Laura Donovan's Blog

I just blogged about my dissatisfcation with a Wildcat column, and now, I’m looking to praise new columnist, Tiffany Kimmel for her opinion piece in today’s paper.

Using research, Kimmel theorizes that men use the word “fag” more often than women. I tend to agree, but I’m not about to make a blanket statement that guys are more likely to use the derogatory term. I like that the author recognizes how pervasive the term is on school campuses and in the world, and I applaud her for doing what she can to keep it out of conversation.

In my opinion, Kimmel gives the best advice possible on how to prevent people from saying “faggot,” whether or not the speaker is actually referring to a gay man:

“We should start conditioning one another not to use “gay” or “fag” as synonyms for stupid or dumb.”

This really is the only way to fix the problem. This summer, a classmate would say “that’s so gay” whenever he thought something was stupid. Even though this student was not homophobic, he still didn’t understand the meaning behind his words, so I called him out on his behavior in front of the other students and told him that “gay” was not synonymous for “stupid.” A few other students laughed at me for being self-righteous, but the guy stopped misusing the word “gay.”

It’s important not to let these things slide. When politely told that these words are hurtful, others are likely to listen and think before speaking so ignorantly in public.

I’m very proud to say that my longtime UA friend, Zac York will appear on the “Today Show” on Monday to share his experiences with a brain tumor survival. The Arizona Daily Wildcat grabbed this story and mentioned that Zac will also appear in Carolyn Rubenstein’s book, “Perseverance.”

As someone who has lost a parent to liver cancer, there is nothing more amazing to me than a cancer survivor, so it’s rewarding and uplifting to see the Wildcat publish an inspirational cancer survival story on the front page. I’m glad that Zac will appear on TV, and I truly hope his courage and strength will resonate with viewers, particularly the terminally ill who may have already come to terms with the fact that their days are numbered.

Zac didn’t submit to any negativity, and he kept fighting for his life at a young age. This is the best story I’ve seen in the Wildcat, and I hope to see these kinds of leads more often. More than anything, I’d like Zac’s circumstances to be less of an exception and more of a rule when it comes to cancer survival.

It’s commendable enough that Zac went out of state for college after recovering from cancer. I first met the San Diego native in my Physical Universe general education class during my first semester at UA. The two of us went in to talk to our professor during office hours, and we soon realized that we were both creative writing students.

We even caught the same flight back to California during spring break, and we lived in Villa del Puente dorm during our sophomore year. Zac was the only one of my friends who could understand the pain I suffered from losing my dad to an uncontrollable illness, and I was very thankful to have a friend who legitimately understood the messiness that comes with cancer.

For someone who has been through arguably the most terrifying experience possible, Zac doesn’t complain at all. He’s incredibly positive and doesn’t really talk about his past. He doesn’t believe in dumping his troubles on anyone, and he has many friends in the English department and on campus. There should be more people like him in this world, and I wish I could be as strong as he is. a brain tumor

The Arizona Daily Wildcat reported today that Pi Beta Phi sorority faces possible probation “for alcohol infractions.”

If the chapter is revoked, Pi Beta Phi sorority will be the fifth UA Greek Life organization to get kicked off campus in 2009, joining Kappa Sigma, Alpha Chi Omega, Kappa Alpha, and Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

This suggests a serious crackdown on UA Greek Life. What’s going on with the UA? Why is the school suddenly investigating so many fraternities and sororities?

Let’s be honest. The majority of, if not all, Greek Life organizations consume alcohol, and Greek Life isn’t the only college group to blame for this. Chain Gang, professional fraternities, and other clubs have been known to privately host gatherings with alcohol. Why is Greek Life taking the blame for something that most college students and on-campus groups partake in?

The bigger question is why the UA has suddenly become so strict on Greek Life. Many have noticed the pattern of chapters losing their charters, and this could actually have negative effects on the UA community. With over 1,000 girls rushing sororities every year and high Greek Life endowment donations, the loss of Greek Life could potentially lose the UA some money.

If Greek Life is removed entirely from campus, or at least greatly wiped out, fewer students will apply to and attend the UA. Believe it or not, many students are drawn to the UA’s popular Greek Life reputation. Even though I never joined a sorority, my 17-year-old high school self assumed I’d follow in my immediate family’s footsteps and go Greek, so I made sure to attend a school with decent Greek Life regardless of what I ended up deciding to do.

Greek alumni may not want to donate to the UA now, so the school will lose that money, as insignificant as it may actually be.

Instead of telling us why Pi Beta Phi is in trouble, the Wildcat may want to explain to readers why Greek Life has been under such abrupt scrutiny in a one year block of time.

I find it interesting that UA Men’s Football coach Michael Stoops makes more money than UA President Robert Shelton.

Every semester, the University of Arizona Bookstore hires a bunch of new employees to monitor increased bookstore traffic, and among my favorite returning employees are Lawanna and Steve. They’re older, semi-retired workers who greet people at the front door.

UofA Bookstore door greeters only work for the first four weeks of every semester, but they make an impression on frequent bookstore customers. Last semester, I spent a lot of my breaks between class in the bookstore, so I’d often talk to Lawanna and Steve, and I always left the store feeling better about myself after these conversations.

It’s nice to see older adults on the UofA campus. Steve and Lawanna can provide a comforting presence to new freshmen who aren’t used to being surrounded only by college students. I like talking to Steve and Lawanna because they’re such good listeners, and they have a lot of life experience.

They’re a great change of pace on campus, and they can actually have meaningful conversations. I wish they worked at the bookstore year-round. You can say I’m a huge dork, but I’m sort of an old soul at times, and I really appreciate having real grown-ups to talk to in a sea of college student chaos.

Here’s my occasional film review:

For a month, I’ve been having issues coming to terms with my senior-in-college status, but ironically enough, the new Alexis Bledel film Post Grad made me lose all fears of graduating the University of Arizona with absolutely no plan and job prospects.

Post Grad is about Ryden (Gilmore Girl’s Alexis Bledel), a fresh out of college Californian in search of a publishing job. Unfortunately, Ryden isn’t hired anywhere, and she’s forced to move back into her eccentric family’s Los Angeles house. Her best friend, Adam tries to make her happy, and he desperately wants her to see him as more than just a friend, but she’s too busy complaining about momentary unemployment to see that she can’t live without him.

Up until I saw this movie, I was worried about all the same things Ryden’s character minces about. I really didn’t want to even consider moving back in with my mother or not having job security by graduation date. But this film reminded me of how lucky people like me and Ryden’s character actually are. Motivated, hard-working individuals like us will eventually get our feet in the door. So what if we have to wait up to six months for that to happen?

For this reason alone, I disliked much of the film. Ryden is whiny and unappreciative. She neglects a friend who is totally in love with her, and she doesn’t embrace the fact that she actually has a welcoming family to come home to at the end of college. There are worse things than graduating college without a plan.

Imagine graduating college and not having a nice family and group of friends to turn to. That’s a story about real adversity. Post Grad is not. I could be the most successful post graduate if I got a publishing job in New York, yet I’d have the worst life because my immediate family and college/high school friends will be in California. To me, there’s really nothing more depressing than being alone.

All the petty complaining really made me want to strangle the main character, but I was satisfied with the ending. More than anything, I’d like to thank the producers and writers of Post Grad for showing me that there are much more serious circumstances than being an unemployed young adult with just a Bachelor’s degree. Because of this film, I won’t be embarrassed or disappointed if I move in with my mother when I finish up at the UA, because at least I have a parent who is more than happy to let me come home when I have nowhere else to go.

On my way to Espresso Art this afternoon, I saw University of Arizona president Robert Shelton standing by a truck parked by La Aldea residence hall. He was wearing a red t-shirt, holding a dolly full of brown boxes, and speaking to a UA parent.

Last fall, Shelton helped the new freshmen move into Coronado Hall, and he seems to be doing the same thing this year.

Shelton has been known to get to know students on a more personal level. From eating lunch with random UA students in the Student Union to saying “hello” to anyone willing to make eye contact, Shelton will go the extra mile to be courteous. You can say this should be expected of him, but believe it or not, many people don’t feel the need to be cheerful and friendly towards everyone, particularly authority figures like Shelton.

I probably had one of the most unusual yet valuable personal encounters with Shelton when I was a college freshman flying home to northern California one weekend. Shelton happened to sit next to me on the plane, and well, the Wildcat kindly published my story:

A chance encounter with the new president

Laura Donovan
freshman majoring in elementary education and creative writing

Thank you, President Robert Shelton for continuously reaching out to students on a personal level.

Today is day one of the University of Arizona sorority recruitment, meaning all potential new members have to walk on eggshells and be very careful with what they say and do for the duration of the process.

Having endured the first three days of sorority recruitment in 2007, I remember a great deal about the experience and am certain that many of the same restrictions still stand.

In 2007, all potential new members were instructed not to speak to any fraternity brothers or active sorority sisters until rush ended, therefore, attendance at any fraternity parties was prohibited. Anyone caught drinking or partying at one of the fraternities would be banned from recruitment, and my sorority recruitment counselor specifically stated that the National Panhellenic Council would have representatives scouting the areas surrounding fraternities houses in search of any potential new members.

Believe it or not, I support the Greek system. I come from an all-Greek family, and I have several friends who found their identities in sororities. I’ll never forget spending my first 2.5 years at UA at the Kappa Alpha fraternity house. Sorority life didn’t work out for me, but I’m happy for the people who love the benefits. My only real complaint is with the sorority recruitment process at the University of Arizona.

I think it’s absolutely insane to require freshmen girls to arrive at the University of Arizona a week before courses start. The recruitment board did not take into account the emotional stress of moving away from home, not to mention the 106 degree weather that the new freshmen will be forced to adapt to in a two-day period of time. It’s ridiculous to put new college students through such an overwhelming process, and I specifically stated in my 2008 Daily Wildcat column that this situation can be fixed if recruitment is not held before classes start. The girls can go through the drill a week into the school-year or second semester, what Indiana University-Bloomington does.

A sane formal sorority recruitment system would not demand new freshmen and even sophomores to face so many changes before classes even begin, but as Jenny French Nirh, senior coordinator of fraternity and sorority programs said in 2007, sorority rush takes place in mid-August so the girls will not have to worry about academics during the process.

Even so, the girls still make other types of sacrifices, as I wrote about in my column.

I remember being so de-hydrated during rush that I couldn’t even drink water without vomiting. I wouldn’t have gotten this sick had the sorority recruitment counselors allowed me to carry water bottles with me to each sorority house. None of the potential new members were allowed to bring water bottles to recruitment because the counselors would have to hold onto the bottles while the girls went into the houses, and the counselors said the waters would be too heavy for them to carry around. As a result, I had to go to the ER, as did several other girls. I won’t even mention the amount of girls who got sick and didn’t go to the hospital.

Things may have changed in this year’s recruitment process, at least when it comes to water.

I walked past a group of potential new members in the Student Union Memorial Center. All the girls were sitting at tables, clear plastic bags in front of them. No one was eating anything, and I only saw two girls with water bottles.

“Has everyone had enough water for the most part? No one is feeling sick?” asked the sorority recruitment counselor.

Everyone seemed to be OK, and thankfully, there are still water stations scattered around campus as there were when I rushed. Even so, tiny cups of water won’t properly hydrate young girls who stand around in hundred-something degree weather for several hours a day. They’re not really getting enough sleep, either. I sincerely hope no one gets sick this year, but if it happens, I blame the recruitment directors for not taking dehydration seriously. They’d rather the girls go through rush before having the chance to hear sorority rumors than have the girls wait a semester to rush, when the weather isn’t intense enough to send someone to the emergency room.

How’s that for having twisted values?

As I said in the first short paragraph, potential new members were not allowed to talk about their rush experiences during the process. I was in a group of about fifty other girls, and we were all told not to talk about our sorority house opinions with each other. If I disliked a specific house, I was forbidden to tell any other rushee about it because the recruitment directors didn’t want the girls to have any outside influences.

We were all given tiny booklets with information on each sorority, and we all used the blank pages to write about each sorority. We weren’t allowed to take these books home because the recruitment directors were afraid the potential new members would “compare notes.” Interestingly enough, a sorority sister told me that the recruitment counselors actually read all the potential new members’ booklets. So much for privacy, if that’s true.

It’s only day one of sorority recruitment, and if I remember correctly, the dress code for day one only requires girls to wear “casual attire.” Day three is more formal, and a lot of girls end up dropping out of the process on this day, when they’re given a list of sorority houses that they’ve been invited back to. Most girls aren’t asked back to more than 5 of the 12 houses, and many drop if they dislike their options. Day two should be pretty intense, and I’ll let you know about the drama that inevitably happens on day three.

Here are some brief videos that I took while in Paris.

The following videos will give you an idea of how insane the Paris Metro can be during the Fete de la Musique celebration every summer:

On the Metro:

Watching the Metro pass by; I can hear the insanity from outside:

The music party by my host family’s apartment, which is right by the Eiffel Tower:

I miss Paris!

On my walk to Espresso Art on University Avenue this afternoon, I saw dozens of parked cars beside Coronado and Arizona-Sonora residence halls. It’s crazy to think that just three years ago, my mom was helping me move into my Coronado fifth floor dorm room.

As exciting as freshman year was, I’m glad to have moved on from that part of my life.

Now, I can instead report on today’s opening of all residence halls, which are mostly occupied by freshmen.

Technically, August 19 is early move-in day, but all women registered for sorority recruitment are allowed to move into the dorms today, August 16.

Based on personal observations, Coronado and Arizona-Sonora residence halls are known to house the highest number of sorority sisters or potential new sorority members, so I wasn’t surprised to see so many parked cars and shuttles surrounding both these specific dorms this afternoon.

Arizona-Sonora:

Coronado:

The new freshmen in Coronado hall face parking complications that weren’t an issue for me. The old parking lot behind Coronado is currently under construction to create another residence hall. This explains all the cars parked in bike lines, in the middle of the road, and in back of other vehicles entirely.

Regular check-in begins August 20 and ends on the 22nd, so I’m sure these areas will be packed with even more cars in the coming days.

Welcome to the University of Arizona, freshmen. Your time here goes by way too quickly. Enjoy every second.