Feminism a religion? Against Title 9?

A lawyer accused in 2008 a university of misusing federal aid because he claimed Women and Gender Studies discriminates against men. Clearly this man does not understand that females cannot be studied inclusively without studying males. As a student in the USU Women and Gender Studies program, I have spent many classes covering men, masculinity and related issues.

From the article:
"The courses pretty much treat guys as if they're sources of evil in the world and the women are the victims," Den Hollaneder said. "I'm using the same argument here as we have with Title IX. When a university receives government funding, they have to provide equal opportunities for men and women. If there's no men's studies, women's studies is unconstitutional."

He also calls feminism a religion that is "spread." Religion does not fit with the definition of feminism by pure logic and court case precedents. Also, patriarchy is a rule in most of modern and ancient times where women were/are the victims, thus the point of the study. Oye! His statement essentially denies this accepted truth in an overtly sexist manner.

Read story here: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-daum23-2008aug23,0,3450521.column

Discussion of Dowd plagiarism moves to the classroom

Discussion of Dowd plagiarism moves to the classroom

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Into the future

Thanks to Bonita Burton, deputy managing editor of the Orlando Sentinel, for bringing this. Don't forget, as some of you graduate tomorrow, that this crisis of journalism is also a major opportunity for you all. As Dan Gillmor says, "I'm almost jealous of them. I wish I were their age and starting off because the opportunities now to literally create something new or recreate something of great value to society, to our communities and our families, it's never been as open as it is now."


Dan Gillmor says the future of journalism depends on active citizens
'Weirdly optimistic'

There are those who want to save newspapers and those who suspect the future of journalism lies elsewhere.

Dan Gillmor is in the latter camp. A former newspaper reporter, Gillmor doesn't believe in propping up the journalistic institutions currently struggling to keep their footing. He's devoted much of his career to developing the potential of citizen journalism, the practice by which consumers of media become its producers, informing one another using the tools at their disposal—blogs, smart phones, smart questions and focused curiosity.

At heart, Gillmor believes journalism is a practice, one that works best when done collaboratively, and one that citizens in a democracy can and should learn.

Gillmor is a professor of journalism at Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication where he runs the Knight Center for Digital Media Entrepreneurship. He is also director of the Center for Citizen Media, a joint project with ASU and Harvard University's Berkman Center for Internet & Society. From 1994 to 2005, he was a columnist at the San Jose Mercury News, where he wrote what is believed to be the first blog by a journalist for a traditional media company. His 2004 book We the Media: Grassroots Journalism by the People, for the People established him an authoritative voice on the subject.

GAY MARRIAGE

In the Herold today on the second page there is an article about an Iowa gay couple that tied the knot legally. The article is not unethical, but as I read it talked about how the couple said it was not very romantic because of the masses of media bombarding them throughout the marriage ceramony. Which is understandable, if you are going to make a move like gay marriage you better be expecting some kind of issues, you know damn well it's not going to go smoothly or be anything like an everday marriage of a male and female. But at the same time this is supposed to be these peoples happiest day in their lives and it gets ruined by masses of media all over the place.

SWINE FLU

This is getting worse and worse. 149 died in Mexico and 2,000 more are believed to be infected. It's making it's way into America as well with 48 cases. This sucks for tourists trying to go and visit Mexico soon as the US advised Americans against most travel to Mexico. This also hurts many places in Mexico that rely on tourism. Im just glad i dont live in San Diego anymore, we used to go up to Tiajuna all the time, its only a twenty minute drive. The tacos are amazing, who knows i could very easily be infected myself if i still lived in San Diego! how is this going to stop? I just hope it doesn't make it's way up the west coast, and hopefully stops somehow soon in Mexico.

Make it stop.

As I'm sure Nancy will notice, I've failed to post my own discussion topics as of late. I apologize for that and, also, that what I am about to write now is a little bit of old news. By continuing mention and discussion, I am contributing to my biggest complaint about people and news organizations, but it's been bothering me.

This is a complaint I've brought up a few times but, really, there is something wrong with the news selection process in this country. My biggest beef right now? Levi Johnston. Johnston and his rocky relationship with the Palin family is none of our business and it is not news. Johnston has been circulating all the media stations sharing the details of his relationship with Bristol Palin and the visiting hours she will or not let him have with their baby. AP wires confirming the breakup, headlines forecasting the future of Johnston and the Palin family flashing across TV screens and the Internet ... Will they ever get back together? Does Levi want Bristol back? What did Sarah think? Gossip such as this has no place on major news networks. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin was chosen as a vice presidential candidate and lost. End of story. In my opinion, any story about the Palin family begins and ends with the governor. Just because she was thrust into public spotlight doesn't mean her family and all of her business have to be, too. And now, media just can't seem to let it go. I'm sorry, but aren't there more important things going on in the world?

Oh, I'm sorry, you can't vote. You're a journalist.

There is one thing we discussed briefly in class that I don't think has been mentioned on this blog. It's been bothering me for a while, so allow me to touch on it briefly: the argument that journalists shouldn't vote. I'm curious what you class members think of this. I, for one, think it is mostly ridiculous. Yet, I can understand the rationale. Some journalists choose not to vote as to maintain an open mind and not mar their objectivity. They don't want to be swayed, subconsciously, or consciously in the news they choose to print. They do want anything to influence their ability to give fair and balanced coverage. But as I've said with the empathy vs. objectivity discussion, are journalists expected to be robots, detached from feeling and conviction for the sake of objectivity? The reason they have jobs in the first place is because they get to vote for freedom to have that job. Journalists are supposed to aid democracy, which is what the voting system is based on. I mostly agree with the policies that some publications have that require journalists not to campaign in any way as not to mar the publication's credibility. I think this is responsible, especially when a lot of big media entities are blatantly biased. But that is asking a lot of a human being-- to suppress their convictions for the sake of their career. However, asking them not to vote is wrong. They (we) are people too! Freedom of the press, though a wonderful privilege, does not make up for being denied the right to vote. Journalists are humans, and they are part of this democracy.

For a much more educated, cohesive take on this issue, read this.