APRIL 15, 2008
The
MAINSHEET
PAGE 3
OPINION
Asking too much or not enough?
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Editor-in-Chief: Samantha Levitan
To the editor:
The cartoon in the 4/8 MainSheet
depicting Hillary Clinton as a dominatrix
is neither funny nor instructive.
In fact, it is an insulting and offensive
depiction of ambitious women (such as
those who attend 4 C’s) as domineering,
threatening, devils.
To the editor:
I have read that political cartoons are,
for the most part, composed of caricature
and allusion.
If this is the case in the Main Sheet’s
April 8 cartoon, what is the allusion?
Freud said that all men suffer castration
anxiety, so perhaps this anxiety is the
basis of the allusion.
It is 2008. The world is consumed
by violence and threatened by deep
economic recession and permanent
ecological damage.
To the editor:
As a woman and a voter, I am offended
by the “political” cartoon in Tuesday’s
Mainsheet.
Political cartoons can serve excellent
purposes in shaping the audience’s
thoughts and opinions, and such cartoons
can certainly be pointed and direct in the
process.
However, depicting the only woman
candidate for President as a dominatrix in
the costume of a devil and/or as a powerful
man in female form does nothing to
address the issues in the presidential race
Should 4C’s intelligent and assertive
female students drop out now before they
too risk becoming the butt of stereotypical,
shallow “jokes?”
Just imagine… if someone such as
Senator Clinton had been president for the
past eight years, the US might not now be
embroiled in a disgraceful, horrific war,
not to mention a recession.
~Patricia McGraw
It is highly offensive and discouraging
to think we haven’t moved beyond the
primal fear that a woman in the highest
political office will emasculate men.
This is a concept from the early and
relatively dark days of the 20th century,
before women’s and minority rights to
vote were guaranteed by law.
I am solidly behind Freedom of the Press,
but please turn the lights on and focus the
powerful energy of the cartoon on the
many real issues at stake today.
~Cindy Pavlos
and everything to reinforce the unpleasant
gender stereotypes that still plague women
and men.
The issues should guide the voters;
this cartoon fails to acknowledge that,
focusing entirely on the genders of the
two Democratic candidates.
People should not vote against Hillary
Clinton simply because she’s a woman
any more than they should vote for her
simply because she’s a woman.
Dimitri Ivanov is a talented cartoonist
whose skills could have been put to much
better use.
~Sally Polito
The Selective Memory
Within the last two years, our college’s
mission statement was updated to
reflect the fact that, upon graduation
or completion of courses, Cape Cod
Community College students will be
going to work in an economy that is
becoming increasingly globalized.
Whether
or
not
a
student’s
future employment is on Cape Cod or
in lands far away, co-workers will come
from diverse backgrounds with varied
cultures and abilities.
Their ultimate common ground is that
of a need to sustain the resources of our
world.
To further expand on what students
should get out of a CCCC education, the
college meeting also recently voted to
adopt a policy that every class considered
to be general education will satisfy at
least four out of six institutional student
learning outcomes (ISLOs).
The six ISLOs are communication
skills, critical and creative thinking skills,
ethical and civic engagement practices,
multi-cultural and global awareness,
quantitative and computational skills, and
technological literacy.
In keeping with the spirit of our school’s
mission statement, the ISLOs and concepts
of proactive leadership, the Student
Senate recently drafted a motion that “all
CCCC student clubs and organizations
(that receive funding from the Senate)
must perform or participate in a minimum
of one community service project or civil
engagement during the academic year for
which funding is allocated toward that
club or organization’s use.”
It makes sense that we need to practice
what we preach. Many of the concepts
discussed in academia are not often
followed through in the real world.
If the ISLOs, especially the two dealing
with multi-culture and ethical and civic
engagement, are to become more than
just words on a syllabus, they need to be
practiced.
Club period is the ideal period for the
student body to practice what we learn. It
is the only time during the week set aside
for students to interact.
But should a club’s annual budget be
based on whether the club does community
service or practices some form of civil
engagement? Sure it should.
Annually,
the
Senate
allocates
approximately $47,000 to between fifteen
and twenty student groups.
Some groups, like the radio station,
already incorporate public service into
their schedule. It is required by the FCC.
The Rotaract club is affiliated with
Rotary International and “service beyond
self” is the club’s credo.
Most groups are already doing this.
Most of those groups are doing it for the
price of just a little sweat equity.
Collecting sweaters for the homeless
or cell phones for soldiers cost nothing.
However, the results of the acts are
priceless.
CORRECTIONS:
In the April 8 edition due to an editing error the stories of Shahla Assad and the debate
tournament were not credited to the reporter, Samantha Levitan.
In the review of “Enchanted April,” the actors names were incorrect due to a reporting
error. The role of Caroline Bramble was played by Kaitlin Varkado and Sylvie Horn was
the understudy. Rose Arnott was played by Theresa Cedrone and Tess Wilfong was the
understudy. In addition, there was no performance on April 10 and the ticket price was
$8 for the general public and $5 for students and seniors.
“You can’t let praise or criticism get to you. It’s
a weakness to get caught up in either one.”
We regret any confusion these mistakes may have caused.
~John Wooden
QUESTION
Stephen Haugh, a MainSheet reporter and business manager, is also
the Cape Cod Community College student trustee.
OF THE WEEK
by Samantha Levitan
What’s one of your favorite childhood memories?
Ashley Bearse
Anne Marie McDermott
Tom Sands
Christy Sharp
“Playing on the playground with my
friends. My favorite was the tire swing
and the slide”
“The Christmas after my parents split
up and my brother got me the stuffed
animal I wanted.”
“My first trip to Fenway Park with my
dad and grandfather. The seats where
between the plate and the dugout.”
“Going to West Dennis Beach and
staying in the water the whole time.”