Even The Fashion Police Can Use Brutality

Did any one feel insulted by the article entitled Socks and sandals: A spring style guide for guys that was published in the 3/30/07 issue of the Acorn. I felt that the author bluntly insulted many people do to their fashion sense. Don't get me wrong the Acorn should have published the article after all if the author had submitted it to this blog it would have been posted as well. I just feel that I should express my oipion that the article took on a very presumptuous tone. For example this quote "By no means do I expect boys to risk distorting their comfort with their sexual orientation by buying out the J. Crew spring line, but the following carnal sins should be acknowledged." My distaste for J Crew by no means is related to my sexual orientation. For me I much rather wear something that does not say "I’m Preppy look how much money I have, but this is my opinion and I try not to judge other based on it. I hope others will offer me the same courtesy. After reading the article I felt insulted, after all I violate many of the so called "Carnal sins" of fashion that are described. I enjoy spring because it warm and it allows all those who are forced to bundle up to break out the cloths that they like and that they feel express who they are. For me high fashion is all the different styles one can find on campus. I give my best wishes to the author of this article and hope she enjoys the season even with the blatant fashion “mistakes” because they will always going to be there.

What do y'all think?

Blame Game, Change and Unity

Some One made this comment on the previous post:

"I wonder though, if the acorn posted on your site like that because they just feared you because they didn't know your intentions, or if it was because this blog purported to give a voice to the many disgruntled students who feel like they don't have a voice within the acorn or the school in general. Maybe instead, the acorn just wanted to protect their position, and ultimately their power, from those very students.

I wonder, if students had an up or down vote to many of the groups and institutions on campus, to keep them or disband them, i wonder what they would do. The real problem is that they don't, and in my opinion, Drew will continue to be a somewhat repressive place for the foreseeable future. With those few who have the power and want to keep it for themselves poised against the rest of us who are pushed to the fringes of campus life.

I wonder, if students had an up or down vote to many of the groups and institutions on campus, to keep them or disband them, i wonder what they would do. The real problem is that they don't, and in my opinion, Drew will continue to be a somewhat repressive place for the foreseeable future. With those few who have the power and want to keep it for themselves poised against the rest of us who are pushed to the fringes of campus life."

I some what agree with this statement drew or any other administration run institution can be repressive but I think can it is a mistake to believe there are those who do this on purpose. The fact of the matter is that student separate into group by themselves either through mistrust, apathy, tradition or pop culture. The acorn does not censor students with malicious intent to gain more power; I believe that it is just a byproduct of one group of students trying to write and publish stories they agree with. Let them explain themselves before you blame them. The S.G.A does not want to ignore the students or repress them, the organization is restrained by the university, bureaucracy as well as student apathy. There is no reason why the University really has to listen or do anything the SGA suggests. I believe it is a mistake to blame “the man” or any organization for something that is really a problem that is created as a byproduct of fragmented youth culture. People need to stop blaming others, blame has never accomplished anything in fact it ceases progress. I believe that people need to work on changing themselves and helping others do the same instead of wasting time.

You are right we do need unity to accomplish any social change in the future. This campus has multiple groups that strive for the social change. Just look at the student group home pages and you will find these groups, Amnesty international, circle K,S.A.V, Women Concerns,GBLTQ, SDS and even the SGA all strive for social change as well a better life on campus. My recommendation is to provide a club, council or official forum that could help organize these groups so they can form one single loud voice when it is needed. My recommendation is to resurrect or create a group like the Drew Community for Social Justice. This club was based in the theological department but was disbanded in 2005 a fate that many of these clubs share. The clubs mission statement was;

We are a student-led organization dedicated to education, advocacy and action regarding issues of social justice and change.

Objectives

· To improve communication and cooperation between various justice-related student groups on campus.

· To share information with students, faculty and staff in order to increase awareness and inspire greater involvement in justice work.

· To provide access to specific tools and resources in the interest of empowering students to advocate for justice in their own contexts.

· To provide forums for dialogue in an increasingly culturally and religiously pluralistic campus and society.

· To organize opportunities for direct action and witness concerning specific issues.

· To network with other groups on local, regional, and national levels.

What I envision is that this group could gather members of the clubs I listed as well as other concerned student. The new entity could attempt to get these group as well as students to band together for a selected cause. Imagine a group that truly represents students. Through such a society this school could attempt to unify and create a voice loud enough even the administration would have to take notice. Even a direct democracy needs to be funneled through an entity to give a face to those voices, in addition those who are familiar with various social issues could facilitate. The club could offers services to help student in disciplinary actions or to get their voice heard or a multitude of other things. In addition the group could pool resources to attract speakers as well as other services. While I know there many who disagree with me on this they believe that these clubs all have specific cause and that there is no need for such a group I still believe that it is worth an attempt. I do not know the exact details of such a union I think it could be done. Many claim that this is too Utopian ideal but I think it deserves a try. If there is someone who was part of the DCSJ please contact me especially if you disagree with my assessment of the organization.

- Spooky D

(Please put any comments if you see a grammar mistake, I will try to fix it)

A MESSAGE TO THE ACORN AND THE WORLD

For those who still read this blog, I thank you. After discussing this blog with others I realize that the effort I put into this is greatly appreciated. I loved the idea of this blog and I still do. I am a busy college student and I do not have a great deal of time to devote to stories and their quality is a testament to that. I apologize for my poor grammar skills. I will continue to work hard to make this work. For those who are wondering I wish to stay anmonus because I feel that amenity helps this blog stay free from outside influcleance. In addition I feel better if those who do not agree with what is said to get angry at a name instead of a person. I will offer the same service to any poster. I will sooner give my name to any authority then a true identity of a poster. I realize that I gave up to early and will continue to create and improve this blog. In addition I will attempt to settle a rift that has formed between this blog and the school newspaper the Acorn. I have sent the editor this apology:

Hello my name (for now) is Spooky d and I am the Administrator for the Nutcracker. I wish to give the staff of this newspaper a formal apology. I understand that early in the nutcrackers history some comments were made in regards to the acorn’s content and how article submissions were handled. I understand that the staff is restricted by deadlines, the university as well as the bureaucracy of running an official paper. I will apologize that the blog initially took an anti-Acorn position; I now realize that this was unprofessional. I have removed all negative mention of the Acorn from the blogs main page . I will continue to try to create credibility for the Nutcracker. I am willing to start a dialogue between our publications. I realize that there is no reason why the nutcracker and the acorn can not coexist or even have a partnership. I believe that there is a great potential in a possible partnership. The Acorn has many talented staff members and I as well as many readers would love to see a partnership form. As the sole admin of this site, I ask those who are on staff to feel free to post any work they want. If the editor of the acorn or any staff member wishes to contact me feel free to email me at thedrewnutcracker@gmail.com

I truly hope that a partnership does form. If any reader has the ability to facilitate this feel free to email me or comment. YOU the reader are were this blog power lies. I know that all of you have hard this before but we do have the power to change things.

Thank you – Spooky D

Why Are You So Hard On The Acorn?

Readers and writers of the Nutcracker, this isn't much of an article as it is a long winded question. I "hear" an underlying negative magnetic flow through various writer's and responder's musings on this website towards the Acorn.

My question is, simply- Why? Have many/any of you submitted articles to the Acorn only to have them ____________, which was so very wrong in your point of view? (You can fill in the blank for me). I'd like to open up a discussion about this general opposition to one of the (from what I know) hardest working, ever pressured, and consistently degraded student group on campus. Yet, despite the anger and biting (rather than constructive) criticism they receive daily by their peers, they report for duty into the wee hours of the nights. Nights we spend drinking to our hearts desire, getting that coveted ass, or maybe studying for that exam. Those are luxuries few editors are able to receive.

How much do all of you know about journalism? Do you know what the University limits the Acorn to? When and if you submit an article, have you optioned to have them go over the editing process with you? Have any of you approached members of the Acorn staff with your qualms? Where, in your mind, are you justified in your attacks?

Like any group on campus, I know the Acorn suffers from lack of interest and participation. In the paper, I see the same writers every week. How do we expect them to improve if we aren't giving them any help? I especially love the letters to the editor. They're always an interesting read.

Where I came from, the newspaper was everything. On most campuses, the newspaper is a cause for controversy, as it should be. It tells you what's going on, whether you like it or not. And misquotations, sure they suck, yet how quick can you jot down a conversation, getting every last word? Even on a recorder, it's very hard to hear. Also, most campuses pay their newspaper staff, offer them credits for their hard work, give them a stipend, etc. I know the Acorn is self motivated, with fairly little help from the University.

I don't think a community should ever cut its major source of communication slack, but I do believe a lot of effort is wasted in complaining rather than in improving. Why do you criticize the Acorn with such disdain? And why aren't you using your energy to write something productive? Something that maybe you can take pride in? You can't claim an anonymous posting on a blog, but a clipping of an article you wrote is much more rewarding. I am all for improving our newspaper. After all, Drew isn't getting any better, and we all know that.

I'm just worried our priorities are out of line, and that the student body is turning into quite the complaining, narcissistic and self righteous bunch. It's very easy to criticize. And we all enjoy our defense mechanisms. But, first the SGA, now the Acorn. What are we going to take down next? The GLBTQ? Act Out? Rugby?

Where's the love?

-Prince Ali