UHURU

uhuru magazine / / Fall 2012 / / 1

SOCIAL JUSTICE

M O U N TA I N T O P R E M O VA L

T H E F R E E D O M M A G A Z I N E

A N I S U S T U D E N T P U B L I C A T I O N V . X . I I I .

-

Cultural Studies in Sri Lanka: Work, the Environment, Religion and Food with Jane DusselierMay 20-June 10, 2013

Sri Lanka

Belgium Europe at a Crossroads with Kelly B. ShawJune 2-21, 2013

Canada Canadian Politics & Foreign Policy with James McCormickMay 19-June 8, 2013

England/Spain

Germany

Greece

Ireland

Italy

From Columbus to the Cold War: U.S. History in the Atlantic World in Madrid & London with Jeff BremerMay 30-June 29, 2013

Berlin’s History and Culture with Mark LooneyMay 13-31, 2013

Archaeology of Greece with Margaret MookMay 13-June 1, 2013

On the Road in Ireland: A Traveling Writer’s Workshop with Steve Pett and Debra MarquartMay 14-June 7, 2013

Urbino thru a Lens with Dennis ChamberlinJune 6-July 4, 2013

For more information visit www.las.iastate.edu/study-abroad or contact Nancy T. Guthrie at [email protected] or call 515-294-1162

uhuru magazine / / Fall 2012 / / 3uhuru magazine / / Fall 2012Fall 2012F / / 3

Fall 2012Table of Contents

F e a t u r e s

C u l t u r e

Mountain Top Removal – 26

Student Spotl ight – 12

Showing off some ISU students

Gender Pay Gap – 16

Shouldn’t things be equal?

Recipe for Scandal – 25

Shouldn’t things be equal?

Pussy Riot – 32

Business Spotl ight – 33

Get to know Ames a little better

Social Just ice – 11

Clearing up the def inition for you

A Nation Decided – 20

I Have a Dream Act – 22

Nature and Science – 14

B l u r b s

Prince Harry Vs. Wil l iam – 7

Who’s your favorite Brit?

Pol i t ical Hunger Games – 8

Politics with a pop culture twist

Student Origins – 31

Our diverse undergraduate population

A l l i K o l i c k

R i l e y D a w s o n

Dear Readers, After two and a half years co-steering this ship, we’ve come to my final issue of Uhuru. It’s been a great run, and I would like to thank every-one who nudged me in the right direction, helped raise money when we ran out of it, let me ask them questions, signed forms, and co-created this wonder-ful publication with me. Leaving Uhuru (and, soon enough, Iowa State) is a scary thing, but I hope I’ve learned enough from my experiences here to venture off into the world of graduate school, jobs, and not-Ames to keep my head above water. What Uhuru has taught me, more than anything else, is to respect and take joy in what is different from myself. Here, I’ve learned that curiosity leads to understanding; that open-mindedness is key to happiness; and that even when your deadline is three days away, you can still pull together a magazine.

I hope your minds, your worlds, and your perspec-tives have been opened up by Uhuru as much as mine have. I hope you learn something new every day, and that you keep up a healthy curiosity about the world around you. Also, I hope that wherever you end up, there are lots of baby animals to pet, because fuzzy things make everything better.

My Dearest Readers, It’s good to be back working with the staff as Co-Editor-in-Chief ! After studying abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland last semester and writ-ing for the magazine over seas, it’s been wonderful to work, in person, with our amazing staff.

Unfortunately, after two and a half years of her hard work, we will be losing our other Co-Editor-in-Chief, Riley Dawson. It’s been a privilege to work with her for so long and I, as well as the rest of the Uhuru staff wish her well in her future endeavors!

I hope that you enjoy this issue and look for our next issue that will be out next spring!

Fall 2012Letters from the Editors

EDI T ORIAL

Co-Editor and ChiefRiley Dawson, Alli Kolick

WritersRiley Dawson, Alli Kolick,

Lauren Johnsen, Molly Bryant, Nao Demand, Ashley Halverson,

Sarah Humpfner

A D V E RT I S I N G

Advert is ing ManagerAlli Kolick, Paige Winters

Advert is ing DesignJake Skrok

CREA T IVE

Creative DirectorPaige Winters

Art DirectorJojo Matson

DesignersEli Dahlke, Tyler Emry,Jojo Matson, Alison Gamm,Michelle Bui, Brittany Iverson, Amber Leick,Teryn Hammes, Zoe Larson,Brittany Long, Chen Zhang,Kaitlin Ungs

Typographic Special istMiguel Carrasquillo

PhotographyJojo Matson , Tyle r E mr y,Brittany Long

I l lustrat ionTyler DeHague, Chen Zhang,Eli Dahlke, Shelby Walters

Fall 2012Masthead UHURU

2013JANUARY 19, 8AM

At Beyer Hall and State Gym

Food after the race

All participants get a t-shirt

Prizes for top finishers

USAT SANCTIONED RACE Put on by the ISU Triathlon Club

To sign up for the event and for more information visit: www.triathlon.stuorg.iastate.edu/tri/

500 yard swim • 8 mile bike • 2 mile run

Registration Cost – $40

We’re all still reeling from the out-of-context quotes and angry Facebook statuses that fl ooded the American public in the months leading up to the recent election. With the spirit of fairness in mind, Uhuru decided to look back on some famous mistakes, missteps and misfortunate quotes from other political leaders.

“China is a big country, inhabited by many Chinese.” -former French president Charles De Gaulle

“During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet.” -Al Gore

“I love California. I practically grew up in Phoenix.” -Dan Quayle, former Vice President

“It’s no exaggeration to say the undecideds could go one way or the other.” -George H. W. Bush


Constantly in competition for the most desirable Prince, Harry and William are neck and neck. But who is consistently in the lead? Let’s take a look at their successes and faux pas.

PUBLIC IMAGE

Prince William wins with a resounding “Hurrah!” due to the fact that Harry just can’t seem to keep it in his pants. Th e royal family’s self-pro-claimed bad boy has quite a bit of growing up to do before he is deemed fi t for the throne.

SIGNIFICANT OTHER

Another win for Prince William has hit the jackpot after he fi nally popped the question to long time partner, Kate Middleton. She’s gorgeous, smart, and she doesn’t fl op around naked in pictures with her hubby in Las Vegas. Take notes, Harry.

Prince William takes the crown… literally. Harry has a lot to learn from his suave,

balding older brother.

The winner is obvious, innit?

HAIR

Prince Harry pulls through with a win in this category, seeing as Prince William barely has any. Although Harry is a ginger (a commonly mocked hair color), his feathery locks spark a collective sigh when spotted publicly.

by molly bryantdesign kaitlin ungsillustrations tyler dehague UHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUHURUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

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Attila the Hun

Round 1

Round 2

Abraham Lincoln

Condalezza Rice

Teddy Roosevelt

Condoleezza Rice

Ben Franklin

Uncle Sam

Hillary Clinton

Queen Elizabeth II

Rosie the RiveterRosie the Riveter

Queen Elizabeth II

Teddy Roosevelt

Condoleezza Rice

Ben Franklin

Putin

George WH Bush

Stalin

Mao

Kim Jong II

Uncle Sam

Hillary Clinton

by allie kollick design & illustrastion eli dahlke

Round 1

Round 2

Welcome to the Political Hunger Games. “May the odds be ever in your favor.”(Th is is a completely satirical and fake version of the Hunger Games for shits and giggles. Th e order and the winner of the Political Hunger Games was Voted on by the Uhuru staff . Enjoy!)

Queen Elizabeth IITHE WINNER

Rosie the Riveter

Abraham Lincoln

Queen Elizabeth ISarah Palin

Bill Clinton

Henry VIII

Ivan the Terrible

Attila the Hun

George W Bush

Attila the Hun

The Terminator

Ivan the Terrible

Napoleon

Henry VIII

Bill Clinton

Sarah Palin

Dick Cheney

Ron Paul

Abraham Lincoln

Queen Elizabeth I


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November 30 The Plex, 5501 GW Carve Road,

Ames, IA 7pm–7am

Register Online at Access Plus *$10 registration fee

Stay up all night without food participating in fun activities throughout the night

Must Raise a minimum $40 in donations for more information find us on Facebook or email [email protected]

Hope 4 Africaat ISU presents


Social Justice, as dictionary.com defi nes it, is “the distribution of advantages and disadvantages within a society.” What exactly does that mean, you might ask; and why should I care? It means that much of the time, the distribution of resources is unjust; it means that some people do not have access to things like clean water, unpolluted air, national parks, enough food to eat at every meal, technology that makes lives easier, and other things that most students at Iowa State

design zoe larsonphoto tyler emry

SOCIAL JUSTICEUniversity take for granted. The term ‘resources’ does not merely mean the fi nancial wherewithal to purchase luxury goods, but the bare minimum necessary to survive.

You should care because social injustice is unacceptable. The wealth gap that exists both in this country and all over the world is unforgivable. When there are people dying from starvation, from diseases that are non-fatal in the West, drinking polluted water, and getting cancer from unscrupulous business practices as professional athletes are simultaneously

Often times the distribution of

resources is unjust; some people do

not realize that they take the resources

they have for granted.

making millions of dollars, it is time to change.

Governments and international organizations are not the only bodies

that have the capability to practice social justice; individual citizens can practice social justice in their daily lives. Activism isn’t the only way for us to be socially just. We can also

practice social justice by being informed consumers. Buy cruelty free products; pay a little bit more for fair trade coffee or fair wage

clothing, for example. Be aware of where your goods come from and where your waste goes, and there will be liberty and social justice for all.

Tiffani Nguyễn has spent most of her life living in the United States. Her parents immigrated with their family to the US in 1994 in hopes to give their children more opportunities than they would have had back in Vietnam. When asked what social justice issues are most important to her, Nguyễn answers, “I think that’s something that I’m

still trying to figure out. There are just so many different issues going on in this world.” She notes that all social justice issues are important; however, as she is still learning about the platforms of many of them, she says that she doesn’t prioritize them, for the time being.

However when I asked her if any social justice issues affect her personal life, she was quite sure of her answer. “I’m always worried that people assume that I’m an illegal immigrant,” says Nguyễn. “Race has always been a bigger issue.” Nguyễn comments that in America she feels that it is always obvious that she is not from here because she has darker skin and dark, brown eyes.

“I remember when we first came here, light colored eyes fascinated me for the longest time,” Nguyễn recalls. She says that she’s always felt like the minority. Last year Nguyễn studied abroad in Argentina and Spain, and was the “American.” When she visited her family in Vietnam she said that though she looked like her family, she had not lived in Vietnam since she was about four years old and did not know the culture.

The other social justice issue that is prominent in her life is one that is common among many families that immigrate to America: the language barrier. Often people think about the language barrier between one person and society but not a person and their own home.

“It’s actually really common,” Nguyễn says. Children often serve as the bridge between their parents and society.

When we met for our interview, Nguyễn had recently suffered a minor head injury and shared that it was difficult to explain to her parents what exactly had happened because she didn’t know the word for “concussion” in Vietnamese. All her parents knew was that she had gone to the hospital.

While there is a language barrier that she deals with on a daily basis, Nguyễn tries to improve her linguistic skills as she speaks English, Vietnamese, and Spanish.

Nguyễn is completing her final year here at Iowa State University, and will obtain her degree in Sociology with a certificate in Leadership and Public Service in the spring.

TIFFANI NGUYEN

Fall 2012Student Spotlight


This year UHURU took on a new advisor, Dr. Brianna Burke. Burke is an Assistant Professor of English and focuses on environmental justice, ecocriticism, Native American literature, and multi-cultural 20th Century American literature.

Burke says that she decided to get involved with the magazine because “it deals with issues pretty

close to my heart.”While Burke loves the fact that UHURU is a student

driven magazine, she says that she “would like to see the magazine cover more topics that affect ISU students directly,” she says about shifting the focus of the magazine.

“I think the creativity matches what you guys were talking about. Culture is weird and absurd and serious and funny,” says Burke.

Coming from teaching in an East Coast education system, Burke notes that it is inspiring to see how many students pay their own way through college and work hard to earn their education; she truly hopes that students can use resources on campus, such as UHURU, to further their learning.

As we began talking about some of the topics that are featured in this issue, such as the election and social justice issues, Burke prefaced the rest of our discussion by saying “I’m a democrat. I tell my students that up front because I think they should know that bias.”

And while she supports President Obama in there are

things that she wishes were different. “I hate the President’s energy policy; I know why he’s

doing it, but I think Romney is far worse,” Burke says. While she recognizes that the President has put

money behind clean energy and supporting wind and solar energy, businesses that would support jobs in Iowa, she wants a more progressive energy plan. “I thought Obama was a progressive but I think [now] that he’s conservative.”

“I would like to see us end all tax breaks for energy companies except for clean energy [companies],” says Burke.

“Take all of those subsidies that we give to coal, oil, and natural gas and put it into wind and solar and maybe a little to bio-fuel.” Burke says that she doesn’t like ethanol: “I don’t think that we should be taking food and making it into fuel. The algae based bio-fuel is a bit smarter,” she says.

Burke says that her top three hot button issues are environmental issues, women’s issues, and minority issues.

“I think gender should be a prominent issue on campus, for both men and women,” says Burke. “The women’s issue shouldn’t just be a women’s issue, it should be an everyone’s issue.”

Burke thinks that people don’t even think about the wage disparity of women, as well as minorities. Currently women get paid 80 cents to the dollar and African-American men get paid 72 cents to the dollar, compared to white males.

When asked about how she thinks students should get involved in supporting issues she says that people have to make these fights personal. Start small with making simple decisions like carrying a reusable cup or buying local produce only.

“Also be willing to have the conversation with people,” Burke says, urging people to discuss decisions such as these with their peers and co-workers. She says that it is the conversations that really help spread the message, and it is Uhuru’s goal to help initiate these conversations.

DR. BRIANNA BURKE

Fall 2012Student Spotlight

rivers and streams, contaminating our water supply. But it’s not just this specific protein that is finding its way into the water; pesticides used on the corn are also posing a problem to the environment. GM corn is created to resist the damaging effects of pesticides, which allows farmers to spray their fields generously with the chemicals. Runoff then brings those chemicals into the water supply. A trace of Monsanto’s popular Round Up and this GM protein have been discovered in the groundwater supply. Scientists are uncertain what harmful effects this bacterial protein will have on people, but we cannot assume that these effects are possible.

Until this issue becomes a risk to public health, there will likely not be a bill passed to limit the use of pesticides or crop engineering in the U.S. This is now becoming a debate about what is more important—corn or water? In the Midwest where our livelihood relies on the crops that feed the cattle and make much of the food consumers buy and eat, corn is our gold. This issue will have to be decided by each individual farmer. To spray or not to spray, that is the question.

Genetically modified (GM) plants are a growing science in the Midwest. Corn and other items commonly found in your local produce section are being genetically modified to withstand droughts, floods, and insects/insecticides. Though these seem like momentous breakthroughs in the farming community, recent discoveries suggest that GM corn may not be the best for our water supply.

GM corn contains a bacterial protein meant to repel insects. In the no-till process often used in the Midwest to prevent erosion, the leftover crops are decomposing, releasing this bacterial protein into the soil. Over time runoff carries this protein to the nearby

by ashley halverson design & illustration chen zhang

The War Between Nature & Science Continues

T h e l e f t o v e r c r o p s a r e

d e c o m p o s i n g , r e l e a s i n g

t h i s b a c t e r i a l p r o t e i n

i n t o t h e s o i l .


A NATION DIVIDEDA NATION DECIDED

DEMOCRATIC STATES VS REPUBLICAN STATES48 states employ a winner-take-all system, meaning that whoever wins the popular vote wins all of the electoral votes. However, Maine and Nebraska award their electoral votes based on congressional district.

Nine states this year were pinpointed as key Swing States, meaning it is difficult to determine which candidate will win the state. Eight awarded the votes to Obama, and votes from only one went to Romney.

Happy post–November 6th to you all! Now that the election is over and you no longer have to deal with the never-ending stream of election campaigns on whatever media you listen to or watch. However we want everyone to know the final results of the election — so here we go!

***

Swing State*

Obama

Romney

*

*

**

**

design amber leicksource politico.com

*


ELECTORAL VOTES: 2012 vs 2008

303

Obama

365

206

Romney/McCain

176

POPULAR VOTE

Obama Romney

61,907,639

58,648,640

112TH CONGRESS (2010 – 2012)

Republican

Democrat

232193

The House of Representatives

Democrat

Independent

Republican

51 472

The Senate

113TH CONGRESS (2012-2014)

Obama

Romney

ELECTORAL VOTESA candidate needs 270 votes to winVotes per state = Senators + Representatives

206

Democrat

Independent

Republican

The Senate -100 Seats

2

53 45

Democrat

Undecided

Republican

The House of Representatives - 435 Seats

7

194 233

332

by ashley halversondesign michelle buiphoto brittany long

I HAVE A DREAM ACT

With election season just behind us and Obama re-elected for a second term, change is in the air. One change has the potential to affect more than 1.4 million people living in the United States. This group of individuals is the US population of undocumented persons, often incorrectly referred to as “illegal immigrants.” Laws, acts, bills, and amendments to change the situation of these persons have been discussed for decades, but there is one that might actually stick. Pitched to Congress in 2001, the Development, Relief, and Education

for Alien Minors (DREAM) act gave immigrants hope for a better life. Those who have lived in this country for a majority of their lives and consider themselves Americans now have the opportunity to obtain the official documentation to give them citizenship.

A majority of undocumented persons are Hispanic and reside mostly in states like Texas and California, but there is a range of multicultural individuals residing in states around the country that the DREAM act would benefit. After much rejection and revision, the act is finally picking up steam. On June 15, 2012, Secretary Napolitano presented a memorandum1 specifying the requirements an immigrant must meet to be eligible for U.S. citizenship. They are as follows:

• Came to the United States before the age of sixteen;

• Has continuously resided in the


United States for at least five years preceding the date of this memorandum and is present in the US on the date of this memorandum;

• Is currently in school, has graduated from high school, has obtained a general education development certificate, or is an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States;

• Has not been convicted of a felony offense, a significant misdemeanor offense, multiple misdemeanor offenses, or otherwise poses a threat to public safety; and

• Is not above the age of thirty

If an illegal immigrant meets these requirements they are given a 6-year temporary or “conditional” visa. This visa would allow the individual to carry on through higher education or enlist in the military. After six years, if the individual has completed 2 years of college or served 2 years in the military and are deemed of “good moral standing” they are granted complete U.S. citizenship. But what does it mean to be of “good moral standing?” The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will look at the criminal record of the person in question, but there is also a subjective interpretation that we’ve become very familiar with since 9/11: that the person “poses a threat to national security.” This statement is just vague enough to mean anything. Besides misdemeanor charges, DHS doesn’t list an exact set of actions that would be considered threatening to national security, so this situation can be construed as anything they want it to be. What if an increase in population became a threat according to DHS? Some citizens are concerned about such matters. As mentioned

“THEY ARE U.S. CITIZENS IN ALL BUT NAME, BUT IT’S TIME TO GIVE THOSE DREAMERS SOMETHING TO DREAM FOR.”


earlier, 1.4 million undocumented persons would be eligible for citizenship. Would the DREAM act become a gateway for more “illegal immigration?”

Like any act, the DREAM act has its benefits as well as its pitfalls. This act would allow illegal immigrants to legally attend a university and pursue a higher level of education beyond that of secondary school, but at what cost? With their temporary visa they would be eligible for loans and work-study but no other financial aid would

be granted to them. This act would not force universities to grant the DREAMers in-state tuition and so they would then have to find a way to pay the full out-of-state

tuition. The individual will then have the U.S. citizenship they’ve wanted for their

entire lives but also a pile of debt to go with it.

The DREAM act has the potential to do great things for the people living in this country. However, when trying to tackle such a controversial national issue as undocumented persons, there is no way to successfully deal with it in one document. It has been 11 years since the act was first presented to legislators. With the age limit posted on this act, how many more hopeful immigrants will watch their eligibility slip away as they turn 30 and the act isn’t passed? What happens to those individuals too old to gain what we are given at birth? Do they continue to live their lives worried about deportation,

“THE DEVELOPMENT, RELIEF, AND EDUCATION FOR ALIEN MINORS (DREAM) ACT GAVE IMMIGRANTS HOPE FOR A BETTER LIFE”

forced to work low-level jobs? Though this act still has its bugs to work out, we as a nation need to move forward and act. Those that came here as children, with no choice in the matter, and understand America to be their home, should have the same opportunities as anyone else who has lived here their entire lives. They are U.S. citizens in all but name, but it’s time to give those DREAMers something to dream for.

1 Homeland Security Memorandum. Secretary Napolitano. June 15, 2012. http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Napolitano-memo-6-15-2012.pdf

preferred hours of work, potential maternity leave, and the particular occupation. But, there are also discriminatory characteristics such as gender stereotypes or customer and employer bias.

Gender stereotypes originated from gender roles. During the 19th century Victorian Era women typically worked in the household while men were the primary breadwinners. Women cooked, cleaned and tended to the kids. Men worked all day to come back to a home-cooked

by molly bryantdesign paige winters

photo jojo matson

G A P G E N D E R P A Y

For years feminists have been fi ghting for equal rights among women and minorities. Although many of these battles have been won, equal pay in the workplace continues to cause problems regardless of the legisla-tion in place to counter it.

Differences in the pay gap have been attributed to personal and professional characteristics such as education level,


Co. Supreme Court decision that stated that the statute of limitations for presenting an equal-pay lawsuit begins on the date that the employer makes the initial discriminatory wage decision, not at the date of the most recent paycheck. The act amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 stating that the

180-day statute of limitations for fi ling an equal-pay lawsuit regarding pay discrimination resets with each new discrimi-natory paycheck.

meal and submissive wives and children. These rules that had been established determined a woman’s role in society and limited their participation in it as well. They couldn’t vote, but were forced to pay taxes on issues in which they had no representation.

These stereotypes have played a major role in discrimi-nation against women and minorities. Ideas such as women are not as strong as men, women are more emotional than men or even women should not hold power positions have had major effects outside the workplace. Young girls often grow up believing these stereotypes because it is reinforced in a school or home setting.

Customer and employee bias is also reinforced by these false notions. Male clients often do not trust women to make the right decision for them and instead request that they are aided by a male employee.

There are two sides to the pay gap: unadjusted and adjusted. The unadjusted aspect, also called raw, does not have to do with the personal or workplace characteristics between men and women. The adjusted aspect is the dis-criminatory side, where the wage gap cannot be explained by specifi c variables.

The gender pay gap in the United States is measured as the female to male median yearly earnings for a full-time, year-round worker. Currently, a woman makes 77 cents to every dollar that a male makes. Since 1980, the gap has narrowed by 16.8 cents, increasing from 60.2 cents to 77 cents, as stated by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research in 2009.

There are currently three federal statutes that work together to attempt to ensure the elimination of the gender pay gap. The fi rst, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, simply aimed at eliminating wage discrimination based on sex.

The second statue, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, took the 1963 act a step further by attempting to eradicate discrimination based not only sex, but race, ethnicity, nationality and religion as well.

The last one, The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, was signed into law by President Obama on January 29. It was in answer to the Ledbetter vs. Goodyear Tire

C U R R E N T LY, A W O M A N

M A K E S 7 7 ¢ T O E V E R Y D O L L A R

T H AT A M A L E M A K E S .

In June of this year, Republicans voted against the Democratic-led legisla-tion aimed at closing the gender pay gap. The vote was 52-47. Republicans thought that the previous acts, which include the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, were enough protection and the new legislation would only cause unnecessary litigation in courts.

According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2010 the median income of a male full-time, year-round worker was $42,800. For a female full-time, year-round worker it was $34,700.

That is a difference of $8,100 per year. In four years, that is a difference of $32,400. And in ten years, that is a difference of $81,000.

Now just think about this. That pay difference would not only mean more fi nancial support for your family, but it could potentially be a better living situa-tion, better life insurance, healthier food choices for a family or even a new car.

As students, there are a few things we can be working towards in order to close the gender pay gap. First, you can contact your Iowa Senate representatives. Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin were voted to

represent us nationally in Congress so that we all could have our voices heard. Visit their websites and send them a quick message about your concerns regarding the gender pay gap. Let them know that the legislation going through congress concerning this topic should be passed.

Yes, women have come a very long way since the begin-ning of feminism and the fi ght for equality. However, the gender pay gap proves to be extremely detrimental to women and minorities nationwide. It is crucial to the fu-ture of our country that every citizen is able earn the same wage for the same work. Equal opportunity is a happy America, friends.

T H E G E N D E R P A Y G A P

P R O V E S T O B E D E T R I M E N TA L

T O W O M E N


SCANDALSo, you’re a young, ambitious, politically-inclined individual hoping to take the post-graduate world by storm, but you’re not sure how to do that? The answer is simple: be part of a SCANDAL. How do I be a part of a scandal? It’s simple:

Recipe for

Follow these easy steps to make your mark on the world!

You will need:

1. Start “flirt” texing the ingénue; be as risqué as you desire. The first few should be text only, after that move into the realm of pictures. Make sure the texts are frequent, and in high volume. Remember, you want a lot of texts for the public to read.

2. Record an evening with the ingénue, send a copy to your journalist.

3. “Accidentally” send a few of the texts to your Twitter or Facebook page. At least half of the texts should be made public, so the other half can later be “discov-ered” by your journalist. Tell your journalist to docu-ment all posts.

4. Bcc your journalist on all messages.

5. After the tweets/posts are on the internet, wait a few hours. Then tell your jour-nalist to leak the video/tape recording.

6. Wait a few days. Keep people on their toes. Give the public some time to talk about this.

7. Tell your journalist to slowly leak the rest of the tweets. Send a few more to the journalist at this time, have he/she leak these as well.

8. Send the ingénue to Oprah/The View/The Today Show/etc. He/she will tell the whole story, paint you as the bad guy, etc. Crying would be beneficial.

9. Wait a few more days.

10. Have your people come up with an official press release denying everything.

11. Get People Magazine to interview the ingénue. Have them show new messages and/or pictures. Crying would be beneficial.

12. Wait a month, then “pay off” the ingénue. Your journalist will release this information to the public.

13. Your ingénue will then publicly deny everything.

• One “hacked” Twitter of Face-book page

• 20-25 “flirt” texts posted to the Twitter or Facebook page

• One stunning young ingénue or one naive young man/woman

• 3-4 pictures of you missing some articles of clothing

• At least one Talk Show• Video/tape recording of you

with the ingénue• One journalist at your disposal• One press release• One “apology• People Magazine• An infinite amount of tears

by lauren johnsen design tyler emry

illustration tyler dehague

What is Mountaintop Removal?

Mountaintop removal can be defined as an invasive form of coal mining in which the soil, rock and plant life of a mountain is destroyed and removed through the use of explosives in order to mine the coal seams underneath. The process begins with the deforestation of the mountain, cutting down trees and scraping away the soil and plant life that grows on the rock. Next, powerful explosives are used to remove up to 800 feet of mountain rock which is then hauled to a nearby valley by trucks and large machinery. After the mountain-top has been eradicated, machines called draglines are used to dig into the remain-ing rock to reach the coal seams that are

REMOVALMOUNTAIN TOP

now much closer to the surface. These machines can be as tall as a 20-story building and are used because of the low amount of labor needed to operate them, allowing for coal companies to hire fewer workers and make a larger profit. These machines dig to and remove the coal from the mountain, creating waste called “overburden” made from yet more of the mountain that has been dug up and broken down. This overburden is hauled away to make for easier access to the coal; it is deposited in valleys, creating valley fills which block or bury headwater streams in the area. When the coal has been removed, the mountain is rebuilt and revegetated using the exploded material as well as soil or soil substitutes; some companies acquire waivers for this process and, rather than attempting to return the landscape to a semblance of normality, leave the mine sites stripped and bare.

This process is neither easy nor sensible. Many mining companies do not attempt to reclaim or revegetate the mountains they have destroyed. Even when the mountain is supposedly returned to a fac-simile of a natural landscape, it never returns to a truly healthy state. The process and byproducts of mountaintop removal (MTR) are devastating not only for the communities and ecosystems surround-ing the mountains but the nation (and the world) as a whole.

by RILEY DAWSONdesign PAIGE WINTERS

photos JOJO MATSON

Why should you care?

While much of the current attention paid to MTR is focused on Appalachian mountains and communities, there are similar mining processes taking place wherever coal and mountains combine. The effects of MTR are being felt nationwide, if not worldwide, as the process slowly destroys the environment surrounding the mountains. Not only does the process remove the mountains themselves, detracting from the aesthetics of the landscape, but plant and animal life struggle to survive on the acidic “revegetated” mountains. Coal slurry, consisting of carcinogen-ic chemicals, toxic metals and water used to wash coal for market, is kept in unstable impound-ments that can--and have--spill, contaminating water in the surrounding area. There are 312 of these impoundments in Appalachia alone; in the past decade, the impoundments of one company alone (Massey Energy, purchased by Alpha Natural Resources in 2011) have spilled 24 times, contaminating rivers with more sludge than was produced by the 2010 BP Gulf spill. The deforestation that occurs as a result of MTR destroys vital nesting habitats for migratory birds, decreasing the bird population across the Northeastern United States. And it’s not only the environment that is affected by this process. Andrew Payton, an MFA student in Creative Writing and the Environment and an active MTR protester, says that “the damages of MTR aren’t limited to the ecosystems dependent on the mountain, forests, and watersheds removed,


but the people who live nearby also face polluted water and air. Mountaintop removal is also responsible for displacing typical underground mining jobs, as it requires less labor, and therefore removes jobs from the local economy.”

This destruction of community stability, economy and the environment is inexcusable, especially when considering coal itself as a resource. Half of the United States’ electric-ity is produced by coal, the burning of which is the number one source of greenhouse gases worldwide. MTR is not providing a re-newable resource, but merely destroying the

landscape and community to pollute more of the nation. Payton claims that the effects of MTR are not limited to the short term, but will continue to be a problem long into the future: “In the short-term,” he says, “local communities face deteriorating health and economies. In the long-term, ecological health and biodiversity is altered in one of the most biodiverse forest ecosystems on the planet....Local and national communities also lose any available resource the mountains once provided, and are left with only a short supply of coal and an unstable environment unsuitable to any sortof development or habitat.” The explosions central to MTR blow chemicals, soil and toxins into the air which cause health problems ranging from asthma to brain dam-age. Payton also describes the cultural effects of MTR: “As we remove our mountains we also suffer a cultural loss. For communities who define themselves by their landscape, what do they become when that landscape is removed, altered, or polluted?”

In her novel Strange as This Weather Has Been, Ann Pancake describes the psychological changes a West Virginian community faces as their ancestral homes are destroyed by MTR. The community slowly breaks down as families are forced to decide to stay or go; unemploy-


ment is rampant and floods caused by the mining destroy what little the impoverished people have left. Though this is a fictional work, Pancake is an authority on MTR, having contributed to several documentary films on the subject, and her work reflects reality. The novel is a moving, distressing portrait of the effects of MTR both on the ecosystem in the area and the people living there; with evidence such as this not only in books but in films and on the internet, it has become culturally irresponsible not to be informed or incensed about the devastation incurred by this process.

Here in Ames, we are not directly affected by the eco-nomic and cultural effects of MTR. However, the pollution and environmental effects are a matter of concern not only for Appalachia but the world, and our silence and complic-ity in this devastation should not be tolerated. As Payton says: “ISU students should care because we burn coal here on campus. Though we don’t burn Appalachian coal--it comes from the west--similar devastating practices are also done where this coal comes from. We are complicit in an economic system that supports these devastating practices that displace human, animal, and plant communities.” Al-lowing MTR to continue could have harmful effects not

only in the area, but nationwide and interna-tionally. The perpetuation of MTR will lead to yet more destruction that may expand to include more locations; the coal companies’ avoidance of responsibility in the destruction not only of the ecosystem but also of public and private property could have devastating legal effects for US citizens. Currently, legal preference given to the companies’ activities provide support for the notion that courts are favoring the rights of the companies over the rights of the people affected by MTR mining. This extends to absolving coal companies of responsibility when their fills overflow and their dams break, leading to the injury and death of innocent people and setting a dangerous precedent for other potentially fatal waste disposal situations.

What you can do

There are many ways students and people worldwide can contribute to the fight against mountaintop removal. Ways to get involved include signing petitions, writing to con-gressmen and other governmental officials, and attending protests among other things. Truly devoted people can attend protests and educational camps in Appalachia, sponsored by such groups as Mountain Justice and Ap-palachia Rising. Payton, who has participated in many of these protests as well as having written letters and signed petitions, says, “We need to ask the EPA to do their job, and sup-port congresspersons and senators who give teeth back to the EPA. We need to ask the President to end MTR right now.”

“MOUNTAIN

TOP REMOVAL IS

RESPONSIBLE

FOR DISPLACING

UNDERGROUND

MINING JOBS.”

which causes sickness to people and land in the extraction and burning processes.” As he makes clear, it’s not necessary to be on-site to eff ect change, and ISU students’ knowledge of science, technology and the environment may well be able to provide an alternative to this dangerous and unhealthy process.

For those who do become involved in the fi ght against MTR, perseverance is the most important thing. Payton, who consistently raises awareness of MTR and contributes to the movement against it, is hopeful but also cautious about the future. “We’re moving in the right direction,” he says, “but every day another bomb goes off , and another hillside falls into the stream.” Steady, persistent opposition to MTR is the only way to change it, and adding our voices to the thousands already speaking out can only aff ect change faster.

Several organizations’ websites contributed information used in this article. To learn more, or to get involved in the fi ght against MTR, visit the following:

http://www.mountainjustice.orghttp://www.thelastmountainmovie.com http://appalachiarising.org http://ilovemountains.org

“Th is issue may seem very far away, but by increas-ing the demand for coal, we increase this practice. Th ose who believe blowing up mountains and poison-ing people and ecosystems are a rational practice only speak one language: money. We need to create a system where those corporations and individuals don’t have so much money that they can do whatever they want. Keep the money at home, keep the power at home.” Payton, a native of the East, sees potential for change here in Ames: “ISU students could use their ingenuity to start to recreate a system that does not depend on coal, and develops forms of living alternative to the current model that requires copious amounts of energy from cheap fossil fuels,

“STEADY,

PERSISTENT

OPPOSITION TO

MTR IS THE

ONLY WAY TO

CHANGE IT. . .”

STUDENToSTSTTUTUTTTTUDUUUUUgUDEDUDUDUDUDEEEEEEENENEEEENTTNTNTNTNTThis is a representation of the International Undergraduate students here at Iowa State University.

We believe that it’s important to understand where people come from and how it infl uences people’s lives and their beliefs. We hope that this adds another dimension and perspective for the students that are here at ISU.

Note: This does not represent all of the nations in attendance at ISU but only the top 22 nations.

*If China’s bar was true to size we would have to extend this page three more feet.

MALAYSIA

SOUTH KOREA

BRAZIL

INDONESIA

UNITED KINGDOM

GERMANY

COLOMBIA

KENYA

PAKISTAN

CHINA

INDIA

UAE

TAIWAN

KUWAIT

CANADA

SRI LANKA

VIETNAM

SAUDI ARABIA

AUSTRAIL IA

MEXICO

SINGAPORE

VENEZUELA 6

8

10

10

13

15

15

15

20

23

25

58

187

101

43

26

9

8

7

6

6

1270*

International Students Countries Represented University

1,989 77 1


PUSSY RIOTPUSSY RIOTPUSSY RIOTPUSSY RIOTPUSSY RIOTPUSSY RIOT

In the face of a suppressive government and the Russian Orthodox Church, the band Pussy Riot has managed to become an iconoclastic beacon of free expression. After receiving a disproportionate sentence that Amnesty International described as “a bitter blow for freedom of expression,” the feminist punk collective continues to be heard, as verifi ed by the “Free Pussy Riot” demonstrations across America and

Europe. Similar to the American feminist “Riot Grrl” movement of the early 90’s, Pussy Riot have established themselves as the likeness of a progressive anti-government uprising. Th e timing of what Russians have labeled as a blasphemous mutiny marks the fi rst response to Russia’s growing relationship between church and state. In a society where individual expression is diminished for the common social interest, individualism seems to have reared its head. For this reason it seems reasonable to discern that although Pussy Riot may have been the fi rst to voice this opinion, they certainly won’t be the last.

In response to the corruption that has become synonymous with Russia itself, other groups have taken to the street to retaliate against the loss of civil rights Russians have recently incurred. In early August, protesters affi liated with the feminist activist group “FEMEN” gathered in Kiev to oppose the Russian political condemnation of dissidents. Demonstrations across the globe have elevated the incarcerated members of Pussy Riot to an almost martyr-like status, toting signs and staging protests in ski masks in the likeness of the originators. Other protesters within Russia have turned to the Orthodox Church as the focus of their denunciation and have demanded the members

who remain in custody be released. By stirring up this much commotion within Russia and internationally, Pussy Riot has managed to eff ect exactly the change they intended. Reactions to the questionable re-election of Putin, the growing anxiety towards his relationship with the church, and Pussy Riot’s incarceration has sparked the start of a social revolution within Russia.

Although the seed of dissension has been planted, Russia’s political reaction to the current civil unrest has been less than sympathetic in the face of national and global demands. No stranger to international pressure, Putin has made it clear that he will not be challenged easily. Using the church as a “weapon in a dirty re-election campaign” (as stated by members of Pussy Riot), the legitimacy of Russia’s political reach within its own country has been brought into an international light. Although progress seems promising, whether or not the international community can stir up enough apprehension within Russian government to stimulate actual reform is another matter all together. Even though the cause and immediate eff ect of the detainment of Pussy Riot is clear, the long-term social implications for Russia and artists everywhere remains uncertain. All that can be safely said is that without risk comes no reward, but at what price will Russia’s struggle for free expression be granted?

by nao demanddesign brittany longillustration shelby walters


FIREHOUSE BOOKS

Walk into Firehouse Books and one thing is obvious, its proprietor has a genuine love for books. Shelves are overfl owing, books are piled knee-high, and there is not a single fl at vacant surface. Drawers of 50-cent books are crammed into corners. Walking around this tiny store, books of course proven to be more worthy of space than people, you need to look down in order to not walk into any of the numerous piles of books. Th ere is even a section of movies in the back, if that is what you prefer!

Looking around the store, there is actually some order to the chaos of paper and words. When you walk in and you can almost smell the words on every page. Th ese books are far from new, but they have been loved, read, and reread over the years.

I could spend hours getting lost in this tiny, crammed store, scanning the shelves for another

treasure. Small, used bookstores like Firehouse Books, off ers unique fi nds to the book lovers of Ames. Not that the Barnes and Nobles and Books-a-Millions of the world don’t

have their treasures, but there is no place like a used bookstore.

Th e owner of the store, in my opinion, really makes the place unique. She is an older, quirky woman, who

has clearly been an avid reader her whole life. She is also willing to haggle book prices, so get ready to stand your ground here!

Books, books everywhere...

by lauren johnsen design jojo matsonphoto tyler emry

Fall 2012Business Spotlight

Do you enjoy delicious chocolates or gelato? Are you looking for a wonderful, thoughtful gift to give you your sibling, parent, grandparent, or significant other? Well then I have a place for you, conveniently located on Main Street. The chocolate shop also has locations around Ames, and a few other states throughout the Midwest.

This shop has everything from finely made choco-lates to delicious gelato and baked goods. They also have imported chocolates, chocolate covered goodies, and other delicious items prepackaged for sale. These items would make wonderful gifts for a special person in your life, or even for yourself !

Ancestors of the Stam family have been running a bak-ery since the early 1800s in the Netherlands. In the early 1900s Jacobus Stam was urged to specialize in chocolate. Four of his five children joined the family business in the late 1930s, each taking on their own branch. One of his sons brought the business to the United States. Ann and Terry Stark bought the Ames location, and are the first nonfamily owners of the store. They are both delightful

CHOCOLATERIE STAMindividuals, who want to ensure everyone who comes into their store walks out satisfied.

The shop proudly serves European chocolates, not unlike the first chocolates made almost 200 years ago by one man in the Nether-lands. The Ames location serves European coffees, teas and a variety of other drinks as well. The gelato and beverages that are served in this store use local dairy products from the Picket Fence Creamery in Woodward, IA.

This small, quaint shop has a variety of seating

options available to students, and makes for a fun after-noon. The chocolates and gelato are delicious and are reasonably priced.

Next time you find your-self downtown, stop in for some tasty chocolates or ge-lato, I promise it is worth it.

photo britany long

photos jojo matson


AMES BRITISH FOODS

‘Ello poppets! Bloody hell, bollocks, bugger off! Tea and crumpets and all that! “Fred: He can run faster than Severus Snape confronted with shampoo.” (I had to quote HP).OK, I promise to never do that ever again. When I decided to look into the Ames British Foods store located near downtown, my clichéd British persona came out. You can all relax, she just skipped across the pond, and I promise she’ll never come back!

For those of you who don’t know, Ames, IA has a family-owned British Food store, why? Because who doesn’t love British food in Iowa? This store was started back in 2008, originally intended to serve the Brits who find themselves living and working in Ames, Iowa. Since 2008 their customer based has grown to the wider population of our town, and they even ship across the continental United States and Hawaii. They have every-thing from sweets to teas to frozen foods. They even sell clothing and some adorable teapots.

Reasonably priced, with delicious choices, you will have to make multiple trips so as not to blow all of your hard earned cash in one trip.

This store is located on Douglas Avenue, north of Main Street near the corner of Douglas Avenue and 5th Next time you find yourself downtown, after stopping in for some delicious chocolates, or a good book to bury your nose in, head up to Ames British Food and purchase some delicious British snacks to make your outing complete.

photo jojo matson

Fall 2012Business Spotlight

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