Female empowerment sliding as universities cancel/change women's studies

Woman's Studies is on the decline at Canadian universities. That's the consensus after several schools have dropped or re-named the program in hopes of creating new interest. The most recent, being Queen's University who no longer has a Woman's Studies program, but allows students to take courses in"Gender Studies."

"This is the way the world is moving," says Bev Baines, the program's chairwoman. "If we want to bring the younger generation into study, we have to move."

Nippissing has also gone into re-marketing the program, now offering "Gender Studies & Social Justice." The University of Guelph has taken it one step further, canceling the program all together. The rationale behind it stems from both a lack of funding and the program's popularity. The program cost the university $73,000, according to the former coordinator.

In addition, on a National level the federal government has declared the fight for equality is over. It has recently shut down three-quarters of its Status of Women offices and cut off any group advocating for equality.

With this in mind, women are still under represented on all major fronts. Roughly 6 per cent of Bay Street, 13 per cent of universities and 22 per cent of parliament is made up of women.

With cuts to Woman's studies programs and a lack of funding put forth by the Canadian government, this grass roots movement may start to fade. That being said, I'd like to think that gender equality is fluent throughout all programs (excluding engineering!) The education surrounding these issues and the integration of this thinking into 21st century programs may be the route to take. That being said, the fight for equality continues as women strive to be viewed on the same playing field as men.

University of Montreal uncovers new findings on Men and Porn

For all of you anti-porn elitist out there (I don't really know any - but I'm sure they exist), you're finally being put in your place today. A new study from the University of Montreal has found that porn does not turn men into twisted individuals with revolting sexual fetishes.

The study, headed up by Associate Professor Simon Louis Lajeunesse at the School of Social Work was able to find no correlation between pornography and angry or aggressive behavior towards women.

"Not one subject had a pathological sexuality. In fact, all of their sexual practices were quite conventional," says Lajeunesse.

Furthermore, all of the participants studied said that they supported gender equality and felt "victimized by the rhetoric demonizing pornography." All of the individuals were able to separate fantasy from reality. In addition, they did not want girlfriends who dressed or acted like porn stars.

"All the guys said, 'oh, my God, never!' " Lajeunesse recalls. "The fantasy is broken in the real world and men don't want their partners to look like a porn star."

"Pornography hasn't changed their perception of women or their relationship which they all want as harmonious and fulfilling as possible," explains Lajeunesse. "Critics who claim porn negatively influences male behaviour simply don't understand how men watch porn."

Many anti-porn feminists believe that porn degrades all women because it "prompts men to objectify women," says Simon Fraser University criminologist Sara Smyth.

But "no causal link has ever been found between porn and harm," she says.

The consensus is that, at most, it's possible porn reinforces some already existing misogyny, she adds.

I think North American society has come to recognize it as a healthy habit that all men partake in. That being said, I'm sure there has to be some sort of link between psychological issues and pornography. Too much of one thing is never good, especially when it comes to sex.

However, I question the research conducted. There has to be some sort of association, doesn't there? Ultimately these scenes of violence and objectification are in demand due to men who have some interest or hidden fantasy in taking part in this type of behaviour. Furthermore, there was no mention of how many men took part in the study and no real comparison in terms of violent men who hadn't watched pornography vs. men who were violent and had watched pornography.

Lajeunesse states, "We started our research seeking men in their twenties who had never consumed pornography - We couldn't find any."

With this being said, how should we view these results? With sex being naturalized within North America, the continual promotion of sexual behaviour is bound to grow.

At this point it's such a cultural norm, that it can't be blamed.

Our $3 Mil facility vs. Ryerson and their $60 Mil Maple Leaf Gardens Reno

So wait. Something's not right here. I'm going to play the jealous University student/8 year old boy card and say "Why does Ryerson get a 60 Million dollar renovated Maple Leaf Garden's as their athletic facility and we don't?!"

It's true though. Ryerson university will be contributing $20 million to the $60 million dollar facility at Carlton and Church Street. The facility will receive a renovated ice rink and athletic complex, in addition to a Loblaw's grocery store.

"In the life of a university, there are many announcements. But this one is special. It is one of those 'moments' that will be defined as, 'Do you remember when?'" said Ryerson president Sheldon Levy. "We're bringing Maple Leaf Gardens back to life."

This comes after a $126 increase per student was put in place this past year, to fund the project.

The development, Levy said, is becoming a reality because of the students, who voted "overwhelmingly" in a referendum last year to increase their student fees for a new athletic centre.

Loblaws, which bought the Gardens in 2004, will pay about $20 million to build a 70,000-square-foot store at street level and new underground parking. It also donated $5 million to Ryerson, which is trying to raise the additional $20 million to fund the Gardens' revitalization.

In addition to the school's contribution, the government will be investing roughly 40 million dollars. The project is apart of the national stimulus plan set in place this past year. The project is currently expected to create between 500 and 600 jobs.

Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty was in attendance at yesterday's announcement at the Gardens.

"This building was one of the original infrastructure stimulus projects in 1931," Flaherty said. "It employed a lot of people and got built very quickly during the Depression."

With the restorations moving forward, Levy and Loblaw's CEO Galen Weston has promised that the heritage and aesthetic of the Gardens will not be destroyed. The new Gardens is also set to include a Gardens and Leafs memorabilia museum.

"The idea here is preserve and build upon the integrity of this facility and to embrace the history, not to wipe it out," Weston said.

Where do Ryerson student's stand on the issue I wonder? Will the new athletic facility live up to everything students are hoping for? I know there has been mixed reviews here at Western after we finally open the doors to our new athletic facility.

Of course, the bigger nightmare has now been "What to do with the old athletic facility?" With the referendum being rejected last year, the USC seems to be scrounging for ways to renovate the old area.

None the less, this project seems to create new passion for the city, along with a number of projects to stimulate the economy. I, for one, am quite jealous of Ryerson students for having the opportunity to use a legendary facility. At the same time however, I can already see the hordes of people making their way into the facility, along with the corporate extortion and profiteering that is bound to take place.

The Beginning of The End

Traditional media seems to be a dying breed.

That’s the message the CBC Documentary “The End” continues to explore, as the power of online media becomes more dominant within today’s society. The three part series analyzes the future of Radio, Television and Print, while bringing forth a number of growing concerns for these traditional media outlets.

This apocalyptic thinking stems from the overwhelming response of online media. Today there are more than 35 million blogs and more than a billion videos watched per day, globally on YouTube alone. Furthermore, critics are expecting there to be roughly 80 million online podcasts by 2010.

With an overwhelming number of online outlets available, it is easy for critics to forecast the death of traditional media. However, there is still a large audience of loyal, traditional followers.

Print is still important as society still spends a number of hours outside the digital realm. A variety of print marketing and news collateral is still responsible for driving sales and informing the public. In addition, as Margaret Attwood discusses, the convenience and portability of print material goes beyond any computer. Overall, I’d like to think that majority of people are not as tech-addicted as most bloggers/designers and social media enthusiasts. I’d say they enjoy time away from their computers, and view print material as a social hobby.

Television is a questionable entity within today’s media realm. With so much news and programming online paired with the ability to fast-forward ads, TV faces a tough road ahead. With that being said, the introduction of HD programming and North America’s overall addiction to live sports and events could allow for television to stay afloat. The television industry needs to start innovating, as they start to walk a similar path to that of the music industry.

Radio is on its way out, as today’s youth and Gen Y have found new, innovative methods to meet their music and news demands. With portability no longer an issue and new in-car audio avenues available, consumers are spending more time with their own audio collection as oppose to the ones put in place by the CRTC. This, in addition to the opportunities available online, are causing radio stations to slowly die out.

What does this all mean for society, is the big question? Ultimately I’d like to think it would lead to a more informed society, as consumers are bombarded with endless avenues of information and opinion. The ability to create conversation and get involved has become a reality, as all of society is now involved. The cultural and informational opportunities are abundant as corporate spun news now takes the backseat.

The death of traditional media, like all things is inevitable. As the Internet and technologies continue to grow, the ideas surrounding new wave media will begin to surface. Ultimately, the continual evolution of the “mediascape” will hopefully allow for a growing society of informed and involved consumers.

Interested in finding out more? Check out the documentary here.

The Top 5 University Courses offered by North American Schools

As everyone seems to be tackling a copious amount of projects and exams right now, I figured I'd provide you with some light reading to help you procrastinate. Over the last day I've been able to find the top five most ridiculous, yet awesome courses offered by universities across North America. With some of these schools boasting tuition rates of $40-50,000/year, it's hard to believe that some of these programs are offered. Check out the schools below to see what you're missing out on!

THE CLASS: The Joy of Garbage

THE UNIVERSITY: Santa Clara University

"The Joy of Garbage" follows the lifeline of garbage as it is disposed of, burnt, decomposed, landfilled, treated, recycled, reused or just shipped out of sight--all tying back to the scientific method. Students in this class can expect a few field trips to the dump. All apart of the wonderful curriculum offered by the environmental studies program at Santa Clara University.

THE CLASS: Airline Emergency Cabin Training
THE UNIVERSITY: Lynn University

Only in the U.S. will you find a three credit class at the Floridian Lynn University that instructs students on the basics of airline emergencies. The final goal of the class? "At the completion of this course students will have a basic understanding of airline emergency situation procedures and demonstrate the ability to make appropriate emergency responses." In addition to in-class instruction, students are given a mandatory 15 hours of practical demonstration!

THE CLASS: Psychology of Facebook
THE UNIVERSITY: Stanford

Even the most accredited schools have come to offer incredible courses. As social media has become a influential force in today's society, Stanford has capitalized by creating "The Psychology of Facebook." professor, Dr. B.J. Fogg spearheads the effort, emphasizing how persuasion works in the social network. Funny enough, you will find that the actual course syllabus and description of this class is found on a Facebook group! Undergrads everywhere - check it out!

THE CLASS: Underwater Basket Weaving
THE UNIVERSITY: Reed College

I'm serious. This is legitimately a course. Reed College in Portland, Oregon takes dexterity education to a new level with the quirky class, "Underwater Basket Weaving." Underwater basket weaving involves constructing wicker baskets by dipping reeds and stalks of plants into water and letting them soak, all the while being fully submerged underwater. Welcome to the faculty of...I don't even think I can come up with something witty for this one - this course has faced enough humiliation as is.

THE CLASS: Tree Climbing
THE UNIVERSITY: Cornell University

"Tree Climbing" at Cornell University allows students to rekindle the sense of adventure from when you were a youth climbing up into the branches of sprawling trees. The class covers numerous venues (aka. trees) and shows enrolled collegians how to use different forms of equipment, while teaching you how to use ropes and technical climbing gear to reach the top of any tree. For all of you that missed out on your youth and spent the days inside of a burlap sack, this course is for you.

Bonus: Just to throw in some Canadian content:

THE CLASS: The Religion of the Montreal Canadians
THE UNIVERSITY: University of Montreal

Professor Olivier Bauer analyzes the theological examination of the Canadiens and the relationship between the storied hockey club and Quebec's Catholic heritage. The course explores the relics and rituals of the Habs as well as examining the rites of the Canadiens religion. Hey, this team doesn't just cherish their jerseys, they call their sweaters la sainte flanelle (holy flannel) and they can back that sweater piety up! Next time your in the Montreal area stop by for one of Bauer's acclaimed lectures - just leave your leafs jersey at home.

Fly me to the moon, let me play amongst the stars.

Actually, on second thought let's go to Mars.

That's the direction five Canadian universities will be taking, starting next spring. Western, McGill, McMaster, the University of Toronto and the University of Winnipeg will all be starting Canada's first astrobiology training program.

"The goal is to create a place for Canada in space," said Dr. Neil Banerjee, co-investigator of the Canadian Astrobiology Training Program (CATP)and associate professor of earth science at the University of Western Ontario.

"We are training the next generation of Canadian explorers," he said.

CATP will be the first program to shift the focus of astrobiology to Mars from its existing focus on the moon. It will be the first multi-institutional, cross-disciplinary program for university students in Canada. Succesful candidates will have the opportunity to work alongside experts at NASA and the Canadian Space Agency, while working in cutting edge facilities that pave the way for space exploration.

McGill will be the first to accept applicants for the program, hoping to fill 70 positions over the next six years.

What will the program mean for the University of Western Ontario? Why these five select schools? Was there some sort of cost involved to be apart of this elite group paving the way for Canada's Space Industry? at which point, whose footing that bill?

The program seems like a great initiative overall. I was shocked to see that the University of Waterloo and the University of British Columbia were not included in the program. With revered courses surrounding math and science at both schools, how could the group take the University of Winnipeg over these internationally recognized schools?

Only time will tell what these schools uncover. Let's hope Mars is everything "Total Recall" depicted.

The Biggest Loser - University Edition

Lincoln University in Pennsylvania is telling students to shape up - not academically however, but physically.

In a controversial move, the school is requiring overweight students to take a fitness course in order to receive their degrees.

The mandate, which took effect for freshmen who entered in the fall of 2006, requires that students have their body mass index (BMI) measured.

The BMI is used to assess a person’s level of body fat based on his or her height and weight. A normal BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9. Students who have a BMI of 30 or above are considered obese and are required to take a class entitled “Fitness for Life.”

The university is facing harsh criticism currently in the media and academic communities. Mark Rothstein, director of the bioethics institute at the University of Louiseville’s School of Medicine, said being forced to disclose health information is “at least awkward and often distasteful.”

However Chairman of the school’s Department of Health and Physical Education James DeBoy, feels that school officials are taking the necessary steps in helping their students get healthy.

“We know we’re in the midst of an obesity epidemic. We have an obligation to address this head on, knowing full well there’s going to be some fallout,” said DeBoy.

Ultimately, I feel that a student's weight and physical appearance is not a concern of any university. You have our cheque for $6,000, what more do you want? In addition, if a student is doing well academically, and is happy both physically and mentally, why should the university intervene?

Although the university's heart is in the right place, I can see a new level of issues erupting. The new program is bound to create a variety of psychological, enrollment and physical issues that the university will have to tackle.

That being said, perhaps there are other underlying health factors that haven't been made public. I write my response today as a healthy, somewhat-in-shape university student who lives in a country that has a relatively low obesity rate. We need to remember that this issue takes place in a country that has one of the highest obesity rates in the world.

Only time will tell what the program provides. For the mean time, stay fit and have fun! BODY BREAK.