promises

So, I was raised Catholic and Republican with a hint of cynicism and guilt. Things have changed in some ways and not others. Still, I've decided to make a Lenten Promise this year to supplement the New Years Resolutions that I've been surprisingly good at keeping so far.

I've decided to have lunch/coffee/dinner with one of my sorority sisters as many days a week as possible. Kind of an expensive promise, but seeing as it's my last semester...it'll be worth it. My goal is at least one girl from each pledge class per week, with a slight emphasis on the seniors and my own pledge class.

I'm seeing a new trend in blogging. Websites where you can post things that are hilarious, weird, and aligning to a certain theme. Here are some of my recent favorites:

fmylife.com: People post awful things that happen to them. For example: "Today, I received my passport in the mail. They got my birthdate wrong. Then I picked up my birth certificate that I had sent in with the application. Turns out my parents have been celebrating my birthday on the wrong day for 16 years. FML"

thisiswhyyourefat.com: A website with pictures and descriptions of heart-attack inducing foods that look frighteningly delicious. For example: Meatloaf wrapped in bacon with a layer of mac and cheese in the middle.
Doesn't that look delicious?

Dinosaursfuckingrobots.com: I love dinosaurs. I love robots. They love each other. Pictures created by artists and comedians, all with inspirational quotes. iamneurotic.com: People describe different obsessive compulsions they have. For example: "I don’t breathe through my nose around people unless I really like them. I feel like I am taking a part of people in and there are very few people I want to inhale."


Any more anyone knows of? These are my new guilty pleasure. I'm going to find one that doesn't exist, create it, and be very famous and very poor.


NEW ADDITIONS: 2/25

cryingwhileeating.com: People send in posts of themselves crying while eating. Pretty self explanatory. Pretty hilarious. THANKS MADDIE!

stuffwhitepeoplelike.com: Stuff white people like with hilarious descriptions. Examples: Frisbee Sports. Black Music that Black People Don't Listen To Anymore. Appearing to enjoy Classical Music.

FEEDBACK: 2/26, 12:56am

Bryan: so, i read your blog post on the different websites and have done nothing all day

Mission: Complete!

Here's some more for your viewing pleasure:

Overheardinnewyork.com: I'm actually a bigger fan of Overheard at Miami, but there tend to be a few more crazies on OHINY.

Fark.com: Interesting interpretations of news that just makes everything that happens in our world sound really stupid. Which it is.

Stumbleupon.com: Create a profile, get personalized recommendations of random websites to go to. Basically the perfect way to waste time. Or, just click the Stumble button and it'll send you somewhere on the World Wide Web to a random video or game. Good times.

I think I'll start keeping a list of these on my sidebar.

Please vote for my friend Muff for the BEST JOB IN THE WORLD by clicking the link below, watching his video, and rating it with 5 stars!

http://www.islandreefjob.com/#/applicants/watch/Ni4cuNXKWC8

and the oscar goes to...

The Oscars this year were the most amazing and inspiring I've seen. Every nominee deserved their nomination, and the winners, while predictable, were extremely deserving as well. I found the "smaller" awards, like those that were involved with production and technology, very interesting as well.

My favorite part, however, was Dustin Lance Black's acceptance speech for his Original Screenplay, Milk:

"When I was 13 years old, my beautiful mother and my father moved me from a conservative Mormon home in San Antonio, Texas to California, and I heard the story of Harvey Milk. And it gave me hope. It gave me the hope to live my life. It gave me the hope one day I could live my life openly as who I am and then maybe even I could even fall in love and one day get married.

I want to thank my mom, who has always loved me for who I am even when there was pressure not to. But most of all, if Harvey had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he'd want me to say to all of the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told that they are less than by their churches, by the government or by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value and that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights federally, across this great nation of ours.

Thank you. Thank you. And thank you God, for giving us Harvey Milk."

After hearing that speech, I had to wipe away tears. Even though celebrity influence on politics is annoying sometimes, this was a prime example of how it can be used for good. I hope everyone who heard this speech was as inspired and moved as I was. I hope minds were changed.

El Tango De Roxanne

I try not to litter my blog with junk like this, but I think these things are really funny and telling sometimes. If you haven't seen this before, the point is to put your iTunes on shuffle and with each song that plays, fill in the questions in order. One thing I noticed is that apparently, I have a lot of soundtracks on my iTunes. It made for some very interesting answers...

1) IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY?" YOU SAY?
Christmas Eve Montage from Nightmare Before Christmas Soundtrack

This doesn't make any sense. The song doesn't even have words.

2) WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Fantasy - Ludacris

Ha. At least I think so.

3) WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Thanks for the Memories - Fall Out Boy

Well that's a little pessimistic.

4) HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Technologic - Daft Punk

5) WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Hey Hey Hey - Cavashawn

6) WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Mama I'm A Big Girl Now - Hairspray Soundtrack

True. I have to convince my mom of this a lot.

7) WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Men and Mascara - Julia Roberts

8) WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Ever Ever After - Carrie Underwood

9) WHAT IS 2+2?
That's my DJ - Girltalk

10) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Pirelli's Magical Elixir - Sweeney Todd Soundtrack

11) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Flashing Lights - Kanye West

12) WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY
Coyotes - Jason Mraz

13) WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Making Christmas - Nightmare Before Christmas

I want to be Santa!

14) WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Jingle Bell Rock

15) WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
One Sweet Love - Sarah Bareilles

16) WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Something in the Water - Jealous Girlfriends

Maybe these two should be switched...

17) WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
My Funny Valentine - Michael Buble

18) WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
The Way I Am - Ingrid Michaelson

19) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield

This is one of the songs I dance to with my friends quite often.

20) WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Drinking for 11 - Mad Caddies

That would be pretty bad

21) HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Empty Apartment - Yellowcard

Alone? Ouch...

22) WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Something Bad - Wicked Soundtrack

23) WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Sunday Mornings - Maroon 5

24) WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Mix Tape - Avenue Q Soundtrack

25) WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Negative - Project Jenny, Project Jan

OH NO!

26) WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Destination - O.A.R.

27) DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Salty Dog - Flogging Molly

28) IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood

SO. TRUE.

29) WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Hold You In My Arms - Ray LaMontagne

30) WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
El Tango De Roxanne - Moulin Rouge Soundtrack

For my Racquetball class, the final assignment was to write a 3-page paper on the sport. Luckily, I've spent the last 4 years perfecting the art of bullshitting. Here's an exert:

Discovering Racquetball: Discovering Myself

It was 10am on the second day of the classes in the second semester of my senior year. I readjusted my goggles as I prepared for Will’s next serve. The blue ball bounced off the front wall and flew towards me at what seemed like mach speed. I swung my racquet wildly, completely missing the ball and sighed after I watched it bounce behind me for the second time. I swore under my breath at Kelly, ruing the day she convinced me to sign up for this class with her.

I thought back to the days when I was both coordinated and athletic on the soccer field. Obviously, this sad excuse for a sport was not for me. I was not meant to spend an hour stuck in a large white box, wearing unattractive goggles and leaping around in what seems like a perverted mix between tennis and dodge ball. I spend just as much time trying to avoid being pelted by this demon of a blue ball as I do attempting to hit it back to the front wall and return Chris and Will’s hard serves. I rubbed my hip after being assailed by another one of Will’s unnecessarily brutal hits.

Flash forward to now. Playing with the boys has obviously paid off, as Kelly and I dominate the girls’ doubles tournament. We control the games with ease, and almost feel bad as we beat the other players with scores like 15-1. Racquetball has become fun. I look forward to the mornings, where I am able to come in and socialize with my friends as we play aggressively. The boys still beat us, I continue to whiff occasionally, and I still hit the deck to avoid being killed by the boys’ returns, but I no longer feel frustrated. I am by no means a master of the sport, but I feel comfortable with the grip of the racquet in my hand. I return one of Will’s especially hard hits, and chuckle at him as the ball bounces twice on the ground past him

Racquetball was created in 1968 and was wildly popular until aerobics took over as the exercise craze of the 80’s. It is seeing a comeback as it becomes less of a sport for old retired men with nothing better to do but strap on an old pair of short shorts and bring themselves back to the “good old days”. I can attest to the excitement of blue balls whizzing past you at breakneck speeds. To the pain that comes from diving across the court for a ball, or being hit in the leg, forehead, and stomach with what at least seem like the 200 mph hits the pros dish out. But through all the pain, there is little more satisfying than the feeling of connecting perfectly with that hollow little blue ball, and the sound it makes as it strikes the front wall and bounces twice past your opponent.

25 random things...

...that I love about Miami University, in honor of the Bicentennial

1. Being able to walk essentially everywhere but having the Miami bus pick me up anyway and seeing the smiling face of a friend I haven't seen all semester on the bus, sitting next to them and catching up on our lives.
2. Thinking back on how much I've changed and what a better person I am after 4 years here, and knowing it was because of the incredible friends I've made and how AWESOME Miami is.
3. Knowing our fight song by heart after one hockey game, because we sing it at the beginning and end of every period, and after we score every goal.
4. Being bored with my roommates and knowing the only thing this town has is Super Walmart and then having a blast as we go on the week's third Walmart run.
5. Seeing President Hodge on campus and chatting with him as he walks back to Roudebush and I meander off to my next class.
6. Red brick. Everywhere. So. Pretty.
7. Seeing the lights on campus shining through the trees at night as I walk home from the library
8. The lump in my throat I get when I look at our beautiful campus.
9. Telling everyone I know that we're the REAL Miami, and watching them roll their eyes and I go on about Miami Tribal Indians
10. Tuesday Nights: $2 drafts at BW3s, $2 pitchers at Stadium, $0.90 drafts at 90's Night at Brick Street
11. Wednesday Nights: $2 margaritas at Burrito Loco, $1 drafts at Skippers which are enjoyed even more from a "beer tower" in 70 degree weather on a Sunday in spring
12. Knowing I have friends that will go out with me every night of the week, but will also sit at home with me, a box of tissues, and a large carton of ice cream as we watch Moulin Rouge for the quadrillionth time.
13. Getting up at 5:30am to go to the bars with 5,000 other students on Green Beer Day
14. Seeing people in classes and at parties who lived in my dorm freshman year and having marathon conversations with them even though we never really talked back then
15. Making fun of the freshmen who dress up for class and live up to the J.Crew U standards, because...really? Who cares?
16. ...but taking pride in the fact that the girls here are hotter than at any other school. It's true. Come here and you'll see.
17. 15,000 students. Big enough that I can hide, but small enough that I'm within one degree of separation from basically everyone.
18. Meeting people that I have a million mutual friends with and wondering why we weren't friends before.
19. Having professors that care so much about me that they go so far as to take me out for brunch after class when I lose a bet in class. And sit for hours with me in their office talking about life. And add me on Facebook. And wave enthusiastically at me from across the bar.
20. Being able to say for a year, "My roommate is the Editor-in-chief of the Miami Student, the oldest university newspaper in the U.S. That's why I know random facts and gossip about everyone and everything." And now being able to say, "My roommate WAS the Editor-in-chief of the Miami Student. It was the most stressful experience ever for her, and everyone around her. You can find us at the bar for the rest of the year, thanks."
21. Bagel and Deli. 'Nuff said.
22. The fact that pretty much ever restaurant delivers until 2am (and sometimes after)
23. The fact that you can get beer delivered. Yes. Beer. Brought to your front door. I know, it's incredible.
24. AIESEC, Alpha Omicron Pi, the Miami Water Ski team, College Dems, and all the other amazing organizations I've been involved with. Not the mention the amazing people I've met through them.
25. Knowing that I go to the best damn school in the ENTIRE WORLD, and that being reaffirmed when I visit my friends at other schools and find that nothing beats Miami U!

HAPPY 200TH BIRTHDAY MIAMI UNIVERSITY!

200 years ago, Miami was chartered. 200 years later, it's the 10th oldest higher institution in the country.

So proud.

recognize!

H. Res. 128

In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

February 10, 2009.

Whereas article III of the Northwest Ordinance states that ‘religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and its happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged’;

Whereas Miami University was named for the Miami Indian Tribe that inhabited the area now known as the Miami Valley Region of Ohio;

Whereas Miami University is our Nation’s 10th oldest public institution of higher learning;

Whereas Miami University’s motto is Prodesse Quam Conspici, ‘to accomplish without being conspicuous’;

Whereas Miami University is a student-centered public university deeply committed to student success, building great student and alumni loyalty, and empowering its students, faculty, and staff to become engaged citizens who use their knowledge and skills with integrity and compassion to improve the future of our society;

Whereas Poet Laureate Robert Frost once referred to Miami University as ‘the most beautiful college there is’;

Whereas Miami University is the birthplace of the McGuffey Eclectic Readers written by William Holmes McGuffey, ‘School Master to the Nation’, who wrote and compiled the first 4 Readers while a Miami University faculty member;

Whereas Miami University is cited annually by national college rankings as being one of the Nation’s best values among public universities, and provides the opportunities of a major university while offering the personalized attention found in the best small colleges;

Whereas Miami University is named as one of the ‘Public Ivies’, offering ‘an education comparable to that at Ivy League universities at a fraction of the price’ in the book ‘The Public Ivies: America’s Flagship Universities’;

Whereas Miami University is among a select group of universities in the Nation that have produced a Rhodes Scholar, a Truman Scholar, and a Goldwater Scholar in the same academic year;

Whereas Miami University’s faculty are nationally prominent scholars and artists who contribute to Miami, their own disciplines, and to society by the creation of new knowledge and art;

Whereas Miami University has its own campus in Luxembourg and consistently ranks among the top 25 colleges and universities in the Nation for the number of undergraduate students who study abroad, where more than 35 percent of students study abroad before they graduate;

Whereas in Business Week magazine’s latest ranking of undergraduate business programs, Miami’s Farmer School of Business appears among the Nation’s top 5 percent, ranking 8th among public universities and colleges;

Whereas Miami University has a retention and graduation rate that exceeds the national average for undergraduates, students of color, and athletes, and has the highest graduation rate in Ohio;

Whereas Miami has first-rate facilities, has completed a number of new facilities in recent years, including an engineering building and the Goggin Ice Center, and is currently constructing a new business school facility and planning for a new student center;

Whereas the Miami Student, established in 1826, is the oldest university newspaper in the United States;

Whereas Miami University is known as the ‘Mother of Fraternities’, as it is the Alpha Chapter for 5 national Greek organizations, Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Chi, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Kappa Tau, and the Delta Zeta sorority;

Whereas the University has over 150,000 living alumni who reside in every State of the union and numerous countries throughout the world, where they contribute significantly to their local and global communities;

Whereas Miami University is ranked 7th on the Peace Corps’ Top 25 list for medium-sized schools, with 39 alumni currently serving as volunteers, and since the Peace Corps’ inception in 1961, 809 Miami alumni have joined the ranks, making Miami the No. 44 producer of volunteers for all time;

Whereas Miami University’s alumni have a history of service to the United States, including a President of the United States (The Honorable Benjamin Harrison), 9 United States Senators, including sitting Senator Maria Cantwell (WA), 31 United States Representatives, including sitting Members, Congressman Paul Ryan (WI) and Congressman Steve Driehaus (OH), a Speaker of the House, the parents of a United States First Lady and grandparents of a United States President, 6 governors, 11 United States generals, and 7 United States ministers to foreign governments;

Whereas Miami University’s alumni include 27 college presidents;

Whereas Miami University has enriched our Nation in the arts, humanities, and sciences through students and alumni who have achieved the pillar of their professions such as a United States Poet Laureate, Pulitzer Prize winners, a National Teacher of the Year, National Institute of Health Fellows, National Science Foundation Recipients, National Endowment of the Arts Awardees, and renowned journalists;

Whereas Miami University is known as the ‘Cradle of Coaches’ for the unparalleled number of nationally prominent collegiate and professional coaches it has produced, 18 of whom have been recognized as national ‘Coach of the Year’ including Paul Brown (Cleveland Browns), Walter ‘Smokey’ Alston (Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers), Woody Hayes (Ohio State University), Bo Schembechler (University of Michigan), and Vicki Korn (Miami University);

Whereas Miami University has created a Culture of Champions, an environment that teaches student athletes to excel in their chosen endeavors as distinguished by a National Football League Rookie of the Year, National Football League Super Bowl Champions, National Basketball Association World Champions, National Hockey League Stanley Cup Champions, Major League Baseball World Series Champions, and Olympic gold medalists;

Whereas Miami University has contributed to the economic growth of this country through the education of men and women who have gone on to lead some of our most August corporations such as AT&T, Inc., Proctor & Gamble Co., the J.M. Smucker Company, and United Parcel Service of America; and

Whereas Miami University is the largest employer in Butler County, Ohio, and serves as an economic powerhouse for Southwest Ohio, the State of Ohio, and the Nation with an economic impact of over $1,000,000,000 per year to the State of Ohio: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) congratulates Miami University on the momentous occasion of its 200th anniversary, and expresses its best wishes for continued success;

(2) recognizes Miami’s profound achievements and unwavering commitment to liberal arts education and the active engagement of its students in both curricular and co-curricular life that has continually attracted and produced some of the Nation’s brightest faculty, staff, and students; and

(3) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make available enrolled copies of this resolution to Miami University for appropriate display.

makes me think

After seeing "He's Just Not That Into You" which completely blew my mind about certain aspects of relationships (or lack there of), I found this picture on PostSecret at exactly the right time.

From the time we're little, our girlfriends, mothers, and other female figures in our lives give guys excuses. They tell us that guys act like assholes for an endless amount of reasons. They tell us stories about women who were dating jerks, but then the jerks changed and turned into the perfect man for them.

The moral of "He's Just Not That Into You"? Those woman are the exception. 99% of us are actually the rule - the women that men don't change for.

Last week started out with one of the biggest rejections I've ever gotten. Valentine's Day came and went, but I survived. I actually more than survived, and thought I had a really fabulous weekend. But sometimes I think my emotions and feelings cover up what's really going on.

It's not that I want anyone to change for me. I would never. My theory is that if a guy isn't right for me to begin with, why would I try to change in to be better?

I just wish someone cared about me as much as I care about myself, and as much as I know I deserve to be cared about.

I am SO the rule right now.

insha'allah

Spring Break Plans
*****************
3/5: Green Beer Day, Oxford Ohio (OBVI)
3/6: Fly out to Phoenix
3/6-3/15(ish): Road trippin' with Nura (and possibly KZim and Uyen) through the wilds of Arizona to the Grand Canyon and to Vegas
3/15: Back to Oxford for the 2nd half of my last semester.

Ballin'.

the relevance of the republican party

In my Great Depression class the other day, my professor mentioned that the extreme recession we went through ruined the Republican party. Since the 1930s, the Democratic party has had the majority rule for most of the years.

The basic platform of the Republican party is small government. I'm not talking about the neo-conservative obsession with guns, unborn babies, and Since it was started, several industries and markets have emerged (specifically, health care and education) that are not self-correcting or socially maximizing. Our economy has grown to the point where it has gone spiraling out of control - thus the financial crisis we're experiencing now. Small government was attractive before the 1930's because politicians during that time were bad, bad men, and giving them more power and money was a dangerous move. Politicians are still corrupt, but they are nothing compared to the scumbags who gave tax-payer money to the Mob in the 1920's.

So here's my question. Is the original version of the Republican party and its small-government platform relevant today?

echo chamber

Recently, an acquaintance of mine wrote a Facebook note where he ranted about how Americans who want "free health care" (not "affordable" or "universal" health care) are grabby, selfish and needy. He calls us demanding and whiny for wanting the government to fix a problem we've created ourselves (implying that all health problems stem from the bad decisions we make in our diet and from smoking and drinking). He tagged several of his friends in the note (excluding me - SHOCKING), and it has sparked some debate in the comments below between liberals and conservatives alike.

I don't claim to be an expert on the subject of health care. It's actually a pet peeve of mine when people speak loudly about things they actually know nothing about. I do lean a little to the left (HA), but I know the implications of lowering the cost of health care - specifically, it might mean lowering the quality of health care due to the lowered incentives from the smaller salaries doctors receive. I'd like to believe, however, that doctors aren't just in it for the salary, and would continue to be just as effective in their work and would do their best to care for the influx of demand that would come from the lowered price.

But, our health care system isn't the point of this blog entry. The point is, the internet is a huge place. According to a count by Netcraft in February 2007, there were 29.7 billion websites. It has since only grown. When you open Firefox, Safari, or whatever your browser of choice is, you have countless options of blogs, news sources, and other such pages to get your information. I don't think it's a stretch to say that most people limit their perusing to their interests and political leanings. For example, I check my news at such places as CNN, BBC, and NYTimes. I check updates on the blogs of my friends, and those I have found that are interesting and agreeable to me. I imagine that most of the people who check my blog either agree with most of the things I say, or like me enough to not send me hate mail for the things I write.

I chatted about this with my roommate Kellyn, who said that one of her professors spoke about this exact topic not long ago. For most people, the internet becomes their very own echo chamber. The only thing they pay attention to are those which are pertinent to their interests, values. They don't feel alone, because they can find thousands of websites that agree with whatever fantasy of a believe they have. Like conspiracy theories? There are probably hundreds of other people who dance by the beat of your drum. My acquaintance, who wrote the Facebook note about health care was throwing his voice into his own little echo chamber.

Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. Every so often I peruse Facebook groups which I find ridiculous, appauling, and downright silly. Really? A Million Strong for Creationism? I mean...Okay? Usually, these groups just end up making me angry and I stop before I lose complete faith in humanity.

The point is, people are putting information and opinions online every second. At the same time, people are looking up information and opinions that reflect their own. This will continue as long as the internet exists. How can we teach people to diversify themselves by choice, open up their minds, and their web travel options?

twitter gets weirder and weirder

I started following The Onion on twitter. A couple hours later, I get this message in my inbox from The Onion (via direct message from Twitter):


i suppose we should thank u for following us, but do the gods thank man for his dutiful sacrifices? we're watching you.

outstanding

Hi, caitieofohio (caitieofohio).

Dalai Lama (OHHDL) is now following your updates on Twitter.

Check out Dalai Lama's profile here:
http://twitter.com/OHHDL


Best,
Twitter

rejoice!

A good thing has come from the economic downturn - Juicy Campus is officially closed due to lack of funding! Our awful economy has ended what people have been trying to kill for months. I cannot express how excited I am about this. Countless lives and reputations will be saved from the horrendous gossip and lies that were spread. Easy girls and womanizers are celebrating everywhere tonight - one can only begin to imagine how - as their debauchery cannot be documented on popular forums any longer. Below is the final letter from the founders:

JUICYCAMPUS COMES TO AN END

Open Letter From JuicyCampus Founder

Juicy Campers,

What a wild ride this has been! In the past year and a half, JuicyCampus has become synonymous with college gossip, and is more popular than I could have ever expected. We’ve expanded to more than 500 campuses across the US, and have more than a million unique visitors coming to the site every month. It’s clear that we have provided a platform that students have found interesting, entertaining, and fun.

Unfortunately, even with great traffic and strong user loyalty, a business can’t survive and grow without a steady stream of revenue to support it. In these historically difficult economic times, online ad revenue has plummeted and venture capital funding has dissolved. JuicyCampus’ exponential growth outpaced our ability to muster the resources needed to survive this economic downturn, and as a result, we are closing down the site as of Feb. 5, 2009.

On behalf of everyone here at JuicyCampus, I would like to thank all of our users for reading, contributing to, and telling your friends about the site. And I’d like to thank everyone who has engaged in meaningful discussion about online privacy and internet censorship. JuicyCampus has raised issues that have passionate advocates on both sides, and I hope that dialogue will continue. While there are parts of JuicyCampus that none of us will miss – the mean-spirited posts and personal attacks – it has also been a place for the fun, lighthearted gossip of college life. I hope that is how it is remembered.

Keep it Juicy

gender confusion and elitism

As an Quantitative Econ major, it has been noted before that most of my classes are predominantly male. At a school where the female to male ratio is a hefty 5:3, this is a welcome statistic. I have had a couple classes where I am literally the only girl in the room - i.e. Mathematical Economics, Fall 2008. This particular class became very close knit as we spent countless hours at the library struggling through problem sets and studying for Professor Miller's mysterious exams. All these guys are now taking Industrial Organization with Gupta - and there are no girls in the class. I would register, but I took the course a year ago.

This semester I'm taking an Environmental Econ class. Though it's interesting, I find myself longing for the challenge I've had with other classes. We've spent a week talking about rivalrous and non-rivalrous, excludable and non-excludable goods, and the implications of these. Professor Elliott spent an hour telling us hilarious stories about his roommates from college at University of Wyoming in order to explain externalities. Now, I'm not complaining about the fact that this class will probably be an easy A. I have a feeling that down the road, what I will be complaining about is the Environmental Studies majors in the class (mostly female - SHOCKING) who will inevitably be making ridiculous comments as the semester progresses.

The other day, we got our group assignments for the project we have due at the end of the semester. I started at the screen in awe as I found my name and read the others near it. My friend Alex (male), me, and 3 other girls. I think part of the shock was that I have not worked with girls since I've decided to become an Econ major. Such a thing just doesn't exist.

I went to my next class, Regression Analysis, and sat down next to my Econ buddy Dave. After I listened to him in his daily complaint about how he'll never get into grad school and assured him that yes, he would, I said something that I wish I could take back a moment later.

"We got our environmental econ project groups today. Alex is the only other guy besides me in the group"

Dave stared at me, then asked if I recognized my own gender confusion. I guess being surrounded by guys in all of my classes led to this. I've always been considered to be "one of the guys" in the econ department - maybe a less awkward version of one - but this was just getting ridiculous.

I should mention another thing I've been noticing about Econ majors - we're very elitist. Even though we are housed in the Business School, we know we're so much better. Our curriculum and incredible selection of professors makes us the 9th best Econ department in the country. We chuckle as we listen to our friends moan about the difficult Introductory Micro and Macro classes, assuring them that "Econ isn't for everyone" and recalling that we easily coasted by with A's. Consequently, these were the last A's we received in our major, as the upper level classes left us longing for our high school GPAs. It's difficult to wipe the goofy smiles off our faces as we rave about professors like Miller, Hart, Brock, and countless others - other departments would kill for expertise like theirs. Yes, we're elitist. But we have a right to be.

natalie dee

nataliedee.com