From the scandal regarding the allegations against Sandusky and the failure of JoePa, Graham Spanier and various other people of power throughout our University, I have definitely learned quite a few things. First and foremost, I have learned how easily horrifying acts such as this fall through the cracks for so many years, leaving numerous people hurt. This is something that many people would argue that this “should have been stopped”, but I think this proves just how easy it is for it not to be. Inaction and the expectation that someone else will take care of it is something that plagues society today, and I think this tragedy is something that supports that statement very strongly.

Another thing this scandal taught me is simply how easily the media can skew any action committed. People have frequently asked me my opinion on the current situation “as a PSU student”, however they are not waiting to hear what I actually have to say, but for my commentary on how PSU students have been acting. Little do they know that they only have one small side of the overall student body reaction. They have no idea just how many different people feel so many different ways, nor do they care, because the media has prepared them to expect to hear certain things and have preconceived notions. This undoubtedly happens in numerous situations that I could never think of, and I feel that I will definitely keep this in mind in the future when hearing about various worldwide events and occurrences.

A third lesson that I learned from this is just how much this university has become a part of me. Up until this point, I felt strongly for and understood the importance of Penn State in my life, but I did not realize just how close-knit it was to my happiness and me. I think that this is true for a lot of students, most of which have loved Penn State even before stepping foot on this campus. When this scandal first occurred, it shook me to my core. I couldn’t believe that not only was I associated with something as horrific as child molestation, but more-so that people at MY university would commit such a heinous crime.

That being said, my final lesson learned is that no one, and I mean no one, is bulletproof, and no one is untouchable. Penn State had a sparkling reputation of respect, honor and success, all of which was tarnished by Sandusky’s actions. In retrospect, it is almost silly that we were as surprised as we were. In a university as enormous as ours, is it that unlikely that someone involved was this immoral? Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t, but what is most important is that there is no way to know that. That is the biggest lesson I think we have to learn. We are Penn State, but we may not be perfect.

With everything that has happened at this university in regards to the grand jury’s findings on Jerry Sandusky, people both inside and outside of the Penn State community have had many emotions, many of which rightfully negative, towards the situation, Penn State’s administration and even the students. Many of the students here have seen Facebook and Twitter statuses from people blatantly calling Penn State students “rapists” and “child molesters”, as well as quotes Sam has also showed us in class. This, along with all of the rumors of students losing internships and business and companies rescinding their THON donations, it is impossible to believe that this has not caused people to have negative emotions towards PSU students.

People have difficulty recognizing exactly what happened and who was involved, not all of which is known yet. Furthermore, people have an even greater difficulty separating the events that occurred both through the actions of Sandusky and the inaction of various coaches, workers and administrators from the actually students of Penn State. The students here obviously did not do what Sandusky did and did not have any part in covering up his actions, yet people act as if we did. This is in part due to the fact that the students did not immediately lose all faith in the university, and our support of all that is Penn State has been perceived as a lack of remorse or sadness regarding the victims and the horrendous events that have happened at the place we call home.

I would say that many, many people consider Penn State students arrogant, ignorant, “cult-like” and unsympathetic after all of the recent events. Arrogant because of the riots and rallies in the streets, ignorant due to our continued support of JoePa, the Penn State community and student body, as well as “cult-like” for the same reasons, and finally unsympathetic because of our anger and sadness at the current state of affairs at Penn State, which people consider to be “more important” to us than the victims themselves. None if the above is necessarily true; while it may be for some, it is most definitely not the reality for every single student at Penn State currently, not even the majority.

I hope that as time goes on and we get more and more answers regarding the events and where the blame should lye for the mishandling of the situation, people will be more likely to begin to view the student body at Penn State as intelligent, responsible, hardworking and honest students once again. That being said, I think we have quite some time to go before people are able to separate “Penn State” from thoughts of horrific acts of child abuse.

I think that people neglect to see the benefits of immigration because it is in our nature as humans to blame others. There are so many problems in America today and it is far easier to place the blame from issues such as unemployment, poverty, taxes and crime rates on others instead of recognizing and trying to fix the problem. Immigrants are at the receiving end for a great deal of the blame that has arisen in regards to the well being of America. It has always been the way that people deal with anger, but I think a great deal of the reason that people focus on the fallbacks of immigration is because it allows them to reassure that the issues we face in our lives and society are due to a group of “others”.

I think another reason that people are always swayed against immigration is because they focus not on immigrants as a group, but illegal immigrants as a sub-group. It is easy to be swayed towards a certain opinion due to the law, although sometimes these situations are not black and white. That being said, not only do people neglect to focus on the greatness that many immigrants bring and have brought to this country, they focus intently on the fact that there are many people who fall into the category of “immigrant” that are not legally allowed in the US. This fact alone is enough to cause many US citizens to ignore any possible benefits to immigration and focus solely on the negative.

Although I think the issue of immigration is definitely a sensitive one that may be in need of a well thought-out system of action, one that ensures that we continue a steady flow of immigration to the US in order to sustain our current economy and system without overwhelming it, I think that overall, the benefits of immigration outweigh the fallbacks. While many issues arise from undocumented people living in the United States, we undoubtedly have a need for the immigrants that come to America. We learned in class about how immigrants work in the farms doing work Americans apparently are unwilling to do. This is one of many examples of American jobs sustained by “immigrant” workers that keep our country functioning as we know it. We have also learned during class that immigrants pay taxes and undoubtedly contribute to the economy through their purchases. Despite all I have said above, people seem to be unable and willing to see that instead of just taking everything away, immigrants do, in fact, give something back to this country they inhabit. Difficult might it be to see that, the truth is there, however people are often too focused with the cons of immigration that they neglect to see that.

I think that it would be hypocritical for any American to say that they do not support immigration to America. Whether or not we as a nation have issues stemming from illegal immigration and its implications, this is a country founded upon the idea of immigration, and there is no way that I think someone who is truly American could say otherwise. Understandably, many people are confused by their stance on immigrants, especially illegal, in this country, but I think it is important for people to take a step back and see just how much immigration has given this country over the past centuries and recognize that although things may be tough now, immigration has turned this nation into the super power it is today.

Keeping in mind all of the standards, hopes and dreams that America was founded upon, I could never say that I did not support immigration and feel compassion towards both legal and illegal immigrants. America claims to the “the land of the brave and the home of the free”, but the lack of support for immigrants makes me question the validity of this statement. I definitely feel this way, considering the fact that the very first immigrants who came here sought freedom and had great strength. With that in mind, everyone who immigrates to this country have both of these qualities. Furthermore, we have created an image that America accepts all who are treated unfairly and need a home, but that is not what is shown when people are not accepting or supportive of immigrants.

On a more personal level, I am an education major, with a minor in Teaching English as a Second Language. That being said, I definitely have a soft spot for the topic of immigrants in America, especially children. It is such a shame that so many immigrant children are denied an opportunity to a normal and fear-free life, due to the fact that so many people are so starkly opposed to illegal immigrants. It is completely understandable for people to feel this way, and I think nearly everyone, including myself, does at times. However, it is unfair to take this anger and feelings of unfairness and cause it to disservice children who could grow up to give back and succeed in this nation, and also make it thrive and improve. I have read many articles and books about children who are so afraid that they will be taken away from their friends, families and homes that they rarely leave their residences and become almost petrified of deportation. I do not think that any child should have this fear, a fear based on something they did not choose – to come to or live in this country – especially one who could so easily become a vital member of this country and its community.

To me, feminism is for women the feeling of empowerment in their gender and the hope that women will recognize and feel that they deserve to be equals in a male-centered world. For men, it is the ability to relate to and support this notion. The negative stereotypes and images of “bra-burning” that pop into many people who have heard of feminism and have an idea of what it once entailed (in part) stems from the extremists who were so prominent in the past. What so many do not consider is how these extremists were fighting for their rights and taking the extra mile to be recognized – fulfilling the concept that the louder you scream the more people look. In reality, these are the feminists that are remembered, not the ones who quietly supported women’s rights or the women today who simply argue for a female perspective in a male centered world.

Magazines such as Cosmopolitan that promote lewd messages to women really seem to fulfill what women have come to think of as empowering. This is the idea that if you can impress or even control a man through wits or even sexuality, you are in power. However, the sad this is that women should be seeking independence of men and empowerment in themselves, but the male-driven world has caused many women to think that this is the manner in which they should strive to achieve control and power. So many women do not even realize that these magazines strive to give women strategies that coincide with the men’s’ best interests. These magazines are a perfect example of what women are willing to do, act like and look like as a result of the male-centered world that not only us, but our mothers and grandmothers grew up in. While we have more rights and are more independent than the women of past generations, we still are subconsciously convinced that the best way to achieve success in the world is through exposing ourselves in ways that men are never subjected to. The fact that lewd words and headlines are blocked out from stores, written off as “inappropriate” in a “family setting”, while inappropriate and provocative pictures are displayed, simply shows how we are avoiding blatantly saying out loud or reading what is actually there. Parents do not want their children to read the articles in these magazines because they are inappropriate while they read them themselves, suggesting that there is a secrecy to them and only promoting children’s (especially female children) desire to one day have access to these magazines and utilize them.

With all of this in mind, women do write these articles and pose for these magazines. This shows just how blind women are to how much they fulfill their role in a male-centered world. If the magazines we have discussed were truly for women, they would not constantly discuss men and how to impress, manipulate or please them. Instead, they have articles about just those topics in order for women to learn how to live and succeed in this male-centered world, while also perpetuating it and ensuring its existence.

I think that my race has undoubtedly played a role in how I view the world, as it does in nearly everyone’s lives. Even if it is not on a conscious level, I think that it plays a role in the lives of all people. It must affect my view in some ways, considering how much we have learned about how race influences socioeconomic status and the education your parents receive and subsequently you. Therefore, being white has steered me to grow up in a middle class environment, with parents who received higher education and work in a professional environment, and eventually do well on the SATs (something we know is hugely effected by what I mentioned before), and attend a university. Although this is not true for all white people, it is for me, and being a college student who had the opportunities that I have has definitely caused me to view the world around me through that specific lens.

That being said, I also grew up in an extremely diverse community, fully aware that not everyone is “like me”, and that “different” does not equal “bad”. However, being white has allowed be to hear many, many other white peoples’ unfiltered opinions on how they view the world and specifically people of different races and ethnic backgrounds. Although at home, I did not hear such comments often, since there was not much opportunity to do so without the presence of someone who would be offended, when I was in communities outside of my hometown, such as my Jewish summer camp, I frequently heard ignorant or even racist comments that astounded me.

My race, along with my experiences growing up, have allowed me to see what so many people really and truly think about those who are different than themselves. I am sure that this is true to other races, as well, but the fact that white is the dominant race in America has shown me just what it means to be outside of the white race. On the other hand, I think my race has, at times, given me a very sheltered view of the world. I grew up in a fairly safe neighborhood and although I was not the majority in my hometown or high school, I am used to being the majority mostly everywhere else I go.

That being said, I do not think that my race has had a profound affect on how I view the world. I am used to being around people of different ethnicities and races and I do not think that I actively view them differently than I do my own race, however I do not think it is possible to get rid of all stereotypes or views, even if on an unconscious level. I acknowledge that I must hold some certain outlooks, even if it is unintentional or I do not even realize it.

While I do think that women have an innate consciousness regarding their appearance, at least in comparison to men, I definitely think that the concerns, or even obsession, women have with how they look not only when going out, but most of the time, has been shaped by the society we live in and how male driven it is and always has been. I think that this obsession in women to “dress to impress” has been instilled in us as a gender for millennia. It has almost always been women’s role to take care of the house or living space, the children and her partner. Many years ago, and even today as some would argue, women were “chosen” by their partners – they did not choose them. Therefore, it was a woman’s responsibility to be an appealing choice to the man who would care for her. In those times it was not only to have companionship and love, but to survive. If a woman was unable to make herself appealing enough to attract a man, she would have no one to take care of her and help her bare children – which, once upon a time, was a woman’s only responsibility.

Obviously, what I explained above has changed dramatically between the age of hunters and gatherers and today, but I think that the need to be desired has stayed with us and transformed into what it is today. I think that as years have gone by, the need for a man has transformed into the need for a man’s APPROVAL. We have always, always, always lived in a male centered world, as is clear by what I explained before, and I think that with the addition of media and then technology to our world, the ways in which women “should” go about seeking male attention turned into a competition of looks. This makes complete sense, considering the fact that men designed the media, and as we discussed in class, men are very physical people, leading them to think primarily about outward appearances – especially when put behind the scenes of something as monumental as the media.

Because the men created the media and continue to run society as we know it, whether women like it or not, they have never and most likely will never be inclined to do any of the seemingly ridiculous things that women do to get male attention. After all, men created those standards for women, while women never created them for men. It would be unlikely that the women of 2011 would come up with a list of ridiculous criteria, such as wearing five-inch heels to make their legs look longer, for men to follow in order to get female attention. Unfortunately, I think it is too late for that now, and while men have never and will never be expected to dress in a certain, unnatural way in order to get female attention, it is women’s responsibility to stop doing the same for men.

I think that race absolutely affects our view of criminals. Everyone, whether it is subconscious or not, has certain stereotypes against both people of other races and even sometimes their own. These undoubtedly come into play when discussing criminals and peoples’ individual opinions on them. I do not think that this is just or acceptable in any way, shape or form, but I definitely think that both the citizens of our country and our justice system are deeply affected by racial stereotypes and how they shade so many peoples’ views of criminals. I think that the views that people have on criminals are definitely affected by the history of our country and stereotypes that many refuse to let go of.

As I was driving home from the grocery store the other day, I forgot to turn on my right turn signal and made the right turn in front of a police car, who in turn did not put me over or say anything to me. Being a white female, this is a regular occurrence for myself. I have never been pulled over by a police officer in the three years that I have had my license, while so many others have been pulled over for much less because of the way they look. When Sam asked the black males in class to raise their hands depending upon how many times they have been pulled over while driving, I unfortunately was not surprised by the response. This is not because I think that black males are more likely to commit crimes, but obviously many police officers seem to think that they will more likely find something incriminating in their car than they would in mine. While their thought process is clearly flawed, as it is possible that I could have any number of incriminating things in my trunk, as could the black male, it is something that seems to happen time and time again in our society.

The views that people have on criminals due to their race also becomes clear when discussing criminals who commit murder and other extremely serious crimes. Many people seem to take sides when these crimes are committed, arguing angrily about whether or not the defendant is guilty, when really no one could possibly know. It seems common that peoples’ opinions on the defendants are tainted by their mutual ethnic and racial qualities, leading them to argue one way or another about their innocence. While there are definitely people (I would like to consider myself as one of them) who do not feel that whatever racial group they do not associate with is the group that commits all of the crimes, it seems that far too many allow the stereotypes their grew up with to allow them to accuse innocent people of crimes they never committed.

When Sam said in class that gay marriage was not a big issue, I initially thought that he could not be serious – how could you not think that an issue that is so talked about in our country is not a “big issue”? Then I started to think of all the issues that people consider “big” in this country, versus how many people do not have the basic human rights that everyone deserves to have. People spend so much time discussing subjects such as gay marriage; abortion and raising taxes while completely ignoring so many issues that far surpass these. As I continued to sit and think about this, I wondered how we have managed to completely ignore both country and world-wide issues such as poverty, starvation and access to general health care, while discussing those I mentioned before over and over again. People have become so obsessed with what is right and wrong according to their religious or personal views that they have completely ignored monumental issues that we as an entire planet could arguably agree every human has the right to.

First and foremost, I think the world issue that needs to be addressed is hunger. Sam has mentioned numerous times the sheer number of people who die every single day because the do not have food to eat. Hearing that and then seeing how much food we have access to in America is simply disturbing. I live in an eight-person apartment and we have ridiculous amounts of food while so many millions literally do not have any. On top of this, there are the numbers of people who die from their lack of access to clean water. They are forced to drink water that is infected with viruses and bacteria in order to sustain their lives, but then get sick from it and die. This is definitely one of (if not the) biggest issues that I could possibly think of, far surpassing whether or not the two men who live down the block can choose to get married or not.

One of the other issues that I think knocks gay marriage and so many other issues out of the water is health care. People in America and throughout the world are denied health care and actually die either because they do not have the money or even access to the medical attention that they need. This is another basic right that I think everyone in today’s world must have. With all of the medicine and knowledge that we have, why are there so many people whose ailments go untreated? This is not to say that the issues such as gay marriage and abortion are not “big”. It just seems silly as I think about the others that I talked about that we would even think to argue about such issues. It seems ridiculous that so many people would rather argue about morality issues rather than just allow people to do as they please and spend their time trying to solve world-wide problems that affect peoples basic human rights.

As I watched the videos and read the descriptions for the entrepreneurs and community initiatives, I couldn’t even imagine living and being subject to the conditions that the people of Haiti have to deal with every single day of their life. I would love to see my group help the Christians Partners Church. The people at this church most likely look forward to church every single week, since it seems that their resources are so limited in most aspects, and it is unbelievable that such an important aspect of their lives is in such poor conditions. I could not believe that a church did not even have a building, just a tarp acting as a roof. I would hope to do something to help them, even if it was simply by getting them the mosquito nets that they need, or helping them raise the money or gather the resources for a sturdier, nicer stage.

I could not believe in watching these videos that more people do not feel inclined to help the citizens of Haiti. Seeing the lives that these entrepreneurs and people live, it is truly disturbing that this does not trigger something in our consciences to do something or anything at all. Even worse, the reason for the lack of action in so many people is not because they think that Haiti is in good condition currently, but because they are lazy. I hope that in doing this project with my group we will eradicate this in ourselves and actually do something to help a group of people who are suffering. I am looking forward to seeing what aspects of this project stand out to my group members. My specific discussion group is a very diverse one and I think it will definitely be interesting to hear different perspectives and ideas for what we should do to help the people of Haiti.

I wonder how exactly we can help the entrepreneurs and community initiatives, since their needs are so expansive. It would be so amazing to do something to help Suze’s business. As I watched her package her foods in the video by placing them in a small plastic cup and covering it with tin foil, I could not help but think about how much more effective It would be to put them in a bag of some sort. It is such a time consuming way to package the peanuts and also very cumbersome for her to take them where she needs to in order to sell them. There are so many small-scale things that could help both Suze and the other entrepreneurs improve the quality of their products and decrease their labor and help them maintain their business more successfully.