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the Racquette
College Life
Feb. 26, 2016
Tattoos in the Professional World: What’s the New Standard? Olivia Broersma Staff Writer
Tattooing has been a part of human traditions across the world for centuries. In the past and present, tattoos act as healing remedies, inclusion methods, status symbols, or simply as works of personalized art. In fact, many cultures encourage tattooing and see tattoos as works of great beauty and power. In the USA, tattoos were traditionally for “rebels” and not for career-minded individuals. However, that preconception is changing rapidly in our country with a wider range of individuals getting a wider range of designs permanently placed on their bodies. While, tattooing is a booming practice, is still a disconnect between tattoos and employment opportunities. The corporate, working world still seems to be prejudice against employees with visible tattoos. In fact, Business Etiquette for Dummies states that tattoos should be kept hidden during the work day in the office. In most business settings, tattoos are acceptable if they can be covered. However, in more creative environments and workplaces, tattoos may not be a problem at all. US News states that it is im-
portant to consider the industry in which you are entering in regards to the type and placement of a tattoo. Interviewers need to consider how tattoos may be perceived by clients that a tattooed employee may interact with. At the risk of offending a client or losing business, interviewers may choose the individual with no tattoos or tattoos that can be hidden. “In particular, the one [tattoo] that I got that comes down almost to my wrist, that was kind of an act of defiance,” said Matt LaVine, adjunct professor of the Department of Philosophy. “That was me saying, ‘I really don’t want to be part of any industry that won’t have me simply because I want to express myself in a particular way.’ I think there’s something pretty seriously messed up about people thinking it’s okay to discriminate against people with tattoos. It’s part of a larger issue of discriminating against people for visual reasons.” According to a 2015 research poll conducted by the Statistic Brain Research Institute, 14 percent of the entire American population has at least one tattoo. Additionally, 36 percent of U.S. adults between the ages of 18 to 25 have at least one tattoo. While in the past, tattoos may have been rare, they are now quite com-
mon. The tattoo industry has only grown over the years and now it’s estimated that American citizens spend about $1,650,500,000 on tattoos annually, despite the controversy over tattoos’ acceptance. American pop culture fawns over tattoos, whether it be for their amazing artistic design or the complete lack of judgement behind them. Shows like “Best Ink,” “America’s Worst Tattoos” and “Ink Master” that flood television and social media idolize pictures of celebrities such as Rihanna, David Beckham, Ed Sheeran and Angelina Jolie for their numerous unique tattoos. Shirts sporting sayings such as “Tattooed and Employed” are seen in stores and it is not uncommon for a user’s Instagram to be flooded with selfies of “new ink.” As America moves into a new age of liberalism and away from its traditional, conservative roots, new ideas, practices and norms are moving to the forefront. American pop culture is increasingly swaying toward acceptance and advocacy toward visual selfexpression, including tattooing. “We’re becoming more of a society of self-expression and acceptance,” said student Kevin Usner. “So, I feel like more and more people are coming up with that kind of mindset. They’re being
brought up with that kind of mindset, I’d like to hope.” American society and culture is constructed around the idea and praise of the “individual.” People are encouraged to embrace what makes them unique and hold that as a symbol of pride in their daily lives. Here in America, no two people are the same; every story is different. Now, more individuals have the freedom to increase or display their uniqueness through tattooing. Social stigmas have relaxed and stereotypes are beginning to fade around those who have tattoos. People can openly record important life events, display their loyalties and illustrate their adorations all though permanent ink. “If I were to put a tattoo on my body and have it be there for the rest of my life, I would want it to carry significance and personal meaning,” Usner said. “So that every time you see it, you’re reminded of that important factor of your life, whatever it may be.” Tattoos seem to be breaking through all kinds of glass ceilings, but potential employees and employers still worry. Although American culture may promote
individuality, American business still very much promote the idea of a strong collective. Businesses promote a specific, united brand and need their employees to align with that specific idea. Regardless of where US culture is now in 2016, some stereotypes against tattoos still exist from past eras. A dichotomy exists in the world, and workers are forced to walk a narrow line of restricted selfexpression in many cases. The tides may be changing for the upcoming workforces. With tattooes becoming more popular and many people have them, employers may have no choice but to hire interviewees with tattoos, LaVine said. While the individual should still consider the subject matter of a potential tattoo, there may be an ever growing lenience toward tattooed employees and their rights toward expression in the future. “I always thought it was really bizarre that people said things like, ‘Well, tattoos are forever,’” LaVine said. “Everything you’ve ever done is forever. I’ve never regretted the fact that I’ve got a tattoo. They’re sort of like book jackets for different parts of my life.”
The Origin of Pizza
Wheat crust or gluten-free, mozzarella or goat cheese, hand-tossed, thin or Chicago-style, pizza makes a perfect Saturday evening dinner after a hard week of classes. It has, in many ways, become the quintessential ‘college’ meal-- many a college student has had their ears perk up at the mention of free pizza at a club mixer or program. It’s hard to believe that this simple menu item has earned a special day all to itself, but, in fact, pizza has a long history, with several sources dating its early versions to the Greek, Roman and even Persian empires. According to the Pizza Facts website, the cooks from Italy were the ones who became most interested in the pies, producing “various pizza products from the ancient times to the middle ages.” Archeologists, the site says, even found “unmistakable signs of the network that supported pizza production” in the city of Pompeii, which was destroyed in 79 A.D. by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Popular legend claims that one of the varieties we know today originated in Italy in 1889, when the Italian king and queen were staying in Naples. Queen Margherita, so the story goes, had grown tired of the local cuisine and ordered a pizza made only of ingredients whose colors represented the Italian flag: red tomato sauce, white mozzarella and green basil, thus creating the still-popular margherita pizza. However, compelling the tale, Zachary Nowak, the assistant
director of Food Studies at the Umbra Institute in Perugia, Italy, wrote in his December 2012 BBC article that he wasn’t able to verify it, although he tells an interesting story about what was supposed to have been the queen’s thank-you note to the cook, complete with the royal seal. In light of pizza’s current popularity, with all its many varieties, Beth Hoffman, in a 2014 article for the Forbes website, decided to examine the food’s ingredients from an environmental standpoint. The results were sobering. “It takes almost 42 gallons of water to make one single slice of pizza — 18 for the flour, 21 for the cheese and 2.5 for the sauce,” she wrote. Nevertheless, U.S. citizens continue to love their slices. A 2014 study released by the Agricultural Research Service of the USDA examined U.S. pizza consumption between 2007 and 2010. Combined surveys of 17,571 individuals during these years showed that “13% of the U.S. population aged 2 years and over, consumed pizza on any given day.” This included 22 percent of adolescents age 12–19 and 14.5 percent of young adults age 20 – 39. Fortunately for SUNY Potsdam students, local restaurants and PACES food service all offer a number of great options to help fill those pizza cravings. All three major dining halls — Union, Lehman, and Becky’s — offer pizza every day, with cycling specials to add variety to the classic options.