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“Gangubai”: An Ode to Independent Filmmaking
A case study of Sanjay Leela Bansali’s new crime drama.
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The Vindi Staff’s Fall 2022 Playlist
The Vindi staff’s fall faves for your listening pleasure.
Tyler Jeffries
Rising designer from Cleveland State’s Graphic Design Program.
World Cup Fever
A glimpse at the tournament and the interconnectivity of international sports.
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City Is Our Campus: Cleveland Culture on a College Budget Ten entertaining and educational sites to visit for $15 and less.
Cleveland’s Shifting Image
From the ‘Mistake on the Lake’ to ‘believeland.’
New Jail Flushes Contractors with Cash
Poverty-stricken Cuyahoga County gives millions to contractors to plan controversial new jail.
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“Madan Sara”: A Look into the Women who Serve as Haiti’s Backbone Get an in-depth dive into the new film through an interview with co-executive producer Lu Childs.
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What’s Hiding Behind Procrastination? Tips and tricks on how you can overcome procrastination.
The Winter Blues
A look into seasonal depression and the ways to cope with it during the fall and winter months.
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Best Men’s Gifts for 2022
A department store insider’s tips for the minimally sufficient maleoriented gift.
Dear Men, Stop an open letter on how to be better.
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The Season of Giving
An article celebrating the Thanksgiving season by highlighting local and worldwide nonprofits to donate to.
Where the &#@% are the squirrels?! I’m onto you, CSU.
I’ve recently been thinking a lot about those high philosophical values of truth, justice and freedom that always fascinated people like Voltaire, Kant and Socrates — certainly not with as much depth as them, but thinking nonetheless. This time of year, I always do. A tumultuous election lies right around the corner. Moreover, in just a few weeks, we’ll be celebrating a holiday of gratitude and prosperity that is colored with a bloody history of violence against Indigenous Americans. The nuance and weight behind both of these events is certainly enough to keep me thinking through the whole month.
As a magazine, we have a particularly involved relationship with the truth. In the words of Oscar Wilde, “the truth is rarely pure and never simple.” As I read through the pieces we’ve put together this month, I think about his words with a certain sentimentality, observing how so many writers wrestle with expressing their subjective truth:
On page 20, Multimedia Manager Riley Roliff explores the truth behind the new Cuyahoga County jail and interviews local activists opposed to the jail’s construction. Make sure to check out her piece’s companion video online at thevindi.com!
6 in “‘Gangubai’: An Ode to Independent Filmmaking.”
This issue, I also had my own opportunity to learn new truths when I sat down with Lu Childs, co-executive producer of the film “Madan Sara,” to hear about his experience being involved with the film. You can read the full interview on page 22.
Remember to vote this month. Remember to make sure your voice is heard. Ask questions. Make jokes. Spend time with family. Enjoy the fall colors before they leave. Eat good food and take time to embrace gratitude. To do all of this is to live the most important truth — being true to yourself.
Robbins EDITOR IN CHIEF*The content of the Vindicator does not necessarily represent the opinions of Cleveland State University, its students, faculty, or staff: nor does it represent the members of the Vindicator staff or our advisors unless otherwise stated. The editor reserves the right to comment on any issue that affects the student body in general as well as the multicultural community at large. Letters to the editor and other submissions are accepted, however they must have the author’s name, address, major if applicable, and telephone number. All submissions become property of the Vindicator and the Vindicator reserves the right to edit submissions as deemed necessary. Magazine and newspaper theft is a crime; limit one per person.*
WRITTEN BY
Meher Akshay Bundellu
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Bhansali has used the communal trauma of sex workers in India to make Gangubai’s story stronger.
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WRITTEN BY Sophie Farrar DESIGNED BY Katherine Justiniani
Happy November! The Vindi staff hopes you are having a lovely fall semester so far. We also hope you’re looking for some new music! Here is a playlist with some of the songs that the Vindi staff has been digging this fall. Whether you’re looking to get in the spirit of the season or simply groove, this playlist has something for you!
Find The Vindicator on Spotify @vindi_csu or listen to the playlist here:
Hourglass by Catfish and the Bottlem
Where You Lead I Will Follow by Carole Kingan Um, It’s Kind of a Lot by Will Wood
Sitting, Waiting, Wishing by Jack Jackson Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac My Silver Lining by First Aid Kit
All Your’n by Tyler Childers I Put a Spell on You by PattyCake British Bombs by Declan McKenn Man I Used To Be by K-OS
In Our Angelhood by Cocteau TwinsFool by Dji New Gold by Gorillaz (ft. Tame Impala and Bootie Brown) Sugar by Remi Wolf Helmet by Steve Lacy Lark by Angel Olsen Buzzcut Season by Lorde Tokyo Love Hotel by Rina Sawayama
Between designing school projects and designing my own stuff, I’m usually making something almost every day. I probably would be sick of it by now if I wasn’t having so much fun with it. Every time I find a new song I like, I immediately start brainstorming how I’d go about designing some new album art for it. I’m very passionate about my work and I hope that it’s noticeable in the final product.
Most of my work is made up of custom album art based on my favorite music. I also design artwork related to video games, sports and my favorite movies. I do all of this through a design brand I created last summer called Planet 33 (I like space and 33 is the street I grew up on). I document everything I make on instagram — @planet33design — if you want to connect with me on there and see more of my work.
Tear out this page for a free print of my original illustration “Impulse” on the back!
“All of his pieces are very exciting to view. There is a lot going on yet it isn’t chaotic. My eyes can flow through all parts of the piece very seamlessly. I also love how he’s able to tie in typography in a very beautiful way. Such amazing work!”
“He’s grown a lot as an artist in a really short amount of time. The way he uses layering and textures really adds a lot of depth to his work.”
“Tyler has managed to achieve an aesthetic that is vintage snd futeristic with subject matters that are timeless. His taste and talent, his work always stuns.”
If you’re interested in supporting me, I’m currently selling prints of everything you see here and more. You can use the QR code here or tap the link in the bio of my instagram.
A glimpse at the tournament and the interconnectivity of international sports
The world has waited four years. We have endured humanitarian crises — trade wars, a global rise in authoritarianism, historical protests reminiscent of the civil rights era, record-breaking heat waves, wildfires and storms, threats to democracy around the world, a global pandemic — and once again, we are seeing armies march across Europe. With all this doom and gloom, humankind needs a break. We get that break for nearly a month (Nov. 20, 2022Dec. 18, 2023) when the FIFA World Cup kicks off in Qatar! Most soccer fans will remember the excitement around the 2018 World Cup in Russia. From the hype surrounding Belgium to Croatia’s Mario Mandžukić’s own goal in the final against France, 2018 was a tournament to remember.
Commonly known as the world’s most popular sport, soccer has been bringing the world together since FIFA’s inaugural world cup in 1930. During a time of imperialism, economic depression and European and American dominance, the small Latin American nation of Uruguay hosted the tournament in their capital city of Montevideo; instead of their larger, wealthier, European counterparts. The only time the tournament was not held was when the world collapsed into World War II (the 1942 and 1946 World Cups). Throughout the years, political, cultural and racial issues have affected the tournament, but all in all, the FIFA World Cup brings people together from all over the world.
One of the few things that unites humanity is a passion for sports, particularly soccer. Every four years, when the time comes for another victorious team to hoist the trophy … magic happens. We settle our differences not on the battlefield or in the streets but on the pitch. That is why the best to ever do it, Brazilian professional soccer player and minister of sports Pelé, championed the familiar term The Beautiful Game.
Why do international sports bring us together? The answer is simple: these competitions give each of us the opportunity to be proud of where we came from without putting others down. We can be proud Cameroonians, Americans, Belgians and Costa Ricans without the added bigotry and hatred that generally surrounds nationalism. There will always be heated rivalries in the world of international sports but it will always be settled on the field with peace, burning passion, and a sense of global community.
Way back in 2014, Cuban American singer Pitbull had the privilege of creating the official Brazil World Cup Song — “We Are One (Ole Ola).” He put it plainly when he said to “put your flags up in the sky and wave them side to side. Show the world where you’re from; Show the world we are one.” Every four years the world comes together to cheer for their nation on the global stage. It is one of the few moments where the world can claim to be
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Pelé championed the familiar term, The Beautiful Game.
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united in the spirit of competition. We see a similar effect rallying around other international athletic competitions: the Olympics and Olympic family of events, the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and the Rugby World Cup. We all have our differences, but during the World Cup tournament, we all have at least one thing in common: a passion for the Beautiful Game.
How do you as a Cleveland State student show support for your nation and enjoy the upcoming tournament? According to Thrillist.com, the best locations in and around Cleveland to watch the tournament include but are not limited to:
Generally open from 12 p.m.- 2a.m. or 4 p.m.-1 a.m., this old Irish-style tavern has proudly served soccer fans since 2001. They boast, “Good fluid. Good food. Good feel. Good face.” I can personally attest to the quality and atmosphere of the Old Angle. This will be my choice for cheering on Team USA in Qatar!
2022 Fifa World Cup Qatar
Team USA Schedule Group Stage
Monday, Nov. 21
USA Vs. Wales (2pm EST) Friday, Nov. 25 USA Vs. England (2pm EST) Tuesday, Nov. 29 USA Vs. Iran (2pm EST)
Round of 16 Dec. 3 - 6 (TBD)
Quarter-Finals Dec. 9 - 10 (TBD)
Semi-Finals Dec. 13 - 14 (TBD)
The highest Team USA has ever placed in the tournament (1930 World Cup) Dec. 17 (TBD)
Enjoy the tournament, wave your flag high and be safe!
Parnell’s Irish
Downtown Cleveland and Cleveland Heights
Another classic Irish pub with a local twist. Parnell boasts the fact that they try their best to support local Cleveland breweries on top of the stereotypical Irish favorite, Guinness. The Playhouse Square location is typically open seven days a week from 3 p.m.-12 a.m. and its partner location in Cleveland Heights is also open seven days a week from 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Since it’s just a short walk from campus, Parnell’s will be a student body favorite for watching the World Cup.
Becky’s
Located next to CSU’s own Krenzler Field, Becky’s has been a Cleveland favorite since spring 1986. With great food and a great atmosphere, Becky’s claims to be “downtown’s neighborhood bar.” Open seven days a week, from 11 a.m.-1 a.m. most days.
With over five locations spanning from Avon to Downtown Cleveland to Mayfield, the Winking Lizard has been proudly serving the area since 1983. I think every CSU student can attest that the Winking Lizard has good food with an atmosphere to match. An alltime Cleveland favorite, especially for sports fans.
Want to snuggle up on the couch or host a World Cup watch party? From Nov. 20 through Dec. 8 you can tune into the FOX Sports family of channels, or the Telemundo family of channels for a Spanish-speaking program. The places to stream the games include the likes of NBC’s Peacock, Fubo, SlingTV and more!
World Cup 2022 Final Dec. 18 (TBD)
PHOTO CREDIT UNSPLASH IMAGESTen entertaining and educational sites to visit for $15 and less
WRITTEN BY Lynn Nichols DESIGNED BY Prathinav DuttaAfter a hectic midterm week, why not take a day off to explore the city of Cleveland? This list includes ten places where you can learn, enjoy and unwind — without stressing about cost. Utilize your U-Pass for a free bus ride and save on city parking!
Cleveland Museum of Art — free (20 minutes via RTA / 10 minutes driving)
The iconic art museum has displayed its collections of paintings, photographs, sculptures, textiles and more for over a century. This year’s stylistically and culturally diverse exhibitions include “Text and Image in Southern Asia,” “Arts of Africa” and “Native North America.” The museum is open Tuesday through Sun day with free admission. Tickets to “Impressionism to Modernism: The Keithley Collection,” on display in the Special Exhibition Hall, cost $12 with a college student ID.
International Women’s Air and Space Museum — free(20 minutes via RTA / 10 minutes driving)
Located inside Burke Lakefront Airport (near the Rock Hall), the International Women’s Air and Space Museum collects artifacts representing the history of women’s achievements in aviation and space explora tion. The museum is a project first established in 1986 and organized by the Ninety-Nines, the international organization for women pilots originally led by Amelia Earhart. IWASM displays memorabilia from Earhart along with other trailblazers like Katharine Wright, the often-uncredited sister and collaborator to the Wright brothers, and Bessie Coleman, the first Black and Native American woman to earn a pilot license. Exhibits are open to the public from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day at no cost.
Museum of Contemporary Art (moCa) — free (25 minutes via RTA / 10 minutes driving)
The only museum in Cleveland dedicated to con temporary art (founded 1968) spotlights a new artist every season in rotating exhibitions. Through the end of 2022, moCa showcases Renée Green’s “Contact.” The 3D, mixed-media exhibition spirals through the entire art space, presenting many artists’ works in conversation with each other. “Contact” was inspired in part by the 1997 film of the same name. moCa has organized a free film series companion to the exhibit in collaboration with FRONT International and the Case Western Reserve Film Society, showing films relevant to the concept 7-9 p.m. Nov. 15, Dec. 6, and Dec. 20. moCa is open with free admission from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Sunday.
Cleveland History Center — $10 with student ID (30 minutes via RTA / 10 minutes driving)
The museum and headquarters of the Western Reserve Historical Society maintains collections significant to the history of Cleveland and northeast Ohio. WRHS was founded in 1867, and has organized projects preserving the history of culturally diverse groups in Ohio since the 1960s. Open exhibits including “Carl & Louis Stokes Making History” and “Women and Politics” focus on Black history and women’s history. The newly-opened “Black Moses: The Art of Rev. Albert Wagner” showcases the works of the late Wagner, a prolific painter and sculptor whose artistry was not recognized in his lifetime. The Cleveland History Museum opens Thursday 12-8 p.m. and Friday-Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m., with $10 tickets available to college students.
Live Theater
Great Lakes Theater — $15 (7 minutes via RTA / 9 minutes walking)
“Cleveland’s Classic Company” performs out of the Hanna Theatre, part of Playhouse Square’s iconic per forming arts complex, which is located just blocks away from CSU’s Student Center. The organization, founded in 1962, is known for their gender- and color-conscious productions of Shakespeare’s plays — typically featuring one tragedy and one comedy per season, along with exciting interpretations of other drama staples. Their current season has wowed this fall with “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Romeo and Juliet,” with Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility,” Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” and jazz musical “Ain’t Misbehavin’” upcoming in 2023. All tickets, including front-row seats, are available for $15 to guests age 25 and under.
Cleveland Public Theatre —$1+ (35 minutes via RTA / 10 minutes driving)
Based in the Gordon Square Arts District, the arts space at Cleveland Public Theatre offers innovative new productions every season. Since its founding in 1981, shows and educational programs at CPT have received national recognition and toured all over the world. CPT seasons often feature original workshops and world-premiere productions, including this sea son’s “Breakout Session (or Frogorse)” which runs through Nov. 12. CPT also spotlights shows by its three internal theater companies: Teatro Público de Cleveland, Masrah Cleveland Al-Arabi and Cleveland CORE Ensemble. Upcoming shows include “How the Circus Stole Christmas,” a holiday performance by local acrobatics company Crooked River Circus, which will open Dec. 1. As part of CPT’s inclusive mission, all tickets are “choose what you pay” starting at $1.
Near West Theatre — $15 suggested (35 minutes via RTA / 10 minutes driving)
Nearby in Gordon Square, Near West Theatre was found ed as a youth education program more than 40 years ago and has been federally recognized as a nonprofit since 1999. Last month, NWT welcomed the Cleveland community to two Halloween events, “Historic Haunts” and “Stage Fright — A Halloween Bash.” The upcoming season features three high-energy musicals: “The Music Man” (Nov. 23-Dec. 4), “Ain’t Misbehavin’” (Feb. 1019) and “Head Over Heels” (Apr. 21-May 7). NWT also hosts children’s programs like Drag Queen Story Hour with Veranda L’Ni, which audiences can view in-person or via livestream. Tickets to theater productions and Drag Queen Story Hour are “pay what you can” with a $15 suggested donation.
The Cleveland Mall — free (15 minutes via RTA / 25 minutes walking)
The beautiful green space surrounded by public architecture, including City Hall and the Cleveland Public Library, features the “Fountain of Eternal Life” veteran memorial. The fountain was designed by Cleveland Institute of Arts alum Marshall Fredericks. The Mall, built in the tradition of the late 19th-century City Beautiful reform movement, is named on the National Register of Historic Places.
Willard Park — free (15 minutes via RTA / 25 minutes walking)
The small and relaxing park near East Ninth Street is most known as the home of Cleveland’s iconic “Free Stamp” since 1991. The Pop Art sculpture by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen is the world’s largest rubber stamp. According to Cleveland Historical, Oldenburg has stated that the word “FREE” in massive letters was intended to represent the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S.
Cleveland Cultural Gardens — free (30 minutes via RTA / 10 minutes driving)
The nonprofit project comprises several individual gardens, each representing an ethnic community within the Greater Cleveland area. The African American Garden, Chinese Garden, Ethiopian Garden, Indian Garden and Ukrainian Garden are a small selection out of dozens of sites which showcase cultural heritage with plant life, statues and architectures.
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Cleveland has made a major comeback in the past decade “
In the past, when hearing about Cleveland, people may have scoffed and remarked on it being “The Mistake on the Lake.” That narrative is not nearly as common now. Cleveland has made a major comeback in the past decade, but a long road of tumultuous incidents that led us to where we are today.
WRITTEN BY Emma Smallwood DESIGNED BY Katherine Justiniani
In the 1960s, Black citizens of Cleveland, primarily concentrated in the Hough and Glenville neighborhoods, were fighting for just treatment from the Cleveland government and the Cleveland police force. The growing racial tensions in these neighborhoods were backdropped by incendiary incidents. Anti-Black literature written by white supremicist groups spread through Cleveland neighborhoods and a ten-year-old Black child was shot by a white man, while police officers did nothing to quell these incidents. The Hough Uprising officially broke out July 18, 1966, and for four nights, riots tore through the East Side.
With the police’s white helmets, riot sticks and tear gas guns, and a helicopter menacing overhead, the fights between the Cleveland police force and the young Black kids rioting for equality was reminiscent of the unrest in the Southern states at the time. Four Black citizens died as a result of these riots, along with an incalculable amount of property damage throughout the neighborhoods. Cleveland, which at one point had a reputation as a leader in race relations, officially received its notorious nickname, ‘Mistake on the Lake,’ as a result of this event. The city’s horrible response to the growing racial tensions in these neighborhoods, along with the government and police force’s continued mistreatment of its Black citizens, painted the city in a severely negative light.
fire faster than it could be put out. Cleveland’s pollution and environmental crisis in the mid-1900s set the stage for this incident, and while the fire of 1969 is the most prominent, there have been thirteen fire-related incidents on the Cuyahoga River. A fire on the river in 1952 caused $1.5 million worth of damage, but the 1969 fire attracted the spotlight because it was a turning point for the river and for Cleveland itself. After this incident, strategies were put into place to clean up the river, which was one of the most polluted in the nation at the time.
What began as a fun-filled fundraising stunt soon turned into a public disaster when 1.5 million balloons were released above the city of Cleveland September 27, 1986. One of the major goals of this event was to paint Cleveland as one of the nation’s up-andcoming cities, when in actuality, it once again proved Cleveland’s infamous nickname to be true. In fact, during the event, a local DJ exclaimed in excitement, “there is no ‘mistake on the lake’ anymore,” a line which rings out as truly ironic in the aftermath of this disastrous event.
In an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for “Biggest Simultaneous Balloon Launch,” 1.5 million balloons were released and the citizens of Cleveland were amazed by the spectacle of the balloons filling up the sky. The beauty did not last long, however, as major accidents began to be reported across the highways in the Cleveland area when drivers were distracted by the sight of the balloons. Soon after, the Burke Lakefront Airport had to briefly shut down as an overwhelming amount of balloons blocked the runway, and the streets and waterways were nearly unusable because of the debris. Perhaps the most devastating part of this event is the death of two men who went sailing the day of the event, who were unable to reach the land or be rescued because of the volume of balloons in the lake.
Following these noteworthy incidents, along with a growing public image issue, Cleveland began to make a comeback in the late 90s to early 2000s. This resurgence has largely been focused on environmental advancements, a blossoming entertainment industry and population growth. These three major developments have earned Cleveland its nickname as the “Comeback City,” painting the city in a much better light than its previous nickname.
The 20-year period from 1970 to 1990 saw a major decline for the city, when the population dropped from almost 2 million residents in the Cleveland metro area to 1.6 million residents in 1990. The loss of nearly 400,000 residents is staggering, but Cleveland has been slowly improving in the past two decades. In 2022, we saw a 0.06% increase in residents from 2021, and we are projected to continue on this path in the years to come. U.N. projections estimate the Cleveland metro area nearing the 2 million point within the next ten years, which will have a fantastic effect on the city. Population growth leads to progress, and this means that people are excited to move to Cleveland again. In 2016, Cleveland ranked among the top 10 cities in the country for population growth among college-educated residents from ages 25-34, which has had a major positive impact on the workforce in Cleveland.
The Cleveland Climate Action Plan launched in 2013, but major improvements have been done on the plan in recent years. For a city that was known for the Cuyahoga River Fire and the Balloon Fest, CAP has done wonders in improving the climate health of the city. The Climate Action Plan has reduced carbon pollution, improved water and air quality, and installed over 70 miles of bike infrastructure throughout the metropolitan area. CAP goes beyond climate change, and focuses a large amount of its energy on sorely-needed social and racial equity in Cleveland. While Cleveland has a long way to go in reaching racial equity, programs such as CAP are pointing towards a better future for Clevelanders. As sustainablecleveland.org writes, “the actions in this plan are meant to strengthen our economy, clean our environment, and improve the health and wellness of Clevelanders.”
In terms of entertainment, Cleveland has just about everything. If you want to expand your mind, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Great Lakes Science Center and the Cleveland Museum of Art are all world-renowned museums in the downtown area that have received major upgrades in recent years. For music lovers, the House of Blues, the Agora and Jacobs Pavillion are incredible venues in the heart of Cleveland to enjoy your favorite artists. Cleveland is also a city for food lovers as Time Magazine listed Cleveland in its top 10 cities in America for cuisine, stating that the city “offers some old-fashioned, even old-world, charms.” With the establishment of incredible new restaurants, including Michael Symon’s numerous eateries, the city of Cleveland has made major efforts to improve the culture of the downtown area through the city’s food scene. East 4th Street is one of the prime examples of fabulous food in Cleveland, and is a street that was primarily vacant in the 1970s but has grown into an iconic food and entertainment district in more recent years.
One of the crowning jewels of the city, referred to as “one of the top ten successes in Cleveland’s history,” Playhouse Square is the second-largest performing arts center in the United States. In the late 1960s, all of the theaters except the Hanna were closed down because of the rise of television and suburbanization, but in the 21st century, the theaters have been truly reborn. Welcoming over 1 million guests every year, Playhouse Square has truly transformed the entertainment scene in the city. Cleveland’s sports scene has been on the up-and-up as well, with the city breaking the “Cleveland sports curse” when the Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals. This “curse” lasted from 1964 until the aforementioned game in 2016, a time period in which Cleveland professional sports teams failed to win a single championship. Regardless of curses and continuous losses, Cleveland fans are loyal and proud, and the Cleveland sports scene is stronger now than ever. With the implementation of AHL hockey team the Cleveland Monsters in 2007 and the recent Cleveland baseball team name change to the Guardians, Cleveland sports are having a major turnaround along with the city itself. Cleveland is a diverse, multicultural city that has become a hot spot of entertainment within the past few decades, and with the installment of a new, hip spot seemingly everyday, the city is just getting started with all it has to offer.
In the 1960s-1980s, Cleveland was a city with a disastrous public image, riddled with political, racial and economic strife. But in the last few decades, Cleveland has shifted its image to a hot spot for entertainment, fun and food. Cleveland has implemented programs that help fight the environmental and racial issues prevalent in earlier decades, and these changes have made the city what it is today.
In a recent appearance on The Chuck Todd Podcast, current mayor of Cleveland Justin Bibb discusses the future of the city on an optimistic note: “If Cleveland is a city that young people move to, instead of leave, that’s progress. If Cleveland is known as a destination for immigrants and refugees to start and live out the American Dream, that’s progress. One day Cleveland may be on the cover of the Economist Magazine as America’s most livable city.” Instead of “Mistake on the Lake” being the first thing people think when it comes to Cleveland, “Believeland,” “The Land” and “Comeback City” are nicknames that better fit this blossoming city.
Cleveland has made a major comeback in the past decade
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Poverty-stricken Cuyahoga County gives millions to contractors to plan controversial new jail
Residents of Cuyahoga County, home to the one of the poorest major cities in the country, may be made to pay roughly $2 billion in an expanded sales tax over 40 years for the construction of a new jail, after scandals, deaths and indictments led a federal investigation to label the existing county jail as “one of the worst in the country.”
“We consider this a money grab in terms of developers,” said Chin weizu Abu, member of the Cuyahoga County Jail Coalition, which is a culmination of grassroots organizations that formed to protest conditions at the jail.
One development company that has been particularly involved in the jail project is Project Management Consultants (PMC). PMC has been awarded over $2 million worth of contracts by the county since 2019 for services related to the jail project.
PMC has a long and spotty history in Cleveland. Their resume includes the Global Center for Health In novation, originally known as Medical Mart, which has cost Cleveland taxpayers over $100 million paid largely through sales tax. The fact that the center has been largely vacant and losing money since its 2013 opening did not stop the county from approving $40 million worth of renovations earlier this year, partially funded with money from the American Rescue Plan.
“There’s just a host of opportunities to invest in communities rather than incarceration,” said Josiah Quarles, another member of the Cuyahoga County Jail Coalition as well as the Director of Organizing and Advocacy at Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless. Quarles listed numerous examples. These included developing a response system to behavioral and mental health issues that does not involve police; investing in housing and services for people just coming off the street; funding public transit to lower its cost or make it free; expanding re-entry services that help former prisoners integrate back into com munities; investing in environmentally friendly construction; and investing in education.
The land that the county has been zeroing in on to purchase for the jail has an alarming history. In 1982, the state government pulled out of a deal to purchase the same site for a prison at the last min ute because of environmental concerns stemming from its previous use as a Standard Oil refinery. When contacted by a reporter, members of the Cuyahoga County Justice Steering Committee, a group of representatives tasked with guiding the jail construction process, claimed to not be aware of this.
It’s no secret who will be most impacted by the new jail. Black people make up over half of the admissions into Cuyahoga County jails despite being 30% of the population. Ninety per cent of children tried as adults in the county are Black, despite being 40% of the youth population. Black people make up 80% of the known wrongful convictions in the county since 1989.
“This is not a color-blind issue,” said Abu. “Those who are very poor, those who are very black…those are the ones that are going to bear the brunt.”
“This is not a color-blind issue,” “ “
Get an in-depth dive into the new film through an interview with co-executive producer Lu Childs
Most days, the problems that confront Haiti daily seem so distant from mainland America. Sure, every once in a while you hear a vague impression of the problems they face — increased poverty, lack of jobs, occasional environmental disasters and more. But it often gets drowned out by the 24/7 media extravaganza surrounding every event in American politics at any given moment.
We must start paying attention to the issues that face the people of Haiti everyday — and the issues that face other international communities as well. After all, these are often universal problems which every country struggles with and every person can identify with. In Haiti, people are fighting to provide for their families, striving to create safe and vibrant communities, and taking bold steps to counteract the unjust attempts by political actors to take the money that they work hard to earn.
“Madan Sara,” a new film from debut filmmaker and director Etant Dupain, dives into these problems facing Haiti with unflinching compassion and
attention to detail. This is not just art — this film is a call to action.
Dupain — whose mother was a madan sara — introduces us to these Haitian women who serve as the backbone of the country’s economy. They act as the middleman between the consumer and the farmers and artisans, sourcing goods and selling them at the many vibrant marketplaces in Haiti. But their role is not exclusively economic — they provide fundamental support to their families by using their job to allow their children to get a good education, while also caring for and looking after the community as a whole.
Being a madan sara is not easy. In addition to the countless hours, the job requires a unique combination of strategy, intelligence, intuition and compassion that not many people possess. On top of that, madan saras face lifethreatening danger every day from bandits, plunderers,
political actors and a patriarchal system which leaves them vulnerable to violence without consequence. Robbery, property destruction and marketplace fires are common tactics used to strip madan saras (and Haiti) of their hardearned and vital income.
Dupain’s film proves the impact a loving, strong community has. Though the issues that the madan saras face are devastating and often difficult to watch, the film remains endlessly optimistic. The film shows these problems with the knowledge that the situation can change. It won’t be easy. It requires dedication, compassion, persistence and intentional, well-planned strategies to restructure the political and economic system. The key is, once again, community. And think how quickly that change could come if the entire international community were backing the madan saras, as Dupain hopes to achieve.
Pull quote,
To get a closer look into the powerful message that this film shares, I had the opportunity to sit down with co-executive producer Lu Childs.
The following questions and answers have been edited for length and clarity.
Cara: This film feels to me, above all else, like a love letter to the people of Haiti, but you also seem to be drawing plenty of parallels to America. What do you want American audiences to take away from your film?
Lu: That’s a good question. I think that a lot of people in America, myself included, don’t really know Haiti. I think it was a bit of a learning experience for me to be part of the film because I learned so much about Haiti during these past years while putting it together and screening it. I think this film would be a new introduction to Haiti — knowing the real issues and what’s going on in the country. And it could be a breath of fresh air for people who may already know Haiti and its issues. I think this film shows a different Haiti that a lot of people may not know — and they may be surprised to learn that they connect with it. So I think it’s really just keeping an open mind while watching this film. In most schools in the United States, you learn about the American Revolution, then you go to the Civil War, then the presidents, World War I, World War II, civil rights — you just go through it with the American lens. A film like this is good for people because it shows the absolution of one country, or the issues in one country from their lens and standpoint.
C: Historically, by the nature of the position, madan saras always had to be women. That isn’t theoretically the case now, but today we still see the role of the madan sara is filled exclusively by women. Do you think there’s something inherent about the role of the madan sara that means it can only be done effectively by women?
L: I think it’s a legacy. Obviously, the role of the madan sara started during slavery where the men would do the same work as the madan sara, but they would run away to be free. So slaveholders made a decision that women had more ties to the community, so they were less likely to run. When Haiti got its freedom and afterwards, the practice has stayed the same with women dominating the marketplace. But it also speaks to why , in my opinion, the issues that the madan sara have are ignored because it’s mostly dominated by women in a patriarchal society. It’s a double edged sword. I think the “Madan Sara” film shows a little bit of that issue.
C: What drew you to want to work on the film, personally?
L: I was working on a film about Haiti, but it was more sports-related. But I had never gone to Haiti. My mother is from Haiti, but I never went. So when she told me the story about the topic in regards to the film that I was producing, I kind of figured it would be cool to work with other Haitian filmmakers
to really get a sense of the culture — as much
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IF A MADAN SARA CANNOT SELL, SHE DOESN’T EAT. IT’S JUST THAT SIMPLE. THEY NEED THE MARKETPLACE TO BE SAFE SO THAT THEY CAN AT LEAST TRY TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE. IF A MADAN SARA DOESN’T SELL, THEY CAN’T GET A JOB ANYWHERE ELSE IN HAITI— BECAUSE THERE AREN’T ANY OTHER JOBS TO BE HAD. “
as I could over here. So when I saw Etant’s trailer, I thought it was a perfect answer to get into the culture. I reached out, we met up and we started working together.
C: The marketplaces that are depicted in the film are vibrant, lively and full of community. One madan sara discusses what she believes keeps the marketplace alive, saying that “it takes love to run a business.” Personally, I can’t say that I’ve experienced anything like that in my life. Do you think there are any parallels to this type of economic practice in America currently?
L: Good question … for a madan sara, there’s a lot of capitalism but there’s essentially some aspects to socialism. It’s like how we do things here because America is not completely capitalist. If it were, there would be even more poor people than there are now. There’s a reason why we have social security and worker’s comp. It’s because we want to make sure that people have a floor should they ever fall so they don’t become completely destitute. There’s a way for them to get back. I think in a way it’s like our system, but I think the only issue is there is no safety net in Haiti. If a madan sara cannot sell, she doesn’t eat. It’s just that simple. They need the marketplace to be safe so that they can at least try to put food on the table. If a madan sara doesn’t sell, they can’t get a job anywhere else in Haiti— because there aren’t any other jobs to be had. The jobs that are created are too little, or there’s too many other people looking. You have to know someone in order to get a job in Haiti. I do think the system is like ours, but I think the Haitian government has to put in certain parameters that will ultimately help the madan sara do their business the way they know how to do it.
C: Is there anything that would specifically want younger, college-age students to be taking away from this film?
L: Sure, I know a lot of college students will end up taking the alternative spring break, where they’ll go and do mission trips. Right now, it wouldn’t be smart to do that in Haiti — but if things should ever get better, I would hope that they watch this film and decide that they want to go to Haiti. If they decide that’s what they want to do, they would watch this film to get a better idea of Haiti and some of the issues on the ground. I would just say for any students who are watching the film or thinking about watching the film, just keep an open mind.
C: Where can audiences go to see your film?
L: Right now we’re still doing private screenings. This is a totally independent film, so we don’t have a film marketing company that’s helping us promote it. We’re negotiating with different streaming platforms to eventually get the film out to the masses so people can see it. We’re definitely trying to raise more awareness and get more press for the film.
C: To close out this interview, what does it mean — in your opinion — to be a madan sara?
L: Madan saras have a status in Haiti. People see them as hustlers and go-getters, but I don’t think people get into the issues of how they can do their job better, or how they can be safer if certain things were in place. Because a lot of them are able to put their kids through college, a lot of their kids become doctors, lawyers and judges. I think that while people admire what they’ve been able to do in regards to taking care of their family, I think the bigger issue that the film speaks to is how can we make things better for them so that they’re able to do their jobs that much better. If they’re able to get cheaper access to credit, that’s going to help even more families. I gotta imagine that if I was a madan sara, that there would be angst everyday knowing that you’re going to a marketplace where you don’t know if you’re going to get shot, there might be a fire where you lose all your goods, and then you lose all your goods and you owe money. It’s a double-edged sword. You don’t want to run into a greedy politician who will take money out of your pocket that you worked hard everyday to make. There are all these problems that would make their lives a whole lot easier if they were just taken seriously. But things are what they are in Haiti right now. I think that’s the emotion that this film’s talking about. We really have to take care of these women. They are essentially the backbone of the country.
Learn more about the film at www.madansarafilm.com
Papers are piling up, exams are around the corner and studying never seems to end. With so much to do, you feel as though you should be working all hours of the day to accomplish your academic goals, but instead, you scroll through your phone in bed.
Some may call this laziness, apathy or an unwill ingness to try, but for many, the scenario above is an act of procrastination.
Dr. Joseph Ferrari, a professor of psychology at DePaul University, has explained procrastination as a “form of self-regulation failure characterized by the irrational delay of tasks despite potentially negative consequences.”
This essentially means that you delay a task de spite knowing that it needs to be completed. Most people are aware that they are procrastinating, which is why it is so difficult to address. You know that you need to do something, but you simply cannot. According to Dr. Ferrari, chronic procrastinators make up roughly 20% of U.S. adults.
Procrastination is frequently attributed to laziness, but these two concepts are drastically different. The truth behind procrastination requires a more indepth understanding of our brains and how different people approach tasks.
Princeton University’s Nic Voge explains that “Procrastination is not a matter, solely, of having poor time management skills, either, but rather can be traced to underlying and more complex psychological reasons.”
Voge goes on to explain that many of the reasons for delaying task completion are rooted around fear and anxiety of poor performance. This could mean that someone is afraid of receiving a bad grade, looking stupid or feeling unworthy.
“We avoid doing work to avoid our abilities being judged,” said Voge.
We all face fears, but procrastination becomes a problem when that fear interferes with our ability to complete tasks.
Lack of motivation can be another contributing factor of procrastination. Procrastinators have a tendency to wait until they are “in the right frame of mind” to start a task, but many times, that right frame of mind never comes. In these instances, it is important to just take that first step and start, even if you only do a small part of the necessary work.
This phenomenon of human behavior has been said to be one of the many underlying causes of procrastination. Present bias is the desire to com plete a small task in order for our brains to receive instant gratification. Essentially, people are more motivated to feel instantly gratified than to accom plish a long-term goal.
This bias is the reason that behavioral psychologists often suggest that in order to complete long-term goals, you should create short-term goals that lead to the completion of the end goal. The gratification that you receive from the completion of the smaller goals will motivate you to continue working towards the long-term goal.
These same concepts can be used as a tool to decrease procrastination. Instead of your instant gratification being scrolling through your phone, you can create a small, easily accomplishable goal which gives you that same gratification, while motivating yourself to begin working on a project or assignment.
Students are some of the most heavily affected by procrastination. Around 80-95% of students in college are regularly affected by procrastination, according to Psychological Bulletin.
School is full of external pressures that can cause a fear of poor performance. Constant evaluation of one’s abilities can lead to heavy amounts of procras tination in order to have an excuse for possible poor performance. Voge explains this as “ a self-protection strategy for students” in which they procrastinate as a means of not having enough time to complete an assignment, rather than not having the ability.
Students can also be affected by the concept of abstract goals, which means they plan to study or complete an assignment, but never set aside the time or set in motion a plan. The idea is there, but they still do not complete the work. It can be helpful to those in this situation to set a specific day and time to start an assignment. This way, they will not get stuck in the loop of saying they have a plan of completing the work without ever enacting that plan.
Do you face the dilemma of procrastination like many of your peers? If so, the following tips and tricks may help you achieve your dreams of not turning in every assignment at 11:59 p.m on the dot. (The following are based on tips provided by Princeton’s McGraw Learning Center for Teaching and Learning.)
You likely have heard that “the first step is recognition" and this is no different. You probably already know you procrastinate, but you might not know the underlying meanings behind why you do. Try to examine what your reasons for procrastination may be and go from there.
Large projects are incredibly intimidating. It may be helpful to break a project down into smaller pieces and take it one step at a time.
These smaller projects should be manageable and you should have goals about how much you complete in a given time frame.
Look at the work in a different light. This could mean that you focus on the knowledge you are gaining from this assignment rather than the work itself. Or you could focus on the end goal of checking this item off your to-do list.
Planners can be amazing for staying on top of scheduling, but for those of us who procras tinate, they can also be really overwhelming. Try creating slots of time for work that are more freeform in nature and allow flexibility.
Take time to celebrate the goals you have achieved already, in order to motivate you to achieve more.
In the end, procrastination is not an unbeatable foe. While these tips are not a solve-all for the obstacles that procrastinators face, they are a good place to start. The best thing to do is find what works well for you and remember you are not alone in your struggle. Good luck with the rest of the semester!
In the end, procrastination is not an unbeatable foe... “
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Asthe seasons change to the cold, dark months of fall and winter, many may begin to experience symptoms of depression because of the changes within our envi ronments. This phenomenon is classified as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). While this disor der can occur during summer months, it most commonly begins in the late fall and continues through winter. According to the Cleveland Clinic, 5% of adults in America are affected by SAD, with 10% to 20% experiencing milder cases. While many may downplay seasonal de pression as a simple case of the “winter blues,” it can be far more serious and debilitating than simply feeling sad.
The cause of seasonal depression is not pri marily the changes in weather that occur during fall and winter. The root cause of the disorder actually has to do with the sun and the changes in daylight hours.
“It’s a pretty mild form of persistent sadness or melancholy that happens in climates where there is a shortage of natural light and sun as the primary cause of that,” said Natalie Jernigan, therapist and founder of Center for Counseling Solutions.
This lack of sunlight leads to a decrease in the mood-regulating hormone serotonin and also increases the release of melatonin earlier in the day, leading to changes in mood and overall mental well-being. Our biological clocks shifting also affects our moods by making it more difficult to adjust to changes in the daylight hours, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
While the general population can be affected by these changes in less severe ways, the combination of these
A look into seasonal depression and the ways to cope with it during the fall and winter months.
environmental changes, alongside other factors, can lead to more intense and serious cases of SAD.
“That person who is experiencing seasonal affective disorder may have other co-occurring stressors that magnify or exacerbate the symptoms,” Jernigan said.
People who are already struggling with mental disorders and health problems may also be more greatly affected by the disorder and changes in the environment.
“If there are other factors with relationships or more intensity in mood related problems or with thinking styles that impact mood, seasonal affective disorder may turn into something that becomes more of a clinical depression,” Jernigan said.
Symptoms of seasonal depression can vary depending on the person. Some of the common symptoms can include feelings of general sadness and anxiety, changes in appetite and sleep schedule, and irrita bility. According to Jernigan, lower levels of motivation and aversion to socializing and doing activities we typically enjoy doing are prevalent in cases of seasonal depression as well. The symptoms of seasonal depres sion can be more severe and mild, as is the case for many mental disorders.
“Somebody who is just a little bit more blase when it comes to changes may not have a high degree of impact from seasonal affective problems,” Jernigan said.
Another symptom of seasonal depression is a craving for carbs and sweets, according to psychiatrist Norman Rosenthal.
While many may downplay seasonal depression as a sim ple case of the “win ter blues,” it can be far more serious and debilitating than simply feeling sad.PHOTO CREDIT TO UNSPLASH
While all these changes and feelings can become quite difficult to cope with, a variety of treatments and remedies can help with symptoms in both more serious and more mild cases. One proven treatment for cases of clinical seasonal depression is light box therapy.
“There are some light boxes designed for treating sea sonal depression, that would give the eyes a simulation of more light and that can be helpful just in managing the amount of light intake that a person has,” Jernigan said.
According to Healthline, light boxes can be beneficial in a number of ways for those suffering from symptoms of SAD, including realigning your biological clock, activat ing serotonin, and regulating sleep patterns. Using light therapy alongside other medical treatments like going to talk therapy can be beneficial for those suffering throughout the fall and winter months.
A variety of lifestyle and daily habit changes are also beneficial for treating symptoms, one being engaging in regular exercise.
“Any element of taking care of one’s physical health, like regular exercise, increasing cardiovascular workouts to at least 30 minutes per session, three times a week, tends to manage any sign or symptom of depression, whether it is seasonal or otherwise,” Jernigan said.
Exercise is a key component of feeling better and can be used not only to release “feel-good” endorphins but also to take your mind off of feelings of sadness or stress. Additionally, exercise offers the added benefits of feeling good physically and mentally by taking the opportunity to get outside and expose yourself to natural light in an organic way. While it may be difficult to find motivation to increase daily exercise, starting off small and easing into exercise by simply going for a walk can help.
Another lifestyle adjustment to help with symptoms is regulating your sleep schedule by adjusting the time you go to sleep and wake up, in order to maximize the amount of daily light intake.
“If one is going to bed earlier in the evening, like 9 or 10, and waking up closer to sunrise, that might help with managing the symptoms,” Jernigan said.
Other methods for treating seasonal depression involve simple changes including prioritizing spending time
with family and friends, doing activities you enjoy, med itating, taking vitamin D and journaling.
It is important to note that there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to coping with symptoms of seasonal depres sion and that many may experience more mild symptoms where simple coping mechanisms will do the job. In more severe and clinically diagnosed cases, a combination of remedies may be necessary, and it is important to take into consideration whether a professional’s help is needed. Fall and winter can be a difficult time for many with the addition of stress from school and holidays, but there are ways to get through and rise above the affects the changes in our environment cause. Simple lifestyle changes and professional help when needed can help you find light in the darker days.
Iwork at a department store. To distinguish it as such is today’s random act of pity. Yes, it is a store. Yes, it has departments. The clothing, the houseware, the beauty products — it’s all what you might expect at Macy’s, JCPenney or Higbee’s, if the MTV generation didn’t invent the internet. Nevertheless, it is not a department store. It’s a discount store in a strip mall in the car-cen tric suburb of a city of department store-converted apartments. I prefer to think I work in the shaded woods where animal control dumps roadkill and it’s my job to sort the carcasses for the vultures waiting overhead.
As one might gather from the gaiety of my previous statement, I love working in a department store. It’s not because I enjoy working — I’d strike if there wasn’t a chance of returning to work. It’s also not because I like my coworkers — they’re all Michael Stanley fans. It’s because I love judging the buying habits of men. All day, I stock the schlock that some schmatte-clad schlepper will scoop up. Not only do I judge, I actively encourage these wack buying habits. I tell the sexagenarian John Carroll alumni a Nike golf belt is good for a wedding. I tell the vegetarian hipster doofi that an extra small Ricky Singh shirt holds up well on a bike. I tell the contrarian teenage bibliobibuli that a tye-dyed Nirvana shirt is punk. Guys want two things: stupid consumer goods and reassurance about said stupid consumer goods.
If you’re unlucky, you might know a guy like that. If you’re really unlikely, you might be related to or dating a guy like that. And if you’re downright downtrodden, you might be expected to buy a gift for a guy like that. With the holidays fast approach ing, there’s no doubt that you will walk through a department store to find something that might vaguely communicate any sort of human connec tion to these men. Don’t go empty minded! Let a professional help you sort through the rubble of the men’s department and get the best gift possible.
A bar of broap (bro soap) can be identified by its overtly masculine name or its arborescent scent. Broap is noteworthy because it does far less than a Dove Beauty Bar but far more than the dude hallmark of just rinsing off. It’s perfect for any lacrosse player that needs a reason to be self-conscious or for my dad who will never use it.
Graphic describes both the t-shirt and the kind of murder I hope for anyone who willingly wears these. Regardless, it’s a great gift for any guy who doesn’t tip valets.
ANYTHING
RELATED Car stuff should be avoided as a gift unless it’s the reflective sun shield. The real gift comes if the driver forgets to take down the sun shield, wrecks their car and has to take the bus.
A department store insider’s tips for the minimally sufficient male-oriented gift
Cleveland’s Köppen classification is no reason not to buy this summertime classic for the holidays, but maybe the shirt’s adoption by white nationalists and Tarantino fans is. Buy a camp-style for the guy who thinks Crocker Park is cool, or an Oxford-style for the guy who thinks Hingetown is cool.
It all smells the same and it all smells like a middle school locker room. Considering the amount of men that still think “gay” is an insult, a bottle of Calvin Klein’s Obsession remains unfortunately timeless.
I believe these pants to be the harbinger of the end, so gift them as such. Cuffed joggers will look great on all the future oil executives and chicken tender consumers in your life.
This guide is certainly not comprehensive. Like most humans, men can be relatively complex. Some drink coffee, some drink tea. Some wear pants, some wear skirts. Some wear patchouli, some can’t pronounce patchouli. How we define men has changed since the golden days of the department store, but one thing has not changed: the male inability to shop and gift. Thus, this guide is a useful tool for all men-knowers this gift giving season.
The general exception to this guide are the guys that work at department stores. Should you have the misfortune of knowing one and feel obligated to purchase them a gift, do not follow this guide. Escaping from a milk can would not excite Houdini. Similarly, buying a Nautica quarter-zip would not excite any department store veteran. For this select group, I recommend gifts from dollar stores. Not the Tree, Family, or General, but the dollar stores that don’t have names and reek of cleaning supplies. They want to be comfortable in the knowledge someone spent twenty minutes or less and twenty dollars or less.
The sculpted fish-cum-utensil is perhaps the best gift you can get for any man. It’s the phys ical embodiment of “can’t live with ‘em, can’t shoot ‘em”. The vapidness and emotional dis tance of the bass bottle opener makes cash seem like a Tchaikovksy concerto.
The single exception to the previous exception to this guide are the guys who work at department stores and write about it. Though small, this cowardly bunch will spend the next six months complaining about your gift. I recommend following the examples of crows and gifting a piece of string or a weirdly shaped rock. A fast acquired readymade will save you time and money for something that will surely be used as article fodder.
Calvin Klein for men Middle School Locker Room
As I am sure you know, the world is a bit of a dumpster fire at the moment. We face divisive politics, an oncoming economic threat, a worker shortage, an onslaught of attacks on LGBTQ+ rights, COVID-19, an increasingly urgent environmental crisis, the war in Ukraine and the overall rise of international tensions between the nations with nuclear weapons. It is a lot. The last thing that women and fem-presenting people need right now is the continuation of a long history of violence and inequality. This letter is here to serve as a beginner’s guide as to what not to do — as well as some practical steps you can take to make the women in your life feel more safe, validated and advocated for.
Stop cheating on your partner. It is emotionally devastating and manipulative.
Jay-Z, Adam Levine, Tiger Woods, Anthony Ramos, Ned Fulmer, Jude Law… need I say more? All of these men are notable celebrities who cheated on their wives or fiances. If your relationship with your partner isn’t working out, communicate with them in a healthy way. From there you can either work through the issues within your relationship or make the valid decision of breaking up. No dishonesty, infidelity or heartbreak required.
Stop the fetishization of young women. This is seen in the idealization of youth and the young partners of older male celebrities, as well as the violence against little girls. The glamorization of youth by fashion, cosmetics and mass media companies encourages a pressure for women to “stay young” or change their appearance to appear more youthful. Youth and virginity are highly sexualized in our society. This leads to a demand for procedures to appear young, and cosmetic tutorials by the millions to appear “glowy” or “dewy,” a reference to clear and youthful appearing skin. Why is there a sexualized, romantic notion around the appearance of young women? Purity culture, fertility and beauty standards are all associated with youth. A recent study in Finland reported that as women age, their preference for their partner is in a similar range to themselves, but as men grow older, they maintain an interest in younger partners. Regardless of their age, men find young women attractive, furthering the idealization of young women.
The sexualizing of youth and young women is prevalent in celebrity culture and relationships as well. Notoriously, R. Kelly was recently convicted of child pornography and sex abuse charges in Chicago. In recent years, Twitter and Reddit have exploded with the fact that Leonardo DiCaprio has allegedly never had a partner older than 25. These celebrities and their relationship history should not serve as an example to the everyday man — in fact, they are a great guide in what not to do.
The age of consent and asking for consent are vital aspects of a healthy relationship — stop debating or neglecting these conversations. When age is referred to as “just a number,” it proliferates the idea that relationships with underage individuals are normal and acceptable. Acording to RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, “Females ages 16-19 are 4 times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault.” In order to prevent these types of violence, men must work to change beauty standards for women, admire women in a safe and consensual manner, and work to actively protect young women.
Consensual, healthy relationships with an even power dynamic are essential. Furthermore, conceptualizing that love, sexuality and value don’t deteriorate with a woman’s age is essential to creating healthy partnerfinding habits, and ending the impossible standards in our society.
Stop the rise of sexual assult against women.
One of the most prominent dangers that women face is sexual violence. In 1990, the U.S. Department of Justice released findings that for the first time that over 100,000 rape cases were reported. Since then, a study from 1998 estimated that 17.7 million American women had been victims of attempted or completed rape. Non-profits created for the victims and the prevention of sexual violence, such as the national organiztion Where is My Line, have reported an increase of sexual assult in recent years. They reported that one in six women have been the victim of rape or an attempted rape in their lifetime. While both women and men are victims of sexual assult, women face this violence at a disproportionately higher rate. Within the U.S., 81% of women have experienced a form of sexual harrassment or assault — that is nearly double the percentage of men who have reported being victims of the same form of violence.
While it is important to acknowledge that both men and women experience this type of trauma, it is critical that the disparity of sexual violence is lessened by creating a safer environment that protects all victims — especially women who are
attacked at higher rates. One way men can work towards this goal is by holding themselves and the men around them accountable for their actions: taking action against cat-callers, valuing consent, voting for representatives and local judges who take sexual violence court cases seriously, and taking into account the collective fear women have about this topic.
The importance of recognizing the high rates of sexual assault among women, along with creating safe spaces to talk about these issues, cannot be understated. By taking these steps, we can further address the subject of sexual assault.
Stop the ignorance.
Below is a list of starting information, as well as help centers for women. Create safe spaces for the women in your life by being educated, and by having resources to help.
• The Cleveland Rape Crisis Center : https:// clevelandrapecrisis.org/
• The National Sexual Violence Resouce Center : https://www.nsvrc.org/
• How Men Can Be Better Allies : https://hbr. org/2018/10/how-men-can-become-betterallies-to-women
• 7 Ways Men Can Support Women : https:// www.forbes.com/sites/ellevate/2019/11/19/7ways-men-can-support-women-asallies/?sh=40f83713981e
• Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity (URGE): https://urge.org/
a woman.
One of the most prominent dangers that women face is sexual violence.
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“PHOTO CREDIT AMNESTY
Novemberbrings the holiday of Thanksgiving, which usually makes you think of honey roasted turkey, whipped mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. During Thanksgiving, families and friends alike get together for a big din ner to celebrate their appreciation for each other. Although this holiday isn’t generally considered a part of the “gift-giving season,” it certainly should be.
Thanksgiving is the one of the few times a year that everyone stops working for the day. This year, more than any other, I realize that not everyone gets an opportunity to celebrate with their family. Not everyone has the money to have large family dinners; some people feel that they have little to be thankful for.
This Thanksgiving season, I encourage you to donate to a nonprofit or charity, and research the missions of these places and the impact they leave on their communities. Giving someone else something to be thankful for is a selfless yet fulfilling act that can leave a permanent impact on someone’s life.
Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) is a program that funds re search and supports families in an effort to find a cure for childhood cancer. Childhood cancer research is severely underfunded in comparison to other types of cancers; it’s ALSF’s mission to create the opportunity to find a cure.
This program began as a lemonade stand run by 4-year old Alexandra “Alex” Scott who raised $2,000. She was battling neuroblastoma and specifically asked for the money to be donated so a cure for childhood cancer may be found.
Monetary donations can be made through Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation website. However, there’s more than one way to get involved with this program. You may join as a business or organization, a school or university, or simply create a memorial page to honor those who’ve passed. You can also check out the number of events all over the U.S. that fundraise for ALSF, as well as opportunities to volunteer with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.
Paws With a Cause is a nonprofit organization that enhances the quality of life for disabled individ uals through trained service dogs. This program creates customized training for assistance dogs and works to understand both the individual client and the dog, to ensure that the program best fits their needs.
Paws With a Cause typically trains Golden Retrievers, Labradors or Golden Re triever-Labrador mixes. All dogs go through a health and temperament screen ing before starting their program. PAWS dogs are trained in over 40 possible tasks, including opening doors, retrieving items and tugging to remove articles of clothing. A few PAWS specialty training programs include service, seizure response and hearing. The dogs in these subsets all learn other specialized tasks to help clients with their specific disability.
Donations can be made directly online through Paws With a Cause and provide significant assistance in the finances in training a service dog. Additionally, you may volunteer with Paws With a Cause to directly assist with the program by raising a foster PAWS puppy or becoming a dog parent home. These positions are so important in giving the dogs a safe and warm environment to grow up in so that, one day, they may become a source of assistance and light for someone else.
Salvation Army is an international charity organiza tion with a worldwide membership of over 18 million individuals; it’s easily one of the most well renowned charities. In 2020, Salvation Army raised $1.8 billion as a result of the pandemic, providing clothes and various necessities to those who needed them most. Currently, there are 131 locations worldwide, from the United States to Pakistan, Kenya and beyond.
Salvation Army provides a variety of services to help a variety of people, includ ing disaster relief, holiday giving, LGBTQ+ support, veterans’ services, help for domestic abuse, rehabilitation, homeless shelters and food pantries. Through fundraisers and community donations, Salvation Army is able to provide assis tance wherever needed, for the good of the people.
Monetary donations may be made through the Salvation Army website in any increment. Vehicular and edible donations may be directly delivered to or picked up from one of Salvation Army’s locations by yourself or a volunteer.
The Salvation Army is also frequently searching for individuals to volunteer with Salvation Army. Volunteering could be anything from helping at a food pantry to assembling gifts for their Angel Tree Program. This is a wonderful opportunity to give back to your local community and become a part of something bigger than yourself.
The Trevor Project was created in 1998 and serves as a suicide prevention and crisis intervention orga nization for individuals in the LGBTQ+ community. They estimate that 1.8 million young LGBTQ+ people consider suicide each year. This program lends crisis support and counselors to talk or simply listen. Addi tionally, advocacy, education and research programs are all available, which allow individuals to connect and better understand the LGBTQ+ community.
As our world is constantly progressing and growing, making these resources available to young people is essential. Everyone deserves a safe space.
Direct monetary donations may be made through The Trevor Project website. You may also become an advocate for this project and volunteer with The Trevor Project, by partnering with them or even exploring the fundraiser opportunities through their program.
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I’m onto you, CSU.
As summer ended and the return of school approached, one of the things I looked forward to most was seeing the CSU squirrels scurry across campus greenspaces once again. Watching the squirrels on my walk to class was one of my favorite things to do last school year, and I couldn’t wait to see them this fall.
Don’t get it twisted — CSU squirrels are not just your everyday, typical squirrel. They are beasts. Living downtown off a diet of trash and stolen food from students is no easy feat. CSU squirrels have to be braver, bolder, and burlier – and they are. One might even say that they could survive anything. But when I returned to campus this fall, the little monsters were nowhere to be found. Where the &#@% were the squirrels?!
I was concerned to say the least. Where were my little buddies? I didn’t see them in the grass, on the sidewalk, in the trees. Not one squirrel spotted burying a nut or sprinting across Euclid Avenue. For three long weeks, I did not see a single squirrel on campus. Were they mad at me? Did I do something wrong? Where did they go?
I voiced my qualm to my friends. They claimed they had seen squirrels consistently all over campus, but this made no sense to me. We had classes at the same times, in the same build ings, even some with one another. We often made the same commutes across campus, and frequently did so together. Something had to be amiss. Why were they seeing the squirrels and I wasn’t? I felt heartbreak and betrayal like never before. I just wanted to see the squirrels again. Why couldn’t I?
Then, suddenly, they were back. Almost im mediately after I voiced my concern out loud to my friends, I started seeing the squirrels around campus again. There they were: hanging out of trash cans, running up trees, targeting students in the courtyard. It was as if they were never even gone! One might think that I was happy to see the squirrels once again. Satiated. Pleased. But I was not. I was suspicious. You’re telling me I don’t see a single squirrel on campus for three whole weeks, and then suddenly they appear again as soon as I share this fact with my friends? Yeah, right.
I know what you’re thinking. “Sophie, you obviously started seeing the squirrels again because you were actively thinking about them. They were never gone, you just didn’t realize they were there because they weren’t at the fore front of your mind.” Wrong. The CSU squirrels are always the top thought on my mind. Lest you forget, I couldn’t wait to see them when I returned to campus this fall. Clearly, foul play was at hand, and CSU was to blame.
You might be wondering how CSU is at fault. You might be wondering why CSU would even want the squirrels gone. Let me explain.
It all started last year, when Laura Bloomberg superseded Harlan Sands as president of the university. If you recall, there were no issues with squirrels disappearing when Sands was president. But alas, the first fall with the new president, the squirrels are gone. It’s almost as if a certain someone
them.
a personal vendetta
has
against
Don’t get it twisted, CSU squirrels are not just your everyday, typical squirrel. They are beasts “
“
In my unbiased eyes, the CSU squirrels can do no wrong. Sure, they’ve been known to cause the occasional mischief, but it’s all in good fun. I, a bystander that has no particular taking to the squirrels, can see that — but not all can. Some people might see one squirrel jump out of a trash can at someone, or one squirrel harass a student for food in the courtyard, and judge all squirrels based off of it. It would be immoral and evil to do so — but rarely does that stop someone from carrying out their heinous plans.
Rumor has it that President Bloomberg heard murmurs of a few delinquent squirrels on campus when she took over last spring and didn’t like the sound of it. In fact, she hated it so much that she made it her main mission as university president to get rid of the campus squirrels for good. (Apparently, President Bloomberg had a personal run in with one of these troublesome squirrels, but you didn’t hear that from me.) She had her plan, but how would she get away with it? How would she get rid of the squirrels with no suspicion? Luckily for President Bloomberg, she had the perfect cover up.
CSU 2.0 was inescapable for some time last year. CSU 2.0 this, CSU 2.0 that — we’ve heard it all before. But what is CSU 2.0 truly about? Have we been fed lies to hide the truth? Ac cording to totally real sources close to President Bloomberg, when she took over last spring, she shifted CSU 2.0’s “reimagined future” to one simply without squirrels on campus. Have you noticed how we’ve heard significantly less about CSU 2.0 this year? That’s because it’s no longer what it claimed to be. CSU 2.0 was once a plan to improve campus through investments and initiatives. It was now an operation to rid the campus of its innocent squirrels.
Just like I had heard that President Bloomberg didn’t like the squirrels, she heard that I had noticed their disappearance. She knew that I was catching onto her scheme and that she had to do something. So, she did the only thing
that she could. President Bloomberg brought the squirrels back.
Ridding the campus of its squirrels was the most atrocious action CSU could have done. They had no choice but to save face by returning them. In the end, I am thankful that they did, because I really did miss the little guys. But may CSU never forget how I caught onto their scheme, and may they never forget the power of the campus squirrels and their comrades.
CSU 2.0 was once a plan to improve campus through investments and initiatives.
squirrels. “
It was now an operation to rid the campus of its innocent
