The Rambler (Fort Worth, Tex.), Ed. 1 Wednesday, April 24, 1996 Page: 3 of 8
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April 24, 1996
The Rambler
Editorial
We'll
only take
so much
That ominous rumbling sound
isn't a stampede of cattle. Which
is not to say it isn't a stampede.
II you're currently getting pre-
pared for pre-registration, chances
are you have friends who aren't.
They're evaluating their options:
TCJC, TCU, UTA, North Texas.
They're looking for living quarters
off-campus.
Why are so many people leav-
ing Texas Wesleyan next semester?
Maybe they're tired of being
laughed at by students from other
colleges when they admit that no,
Texas Wesleyan still doesn't have
Internet access yet. Maybe they're
disgusted with the poor class selec-
tion on the summer and fall
schedules. Maybe they've put up
with the sub-standard living condi-
tions in the dormitories long
enough.
Or it could be the lack of
school spirit (anybody see a
women's basketball game this
year? We didn't think so). Or how
about the food at Dora Roberts
cafeteria? Some people actually
get in line for seconds and thirds of
the only thing offered that day they
find edible.
Then there-'s the landscape
challenged campus. And the fact
that the first thing we hear about
'the year of the student' is another
raise in tuition.
The faculty are getting legal
advice about what the administra-
tion is trying to do with their
retirement plan. Students who
work on campus put up with com- '
bativeness between departments.
Every endeavor seems to turn into
a war at Texas Wesleyan.
This university needs to do
something before it is abandoned.
People feel alienated by the staff
members who seem not to care
about the students, alienated by
mountains of ridiculous red tape
and paperwork. Students feel as
though their intelligence is under-
estimated by the administration
when promises are continually bro-
ken and deadlines aren't met.
They're leaving.
It's a trickle now, but it may
soon become a flood, if this univer-
sity doesn't get its act together.
There are wonderful plans for
Texas Wesleyan's future, but the .
focus, for now. should be Oft its
present
Setting the
Record
Straight.. .
In the last issue of The
Rambler, we misidenti-
fied Ed Garcia, Chris
Goehle and Jerry
Mahle in a photo. The
Rambler extends its
apologies to any who
were misled or incon-
venienced.
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Letter to the Editor
Volunteers make Expanding Your Horizons success
Dear Editor,
Thank you to everyone who.helped make our
Expanding Your Horizons on April 13 a wonderful suc-
cess. We had more than 400 middle school girls from .
the Metroplex and 55 parents and teachers.
Forty professional women from the Fort
Worth/Dallas area presented workshops for the girls.
Four of our graduates who are teaching math brought
groups of students: Sharon Weeks, Whitney; Deborah
Curry, Crowley; Marcia Shininger, Peaster; and
Madelaine Smithson, Joshua.
Sarah Logan, a current student, attended the 1989
conference as a 7th grader at Rosemont. As a result of
that experience, she enrolled at Texas Wesleyan and
helped by being a group'leader this year and spoke to
the-girls at lunch. At least 25 other students helped as
group leaders, helpers and presenters.
Self defense class teaches women to take
matters into own hands, refuse to be victims
Allison E. Wood
News editor
"Woman must not depend on the protection of
man but must be taught to defend herself." -Susan B.
Anthony, 1871.
That quote was the theme behind a class I recently
took. It was a self defense class taught by Rape
Aggression Defense Systems (R(.A.D.).
1 have always considered myself to be a woman
who could handle any uncomfortable or threatening
situation that arose. 1 watched Oprah when she had
shows about self defense. I watched the Saturday after-
noon crime alert shows. I had knowledge of what to
do in a threatening situation, but until three weeks ago,
I did not realize that a woman needs more than just
knowledge.
She needs the confidence and the ability to act on
that knowledge when a situation arises.
So, for three weeks, two nights a week, 1 went to
the self defense class. And 1 learned a lot.
The premise for this class was not beat the crap
• out of guys. Not at all. Lessons started in a classroom
and we learned some mental techniques to prepare us
for the physical techniques.
According to the FBI, one out of three women can
expect to be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. That
is just plain wrong. I do not, and will not. become
such a victim.
The bottom line about rape, or any other assault, is
abduction and control Once a woman can learn to
reduce her risks, then to implement strategies, she
lessens her chances of becoming one of the victims.
We were constantly encouraged to be aggressive in
our thinking If a parking lot is full and you're by
j yourself at night, go back into the store and ask a man-'
agef to waik you to your car.
For too long women have been told that their
Prince Charming will ride out of the darkness and res*
cue them This is not true. It's social conditioning and
it's been going on too Jong. Women-need to go against
the ingrainmg of society and be able to defend them-
selves
The class encouraged us to took at victimization
as a triangle One side in the ^ ictim. one is the
i assailant and the base is the opportunity. Remove the
base and the triangle falls apart:
Removing this base can be done in several ways
In the class we were encouraged to use verbal harass-
ment against an attacker It can make you feel more in
control and it shows the attacker that you mean busi-
ness.
If you respond verbally to his confrontation, then
he might realize you are a woman to be reckoned with!
Most men consider a screaming woman not to be a
threat, but actual yelling can empower you and show
the attacker that you are ready to fight him and not
give in and be the victim he thinks you are.
This was proven in the last class that we had.
Each student was going to be 'attacked' by two men
and we had to use the techniques learned throughout
the course.
The scenario was that I was withdrawing money
from an ATM. The two 'attackers' approached me
from behind and began verbally harassing me.' They
never touched me, but I was so incensed and offended
by their remarks that 1 turned around to face them, at
the same time very loudly yelling 'no!'
This didn't stop them, so 1 continued yelling,
'Leave me alone.' Once one of the 'attackers' physi-
cally touched me, I retaliated by punching him and
trying to maneuver myself toward the exit.
My objective wasn't to wound him. It was to dis-
able him so that I could find my exit and escape. I
found the vulnerable areas on my attacker (face, throat,
groin) and attacked. Once I had a chance, I ran for the
exit. That made me a survivor.
Immediate resistance is another way to remove the
base of the victimization triangle. I cannot afford to
believe my attacker when he tells me he will not hurt
me.
He has no right to be forcing himself on me,
whether that be with words or with his body. Talking
to him isn't going to work. Defensive resistance is.
Another way to remove the triangle is to positively
visualize winning and escaping an attack. Again, this
was demonstrated to us in class.
A second scenario was acted out in class. I had to
stand, with mv eyes closed, in the middle of the room.
The two 'attackers' verbally assaulted me for minutes.
I could do nothing until one of them physically
touched me. While they were abusing me, I not only
directed my anger toward hurting them once I had the
chance. 1 focused on where my exit was and how 1
could get there
Oncc I was punched by an 'attacker.' I directed my
anger and fear into actions and words. It was my turn
to abuse them. They had no right to treat me. or any
other woman, like an object
If you act like a victim, chances are good that you
will become a victim
Road to
diploma
has ups
and downs
Michelle Adams
Staff witter
. OK, I've waited, or perhaps I
should say, worked four years for
my college diploma and right now 1
could honestly say I'm the emo-
tional equivalent of a person
jumping off a bridge on a bungee
cord.
One day I'm ready to take on
the world, the next day 1 fear being
| poor and surviving off Ramen'noo-
dles for the rest of my life. The
next day I'm cutting a check to
Texas Wesleyan for the fee of grad-
uating.
1 wake up in the middle of the
i night with nightmares of not gradu-
ating because of some unpaid
library fine or parking ticket. 1
wonder if 1 figured all my hours
correctly, even though I've already
counted them thousands of times.
Now I even have new worries,
since I found out' that graduation is
outside on the grassy knoll in front
of the library in the middle of a
summer day. I have parents and
grandparents coming to my gradua-
tion. I really don't want to pay
them back for all their money and
support,by putting them in the right
environment for a heat stroke.
I most definitely would not be
on some people's Christmas list
this year and obvibusly, if the
Ramen noodle poverty thing comes
true, Christmas will be a major
asset.
Every day that 1 go to my
mailbox I wait for a letter from
Texas Wesleyan saying, "Hee-hee,
we were just joking. You aren't
graduating."
Of course, every day it's the
same thing, Wesleyan hitting me up
for more money. I ran out of
checks. Now maybe, if it runs out
of bills, I will be in good shape.
Don't think I'm totally pes-
simistic. I'm sure after my case
studies, advertising campaigns,
notebooks, projects, finals, tennis
matches, papers, bridesmaid duties
in two weddings and other random
responsibilities are done, I will
have a much better outlook on the
world.
Remember, if you're in the
• same boat that I'm in and it feels
i
like it is sinking, scream a lot. It
helps.
Got a hot tip ?
If you know something you
think the Wesleyan student
body should know, call The
Rambler at 4871.
Announcement
On April 18, Stephen
English was selected as
editor in chief
of The Rambler and
Kelli Parker as manag-
ing editor for next
semester.
Rambler sta ff
Adviser: Dr. Marian Huber
Editorial stqff'
Stephen English, editor-in-chief
Christy Awad. managing editor
Allison E. Wood, news editor
Kelli Parker,Tife editor
Melanie Miko. entertainment editor
Domiriick Mastrangelo, sports editor
Advertising staff
Michael Brandon, ad manager
Francesca Barajas, sales
Amy Hodgson, sales
A''t stc\j}'
Brad Ball, graphic artist
Khampha Bouaphanh, photo editor
Rachael Stevens, photographer
Aiigie Easley, photographer
Staff writers
Michelle Adams
Robyn Atwood
Greg Bogomol
Leslie Garcia
Brigette Guesno
G.D. Harman
Jennifer Hill
Greg Johnson
Marilyn Kennemore
John Maris
Francisca Quintinar
Tekisha Slack
ErinVoss
Kathy Walker
Kerry Watterson
Opinions expressed in The
Rambler are those of the
individual author only and
do not necessarily
represent the views of the
Texas Wesleyan
community as a whole.
The Rambler, a weekly pub-
lication of Texas Wesleyan
University, welcomes your
views on matters of public
interest. While every con-
sideration is made to
publish letters, guest
columns or stories, publica-
tion is limited by space and
time.
The editor reserves the
right to edit all submissions
for libel and content.
Submissions must be
turned in to the Rambler
office by the Friday preced-
ing the publication date.
All submissions must have
a full printed name and sig-
nature; however, anonymity
will be granted if requested.
Address all correspondence
to:
Texas Wesleyan
University
Attn.: The Rambler
1201 Wesleyan St.
Fort Worth, Tx 76105
The Rambler was founded
in 1917 and is a member of
the Associated Collegiate
Press and the Texas
Intercollegiate Press
Association.
1,1.
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Wood, Allison E. The Rambler (Fort Worth, Tex.), Ed. 1 Wednesday, April 24, 1996, newspaper, April 24, 1996; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth287662/m1/3/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas Wesleyan University.