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Jo u r n a l Wester n Oregon University’s Weekly Student Newspaper Since 1923
Volume 14 Issue 4
w w w. w o u . e d u / s t u d e n t / w e s t e r n j o u r n a l
Wednesday, October 25, 2013
Handicrap: What’s Your Reality? Allison Opson Clement | News Editor
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rofessional speaker Daniel Fries delivered a presentation about the Incight organization at Western’s Office of Disabilities (ODS) Handicrap Dinner last Wednesday, Oct. 23. The dinner was part of the October Disability Awareness Month (DAM). “Handicrap” has two official definitions according to Incight: a limiting belief, adopted as reality; or an unfair judgment, based on perception. Those two definitions apply to everyone; they’re not just about disabilities, Fries said. Some trigger words for a handicrap, being a limiting belief or an unfair judgment, include things like can’t, won’t, shouldn’t, couldn’t, and ain’t, according to Fries. “Because of people’s handicrap, the deck is stacked against them from the beginning,” said Fries. The Incight campaign was created nine years ago to advocate empowerment and inclusion with an antistigma campaign, according to Fries. Vail Horton, a congenital amputee (requiring prosthetic legs and crutches to walk), noticed that when children with disabilities were asked what they wanted to be when they grew up, they would stare and look to their mothers. They were seeking support and answers, never considering the idea that they
might be able to do something on their own, nor that they would have to be self-reliant someday. Horton coined the term “handicrap” TM in response to this conditioning. “We need to get to the point where people with disabilities are the ones opening doors for us, not us opening doors for them,” Fries quoted Horton in his presentation. Despite 23 years of work, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), statistics for disabled persons’ graduation and unemployment remain virtually unchanged. “Life is tough, you guys. We’re not here to sugarcoat it at all,” Fries said. “But we’re all learning as we go.” Fries commented on the two factors that guide us most: external obstacles and internal ones (or handicraps). “Can we control external obstacles? No,” said Fries. What have a greater impact are the untrue beliefs we hold about ourselves. These limiting beliefs too easily dominate us if we do not recognize them as untrue. Unfair judgments come from perception; negative conclusions affect behavior towards other people.
“This is a really clever way to say that we’re all broken and we’re all jerks,” said Fries. Fries had his audience write down two specific definitions: “Guilt is a negative feeling because I did bad. Shame is a negative feeling because I am bad.” It’s an issue of an accidental event versus personal identity, Fries explained. “Most [judgment] is done self-consciously,” said Fries. Judgments are made in self-preservation, to protect our views and opinions by reinforcing them to ourselves. “Almost all the judgments we pass on to people are based on wrong assumptions,” Fries said. Fries’ point is this: we need to overcome these notions, and thereby become less judgmental once we recognize what we are doing. Part of that lies in an understanding of how our minds work. Only one in 1,000 data bits that we experience on a daily basis passes through our consciousness. All five sensory inputs are distinctly unique to the individual. The brain filters and deletes or dilutes a huge percentage of our input, then compartmentalizes the rest.
Handicrap See Page 4
Laura Walmer | Layout Designer Daniel Fries’ video symbols portray the external challenges people face: disapproval, heartbreak and other adversities.
Halloween Events at Western are Sure to Surpise Laura White | Freelancer
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SPORTS
Upperclassmen Lead Wolves at XC Championships
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t’s Halloween once again, that time of year to show off our scaring skills, wear cool costumes and just enjoy ourselves. This year at Western, there are certainly many different Halloween events that students can participate in. The events are not limited to Oct. 31. Students can participate in two different events on Oct. 30: a Halloween Basketball Tournament and Zombie Zumba. The tournament is being put together by the Western Black Student Union (BSU). BSU Spokesperson Kendale Hamlett said that the event is the Halloween Basketball Tournament: “The basketball tournament of all basketball tournaments; our 3 on 3 costume tournament is sure to make everyone happy. If you’re just a competitive person, a basketball enthusiast, or just looking for a reason to pull out your costume a day early, you will enjoy this tourna-
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ENTERTAINMENT
A Look at TV’s Fall Line Up
ment.” Coming to Western for the first time in school history, on Oct. 30th, from 5:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the New PE gym. The cost is $5 per person. “Come out and have a great time.” Students can sign up to compete in this event at the Info Desk in the Werner University Center (WUC),” said Hamlett. Zombie Zumba takes place later that day, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in the WUC Pacific Room. Tickets cost $3 at the door and $2 in advance and are available in Student Led Career Development Office (SLDC), WUC room 119. Megan Reynolds, the spokesperson for Zombie Zumba said, “It’s a fundraiser event put on by the India Service Trip through the SLCD. It took about a week to organize; we hope to see as many people as we can. We’ll
Halloween See Page 11
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CAMPUS LIFE
Club Showcase: Green Dot Prepares to Take Campus by Storm