Some can work from home. Grocery store clerks don’t have this luxury.
By Rich MillerArts & Entertainment Editor
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By Rich MillerArts & Entertainment Editor
By Richard Miller Arts and Entertainment Editor
By Rich MillerArts & Entertainment Editor
Richard Miller Arts & Entertainment Editor
By Richard MillerArts & Entertainment Editor
By Richard Miler Opinions Editor
By Richard MillerOpinions Editor
Richard Miller Opinions Editor
By Richard MillerOpinions Editor
By Richard MillerOpinions Editor
By Richard MillerOpinions Editor
By Richard Miller Opinions Editor
By Richard MillerOpinions Editor
By Richard Miller On April 15, a massive fire broke out beneath the roof of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. By the time the fire had been completely put out, which was 15 hours after it began, the building’s spire and most of its roof was destroyed and its upper walls were severely damaged. This was particularly devastating because the cathedral is one of the most widely recognized symbols of the city and the most visited monument in all of Paris. After the fire, a fundraising effort was launched, which has raised more than $700 million, according to the Philanthropy News Digest, and garnered the support of President Donald Trump. Although the president’s quick response caused some backlash online, with commentators arguing that past relief efforts should have received equal support from him, the situation raises a greater point — historical monuments are of the utmost importance and we must do everything in our power to preserve and protect them. Monuments serve as a time capsule to different parts of culture that have lasted hundreds of years. A culture is much richer when it has a tangible connection to the past, and preserving the history of a place through its significant historic resources gives a community its distinct character. The design and architecture of old structures and historical sites often present a view of the time period and culture from when they were constructed. Historic monuments provide a link to the roots of a community and its people. There are also economic benefits to preserving these monuments. The National Park Service, which manages several national monuments around the country, estimates that visitors to the state’s national parks and monuments spent $108.4 million in communities near monuments. The tourism boost that monuments give these communities can help lead to an increase in jobs in surrounding areas as well as opportunities for upkeep within the monuments themselves. Monuments also help teachers and students engage in history in a more active way by actively participating in conservation and protection. The monuments are physical embodiments of history, and when teachers take an abstract concept and connect it to a physical landmark, students are often more interested and feel more connected to the past. There is also a social element to these monuments. Monuments help bring a sense of pride to a community, making an environment more distinct, vibrant and lively. The preservation of monuments can be a stabilizing force in bringing communities together. Every monument has an important story to tell and each monument has the power to educate a whole new generation of people. We all benefit from sharing our history and developing a sense of cultural respect through both preserving and supporting monuments. Students share opinions around campus “Should students appreciate historic monuments?”
By Richard Miller Opinions Assistant The Brower Student Center Room 100 was filled to the brim with excitement, laughter and suspenseful energy as the audience awaited an answer to an annual question – who would be this year’s Deepher Dude? On April 10 at 8:30 p.m., the sisters of Delta Phi Epsilon hosted their annual male beauty pageant, Deepher Dude, to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. According to its website, the foundation supports the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis while helping further improve the lives of those living with the disease. “This is our biggest of the three philanthropy fundraisers we do each year and it means so much to us,” said Allison Longo, a junior communication studies major and vice president of programming for Delta Phi Epsilon. “It is so great to see the community come out and support such a great cause.” The night opened with a message from Anna Payne, a member of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, who suffers from the disease herself. She talked about her love and appreciation for Delta Phi Epsilon's continued support of the foundation and how it has personally impacted her. The evening’s emcees, Nicky Howard, a senior sociology major, and Diana Battaglia, a senior finance major, introduced the contestants, each of whom represented various organizations on campus. Such clubs included the chess team, the men’s basketball team and multiple representatives from Greek fraternities. The three judges included two Delta Phi Epsilon alumni and last year’s reigning Deepher Dude, junior biology major Conor Holden. The contest consisted of three rounds – outerwear, question and answer and the infamous talent round. During the outerwear round, contestants wore their favorite outfits, which included a unicorn onesie and a very small pair of overall ‘jorts.’ The question and answer round was divided into two parts. The first question was the same for all the contestants — what does Delta Phi Epsilon's motto, Esse Quam Videri, which translates to “be rather than to seem to be,” mean to you? Answers to these questions ranged, but most answered in a joking manner. One contestant talked about how adherence to this motto made the ‘deeph’ girls stand out, while another emphasized how important it was to stay true to yourself a “embrace your inner deeph.” For the second part of this round, students were asked a series of light-hearted questions that were intended to make the audience laugh. Questions in this round included, “finish the sentence, big deeph energy is…” and “What is your perfect date, and which ‘deeph’ would you bring along?” After a brief intermission filled with music and food, the most important and entertaining part of the night finally arrived — the talent round. The most memorable talent was when a contestant played a variety of covers on his keyboard while he was blindfolded. Other contestants covered songs including,“Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X, a sing-along to the Owl City hit “Firefly” and “Maybe It's Time” from the film, “A Star is Born.” At the end of the event, Jake Hill, a sophomore psychology major, was declared this year’s Deepher Dude. “Deepher Dude is a fun and exciting interaction between a bunch of different organizations on campus,” said Wandally Vargas, a freshmen political science major who attended the event. In the end, Delta Phi Epsilon raised a total $1,899 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
By Richard Miller Correspondent “Either you are calling me crazy or the bravest woman you know,” said talk-show host Wendy Williams after admitting on her show on March 19 that she is seeking treatment for addiction. According to The National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Williams is one of the 19.7 million American adults who battle a substance use disorder. However, only four million people receive treatment, which is only 19 percent of those who need it. Williams’ statement perfectly sums up why less than one-fifth of those struggling with addiction actually seek treatment. Our society stigmatizes addiction because of the impaired judgment or erratic behavior associated with abusing drugs and alcohol. These actions can have legal and occupational consequences, as well as relationship problems. Understandably, these kinds of consequences cause embarrassment and shame among those involved. More celebrities are opening up about their personal struggles in an effort to de-stigmatize addiction. One of the most memorable instances was this past summer when Demi Lovato suffered a severe opioid overdose after almost six years of reported sobriety. The public’s response to her overdose ranged from supportive to extremely hurtful and disturbing. This divisiveness is what makes many who are struggling with addiction hesitant to reach out for help. Drug and alcohol addiction are too often seen as a moral issue or a criminal matter rather than a health problem. Despite advances in understanding addiction as a disease, substance use disorder remains largely marginalized by the mainstream medical field, which stems from a lack of robust education on the topic in medical school. As evidenced by New Jersey’s opioid crisis, our country is paying the price for years of neglecting the fiscal and educational investments required to confront dangerous addiction. I have lost loved ones and relatives to addiction who were very young, some even in their early twenties. I believe that if the stigma surrounding addiction was not so prominent in our society, then they would not have been afraid to seek the help they needed. The world can be cruel for those battling addiction. Addicts are the ones who need love, acceptance and support the most, yet society turns its back on them. When someone dealing with addiction is faced with societal rejection, they may feel that the only way they can ever again find their bliss is by succumbing to their addiction. Between healthcare professionals, loved ones, and the rest of society, people who need help have been let down time and time again. If you know someone facing addiction, the best thing you can do is dispel all judgment and offer empathetic support. Students share opinions around campus “Does the stigma around addiction need to change?
By Richard Miller Opinions Assistant
By Richard Miller Signal Contributor “Don’t be a drag just be a queen” — these iconic lyrics from Lady Gaga’s hit single “Born This Way” hint at the importance of drag in promoting positivity and acceptance. Drag queens have been a staple in city nightclubs, specifically within the LGBTQ+ community, for decades. However, 2018 was an important year for the community, as these performers burst into mainstream media. This kind of acceptance and appreciation for the art of drag is truly heartwarming to see. A group that was long oppressed and ostracized by mainstream media is now being celebrated and glorified. Drag queens are usually males who dress and accessorize in women’s attire. They often act with exaggerated femininity and dramatize their makeup for dramatic, comedic or satirical effect. The hit reality show, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” has been a favorite amongst the LGBTQ+ community since its inception in 2008. In 2018, the producers made the decision to move the show from the specialty channel Logo TV to basic cable broadcasting on VH1, which was an instant success. The newfound attention for the show brought drag queens to the forefront of pop culture. The host himself, RuPaul Charles, recently received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the television industry, making him the first drag queen to be given this honor. In 2018, the reboot of “American Idol” featured drag queen Ada Vox, who ended up placing in the top 10. “So You Think You Can Dance” featured drag queen Laganja Estranja as a contestant and “Dancing Queen,” a Netflix original reality show, stars Justin Johnson, whose drag name is Alyssa Edwards. “Celebrity Big Brother UK” featured ‘Drag Race’ alum Shane Jenek in its competition. Jenek won the season with 49 percent of the public vote and is now gearing up to compete in “Dancing with the Stars Australia,” where he will be the first male celebrity to the perform with a male professional dancer in any iteration of the series. Jenek will be dancing as his drag persona, Courtney Act. In an interview, RuPaul mentioned that the growth of drag representation in the media in parallels America’s changing relationship with LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance. “I think the drag queens are able to show them that they don’t have to take beauty and fashion seriously,” he told Vogue in 2018. I think drag culture teaches us an important message — in this serious world, it’s okay to let loose and have fun. Comedy is the root of drag and, in what can sometimes be a depressing world, these “queens” are here to bring light. As RuPaul would say, ‘Shantay you stay’ and I hope we continue to see more representation in the future.
By Richard Miller Signal Contributor Although reality television is quite infamous for being scripted and calculated, one show appears to have finally decided to go way off-script. “The Bachelor,” a long-running ABC rating juggernaut that documents trademark catty drama between gorgeous contestants as they all fall in love with the ‘perfect’ man, is a fantasy bubble of romance that is entirely unrealistic (the success rates of the couples don’t lie). However, on the Jan. 28 episode of “The Bachelor,” something unprecedented happened. Contestant Caelynn Miller-Keys revealed to leading man Colton Underwood that she was a victim of sexual assault while attending Virginia Commonwealth University. She shared a horrifying story, that is, unfortunately, her reality. I have mighty respect for the show for letting her share it and not censor her. She described the attack in vivid detail, which included her drink being drugged, being sexually assaulted by two different men in the same night and later finding photos and videos of herself in an incapacitated state on social media. Perhaps the most disturbing part of the story was that Miller-Keys was turned away from the first hospital she went to for a rape kit, which she cites as the reason only one of the students was found guilty. Underwood did not once interrupt her and did something that I’d consider rare in today’s social climate –– he listened. Underwood and the producers allowed her to tell her story, the way she wanted it to be told, without any fluff or interruptions. This decision is something that is in sharp contrast with the history of the show. “The Bachelor” has had quite a controversial history with matters like this. In 2017, the show came under intense scrutiny after the spinoff series “Bachelor in Paradise” featured two of the contestants engaging in sexual acts while at least one of them was reportedly inebriated beyond the point of consent. The show then performed an “investigation,” conducted by, none other than their managing company, and of course found no evidence of misconduct. The show’s checkered past in dealing with these controversial issues is what makes this moment so profound. Chris Harrison, the show’s host, was quoted saying, “It’s one of those rare things where the show kind of stops and now you just want to take care of these people and walk them through this.” Underwood took to social media to express his support for Miller-Keys by saying that “there are moments that are bigger than the show itself.” A quick search of the show’s signature hashtag, #TheBachelor, shows thousands of fans that are offering an outpouring of support to Caelynn. “The Bachelor” is certainly not an award-winning documentary or a source for people to look for ideas on how to save the world (the rest of the episode was the typical drama and contestant fighting), but a woman being able to safely reveal her trauma is a high point for the show. One can only hope that “The Bachelor” continues to make these steps to document more of the reality behind the romance. Students share opinions around campus “Should reality TV stars be censored?” “With swear words, people shouldn’t be [censored]. It’s very common to hear words like that. “Reality TV should not be censored. The whole point is to be real.”