Volume 126, No. 99 March 8, 2017

Volume 126, No. 99

Wednesday, March 8, 2017 OPINION

Virginity is a social construct PAGE 6

SPORTS

Women advance to semifinals PAGE 10

Madison Tolan, a Fourth Year at CSU studying Biomedical Sciences, Alide Berndzen, a post graudate from Berlin, and Haley Dallas, a Junior at CSU studying Natural Resource Management, show their opposition to the Sit- Lie Ban at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 3.

PHOTO BY JULIA TROWBRIDGE COLLEGIAN

Fort Collins City Council votes to amend proposed sit-lie ban

By Rachel Telljohn @racheltelljohn

As Jennifer Reistch, a member of the Fort Collins Homeless Coalition, spoke to Fort Collins City Council Tuesday night, she asked a question: “I see you, do you see me?�

Reistch was one of dozens of community members who spoke out against a proposed ordinance which many are labeling a sit-lie ban. After over two hours of feedback and discussion, council motioned to amend the ordinance.

The proposed ordinance would prohibit individuals from

sitting or lying on public sidewalks, leaving personal property unattended, having attended personal property which exceeds more than what one can carry and reclining or lying on benches in the downtown Fort Collins area.

Members of the Fort Collins Homeless Coalition arrived ear-

ly to the meeting to sit outside of city hall with signs, similar to those held during a snowy sit-in.

City officials like Jeff Mihelich have said the ordinance is not a sit-lie ban because it only prohibits lying from the hours of 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. and it does not see COUNCIL on page 4 >>

A&C

New movie has CSU connection PAGE 11

2

COLLEGIAN.COM Wednesday, March 8, 2017

FORT COLLINS FOCUS

Audrey Ancell takes a run on the Poudre Trail off of Traft Hill during a warm March sunset. PHOTO BY KAITLYN ANCELL COLLEGIAN

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EDITORIAL STAFF | 970-491-7513

This publication is not an official publication of Colorado State University, but is published by an independent corporation using the name ‘The Rocky Mountain Collegian’ pursuant to a license granted by CSU. The Rocky Mountain Collegian is a 6,500-circulation student-run newspaper intended as a public forum. It publishes four days a week during the regular fall and spring semesters. During the last eight weeks of summer Collegian distribution drops to 3,500 and is published weekly. During the first four weeks of summer the Collegian does not publish.

Corrections may be submitted to the editor in chief and will be printed as necessary on page two. The Collegian is a complimentary publication for the Fort Collins community. The first copy is free. Additional copies are 25 cents each. Letters to the editor should be sent to letters@collegian.com.

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NEWS Wednesday, March 8, 2017

3

CITY

Fort Collins-Loveland labor shortage unlikely to boost high-skilled job market for students

By Sam Aniello @SBAniello

In the past five years 20,000 jobs have been added to the Fort Collins-Loveland area with a shortage of workers to fill them, but this fact may not help soonto-be graduates.

A report written by TIP Strategies of Austin, Texas states that over the next decade an estimated 28,000 openings will need to be filled, coming as a result of 22 percent of the local workforce preparing to retire.

The report states that the situation is challenging for employers because as overqualified workers look for better opportunities, turnover related to underemployment is costly. Therefore some employers may become reluctant to hire over-qualified candidates.

Over the long-term this has the possibility to damage the economic health of Larimer County.

“The restaurant industry provides a first job for many employees and unfortunately comes with a high turnover

rate, which initially means hiring more people than you think you need because some will quit before they finish training,” said Nate Bok, a manager of Zquila Mexican restaurant in southeast Fort Collins. “Good employees are significantly harder to find now than it was several years ago.”

Bok said that, after moving from Old Town, their present location on the southeast side of town has attracted far less students and now caters to a more family-oriented clientele.

Most jobs that contribute to the shortage are low-skilled positions, typically retail or waiter/ waitress types.

The City of Fort Collins reports that only 23 percent of jobs in Larimer county require a bachelor’s degree.

“Given that most of the fastest growing jobs do not require a bachelor’s degree, CSU graduates may be affected in the same way as the general population,” said Barbara Richardson, Senior Associate Director of Assessment and Strategic Initiatives

at the CSU Career Center. “... If students want to stay here, they may take a job for which they’re overqualified.”

The Northern Colorado job market: - 22% of local workforce set to retire -23% of jobs in Larimer County require higher education - 28,000 jobs will need to be filled in the next 10 years

The fastest growing jobs in Larimer County, according to the Fort Collins based Talent 2.0 Regional Workforce Strategy, are food service, retail staff, waiters and waitresses, office clerks and high school teachers.

Conversely, the fastest declining jobs are farmers, ranchers and other agricultural

CAMPUS

Student group builds “debt clock” on Plaza

By Stuart Smith @notstuartsmith

Young Americans for Liberty, a new student group at Colorado State University, built a “debt clock” using a number from www.usdebtclock.org.

According to Andrew Walter, a member of the CSU chapter of Young Americans for Liberty, the clock is meant to bring attention to the issue of U.S debt.

“We’re trying to raise awareness of how big the national debt is and how much it’s increasing and the fact that what we are spending in D.C. is not sustainable,” Walter said. “We’ll go bankrupt if we continue on this path.”

The goal of this, Walter said, is to start the conversation about smaller government, what it means and how the U.S. government can do better.

The event also acted as a kickstart for the group, who are currently working to be approved by SLiCE. Young Americans for Liberty is a national group, started in 2009

CSU students Andrew Walter and Zachary Taylor set up billboards with the national debt number to raise awareness of the national debt in the United States. PHOTO BY JULIA TROWBRIDGE COLLEGIAN

after the presidential campaign of Ron Paul. Walter said there was an active chapter at CSU several years ago, but it disbanded after its leadership graduated. Now the group is being brought back and Walter hopes they will grow to hundreds of members.

Walter said the group has plans for making itself and its purpose known on campus.

“We hope ... to bring speakers onto campus (and) have larger debate-type meetings where people can discuss politics openly,” Walter said.

Zach Taylor, co-president of the CSU chapter of YAL, said one major issue they will fight for is free speech. “(You’ve seen people) at-

tacked on other campuses just for saying their views,” Taylor said. “So we’re really making people aware that’s not okay and that we stand up for people’s right to speak, no matter what it is.”

Other issues that the group will support, Taylor said, are other First Amendment and Second Amendment rights. Taylor also added that the group will advocate for liberty and a small-sized government view on campus.

According to its website the mission of Young Americans for Liberty is to “identify, educate, train and mobilize youth activists committed to ‘winning on principle.’”

Stuart Smith can be reached at news@collegian.com.

managers, computer hardware engineers, bank tellers and electronic equipment assemblers.

According to Colorado State University’s First Destination Report, within the last three years approximately 30 percent of the respondents that gain employment stay in Fort Collins.

“If there is increased job potential, I would definitely consider sticking around Fort Collins,” said Jenn Dorcey, a Computer Science senior from Loveland.

“There’s always a desire to go somewhere new, but if a good job presented itself here not having to relocate would be nice.”

The report also stated that high-skilled occupations have trouble attracting and retaining C-level executives, young professionals and racially/ethnically diverse talent, which seems enticing for soon-to-be college graduates seeking to enter the workforce.

Jensen Morgan, a graduate student in the Greenhouse Gas Management and Accounting program, said that given his specialized degree it is easier to find

work in some states more than others, Colorado being one of them.

The Fort Collins-Loveland region’s senior citizen population will increase more than 26 percent over the next five years based on a large portion of the population being set to retire and with the working age population only increasing by 7 percent, according to the Colorado State Demography Office.

The combined Fort Collins-Loveland population is expected to surpass 360,000 people by 2020, which is currently at 333,600 people, according to the Colorado State Demography office.

As of December 2016 the unemployment rate in Larimer County was 2.3 percent.

“Students who are proactive, identify their interests and skills, reflect on their most important values and know the job market will be well positioned to find opportunities that fit their goals,” Richardson said.

Sam Aniello can be reached at news@collegian.com.

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NEWS Monday, March 6, 2017

CAMPUS

CSU ranked sixth university in the nation for Peace Corps recruitment

By Austin Fleskes Colorado State University recently ranked sixth university in the nation for Peace Corps recruitment and involvement, according to a press release made by the Peace Corps.

According to the CSU Peace Corps website there have been 1,666 alumni who have served for the Peace Corps since its founding in 1961. The university also ranks in the top 15 volunteer producing colleges of all time.

Katie Gardenier, assistant director for academic programs for the CSU Peace Corps, said the Peace Corps is a great place for students to get their first steps into government work as well as become integrated into and learn about a different culture.

“I think the peace corps is a

great opportunity for graduates to learn about another country,” Gardenier said. “I think it’s one of the best ways that someone can integrate into another culture.”

Currently there are 54 CSU students that are serving overseas for the Peace Corps.

An interactive map on the Peace Corps website shows where representatives from CSU are currently serving. The countries range from different Sub-Saharan African nations to the islands around Indonesia.

Octavius Jones, a CSU Peace Corps representative, was once a member and participant in the Peace Corps program, serving in Botswana from 2011-2014 until becoming the CSU Peace Corps representative.

As a representative, Jones is in charge of recruiting CSU students as well as planning meet-

>> COUNCIL from page 1 target the homeless population, but, rather, disruptive behaviors.

“We’ve been extremely careful to make sure this isn’t a sit-lie ban that applies city-wide,” Mileich said, “mainly because it’s a high trafficked area for people to experience commerce.”

Most of the community feedback received Tuesday night was in opposition of the ordinance.

A majority of those who spoke in favor of the ordinance were downtown business owners like Ryan Hodack. Less than ten people spoke in favor of the ordinance.

“I’m glad this ordinance is not against the homeless. (Behavior bans) are appropriate,” Hodack said.

Business owners like Hodack said they stand behind efforts to support the homeless by donating money to the Larimer County Food Bank. The money they donate is generated through Great Plates, hosted at the beginning of March in the downtown area.

Mark Silverstein of the Colorado American Civil Liberties Union was one of those to speak out against the ordinance.

“The last time I came up here to talk to you was when I came up here to sue you all,” Silverstein said. “You should be ashamed of yourselves for even thinking of this.”

Silverstein said the ordinance is poorly written and it is directly targeting homeless people that carry their possessions in a shopping cart.

“When they have to do something in order to survive, you cannot make it illegal,” Silverstein said.”

Colorado State University

students, professors and alumni voiced their opposition.

“I would like to suggest two different solutions. One is just to throw this whole idea away,” said Kwan Atlas, a CSU alumnus running for public office.

Faith community members also expressed opposition to the ordinance and were confused as to why they had not been brought into the conversation more. “(Homeless people) are not the enemy,” said Sister Mary Alice Murphy.

Those who identify as homeless, or who did identify as homeless at some point, shared their stories and opinions.

“I do not believe that the city should be basing ordinances on circumstance. It is unjust,” said Duane Hanson, a CSU alumnus running for City Council.

Hanson said he experienced about 8 months of homelessness and an ordinance like the one proposed might have furthered a downward spiral. Hanson said many who are homeless experience said spiral.

Community members who have lived in Fort Collins for more than a decade spoke.

Shane Miller, a Fort Collins resident, compared the ordinance to using the guillotine to cure a behavior. Miller said it deprives every person of some liberty or freedom.

Some said they would like to see more hard data detailing the complaints business owners have received or are citing. Many expressed concerns around a skewed survey.

City Council discussed the proposed ordinance and asked questions after they were given feedback from the community.

“I don’t think we can pretend that the disruptive behavior seen

@MrPacMan80

ings and workshops for students that are interested in joining the program.

“I have always had dreams of traveling abroad and of being part of a global community,” Jones said. He added that being a member of Peace Corps made him realize that he could be a part of a force to make the world a better place, especially as a first generation student who came from a lower socio-economic background.

Jones urges students who are interested in joining to talk to a representative right away, as he believes it is never too early to get involved with the organization.

Jones explained that the Peace Corps experience for each member is very different. Jones said that it is not necessarily just about what you do while in other countries, but rather the rela-

tionships you make overseas.

“Your Peace Corps experience will be quite individual.

The goal of Peace Corps is about relationship building,” Jones said.

Jones said that in the time we are living there is a much larger global community than some may know and that to understand it better people need to understand their culture and lifestyle by building relationships.

If students are interested in joining the Peace Corps, they can visit the the Peace Corps website to learn more about what they can do to join the organization on campus.

CSU Peace Corps will be putting on two different general informational meetings in the coming months if students are interested.

The first meeting will be

held on March 28 from 5 -7 p.m. in the Lory Student Center in rooms 308-310. The second and final meeting for the semester will be held on April 20 from 2 -4 p.m. in the LSC room 322.

Students can also visit the official Peace Corps website to get more information regarding how to get involved.

Jones believes the numbers have been rising for recruitment due to changes in diversity in the world.

“I think partly attributed to the increase in numbers is recognizing the significance of having the diversity of America be represented within Peace Corps,” Jones said. “It’s imperative that all of us, as the American community, participate in showing that everywhere is diverse now.”

Austin Fleskes can be reached at news@collegian.com.

Cheryl Disfaso is a member of the Fort Collins Homeless Coalition and believes that the “Sit- Lie Ban” is targeting the homeless in Fort Collins. Disfaso, along with other members of the Homeless Coalition, showed up to the City Council meeting to make their voices be heard on the matter of the Sit- Lie Ban. PHOTO BY JULIA TROWBRIDGE COLLEGIAN

downtown is being imagined by anybody,” said council member Gino Campana. “I sure would like to talk to ACLU at this point, rather than a later point.”

Campana motioned to pass the ordinance as is, but to strike two portions of the ordinance.

The portion of the ordinance which would prohibit sitting or lying from the hours of 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. and the portion of the ordinance which would put restrictions on attended personal property.

Council member Ross Cunniff wanted to remove the part about sitting or lying within 20 feet of transit centers.

“It’s important to us to get this right,” said council member

The City Council board members gather for a meeting on Tuesday, March 3. PHOTO BY JULIA TROWBRIDGE COLLEGIAN

Kristin Stephens.

Mayor Wade Troxell said he is concerned the city will receive complaints in the coming months as the weather warms up.

The amended proposed ordinance will go before council for its second reading on March 21 and council will reconsider.

Rachel Telljohn can be reached at news@collegian.com.

NEWS Wednesday, March 8, 2017

5

NATION

Hawaii says it will sue over Trump’s new travel ban

By Jaweed Kaleem Los Angeles Times

The state of Hawaii said in a court filing Tuesday that it intends to file a legal challenge to President Donald Trump’s revamped executive order pausing refugee resettlement and immigration from six majority-Muslim countries.

In a court filing in the state, Hawaii Attorney General Douglas Chin asks the court to approve a swift briefing schedule on the state’s intended request for a temporary restraining order blocking

the new travel ban before it takes effect on March 16.

The state said it would file a new complaint to supplement its initial challenge to an earlier, more comprehensive travel ban issued by the Trump administration in January.

The intent of both travel orders, Trump administration officials say, is to screen out visitors from countries affected by terrorism until more stringent vetting measures can be put into place.

In its suit over the earlier

travel order, Hawaii had argued that it adversely impacted its residents, businesses and universities and was in violation of the Constitution. The state argued that the executive order discriminated against Muslims and violated the equal protection and due process guarantees of the Constitution.

That suit was filed Feb. 3 and was paused after a federal judge in Seattle blocked implementation of the order nationwide.

Lawyers from Washington state who brought the Seattle

case said Monday that they had not decided if they would sue over the new travel rules.

It’s unclear what arguments that Hawaii intends to make against the new ban, which has been stripped of many provisions that federal judges across the country found troublesome.

Trump’s new order does not give preference to religious minorities in refugee admissions.

It exempts several categories of people from its restrictions, including dual nationals who have U.S. citizenship, green-card hold-

ers and people who already hold valid visas.

Legal experts have said the new travel ban, which applies to citizens of Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Libya, Syria and Yemen — it does not include Iraq as the previous order did — will be tougher to battle in court because of the president’s broad authority over immigration enforcement and national security when it comes to non-citizens and those without visas.

Content from Tribune News Service.

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6

OPINION Wednesday, March 8, 2017

SEX COLUMN

The concept of virginity is a harmful social construct Allison Danish @allison_danish

Editor’s Note: The views expressed in the following column are those of the writer only and do not necessarily represent the views of the Collegian or its editorial board.

Purity rings, purity balls, a white wedding dress.

These symbols of virginity and sexual purity are pervasive in the United States and continue to be perpetuated and protected across generations.

But what is virginity anyway?

And why do we care so much?

Virginity is typically seen as a finite resource that each person is born with and can only spend on one person. It’s like if each newborn baby is given a lucky dollar with the words “My Virginity” written on it in permanent marker. That lucky dollar can only be given to one other person, and then it’s taken out of circulation and incinerated. No refunds, no returns, no take-backsies. And this lucky dollar seems to be more important for baby girls to hold onto than baby boys. For some reason, her dollar is worth more.

As a disclaimer, I don’t believe that waiting to have sex for personal or religious reasons is “wrong.” I just believe that virginity needs to be scrutinized rather than blindly accepted as truth.

Virginity is a powerful, often uncriticized concept that shames women and applauds men for having sex. This can be seen when describing so-called promiscuity in the English lan-

guage. Women are called sluts and whores for having “more sex than they should” and men are called studs and lady-killers, man-whores at the very most.

However, the words we use for sexually active men just don’t pack the same punch. Oftentimes, they celebrate male sexual prowess rather than demonize it. Women, on the other hand, are only given negative sexual descriptors; no one calls women lady-studs or man-killers. She’s a bitch, she’s a man-eater, she’s a temptress.

If virginity is so inherently significant to humans, then why are men and women’s virginities given differential values?

So, without further ado, here’s how I know (for myself) that virginity is the Heffalump of human sexuality: it’s straight-up fiction.

Virginity is sexist: As described above, virginity is a concept that impacts women more heavily than it does men. This has historical roots in virginity testing in Europe. Female royalty had to submit to virginity tests in order to assure paternity to their male counterparts. Men, however, had to undergo no such tests because his virginity was inconsequential.

Virginity has its historical roots in the heterosexist, patriarchal European practice of lineage. Because, as mothers, women have “ownership” of children., men sought to secure children as men’s property. Women first took the man’s name and, second, were submitted to virginity tests to ensure that any and all offspring were of the husband’s.

In this way virginity was less about maintaining purity because purity is “good,” and was more about placing women and their offspring under the control of men. This still remains today in more covert and social-

Having to tell your kids when you’re older the songs we listened to back in the day. #Embarrassed

NOPE DOPE

Having to be your own hype-man.

Those Sprite commercials on Facebook.

When your spring break plans get cancelled but everyone keeps asking what’s up with your spring break.

Sorority formal.

ly acceptable ways. Rather than requiring unethical (and often unreliable) virginity testing, virginity is enforced through shaming women for having sex and coercing them to wait until marriage. It is still common practice to take the man’s name upon marriage, ensuring all offspring are literally labeled as the man’s.

Does a piece of gum have the power to utterly change me when it enters my mouth? No, not unless it’s really good gum.

Virginity is a heteronormative concept: Virginity operates under the notion that a penis has the power to fundamentally change a woman when it enters her vagina. Objectively, this is a very strange statement. Does a piece of gum have the power to utterly change me when it enters my mouth? No, not unless it’s really good gum. Why are genitals so important anyway? Sure, they can make babies, but using your mouth and gut to digest food and create energy is also important in carrying on the human race.

Virginity is arbitrary and relies on people to continue to believe that a penis plus a vagina equals a loss of innocence, sin, the promise of children or the consummation of marriage.

Virginity is a matter of the meanings we ascribe to the act, not the act itself.

This idea also erases minori-

It should be 70 degrees from here on out this week.

Quitting your sorority position. #Relieved

Getting invited to Vegas randomly.

Starting spring break early because you don’t have classes/aren’t going to classes.

Fraternity formal.

ty sexual and gender identities. If a penis is necessary for the loss of virginity, then are lesbians virgins forever? Are they “Godlier” because they don’t have a penis up in their business?

Virginity is solely centered around straight men and women, and in this way it is utterly transparent; sexual purity operates solely as a means to control sexuality, particularly women’s sexuality, and therefore her freedom.

Is “sexual purity” or waiting for marriage even a good thing? Nuns have been shown to have higher rates of breast cancer because they never have sex, and thusly never have children or breastfed.

Waiting until marriage to have sex can also be detrimental for women’s attitudes towards marital sex. Once sex has been seen as shameful and sinful for so long, sex, even within marriage, it is still a source of immense shame for a lot of women.

If maintaining sexual purity can have adverse effects on both physical and psychological health, then virginity is not actually empirically valuable.

I think that there is a lot to be gained from sexual activity,

much more than shame. I argue that sex is about the numerous interpersonal and health benefits or getting a couple of cool kiddos out the deal if you’re into that thing.

People have ascribed significance to sex for ages. It’s human nature to create meaning from the seemingly meaningless; we search for purpose. There is nothing wrong with having many partners, waiting for just one or having none at all. However, I propose we cut out this virginity bullshit.

Virginity is coded in certain ways that perpetuate heterosexism and make sex shameful. I believe that “the first time” is special and important, but it doesn’t signify a reduction in human value or a loss of innocence. I propose that we move away from purity language and towards a new word/phrase and a new consciousness. Perhaps sexual debut is a more appropriate term.

However long you wait and with however many people you do it with, all that matters is that sex is had safely, comfortably and consensually.

Allison Danish can be reached at letters@collegian.com.

The Rocky Mountain Collegian | Wednesday, March 8, 2017

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7

OPINION Wednesday, March 8, 2017

COLLEGIAN COLUMNISTS

Jeff Sessions is about as bad as you might have expected Alexandra Stettner @alexstetts

Editor’s Note: The views expressed in the following column are those of the writer only and do not necessarily represent the views of the Collegian or its editorial board.

As we start to get to know the Trump administration a bit better, now at just a month and a half in things are starting to fall apart.

Between the absurd claims of wiretapping by the Obama administration (which was said so confidently, yet with no evidence) to the continued concern over executive members connection to Russia, it appears there is a thorough sense of confusion and inconsistency in the White House and other agencies. The departure of Michael

Flynn (an equally bizarre event) was an early sign of the trouble to come to the Trump administration in regards to Russia.

One of these extraordinary events has been the recent drama with recently appointed Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Sessions has been a controversial character from the start, leading this to become a highly contested issue.

The problem lies in a statement he made during his Senate confirmation hearing. After being asked what he would do if he found evidence of anyone affiliated with the Russian government communicating with members of the Trump campaign, Sessions responded that he was unaware of any communications and did not have any himself.

Now that certain information has been revealed, we know now that Sessions did indeed meet with Russian representatives. In classic politician fashion, Sessions is trying to spin this event, or responsibility, as

being a part of his work as a senator.

There is some evidence of this, especially of other senators mixing with other foreign dignitaries, but the question remains, why did he lie? Or if anything, frame his answer the way he did? If he misunderstood the questions, why did he not clarify it, especially with such a pertinent issue in American politics at the moment?

Sessions recused himself from any investigations involving Russia and the Trump administration, which was absolutely necessary, but if that means his personal ties to this controversial issue are too great, are there bigger problems that are being hidden? Whether Sessions completely perjured himself is unknown, but events that have transpired call for Sessions to further go into detail about his relationship with the Russian ambassador.

This is incredibly unique for American politics. The daily updates of crazy news and new

controversies coming out of the White House is exhausting and hard to keep up with. Under any other administration the amount of controversy taking place would simply not be tolerated.

Some may argue that it doesn’t matter what controversy we have in government, only that it is important that things are changing. This widely held view that our government and members of government need to be overhauled and are inherently corrupt was made clear during election season by the public, so perhaps this is just a way of getting there. I don’t believe this is a viable option to reach that goal.

Members of the executive branch are clearly positioned in a moral gray area with their previous connections. Betsy DeVos and her obscenely large campaign contributions to senators that eventually voted for her confirmation, such as Colorado’s own Cory Gardner. Rex Tillerson and his international

business connections. Michael Flynn, Jeff Sessions and Donald Trump’s connection to Russian politicians. These private relationships coming from public figures is incredibly disturbing and is something should be crystal clear to the public.

Transparency is what the movement for a better government this past election cycle was all about. This is so clearly the opposite. I worry that if the concerns over these business and political connections and interests are not investigated, the American people will be hijacked into supporting the financial and political elite further into their endeavors. Just as there is no way to know currently if they are all lying, there is no way to know that they are telling the truth without further investigations and continuing to encourage checks and balances.

If those fail, this is not the America I was taught.

Alexandra Stettner can be reached at letters@collegian. com.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

A day without women is pointless and ridiculous

By Emily Faulkner Letter to the Editor

Editor’s Note: The views expressed in the following letter are those of the writer only and do not necessarily represent the views of the Collegian or its editorial board.

Just when you thought there couldn’t possibly be another nauseating protest led by misguided liberals, feminists around the USA surprise us all with the “A Day Without A Woman” demonstration. Yes that is right; feminists are going to take a day off of work to show the world that without women, this world would come crumbling down. I find it funny though, that every day out of the year feminists want to be just like men and will lose their minds if they aren’t equal to men in every aspect (yes, this includes having the option to not shave their armpits without being stigmatized). Yet, these “women” now want a

day dedicated to them to show the world just how outstanding they are how essential they are to the workforce.

This is all based on the myth that women get paid less than men for doing the same job. But according to facts (yes, facts not feelings) the gender wage gap is a load of crap. Let me explain; Feminists make bogus claims that a woman gets paid .77 cents per dollar that a man makes. First off, where does this number come from?

It comes from dividing the median earnings of all full-time working women over that of men. But what this calculation doesn’t do is include the actual job, position in the job, hours worked every week or educational background (Sommers, 2017).

Once the choices that men and women make are actually accounted for the “wage gap” drops to 6.6 cents according to the American Association of University Women (which, shocker, is a feminist organiza-

Best-paying majors: 1- Petroleum Engineering: 87% male 2- Pharmaceutical Sciences: 48% male 3- Mathematics and Computer Science: 67% male 4- Aerospace Engineering: 88% male 5- Chemical Engineering: 72% male

Worst-paying majors: 1- Counseling and Psychology: 74% female 2- Early Childhood Education: 97% female 3- Theology and Religious Vocations: 66% male 4- Human Services and Community Organization: 81% female 5- Social Work: 88% female

tion).

According to a list assembled by Georgetown University 4 out of 5 of the best paying majors are occupied by mostly men and 4 of the 5 lowest paying majors are occupied by none other than women.

So in case anyone is unaware of how college works, each individual chooses which major and career path they pursue, fully aware of average incomes of each profession. No one forces a student to study counseling over petroleum engineering. It is pretty obvious that the lefty feminists are really bad at telling the truth concerning women in the work place and further promoting their man-hating agenda.

Now that we have established that this “A Day Without Women” demonstration is utterly pointless because it is protesting something that does not exist, I want to ask a pressing question: Does this protest allow those who identify as women to take the day

off of work and stand in solidarity for a made up problem?

If not, then they are being really exclusive.

Additionally, take a second to think about how privileged women are to even be able to take a day off. When the day without immigrants took place, tons of people were fired. Life for women is so good here that women across the country can just not do their jobs and get supported for doing it.

Women are marching across the country in order to be respected. However, they are doing something completely disrespectful to the rest of society. How is doing something disrespectful going to earn them respect?

As a final thought, I propose “A Day Without A Man” demonstration so we can even the playing field. Can you imagine how crazy that would make the feminists?

Letters can be sent to letters@collegian.com.

The Rocky Mountain Collegian | Wednesday, March 8, 2017

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