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Page 1: The RMR - January 2011
Page 2: The RMR - January 2011

Interested in the Roddey Mac?E-mail us at [email protected]. Like us on Facebook. Look out for The RMR on the daily student announcements.

Winthrop University students publish The Roddey-McMillan Re-cord monthly during the academic year for students, faculty, staff and alumni.

A member of The Roddey-McMillan Record writes the staff editorial. Unsigned editorials reflect the opinions of the editorial staff. The opin-ions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the administration, faculty, staff or students.

Signed columns and cartoons and letters to the editor reflect the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the staff.

Letters to the editor may be e-mailed to [email protected] and must include the author’s name, telephone number, e-mail ad-dress and major or profession. The editor reserves the right to edit letters.

Miciah BennettEditor-in-Chief

[email protected]

Johnathan CruseAssistant Editor

[email protected]

Amanda PhippsCopy Editor

[email protected]

Will JenkinsPhotographer

[email protected]

Jasmine RutledgeReporter

[email protected]

Shatesha ScalesPage Layout [email protected]

The Winthrop UniversityAssociation of Black Journalists is open to students of all races and majors who want to see fair cover-age of minorities in the media.

Become a part of WUNABJ and meet media professionals of all kind. For more information e-mail Miciah Bennett at [email protected].

Erin Mitchell Illustrator

[email protected]

The Roddey-McMillan Record Specializing In Diversity Since 1986 P. 2• January 2011

Nadia HooksGraphic Designer

[email protected]

Nicolas DeboeufGraphic Designer

[email protected]

Candy ClementAssistant Copy [email protected]

Katra CunninghamStaff Writer

[email protected]

Cover Art by Nicolas Deboeuf

Crystal BookerStaff Writer

[email protected]

James PrioleauStaff Writer

[email protected]

Joy Brown Illustrator

[email protected]

The Roddey-McMillan Record wants you to be a part of our

team!We are looking for:

• Writers

• Photographers

• Illustrators

• Graphic Designers

• Ad Representatives

Contact us at: [email protected]

Page 3: The RMR - January 2011

Letter From the Editor

Miciah BennettMiciah BennettEditor-In-Chief

The Roddey-McMillan Record Specializing In Diversity Since 1986 P. 3 • January 2011

Table of Contents

student

reflection:

HBCU vs. WU

P. 4

column:

obama’s

approval rating

P. 9

cultural events

listing

P. 12

the reality check:

mlk as a make up

day

P. 8

student

reflection: my

time in cherokee,

n.c.

P. 10

new year’s

resolution

struggles

P. 6

Being afraid won’t get you anywhere. Trust me, I know. There are so many times when I have let fear make my decisions that I, sometimes, wonder how different my life would be if I would have pushed past that fear.

Looking back, I think it’s safe to say that I felt the most fear in regard to what I wanted the most. That fear, that nauseat-

ing, anxiety causing fear, has kept me from experiencing so many beautiful things.

I am learning to push past my fear, and I realize that it is my responsibility to always keep pushing.

Each push will afford me with something wonderful: more confidence, better opportunities and stronger rela-tionships.

I believe that if you want something you can have it, but you have to give a little to get a little. You have to step out on a limb. You have to put your pride aside and know that what is waiting will, most likely, be greater than what you are leaving behind.

My New Year’s resolution is to create more balance in my life by having more fun and doing some things that would, normally, totally freak me out.

Why not?In the words of a woman who I respect and admire, “Life

is a game, and no one makes it out alive.”

Page 4: The RMR - January 2011

The Roddey-McMillan Record Specializing In Diversity Since 1986 P. 4 • January 2011

Being a black female in the U.S. educational system for more than ten years, I have always felt that the admin-istration and teachers, in my educational experience, did not fully support me in achieving my goals. I received weird and confused looks from guidance counselors after listing the colleges I was applying to. Without even looking at my grades, some, automatically, as-sumed that a four-year institution wasn’t my plan. I didn’t realize the sad truth of the stereotypes in education, until a few months before the beginning of my junior year of high school.

I moved to the state of Washington and began attending the high school in my district. Before beginning the year, I was advised to meet with the principal of the school. After looking at my long list of extra-curricular activities and good grade point average, he innocently looked at me and asked, “Which two-year junior college do you plan to attend after high school?”

The principal at my new school asked me in such a way that made me realize that when I walked in, he already had a pre-conceived notion about my educational plan. I was dumb-founded by the question.

I was a bit offended, being that I had no plans to attend a two-year college. I had already researched the top four-year universities in which I would apply.

The principal automatically assumed that since I was black, I couldn’t afford

or get accepted into a four-year institution. In that moment, I realized that black America and the education system were sometimes seen as a nega-tive relationship.

According to the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, only 51 percent of black students graduate high school, compared to 71 percent of white students that graduate. In the small percentage of black graduates, only 9 percent of black students are actually prepared for college readiness, based on educa-tion and experience in their high school years. Already, statistics and stereotypes have lumped black students into their futures, making it harder for students to receive sup-

port and help from counselors and teachers to attend four- year colleges and universities.

In Hartford, Conn., one man has set out to change the stereotypes of minority students going to college. Steve Perry, the principal of Capital Preparatory Magnet School, knows the importance of college preparation in high school. According to a CNN interview with Steve Perry in

2009, 80

percent of Capital

Prep is black or Hispanic. On the school

website is a quote from Steve Perry: “We have a school that is designed to send children to college. If we don’t send children to college, we are not doing our job.” It’s a theory that he has shown works.

According to the Capital Prep web-site, 100 percent of the students that attend the magnet school have gone on to a four-year university.

How does Capital Prep ensure a 100 percent college attendance rate?

Steve Perry, an African-

American native to Hartford, Conn.

In a CNN in-terview, Perry states

that he received the in-spiration to help others

by changing stereotypes for minority children in the

education system while he was in the fourth grade. The tough

love and discipline that Perry implements into his teaching meth-

ods now are the same lessons he learned from his fourth grade teacher.

Perry surrounds his students with peers have the same goals: graduate high school, attend a four- year university, work hard and become successful. With impoverished environments and stereo-types working against them, the students of Capital Preparatory Magnet School use Perry’s tough love and motivation to continue on to college.

Being a minority student attending a four-year university, I understand that many people face obstacles when trying to attend high school and college. Hear-ing about the success of Perry’s teaching methods and showcasing the students who attend his school, along with ob-stacles they face, show that it is possible to beat statistics and stereotypes.

ARE THEYPREPARED?

School breaks stereotypes, gives minority students hope of success

Chelsea BrownSpecial to the RMR

Page 5: The RMR - January 2011

The Roddey-McMillan Record Specializing In Diversity Since 1986 P. 5 • January 2011

I have always been the one to explain to others the benefits of a Historically Black College and University (HBCU).

HBCUs have been all I’ve known my entire life and I felt as though there was no other option. I grew up in a small town with a general understanding that either you did things the way that ev-eryone else did or you would be forever doubted and expected to fail.

In Hemingway, S.C., when you graduate high school you usually con-tinue your academic career at nearby HBCUs like Claflin, Morris, or South Carolina State University, anything else was considered a risk.

I often found myself questioning whose life I was living. It was mine right? So why would I do what others thought was best for me, when it was completely opposite of what I envi-sioned for myself? Curiosity became my muse and I decided that I had to do what was best for Katra, a task that only I could achieve.

A small town girl, with the goal of becoming success-ful, I decided that I’d rather travel the path less taken, and maybe even veer off from that one. I would break out of my cage and see what else was out there in the world. I would experience the world outside of

Hemingway, so that would not experi-ence cultural shock later.

I am still supportive of HBCUs, but I feel that they are for people who have had prior experience with diversity. It’s not for people with my background, people who have grown accustom to being surrounded with people who look, sound and dress the same as I do. Everyone should experience diversity and spend time with people with different culture backgrounds. I needed to be exposed to these things. I needed change.

Most people I know choose HB-CUs because they feel as though they would do better with people similar to them. They felt as though they would fit in better and could become a more successful person in the long run because of this, but I see it more as a limiting factor.

You are surrounded with your own kin and that is a great feeling, but you must understand the world

doesn’t work like that. The world is filled with people of different descents and beliefs and we must all learn to work together. There will never be a career in which you will only have to work with one race. I think that this reality should help influence your university choice because when you enter into the “real world” you won’t experience a huge cultural shock and are able

to interact with people of other backgrounds.

HBCUs will forever be a great expe-rience, but everyone should remember

that fore fathers like Martin Luther King and Malcolm X fought for equality for a reason. They fought for our generation, and all generations, so that we would be able to interact with people freely.

Why would we try to separate our-selves from the world? Isn’t attending an HBCU today segregation that we fought to eliminate?

Am I a hypocrite for changing my childhood dreams of attending a HBCU

and instead enrolling in Win-throp University? I think not. Because I know that I am who I am, and I love that.

However, I will not try to separate myself from people who have lived different lives, because then what I am used to would become all that I know.

HBCU vs. WUStudent explains how she ended up at WUKatra CunninghamStaff Writer

Joy Brow

n • Illustration

Cunningham

Page 6: The RMR - January 2011

The Roddey-McMillan Record Specializing In Diversity Since 1986 P. 6 • January 2011

Information from psychcentral.com

1. Keep your resolutions simple. Sometimes people find themselves aiming for an overhaul of their entire lifestyle, and this is simply a recipe for disappointment and guilt. The best approach is to focus clearly on one or two of your most important goals.2. Choose carefully. Well, you might like to concentrate on those that will have the greatest impact on your happiness, health and fulfilment. 3. Be realistic. Don’t aim too high and ignore reality – consider your previous experience with resolutions. What led to failure then?4. Create bite-sized portions. Break goals down to manageable chunks. This is perhaps the most essential ingredient for success, as the more planning you do now, the more likely you are to get there in the end. 5. Plan a time-frame. In fact, the time-frame is vital for motivation. It is your barometer for success, the way you assess your short-term progress towards the ultimate long-term goal. Buy a calendar or diary so you can plan your ac-tions for the coming weeks or months, and decide when and how often to evalu-ate.6. Make notes. Having made a note of your time-frame, you will have a physical reminder of what you’re aiming for. Now go further and write down the details of your resolutions in a notebook, remembering to add your motivations. 7. Treat yourself. But be warned, don’t fall into the trap of putting your goal in danger – it’s too easy for a dieter to say “I’ve been so good, I deserve a few candy bars”, or a saver to throw caution to the wind with a new purchase. One slip, and it could all be over.8. Receive support. It is at such times, when you’ve temporarily fallen off the wagon, that your support network is crucial. 9. Don’t give up! Do bear in mind that a slip-up is almost inevitable at some point, and you must not let this become an excuse to give up. When it happens, immediately forgive yourself and say “I’m starting again now!”10. Put yourself in charge. These achievements are under your control – other people can advise and support you but it’s your actions which need to change to see the results you want. Compiled by James Prioleau

INew Year resolutions guide

2011

Students find resolutions easy to make, hard to keep

BY James Prioleau

Staff Writer

t’s a brand new year with brand new promises to do better than the previous year. Like many people, Randee Dorontich, 21, from Clemson, S.C. has made a New Year’s resolu-

tion. The senior Spanish major made

a simple resolution to become more constructive and more confident. “I plan to be more positive and more optimistic because, you know, be-ing in shape is not going to happen,” Dorontich said. “I didn’t want to dis-appoint myself. I would forget every-thing the next month.”

Dorontich believes that many people that make resolutions don’t keep them. “No they don’t keep them, things come up and they don’t have time to keep up with them”.

The Economic Times reports that more women (74 percent of women versus 58 percent of men) make New Year’s resolutions, while more men (22 percent of men versus 14 percent of women) keep them.

Jamal Tate, 18, an athletic training major from Columbia, S.C. said that people don’t have the confidence to keep their resolution. “Most people don’t keep their new year’s resolution because they lose faith in what they want to accomplish,” he said.

LaShera Hayward, 21, a psy-chology major from Blacksville, S.C.

admits that she gets “slack” after a few months, so she didn’t make any resolutions this year. “I’m motivated around the beginning, but around the middle of the year, I start to get run down…. I never keep them,” she said.

Making better grades, being healthier and making sure your fi-nances are straight are a few of the many resolutions that college stu-dents make.

Allie Briggs, 20, double-major in political science and fine arts from Sumter, S.C. explains the main reso-lutions that college students make:

“Don’t get drunk, don’t spend money at Diggs and make better grades,” Briggs said.

Even though, in some cases, reso-lutions don’t last long, there are ways that people can make their resolu-tions last. Winthrop graduate Grant Wise, 23, from Dallas, Texas ex-plained how he keeps his New Year’s resolutions.

“Write them down and post them up somewhere where you can see them every day,” he said.

Wise isn’t the only one who be-lieves this; Briggs said that you have to have a clear perception about your resolution.

“Make you resolutions realis-tic and make them have a point,” Briggs said.

Page 7: The RMR - January 2011

The Roddey-McMillan Record Specializing In Diversity Since 1986 P. 7 • January 2011

NewYear Resolutions:what do you want to achieve in 2011?

compiled by Shatesha Scales &Johnathan Cruse

With a new year comes resolutions or goals often made to correct a mistake or habit from the previous year. Whether it’s to lose weight, stop smoking, or to be an all around better person, the strug-

gle to keep those resolutions in tact for the next 365 days can be a challenging one. Many give up their resolutions af-ter they smoke that cigarette, miss their first class or find themselves eating fatty food. These are a few resolutions Win-

throp students wish to keep until the next new year comes.

Page 8: The RMR - January 2011

The Roddey-McMillan Record Specializing In Diversity Since 1986 P. 8 • January 2011

The Reality CheckJasmine ‘Shorti Love’ Rutledge

 On the 25th anniversary of MLK Day, students should had been honored to attend classes just to prove that King’s ambition, fight and dream did not die along with him.

What’s all the fuss about?When school districts in

the Rock Hill and Charlotte area announced that Martin Luther King Jr.’s national day of remembrance would be used as a student make-up day for the previous week’s snow days, an issue of major concern grew throughout communities.

 Of course, this issue would evolve to become one of a racial matter.

 The community’s response, especially the black community, to the school board’s decision to assign classes on a day that is usually reserved for the commemoration of the well-respected civil rights activist was extreme.  Many explained their frustration by claiming they felt insulted and that the importance of MLK Day was being ignored.

 Local chapters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) intervened by directly addressing the school board via e-mail, phone and through the media. They accused school systems of being racist by disrespecting a national holiday that is devoted to the very same man who fought for African Americans’ rights to equal

opportunity education. Is it not weird that parents

complained about their children going to school? It seemed as though everyone agitated about school on MLK Day were really the ones that forgot the significance of such a holiday. There was once a time when children of color were not allowed to obtain an education with white children; if they could get an education at all.

 King was one of the many leaders who helped create such an opportunity. Because of the fairly racially-equalized society today’s generation is experiencing, most of them do not appreciate the fight King and others endured so that we can even have the right to share a classroom, let alone a school, with other races.

 On a typical day off, children do not even read a book. Did parents think children would have taken any time out to genuinely recognize Martin Luther King Day, listen to any of his speeches or even watch a documentary? Between texting, watching music videos and surfing Facebook, I am sure they would not. Granted, there are

some parents who take King’s day of observance to attend events or visit the library with their children so they can grasp the significance of the day, but many do not.

 So, it was quite a disappointment to me that some ‘boycotted’ the make-up day by keeping their child at home on MLK Day just so they could prove a point. The point that since King suffered arrests, dog attacks and beatings for our right to attend an educational institution, we should sit at home all day instead of taking fair advantage of something our ancestors died for.

 By children going to school on this day, they may at least learn a few more things about King’s values and his non-violent movement, versus learning more about Gucci Mane’s new tattoo or watching re-runs of award shows on BET all day. (Surprisingly, BET did not air any shows directed to King on MLK Day.)

 The Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district recently announced the closure of several schools that are located in predominantly African-

American neighborhoods. Since then, they have developed a bad reputation of discrimination. The argument that appointing MLK Day as a school make-up day was racially motivated was a little far-fetched.  

It was unfortunate that some were not able to take that day of observance as they would have preferred, but I think the only theory involved in this issue is timing, which is far away from the ‘taking away our black people’s day’ theory.

In previous years, schools would have appointed teacher work days as make-up days in cases like this. However, due to recent budget cuts, teachers no longer have work days.  That is why all national holidays for this school year are considered to be possible make-up days, if needed.  

With that being said, if it was President’s Day or Memorial Day, the same actions would have been taken. It is just a coincidence that such a snow storm occurred as we were approaching Martin Luther King’s special day.

 Martin Luther King Jr. was indeed an iconic figure. He

devoted his life to conducting nation-wide non-violent demonstrations for freedom and traveling throughout the South to make encouraging speeches to his people. Despite the negative consequences, King remained loyal to his vision of equality.

 About five years before his assassination in 1968, King made his notable “I Have a Dream” speech which passionately expressed his desire for “little black boys and black girls to be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers and for the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners to be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.” King’s dream lives as truth and as a way of life today. Racism and discrimination has decreased compared to what our ancestors were faced with.

 On the 25th anniversary of MLK Day, students should had been honored to attend classes just to prove that King’s ambition, fight and dream did not die along with him.

“”

Page 9: The RMR - January 2011

The Roddey-McMillan Record Specializing In Diversity Since 1986 P. 9 • January 2011

African-American repre-sentation in the media has al-ways hit a nerve for me.

Over the years, I have seen African-Americans depicted as lazy, ghetto and troublesome. Even with all the accomplish-ments people of color made, the media appeared to be stuck in a rut where African-Americans were portrayed nega-tively in the me-dia.

However, it is now a new year and I have noticed the changes in the roles of African-Americans in the media already. African-Ameri-cans are no longer portrayed as ghetto, loud and comical, but instead as doctors, wives and professional athletes.

One network that we should be paying homage to for this positive change is BET. Even though many people despise BET, I congratulate them on the positive additions they have made to their network and in uplifting African-Americans.

One recent addition to the BET family is the comedy/drama sitcom “The Game.” BET made history this year by picking up a show that has been off-air for two years, and an African-American show at that. Not only is the plot ri-diculously suspenseful with an

incredible cast, it depicts Afri-can-Americans as professional football players, wives, writers and business owners. BET has also picked up shows such as the “Wendy Williams Show” and “The Monique Show,” which are late night talk shows hosted by African-American women.

Turner Network Television (TNT), is helping to demolish the black stereotype as well. In 2009, TNT premiered a medical drama starring Jada Pinkett Smith, who is an over-achieving registered nurse at a Virginia hospital. Smith’s character,

Christina Hawthorne, is caring, intelligent, committed and a leader.

Besides Smith, actors such as Regina King, Ice Cube and Terry Crews are also holding prestigious roles on television as lawyers, hard working men and fathers. Roles like these impact the African-American community positively and shed light on the accomplish-ments that African-Americans are capable of.

These actors and shows are a huge accomplishment for the African-American commu-nity. Obama said it best when he coined the phrase “time for a change.” I see the change hap-pening more and more each day, but we can definitely still improve.

Equating the presidential job approval rating with people’s overall satisfaction of their government is a common error.

The reasoning behind the simple correlation is ease; it is far too easy to blame a single entity than the bulk of overlapping branches.

The system of checks and balances allows for people to pass the blame within the bounds of non-action. It is important to note that although approval ratings are relevant to overall satisfaction, the notion itself is only semi-justified within context.

According to Gallup, President Obama’s approval ratings have diminished from the, roughly, 2/3 rating at his start in office to the 46 percent approval rating he has today. (The only president to have a higher approval rating at the start of his office was President Kennedy with a 72 percent approval rating).

The ratings fluctuate slightly depending on what source is used. The Washington Post states a 50 percent approval rating versus USA Today, which states a 43 percent approval rating.

President Obama’s average approval rating is at 52 percent; President George W. Bush’s average was 49 percent, according to Gallup records. More recently, the biggest factor

affecting the approval rating is the Republican takeover of the U.S. House of Representatives. The takeover has the potential to affect the approval rating both positively and negatively.

On the positive end, the disapprovers will have a greater voice to pass the legislation they support. Any legislation that favors them is deemed to favor the President’s approval implicitly. There is arguably more to be gained than lost by having “opposing” parties in government. The greatest win is keeping each party in check; before the Republican takeover, the Democrats had an easier time passing whatever legislation they deemed important. Now, the Republicans will also have a say in importance.

The negative aspect is that though compromise will pass more agreeable bills, there will be fewer bills passed: more time will be spent debating the merits of each individual bill amongst parties, leaving less time to actually pass the bill and move along.

Less action could potentially lower the approval rating. Considering the current economic downturn, people have less time to distract them from possible gripes with the government; with respect to President George W. Bush and President Obama’s averages (52 percent and 49 percent respectively), President Obama is doing well.

The financial crisis started in President Bush’s last years in office; however, President Obama has had to bear the brunt of the situation. The financial crisis officially started in 2007 and “ended” in 2010 according to The Economist.

Mass legislation was enacted through President Obama to boost the economy out of its Great Depression-like state. President Obama actually dealt with Great Depression-like economic symptoms and still has a higher average approval rating than President George W. Bush.

Putting emphasis on the context of peoples’ satisfaction bearing on the time to be dissatisfied and disapproving dictates that because more people are out of jobs, more people have the opportunity to be dissatisfied. The simple comparison of the current and the first former president don’t show that association.

President Obama’s approval rating may only show the glass half full, but it’s still fuller than the glasses of the past.

President Obama’s approval ratings lack the full picture

‘Black representation in television still

needs improving’

Ray OlangSpecial to the RMR

Billie Jean ShawSpecial to the RMR

Shaw

Olang

Page 10: The RMR - January 2011

The Roddey-McMillan Record Specializing In Diversity Since 1986 P. 10 • January 2011

Student explores Cherokee culture during winter break

Cherokee 101• “Goodbye”ispronounced“doh-nah-duh-guh-huh-ya.”• DuringtheCivilWar,theCherokeesidedandfought

fortheSouth.

“Osiyo.” That’s “hello” in Cherokee.I went to Cherokee, N.C. over the

break.I’ve been trying to learn the language

for a year or two now.Cherokee isn’t, technically, a bona fide

reservation. It’s a land trust by definition. Most of the roadside tourist traps are owned by white people exploiting the legal loophole and, at the same time, making a mockery of Cherokee culture.

Lakota headdresses, teepees and Kwakiutl totem poles clutter the main roads of Cherokee leading up to the infamous casino. This unfortunate side to the area gives it a bit of an ugly look that only tourists of a more lowbrow taste will find amusing. 

It’s also somewhat sad. Since these eye-sores are not Cherokee-owned, none of the profit goes to the tribal council. Not only are souvenir shops tacky, but para-

sitic as well. The words “bear” and “pet-ting zoo” don’t sound safe when used on the same advertisement.

The casino, on the other hand, is Cherokee-owned and the money reverts back to the community. It is luxurious and really expensive. I didn’t bother going inside.  I’m a broke college student.

The real gem for tourists at Cherokee is the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. It’s only $10 admission for an adult. The modest size, yet spectacularly opulent exhibits are really fun, and I’m not just saying that to prop up my writing with “cultural correctness.” You’ll learn quite a bit about Cherokee tribal history on your visit.

I had no idea that Sequoyah was half-white or that during his ten-year stretch to create the Cherokee writing system, worried his wife so much that she burned

his papers and progress in the fireplace. I had no idea that the three leaders of the tribe during the 1700’s took a diplomatic excursion to London to cajole the king out of seizing any further land and it worked. Unfortunately, the American Revolution nullified the pact.

There’s another shocker: During the Civil War, the Cherokee sided and fought with the Confederate South.

Cherokee is also a deeply artsy town since it is so close to Asheville. There are many quaint cobblestone bridges and modernist sculptures in the town’s center. Part of

the Museum of the Cherokee Indian is a professional gallery

for local artists. Statues of bears also decorate the city limits.

There is a quaint diner called “Paul’s” on the edge of the reservation that makes some of the most amazing Indian tacos and deep-fried tomatoes I’ve ever had. I

would definitely recommend it.There are three dialects of Cherokee:

The North Carolina dialect, the Oklahoman dialect and a rare dialect from lower Arkansas and Texas. After the trail of tears in which most of the tribe was unjustly relocated to the West, the Oklahoman dialect has become the most common form of Cherokee.  Most of the Cherokee resources online are in the Oklahoman dialect.

Like the presumptuous culture nerd I am, I attempted speaking Cherokee with several of the people I met. To my embarrassment, they couldn’t understand my shoddy pronunciation of distinctly Oklahoman words.

Anyway, if you are looking for an ex-are looking for an ex-otic day trip or a long weekend getaway I would definitely recommend Cherokee. I was told the eastern words for “goodbye” are pronounced “doh-nah-duh-guh-huh-ya.” 

Cherokee is located only one hour north of Asheville, N.C.

Connor de BrulerSpecial for the RMR

de Bruler

Like the presumptuous culture nerd I am, I attempted speaking Cherokee with several of the people I met.

“”

Page 11: The RMR - January 2011

The Roddey-McMillan Record Specializing In Diversity Since 1986 P. 11 • January 2011

Spin your head around and try to read the tag in your shirt. It probably wasn’t made here in America.

If this makes you feel cul-tural, you might as well take one of the hands you just used to read the tag and slap yourself in the face.

Unfortunately, this is prob-ably the only international ex-perience some Americans have on a daily basis, using products made in other countries where manual labor is the only kind of job available.

Here in America, we have opportunities to do more than make clothing for the rest of the world. For some reason, though, so many Americans take this for granted and resent having to learn anything about the rest of the world.

How many people complain about taking two semesters of a foreign language? Too many.

Students in other countries are happy to learn English, on the other hand. More than 700 million people have learned English as a second language, according to Englishlanguage-

guide.com.Personally, as a

French major, I get really tired of peo-ple being impressed with the fact that I’m proficient in a second language. I’m pretty unim-pressed with myself in that respect. There are thou-sands of languages spoken in the world, and I have a decent command of two of them. That’s hardly something to brag about.

Yet American students complain their way through two semesters of Spanish, and they’re lucky if they remember how to ask where the bathroom is by the time they’re finished – it’s “¿Dónde está el baño?” if you were wondering.

More than 12 percent of the American population is foreign born, according to the American Community Survey of 2009. Still we force this growing number to speak “our” language.

Sometimes, I just have to shake my head. It seems to me, from personal experience, that most people have little knowl-edge of the rest of the world, nor

do they par-ticularly care to gain it.

I know people who as-sume that every Hispanic person they see must be Mexican and ev-ery Asian must be Chinese. 

Someone who knew my

interest in Asian cul-tures once asked me

if I “speak Asian.” Unfortunately, she was completely serious in this question, which assumes that all of the 4 billion people who live on the Asian continent speak the same language. 

I’ve been criticized for not eating “American food” often enough. Most of the typical “American foods” actually have roots in other places and aren’t all that healthy, anyway.

Is it any wonder I would be a little concerned about my fellow Americans? I understand that South Carolina isn’t the most diverse state—68.9 percent of the population is white and 28.2 black, according to the Census. Is that any excuse for being clueless?

I’m not saying you have to shun “American food” or try to learn five languages at once. You may want to leave that to people like me. I’d hate to see anyone go into culture shock while they’re still at home!

It would be nice, though, to see more Americans making an effort. This can be done in small steps.

To the student who has to suffer through Spanish class, try to remember something . Talk to someone who speaks Spanish natively. See how hard it is to hold a conversation in another language.

To the person who can’t stand listening to music that isn’t in English, try it anyway. You can usually find a transla-tion of the lyrics. You’ll realize that people all over the world are singing about love and dancing and heartbreak just like Katy Perry or most other artists that rule the charts in America.

To any-

one who thinks that all of Asia speaks the same language, there’s hope for you, too. Wikipedia could help you with that.

I would personally recom-mend Japanese food and plum wine, Korean pop music and television dramas, Mexican fajitas and French crepes to any-one. They’re all simple steps to appreciating other cultures.

Whatever you do, try to experience the world through more than just the t-shirt you’re wearing.

Shaking my head:Kristen GaineySpecial for the RMR

Illustration by ERIN MITCHELL

Student urges others to get more cultural

Gainey

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Page 12: The RMR - January 2011

The Roddey-McMillan Record Specializing In Diversity Since 1986 P. 12 • January 2011

Upcoming Cultural EventsJan. 21, 2011 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Jan. 24, 2011 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Jan. 27, 2011 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Jan. 28, 2011 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Jan. 28, 2011 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Feb. 1, 2011 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Feb. 3, 2011 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Feb. 4, 2011 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Feb. 5, 2011 8:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Feb. 10, 2011 8:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Feb. 15, 2011 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Feb. 17, 2011 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Friends of The Conservatory Series: Walter Hautzig, piano Barnes Recital Hall Guest Artist Series: Milton Masciadri, double bass Barnes Recital Hall

Guest Artist Series: Brian Carter, cello Barnes Recital Hall

Guest Artist Series: Patti Edwards, soprano Daniel Hull, guitar Barnes Recital Hall Ellis Paul DiGiorgio Campus Center

Faculty Series: Hollis Ulaky, oboe Barnes Recital Hall

Faculty Series: Tom Hildreth and Friends Barnes Recital Hall

Opening Reception & Awards Ceremony Rutledge Gallery Vidur Kapur DiGiorgio Campus Center

Special Event: Verdi Requiem Byrnes Auditorium

Chapter 6 Dina’s Place

Emeritus Faculty Series: Eugene Barban, piano Barnes Recital Hall

Winthrop University Galleries “Making in the Real World” Rutledge 119Lecture: Dan Allegrucci

Date Time Event Location

JOIN USThe RMR will have meetings on the following dates at 8.p.m. in regard to our February issue:

Jan. 26 -- Feb. 2 -- Feb. 9Please attend if you are interested in writing, illustration, graphic design, reporting, newspaper layout, or social

media.