Anjeli Chapman Professor Guarasci The Pivotal Role of the Protest Tree There was a certain amount of anger directed at campus grounds officials when their announcement came in September that an ash tree on the Franklin and Marshall campus would be cut down to a stump. To some students, this antipathy made little sense. The tree had been diseased and in decline for years, and there’s an abundance of other foliage on campus. Why would anyone complain about losing one tree? But for a select few, its loss dealt a crushing blow to an important facet of F&M. A person becomes a social being through kinship, and this tree contributed enormously to the campus community by bonding a select few of its members together. The tree in question was …show more content…
It wasn’t an object that every person at the school has, like an ID card or a Diplomats shirt. In fact, in some ways it defied the traditional understanding of what an object is. It didn’t belong to a single person, nor could it be purchased by anyone or held in the palm of one’s hand. But despite this, the Protest Tree was still an object because of the invaluable social relationships that it formed. The sociologist Marcel Mauss might argue that the exchange of objects can provide invaluable insight into relationships. But one could also make the case that observing the power of a shared object is equally as informative as observing one that has been exchanged. Perhaps tellingly, Franklin and Marshall College itself has never sanctioned or condemned the use of the Protest Tree, meaning that the tree was entirely student run. Their use of the tree was far more egalitarian that many other elements of the school. Some aspects of college life are divided along gender lines: fraternities, sororities, single-sex dorm rooms. Many are divided by skill, such as sports teams or theatrical productions or honor societies. Yet the use of the Protest Tree wasn’t dependent on an audition or a pledge. The community that used was a small one not because of its exclusivity, but because only a handful of students made the choice to be …show more content…
One of the most interesting aspects of the tree was that although it promoted a feeling of community, the precise message that it communicated was different to everyone. Its importance lies in the fact that it didn’t convey the same idea to each of its users as a textbook might, but was instead open to interpretation. Students could therefore feel free to take part in any cause that spoke to them. For instance, Sarah Waybright, a graduate from 2006, says that she began working in the health food industry in large part due to the pivotal role that the Protest Tree played in her life during her sophomore year. As Waybright recalls, she and her friends would “decorate these little posters and staple them on. We had one that said, I think, ‘Don’t be mean, give us greens.’” The sense of community that the Protest Tree fostered carried with her after graduation, and eventually prompted her to start her own health food co-op in an effort to recreate that communal feeling. The Protest Tree obviously fostered kinship among those who bonded over shared outrage and sought to create political and social
What those student did actually changed the policy and made it easier for families to afford college without heavy loans. This showed others that activists can make a difference, something she presses on in this
“Don’t judge a book by its cover.” This is a phrase that has been uttered numerous times to children by their parents. This aphorism has been used to not only apply to books but also people. In The Black Walnut Tree by Mary Oliver, the speaker faces a conflict between the literal and figurative meaning of a tree in her yard. In the beginning of the poem, the mother and daughter “debate” selling the tree to “pay off their mortgage.” But with a shift from literal language to figurative language comes a symbolic representation of the tree, one that represents family heritage and their ancestors’ hard work.
The Greek Life at Baylor University is a community of twelve fraternities and eight sororities. However, the communities within Baylor University are not treated equally. The University of Baylor favors the sororities over the fraternities at Baylor. There are multiple different things that Baylor allows the sororities to attain that the fraternities are prevented from pursuing or accomplishing. This bias between the Greek Life of Baylor and the university itself is one major reason for strain between the relationships of the groups. The sororities at Baylor are supplied a meeting place, allowed to have mixers before rushing on Baylor campus, and are allowed to return to Baylor early after breaks for events. The university must resolve these problems in order to become a more unbiased university and community.
Throughout history, the youth of the generation challenges the status quo. At the zenith of physical vigor and sensitivity, we expose ourselves to influences of a broader world. Subtlety is lost, acute distinctions of what was black and white suddenly become the different shades of gray. Our appetite for curiosity shape our worldview. Life becomes visceral, and truth is revealed rather than logically proven. In the graphic novel, March by John Lewis, he tells the story of his youth as he reflects on the past. His generation refused to accept the narrow confines of the social norm and sought to break free. Their nonviolent protests was not only an act of resistance but that of also self-expression. The societal dogma of segregation and institutional racism would finally come to surface during the early years of his youth. We can gain further insight of this historical time from the following passages.
Walking around a university’s campus any day of the week, one sees an array of Greek letters worn proudly by young men and women in the Greek system. Fraternities and sororities play a big part in a university. The Greek system can also be an easy target to direct criticism. There are those who oppose the Greek system and those who embrace it. Evan Wright opposes the Greek system in his article “Sister Act” that was featured in Rolling Stone Magazine. He uses examples from students at Ohio State University in Columbus to show his disapproval of the way sororities are now days. He portrays sorority girls as catty conformists who are obsessed with partying with fraternity guys. Evan Wright’s insubstantial claim is full of half-truths in reference to alcohol consumption, conformity, and the purpose of sororities; therefore, his critical position that sororities are corrupt is not credible.
So what allows a campus fraternity to fall under the category of a social institution? Social institutions are commonly conceived as the necessary focuses of a social organization, which is common to most of society and usually deals with the problems and procedures of structured social life. General characteristics of a social institution involve regulated patterns of behavior that are specific, continuous, and organized. The patterns become the regulated norm, and are carried on from generation to generation, allowing the social institution to continue on through the years. Fraternities were first developed back in the late seventeen hundreds and continued to expand over the past couple of hundred years. Today there are about sixty different fraternities all over the United States, represented by different letters of the Greek Alphabet, with several chapters and various schools. Fraternities is a ‘member only’ social institution that is just for guys, (women have similar institution called sororities). Every fraternity has a board of members that they personally e...
I decided to analyze and examine the social structure of the Greek System at Syracuse University, mainly out of curiosity. When I was in high school I remembered hearing from various of my former classmates, who were then freshmen at college, that one of the best activities students experience was attending the “frat” parties students threw. In high school, I thought that college parties were the same as the ones found in movies like “American Pie” so hearing people speak so fondly of college parties confirmed my beliefs of what the social aspect of college was. Now that I’m a freshman at Syracuse University, and have experienced the social atmosphere firsthand, I’ve noticed how different the social scene on campus really is in comparison to the movies and how it is greatly enhanced by the Greek community. Examining the Greek system is significant to me because Greek life is a dominant tradition in many universities, both academically and socially, and I am interested in understanding why it is so prominent here on campus.
American society and culture experienced an awakening during the 1960s as a result of the diverse civil rights, economic, and political issues it was faced with. At the center of this revolution was the American hippie, the most peculiar and highly influential figure of the time period. Hippies were vital to the American counterculture, fueling a movement to expand awareness and stretch accepted values. The hippies’ solutions to the problems of institutionalized American society were to either participate in mass protests with their alternative lifestyles and radical beliefs or drop out of society completely. The government and the older generations could not understand their way of life.
The discourse community I have been studying is fraternities. Fraternities are more than just partying and “hangin’ with the bros.” Fraternities are over 100 years old and filled with traditions, values, and brotherhood. Fraternities have stood strong since the early 1800’s, with rich history and culture. Every fraternity has founding fathers that represent a certain value of the fraternity.
Greek organizations are debatably the most undervalued and misconceived aspect of college campuses. Most people don’t see the benefits that fraternities and sororities bring to college campuses and their communities. Some see these organizations as large beneficial clubs and others see them as potential problems. Many of the allegations put forth by individuals that discredit the benefits and good deeds done by Greek organizations are weak justifications for their removal from college campuses. Greek organizations provide campus communities with academically responsible students, philanthropic activities and increase community involvement.
It is probable that the administration in taking away the student’s political frontline were only aiming to subdue the civil rights movement. However the effect of banning everyone from speaking their mind had an effect unforeseen by those in charge. Students from all backgrounds and schools of political thought were united; students that under any other circumstance never would have come together. This is what made the free-speech movement unique; it was a merger of forces across the political front, only possible because the matters at stake transcended political orientation.
The largest anti-war demonstration in history was held when 25,000 people marched from the Capitol to the Washington Monument, once again, showing the unity of youth. More than any other countercultural group, hippies reflected a deep discontent with technocracy- society’s reliance on scientific experts who ruled coldly and dispassionately and who wielded enormous power. Hippies said good-bye to that and hello to the mystical spirit, oneness with the universe- life as passion, passion as life, harmony, and understanding. The hippies believed they could develop their vision in the communes in which they congregated.... ...
Until the power structure that benefits from the “othering” of minorities and the poor is dismantled, people of color will continue to pay the price. Before attention is given to the cultural traditions or practices of people of color, we must examine the history and mechanisms behind environmental racism. The issue of environmental multicultural education also helps determine whether people of color choose to engage in bettering their communities through environmental activism. The practices and traditions of these groups must also be considered because they are demonstrative of the connectedness to the earth that people of color have and the desire to see nature thrive. More scholarship needs to focus on how people of color discuss environmental risk because they are equally concerned about the safety of their communities, and the health of their families.
Environmental advocate and cofounder of Eatingliberally.org, Kerry Trueman, in her response to Stephen Budiansky’s Math Lessons for Locavores, titled, The Myth of the Rabid Locavore, originally published in the Huffington Post, addresses the topic of different ways of purchasing food and its impact on the world. In her response, she argues that Budiansky portrayal of the Local Food Movement is very inaccurate and that individuals should be more environmentally conscious. Trueman supports her claim first by using strong diction towards different aspects of Budinsky essay, second by emphasizes the extent to which his reasoning falls flat, and lastly by explaining her own point with the use of proper timing. More specifically, she criticizes many
Colleges and Universities play a major role in developing the behavioral patterns of young adults. In addition to developing young minds, colleges help to cultivate character, responsibility, and social acceptable behavior. Students who attend Carlford have expressed their dissent with the current environment of the university. Because of these underling issues, Carlford’s retention rates amongst minorities have suffered. If Kirsten is unable to handle the situation, there will be a trickledown effect to all areas of the university. Being a new professional in the field of Higher Education can be challenge. There are times where an incident directly affects your position and there are other times where there issues that affect the entire institution. Because the issue directly pertains to Greek Life, the Coordinator of Fraternities and Sororities has the responsibility of identifying the concerns and implementing initiatives that will allow the college to be proactive in future situations of this nature.