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Student's reactions to "Creeping it real" Letters |
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Hi, I am a student at the U of R, and I was deeply disapointed in the summer article about women gawking (creeping). As long as women are treated as objects and not full human beings to be respected, we will have continued violence against women. Is that the message you want to send out in your paper? A newspaper can be a powerful social tool, with the potential to critically anlyse our society, especially on a university level. Stop using cheap tactics to get a laugh and use critical thinking to stimulate social action on campus. Perhaps the U of R needs an alternative paper? Sincerely, Shannon Corkery Hello, I am writing in regards to the article “Creeping it real” by Jordan Reid printed in the Carillon June 8th - July 19th issue. I read this article with horror and disgust. The author believes he is being humorous by promoting the sexual harassment of women. I do not find this subject funny. In fact I find it downright scary that we live in a society where sexual harassment can be openly encouraged in a university newspaper. The Carillon should not be supporting sexual harassment by printing this offensive article. I am writing to ask for the resignation of the current editor of the Carillon, a formal apology issued by the Carillon, and the ban of Jordan Reid from contributing to the Carillon ever again. Sincerely, Brett Dolter “Creeping it real.” Those three words sure do seem to stir up controversy in the news. “Offensive”, Disgusting”...how about truthful or honest. For a second let’s cut the bullshit. Sure it’s immature. Of course they look like idiots, but it’s them who look like the idiots. There is no girl who can say they have never hit on a guy, that they never stared at a guy a little too long or focused a discussion around whether or not his package is large or small (the hotter the guy the larger the estimate). Now if you want to talk about offensive or disgusting let’s talk about the double standard that seems to exist when discussing subjects such as this one. This guy is being honest. He may come off a little strong and sometimes sound like an asshole, but he is being honest. At some point in your life, everyone and I mean everyone will partake in the intricacies of “creeping it real” – maybe not to the same extreme but in some small way. Why, you ask? Because it is human nature. Sexuality is here and it will always be here, it is as simple as that. I think the thing that everyone needs to keep in mind is that it was an editorial. I know what that means, the question is do you? I will enlighten you. An editorial is an opinion piece. It is when one person shares their opinion, not the opinion of their friends, not the opinion of the public, but their own opinion. Yes, that opinion may piss people off, yes some people will disagree and that is their right; don’t you think this whole thing has been taken a little too far? I only have one thing left to say. Let’s ignore what “creeping it real” was all about. Let’s forget its content. Let’s just focus on the writing. Because the thing is, writing is all about pushing the boundaries, and didn’t his article do that? It is about provoking a response, which it did. If he wrote the editorial poorly, nobody would be talking, but it wasn’t poorly written so it was controversial. So if you cannot see where he came from, if you don’t agree, that’s fine. At least give him credit for being a thought provoking journalist. -Riva Karklin “Now as I stated earlier, creeping it real should not be thought of as perverted or assholish. Well, maybe it’s a little assholish. It’s just a game though, a shits-and-giggles kind of pastime that is only meant for a laugh, immature as it may be. Please don’t be offended.” In the words of Mr. Reid: You know what is “perverted and assholish?” The publishing of this filth in our scholarly newspaper. Shame on you. You know what “isn’t a game or a laughing matter?” Wasting student fees that go to the Carillon each and every year on articles that degrade those you are supposed to represent and make our whole university look shameful. Take a look at your constitution. You’re violating many parts of it. Voice of the students? A conscious social voice? I think not. Just in case you didn’t catch that yet, Mr. Reid, I am indeed offended, as are the dozen or so of my classmates that read your article too. I never thought I’d see this again after the incidence of degradation of women that appeared in the Carillon a few years back and caused such a stir. Did the Carillon staff learn nothing from this? What a slap in the face. Jacqueline Roy, Education Student I’m astonished that the Carillon would publish Jordan Reid’s “Creeping It Real.” His justification of behaviour he himself describes as “assholish,” which apparently includes the sexual harassment of children, does not belong in any newspaper – not even the Carillon. What were you thinking? Is this supposed to be satirical? Are you advocating sexual harassment? Or were you envious of the national attention the Sheaf received last winter and hoping that “Creeping It Real” would generate something similar for the Carillon? Jordan Reid is certainly entitled to his opinions. And he’s entitled to write them down, too. But there’s no obligation for you to publish them. As the editor of a newspaper, you have a responsibility--to pursue the truth, the [sic] serve the public--and “Creeping It Real” is frankly irresponsible. I look forward to a retraction and apology in your next issue. -Ken Wilson Summer is here, and with it comes an issue that is not so cheery: street harassment. “Creeping it real,” by Jordan Reid, outlines his involvement in street harassment, in what he calls “a shits-and-giggles kind of pastime.” This attitude allows, and even encourages discrimination against women. People contributing to this degradation don’t realize the severity of their actions. To a car of boys, it is just “meant for a laugh.” This uninformed behavior condones throwing out obscenities at pedestrians and “being an obnoxious pervert in general.” What these perpetrators don’t realize is that what they are doing is harassment. When it blatantly targets one group of people - in this case women - it is sexual harassment, a very serious crime. No one is laughing now. Violence against women, defined by Health Canada, includes acts that result in physical, sexual and psychological harm, including threats, whether in public or private life. Yelling “Baby!” at a woman on the street is a prime example, as it perpetuates the inequality of women through violence. Women will not be free of this violence until they achieve equality with men. This equity cannot be attained until outrageous acts, like street harassment, are stopped. Victims of street harassment are not faceless shadows in the rear-view mirror. In addition, women are not the only victims. A man spit upon because of his race or sexual orientation is no less a victim. Street harassment affects everyone, and should be taken seriously. In “Creeping it real,” Reid claims that readers should not be offended, that his acts are only a game. Monopoly is a game, harassing people on the street is not. I urge readers to speak out against street harassment. If you have witnessed or been a victim of harassment, services available to you include; Harassment and Discrimination Prevention Office (585-5400), Campus Security (585-4999), Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis line (352-0434), or Counseling Services (585-4491). Jenn Bergen Women Students’ Director University of Regina Students’ Union Good Evening, I’m writing in response to the article “Creeping it real” by Jordan Reid. Although I understand that he was joking around and perhaps deliberately goading some people, I do not believe this is an article suitable for a students’ newspaper. It essentially condones and even encourages the subjugation and objectification of women, however harmless it seems to be. I do not think this is a huge deal - I just think its inappropriate and not something we should be joking about when its still something women are fighting against. I expect more from the Carillon, is all. -Ali McCannell Dear Mr. Kiser, As I am sure many others are doing, I am writing you a letter regarding the article titled “Creeping it real”. I am a fourth year student at the University of Regina finishing my Ba in political science and beginning my Master’s in the fall. It is with great disappointment and absolute outrage that I read such a terrible example of the detrimental nature inexperienced and uneducated ‘so-called’ writers can have on our society and I am absolutely sickened by not only the writer’s disgusting and ignorant sexual behavior but also by the fact that I share a academic institution with such people as Mr. Reid and yourself. I volunteer every week at the Regina Women’sLetters cont’d from previous page Community Center and Sexual Assault Line and I want you to know that situations such as this one described by Mr.Reid, “A car full of guys, especially after a few drinks, almost guarantees some form of creeping, and believe me when I say that we take no prisoners. Young, old, fat and thin are all potential victims of creeping, within a moderate degree of reason of course. I’m certainly not going to yell out “BABY!” at some little 10-year-old girls, and I might draw the line if they were 80, but anyone else had better watch out.” Can quickly turn from a night of just plain sexual harassment into a night of rape, gang rape, and sexual assault. Trust me, these things happen every day, the women who come to the Women’s Center can all attest to that! I recently talked to the councilors at the Regina Women’s Sexual Assault Crisis Center and they said they would be happy to give you and your college [sic] a lesson on sexual assault, incest, sexual molestation, rape, gang rape, and domestic violence at no charge. Tell me, does Mr. Reid realize that every time a woman is sexually harassed, be it jogging, walking alone, at the beach, ect. that a majority of the time our [sic] hearts skip a beat and we wonder whether it is just losers playing games or are we are about to be viciously attacked? This is no laughing matter. This article is an embarrassment for you, for the University of Regina, and for all the unfortunate readers who still partake in your pitiful excuse for a newspaper. I am going to send a copy of this article to every single person, group, and organization I can think of, so you can warn Mr. Reid that a good kick will be the last of his worries! Sincerely, Danielle Goulden Dear Students, I am writing you today on behalf of your students’ union. The purpose of this letter is to express our disapproval and concerns with the editorial published in the last issue of the Carillon entitled “Creeping it real.” We are extremely disappointed that content of this nature was included in the student paper. One of the main goals of the URSU executive this year is to create a stronger sense of community on campus. Not only does the sort of behavior suggested in the article create further division, but it promotes the harassment of women. This is especially alarming considering this is not the first time women have been targeted in controversial articles printed within this newspaper. At this time, based on the above information we as the executive are not prepared to partner with the Carillon outside of our autonomous commercial arrangement. However, we are hopeful that this matter will be resolved in a timely and responsible manner so we are able to establish and maintain a close working relationship with the paper. In closing I would like to add that your executive intends to work with both, you the students and the Carillon to ensure the paper maintains accountability to its stakeholder—the students. Yours, Amanda Smytaniuk President of URSU |