Students glorify sleep deprivation, ignore health implications in college

As finals approach, many college students feel there is no way to avoid the dreaded all-nighter—realizing the harm, however, that staying up all night has to a student’s physical and mental health is imperative to breaking this damaging finals week ritual. 

You can care about your grades as much as the next student, but pulling all-nighters is not always the necessary route to success. There are ways to get all of the necessary work done that don’t involve staying up all night. It is possible to wake up early, to stay up late and even to cancel plans with friends. 

It’s hard to juggle clubs, homework, classes, work and a social life in college. Dating goes out the window and Netflix shows remain in your queue for months. It appears that there is no time for completing normal activities, nonetheless sleep. 

Internships and the future are all college students can think about, so many students feel pressured to stay up all night studying for a test; these students think that this will help them to do well, though in reality it causes more harm than good.

When it comes to studying, however, USA Today states that it is psychologically proven that students won’t do well on a test that they have the next morning if they stay up all night trying to take in as much information as they possibly can. 

Cramming is an impractical way to take in academic material. Repeated exposure over time is what helps students remember things. 

When a student’s body is sleep-deprived and they are riding on nothing but coffee and energy drinks to stay awake, they are not only damaging their body, but also robbing it of the one thing it needs to retain information: sleep. 

Her Campus reports that students cannot effectively retain information unless their brains take the time to sleep and recharge.

It is also important to note all the other adverse health effects that sleep deprivation has on the body. These include, but are not limited to, mood swings, weight gain, poorer concentration, unhealthy eating habits, a decline in social skills and poor decision-making. 

These side effects are dangerous and no college student should put themselves at risk. In addition, staying up all night—despite its inevitable health problems—is completely avoidable if students stay on top of their work and organize their schedules. 

Unfortunately, staying up all night to finish a paper or to study for a test has been accepted as a normal part of college life. It has become a sort of bragging technique to prove how dedicated you are to school: if a student pulls an all-nighter, it means that they are more invested in their education than the next student who got their eight hours of sleep. 

Students who stay up all night often see themselves as super-human, when, in fact, they should be admonishing themselves for their lack of time management skills.

Self-care in college is often overlooked, even though it is one of the most important things to do when students’ bodies are under such immense amounts of stress. It is imperative that students stop depriving themselves of sleep and praising others for doing the same.

Image of Putin in drag challenges normalization of homophobia

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Russian President Vladimir Putin is known for his homophobic policies. An image of Putin dressed in drag has been circling the Internet in an effort to defy these policies. (Alexei Nikolsky/AP Photo)

An image of Russian president Vladimir Putin dressed in drag has clogged every outlet of the Internet—and for all the right reasons. 

Russia has a track record of civil rights violations. Russia has both banned images of LGBTQ+ relationships under the guise of “propaganda” in 2013 and has proposed a bill that fines members of the community for showing public displays of affection. It’s obvious that Russia needs to become a more accepting nation for the sake of its citizens.

The image of Putin in drag makeup with a rainbow background was a direct protest against Putin’s anti-gay regime. The image was banned for implying that Putin may be gay or might support LGBTQ+ members that exist in the country he’s supposed to protect. A wild idea, truly. 

Homophobia in Russia is nothing new. The law banning homosexual “propaganda” in 2013 passed under the claim that it protects children and maintains traditional Russian values. If this propaganda is perpetuated by anyone, they may receive heavy fines or even jail time.

The image of Putin in drag first graced the Internet in 2013 as a response to the law when “gay rights protesters were beaten and arrested,” according to The Washington Post. Since then, countless images of Putin in makeup, drag or other forms that might imply a deviation from heteronormativity have surfaced. 

But it was only after such images were made illegal in Russia that it became a rallying cry around the world to stop homophobia. 

This image was banned alongside others that portrayed Putin in Nazi attire. This image of Putin in drag is somehow as bad as comparing him to Hitler. At this rate, it seems that this might be the path Russia follows as Putin shuts down websites that oppose him.

Totalitarianism is defined by a government putting limits on individual freedom, and any dissent toward the government is made illegal. 

Though there are many other facets that make up a totalitarian form of government, these two aspects of limiting the rights of the citizens are only the start of something that can become much worse. And it’s already gotten incredibly bad.

Chechnya, a federal subject of Russia that is largely Muslim, has also flooded the news for the worst possible reason: the mass incarcerations of hundreds of gay men that are then allegedly abused and murdered in Chechen prisons. 

When confronted, spokespeople of the Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov stated that these allegations are untrue because homosexuality doesn’t exist in the Muslim religion, so “you cannot detain and persecute people who simply do not exist in the republic,” according to The Independent.

There’s no fighting that argument. 

This and countless other reasons are why the image of Putin in drag is so important. Members of the LGBTQ+ community are being silenced, denied, arrested, beaten, abused, exiled and murdered for no reason.

If Putin isn’t going to allow critique of his presidency, then it’s up to us to do everything we can to fight the normalization of homophobia at all costs, even if it’s just “sharing” an image online. This is a defiance against the silencing of hundreds of people in order to raise awareness against the unjust laws of the Russian government.

Drag Ball reinforces acceptance, celebration of LGBTQ+ community

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Geneseo Pride Alliance’s annual Drag Ball celebrates LGBTQ+ identity and culture. It is important that students on campus are educated and involved in events like the Drag Ball in order to support the local LGBTQ+ community. (Elizabeth Jacobs/Staff Photographer)

People of all genders and backgrounds came together to support the drag queens and kings onstage at the Geneseo Pride Alliance’s Drag Ball on Saturday April 1 as they lip-synched songs and performed perfectly choreographed dance routines. 

Though some might question the relevance of a drag ball on a college campus, this event is more important than ever in understanding the spectrum of gender and the importance of LGBTQ+ self-validation on the Geneseo campus.

Through the annual Drag Ball, this exposure to LGBTQ+ culture is often the first of many times students witness a surge of pride.Though these events were once seen as a fun way for people to connect with others on the LGBTQ+ spectrum, the modern drag ball has many different connotations. 

After drag laid the groundwork for “the creation and maintenance of LGBTQ culture,” modern drag has only expanded on its original mission, creating a group of diverse people coming together to celebrate gender in all its forms.

While many groups and individuals on campus have taken strides to make Geneseo a more welcoming community—including the use of all-gender restrooms and the advocating of pronoun preference—the current political atmosphere leaves many Americans uncomfortable with this renewed sense of gender expression.

It is because of events like the Drag Ball—which occur in locations across the world—that awareness for LGBTQ+ people is promoted, thus allowing members of this community to feel encouraged to be themselves.

After this year’s Drag ball, I was astounded to see how many people felt empowered by the performances, which they demonstrated through Facebook posts, Instagram photos and Snapchats. Everywhere I looked, attendees were in awe of the sheer beauty of the drag performances and posting about the event through social media. 

Watching these individuals perform with so much heart and soul shook the audience to their very core. 

From loud, high-energy performances to quiet, heart-wrenching ballads, the queens and kings all had a similar message in their performances: we are here and we are strong. 

For some students, the only exposure they may have had to the drag community was through the TV show “Ru Paul’s Drag Race,” which has done well to expand on the issues many drag performers have faced, including facets of LGBTQ+ culture that many people may not think about. 

Each performer has their own reason for getting on stage. Drag is significant to performers, as highlighted by Vice.com; to them, this is their way to hit back against society—to be their full selves and to challenge ideas of beauty and gender. 

Whatever the reason, the inclusion of drag on college campuses continues to promote LGBTQ+ awareness, allowing a safe space for people to express themselves on stage.

Netflix adaptation whitewashes popular Japanese manga series

Netflix recently dropped a huge announcement on the anime-loving world: a new adaptation of the beloved psychological thriller, Death Note, is coming this summer to the streaming site. This has since caused a huge backlash from fans for a variety of reasons, but none so poignant as the whitewashing claims splashed across every form of news and social media on the subject. 

Whitewashing in American film is nothing new and sparks of change are creating waves in the acting world. Whitewashing is the act of taking another culture’s story and filling the cast with white characters. ABC’s new show, “Fresh Off the Boat,” is the first time in 20 years that a TV show featured a predominantly Asian cast, according to The New York Times.

Netflix’s new adaptation of Death Note is merely another movie in the long list of films taking jobs away from people of color, particularly Asian actors. The last couple of years have highlighted whitewashing in other major Hollywood films, particularly in the case of the live-action remake of Mulan. 

Leaked information claimed that Mulan would have a white love interest. Since then, Disney has stated that Mulan and characters will be Chinese, putting the whitewashing claims to rest for now. 

Additionally, blockbusters such as The Great Wall—a fantasy film about the Great Wall of China starring Matt Damon—begs the question: why do we need Matt Damon in a film about the Great Wall? The popular Japanese anime Ghost in the Shell is getting a live-action remake starring white actress, Scarlett Johansson. The list goes on.

In the case of Death Note, the Japanese manga series has a huge fan following. Since its release in Shonen Jump back in 2003, there have been several different adaptations, including an anime, three Japanese live-action remakes, a TV series, spin-offs and even video games marveling the manga’s cleverness. Netflix’s new trailer, released March 22, claims that it’s based on the book.

There is a very apparent lack of Asian characters in the cast based on the newest trailer. The anti-hero Light is played by Nat Wolff—a white American—and upon viewing the trailer, consists of a mostly-white cast as the main characters of the film.

Due to the cultural themes that play into Death Note’s story, it makes little sense to have white people interact with Japanese death gods, especially since these Shinigami are the catalyst by which the whole story takes place. 

We’ll have to wait and see how Japanese culture has been woven into a white retelling of the tale, but in the meantime, both fans of Death Note and advocates for social justice have a right to be angry about its perceived adaption. 

Though Netflix has seemingly covered its whitewashing issues with the claim that the new film is merely based on the original story, this action has deterred many fans. Why does the film industry feel the need to Americanize so many foreign entities they come across? 

Assuming that we need to watch white actors doing the same thing that Asian actors do only promotes the idea that Americans are superior to another culture, or that a movie or TV show wouldn’t be marketable without white characters. 

It’s time we stop whitewashing media and start recognizing that other cultures aren’t a threat to mainstream entertainment.

Using cochlear implants should be individual’s choice

Recently, I saw a video of a child hearing their mother’s voice for the first time. The amount of joy on the child’s face was indescribable.  

Many hearing people cannot imagine a world without sound. The absence of one of the five senses would be detrimental to their quality of life. For hearing parents that have a deaf child, the use of a cochlear implant may be the best option for a “cure to deafness.” 

The cochlear implant is essentially an electronic device that takes on the processes of the inner ear. It mimics the inner ear’s role and sends sound signals to the brain that the function of the inner ear in a deaf or hard of hearing individual cannot do otherwise.

With the cochlear implant, parents wouldn’t need to learn sign language and the child would fit in with their mostly-hearing peers. The use of cochlear implants, however, has generated controversy in the deaf community regarding the child’s rights. 

Many deaf individuals do not see their deafness as a disability, as many “hearing” people tend to classify it as. Members of the deaf community aren’t concerned with the actual implementation of a cochlear implant, but instead the fact that hearing people may insinuate that the deaf population needs to be “fixed,” according to dailykos.com.

The exact number of deaf individuals in the United States is difficult to pinpoint, according to Gallaudet University. Deafness comes in varying degrees and can be defined differently depending on who is providing the definition. 

In the U.S., Gallaudet estimates that less than one out of every 1,000 people become functionally deaf before 18 years of age, not including those categorized under severely hearing impaired or those experiencing hearing trouble, especially in old age. 

The deaf community has a rich culture, consisting of its own language and social dynamics. In the U.S., American Sign Language is an optional language requirement in grade schools and is offered at many colleges. 

The deaf population doesn’t need to be fixed. Many deaf people have rich lives that their deafness helps enhance.  

Along with learning the language, students are also introduced to many of the social aspects of deaf culture, including eavesdropping and the use of facial expressions to enhance emphases. The use of a cochlear implant can deprive a deaf child from this deaf culture.

Therefore, both parents and the children need to be informed of the positive and negative aspects of using a cochlear implant before deciding whether or not to use this device. There are complications to any surgery with differing results, which depend on the individual’s biology and their type of hearing loss or deafness. 

While that shouldn’t be the deciding factor in choosing to use this implant, it’s a factor that must be considered. 

Deafness isn’t a disability and it isn’t detrimental to one’s quality of life. While some praise the technological advancements that make the cochlear implant possible, technology has also helped make the lives of deaf individuals easier. 

For example, while they might not be able to talk on the phone, the use of video chatting capabilities has expanded social interactions in the deaf community. Technology grows and we grow along with it, through all cultures and peoples. 

The cochlear implant is a simple choice of bodily autonomy: parents shouldn’t choose for the child. Ultimately, it should be an individual’s personal decision to receive the implant—especially because children could be deprived of the opportunity to be a part of an entire culture.

Health, nutrition classes should be added to gen ed requirements

Many college students aren’t getting the nutrition they need, according to USA Today. In fact, most students aren’t eating even one serving of fruit or vegetables a day. With Geneseo’s wide-reaching breadth of general education requirements, it’s shocking to see that basic nutrition classes and physical education courses aren’t a mandatory part of the curriculum.

Though Geneseo has some healthy choices available in the dining halls, many students rely on a delicious slice of pizza or give in to the allure of chicken fingers—especially on the weekends—for a quick meal. 

Having a balanced diet is key to having a healthy life, but the costs of affording healthy food provides a barrier that students are hesitant to cross. 

CUNY schools have taken the initiative of providing healthier options in the snack and vending machines, but it’s important for more colleges to make health a priority. 

In Geneseo, the presence of the Geneseo Farmer’s Market on Main Street is a great alternative to the prices of on-campus eating. Not only does it provide cheaper, healthier fresh options, but it also supports local businesses. 

Additionally, sites such as Choosemyplate.gov—from the United States Department of Agriculture—encourage college students to create proper dietary guidelines. The site also hosts an ambassadorship program to encourage college student’s involvement. This is another tool we can use to encourage healthy eating on campus.

These are all options available for students who want to get involved. Making healthy eating and lifestyle choices a part of Geneseo students’ curriculum is a productive way to see change in the lives of students today.

A quick google search on college health classes had minimal information at best; instead of providing courses that are used in campus settings, I had to do a bit of finagling to find any information on something other than avoiding the “Freshman 15.”

Luckily, Geneseo does have a site dedicated to healthy habits; the site also offers links to more information all in one place. Even if this link is available, however, a search on Knightweb did not reveal much in regard to available health courses. 

The most common class listed as of late is “Health and Safety Issues,” and students can get academic credit for some varsity sports and physical education classes. 

Spots in these classes are limited, however, and they aren’t required. For a school with such expansive general education requirements, there is no excuse as to why Geneseo shouldn’t incorporate healthy eating and lifestyle skills that students will actually use in daily life. 

An English major may not need a math class or a physics major may never critique a book using a postcolonial lens, but every student has a body that they should have to take classes on to learn about basic nutrition and health. 

When students aren’t getting a full serving of fruits and vegetables a day, it’s critical that we have more options readily available to promote healthy living among the college community.

Feminist play should include intersectional monologues

The annual spring performance of “The Vagina Monologues” wrapped up on Sunday Feb. 19. Often hailed as a feminist play among the campus community and noted as a form of “sexual revolution” by some reviewers, the fact that this play relies purely on vaginas to represent femininity was deemed close-minded.

After participating in Geneseo’s performance of “The Vagina Monologues” for the third year in a row, I think it’s important to note the complex social issues we face today in relation to the play. 

“The Vagina Monologues” was a fantastic play for the time it was published. The Stanford Review notes that the 1990s w a time of masculinity and Eve Ensler—the creator of the play—wanted to use art to end violence against women and to break the taboo against talking about vaginas. 

She even established V-Day on Valentine’s Day, a day meant to spread awareness regarding violence against women, which often culminates in a performance of the show.

The play’s individual stories stand alone from one another, however, and this key aspect could provide an opportunity to update the inclusivity of the play.

There is only one monologue regarding transgender women in the show. This inclusion is wonderful and tells the true story of some transgender women—but it is also controversial. The duo in “They Beat the Girl Out of My Boy” are unable to see themselves as women until they get vaginas at the end of the monologue. It’s a form of completion for them. 

Though this is the narrative for some trans women and it should not be completely shunned, not all women or trans women have or desire to have vaginas. Not all women need to have a vagina to see themselves as women. 

Without the inclusion of a monologue addressing the gender spectrum, it reinforces the idea that women are only women if they have a vagina.

“The Vagina Monologues” says what it’s about right in the title: vaginas. The stories are true tales from the women Ensler interviewed, but they all deal with aspects of having a vagina and are not necessarily what it means to be a woman. 

Asking us to change these monologues is not an option; they’re powerful and have paved the way for countless viewers to open their eyes to the violence that women experience. Ensler defended her work in Time, saying, “I never defined a woman as a person with a vagina,” but she added the monologue “They Beat the Girl Out of My Boy” after a group of trans women performed her play. 

If she has added monologues in the past, I don’t understand why she can’t add more in the future to create a more inclusive play. 

Today, we need more support for all women rather than just women who specifically have vaginas. While her play was a beacon of hope in the 90s and has done incredible work for bringing awareness to violence against women, Ensler’s message should be expanded to present a more diverse story that will give hope to a new generation of women and girls.

Greek life should expand mental health support, accommodations

With bids weekend at an end and the chaos of recruitment finally settling down, Geneseo’s Greek life has a slew of new members eager to make friends and to become a part of a new family. 

Mental health, however, is one of the biggest challenges someone may face during their college career—and it is a challenge that is not necessarily addressed or considered within the Greek life system. 

One out of 20 Americans over the age of 12 experience depression, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention study, as done in 2005-06. In fact, Psychology Today highlights that between one quarter and one third of students meet criteria for an anxiety or depressive illness.

So how does this tie into Greek life? Many factors associated with depression and anxiety can be alleviated, or at least mitigated, with the help of a solid support system. 

Though those with a mental health issue may be using every tool in their arsenal to get out of bed in the morning, the added benefit of a welcoming community can give someone something to look forward to. 

Many college fraternities and sororities require library hours to study, have meetings dedicated to bonding, participate in volunteer events and provide a shared space of safety. 

Geneseo’s requirements for Greek life are as follows: college freshman need 12 credits hours—usually one full semester—and a GPA of a 2.0 to receive a bid to a Greek organization. For transfer students and those over the age of 21, these students need 12 post-high school credits and a GPA of 3.25. 

Although these requirements were presumably made to allow time for the student to acclimate to Geneseo life, the social aspects of college can often exacerbate mental health issues brought on by those who don’t have a support system established in a new place. 

A student who may be struggling academically because of these issues may not be allowed to join Greek life, thus further preventing the student from finding a support system. 

Everyone experiences mental health in different ways. Some may choose to seek professional help, while others lean on friends to help them get them through tougher times. Though there may be special circumstances to allow students that have a lower GPA due to mental illness to participate in the rushing process, it’s important to focus on possible repercussions for the individuals who may not get accepted. For the same reasons these individuals seek out the organization, the feelings of solitude they experience from getting rejected by the group can persist—thus allowing the cycle to continue. 

There is a range of options that can be established to ensure the quality of college life for an individual experiencing a mental health issue. A set action plan regarding students with mental illness to join Greek life should be considered, especially in regard to the coping process following their experience. Whether or not one gets accepted, and despite the wonderful opportunities joining an organization can bring, both options necessitate struggles that the individual has to go through.

Circumcision should be delayed to adulthood for informed consent

The conversation regarding whether babies born with male genitalia should be circumcised has resurfaced recently with more urgency due to the renewed public vigor about personal bodily autonomy and consent. 

It is expected that parents make most decisions regarding their child’s health and happiness during infancy. While babies are limited to crying to communicate their needs, parents are left to make major life decisions for the child that bypass the usual realm of what they should wear or what they should eat. 

A parent piercing their child’s ears so they look “pretty,” for example, is a contested issue. This issue pales in comparison, however, to the irreversible practice of penile circumcision. Many are starting to see circumcision as a question of bodily autonomy and as a form of bodily mutilation. At the very least, information about the concerns of circumcision should be available to parents.

Because a child cannot give a form of consent on a permanent cosmetic procedure, the practice of penis circumcision in infancy or in childhood should be stopped. 

Penile circumcision is often a religious or cultural practice in the Jewish and Islamic faiths, and is also seen in aboriginal tribes in Australia and Africa, according to the Mayo Clinic. The Mayo Clinic also lists positive factors for circumcision, including ease of cleaning, decreased risk of urinary tract infections and the possibility that it might decrease the risk of penile cancer. It is also thought that circumcision does not detract from nor enhance sexual pleasure. 

The “aesthetic” factor to circumcise children is the most worrisome argument for penile circumcision. As they grow older and start having sex, many people worry that their penis won’t be attractive unless it looks a certain way. An article by the New York Post quotes a matchmaker, saying, “Women find it disgusting to be intimate with a man who’s not circumcised.”

Another interview with a urologist stated that over half of adult patients that opt for penile surgery do so because of cosmetic reasons. 

Like with any surgery, the Mayo Clinic details the risk of complication if the foreskin is not completely removed. It may reattach, fail to heal properly, become infected or remain too long or too short on the penis. 

Because this procedure is irreversible and is done primarily for cosmetic reasons, the practice of circumcising the penis should be publicly questioned. The choice to not circumcise should also be destigmatized and given validity as a personal decision.

Making a permanent, cosmetic decision for another individual based on one’s parents’ beliefs is selfish. Worrying that a penis won’t be sexually attractive within a social context is an issue people must face themselves—and make their own informed decision about. Unless there is a serious medical reason to get the procedure done, surgery should be delayed until the child can make his/her own choice regarding permanent changes to his/her body. 

It is up to the masses to realize that a penis is a penis, whether or not it is circumcised. No one should feel pressured to make their body look a certain way—especially if surgery is involved.

EPA media blackout incites viral, rebellious social media response

Supporters of the Environmental Protection Agency recently launched a form of academic assault on President Donald Trump’s claims against climate change as backlash against the censorship enacted during his first week in office.

Trump’s administration has, “instituted a media blackout at the United States Environmental Protection Agency, removed references to climate change on the White House website and posted an energy plan that calls for increasing our use of fossil fuels,” according to CNN.

Global warming activity has been highlighted in scientific research, and is widely considered to be factual by scientific experts. Trump, on the other hand, publicly denounces climate change and hopes that the use of fossil fuels will “Make America Great Again.” 

The use of fossil fuels, however, has put the future of the Earth in jeopardy. The actions committed by Trump that ignore climate change have inspired a backlash in the scientific community—one that utilizes direct discourse with the public.

Through Twitter, scientists, celebrities, journalists and students recently tweeted the hashtag “#ClimateFacts” to promote awareness about climate change. Some environmental agencies have even gone rogue and posted about climate change in direct opposition to Trump’s implementation of a blackout of EPA social media accounts.

The official Badlands National Park’s Twitter account was compromised by a vigilante attempting to post about climate change amid the crisis. The posts were deleted due to claims from the National Park Service that a “former employee” was not “currently authorized to use the park’s account,” according to CNN. 

The Park Service claimed they censored the posts due to the account having been compromised and that they will continue to post about safety and park information while staying away from national policy issues. 

Park information and safety, however, is far from comparable to the intent of the compromised account’s rebellious climate change tweets. Following Trump’s censorship of the social media accounts, this does not help to sustain the future for our parks and ecosystems. 

It seems that there is a bias surrounding the “legitimacy” of a press conference versus the conversations had on social media. The argument arises regarding the necessary tools used to portray information to the public. Should we have a serious political discourse on social media outlets like Twitter or Facebook? 

Some might counter and say that unless the information is verified and scheduled in an academic or governmental setting, then it’s unlikely that we will find accurate information from those involved on social media. We’re supposed to be content with reading news articles, rather than actively communicating with politicians via Twitter.

The beauty of social media resides in its availability to millions of people—not just the ones that seek out articles on their own. Not only can one see what one has subscribed to on social media, one can see what his friends have liked, shared and retweeted. This expands the horizon of an individual’s views and interests simply by seeing what their friends are up to. 

The usage of social media and environmental politics should be a way to inform the public on the state of climate change. Blacking out discourse on climate change—which the Trump administration is shamelessly advocating for—is unforgivable. 

Climate change is happening, no matter how hard the government tries to conceal it.