Opinion
Issue 15
September 26, 2018 Page 11
Leaping Bunny Approved By KALLIE FLEMING A&E Editor
When you go to the store to buy shampoo or toothpaste, you probably don’t put much thought into how it was made and tested. The sad truth is that the majority of the toiletries and cosmetic products on the market are still tested on animals. These tests leave animals with chemical burns and deformities and this suffering is so often overlooked and cast aside. I have been a vegetarian for six years now and consider myself an outspoken animal rights activist. While giving up meat is a big sacrifice to make, there are other
ways to make a difference in the case for animal rights. A simple way to make a difference is to start buying cruelty free products. I can assure you that every product that you use now has a cruelty free alternative. It is easy to make the switch to animal friendly products when you know how greatly the animals in testing labs suffer. The animals often have chemicals and cosmetic products applied to their skin (after being shaved or stripped of feathers) or applied directly to their eyes (humanesociety. org). The labs look for negative reactions to decide if the products are safe to sell to the general public. The most common animals
used for testing are rabbits, mice and birds. While some animals (such as dogs, monkeys and horses) are protected under the Animal Welfare Act, animals including birds, mice, livestock and “farm animals” are not protected (gpo.gov). This means that these animals are not guaranteed humane treatment and proper care. Statistics show that around 115 million animals a year are used for testing and the United States is the country that conducts the most animal testing. These animals are bred in laboratories, are tested on their whole lives and then are killed and thrown out with the trash (crueltyfreeinternational.org). Why is it acceptable to treat sentient beings as disposable
resources for our benefit? Another thing to consider is what companies are putting in their products that require safety testing. Do you want to use potentially harmful chemicals on your body? Many of the cruelty free and vegan products are also made with all natural, organic ingredients, so you can be reassured that you are treating your body right! Some of the most popular brands that still conduct animal testing are Dove, CoverGirl, Maybelline, L’Oreal, Johnson & Johnson, Colgate, Procter & Gamble, O.P.I., Old Spice, Axe and – unfortunately – many more. All products that are cruelty free will be clearly marked on the packaging. A fun alternative to buying
products tested on animals is making your own toiletries and beauty products! I have made my own toothpaste, coffee scrub and exfoliant and lip scrub! If you aren’t interested in making your own products, I would recommend looking for these brands: Burt’s Bees, Toms, Dr. Bronner’s Castille Soap (you can use this as body wash, laundry detergent and multi-purpose cleaner), Aveda, Lush, Tarte, Elf, Method and Mrs. Meyer’s. You can start saving animals today! There is hope in action and there are so many cruelty free companies to support. If you want to make the switch, I would be more than happy to give you some more product recommendations!
Nostalgically Excited for this year’s Songfest By RACHEL CHEATHAM Editor-in-Chief Songfest is one of the few events where the amount of glitter glued onto my face is greater than the amount of sleep I get for the week. It’s where my parents can relive my dance recital days from when I was younger. Songfest is a cocktail of adrenaline, stress, glitter, humor, and excitement for Alum Brunch the following morning. I love it. I wouldn’t give up the hours practicing dance moves that’ll stay in my head months later for anything.
The soundtrack to my undergraduate career is filled with Cheetah Girls, the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and so many other wonderful songs. How could I not love an event that checked off one of my unlikely bucket list items? When am I ever going to have the opportunity to rap in front of an audience again? Did I rap well? Highly questionable, I won’t lie. But my parents’ face of utter surprise was worth all the work I did for those thirty glorious seconds. Senior year has already been marked by many wonderful moments. Sure, there’s stress. And, yes, I’d trade all the money left on my G-card if
it meant I could take a sizable nap. But, after this year, when will I be able to dance, sing and laugh with my sorority sisters? Realistically, it won’t be like this ever again. I’ll miss the late night runs to Taco Bell after dress rehearsal. I tear up when I think about next year, how I’ll be able to eat bagels during Alum Brunch. The joy of Songfest isn’t due to its laidback nature. Blood, sweat and tears go into every skit, every year. The joy I experience is that for a couple of nights, the only thing expected of me is dancing with a smile. I don’t have to know
what’s coming after graduation, because I only have to know what’s happening during the next eight minutes. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how bad my dancing is. It doesn’t matter if I remember all the cues. My parents will be proud of me either way. In fact, this year, they’re sitting in the third row; because, if I’m being completely honest, I’m as excited for them to watch me perform for the last time as they are. Without a doubt, my dad will video the entire performance on his phone, and my mother will be taking pictures. Then, they’ll both share them in the family group chat with my brother
and sister-in-law. I love that they’re proud enough of my fifteen second dance routine to document it for the future, and for others. This Songfest will be a memorable chapter in the closing book of my undergraduate career. I’m doing my best to be thankful for every moment. I acknowledge that it is because of my fantastic Songfest leaders that this memory is so wonderful. I have had the time of my life dancing with my sisters, and helping make this year’s costumes. When I look back at Songfest, I’ll have no regrets, nothing I wish I could have changed.
