Photo by Nicole Cousins.

Load film, snap 24 or 36 photos, rewind film. Carefully wind it around a reel in the darkroom, add a lineup of chemicals, inverting the canister every 60 seconds, rinse in water, cross fingers and wait for an image to appear on the negative strip. This has been the process for students taking JO 305, Basic Photography, in the photojournalism program for about 60 years.

Starting next semester, it will go something like this: snap photo, instantly check result and connect camera to computer.

The Negatives of Film

The BU photojournalism program will no longer actively teach students how to shoot with and develop film, according to Program Director and Associate Professor of Journalism, Peter Southwick. About five or six years ago, all the advanced photojournalism classes went digital, Southwick said, but beginning next semester, the four remaining basic photo courses using film will be taught with a digital camera.

This change is arising as the use of film has becomes obsolete in the news industry, said Southwick, a former Director of Photography at the Boston Globe. Being taught with film is like learning Latin, he said. “While learning Latin makes it easier for you to learn French and Spanish, I always thought, why don’t I just start learning French and Spanish now? I would rather have people start with a practical skill right away.”

The digital transformation is also part of an effort to give more journalism students the opportunity to acquire skills in photojournalism, said Southwick. As jobs openings in the news industry grow increasingly competitive, being a competent digital photographer is becoming a crucial skill for journalism students.

There is also a proposal to update the film printing room in the basement of the College of Communication, he said. The print room would become a general purpose room for larger classes of Basic Photo and possibly for digital printing. All of the tools necessary to develop film and produce photos would remain, but on a smaller scale–the dark room and the current film developing room will combine with the printing room and six print enlargers would remain.

The essentials of how to take a photograph will remain unchanged, Southwick said. The syllabus and assignments will largely stay the same and like the SLR film cameras, digital cameras will be required to have manual settings.

“You learn how to shoot photos effectively no matter what medium you’re using,” he said. “It’s the content that matters.”

The price of a digital SLR camera, however, is significantly more than a film camera, and Southwick says they are still working on acquiring funding for more cameras.

The shift in focus to journalism students, combined with the increased camera expense, could decrease the enrollment of non-journalism students into the class, of students who are looking for an elective or hobby.  For these students, the College of Fine Arts will continue to offer its film Introduction to Photography and Photography courses, which are open to non-majors after freshmen registration, said Alana Silva, administrative coordinator at CFA.

“I still have a lot of affection for film but at this point we have to be teaching fundamentals for journalism students that they can use and not just enjoy,” said Southwick.

Goodbye Bolex

The Film and Television Department is also planning to eliminate the use of Bolex film cameras in the Production I course, but will continue to use film in Production II and III courses, said Paul Schneider, Chair of the department and associative professor of Television.

“The Bolex cameras are very old and rather primitive and difficult to teach with,” Schneider said.

The digital camera is a superior teaching tool, Schneider said. “You can plug the digital camera into a monitor and you can show a student framing, composition and lighting.” It is also more expensive to shoot film than to shoot high-definition, said Schneider.

However, unlike photojournalism, film is still widely used in television and movie industry. “There are an awful lot of directors and cinematographers, including myself, who think that the look of 35 mm or 70 mm film is very powerful, very effective, very rich, so we’re kind of reluctant to give it up,” he said.

Processing the Change

For BU students, the impact of the transition from film to digital is dependent on what they are looking to gain from a photo or film class.

Kristyn Ulanday is a senior photojournalism major who has worked in the photo lab for three semesters.

“Mostly people who come to the photo lab aren’t photojournalism majors yet,” she said.

Ulanday herself has not processed film since she was a senior in high school and petitioned out of Basic Photo because she was the Photo Editor of “The Daily Free Press” and had already taken a photo class in high school.

“I do see the need to switch over to digital and starting right off the bat with learning it. It is the new format for everything,” she said. “I think it means that more people will be able to learn faster.”

Shereen Samadzadeh, a junior majoring in Psychology and minoring in Public Relations, took a photo class in high school and wanted to take a more in-depth film class in college.

“Digital photography is definitely something I am interested in learning about, as I am looking into buying myself a digital camera soon, but it is not a replacement for the hands on learning that a film photo class gives,” she said.
“Many aspects of our lives are becoming digital, so it makes sense to teach a digital photography class, but I think the solution would be to offer both digital and basic photo classes, enabling students to choose which they find more valuable or useful for their own pursuits,” Samadzadeh said.

BU Film Society Gets Lost in Translation by Aria Ruggiero

Fundraising BU Film Series Aims to Draw Attention to Women’s Issues by Rachel Stine

Redstone Film Festival Doesn’t Disappoint by Paul Squire

Image copyright Disney

Alice took a wrong turn in wonderland and ended up on the runway! Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that Tim Burton is sure to take us all on a psychedelic ride in his highly anticipated remake of Lewis Carroll’s beloved nonsensical story Alice in Wonderland. which is set to be released March 5th.

Designers have been tripping over themselves to join the tea party and design Alice in Wonderland-inspired products—everything from nail polish to wedding gowns. So, lose yourself down the rabbit hole that’s been transformed into a high-fashion runway.

Image copyright Bloomingdale's

Sue Wong designed fashion garments inspired by the unforgettable women of “Alice.” The Red Queen inspired a strapless ruby-red mini dress with a jewel-encrusted bodice and a vampy floor-length gown in rich reds under dramatic onyx lace, while the Alice designs are more feminine with fuller skirts, billowy sleeves, and scalloped necklines in muted pinks and peaches. The White Queen’s wardrobe consists of mermaid-tail wedding gowns, while gowns inspired by the singing flower garden feature tiers of tulle petals cascading from under the deep v-neckline. Wong’s theatrical collection is available now at high-end department stores.

Many designers have chosen to design jewelry inspired by Burton’s take on “Alice.” Tom Binns created two new exclusive jewelry collections inspired by Alice, the Mad Hatter, the Red Queen, the White Queen, and the White Rabbit–one for the Walt Disney Signature line and the other for Disney Couture. Tom Binns’s 35-piece collection for Disney Couture is “moderately” priced from $100 to $500, while the six-piece, high-end line for Walt Disney Signature is steeply priced from $1,000 to $2,000.

Image copyright Disney Consumer Products

A pair of coordinating pieces standout in Binn’s Disney Couture collection: a stunning statement bracelet and choker of glossy, cherry-red hearts dangle off blacken chains stacked together with safety pins and were inspired by the Red Queen.

Joining Binns is British fashion mogul Stella McCartney, who is also teaming up with Disney to create a limited edition costume jewelry necklace and bracelet inspired by the film. Both pieces are handmade in Italy, and feature a chunky anthracite chain with chubby pearls and taupe charms in the shape of hearts, top hats, rabbits, and spades. The bracelet is priced at $395 and the necklace will retail for $425.

Lobe Jewelry: Photo by Renee Trilivas

However, the most superb Alice jewelry I’ve discovered is from Lobe in London’s Camden Lock Market, which I had the chance to admire in person while studying abroad. The pieces are more affordable than those in Binns’s and McCartney’s collections; they are handmade and one-of-a-kind. The unique pieces feature cameo necklaces, bracelets, and rings featuring old school illustrations of Alice and the White Rabbit. The necklaces feature a variety of Wonderland charms like teacups, teapots, heart keys, flowers, mushrooms, and adorable miniature corked bottles labeled “Drink Me.” Lobe’s pieces are now available for online purchase via Etsy.

Image copyright OPI

Instead of painting the roses red, try polishing your own talons with surreal shades. OPI has created four limited-edition nail polish hues especially designed for the Burton remake of “Alice”. “Absolutely Alice” is a sparkled shade in Alice’s signature light blue. “Off With Her Red!” for the Red Queen is a piercing, fiery red and “Thanks So Muchness” is its less aggressive counterpart for the White Queen.  But the flashiest of the collection is the excessively glittery “Mad as a Hatter,” which is a hazy purple hue contaminated with pounds of shimmering rainbow confetti.

Urban Decay pounced on Disney’s invite to create a palette especially for the  film. Their Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows highlights 16 best-selling eye shadows, two mini eyeliner pencils, and a shadow primer. The shadows range from fleshy neutrals to hallucinogenic purples and bright blues that come in a trippy pop-up case, enthralling you in a forest of multicolored, spotted mushrooms complete with a hookah-smoking, sky-blue caterpillar.

Image copyright Urban Decay

Alice and her friends are fantastical muses in the fashion and beauty industry and Disney hits spot on when it says: “Alice is the new black.”

I used to read my dad’s refolded newspapers.

Then high school graduation sparked a subsequent graduation from print newspapers to the NYTimes.com. Now, faster than Bob Dylan can slur “these times, they are a-changing,” I have matured to the 140 word or less headlines from @NYTimes that pops up on my Twitter.com home page between @MarthaStewart and @EatBoston. I am obsessed—and I’m not the only one.

Buzz word: Marketers salivate at the mention of ROI or Return On Investment

With over 18 million users in 2009 and a projected 26 million users in the year 2010—approximately 15.5% of all Internet users—Twitter has transformed digital media communications since its conception in 2006, and it represents just one of the many sites shaping the road of Web 2.0. Since Chris Shipley, the Co-Founder and Director of the Guidewire Group, coined the term in 2004, “social media” has grown exponentially, cultivating a new and faster means of communication and collaboration and arguably changing social contact. Marketing and advertising experts, celebrities, and even politicians joining this exciting and innovative means of communication assist in the popularization of this news and information reformation.

According to a 2009 Marketing Pilgrim Social Media Research study, over 80% of Americans use social media on a monthly basis, a statistic that is only increasing. Marketers and businesses target those in the 18-34 age group, also known as “early adapters” since over 90% of this key segment have operated an established web presence on one or any combination of popular social media sites such as YouTube, Flickr, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Wikipedia. The same study states that participation by those in the 35-54 age range grew by a staggering 60% between 2007 and 2009. This is obviously not just a trend for young people.

The explosion of this movement in the past five years leads some to assume a certain level of newness about social media, which is simply not the case. The art of social media has existed in its earliest forms since the mid 90s in the form of online journaling. Just ask long time journalist Chris Brogan, President of New Marketing Labs.

“I’ve been blogging since it has been called journaling in 1998,” according, not so ironically, to Brogan’s blog (http://www.chrisbrogan.com/). Author of The New York Times best seller “Trust Agents: Using the web to build influence, improve reputation, and Earn Trust,” Brogan certainly practices what he preaches.

His impressively loyal dedication of e-followers comprise a community that represents number 18 on his list of “50 Ways Marketers can Use Social Media to Improve their Marketing”: “Start a community group on Facebook or Ning or MySpace or LinkedIn around the space where your customer does business. Example: what Jeremiah Owyang did for Hitachi.”

What exactly did Owyang do for Hitachi?

Taking the otherwise “mundane subject of data storage,” according to Brogan, Owyang projected the Hitachi products into something interesting and talked about. Through blogs and tweeting, Owyang fascinated users, sparking the interest of other marketers and social media geeks. Notable about this action is not the actual subject matter, but the means of information transmission. He made data storage relevant.

Relevance: a result of an effective social media strategy; just ask President Barack Obama.

The "Paris 4 Prez" Campaign Manager

Even Senator John McCain took to social media sites, or rather, social media sites took to Senator John McCain. In a video that eventually spread virally, a term used to characterize the rapid spread of a popular online video, Paris Hilton pledges—or threatens, depending on how one looks at it—to run for President. This infamous vow came after a McCain endorsement displayed Hilton’s image without permission, causing Hilton to counter with a Presidential promise.

According to a 2008 study from “The Daily Telegraph,” Americans spend the most time online, logging approximately 28 hours a month. The French and Spanish follow, boasting figures of 19 and 18 respectively.

Those distracted by the lure of social media sites subsequently fall victim to the vacuum effect. Nevertheless, for businesses, marketers and advertisers, the benefits arguably outweigh the detriments and oftentimes translate into an increase in online sales or overall product awareness.

The dichotomy between the ADD nature of the mess of social media sites and the potentially clutter-free liberation that ideally evolves from a successful social media implementation equally entices and intrigues both producers and consumers of online content—enough to keep even the deeply recession-hit companies to hire social media strategists.

According to @hillholliday, a large Boston based Ad Agency, “Facebook: 80k sites & devices have used Facebook Connect, 60 million users.”

How about that for staying connected?

—

Lindsey Frick puts the Twit in Twitter. Follow her at twitter.com/lindseyfrick. Not to be outdone, go ahead and follow the Quad at twitter.com/buquad.

Orienting to BU: Get a Social Media Life by Meghan Ross

Possible & Necessary: New Media and the State Department by Amalie Steidley

RockMelt + BU + Free Beta = Match Made in Social Heaven by Lauren Hockenson

The Lelo Nea vibrator's design will have your friends clueless on its actual use. Photo from vibrators.com.

We all know they exist, but not all of us use them. For the amateurs, novices and timid, vibrators can seem a bit scary. However, ubiquitous in the sex toy market across America, vibrators rank among the top-selling sexual enhancements in the bedroom. Their popularity just continues to grow: according to a study released last summer, more than half of women have used a vibrator in their lifetime, while a whopping 44 percent of men have incorporated use of the sex toy in their… ahem… playtime. Living in a liberal and forward-thinking city, students and working professionals enjoy easy access to boutiques and shops across Boston that sell the latest and greatest in vibrator technology. No matter what neighborhood, chances are you can simply walk or take a quick T ride to one of the following shops to get your buzz on:

-Good Vibrations, Coolidge Corner (308A Harvard Street, Brookline)

-Too Timid, Back Bay (297 Newbury Street, Boston)

-Condomworld, Back Bay (332 Newbury Street, Boston)

-Amazing, Fenway (1258 Boylston Street, Boston)

-Hubba Hubba, Central Square (534 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge)

For the average college student, seeking out a vibrator for yourself might seem daunting, a bit scary, and, well… naughty. If you find yourself too timid to gallivant through the public to pursue a perfect purchase, plenty of websites exist where you can browse the inventory, and have it discreetly shipped directly to your doorstep (or dorm mailbox). Some websites I recommend:

-www.vibrators.com – The easy-to-use format and website layout is less likely to scare a newbie shopper. With a vast selection, there’s a little something for everyone. Plus, shipping is cheap: only $3.95 for ground shipping (6-8 business days). Discreetness is always a plus: they ship using plain boxes and the return address PriveCo Inc.

-www.vibrator.com – Not to be confused with its plural counterpart, this website offers sorting of products price-wise and product-wise for a more efficient search. Plus, if you plan on buying a vibrator with all the whistles, vibrator.com might be the place for you: they have free shipping on orders over $75. With an emphasis on discreetness, vibrator.com will bill and ship from their parent company, Acme Media LLC, so you don’t have to worry about your parents noticing a sex toy bill on your shared credit card.

-www.drugstore.com – Wait a minute… you can buy your shampoo, vitamins and sex toys all in one fell swoop? Well, why not? The trusted drugstore.com sells a decent selection of sex toys with free ground shipping on orders over $25. Bonus: since one company owns both drugstore.com and beauty.com, it’s easy to reach the $25 mark for free shipping if you stock up on your beauty and household essentials at the same time. The only downfall: expect price mark-ups from the popular website.

-www.babeland.com – An online vibrator store with a sale section? Sign me up! Babeland.com also provides an assortment of toys sorted by their different uses, purposes and functions. Their “Finding the Right Vibrator” section offers help selecting the right vibrator for you.

OK, so now you know the boutiques around Boston and sites on the web to start your buzz-worthy journey. The next step is to figure out which specific toy best suits your needs. Whether you’re a novice, expert, part of a couple, or just plain curious, the sex toy market offers a wide enough variety that you’re bound to find the right fit.

The OhMiBod syncs your iPod playlists to a buzz-worthy ride. Photo from gazette.uwo.ca.

For the newbie: A plain, sleek vibrator will get you started off – and hopefully finished off – just fine. Try the Slimline vibrator – slim and sleek, the lack of a realistic, veiny exterior is less threatening, and the smooth plastic casing slides easily for penetration.

For the timid: Plenty of vibrators come in non-threatening shapes. If you don’t particularly want a life-like toy, try a vibrator like the Lelo Nea. At a mere 3 inches and looking like a cross between a computer mouse and a paperweight, the Lelo Nea is anything but scary. This high-end toy has 10 settings, so play to your heart’s desire.

For the environmental freak: Don’t get your panties in a twist over the gluttony of materials used to comprise these toys. Browse vibrator.com for their “Green Toys.” Currently featured is the Berman Center Venus Silicone G Spot Stimulator.

For the sex fiend: Can’t get enough of that sweet, sweet lovin’? Try a vibrator that will stimulate all of your orifices, like the wildly popular Jack Rabbit, as featured on Sex and the City. This sold-out toy has dual stimulation for both your insides and your outsides.

For the music junkie: If you can’t bear to take your headphones out of your ears, then boy, do I have the vibrator for you. The OhMiBod syncs with your iPod and pulses to the rhythm of your favorite songs. This vibrator seriously sexes up your playlist.

For the hard-to-please: Not easy to please in bed? After a romp in the sack with a Femblossom, you’ll be singing this vibrator’s praises. Equipped with a powerful motor and a warming sensation, the Femblossom promises to deliver an orgasm like you’ve never experienced before.

For the penny-pincher: Yes, we know, the recession has hit all of our wallets, including yours. How can you scrounge up the moolah to invest in a vibrator, you ask? Not to fear, plenty of cheap vibrators are here! Invest in a vibrator like the Maxi Slim Mystique without breaking the bank – at a mere $8 plus shipping, what’s stopping you?

For the oral-lover: Penetration is cool and all, but some people just wish they could have a floating tongue to pleasure themselves all day. Lucky for those people: the Tongue II emulates the joy of getting oral! Use with water-based lubrication to really get that oral feeling.

For the one with the nosy roommate: Need to mask your new toy with a disguise and a quiet din? Try the Love Lipstick – masked as a normal lipstick, this small vibrator has multiple speed settings and a powerful motor, according to Babeland’s description.

For the dirty: Feeling a bit… dirty lately? Satisfy yourself with a nice, hot shower accompanied by your new best vibrating friend. Bring the Teardrop Bullet and Controller into your shower stall – the waterproof remote lets you control speeds without interrupting your good time.

For the couple: Singles don’t have to hog all the fun! The Opharia Pleasure Pack features two pieces: a vibrating penis ring, and a vibrating finger-toy. Spice up your sex routine by surprising your boyfriend or girlfriend with these – trust me, he or she will thank you!

Now that you know everything you need to know to buy a vibrator, what are you waiting for? Hop on that T, surf the web, and purchase your dream sex toy, stat!

Image from Flickr user thediablodispatch, MTV

Over the past few months America, especially the East Coast, has given the rest of the world a new reason to believe that we are a population of uneducated meatheads with loose moral standards and an unnatural obsession with hair product (as if we hadn’t been through enough already). Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you: The Guidos. Thanks, “Jersey Shore.”

Although Guido originated in the United States as a derogatory term for the fairly numerous and at the time unwelcome Italian immigrants, it is now being embraced by a select group as part of their modern identity. According to David Tricario, a sociology professor at CUNY Queensborough, the term Guido is in fact, “a slur, but Italian kids have embraced it just as black kids have embraced the N-word. In the same way that radical gays call themselves queer.” Professor Tricario goes on to explain that the rise of the Guido subculture stemmed from the 1970s work of film star John Travolta and his roles in”Saturday Night Fever,” “Welcome Back Kotter,” and “Grease.” The Americans that now proudly refer to themselves a Guidos, or the feminine Guidettes, are young people of Italian heritage that tend to embrace the more manufactured side of life. Everything about these people is fake: hair, breasts and skin tone, to name a few. The Guido music of choice is often produced on a MacBook rather than an actual instrument and their style of dance only employs one very specific appendage (the fist; get your mind out of the gutter). It is also apparent that real first names are of meager significance among this group, as people are referred to by nonsensical nicknames: “The Situation,” for example, and my personal favorite, JWOWW.

Adding insult to injury, MTV, a once revolutionary musical television station, is guilty of creating this newfound global Guido-mania. The network is actually paying young members of this “cultural movement,” to take on the title of Guido and embrace it by promoting a lifestyle full of excessive alcohol intake, gravity-defying hair, and melanoma-inducing daily trips to the tanning salon. This image is just as forward-thinking as the popularly projected images of African American rappers carrying handguns and referring to women as, “bitches” and “hoes”; it turns the personal practices of some into stereotypes, and it should no longer be exploited for purposes of entertainment.

College students, including those attending Boston University, are embracing these disrespectful images of Italian Americans by throwing “Jersey Shore” themed parties complete with excessive use of bronzer and the occasional employment of a Bump-it. Arguments may be made that these parties are all in good fun; however, what few people realize is that dressing up like a Guido for entertainment is a basic, however less directly cruel, equivalent to a Vaudeville performer appearing in blackface and acting as a buffoon.

As Caryn Brooks of Time Magazine points out in her article, “Italian Americans and the G Word: Embrace or Reject,” MTV has had its fair share of controversy surrounding the use of the term Guido while promoting “Jersey Shore.” Dominos, the collegiate favorite pizza-by-delivery company, pulled its ads from the show after the term Guido appeared in promotions for it. MTV quickly changed the word to “roommates” in the commercial but still stood by the term Guido, stating that they would not deter the “roommates” from referring to themselves that way. Brooks highlights the ignorance of the cast members embracing this term by juxtaposing the opinion of “The Situation” with the opinion of Andre DiMino, president of the national Italian-American service organization. While “The Situation,” believes that the term Guido refers to a, “good looking Italian guy,” DiMino sees the term as, “‘a derogatory comment,’” explaining, “‘It’s a pejorative word to depict an uncool Italian who tries to act cool.’”

While some are offended by the show’s blatant use of the term Guido, others stand by the term and defend its history, arguing that the term in empowering rather than prejudiced. Irin Carmon, blogger for the popular site Jezebel.com posted a pro-Guido argument entitled, “Jersey Shore: On Beauty and Not Even Looking Italian.” This post was reposted by popular blog”Sociological Images” due to its rare albeit insightful take on the new found popularity of the term. Carmon argues that the term Guido is not pejorative at all, stating that it was developed by Italian Americans in order to define their own standard of beauty in a time when Marcia Brady was considered perfection. Carmon cites recent panel discussion held at Queens College as her evidence using arguments given by New York State Senator Diane Savino to prove the term Guido’s positive inflection. Savino points to “Saturday Night Fever” as a positive turning point for Guido culture, stating, “‘It changed the image for all of us,’” and referencing John Travolta’s white suit and slicked back hair as, “‘a way we [Italian Americans] could develop our own standard of beauty,’”(Carmon, 2010).

So does the term Guido perpetuate disrespect and prejudice, or reclaim a racially-charged word and empower its people?  At first, it seems that the self-proclaimed Guidos are following in suit of some African Americans’ practice of referring to one another by a certain term beginning with an “N”; however, the parallel isn’t so perfect in the year 2010. For example, “Italian American” is not even recognized as a category of race (though it has been in the past, as by eugenicists like Charles Davenport before WWII), and to claim that Italian Americans experience the same type of institutionalized racism as African Americans would be difficult (not to mention ridiculous and offensive). So why reintroduce Guido, a term soaked in outdated hatred and segregation, to supposedly honor an individual culture?

While some have embraced the image that goes along with the term Guido as culturally liberating, it is important that we focus on the fact that this image liberated Italian Americans when they were an unaccepted minority in the 1970s. Today, in 2010, we must remember that the term Guido is associated with an arguably irrelevant racial stereotype; it can be considered offensive to those who experienced racism or just create a new stereotype for those who don’t remember the old prejudices. In this day and age, Italian Americans are a well-integrated and even highly celebrated part of American society and are not in need of the negative publicity stemming from the alcohol-fueled antics of the “Jersey Shore” cast members.

Despite the recent confession that JWOWW and Snooki of “Jersey Shore” are not actually of Italian descent, the show, the negative image it projects, and the term Guido will not cease to be associated with Italian American culture until we as Americans stop supporting it; and maybe then we can focus on eradicating existing racial stereotypes instead of creating new ones.

Building Peace, Word by Word by Allan Lasser

An Afghan woman in a burqa - from wikicommons.

France certainly knows how to get back on our political radar – the recent recommendation by a parliamentary panel in the French government to “ban the burqa” in public institutions in late January set off a fresh whirlwind of debates, protests, and controversy. The decision, which would prohibit Muslim women from wearing the full-body garment in public areas such as post offices, schools, and public transportation, have seen many justifications ranging from “preservation of national identity” (the justification that President Nicolas Sarkozy seems to favor) to women’s rights to “national security.”

A brief assessment of the situation may suggest that the conflict might be attributed to the divide between the West and Islam regarding women’s freedoms; Sarkozy, whose disaffection for the garment has been widely and well-documented, has commented that the burqa is “not a sign of religion; it is a sign of subservience.” However, the discussion can be couched in the greater scope of French policy towards religion. Since 1905, when the French government adopted a policy of laïcité , the state has not recognized or funded any religion in order to avoid privileging any school of thought. Additionally, the French have mandated that the public sphere remain “neutral” from religion. Unlike the United States, however, France has adopted a policy of “freedom from religion,” as opposed to “freedom of religion.” In terms of religion and immigrant groups, France has adopted a policy of assimilation by individuals, rather than by communities or groups. The relevance to Muslim immigration (there are currently estimated to be 5 million Muslims living in France today) is clear; French tradition is based on a policy of acceptance of individuals, whereas larger groups (that are reliant on a separate school of thought – Islam, in this instance) threaten the foundations of French society.

Under this policy of laïcité, the proposed ban on burqas in the public sphere can theoretically be justified, although it would call for a larger universal ban on religious articles (including crosses or habits) in order to be consistent. However, the particulars of that law are not important. The problem with the burqa in this particular instance is the apparent hypocrisy with which the French government has dealt. Going against traditional French standards of laïcité, Sarkozy has praised Christianity’s contribution to France, advocated for a relaxation of laïcité, and sanctioned the role of religion in the public sphere, while simultaneously promoting a ban on the burqa – a targeted policy, and a dangerous double-standard.

As with the headscarf (hijab) in 2004, the burqa has come to represent a larger issue – the question of Islamism in French society. John Bowen, author of the book “Why the French Don’t Like Headscarves” (2006), argues that one of the underlying issues surrounding the headscarf was how to respond to Muslims who “demanded to be different” and dared to “defy older cultural notions” of France. However, when analyzing the public’s reasoning behind banning the hijab in secular schools, there were three categories of social concerns: communalism, Islamism, and sexism. These three social concerns not only reflect the reluctance of France to accept immigrant groups (and indeed, their policy of assimilation has been individual rather than group-focused), but also indicate the larger divide between the West and Islam, particularly in their cultural values.

Why do women choose to wear the burqa? Or do they choose? In order to better understand the reasons for wearing the burqa, I turned to my Muslim friends to explain. Moniza Masud, the president of the Muslim Students Association in the greater East Bay of California, argues that the burqa has a more “cultural significance, rooted in historical context, than is attributed to it today.” She suggests that the question of wearing the burqa is rooted in an idea more encompassing than whether women are oppressed, and that in many instances it’s a woman’s autonomous decision to wear a burqa on grounds of modesty. The Qur’an, for instance, does not explicitly mandate that women wear a burqa. The closest that it comes can be found in the following lines:

“Oh prophet, please tell your wives and daughters and faithful women to wear a covering dress on their bodies. That would be good. Then nobody can recognize them and harass them. Allah is merciful and kind.” (Sura Al Hijaab 33:59)

This article is not going to discuss whether the Qur’an promotes gender equality, or whether it’s fair for a woman to cover up to avoid being seen as a lustful figure while men do not have to be subjected to the same treatment. (For that debate, you can see my Monday blog post on feminisms and the burqa.) The question of wearing a burqa seems to be more cultural than religious – however, the problem is that in many Muslim countries, it is difficult to draw the distinction between the cultural and the religious. Islam dictates that women should cover themselves up, but the extent to which they are covered is debatable. Leaving the issue of whether the burqa itself is inherently oppressive out of the question – I don’t believe that a garment that covers a woman’s face and makes her indistinguishable is harmful for her identity – but if women are not forced to wear the burqa, implementing a blanket policy in France to ban the burqa strictly under a guise of women’s freedoms or anti-Islamism would be discriminatory to women because there would be no way to distinguish whether they had been forced or obliged by culture to wear a burqa, or whether they had chosen to wear it autonomously – it would be a blanket assertion that no women want to wear the burqa based on what Sarkozy believes, which is inherently anti-choice.

While there are a great deal of other concerns regarding France’s decision to ban the burqa, at least one thing has been made clear – this controversy has opened multiple avenues of discussion regarding religion, culture, nationalism, identity, feminisms, women’s rights, national security concerns, and the appropriate role of government in regards to individual rights. While the French government has yet to enact a policy based on the recommendations of the parliamentary panel, hopefully they will delve into a greater consideration of the religious and historical context of the decision to inform their case.

“Sisters” and the Status of Women in Afghanistan: A First-Hand Perspective from Corinne Jaber by Lisa Dukart

Parents’ Week: Getting into BU—A Mom’s Perspective by The Quad

An American in Paris: At Risk for Scurvy by Annie White

Aaron Colby and Mariah Sondergard stand out waiting for their awards. | Photo by Monica Castillo

Hips swayed, toes were pointed, smiles gleamed, eyes winked at judges.  Costumes glimmered with rhinestones, revealing ample exposed skin to catch your eye but just enough to leave you curious.  Hair was gelled.  Teeth were at their whitest.  Skin was spray-tanned to perfection.  And that just describes the guys on the dance floor.

Thanks to over five months of planning and execution from BU’s Ballroom Dance Club, the Ninth Annual Boston University Terrier Dancesport Competition waltzed into town on Sunday, February 14th.  Held in Metcalf Hall, the competition consisted of about 20 events and involved 360 registered dancers from schools and dance studios around the East Coast, according to BU Ballroom Dance Club president Amanda Paloian.  The competition also included a showcase by the world’s third-best professional Latin dance couple, Franco Formica and Oxana Lebedew from Germany.

This year’s competition cost an estimated $15,500 and made anywhere from $7,000-$9,000, which will go towards next year’s competition, Paloian said.

“I was more than satisfied with the execution of our competition. As always, there are things that could have gone better, but

Aaron Colby and Mariah Sondergard sweep across the floor to impress the judges. | Photo by Monica Castillo

overall I would consider it a huge success for our ballroom club and team,” said Paloian in an e-mail.

But while e-board members spent the day registering couples, dealing with a judge calling in sick, coordinating with the showcase couple and a multitude of other backstage details, some club members tackled issues of their own on the competition floor.

“[Mid-dance] my shoe ran into another couple and I stepped sideways on my shoe, so my shoe went sideways,…and I had to tell Aaron to stop so I wasn’t three inches shorter on one side than another,” BU journalism major Mariah Sondergard explained.

Sondergard and her partner Aaron Colby, a BU graduate student studying biomedical engineering, are silver level ballroom competitors and have been dancing with BU’s Ballroom Club since last year.  Together, they prepared for BU’s competition with their typical nine hours of practice each week during club lessons, private lessons, and individual practice.  At the BU competition, the couple competed in all silver International Standard and American Smooth events, in addition to gold American Viennese Waltz and novice International Standard Viennese Waltz.

“In the first few rounds I’m always nervous, very nervous,” Colby said.  “As we get into further semi-finals, quarter finals, it’s not so much being nervous, it’s enjoying it….”  While on the dance floor, Colby said he worries about timing, steps, where judges are, where other couples are around them.

“It’s much harder to be him,” Sondergard joked. “Ideally I am not thinking about very much,  because then it doesn’t go well.  Ideally I am enjoying the dancing and…now I know the dances so I get into the feeling a little more … If it’s not going well, I’m thinking about not being heavy so he doesn’t have to carry me around.”

Regardless of any competition jitters, the couple won the silver American Smooth events, earning first place in American Foxtrot, third in American Waltz/Tango,  second in gold American Viennese Waltz, fifth in International Waltz/Quickstep and seventh in novice International Viennese Waltz.

“I thought I was going to throw up while we were on the on-deck area,” silver dancer and BU Ballroom Club’s public relations e-board member Stefanie Rich said.

She and her partner, BU co-captain Steven Adam, danced in silver American Rhythm and International Latin events at BU’s competition.

“Honestly, I wish I had practiced more.  I wish I had planned on competing in BU from the get-go,” Rich said. “I wish I had practiced with my dress on because my dress got caught on Steven’s button and that was a problem.”

“When I’m out there, all you can hear is the music and I’m wearing the dress I bought, it’s fun…and you feel pretty proud of yourself, especially when you get a call back, because even if you aren’t the best, you know you’re better than somebody else,” Rich added.

Harrison Wright and Jessica Lee swing their way to first place at BU's ballroom competition. | Photo by Nicole Cousins

Silver BU competitor Harrison Wright described the sensation of ballroom: “There are times during the dance where you get done from a dance where you’re like, ‘That was okay.’  But, then there are times when you get off and you’re like, ‘Wow, we hit it.’”

He and his partner, Jessica Lee, started preparing for BU’s competition specifically two weeks prior, following their last competition at Brandeis University.  After competing in silver American Rhythm and International Latin, the two left the dance floor with first place in American Swing, second in American Cha Cha/Rumba, second in International Cha Cha/Rumba, and sixth in International Samba.

“What was also different [about the BU competition] was it was nice to have people from BU come out and see us….to have our friends come and see the final product with the hair and make-up and everything,” Lee said.

“For me personally, BU was different because my parents were there, so I very specifically wanted to do well for them,…to show off for them, to show them how well we dance, but more to show them how happy this makes me, how important it is to me” Sondergard said.

Auditions Held for Charity Dance Competition by Noah Eberhart

Glee – After a four month hiatus, season one returns April 13th on FOX with nine episodes left.

Source: Flickr user LiGado em Série

Since the show had its mid-season finale on December 9th of 2009, “Gleeks” have been dying for more of this Golden Globe-winning show. The show left off with the group deservedly taking first place in sectionals despite the sabotage attempts made by Sue Sylvester. And thank god that the baby-mama-drama story line is over, because it was getting tired. Will finally realized his wife was faking a pregnancy and the secret was spilled that Quinn is carrying Puck’s baby and not Finn’s. Honestly though, she should have been a little more stoked about that, because Puck is way hotter.

Although the secrets are now out in the open, that plot line can’t disappear completely. Will Puck stop being a “dumb jock” and make a good father? Will Finn ever forgive them? Will Mr. Schuester and Ms. Pillsbury live happily ever after (obviously)? Will the Glee club finally get the respect they deserve after taking home a winning title (probably not)? One thing we know we can look forward to as the season finishes out this spring is a Madonna-themed episode, which will include Sue donning the cone-bra look.

Nurse Jackie and United States of Tara – Both of these Showtime hits return for their second season on March 22nd. On “Nurse Jackie,” Emmy-award-winning Edie Falco plays Jackie Peyton, a nurse with a hard attitude, a bad back, and an addiction to painkillers. At times she could be described as the female “House.” Though she is married with two kids, she carries on an affair with her hospital’s pharmacist, Eddie. Since she seems happy with her husband, the show implies that she is only having the affair to ensure a steady flow of free Percocet and other heavy-hitting pain meds (which she often snorts or chews instead of swallows). However, season one ended with Eddie following Jackie after work and finding out her secret. Expect a big blowout to start off season two. We may even find out if her feelings for Eddie were ever real. Unfortunately, Jackie’s friend and co-worker, Mo-Mo, will not be returning for season two. But expect plenty of comedic relief from nurse-in-training Zoey, and goofy, good-looking Dr. Cooper, played by Peter Facinelli.

“United States of Tara” is one of the most original television shows out there right now, penned by the quirky Diablo Cody. Toni Collette won the Emmy for her portrayal of Tara Gregson: a mother and wife battling dissociative identity disorder (multiple-personality disorder) and taking a break from her medication. Season one left off with Tara and her husband, Max, finally getting to the bottom of what happened to Tara at school years ago that may have sparked the emergence of her multiple personalities (alters). Hopefully season two will give us a better look at the fourth and newest alter, “Gimmy,” solve the issue between Tara’s son, Marshall, and his crush, and find Tara’s daughter, Kate, a new love interest so she can say goodbye to that freaky romance with her boss for good.

United States of Tara. Source: Flickr user LiGado em Série

Parenthood - A brand new comedy premieres March 2nd on NBC stacked with stars such as Lauren Graham, Erika Christensen, and Dax Sheppard. The series was created by the legendary Ron Howard as well as Brian Grazer and highlights the frustrations of parenthood. Howard’s first attempted a “Parenthood” TV series based off of his film by the same name in 1990, but it was quickly canceled. The new version of the show seems to have bad omen written all over it: it was  slated for release last fall until lead actress Maura Tierney was diagnosed with breast cancer, and then a salary agreement could not be reached for second pick Helen Hunt. The show was left with third choice Graham, who will play the lead of Sarah. The previews have looked promising thus far, so hopefully Howard finally manages to pull this one off.

Sons of Tucson – A new comedy on FOX that premieres on March 14th and features the comedic relief of former CW show “Reaper,” Tyler Labine. The show is about three kids whose father gets sent to prison. Instead of being orphaned, they decide to take in Ron (Labine) as their guardian. Ron is a homeless slacker that works at a sporting goods store. Labine seems to be a favorite up-and-coming star of director Kevin Smith, after landing the role of Sock in “Reaper,” of which Smith directed the first episode, as well as a cameo in the Smith film “Zack and Miri Make a Porno.” The show is worth checking out for its talented cast and fun plot line.

FlashForward – ABC’s psychological thriller starring Joseph Fiennes and John Cho returns March 4th after a four month hiatus. Based on the novel by Robert J. Sawyer, the show follows FBI agents trying to figure out the worldwide blackout in which people lost consciousness for two minutes and seventeen seconds and caught glimpses of their futures. Executives say the hiatus had been planned so the remaining 14 episodes could air uninterrupted by the Winter Olympics, but speculation says the lapse was really to give the writers a much-needed break to figure out where they were going with the show and pick up the pace a bit. While its ratings will most likely come no where near that of companion show “Lost,” hopefully “FlashForward” will get a bit more exciting and give “Lost” fans something to turn to after the series finale.

So there you have it: a brief glimpse into what we can expect from spring television. Any shows you are particularly looking forward to? Any predictions, excitements, frustrations? Let us know in the comment section.

Spring Break Preview: Space! by Nee-Sa Lossing

PaleyFest 2011 Preview: TV Freaks, Geeks, & Gleeks Unite by Meghan Ross

For all you people who aren’t a size zero or can’t sew a stitch, I’ve compiled a list of other essential careers in the industry that might be better suited to your talents, and still allow you to explore your passion for fashion (and have I mentioned all the awesome swag?).

1. STYLIST:

The Style Closet: Photo Courtesy ManchesterFashion

Stylists are responsible for helping to create the visual image that a photographer or director may want for a fashion shoot, print ad or commercial. They use their knowledge of fashion trends to dress models and celebrities for magazine spreads and editorial shoots. They coordinate colors and patterns and makes sure their clients are comfortable and look good. There has also been an increase in the celebrity personal stylist trend. Many celebrities have stylists dress them before red-carpet events and these lucky bunnies can either be personally employed by one A-lister or may have several celebrity clients. Entry level stylists can expect to make anywhere from $150 to $200 a day and experienced stylists can earn  from over $100,000 a year to millions. Jeff Ihenando and  Rachel Zoe are two of the more well known stylists right now. If you have an eye for style, this may be the career for you.

2. FASHION JOURNALIST:

Anna Wintour and Andre Leon Talley at Carolina Herrera: Photo Courtesy BryanBoy

Fashion journalism is actually quite a wide field that includes any kind of print or online material focused on fashion. The most obvious examples are the editorial copy produced for magazines, newspapers and online publications like fashion websites and blogs. Fashion journalists might also be fashion critics or reporters. Many fashion journalists work freelance and later pitch their stories to major publications like Vogue or Elle, and more experienced journalists may partner with photographers to create a more holistic picture of the subjects they cover. Fashion journalists are still actual journalists, however, and still need to do their homework when it comes to research and background information. Skilled journalists may find themselves promoted to the editor-in-chief positions of major publications. Some well known fashion journalists include Andre Leon Tally, (Editor-at-Large of American Vogue and upcoming judge of America’s Next Top Model cycle 14 ) Nina Garcia (Fashion Director of Marie Claire, and current judge of Project Runway) and of course Anna Wintour (Editor-in-Chief of American Vogue). The fashion journalism field is expected to grow in the next few years, so it might just be the perfect bandwagon to jump on.  Always ready with pen and paper? You might be the next big name in fashion.

3. FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER:

Scarlett Johansson Photographed by Patrick Demarchelier: Photo Courtesy MyDigitalPhotographyBlog

Fashion photography is the genre of photography devoted solely to displaying clothing and/or other fashion items. It is most often used for advertisements and spreads in fashion magazines. As this is my chosen career path, I’m a little inclined to say that this might be the best option out of the bunch. Fashion photography is a growing field that requires a skilled photographer with imagination, creativity and an eye for detail. The right photographer can often make or break a shoot as it is his/her job to direct the subject and create the essence of a photograph. Competition for in-house positions is stiff, and internships that help create a portfolio of work are becoming increasingly essential, but the spurt in the use of the internet as a medium in fashion has significantly opened up the market to aspiring photographers. A degree in photography is helpful but not always necessary; a solid portfolio is often the essential factor when being considered for a job. People looking to enter this field can expect to have to work their way up, but the good news is that experience brings opportunity. Good photographers can land staff positions with publications such as Photo Editor or Director of Photography. The ability to promote yourself is also essential in this field; there’s no room for modesty. Top fashion photographers can make around $50,000 annually, but those who have established themselves as a brand like Annie Liebowitz or Patrick Demarchelier can command up to $100,000. If you’re always the one taking the pictures on those nights out, then this just might be your dream job.

4. FASHION PUBLIC RELATIONS SPECIALIST:

Kelly Cutrone: Photo Courtesy FashionIndie

Fashion PR specialists help fashion houses and retail stores brand and market their products. Their jobs usually entail finding creative ways to keep their clients work in the public eye, which can sometimes be difficult. This might include writing press releases, holding press conferences and interacting with media personnel. Some fashion PR firms also charge themselves with producing fashion shows for designer clients. The market for Public Relations specialists focused solely on fashion is steadily growing. Those who watch “The Hills” may be familiar with People’s Revolution founder Kelly Cutrone, who now has her own show on the Bravo Network, “Kell on Earth.” Cutrone’s firm currently represents clients like Nicky Hilton, Paco Rabanne and Vivienne Westwood. This profession almost always requires a 4-year  Public Relations degree, and experience with journalism is also helpful. Entry level PR specialists can expect to make around $20,000 while senior positions may pull in around $75,000. Do you have a flair for brand promotion? This might be the job for you.

There you have it: the next best things that you can do in fashion. These careers represent essential sectors of the fashion industry; all the things that go on behind the scenes. The next time you watch the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show or get immersed in Fashion Week, remember that all these people helped make it possible.

Look Your Best Without Paying the Price: Rent the Runway Comes to BU! by Patricia Bruce

All the World’s a Fashion Show by Briana Seftel

Photo by Boston University's Andrew Bisdale

Q:  How did you get into the hip-hop genre?

D:  The first memory I have of listening to hip-hop was watching Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s “Crossroads” video in the 6th grade. I also did a break-dance routine to “Rapper’s Delight” at summer camp in the 7th grade. It probably wasn’t until about junior year of high school when I started to do some more research and seriously start listening to hip-hop. And once I got to Boston and was exposed to all the different kinds of hip-hop, it was all over from there. I was hooked.

Q:  How has WTBU shaped your college experience?

D:  WTBU has been the perfect medium for me to express myself. When my parents made me quit rugby, I didn’t really know what I was going to do with myself. But once I became an intern on “BU in the Morning,” it was like something clicked. I felt comfortable in front of the microphone, and the fact that I didn’t have to look my best to be entertaining was also very comforting. Joining WTBU made me much more confident in myself, and that confidence has influenced a lot of the successes I’ve had in my life.

Q:  What does being a DJ mean to you?

D:  Being a DJ means that you are the voice of entertainment. It’s not as easy as being a TV host, because your audience can be distracted by visuals when they watch you speak. When you are on the radio, you have to be able to grab the listeners attention in a way that makes them not want to stop listening. As much as you prepare for a show, you need to be interesting and entertaining otherwise nobody is going to give a crap.

Q:  What is “White Chocolate Drizzle” like? What kind of music do you play?

D:  “White Chocolate Drizzle” is like “Yo! MTV Raps” meets “Howard Stern.” It’s primarily an underground hip-hop program, but occasionally we throw in an old school jam or a song we find particularly hilarious. We try to bring a lighter side to a genre that is generally viewed as being “hard” all the time. We pride ourselves on the quality of our witty banter, both with guests and amongst ourselves.

Q:  How has “White Chocolate Drizzle” [WCD] grown since its creation?

D:  The best thing to say is that WCD has matured since fall semester of junior year. Networking has definitely played an important role in its growth. Nobody is going to know about you unless you go to the shows, you go to the release parties, you go to the break-dancing events and allow people to see your face. I don’t think enough college radio DJs realize that we are now the hot market to promote towards, and so not as many students take their show as seriously as they should. By networking, people have become interested in making appearances on my show and people generally spread it around through word of mouth. It’s a little crazy when I meet someone and they have heard my show before. It’s one of the best feelings in the world. I’m very proud of my baby, so why wouldn’t I want to flaunt her about town?

Q:  What can you tell me about your new co-host on “White Chocolate Drizzle”?

D:  Christina Putz (aka CiCi, aka XXXTina, aka CTP) joined WCD at the beginning of senior year. We became friends freshman year and now we [are] just like peas and carrots. Christina is Austrian and has a very European upbringing, and it’s funny when she doesn’t pick up on American pop culture references. She shares the same sense of humor and the same taste in music as me, but on air you can definitely tell that we have very different personalities. Having a co-host like Christina brings another point of view to WCD, which makes the show all the more interesting.

Q:  Who are your favorite artists?

D: Diplo – my ultimate celebrity crush. He is a brilliant DJ and producer and his music has influenced me a ton. He is also from Florida like me! (Favorite song: Indian Thick Jawns ft. P.E.A.C.E. / also: check out Mad Decent Worldwide Radio podcast)

Peaches – I sincerely respect how strong and sexually charged she is. She’s inspiring, and her music gets me going.

Cunninlynguists – They are so consistent with the quality of their music, and their sound is very distinct. Hailing from Kentucky, they have a southern feel and they also have fun with their lyrics, which I appreciate. (Favorite Song: Thugged Out Since Cub Scouts)

The Pharcyde – I wish I had gotten into hip-hop in elementary school so I could have listened to the Pharcyde earlier on. They are everything I look for in a group: great beats, recognizable lyricists, just a little bit of humor, and dopeness. (Favorite song: She Said (Jay Dee Remix) or Runnin’)

Weird Al Yancovic – He had a very large influence on me when I was little. I think you can probably see how. He is an inspiration to us all.

Alex Greenberg: Pranks with Purpose by Noah Eberhart