrows). Sharrows also give beginner cyclists increased confidence to ride on the street and return sidewalks back to their rightful owners, pedestrians. However, cyclists tend to occupy the

Prop 8 Update: Web Teaser Kayla Martin

kayla@fourfiftyone.org

There are a handful of historic court cases with which all American students become familiar – Brown v. Board of Education, Roe v. Wade, Nixon v. The United States. In 2010, another case is about to be recorded in the history books: Perry v. Schwarzenegger, better known as the Proposition 8 case in the US District Court. The case questions the constitutionality of the same-sex marriage ban and is the first same-sex marriage case to reach a federal court.

Proposition 8, also known as the California Marriage Protection Act, was passed in November 2008 by voters and simply states, “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” The plaintiffs in the case argue the case violates the 14th amendment of the United States Constitution ensuring equal

“The street would have to be closer to 38’ to fit bike lanes, and it is only 30’ curb-to-curb.

To accommodate bike lanes, the parking lane would have to be removed. The City as a practice does not remove on-street parking unless the request comes from the adjacent property owners, neighborhood association, or council district.”

DU, along with other property owners along High St., would have to consent to the removal of parking before bike lanes would become a viable option.

Creating designated bike paths on campus is another potential solution. Cyclist/pedestrian collisions are not a major issue on campus right now, but the newly established Bike Share program could draw less-confident riders to campus pathways. Currently, DU has no designated bike pathways and there is no policy regarding the use of bikes on campus.

The need for a safe north/south bike route across campus has become even more apparent after a recent automobile/cyclist at the Evans Ave. pedestrian crosswalk on Monday, February 15. According to a witness, a cyclist began crossing the Evans walkway when an automobile traveling Eastbound ran a red light. The automobile hit the cyclist and he was thrown from his bike, traveling approximately 20 feet. Denver Paramedics responded and the victim was taken away by ambulance. The Denver Police Department report was unavailable at the time of print.

Establishing High St. as a safe bike route would likely draw most north- and south-bound cyclist traffic away from campus pathways, leaving space for foot traffic. It is essential that we address the congestion on High Street. There are many viable options available, but it will take both the University and students pushing the city of Denver to do something about it.

protection under the law, and should therefore be struck down. The defendants in the case stand that allowing homosexual marriage will harm the institution as a whole and that the measure that voters approved should be allowed to stand.

The burden of proof indeed lies with the plaintiffs in the case, those looking to overturn Prop 8. Counsel members must prove that gays and lesbians are a minority group facing discrimination from the Marriage Protection Act, and that same-sex marriages are as legitimate as those between a man and woman.

The case, which began in late January, is now on hiatus, awaiting closing statements and a decision in mid-March.

To read the full 451 report of the case, visit http://fourfiftyone.org (right now, right now!) http://fourfiftyone.org

Igniting the Fire of Discourse

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[the] 451

Other Interesting Stuff

Missives from Abroad: Things we can learn from the British and things we should keep doing the same because America is awesome.

Nate Knife

take, things here are very, very different from Colorado.

nate@fourfiftyone.org

It’s been more than a month since I arrived in London for my study abroad experience at the University of Westminster. So far, things haven’t quite been like the kind folks at the Study Abroad office would have you believe. As of yet I’ve not expanded my horizons. (Unless you consider accepting corn as a pizza topping either “expansive” or a “horizon.”) Nor have I deepened my world view. Don’t get me wrong: I’m having a lovely time! It’s just not the experience I was sold. Let me tell you a few stories about my time abroad and let you judge for yourself.

Now, you might be thinking it’s a bit of a cop-out to go to a place like England. I mean, they speak English here, they have both McDonalds and Burger King, it’s basically America with an English accent, right?

Not quite.

There are some key differences between America and England and the culture shock can be pretty intense. Make no mis-

For example, you know how in America when you go into a store and attempt to pay money for goods or services the salespeople will generally treat you like a human being? In England, that is not the custom. I went into a bookstore briefly and attempted to purchase a book. The following is a close account of what transpired:

In closing, England and America are different than each other.

ME: Hi, I’d like to purchase this book.

CASHIER: Do I look like a cashier to

you?

ME: Um…yes?

CASHIER: Fine, let me open the till.

Give me the book.

ME: Okay. Here you go.

CASHIER: There’s no price on this.

ME: I think it’s on the back.

CASHIER: I KNOW where it is.

ME: I’m sorry, it’s just that you said—

CASHIER: Seven pounds.

ME: Okay…do you take credit cards?

CASHIER: WHAT DO YOU THINK?!

Things went downhill from there. In fairness though he was probably just having a bad day and my insistence on paying him money for goods that his shop provides was highly aggravating. Perhaps his children had just been ripped apart by wild dogs (I don’t know the statistics on that, but I’m sure it happens more often than one would think).

‘Yeah, the name is Charles... Charles Grey. As in the 2nd Earl Grey. I invented the fucking tea. That’s me. -I’m sort of a big thing.’

Igniting the Fire of Discourse

Do you like mayonnaise? I do not. I call it “devil cream” and find it revolting and an affront to all things that are good. In England, they put mayonnaise on goddamn near everything. Got a sandwich? Smear it with mayonnaise. Those chips look dry, why not dip them in mayonnaise? Your pizza isn’t really a pizza until it’s covered in GODDAMN MAYONNAISE! I brought this up to one of my new British friends. His response was “Well, in America, don’t they put ketchup on everything?”

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Yes, I suppose you have a point. However, ketchup is a reasonable and tasty condiment that goes with many things, while mayonnaise is a creation of Satan that will damn us all.

In summary, America wins in the condiment department. Also, I have yet to find a retailer in England that carries barbecue sauce. That is depressing. It’s like they’re not even trying!

However, there are some aspects of British culture I find to be superior to American culture. Yes, I know, America is the best and simply writing that down will land me on at least five government databases, but hear me out.

First of all, have you ever wanted a beer with breakfast but declined because it wasn’t culturally acceptable? I know I have.

That’s not so in England. In America, my morning ritual was eating a bowl of cereal and stumbling bleary-eyed to my morning classes. In England, I hit the pub for a sandwich and a pint of Guinness before stumbling bleary-eyed to my morning classes. If I did that back home, people would say “He must be an alcoholic.” Over here, they just say “Cheers mate!”

And while retail clerks seem to be possessed of an unconquerable fury, the same cannot be said for everyday folk. They’re extremely polite in most every situation. They hold doors, they say “Excuse me” when they have to squeeze past you in grocery store aisles, they’re even polite while driving! I lined up at a crosswalk that had a broken signal once, expecting to have to dodge through traffic while drivers screamed “go fuck the devil in hell!” at me from their windows like you would at any American crosswalk. Instead, the driver of the next car stopped, smiled, and motioned for me to cross, almost as if he respected my right to exist and use the street like any other human being. It was disconcerting, but lovely all the same.

In closing, England and America are different than each other. Seems like I probably could have just written that sentence instead of going on for hundreds and hundreds of words, but I’m not changing it now, so go fuck the devil in hell. Please.

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Other Interesting Stuff

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Australian Internet Censorship Chris Bair

chris@fourfiftyone.org During the past decade, Australia has become a center of controversy regarding the regulation of the internet, and the implementation of recent legislation has simply added fuel to the fire. A new law which is to go into effect this year will require all Internet Service Providers to block access to a number of websites the Australian government deems “illegal or offensive online content.” This degree of censorship has generally been reserved for more restrictive

sites are not publicly listed and linking to them comes with a hefty fine of $11,000 AUD per day until the link is removed. Additionally, accessing some of the websites on the list will result in a ten year sentence in prison. While the websites on the list very often correspond to things which are already crimes in Australia (child pornography, how to conduct criminal activities, etc.), complaints about the policy are more concerned with the fact that the list is absolutely secret and can be changed without the consent of the Australian people.

In 2009, the list was temporarily leaked onto the internet, though it has since become more difficult to track down. When people looked through the list, they found the obvious pornography sites but were surprised to find as number of seemingly innocuous sites listed as well. Youtube links, Myspace pages, political action websites, religious sites, and a dog kennel page were among the more surprising inclusions.

Government officials argue that such restrictions on net usage are necessary to protect children on the internet from being exposed to inappropriate material. Oppo-

sition groups have condemned these laws as being wholly undemocratic and contest that such censorship is not to protect children; rather, as opponent group Electronic Frontiers Australia said, it is to allow “special interests.…to have their pet peeves added to the list” through political clout.

To fight censorship, the EFA has started a campaign called OpenInternet to inform the people of Australia about what to expect from such control over their freedom on the internet. They are also the source of numerous petitions in Australia promoting freedom of internet use.

From 1996 to 2007, Australian politics were dominated by the conservative leaning Liberal Party of Australia under John Howard. It was during this period that many of the censorship policies currently in use were enacted. Though the current government under the Labor Party of Australia is considered liberal by comparison, they are making no more efforts to curb censorship than the previous administration.

As this censorship continues, it is likely that Australia will soon be receiving a closer watch by the international community.

Fashion

Gotta Love This Americana Life Erin Bleakley

erin@fourfiftyone.org The look is topped off by Ray Ban sunnies, cowboy boots and Converse sneakers.

So go on, live the dream.

When considering Americana as a style, nationalism and nostalgia play a defining role in the theme – it reflects everything to do with the culture of the United States.

governments such as Iran, China, and Syria. Consequently, many find its presence in Australia troubling.

The newest internet policy follows a long line of previous restrictions placed on web users. The most extreme examples of previous censorship comes include a policy which prohibits hyperlinking to any of a list of several thousand websites. The included

Born-in-the-U.S.A. fashion is sending stars, stripes, and red-white and blue flying off the runway and into the streets. All-American fashion is sophisticated, yet laid back.

Jeans and button-downs will be the staples of the look. Expect to see lots of polka-dots, stripes, stars, and bandana print.

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Models: Katie Bhappu and Charlie Landefeld.

America is an eclectic melting pot of people and styles, but the Americana style is pure and classically chic. Americana is a huge trend for Spring 2010, thanks to the Winter Olympics and the increased sense of patriotism that comes with the Games.

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Op-Ed

[the] 451

A Blow to the Democratic Process Luke Niforatos

luke@fourfiftyone.org

eliot.andre@du.edu

Destroying democracy isn’t as hard as it used to be. With the January 21, 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling 5-4 in favor of unlimited political campaign donations, it seems as though all one must do to corrode the very values this nation was founded upon is dress up the travesty in the façade of progressivism.

Why is this court ruling so abhorrent? First, with this ruling any corporation or pharmaceutical company will be able to use its vast wealth to support candidates who will make their lives easier and increase their profits. Second, it creates an imbalance in the political process. Not only will candidates who support coddling large corporations have an unfair advantage, they will be able to essentially call the elections. Third and finally, corporations are one giant step closer to being legally treated as, literally, a single person.

The theory of corporate personhood, to which the majority of the Supreme Court justices quite obviously subscribe, is a shameful fallacy. Corporate personhood is essentially the idea that an entire corporation may be regarded as a single individual unit, or person. If one were to follow this line of reasoning, then the government would have to throw every single person working for Enron in jail for fraud. That is no exaggeration. If the corporation is to be treated as an individual entity, then every individual working for the corporation— every CEO, secretary, janitor and cleaner— will have to pay for the actions of one or two corporate executives. After all, they are deemed parts of the whole ‘person’ in accordance with this theory. Obviously, the idea of corporate personhood makes no sense.

The first priority and the very definition of a corporation is to generate maximum profits for its shareholders. There is nothing wrong with this, it is simply the way America’s economy and businesses must be conducted in order to generate jobs and succeed. However, the job of obtaining profit in the market should be as far as a corporation is allowed to go. Personhood and unlimited campaign donations cross the line.

the best interests of the company (e.g. profit) then he or she will receive the complete backing of the corporation’s extensive wealth.

To put it lightly, this is a huge problem.

As a result, things in Washington, D.C. are heating up. During his 2010 State of the Union Address, President Obama admonished the Supreme Court for the ruling in a rare moment of presidential anger (which many believe to be an insult directed at the constitutional balance of powers).

Who can blame him?

It is truly a disappointment to see this decision in favor of corporate pandering, especially with the supposed new move-

... with this ruling any corporation or pharmaceutical company will be able to use its vast wealth to support candidates who will make their lives easier and increase their profits. ment in politics under the Obama administration. President Obama had just recently appointed Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the hailed progressive judge, to the Supreme Court. Now, shortly afterward, the cause takes a saddening step backwards.

It is obvious, now, that the people need to demand far more transparency than ever before when deciding the upcoming elections. Checking where the money is coming from and how each candidate conducts his or her business is now, more than ever, the burden of the people.

When corporations are allowed to get involved in political realms, as they have been and are now increasingly doing, they are still only focused on doing one thing: generating profit. That means that no matter how unethical, awful, and unpatriotic the candidate is, if that candidate supports Igniting the Fire of Discourse

Keep it Real: S.I.C. Eliot Andre

http://fourfiftyone.org

The debt burden has been described as “debt slavery” and “foreign aid in reverse.”

For every dollar sent to the poorest countries in aid, $1.30 flows back to lenders in paying down debt.

Africa spends four times as much on debt repayment as it does on healthcare. Similarly, $10 billion is needed annually to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa, yet Africa pays out $13.5 billion in debt service every year.

Despite the information hubs that exist in the 21st century, somehow statistics like this are not readily available. The idea behind the Social Identity Collective (S.I.C.) is to establish a critical and thoughtful understanding of internal and external issues, as well supporting and engaging in activism that will assist and uphold the community to make a change. We also want to provide a safe space for members and non–members to honestly dialogue about current social issues, without threat of stigmatization.

Our mission: we believe that education and engagement are the most powerful tool to inform people of important issues. Discussion is key to building upon each other’s thoughts and ideas. With the help of a collective, these ideas can be talked about in an open and multi-faceted way. We are looking to grow together using an interactive curriculum, using media, movies and excursions off campus, to build both understanding and community.

If you are interested and want to be involved please contact the author.

Op-Ed

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A Better Way: Health Care for the European Student Robin Cassedy

robin@fourfiftyone.org

Like pretty much every other American who hasn’t been living under a rock for the past year, I’ve got health care on the brain. With some new study or statistic coming out every other day, it’s rather hard not to think about it. But until recently, I was apathetic about the whole thing.

“The health system works well in France,” says Marie Farandeau, a student in Valence. “We don’t really have the concept of cost anymore since our system does reimbursement so well. I don’t complain even if I think socialism has advanced too far.”

And then while on the phone with a very close friend of mine, I found out that she had been having some rather worrisome ‘female problems.’ But I couldn’t convince her to go to the doctor. Why not? It was too expensive.

That leaves Roxy Keiler from Germany.

She had some very definite views on the health care debate in the United States, so I was curious what she thought of the German system. “Students under 25 whose parents are insured with the AOK can be insured via their parents and don´t have to pay anything at all,” she said. “This is the insurance that most students use.”

Fortunately her story has a happy ending: she eventually spoke with a doctor and it turned out nothing was wrong.

How many college-age adults skip the doctor’s visit because they won’t or can’t shell out the money? How many ignore medical problems with the mantra, ‘it’s nothing, it’ll go away, I’m only 20’?

“The system is really good,” Roxy continues. “When I was insured with the AOK … I never had to take care of anything.

If you need a doctor or you have to go to hospital you just have to show them your insurance card. You´re not even bothered with bills, the doctor gets his money directly from the insurance.”

There has to be a better way. I’ve heard people argue that a better way already exists in Europe, but you rarely hear about if it’s a better way for college students. So I decided to ask friends from study-abroad two questions: How does the system in your country work? Do you like it?

First up, England’s famous National Health System. “Most universities will have a student medical centre, or a doctors’ [office] designed for students where you can register while you’re away from home,” explains Sarah Hardy, a student at the University of Leeds. “It’s free unless you need a prescription; then there is a prescription charge of around £7.50.”

“But if you’re under 20 or over about 60 [prescriptions] are free,” adds Aymee Smith, another Leeds student. “There is a lot of talk about waiting times to see doctors, to get operations, but I don’t know anyone who’s had any problems.

Whenever I’ve used the NHS it has always worked really well, and even though its free, they don’t stint on the stuff they give you. You always get the help you need.”

The French system got similar reviews, with one big difference: French students have to pay. “You pay €200 per year for social security and often a mutuelle (a fee for mutual insurance coverage) [that covers certain things,” says Justine Dunand, a law student at Université PierreMendès France in Grenoble. “It’s very expensive but I think that it’s the best method for guaranteeing equality.”

Guaranteeing equality in health care?

That’s a new one.

And then she drops this bomb: “Oh, and the pill is also free for girls under 18.

That is very useful, too.”

You might correctly point out that none of this covers the enormous costs to the state, which is a very important part of any health care system. Some of you are going to say (also, perhaps, correctly) that while this may work in their respective countries, those cultures are very different from ours and the systems might not work here. Some of you are going to start foaming at the mouth and screaming incoherently about socialism.

But I didn’t want to talk about costs to the state or cultural differences or big bad Socialism. My point is this: there is a better way. One where students can go to the doctor when they’re sick and not worry too much about the cost. One where they can get what they need, even (gasp!) contraceptives. It’s up to us whether we want to go that way, too.

Sex and Health

Phthalates:

The Chemical Terror in your Nightstand!

B. Frank

bfrank@fourfiftyone.org It seems that these days, everyone is concerned about their health. From the organic foods movement, to packed yoga classes, to recent smoking bans across college campuses nationwide (including ours), it’s frightening to think there is something sinister lurking in your nightstand right now. Yes, it’s your beloved sex toys. Phthalates, a common additive used to make toys more flexible and durable, have been linked to a number of hazardous side effects such as lowered sperm count and disruption of the endocrine system. Phthalates are especially nefarious in that they are found in many commercial sex toys and can easily seep into your body through sensitive mucous membranes. While it hasn’t been proven conclusively, phthalates are still not something you want as a part of your “me time” routine!

So what is the alternative to these phthlalateladen nightmare toys? The answer is siliconebased plastic sex toys or glass dildos. A wide variety of toys are made with silicone and, with a bit of extra work, are none too difficult to access. Most major sex stores carry both silicone and glass products, and these products are usually clearly labeled as silicone-based or phthalate-free (the glass dildos are pretty easy to distinguish). If you are squeamish about visiting a sex shop, you can always go online as well. You can go to most sex store websites and search ‘silicone’ --many even have entire

sections devoted to silicone based toys.

Silicone toys can be more expensive than what you might be used to, but as anyone who has used a bad sex toy can tell you, a good sex toy is worth its weight in gold (or saffron). Silicone based plastics are nonporous so they won’t collect germs or any other unpleasantness. They come in a large variety of styles, including suction cup options (which are waterproof and hands free, well suited for vaginal or anal stimulation). One of the most highly recommended silicone-based toys for females is the “Rock Chick,” a hands-free, waterproof toy designed by a female gynecologist.

Glass dildos and other glass toys are gaining popularity since they are completely phthalate-free, non-porous, and easy to clean. They can be warmed up or cooled down to your liking for completely new and different sensations, and come in a variety of sizes. These are also fairly pricey, but there are no batteries to replace and they last a very long time.

Sex toys are a fun and wonderful way to explore your sexuality (either alone or with others); no one should have to be worried that toxic chemicals might be seeping into their body as a result. Never fear -- safe options are still here!

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Igniting the Fire of Discourse

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Op-Ed

[the] 451

A Historical Lesson: Why We Should Worry About Haiti‘s Rebuilding Process Michael Neil

michael@fourfiftyone.org With the news that over one million Haitians remain homeless and that efforts are shifting away from the construction of permanent housing in favor of do-ityourself wooden and, occasionally, steel structures, concern over the future of Haiti‘s rebuilding process abounds. Even the International Organization for Migration sees few permanent structures emerging in less than five years, according to the February 3 edition of the New York Times. This worry remains despite volunteer and donation responses, as well as government promises (which might be hollow during a global recession). What is the United States to do? Many Haitians and Americans fear that the answer is, as has been shown in other sectors, outsource to private companies. Are these the paranoid fears of leftist bloggers and academicians, or can history provide clues on why such concerns might be legitimate? I would like to suggest the latter.

American foreign policy is wrought with „stabilizations“, „invasions“, „peacekeeping missions“ and assorted gallivanting, for good or ill, across the world from Iraq to Iran to the Congo, and, especially nations in our own hemisphere such as Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Grenada, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and many others. Ever since the Monroe Doctrine, the United States has convinced itself that it has the authority and legitimacy to act as the sole arbiter of policy and international affairs within the Western Hemisphere. While it may be that some good came of some of these adventures, I would like to frame current concerns about Haiti around a nineteen year military occupation dating from 19151934 that modestly modernized the nation but at the cost of popular will and democracy, especially causing devastation to Haiti‘s nonmulatto poor.

In February 1915, then-President Jean Vilbrun Guillaume Sam established a dictatorship in Haiti, but in July, facing a peasant revolt, he massacred 167 political prisoners, and was murdered as a result. Fearing further instability as the last five years had brought six different Presidents into power, but more concerned about American business interests (especially the Haitian-American Sugar Company), President Woodrow Wilson went on alert. Afraid of losing market share to the small but powerful German community, and even more afraid that the anti-American Rosalvo Bobo, who had attracted a great deal of support from poor peasants, would accede to the Presidency, the United States moved swiftly. According to authors Brian Weinstein and Aaron Segal, with the arrival of 330 marines, American economic security as well as dominance over Haitian affairs was assured.

They report: The specific order from the Secretary of the Navy to the invasion commander, Admiral William Deville Bundy, was to „protect American and foreign“ interests. However, to avoid public criticism the occupation was labeled as a mission to “re-establish peace and order...[and] has nothing to do with any diplomatic negotiations of the past or the future” as disclosed by Rear Admiral Caperton.“ By mid-November 1915, the last peasant stronghold had fallen.

The Haitian government had received large loans from American and French banks over the preceding decades and was growing increasingly incapable of fulfilling debt repayment. Within six weeks of the occupation, representatives from the United States controlled Haitian customs houses and institutions such as banks and the national treasury. Through manipulation, 40% of the national income went Igniting the Fire of Discourse

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to alleviating debt repayment to American and French banks. This economic decision ignored the interests of the majority of the Haitian population. For the next nineteen years, United States advisers governed the country, enforced by the United States Marine Corps.

Representatives wielded veto power over all governmental decisions, and Marine Corps commanders served as administrators. Opposition to the occupation began immediately after the Marines entered.

The rebels vehemently resisted American control. In response, the Haitian and American governments began a vigorous campaign to disband the rebel armies.

Phillip Sudre Dartiguenave, the president of the Senate, agreed to ac-

A Red Cross Worker at a tent site in Leogane, a one-hour drive out of Port-au-Prince

cept the presidency and, in 1917, he dissolved the legislature after its members refused to approve a new American-written constitution.

However, a referendum subsequently approved it in 1918. Though generally a liberal document, it allowed foreigners to purchase land, which had been disallowed by patriot Jean-Jacques Dessalines and was considered odious by most Haitians.

In 1922, Dartiguenave was replaced by Louis Borno, whose dictatorial rule lasted until 1930. That same year, General John H. Russell Jr. was appointed High Commissioner. The Borno-Russell dictatorship expanded the economy, building over 1,000 miles of road, modernizing facilities, and establishing a public health service. Sugar and cotton became significant exports. However, the Great Depression destroyed even this progress. By 1930, President Hoover became concerned about the occupation, particularly after a December 1929 incident in Les Cayes, where Marines killed ten Haitian peasants.

Although disengagement policies began by 1932 and the last U.S. Marines departed on August 15, 1934, the U.S. retained dominion over Haiti‘s finances until 1947.

Is this a guarantee that American contractors would act similarly if let loose today? Certainly not. Nothing in history is inevitable, but the entwined nature of business and politics in Haitian-American foreign relations ought to give scholars and attentive readers everywhere pause. It is also true that certain gains arose from the American effort and some Haitians see the period as one of unusual stability. Nevertheless, according to International Studies PhD, Figaro Joseph, both Haiti‘s poor and intellectuals are frightened by the prospect American rebuilding.

Profile

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5 Questions With a DU Alum Zoee Turill

zturrill@environmentmontana.org We had the chance to talk with Zoee Turill, a recent DU Alum who graduated last year (2009). Here is what she had to say: 1. So, the economy is shit and everyone is telling students to stay in school. You graduated in the midst of all of this. How nervous were you and how did you land a job?

I was really nervous when I hit spring quarter and didn't have a job yet; suddenly a quarter seems extremely short with the real world looming. I really wanted to be doing something that would be personally fulfilling, help others, and help me build skills for the rest of my life.

My best advice to any senior: figure out what you need out of a job to be happy (a big salary? A sense of doing good? A window in your office?), start looking early, go to the Career Fair, wear a suit, and bring resumes everywhere you go.

2. Tell us more about the new job. What do you do everyday? Does your office have a

window?

Well, my office doesn’t have a window, but I am excited to have an office at all! For the first month of my job I was working out of coffee shops, which can be fun, but now I am addicted to caffeine.

What do I do? Well, the Fellowship program I am in aims to train recent college graduates how to do everything an organizer might need to do; things like media work, lobbying, canvassing, grant-writing, and education. My first week of work, I organized a press conference with local energy efficient builders and architects. I also worked building a coalition of wind energy companies, and spoke with Montana’s senators about the importance of clean, renewable energy. It’s a pretty cool feeling when you realize all you can accomplish, and how many people you can help with some hard work and determination.

3. How well did DU prepare you? And be honest; we want the good and the bad.

For me, the best thing about DU is the countless opportunities to get involved and take leadership positions. My classes where engaging and interesting. At a school like DU, those who take the initiative to step up will get a lot out of their experience. Like

anything else, you get out what you put in.

I poured a lot of time into changing DU, and was able to have a big impact with things like the Bike Sharing Kiosks that are now on campus.

4. Where are you going from here?

I don’t think I will be an organizer forever, but the skills I have learned even in the first six months will allow me to work in any non-profit or advocacy organization I choose. It comes down to where my passions lie and where I can have the biggest impact. I love working on environmental issues, for example, but I would also love to be working on clean water access in third world countries. Besides, I have a travel bug after living abroad in college, so from here I want to move to a place with less English.

5. So, should I stay in school?

Graduating can be like running into a brick wall: inevitably everyone is watching, it stings a little, and you have no idea what is on the other side. Staying in school is a great way to keep from dealing with the economy, figuring out your life, and not having to leave the comfort of academia, but aren’t you a little curious of what is on the other side of the wall?

GOT A CAUSE AND NO CASH? Low & No Budget 3 to 5 Minute Documentary Videos Produced and Uploaded to YouTube Contact:

venividi_dv@yahoo.com

http://fourfiftyone.org

Igniting the Fire of Discourse

[the] 451

the [very] back page

16

Things to Check Out

Wed, 02/24

Fri, 03/05

Fierce Light: When Spirit Meets Action, Same Cafe,

Gregory Alan Isakov, Fox Theater, 8:30pm, $16

7pm, suggested $5 donation

Sun, 03/07

Thu, 02/25

New Found Glory w/ Saves the Day and Hellogoodbye,

Alkaline Trio w/ Cursive, The Dear and Departed,

Gothic Theater, 7:30pm, $20

Gothic Theater, 8pm

Wed, 03/10

Wounded: A film on soldiers, Mercury Cafe, 7pm, sug-

House of Numbers: An Eye Opening Film On HIV AIDS

gested $5 donation

Mayan Theather, 7:30pm, $10

Fri, 2/26

Thu, 03/11

A Capella for UNICEF in Haiti, 8-10pm,

Ian Cooke and Tyler Ludwick, Hi-Dive, 9pm, $8, 21+

Davis Auditorium, Tickets: $5, buy on Driscoll bridge

Fri, 03/12

Fri, 02/26

Flobots and Air Dubai, Ogden Theater, 9pm, $22

Sci-Fi Movie Madness, Oriental Theater, 8pm, $5

Sat, 03/13

Sun, 02/28

Pretty Lights, Ogden Theater, 10pm, $25

Swollen Members , Marquis Theatre, 8pm, $15

Tue, 03/16

Sun, 02/28

Band of Horses, Ogden Theater, 8pm, $26.50

Center for Judaic Studies‘ Hamentash - Latke Debate @

Fri, 03/19

Buntport Theater (http://www.buntport.com/reserva-

Vampire Weekend, Ogden Theater, 9pm, $26.50

tions/reservations.php), 7:30pm, $5-$7

Fri, 3/26

Tue, 03/02

15th Annual DU Women‘s Conference, 11:00a-4:30p, Dris-

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club w/ The Whigs,

coll Student Center register at www.du.edu/duwomen

Gothic Theater, 8:30pm, $18.50

Fri, 4/30

Thu, 03/04

Ninth Annual DU Diversity Summit: Inclusive Excellence

Banff Mountain Film Festival,

Creating Inclusive Environments, 8:00am-5:00pm

Paramount Theater, 7pm, $15

goin‘ steady Mercury Cafe Poetry Slam, Sundays, 8pm, $5 Hooked on Colfax Open Mic, Mondays, 8pm Slam Nuba Open Mic, Crossroads Theater, 1st Sunday of Month, 8pm, $5 Cafe Cultura Open Mic, Denver Inner City Parish, 7pm, $3

courtesy of Live Nation

Art Walk, Santa Fe Blvd Art Galleries, First Fridays of every month, 6-9pm Free First Saturdays, Denver Art Museum Penny First Saturdays, Denver Museum of Contemporary Art