Issue 1
Islam: The New Label for Terrorism
David Steinfeld
Undergraduate/Psychology
On August 15, 2009 Bollywood’s most famous actor Shah Rhuk Khan was detained and questioned at Newark Airport for almost two hours due to his Muslim name that came up on a computer alert list. The incident sparked major outrage in India and its Information Broadcast Minister Ambika Soni suggested that India adapt similar procedures for American tourists.
It might be that the media made too much of a fuss about the incident since Khan did not suffer any harm from his detention. He was quoted as saying that it was “…a necessary but unfortunate procedure.” Additionally, with a significant rise in Islamophobia, an incident like this is not uncommon. Ever since 9/11 America and other countries have become more paranoid and protective due to a new form of terrorism that has emerged in our century.
Human Rights Coalition Corner- Human Trafficking Abolitionists
Lauren Novak
Undergraduate/Political Science and Psychology
Imagine that for the third time this week, you have been hit by your stepfather. You’re pretty used to this by now seeing as you are 15 years old and it’s been happening since you were eight. As you go back up to your room after being told that you’re useless, all you can think about is how thankful you are that he was too tired to rape you today. When you get to your room, you have a text message from him. He’s telling you how much he loves you and how he wants you to pleasure him. Sometimes it feels like he’s the only person in the world that cares about you.
See No Evil
Sara Adams
Undergraduate/Political Science
Does it help if we close our eyes?
The Obama Administration is appealing, to the Supreme Court, a court order to release photographs of torture. Obama’s reasoning: "I want to emphasize that these photos that were requested in this case are not particularly sensational, especially when compared to the painful images that we remember from Abu Ghraib," he said. "It's therefore my belief that the publication of these photos would not add any additional benefit to our understanding of what was carried out in the past by a small number of individuals." This position is a reversal; previously Obama planned to release the photographs.
Pages From the Musical Journal Issue Five
Ted Waldbilig
Undergraduate/English
David Bowie: “Heroes” (1977 LP)
May 2008 - (Excerpt) …If that absolutely won't do it, then here: Two tracks in, you reach title track "Heroes," and find it impossible not to love. The yearning of the last minute or two is enough to make returning to the song over and over like recalling the mistake of not getting more out of high school.
Ultimately, "Heroes" is the more lovable and accessible younger brother of Low. As with any sibling duo, one is inextricably woven in with the other, though there is inevitable rivalry. Bowie had officially reached his second peak; the mirror reflection of what had happened earlier in the decade, but now distorted, artier and with a hunk of khat in the cheek instead of just a tongue.
Kanye West: 808s & Heartbreak (2008 LP)
Reality Check: Homosexuality is Not a Curable Disease!
Kristoffer Martin
Undergraduate/Creative Writing
I come from a southern christian family (I leave christianity un-capitalized here out of disrespect), I have seen the ups and downs of the kind of relationship that comes out of this religious fervor; the animosity the disinheritance and excommunication that comes with having an alternate sexuality, yet I never thought I’d have to confront the idiotic and contemptuous conclusion it seems many are coming to in our society.
I was recently asked to join a Facebook.com group “Friends of Bryce.” Originally I thought maybe I knew this person from somewhere, met him at a convention, or some other event. Little did I realize that it was actually a prevention group, but not a prevention group as one might think; it was a group to prevent him from going to homosexuality rehabilitation, which was forced upon him by his parents.
I’ll Take My History With Vodka Please: Musings of a History Major, Museum Lover, and Slavophile
Christopher Morley
Undergraduate/History
One of the first reactions that I get when I tell people that I’m a history major is “Oh…so do you want to teach?” Actually, that’s probably the most common reaction that I or any of my colleagues in the history department receive. The other two most common responses I get are, “What type of history?” and “What do you want to do after college?”
So, to answer the question, I am interested in the people, languages, and cultures of Russia and Eastern Europe, after graduate school (I have no idea yet where) I want to become a museum curator, and no, I do not want to teach. I do, however want to talk about, among other things, my love of museums, which began when I was quite young.
