14 February 2022
Commentary
The Collegian: 5
M&M’s discourse obscures human rights abuse seen on my social media and on the news is about the green M&M’s boots. It is not just Mars getting sued for child slavery, however. Nestlé and Hershey are also in a lawsuit for the same reasons, but again no one seems to care because no one is discussing it.
M&M’s inclusivity campaign distracts from their current lawsuit. Victoria Bonham Student Writer
As of Jan. 20, 2022, M&M’s had a slight change to their classic look. These changes were subtle, such as the colors being a tad more vibrant than before, but what most people are in an uproar about is the green M&M changing her white boots to a pair of sneakers. Now, the brown M&M got to keep her little heel, although it is now a tad shorter but not super noticeable, while the others got laces on their shoes. The brand did this in order to seem “more inclusive.” They are going to change some aspects of the characters’ personalities, too. The orange M&M is going to embrace his anxiety and the red M&M is going to be nice instead of a bully. However, no one is focusing on that. They want the green M&M’s go-go boots back. This new campaign appears to be a distraction from the lawsuit going on against
and putting sneakers in her diminishes that persona the creators have presented. The brown M&M had a very minimal change — probably because the company was so focused on the fact that they are dealing with a lawsuit about child slavery to care. Perhaps the company knew that people
“It is disappointing to think that beloved candy brands such as M&M’s would be complacent with immoral practices ...”
courtesy @mmschocolate on Twitter The green M&M first made her debut as a mascot for the cholocate company in 1997 as part of a Super Bowl advertisement.
the Mars company due to claims of child slavery on the cocoa plantations they use as their source. Unfortunately, all that I have
It is not inherently a bad thing that society wants their chocolate candies to be more inclusive. However, if they wanted to seem more inclusive then they could have just made all of them have sneakers. Personally, I do not understand how shoes make a difference in inclusivity, but if that is what it takes to seem that way then do it to them all. Don’t get me wrong, I think that the green M&M should have her classic boots. The boots should come back because that is part of the character they have made the green M&M to be, a femme fatale personality has been given to a literal piece of chocolate,
would only throw a hissy fit if the green one changed, and so used the campaign to their benefit as a way to hide the fact that they have child slavery lawsuits against them. It is possible that they thought giving the people something to be angry about would make them overlook the human rights abuse. It is disappointing to think that beloved candy brands such as M&M’s would be complacent with immoral practices and then cover up their actions, but it would not be the most shocking thing anyone has ever heard.
Tensions rise over Nepal’s border relations
Leaked reports claim China is encroaching on Nepalese territory. Logan Guthrie Commentary Editor Last week, reports began to leak from Nepal’s Government that China is encroaching upon their shared border. This is the first public, official report about any current Chinese interference in Nepal, and this is following claims that the country trespassed last year in Humla, a western district of Nepal. These reports are not surprising, but come as a great concern coinciding with the conflict on the border of Russia and Ukraine.
about their border in relation to the Sugauli Treaty of 1816, which Nepal claims places the territories west of the Mahakali River in their control. While diplomatic solutions are being sought by Nepal in both cases, the potential encroachment of China adds extra, unnecessary political strain and conflict to the region. That being said, the report has not been published by any Nepalese authority at this time. This is very confusing and a little suspicious, as there is no reason for Nepal to hold off on publication, unless the reports are not substantiated yet. Nepal and China have worked hard to improve their relationship with each other in recent years, particularly in an effort to counterbalance the conflict between Nepal and India, so it seems very out of character for China to begin trespassing at their own border with Nepal at this time. However, these reports being leaked to the public are bound to cause strain on this relationship. A task force sent to Humla claims sightings of buildings being built by China on the Nepalese side of the border — although this turned out to not be the case. In addition, the report included restrictions of religious practice by the Chinese in Lalungjong near the Hindu and Buddhist holy site of Mount Kailash, limitations to grazing by farmers’ livestock, and the construction of a fence, canal and border on the Nepalese side of the border.
“... it makes no sense at this time for China to encroach on their ally considering border conflicts with India.” While the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu has denied any reports of interference in Nepal, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, the Nepalese Communications Minister, responded to the reports in a news briefing by saying, “Either with India or with China, if there are any issues at our border we will resolve them through diplomatic means. Such problems should not arise and the Nepal government will always make efforts to prevent such situations.” Even just last month there was a dispute between India and Nepal
All things considered, it doesn’t seem that there is enough reason to believe quite yet that China truly is encroaching on Nepalese territory, due to the nature of the report being unpublished and some of the claims turning out to be false. The Chinese embassy has gone on record saying, “There is no dispute at all. It is hoped that the Nepali people [will] not be misled with false individual reports.” With everything going on with the Russian-Ukrainian border, it is only natural to be a little on edge regarding other border
courtesy Wikimedia Commons The Sino-Nepalese Teaty of Peace and Friendship, officially signed on April 28, 1960, ratified the previously settled upon borders between Nepal and China.
disputes, especially between countries with opposing political ideologies. However, it makes no sense at this time for China to encroach on their ally considering border conflicts with India. It seems safe to say at this
tucollegian@tucollegian.com editor in chief
Justin Klopfer managing editor
Adam Walsh news editor
Shelby Hiens sports editor
Callie Hummel variety editor
Julianne Tran commentary editor
Logan Guthrie satire editor
Anna Johns photo & graphics editor
Amy Polovich
business & advertising manager
Madeleine Goodman social media & web manager
courtesy @PradeepgyawaliK on Twitter President of Nepal Bidhya Devi Bhandari led her country in their third-ever tourism campaign, known as Visit Nepal 2020. This follows two other campaigns from 1998 and 2011.
Maddie Walters copy editor
Jihan Aldada
time that the reports are likely false or unconfirmed, and that more information needs to be made public to really understand what is going on between Nepal and China.
@TUCOLLEGIAN
The Collegian is the student newspaper of the University of Tulsa. It is distributed Mondays during the fall and spring semesters, except during holidays and final exam weeks. The University of Tulsa does not discriminate on the basis of personal status or group characteristics including but not limited to the classes protected under federal and state law. Inquiries regarding implementation of this policy may be addressed to the Office of Human Resources, 800 South Tucker Drive, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104-9700. (918)631-2616. Requests for accomodation of disabilities may be addressed to the university’s 504 Coordinator, Dr. Tawny Rigsby. (918)631-3814. To ensure availability of an interpreter, five to seven days notice is needed; 48 hours is recommended for all other accomodations. Advertising Policy: Advertising appearing in this publication does not imply approval or endorsement by the University of Tulsa or the Collegian for the products or services advertised. For advertising information, email the Collegian at advertising @tucollegian.org. The deadline for advertising is noon on the Friday prior to publication. Letter Policy: Letters to the editor must be less than 500 words and can be sent to tucollegian@tucollegian. org. Under no circumstances will anonymous letters be published. The name of the person submitting the letter must be published with the letter. We reserve the right to edit or reject all letters. The deadline for letters is 5 p.m. on the Friday prior to publication. Editing Policy: The Collegian reserves the right to edit all copy submitted by all writers. This editing my take place in many forms, including grammar corrections, changes in paragraph structure or even the addition or removal of sections of content. Editorial Policy: Columnists are solely responsible for the content of their columns. Opinions expressed in columns may not represent the opinions of the Collegian staff, the administrative policies of the University of Tulsa, the views of the student body or our advertisers.
