Rutgers University has officially updated (read as ruined) their 140 year old alma mater by changing the lyrics to be gender neutral ... and I say this as a woman ... a woman who loves the tradition that Rutgers once prided itself in ... and is slowly breaking down each and every one bit by bit.
If you are reading this, you may very well know that the original lyrics to the first verse of the alma mater went (sing along with me now, students of Rutgers) --- My father sent me to Old Rutgers and resolv'd that I should be a man; and so I settled down, in that noisy college town, on the banks of the Old Raritan.
The lyrics (ridiculously) now go a little something like this ...
From far and near we came to Rutgers and resolved to learn all that we can; and so we settled down, in that noisy college town, on the banks of the Old Raritan.
The new lyrics remove the reference to fathers and becoming men ... because students have a mom too or even two daddies or two mommies or no mommies or no daddies or whatever and because Rutgers is now co-ed and people have felt the need to whine and complain over this fact for years ... Because you know changing the lyrics for a select bunch of people is better than holding on to a tradition that a much larger group of others love and appreciate.
I don't know if these new lyrics will gain any popularity and stick ... But I do know that I will continue to sing the lyrics that I have grown to know and love (and, let's be honest, memorize) over the past almost ten years I have been around Rutgers, and I hope others will too.
My father sent me to Old Rutgers and resolv'd that I should be a man; and so I settled down in that noisy college town, on the banks of the Old Raritan. On the banks of the Old Raritan (my friends), where Rutgers evermore shall stand, for has she not stood since the time of the flood, on the banks of the Old Raritan. (On The Banks Of The Old Raritan, Rutgers Alma Mater)
Y'all are gonna like this one ... Wait for it. Wait for it ...
At work a few days ago, I had a grown ass man ask me if I was related to Saddam Hussein. If it was a child at the school that I work at, I would have written it off as curiosity and a learning experience, but when you are a TEACHER, it gets written off as ignorance and stupidity, sir.
Now, I have had my fair share of people ask me that question, and my fair share of times, I have looked people straight in the eye, deadpan, and said, "Yeah, he's my uncle." Just like Will Smith is related to John Smith, and Denzel Washington is related to George Washington (for all I know, they might be, I did not research this ... But, for the sake of making a point, there you go).
Usually after saying that people realize, "Shit, I look like an dumb mf-er right now." Nope. Not this guy. He straight up was like, "Nooooooo wayyyy." Ummmm, first off, our names are not even spelled the same, bro. Second off, NO. We are not all related. And, lastly, comparing me to one of the world's most hated men and maniacal terrorists in the history of time - super offensive, especially in light of recent events.
For anyone who may have this compartmental way of thinking - yes, it may make your black and white life easier - but it is NOT RIGHT.
When you talk and you say things like "People from there are blah blah blah" or "I guess it was the so-and-so's again" and "The terrorists did this ..." you are simply exacerbating an already hateful world. And when you do say these things do you think about who the "people" are that you are referring to and who "the terrorists" are? When you say things like that, you have already painted a picture of who the problem is, and of who a terrorist is. You are simply adding fire to an already humongous flame. A terrorist can be anybody. Terrorism knows no creed, color, nationality, religion, or ethnicity. Yousef Erakat of FouseyTube put out this video today, which I think sums it up wonderfully, especially when hate crimes have already been on the rise in the past week against what many people paint as the stereotypical "terrorist" in today's society.
Now, am I saying that a terrorist is never a Muslim? Obviously not. Am I saying that they are never of Middle Eastern or South Asian descent ... No. I'm not that naive. What I am saying is that there is no reason to paint all people of one faith, or one color, into one horrible picture, and to put them in one small box. That is simply ignorant.
And, on top of that, I refuse to get into the "But guys, you need to understand you shouldn't do that because Islam is a peaceful religion" argument ... Because, you know what, personally, I am tired of having to apologize for the sins of others. I am tired of having to think, after every horrible tragedy, "I hope it wasn't a Muslim" for fear of all Muslims being blamed, and I am sure that this is the feeling of billions of Muslims all over the world.
As the innocent bystanders of these horrible incidents that occur, we also deserve the time to grieve alongside the rest of humanity but oftentimes we are not given that because we are too busy worrying about apologizing for the actions of others, but you know what? I'm sorry I'm not sorry. There is no reason that the innocent should have to apologize for the misguided actions of a select group. What I should be able to be sorry for are the families who lose loved ones in these tragedies. I should be able to mourn the lose of life due to these actions ...
But the one thing I will not do from this moment on is apologize for the actions of others.
Why can't we talk it over? Always seems to me that sorry seems to be the hardest word. (Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word, Elton John)
Carly McKinney, the 23-year-old math teacher at Overland High School in Colorado, must be the dumbest teacher on the face of the planet ... with a lot of supportive students. Any teacher (any person who works directly with children in any aspect) knows that there are certain aspects of your life that are just not meant for the social media sphere because sooner or later (and most likely sooner), those children will get to seein' them. So what inclined this woman to post this online is beyond me ...
c/o Twitter ... @KatiePatrick2
I get that what she does outside the classroom is her business and all that ... But either way, I mean throw some privacy settings on your accounts. Or better yet, have some better judgement. I thought that once most people even entered the job market, they quickly took down anything slightly scandalous from their social media sites, especially considering the fact that more and more employers are using social media to look for/weed out potential employees. Even throwing that aside, this woman needs to understand that as a teacher, as a YOUNG teacher, that she makes a very big impression among the teens she is interacting with day to day. That can easily be seen in the amount of students flocking to their social media sites to support her.
So, seriously lady ... put on some clothes, put down the joint, and grow the f- up ... Got it bad, got it bad, got it bad. I'm hot for teacher. (Hot for Teacher, Van Halen)
Graduates of the St. Martinville, La. Senior High School Class of 1973 have proven themselves no better than their previous alumni.
While they had decided that after 40 years of having segregated class reunions, this would be the year to change it all ... invitees received a letter announcing that there would be a whites-only after party at one of the classmate's homes.
Photo c/o abcnews.com
According to an ABC News article, while this was the original plan, after some hard soul-searching (::sarcasm added::), the organizers decided that having an event for "white graduates only" was not what they were going to do. She stated that the old plans were sent out prematurely.
Yeah, I bet they were sent out prematurely. Just own up to it - 40 years later, your classmates, and maybe even you, are still a bunch of thickheaded racists, whose reunion would end up looking quite like Romy and Michelle's.
(No, really. Did anyone else wonder if they had more than maybe two or three non-white classmates at their reunion?)
Don't you forget about me. I'll be alone, dancing. You know it, baby. Going to take you apart. I'll put us back together at heart, baby. Don't you forget about me. Don't, don't, don't, don't, don't you forget about me. [Don't You (Forget About Me), Simple Minds]
I don't have much to say except that ... I GRADUATED!!!!!!!! I'm done with graduate school. It's official. I passed my classes. I passed my thesis. I crossed the stage ... And I'm done. All I'm waiting for is a piece of paper to say it. Rutgers tends to take their time with the diplomas but I can handle that because it's all good!
... But trust me on the sunscreen. [Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen), Baz Luhrmann]
So, it's been awhile. I'm generally not this non-bloggy but work and grad school kind of own my life ... But when I have something to say, I have to say it ... and if you've been following me for a while, you know there are two things that I am very violently vocal about (HELLO ALLITERATION!) ... One being women in the media and its effect on their body image and the other being shit that pisses me off.
So, here goes one about something that pissed me the heck off ... If it sounds similar, it might be because almost a year ago, I wrote a blog entry on a very similar topic.
If you are a frequent reader of my blog, you know that I substitute teach in my (very) spare time for some pocket change and to cover the bills, bills, bills ... and lately I have been noticing an alarming trend in a growing number of school districts that is PISSING ME OFF.
Back in the day when I was in school, we'd get off the bus, go in, put all our stuff away, go to homeroom or whatever ... and the first thing we'd generally do after attendance was the Pledge of Allegiance.
Nowadays, I barely go to any schools that do the Pledge every morning. Honestly, it would not surprise me if in some districts, there were students who did not know the Pledge, which doesn't piss me off ... it saddens me, because, you know what ... that's not the fault of the children, it's the fault of the districts.
Whether they are doing it to not offend because they have foreign students or because they are scared of saying "God" in school ... It is completely unacceptable.
We are a country of immigrants and I am completely aware of that (and proud of our diversity) ... and, yes, I know there are some things that we need to be sensitive of - I get that too.
I understand that some children may not want to say the Pledge because they are not American and they have their own countries that they pledge their allegiance to, and you know what ... I'm fine with that too. But, there is nothing wrong with still having it said every day and teaching children that they should stand and honor the country they live in, and presumably, their parents (or guardians) work and make a living in.
Yes, I am proud of my Italian heritage and, yes, I am proud of my Pakistani heritage, but when it comes down to it, when people ask me what I am ... After I give them a snide look and say "Human? How about you?" ... I always say American.
I am an American Italian. I am an American Pakistani. I was born and raised in this country, and despite the fact that there will always be policies and issues that I may not agree with from time to time, I am proud to be here and proud to live here ... and proud to pledge my allegiance to it.
And, I think that school districts need to remember that they have a part in instilling those values in the future leaders of our country.
I think my rant is over. But, seriously, if you are a parent ... Ask your child if they do the Pledge in school. Or at the least, make sure they know the Pledge, and be sure that they know to stand when it is said. It's a matter of respect, people!
He’s got the red, white, blue flyin’ high on the farm. Semper fi tattooed on his left arm. Spend a little more in the store for a tag in the back that says USA. He won’t buy nothin’ that he can’t fix with WD-40 and a Craftsman wrench. He ain’t prejudice, he’s just Made in America. He loves his wife ... She’s Golden Rule, teaches school, some folks say it isn’t cool, but she says the Pledge of Allegiance any way. (Made in America, Toby Keith)
(Sidenote:As I wrote that ... I heard the Star Bangled Banner playing from the television outside my door ... I guess my brother is watching some sporting event right now ... and on that note, I must commend some districts on their policies of both doing the pledge and playing the national anthem every morning.)
September 1, 2011... Started my first day of the third semester of grad school, so here I gooooo. I am sooooo super excited. I love school! I love college! I love it here. I love football games. I love Union Street. I love the grease trucks. I love Easton Ave. I love everything about my University. Anyone who knows me could tell you that I could go on and on and on and on for days about it ...
Oh wait. I just remembered. I'm not in college, anymore. OH SHITTTTTTTT. While other people are running around living the life ...
Strolling up and down Easton Ave. trying to find a party (do somethin' crazy, do somethin' crazy!), hangin' at the Grease Trucks 'til 2 am (FRESHMEN, FRESHMEN!), chillin' on their porches on Union Street, and registering for FREE UNDERGRADUATE football tickets ... I'm hatin' on them and thinking this ...
Why did I have to graduate? ... Ugh. Sad times.
R U. The college where dreams are made of. There's nothing we can't do 'cuz we're in RU. We will make you feel brand new. These Knights will inspire you. Let's hear it for RU, RU, RU. (Rutgers State of Mind, Deuce1s)
Side Note: I do not actually hate grad school and I would suggest to anyone considering a masters in Communication to check out the Rutgers MCIS Program. It really is an amazing program with amazing opportunities. I just really, really, really loved college ... and I really, really, really miss it a whole dang lot.
This week the New York Times reported that Kansas, which has one of the country's smallest state arts budgets, decided to shrink it further - to zero. While that is an extreme end of the spectrum, many other states are also slashing their arts budgets. Wisconsin is cutting its aid by 67 percent, Texas by 50 percent, and New Jersey by 23 percent.
The funds which are being cut generally go towards smaller theaters and cultural attractions, which depend on grant money or individual donations to help them survive, such as the Paper Mill Playhouse and the NJ Ballet Company.
These types of organizations often look to the state for grants, but when the state doesn't have the money to give, what can they do? Are they just suppose to close their doors to the public and be done with their work? I don't think that is right in any way, shape, or form.
I think this country has a partial obligation to its citizens to provide for its cultural upbringing - as do the citizens of this country to its neighbors. We should be avid supporters of the arts. We should be going out and supporting the cultural attractions in our states. We should also be fighting for arts education in our schools. I think everyone has heard the statistics about how children who play musical instruments do better in math and science, so I shouldn't even have to bring that up. But I don't even think that's the important thing about arts education in schools ...
Having music, and drama, and writing, and reading, and all those things give kids something to look forward to everyday. It gives them something to be happy about. I played violin for 6 years, and I was always lousy at math. And I was never really that great at violin. But I had a whole lot of fun (while breaking a whole lot of ear drums in the process). And during that time, I learned a thing or two about myself --- like that I was not cut out to be a concert violinist BUT that I was cut out to be a writer ( ... I learned that in Writer's Workshop which I participated in simultaneously with my violin lessons ... Both of which were paid for by arts education funds).
There are plenty of things you can do to support the cultural activities in your area, the arts in general, and arts education specifically, and it doesn't necessarily have to be monetary. Go see a show at your local theatre. See a play (or concert or comedy show or what-have-you) in the park --- they are super popular over the summer! Visit museums and gardens. See a dance performance. Go see the world's largest rubberband ball, if that's your thing. Just go out and DO SOMETHING. These places and performers need your support.
If you want to open your pockets and make a monetary donation to help the arts, here are some sites to check out (or to just peruse for informations sake).
But I have talent, a wonderful thing ... So I say, thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing. Thanks for all the joy they're bringing. Who can live without it? I ask in all honesty. What would life be? Without a song or a dance, what are we? So I say, thank you for the music - for giving it to me. (Thank You For The Music, ABBA)
Don't try and gyp this little girl ... She'll kick your ass for what equates to about 17 cents.
Damn. She's fiesty.
Side note: Some kid actually said that about me when I was substituting because I wouldn't let his class cheat on an exam and I made it known ... I still laugh about it.
All the women who independent, throw your hands up at me. All the honeys who make your money, throw your hands up at me. All the mamas who profit dollas, throw your hands up at me. All the ladies who truly feel me, throw your hands up at me. (Independent Women Part I, Destiny's Child)
Last Thursday night the MCISGraduate Student Association hosted a talk with Tim Pernetti, the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Rutgers University.
Although Pernetti's talk made a slew of amazing points, his talk focused on the importance of communication and the building of relationships throughout one's career and one's life in general.
Pernetti also mentioned something that really struck me. In a moment of somewhat craziness at a point in his earlier life, his wife sent him a text saying, "Life is not an emergency." Pernetti said he saved that text in that phone for as long as he kept it, and tried to look at it everyday (even though he wasn't sure what she meant by it).
Even if Pernetti wasn't sure what his wife meant by it ... I know what I can take away from it ... So get ready for a longggg entry!
I have been acting as if I need to have everything figured out right now. I came out of college hoping for a career in journalism ... But it was the year of the ultimate suckage. 2009. My fellow graduates and I grew up thinking we would leave with all the opportunity in the world that our amazing institution offered us then the world threw us a major curve ball. I applied for hundreds of jobs. Got tons of rejection letters. Got three interviews. One offer but then life threw me another major curve ball in the form of illness (but that's a whole different story). Long story short, a year went by without any luck. I ended up working at NJ Books in New Brunswick.
After a while, I decided I would go back to for graduate school - something I had always considered but didn't know where or when. I applied to several programs and got accepted to four programs. In the end it came down to Rutgers and Villanova. I visited Villanova and although I liked it, and the program looked really great ... I didn't have it in my heart to leave the place that offered me so many opportunities, and gave me so many memories, and helped cultivate relationships that will last a lifetime ... So I went with Rutgers.
Last semester, after taking some classes on Communication and thinking about my past experiences at Rutgers as an undergraduate, I have realized where my passions lie and what I want to really do with my life. Although journalism is still a love of mine, as is writing (hence this blog), I realized that I love working with students. I started substitute teaching, and although I love being in the classroom, I really love working with college students. I did it all through my undergraduate years and want to do it continuously ...
But now people are telling me I picked the wrong Master's program. They are telling me I should have mastered in Student Affairs, and maybe they have a point. But, on the other hand, I looked into a couple of those programs ... and looked into those classes, and I honestly didn't think it was worth it ... "Introduction to Working With Students" ... Done. "Student Leadership" ... Done. "Psychology of Learning." ... Done. (I was a Psych minor!) ... Seriously! Who needs a piece of paper they worked a year-and-a-half, two years for telling them they have the ability to work with students when I have four years experience doing it?!
I worked with the Off-Campus Students' Association for three and a half years, two of those as their treasurer and community service representative and one as their vice-president. I spent that time mentoring off-campus and commuter students and planning events for them and I enjoyed every minute of it. I met some of my best friends through that organization. I saw couples meet and marry through that organization. It was one of the best experiences I had in college. I also was involved with New Student Orientation. I served as an Orientation Leader for a year and as an Orientation Team Leader for another year. That had to be the one of the best things I ever did at Rutgers. I was able to meet amazing people, but also realized that working with new students was one of the most rewarding experiences and one of the most fun experiences ever. I loved planning the orientation and enacting the plans afterward. I loved helping the students and parents understand the workings of this large institution and telling them why I loved it. In a way it was like marketing. As an Orientation Team Leader, I loved leading my team of OL's and helping them help the new students. That was just as rewarding.
Off-Campus Students' Association Annual Halloween Party, 2007
In addition to those two amazing programs, I also got involved with Greek Life on campus. I met an amazing woman in one of my classes junior year who asked me to come out to a recruitment event at Alpha Chi Omega. I got a bid that night (went through formal recruitment) decided AXO was the place for me, and the rest is history! I am still an active alumni and I love going back to help the chapter and mentor the younger girls there. I want to see the chapter be the best it can be and grow to their best potential.
Alpha Chi Omega, Dance Marathon 2010
Those were not the only activities I was involved with as an undergrad. I also wrote for The Daily Targum and was a member of Circle K International, and Rutgers Big Buddy. I loved visiting my Little Buddy, Jose, at the elementary school.
I think it's clear that I have a firm foundation working with students and even though people are consistently telling me I am in the wrong program ... and telling me that I should stick with journalism ... And even though I have applied for dozens of jobs at Rutgers and have failed miserably at several interviews (I have a phobia of those things!) ... and have gotten a couple of rejection letters ... and have gotten a dozen people ignore my resume ... and have people tell me I am too overqualified for some jobs ... and have some people tell me I am too under-qualified for other jobs ... I realized that "Life is not an emergency."
And, one day, I don't know how ... But I will get a job working in this field. I may have to start out small. Maybe at a community college. Maybe sweeping floors at Rutgers (I'm apparently overqualified ... But shouldn't I decide that?!) But one day, I will make it. Maybe not now. Maybe not tomorrow or next week or next year. But one day ... I will work in this field with students because that's what I want to do and that's what I am passionate about and that's what my heart is set on. But right now ... I'm just going to slow down and take it easy and worry about making it to the end of the semester and worry about tomorrow when it gets here. Because that just makes like a whole lot easier.
"Wake up in the morning, get to living my life, making sure that I'm all that I can be ... So now I'm slowing it down and I'm looking around and I'm lovin' this town and I'm doing all right, Ain't worried about nothin' except for the man I wanna be ..." (Roll With Me - Montgomery Gentry)
Don't get me wrong, I think graduate was the right decision for me ... And I am (for the most part) enjoying my classes ... But the weather is getting nicer (crossing my fingers) and vacation is so close soooo ...
If my graduate classes do not end soon, and I need to continue writing papers that turn my brain to mush while I could be outside in the sunshine, and the classes continue to bore me to death ... I may end up like this girl.
No, seriously, one more yawn and that's it ... It's lolli-sticks for me. And they better have lolli-POPS attached to them if they plan on keeping me sitting there with them shoved in my mouth.
MMMMM ... Sweetness.
My boy Lollipop, you make heart go giddy-up. You are as sweet as candy. You're my sugar dandy.(My Boy Lollipop - Millie Small)
