Woman-identified
Saw a flyer at UWM that advertised a self-defense training session for "Woman-Identified Students and Employees". I'm not sure if this term was coined at UWM or is used elsewhere, as I'm having a hard time finding similar usage in Google. I suppose I would be more willing to brush this off as relatively harmless antics were it not for the fact that my overwhelming impression that the tenured class is not doing its job of educating our young people.Favre
It's hard to imagine a topic I have less to contribute to than that of Brett Favre, but it's impossible for me to restrain the thoughts I do have any longer. Perhaps my memory of his Packer career that stands out most is seeing a painting of him at the art store on the main drag in Cedarburg (couldn't have been that long ago, as I've only been doing those Ozaukee County trail walks for three winters). Titled "Leader of the Pack", it featured Favre on a Harley-Davidson. Maybe it was this, though I don't remember it looking so patently Photoshopped. This winter, Facebook and Twitter seem like a contest to see who can out-disrespect Favre. I'm struck by the irrational apparent need to build someone up to such a level, only to tear them down years later. Does that strike anyone else as wasteful? Still, I suppose it is just human nature. This is a somewhat flippant observation, but one of the reasons I believe Christianity is true is because human beings wouldn't make something up and then stay with it consistently for over 2,000 years. Even atheists don't seem to be able to muster the negativity towards the divine that is now being expressed towards Favre.
More Acronyms
As a linguist and translator, I've formulated the theory that the older a technology, the more imprecise and controversial the associated terminology will be. At UWM today, I noticed a banner with the abbreviation "LGBTQA". I hadn't heard that before and wondered what the "A" might stand for. I thought of poking fun at the issue on Facebook, but decided that the risk of being misinterpreted was too great. In the two-plus years of having this blog, I've made valued friends who have strong feelings about gay and lesbian issues. My general belief is one of tolerance, but I think it's important to distinguish between tolerance and indulgence. On an individual and societal level, I believe we ought to indulge our desires less, sexual and otherwise--and I include myself in this statement. Adding to my feelings, which are at least as mixed as the opinions reflected in this Wikipedia article, is the impression that this is yet more entitlement sprawl. I'll gladly pay to celebrate other folks' sex lives--as long as they chip in an equal amount to celebrate mine!
There are so many groups being lumped together here, the more so the longer the acronym becomes. Is this about tolerance as opposed to discrimination? Are lesbians discriminated against in Milwaukee? I find that a bit hard to swallow. I can readily accept the brutality of male homophobia and the need to fight it, as men seem to be more primordial creatures, more guided by the unconscious. Women are so much more rational. Indeed, I wonder if becoming a lesbian wouldn't be a good career and financial move in many cases. Too often, having children is the worst financial move a woman can make. That's something we as a society should reconsider, I believe, if we are to survive and thrive over the long term.
B.O.S.S.
MIKE: Does anyone else think there are too many UWM B.O.S.S. vans driving around? Who pays for this expensive boondoggle? Am I stating the obvious when I wonder if doing anything for yourself is even a concept anymore?
The UWM administration is looking for ways to keep their student population in line due to a neighborhood backlash. Here's a novel idea: make them work and provide their own transportation. Hello? The equation works something like this: having to pay your own way = less money for booze + less time to get "f*cked up", seemingly the sole pursuit of the UWM population.
MARY: I understand where you're coming from. I perused their site and there's no info on how the program is funded. It's probably supported by grants and other public funding sources to the Student Union.
I do think this is useful service though, particularly for women, on those nights when the normal SAFE program van service is backed up after 2AM. There are times when, as a poor student, you either don't have the extra cash for a taxi after the buses stop running or discover that you've forgotten your wallet because your brain is fried from studying. And I guess I wouldn't assume that all students are wasting their cash on booze, though many do, so that's a fair criticism.
My husband and I were mugged back in 1994 while walking home @ 2:30AM--I know, dumb move, but there it is--and I survived the grazing of my skull by a pointblank range bullet, so I think this service has some real value.
You should have seen the size of the staples they put in my head, dude! I wish I would've thought to ask to keep at least one when they took 'em out--good for freak out purposes. ;)
MIKE: I certainly have sympathy for you for how you were victimized. However, these band-aid solutions may prevent more structural change from taking place. For instance, I believe that UWM classes in areas such as humanities—for which special facilities aren't required—should be moved to someplace like Franklin. The East Side has safety and quality-of-life issues which, if they existed in a minority area, would have police chiefs and politicians declaring "war" on the evening news. Because the population is largely non-minority and so much money is at stake, crime and other problems are glossed over. I did move to the East Side last year, but if I had the decision to make again, I'd move to the North Shore instead—as I likely will when my lease expires.
MARY: UWM, unlike Marquette and UW Madison, is a commuter
university and, as such, has a significant percentage of older students
and students who have full or part time jobs. I don't believe moving
whole departments or colleges away from the main campus will solve the
conflicts between some of the student body and the community
surrounding the university.
I attended UWM as an older
student, beginning my studies as a true Freshman in Comparative
Literature when I was 25, while holding down a full time job. I did not
then and do not now own a car, both by choice and for financial
reasons. If the Humanities had been located in Franklin, as you
suggest, or some other suburb of Milwaukee, I would not have been able
to attend the university, and I know that my situation was not unique
at UWM.
As a public university, UWM has a responsibility to
serve its entire community by offering higher education opportunities
to people from all economic backgrounds. If the campus is split into
two or more locations, it makes the fulfillment of that mission
impossible.
Granted, the fact that UWM is located in a
residential neighborhood makes it nearly inevitable that there will be
conflicts, but, in my humble opinion, any efforts to ease tensions are
welcome.
READER MARY B.: s a fairly recent UWM Graduate and now, a young professional, I may have a bit more of a fresh view on the situation. 6 years ago, when I was a college freshman, I cannot tell you how much I utilized BOSS. Walking with 5 grocery bags from North Oakland Avenue can get pretty old, pretty quick. It also carted me to and from study sessions with classmates, and yes, even at 2am from parties. Being a young woman, I did not feel safe walking from Brady Street back to the dorms alone at night, and BOSS was a quick call away.
As far as funding goes, BOSS Is paid for by the students who utilize its services. They take a small percentage of your tuition payment and apply it to the cost of running the program.
I feel the statement of; "Here's a novel idea: make them work and provide their own transportation. Hello? " is very mis-informed, and kind of ignorant to all of the aspects of the situation. UWM Pretty much makes it impossible for underclassmen living in the dorms to have vehicles. It's just their way of fighting the parking issues. And with all of the parking drama (thousands of spots being turned into 'residential only' parking) to have an option that is free, safe and efficient seems to be common sense to me.
READER MARY B.: As a fairly recent UWM Graduate and now, a young professional, I may have a bit more of a fresh view on the situation. 6 years ago, when I was a college freshman, I cannot tell you how much I utilized BOSS. Walking with 5 grocery bags from North Oakland Avenue can get pretty old, pretty quick. It also carted me to and from study sessions with classmates, and yes, even at 2am from parties. Being a young woman, I did not feel safe walking from Brady Street back to the dorms alone at night, and BOSS was a quick call away.
As far as funding goes, BOSS Is paid for by the students who utilize its services. They take a small percentage of your tuition payment and apply it to the cost of running the program.
I feel the statement of; "Here's a novel idea: make them work and provide their own transportation. Hello? " is very mis-informed, and kind of ignorant to all of the aspects of the situation. UWM Pretty much makes it impossible for underclassmen living in the dorms to have vehicles. It's just their way of fighting the parking issues. And with all of the parking drama (thousands of spots being turned into 'residential only' parking) to have an option that is free, safe and efficient seems to be common sense to me.
I now live a bit north of Oakland Avenue in Shorewood, and see my fair share of BOSS Vans driving around, and when I do, I think to myself; "If they're drunk, at least they aren't driving through my neighborhood, and if they're on their way to work or study, good for them".
MARY: Well said and stated, Mary!
BTW, rockin' name ya got there. :)
MIKE: I think my view of the situation is quite fresh, as I've worked across from the Open Pantry on Oakland for five years now and am in the midst of it every day. If BOSS is paid for by segregated fees—as I will try to confirm—it makes already exorbitant tuition higher. This makes it harder for people to afford college. The line has to be drawn somewhere, and I believe seg fees should not be used to transport students to drinking venues or to drop them off far in the suburbs (a couple nights ago, I saw a student being dropped off just a few blocks south of Silver Spring).
