Opinions

Dear Puget Sound Community, I am writing to express my concern that the way in which we have recently been approaching academic discourse is robbing us of the benefits that engaging in true dialogue has to offer. We enrolled in a liberal arts school with the perception that all of our opinions would be listened to and respected. For many of us, coming to Puget Sound was an escape from the judgment we had experienced in other communities. We sought a place where we could express our own views and...

Despite strides made towards equality of the sexes, toy stores are still dividing their merchandise into boys’ and girls’ sections. Not surprisingly, the aisles designed for young girls are shockingly pink, focused on beauty, fashion and family role-play, while boys’ aisles contain toys that are more centered around destruction, action and building. Commercials for stores such as Toys ‘R’ Us and Walmart depict each gender in different scenes playing separately with their relatively stereotypical toys, such as guns or baby dolls. In fact, it seems that gender-directed advertising and manufacturing...

Each Thanksgiving, thousands of bargain hunters across America line up outside retailers in preparation for the biggest consumer holiday all year: Black Friday. Stores boasting extended hours and slashed prices have fostered such chaos surrounding the sales in the past so much that it has divided the population on the day’s place in our society. Some shoppers see Black Friday as a great opportunity to buy gadgets and designer brands for a fraction of normal prices. However, the consumer may be being deceived or made to have unrealistic expectations. Many...

When asked to describe a Basic B****, most people in their twenties could do so with ease.  It’s the girl with the leggings and boots, who probably “can’t even.” Perhaps most crucial to their ensemble is the holy grail of the Basic B****, the Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL).  This year, Starbucks announced it was releasing its customers’ favorite fall drink, the PSL, early.  So, on Aug. 28, millions of young women formed lines out the door in order to get the first PSL of the season while other girls stood...

Editor’s note: this is a response to letters in the Nov. 14 issue of The Trail. To The Trail: A few weeks ago, The Trail ran a series of articles arguing in favor of relinquishing the school’s investments in private energy companies to align with certain moral considerations. Unfortunately, I found these arguments rather unconvincing. Most of the pieces rightfully assumed that protecting the environment is a major concern for UPS students. However, one needs to have a grasp of what our endowment entails, what investing means, and how protecting...

"I think what some people need to realize is that this protest is not solely a reaction to Mike Brown, it is a result of years of frustration and mistrust. Other than that I feel incredibly lucky and privileged to not have this issue permeate my daily life as it does for millions of other people. And coming from that position of privilege I think my only option is to not give personal opinions but to listen to the people actually experiencing the oppression.​" -Jenny Malone-Brown   "My gut reaction...

The SUB has been known to serve the occasional (frequent) questionably nutritious dish, yet their Chicken and Waffles selection takes the cake—which is quite possibly a healthier option.  Preferably, chicken or waffles should be mandated—but no, chicken and waffles.  “Why not take two delicious things and combine them?” IHOP’s specialty menu reads.  Of course, the fact that two equally delicious staples in American cuisine exist is no justification to put them together. Lucy Spurlick However, disagrees, saying: “I love the idea of Chicken and Waffles, why not make them one...

by MELANIE SCHAFFER With the sweater weather, family love, and copious amounts of food, it’s hard for many American families to accept the fact that their beloved holiday is rooted in genocide.  With every passing year, it seems that more and more people are foregoing the feeling of family love, and focusing instead on the opportunities for social activism the holiday presents. The popular line given to most Americans at a young age  involves the Pilgrims and  Indians sharing food and all sitting down together to give thanks for their...

by AUSTEN HARRISON In response to the recent article concerning the anti-queer nature of the Philosophy Department, I hope here to provide a brief defense of the issue in an anticipation of the argument against the author. There are three primary replies that could be given in defense of the department, all of which have their merits and faults: 1) the queer individual that was silenced was only silenced in an attempt to allow other students to speak; 2) the department has already taken measures to correct for the exclusion...

Many students won’t have the chance to travel home for Thanksgiving, or indeed any other trivial holiday observed during the school session. These holidays are usually seen as an opportunity to spend time with family or friends, as a day of celebration.  Yet, for the holidays that students can’t be bothered purchasing a ticket home for, there are college replacement holidays. The college replacement holiday is a commonly a farce of the actual holiday listed on the calendar; students commemorate these holidays by creating their own traditions. Just as Groundnog...

For almost all of women across the world, each day spent simply walking around can be a battle. Being constantly stared at, hollered to or even followed by men on the street is a real and frightening form of harassment, known today as “catcalling.” Such a harmless-sounding name may not be an appropriate way of describing how many people feel about this type of objectification and pestering. But in many cases it is not harmless—catcalling means anything from leering and hollering to the physical pursuit of reciprocated attention from people...

Imagine that you’re sick with cold symptoms, and you’ve waited a few days to be seen by health professional in Counseling, Health and Wellness Services (CHWS). You sit in the cramped waiting room alongside other sick students, all of whom have also had to wait for an appointment.You’re in tight quarters among other people coughing and sniffling. After being seen by the nurse or one of the Physician Assistants, you notice several more students in the waiting area and the towering stacks of medical records behind the receptionist’s desk. The...