The Reporter

THE EPORTER Vol. CXXIII Issue 4 Stetson University | DeLand, Fla. Saying the F-word National Organization for Women examines feminist diversity, personal experience during first panel Jason Cruz StaffWriter The National Organization for Women (NOW) explored the various feminist theories under the umbrella term and discussed the particular difficulties women of color face during their first F-Word panel of the year. NOW, an on-campus branch of the largest organization of feminist activists in the United States, aims to make Stetson a better place for women and other marginalized groups. The group regularly hosts F-Word panels, which are forums for public discussions of feminist issues and activities. Each panel consists of a small group discussing the given night's topics before opening up to questions from the audience. Despite gloomy weather and other tempting activities on-campus, the audience swelled throughout the event, causing organizers to repeatedly bring more seats into Allen Hall's main auditorium. The large crowd seemed fairly receptive to the panelists remarks. Laughter rolled through the assembly on several occasions, along with claps, snaps, and general signs of encouragement. The discussion's hosts, Trinity Johnson, Ash Del Cid, Hannah Fageeh, and Tyler Thomas, comfortably approached the unique aspects of feminist theories ranging from the mainstream fight for political, social, and economic equality of the sexes to the radical attitude that much of the world today needs to be destroyed and built anew. The informative talk eased listeners into the complicated ideological differences amongst feminists and allowed each panelist to state the subset of ideas to which they subscribe. Rather than focusing on their different beliefs, however, the panel repeatedly stressed feminism as an inclusive ideology. According to the women speaking, all people who support women and their empowerment should count themselves feminists. Memorably, one student mentioned that even Donald Trump, currently taking flack for disparaging remarks he made about a female presidential candidate Carly Fiorina's appearance and another opponent's wife, could identify as a feminist if he so chose. Following the explanation of theories and terms, each panelist dove into the personal struggles they experience as not only women, but women of color. The examination of oppression under the lenses of multiple factors taken together is known as intersectionality. Led by women of African-American, Saudi Arabian, and Guatemalan descent, the conver sation turned to the intersectional experiences which regularly harm them. The experiences varied, but several stories shared included family members pushing European ideals onto them. Johnson, one of the African-American students, described her mother's constant orders to straighten or perm her hair rather than allow it to grow into the natural afro she wears today, because her mother feared that no one would ever respect or hire a woman with voluminous black hair. Fageeh, a half Saudi Arabian and half white student, described cousins with darker skin than hers warning her to stay indoors for multiple days at a time in order to lighten herself, because even in their Middle Eastern nation lighter women represent the beauty standard. The panelists spent much of the night describing the media treatment of women of color as well. Prominent examples included coverage of Nicki Minaj and Beyonce, two African American musicians with enormous followings who, according to the panel, are often portrayed in the media as "angry black women" whenever they speak out, and are victim to a host of stereotypes based on their race. Even Beyonce's 4-year-old daughter, according to the panelists, became the target of media scrutiny because publicly released photos other unstraightened hair. To the student speakers, this and much more signaled racial bias in the media which perpetrated similar attitudes and behaviors in daily life. The event ended with a question and answer session that clarified some of the earlier claims made, and sparked some pushback. One audience member, in response to the lengthy discussion of appearances, remarked that she is more interested in being seen as a leader because of her accomplishments and skills than her looks. Another asked what white feminists could do to help women of color, a distinction made several times throughout the night. The panelists told her and others to help promote women of color and at least understand that things are indeed different for them. The only man to pose a question asked if he would receive the same warm welcome he saw women receiving for nose piercings were he to get one. The panelists explained that sexism hurts men as well as women by holding them to absurd standards of masculinity and shaming them for anything typically held as feminine. NOW plans to hold many more hour- long F-Word panels in October and November, featuring a broad array of topics and speakers. #DreamsNotDebt The Millennial Debt Crisis, part 2 Michael Allan Galvez Web Editor To intervene or not to intervene, that is the question. For Democrats, all candidates essentially agree that government intervention is necessary — if not a must — to change the status quo of student loan debt in the United States for the better. Republicans, on the other hand, favor the opposite: private options for funding and the rolling back of government involvement. For young voters, party affiliation may split opinions, but the general thought remains constant: the next president needs to fix this. With 40 million Americans responsible for around a trillion of debt and a trend that will continue to see each succeeding graduating class out-indebting their predeces sors, this line of thought may come as no surprise. "I believe that people should have the right to higher education and should not have to pay for it for the rest of their lives," class of 2015 graduate Robert Spellman said. Democrats and Debt-Free Education Spellman, who graduated as a Communication and Media Studies major, now teaches English and is on the coaching staff of the women's soccer team at a local high school. For Spellman, Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders' plan resonates the most to his generation of students and graduates. Please see Debt Crisis, Page 2 What goes with/W/7/c? An album review A&E, Page 5 Stetson Soccer and more Sports, Page 7 COPY