Author Archives: aa863

Relationships

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Researchers did a study that predicted the longevity of relationships and the overall emotion concerning the relationship that couples felt. They looked at the attention each partner paid to the other with a number of different scenarios. The individuals that paid attention to their partners excitement were more happy in their relationship currently and in the future. Researchers noticed that the partners that offered their attention to each other were more likely to stay together in the future and be happily together. These couples also exhibited kindness and generosity, which researchers believe is the key to a long lasting relationship.

During the discussion, we also talk about the implications of having a lack of communication and or bitterness in any relationship. Some people use the tactic to not talk about the issue that is bothering them because they have been raised or socialized to behave unnaturally emotionless. When in reality, everyone’s feelings should be validated. The only disconnect should be what we choose to do with those feelings. We also looked at kindness and whether it was a personality trait or an act. I believe that most people are inherently good and tend to favor certain people. This favoritism causes us to act in kindness to bring joy to the person. Using your personality or anything else as an excuse  just shows your lack of concern for the other person and their happiness.

One of the GRF ended on a nice note by explaining how vital communication is in marriage. Communication can mean the difference between a happy marriage and an impending divorce.

Microagressions

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This week, I went to the Intergroup Dialogue on microaggressions. It was very relevant considering recent events such as the blatant racism going on at Mizzou and other historically rooted forms of racism such as police brutality. The group opened the dialogue by displaying an example of what a typical conversion containing microaggressions may include. They highlighted assumptions of an other group. This leads to complications because although America is praised for being a melting pot of diverse people, minorities are placed into an other category, which essentially classifies them as un-American. The definition of a microaggression is considered to be something unintentional and not built in like institutional and structural racism. Nonetheless, I believe microaggressions come from societal stereotypes that have become ingrained into our subconscious. And because they are so ingrained from the dominant group, it is almost like there is no reason to learn about minority groups such as racial minorities. As a result, we end up being the spokesperson for our socially constructed race, instead of being seen as an actual human being with similarities and differences.

Love

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Last Saturday, we had a discussion on the definition of love. It started out with analyzing and commenting on pictures that showed many different types of love: familial, platonic, religious, romantic, and compassionate. We then started formulating ideas for why these things are classified under the umbrella term of love. All of them brought happiness for an extended period of time if that love was classified as conditional. However, familial love, we all agreed tended to be more unconditional; people are more forgiving of familial ties because we do not choose our family.

The more abstract part of the debate was how each of us defined love. We all agreed that love is more so an action than just a state of mind. However, after hearing everyone’s opinions on love and things concerning love, I stopped assuming everyone had the same opinions as me on what exactly love is. For example, we discussed domestic violence and crimes of passion that have been justified in the name of love. In my opinion, I did not classify these types of behavior as love because I do not believe love is selfish and controlling. But someone brought up a great point that we may not, physically abuse the people we love, but we sometimes get in fights with our loved ones and say things we do not mean. Yet these instances, a fight between a mother and daughter, “do not” change our perception of love and the nature of the relationship. We have normalized these instances because they do not involve physical harm, yet the behavior still would not be classified as “love”.

I feel we are in a constant struggle to show and receive love. And at times it can be hard to define, depending on the person and the particular relationship.

The Chef Experience

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Before attending the talk on Cornell Dining, I did not know that more went into making and upkeeping menus and food that we see every day. In a single day, Cornell Dining produces over 19,000 meals. This is something I never take the chance to appreciate whenever I eat a meal at a dining. Which, I will start paying attention to because Cornell Dining makes an effort to cater to people like me: vegetarians. In addition, Cornell Dining believes that fruits and vegetables are not only healthy eating habits for everyone but also cut down on waste in our day-to-day lives. Also, I had no idea that Cornell Dining catered to people outside of Cornell and worked for the greater Tompkins area. Cornell Dining is so good at providing excellent dining hall food that it has ranked in the  Princeton Review top ten university dining halls that give excellent dining.

One thing that upset me a little was that Cornell Dining does not plan on bringing back Cascadelis to Cornell. This is very unfortunate because I knew it was closed for this year, but I was hoping it planned on bringing it back in the following years. I would have been a faithful customer.

 

Finding Your Passion

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Yesterday evening, I heard Marshall Curry speak about finding himself and ultimately “finding” or creating great documentaries. Initially Curry studied religion and decided he wanted to be a teacher, however, while interning, he discovered he could not handle disciplining students. So after going back and forth between what to do, he made a spontaneous trip to Mexico. Afterwards, he made another spontaneous decision to make a movie, just so he could say he did it. Curry ended up filming the election of a local man who was running for senator. He made sure to bring out the key issues in the race: politics, passion, and discrimination. Surprisingly to Curry, his film after nearly two years of work, was so successful that it was up for a Grammy.

He then went to describe what went into a great documentary. One thing he mentioned was the transition in a documentary that had a beginning and end. It keeps the viewer on his or her feet because the viewer wants to know what happens next. Also a charismatic character that engenders any strong feeling in the viewer makes a documentary memorable and entertaining. Lastly, he feels that a story that has yet to be told is an entertaining from a lack of knowledge standpoint.

Women and Minorities in the Media

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Last Thursday we discussed discrepancy of gender differences in all types of media outlets. The first thing we discussed was sexism in the novel industry. Studies have shown the books with male leads produce more awards and are more of what the general audience “wants”. While books with female perspective are given significantly less awards. This carried on into sexism in the film industry. We discussed the difference in the amount of success films with male leads and those with female leads. Of course those with male leads were more successful and perceived to tell a more universal story. The attractiveness in casting a white male perpetuates the stereotype that being a white male is the only way a person can be human. In other words, we have been indoctrinated that the white male’s story is the only relatable story that can be told. Which is apparent in the lack of women and minority lead films.

Next, we eventually moved onto the topic of minorities on TV. Many people brought up the advances there have been in the TV industry, which has been much easier to achieve than film industry. I believe it is because the film industry is less versatile than the TV industry. As a result, shows like Empire, How to Get Away with Murder, Scandal, and Fresh of the Boat have been doing well with their minority lead cast. However, there is still can be improvements made in general as shows such as the Bad Girls’ Club, Love and Hip Hop, Basketball Wives’ etc still portray women, especially black women in a negative light. Hopefully, in a couple of years they playing field will be even and there will be more of the former type of shows than the latter when it comes to minorities.

Rose Tour

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Last Saturday, I was given the opportunity to get to know Cornell and the Rose residence. Like many other students, I was under the impression that Ezra Cornell came from a decent amount of money, when in actuality he had humble beginnings. It was not until he was well into middle-age that he managed own most of Western Union through shares. With his newfound money he along with Andrew Dickson White created Cornell University. Cornell was revolutionary at the time because it allowed any person to study and gain knowledge at the institution. At the time most institutions only allowed a specific type of person to be educated.

But aside from Cornell’s founding, we learned about the not so secretive quill and dagger society. There meeting room happened to be at the top of the Rose Lyon building. Rose is divided into Lyon and Mennen Halls. These halls are devoted to Cornell students who died in WW1 and in later wars. Lastly, we stopped at Becker to see where the food we eat and take for granted is brought into Rose.

Overall it was a nice and informative tour that made me appreciate Cornell and West campus.

Introduction to Ithaca’s Native American History

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Last Wednesday, I was given the opportunity to hear Dr. Cheyfitz speak on not only the Ithaca’s Native American but also Native American history at large. He immediately jumped right into the discussion by making the very much factual statement that America was built on Indian land and African labor. I instantly knew he was not the type to hold back the facts. This statement set the tone for the rest of the discussion. He went into detail about the exploitation of Indian land and what effects that has caused and remained today. Using Cornell as an example, he went on to say that Cornell is in fact on Indian land. However, Cornell refuses to acknowledge this history. Not acknowleging that this land was stolen from Native Americans makes the act seem ok and is doomed to repeat itself.

He also brought up the point that Indians are not doing as well economically and socially as the US population, which can only be attributed to the inefficient polices put in place to govern the Indians, without reinforcement. This has lead to overall decline in human life on Indian Reservations.

With that being said, I believe there needs to be a slow transition of power back into the Indians’ hands. They know what is best for their people, and the US government has already made them fend for themselves for so long, why not give them back all the power? Before the transition, education and laws must be enforced to keep crime low and opportunities high. Of course this is just my opinion on a matter I am not very knowledgable about, so I would hope someone in the Indian community would advocate for this change.