Victoria Atencio
Blog #8
Cnn.com reports on an issue facing students at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania that deals with graduation requirements. The school has implemented a new rule that states students must pass a BMI (body mass index) test in order to place out of a fitness test at the university. Students who have a BMI of 30 or above are categorized as obese and are required to take a fitness course that meets three hours per week. Those who fall into this category but do not complete the course cannot graduate. BMI as well as measure of muscle mass and waist circumference are also measured to depict accurate readings.
This form of social control is taken to such a personal level that it becomes a form of control that physically controls your future. I find it hard to believe that a university has this type of control over their students because this class has no relation to the desired degrees students work hard to achieve and yet they are held accountable for this course. I find it hard to agree with a policy that discriminates a select group of students whom society, in this case the university, has chosen to label as obese. Passing judgment on students who fall within a certain numbered category is only the beginning of control the university is beginning to exploit. If today students who are considered to be obese are refused their earned diploma, who is to say in the future what discriminating factors will be implemented by collegiate officials. It is as if a cage has been built up by the school and is used to control who is allowed in and to control how a person is supposed to look when they walk out. Of course there are two sides to every story and although I do agree with the university that implementing a fitness class will benefit the health and well being of the students, I do not agree with the fact that students are discriminated in front of the student body and are denied their rights to receive their earned diploma.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/11/30/lincoln.fitness.overweight/index.html
Monday, November 30, 2009
Arkansas Cop Who Used Stun Gun on Girl, 10, Fired
Kyle Eden
Blog #5
Soc 313
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,578185,00.html
This article is interesting because the Officer asked for permission from the girls mother if he could use the taser on the 10-year-old girl. The officer was not fired for using the taser on the girl but he was fired because he failed to use the camera that is attached to the taser. I think that the social control in this situation is the camera on the taser. The camera controls the officer completely. By him not using the camera the officers actions are not recorded and Police department is monitoring the officers actions through video so they can both watch to see if the officer is acting correctly and to also have material to use when they are sued for misuse of the taser. The officer is now being watched now in his car and taser and being recorded by those instruments and the tape recorded the officer is supposed to use.
Blog #5
Soc 313
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,578185,00.html
This article is interesting because the Officer asked for permission from the girls mother if he could use the taser on the 10-year-old girl. The officer was not fired for using the taser on the girl but he was fired because he failed to use the camera that is attached to the taser. I think that the social control in this situation is the camera on the taser. The camera controls the officer completely. By him not using the camera the officers actions are not recorded and Police department is monitoring the officers actions through video so they can both watch to see if the officer is acting correctly and to also have material to use when they are sued for misuse of the taser. The officer is now being watched now in his car and taser and being recorded by those instruments and the tape recorded the officer is supposed to use.
Police and Suspected Gunman in Standoff
Kyle Eden
Blog #4
Soc 313
http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/11/30/washington-state-cops-murdered/
In this article it talks briefly about the man who shot the four police officers in Washington. I think this article shows social control and how it failed. I know that people have their issues with prisons and rehabilitation is the better way but in today's day and age we deal with prisons and there is a reason why this person should have served his entire sentence of 60 years in prison. He was not an individual that should have been let out of jail obviously. He was a person who committed more crimes once out of prison and he committed horrible crimes. He raped a child and murdered police officers. I believe that rehabilitation is a great thing and should be used more but we have social control and it failed by letting this person out of jail. We failed to keep him in jail and now a child is raped and four families have lost loved ones. He should have never been let out of jail.
Blog #4
Soc 313
http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/11/30/washington-state-cops-murdered/
In this article it talks briefly about the man who shot the four police officers in Washington. I think this article shows social control and how it failed. I know that people have their issues with prisons and rehabilitation is the better way but in today's day and age we deal with prisons and there is a reason why this person should have served his entire sentence of 60 years in prison. He was not an individual that should have been let out of jail obviously. He was a person who committed more crimes once out of prison and he committed horrible crimes. He raped a child and murdered police officers. I believe that rehabilitation is a great thing and should be used more but we have social control and it failed by letting this person out of jail. We failed to keep him in jail and now a child is raped and four families have lost loved ones. He should have never been let out of jail.
3 Boys Arrested for California 'Kick a Ginger Day' Attacks
Kyle Eden
Blog #3
Soc 313
In this article it talks about how 3 boys were arrested for attacks that occurred in a middle school in California. Two of the three boys were arrested for suspicion of misdemeanor battery and the other was arrested for misdemeanor cyberbullying. This article is a good example of social control because these students got the idea of bullying red heads on a facebook message. They also got this idea from South Park the TV show. I think that it is interesting how kids this age are using communication systems like facebook to communicate ideas that they get from a TV show. First why are kids this young on these websites. I think that these websites like facebook should be meant for adults an not children. But because of the show that they love to watch they thought it was a good idea to act in the manner of bullying "gingers". The other control is the police found this on facebook and now are charged with cyberbullying. It is interesting how sites like facebook are being used to fight crime.
Blog #3
Soc 313
In this article it talks about how 3 boys were arrested for attacks that occurred in a middle school in California. Two of the three boys were arrested for suspicion of misdemeanor battery and the other was arrested for misdemeanor cyberbullying. This article is a good example of social control because these students got the idea of bullying red heads on a facebook message. They also got this idea from South Park the TV show. I think that it is interesting how kids this age are using communication systems like facebook to communicate ideas that they get from a TV show. First why are kids this young on these websites. I think that these websites like facebook should be meant for adults an not children. But because of the show that they love to watch they thought it was a good idea to act in the manner of bullying "gingers". The other control is the police found this on facebook and now are charged with cyberbullying. It is interesting how sites like facebook are being used to fight crime.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Man Finds Lost Phone, Asks for Date
Victoria Atencio
Blog #6
I found this article on CNN.com concerning a woman who was being stalked using her old cell phone which she lost. The woman who lost her phone on November 1st soon replaced her missing phone and re-directed her old number to the new phone. She was caught off guard when she began receiving messages from her old phone. The man, 32 year old Randy Wilgues repeatedly sent text messages to the woman telling her to meet up with him in order to get her old phone back. After repeated attempts to tell the man to leave her alone the victim finally contacted police who set up an operation to catch the alleged stalker. Sheriff Deputies were on hand to arrest Wilgues once the victim received her phone back. The suspect now faces charges that include receiving stolen property, menacing by stalking and resisting arrest.
This relates to social control because we now live in a time where people can not only stalk someone in person but by using technology. Electronics can be used for good to save lives by calling 911 in an emergency or they can be the root of fear as seen in this scenario. The suspect was attempting to control the actions of the victim by using her own cell phone. This illustrates the dangers that are involved with the ever increasing knowledge of technology. As we discussed in class this is a form of surveillance because the suspect was able to retrieve all of the women’s information by monitoring the use of her cell phone.
http://www.fox8.com/news/wjw-cell-phone-textharassment-txt,0,797184.story
Blog #6
I found this article on CNN.com concerning a woman who was being stalked using her old cell phone which she lost. The woman who lost her phone on November 1st soon replaced her missing phone and re-directed her old number to the new phone. She was caught off guard when she began receiving messages from her old phone. The man, 32 year old Randy Wilgues repeatedly sent text messages to the woman telling her to meet up with him in order to get her old phone back. After repeated attempts to tell the man to leave her alone the victim finally contacted police who set up an operation to catch the alleged stalker. Sheriff Deputies were on hand to arrest Wilgues once the victim received her phone back. The suspect now faces charges that include receiving stolen property, menacing by stalking and resisting arrest.
This relates to social control because we now live in a time where people can not only stalk someone in person but by using technology. Electronics can be used for good to save lives by calling 911 in an emergency or they can be the root of fear as seen in this scenario. The suspect was attempting to control the actions of the victim by using her own cell phone. This illustrates the dangers that are involved with the ever increasing knowledge of technology. As we discussed in class this is a form of surveillance because the suspect was able to retrieve all of the women’s information by monitoring the use of her cell phone.
http://www.fox8.com/news/wjw-cell-phone-textharassment-txt,0,797184.story
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Leaked climate E-mails distraction
Andrew Young
I found my article on ABC.com. With an upcoming meeting in Copenhagen about climate control for the United Nations, a controversy has began with a smear campaign, and it has leaked out data from global warming scientists. Apparently unknown hackers broke into Britain's University and sent out emails with new data about global warming. The hackers were sending messages to top climate specialists on how to address the recent data showing the warming leveling off. One senator states that these hackers were trying to overstate the new data. More on this is that Global warming has stopped for now and the problem is that scientist don't have science data anymore to state global warming, only to say its happening, and to lie about the data. This i believe is social control for a few reasons. First, a handful of scientist have the data to global warming and they keep it from the world, only spilling out ideas of maybe it is bad or not. Another is if global warming is getting bad, and scientists are trying to tell use something, they cant because the governments of the united nations have to see it first, and they wouldn't tell us if they wanted too. This all seems like some big cover up or mistake, either way people are watching our emails and making sure its all going one way.
I found my article on ABC.com. With an upcoming meeting in Copenhagen about climate control for the United Nations, a controversy has began with a smear campaign, and it has leaked out data from global warming scientists. Apparently unknown hackers broke into Britain's University and sent out emails with new data about global warming. The hackers were sending messages to top climate specialists on how to address the recent data showing the warming leveling off. One senator states that these hackers were trying to overstate the new data. More on this is that Global warming has stopped for now and the problem is that scientist don't have science data anymore to state global warming, only to say its happening, and to lie about the data. This i believe is social control for a few reasons. First, a handful of scientist have the data to global warming and they keep it from the world, only spilling out ideas of maybe it is bad or not. Another is if global warming is getting bad, and scientists are trying to tell use something, they cant because the governments of the united nations have to see it first, and they wouldn't tell us if they wanted too. This all seems like some big cover up or mistake, either way people are watching our emails and making sure its all going one way.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Facebook may have led to beating of 12 yr old
Andrew Young
I found my article on CNN.com. The article states that a 12 year old boy was led to have been beaten up because of a Facebook post. It was in southern California, and police believe that the boy was attacked because people posted a Ginger Day" on Facebook, and that the attacks and beatings could have been two separate accounts. The boy was harassed by a gang of seventh and eight graders at A.E Wright middle school. Police say that this could all be because of TV shows like south park, only that the post was up on Facebook. The boy was not seriously hurt. I believe this shows social control of the people. The social networks we have now bring tons of people close together and can relay massages quickly. People also take what others are posting and talking about and seriously follow them, young children for one should not be on Myspace and Facebook, which by the way was originally meant for college students. Because of one person maybe being funny or serious, other people and children are being attacked and beaten for what they look like. This also shows that anybody can tamper with our social networks and put anything. Its nice to have that freedom, but we need to watch what we say.
I found my article on CNN.com. The article states that a 12 year old boy was led to have been beaten up because of a Facebook post. It was in southern California, and police believe that the boy was attacked because people posted a Ginger Day" on Facebook, and that the attacks and beatings could have been two separate accounts. The boy was harassed by a gang of seventh and eight graders at A.E Wright middle school. Police say that this could all be because of TV shows like south park, only that the post was up on Facebook. The boy was not seriously hurt. I believe this shows social control of the people. The social networks we have now bring tons of people close together and can relay massages quickly. People also take what others are posting and talking about and seriously follow them, young children for one should not be on Myspace and Facebook, which by the way was originally meant for college students. Because of one person maybe being funny or serious, other people and children are being attacked and beaten for what they look like. This also shows that anybody can tamper with our social networks and put anything. Its nice to have that freedom, but we need to watch what we say.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
College Requires Heavy Students to Take Fitness Class to Graduate
Ashley Villanueva
Blog #8
This article was taken from usatoday.com. Students at Lincoln University are required to take a fitness course if they are overweight in order to graduate. This is a University that is predominantly African American and the officials from that school say they are concerned with the high numbers of obesity and diabetes. The first class this requirement went into affect was for the freshman entering in fall 2006. Students must have their body mass index taken and anyone who is in the range of obese must take this class to get their degree. In this class they do various things to improve their health like walking, aerobics, weight training as well as talk about nutrition, sleep and stress. Many of the seniors are now realizing that they only have the spring left in order to fulfill this requirement and are not very happy with this.
I see this as an example of social control because the University is trying to control the way the students look. They have statistics that say their students are highly over weight compared to other schools and they are trying to change this by requiring this fitness class. It’s not just required for all students but for the ones overweight which singles them out. I think it’s a good idea they are trying to get their students to lead a healthier lifestyle but I don’t believe this is the right way to do it. If they are going to require this class it should be required for all the students or made an option for all the students.
Blog #8
This article was taken from usatoday.com. Students at Lincoln University are required to take a fitness course if they are overweight in order to graduate. This is a University that is predominantly African American and the officials from that school say they are concerned with the high numbers of obesity and diabetes. The first class this requirement went into affect was for the freshman entering in fall 2006. Students must have their body mass index taken and anyone who is in the range of obese must take this class to get their degree. In this class they do various things to improve their health like walking, aerobics, weight training as well as talk about nutrition, sleep and stress. Many of the seniors are now realizing that they only have the spring left in order to fulfill this requirement and are not very happy with this.
I see this as an example of social control because the University is trying to control the way the students look. They have statistics that say their students are highly over weight compared to other schools and they are trying to change this by requiring this fitness class. It’s not just required for all students but for the ones overweight which singles them out. I think it’s a good idea they are trying to get their students to lead a healthier lifestyle but I don’t believe this is the right way to do it. If they are going to require this class it should be required for all the students or made an option for all the students.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
State Employees and Furlough
By Matthew Spinks
Albuquerque Journal- “State employees will be required to take 5 furlough days within the up and coming year…As Governor Richardson decided, this was the best course of action”. As many people know, our state is facing a deficit upwards of 500 million dollars and with the decision of one single man, thousands of families will be forced to deal with the upcoming monetary issues without having any say on the issue. Many people know that State representatives were able to participate and weigh in on the issue of the deficit, yet no state employees on the clerical or even somewhat administrative officials were unable to weigh in on their opinions of the issue. The financial issue was pawned off on low level employees whilst the governor refused to remove “107 appointed employees” who all serve in the upper echelon of state run agencies, and knowing that these positions were debatably “Unnecessary” the factor of their six figure pay hardly came into question. According to the article, the governor “refused to be moved on the issue as he argued they were all necessary”. Obviously there is something wrong when a person can be forced into going without pay, and it becomes even worse when employees who make the agencies run have absolutely no say on the issues. It is direct social control and unfortunately there is little or nothing to do against it, as is the case in many recent social issues. Along with these debatable issues, the journal also cited the ratios of employees to administration in an attempt to further the argument, but there is no evidence that this ratio affects the problem.
Super Flu Control
By Matthew Spinks
The article I recently read in the Decemeber 2009 edition of Dicovery Magazine,stats that contrary to the populatirty of the H1N1 virus, decided to discuss the regular flu virus and the factors that contribute to its vaccination. As many people know, different viral strains spring up almost every few months, and although many have tried, these mutations are still relatively unexplainable. Some become resistant to certain earthly factors, and some are just reproducing, but how do we manage to control these new viruses? Well, as you may or may not know, many of the original strains of certain viruses are owned by different medical centers around the world. Now, when these viruses spread, they are free to whomever catches them, but when they are contained they are held under certain legal restrictions by different countries for both testing and observation. This may not seem like a big deal, but when looking at a much larger picture, that means that only one place (usually in the entire world unless you can coax these places with political negotiations) with the means to supply a vaccine to a possible world pandemic. Formally, these facilities hold the possibility of life or death within their grasp and are free to exercise eminent domain of such horrors at their own free will. It is arguable that with proper management and care, these issues are irrelevant, but should a time come when we are at war with a nation (for example Russia) and they decide to release a horrific strain of smallpox (as this is the only country [as far as it is known] with a living sample of Smallpox). They could manipulate any competitors to their will with just a simple threat of unleashing it upon a society, and governments would be forced to comply to avoid such a biological catastrophe. So, in closing, this article just discussed the control of viruses, how costly some viruses are, and hypothetical scenarios and conflict controls of such viruses can cause.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Three more arrests in alleged gang rape
Araceli Amor
Who are the Taliban?
Araceli Amor
I found this article in the New York TImes. It was written by Sabrina Tavernis. This article talks about the a small village named Gojra in Pakistan that was bombed on August fourth. The village was bombed by some kind of insurgent group but the people of the village think it was the Taliban. The problem with this is that the Taliban had nothing to do with it. Smaller groups are forming and they are taking over differnt parts of this already torn land. There are so many different insurgent groups popping up the United States can no longer keep track of them. We keep getting reports that we are making progress and that our troops will be pulling out soon but we don't eve know who we are fighting any more. This is social control at its finest we have troops fighting the bad guy but we can't even tell who the bad guy is anymore. The Media is telling us only what we want to here about this war and the government is trying to cover it up as much as possible.
I found this article in the New York TImes. It was written by Sabrina Tavernis. This article talks about the a small village named Gojra in Pakistan that was bombed on August fourth. The village was bombed by some kind of insurgent group but the people of the village think it was the Taliban. The problem with this is that the Taliban had nothing to do with it. Smaller groups are forming and they are taking over differnt parts of this already torn land. There are so many different insurgent groups popping up the United States can no longer keep track of them. We keep getting reports that we are making progress and that our troops will be pulling out soon but we don't eve know who we are fighting any more. This is social control at its finest we have troops fighting the bad guy but we can't even tell who the bad guy is anymore. The Media is telling us only what we want to here about this war and the government is trying to cover it up as much as possible.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Pennsylvania Union Leader Criticized for Threatening Legal Action Over Boy Scout's Volunteerism
Victoria Atencio
Post #6
While reading the Fox News website I came across an article concerning a Pennsylvania union leader who has recently been put under scrutiny for threatening to file legal action against the city of Allentown, Pennsylvania. The threat is a result of volunteer works that was done by an aspiring Eagle Scout who wanted to create a clear walking path in a park as a project for earning his Eagle Scout badge. The president of the Service Employees International Union’s Allentown chapter, Nick Balzano, states that the union may file a grievance against the city due to the actions of the 17 year old. Their argument was that the now cleared pathway was intended to pay approximately 39 laid-off union members to perform the work.
The threat of filing a grievance against the city as a result of humanitarian work performed by the youth in this community is a form of social control because the union in this case is attempting to control the actions of volunteers in the community for personal reasons. I understand that the state of the economy and finding a job is hard to come by but attempting to punish a teenager for volunteering is an unacceptable form of control. In no way was this 17 year old causing deviance or contributing to social disorder which would be acceptable reasons for implementing control over the situation. In a generation which typically places a negative stereotype on teenagers it is important to encourage the importance of volunteering rather than discourage these actions through a form of control that discourages volunteer opportunities.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,575650,00.html?sPage=fnc/us/crime
Post #6
While reading the Fox News website I came across an article concerning a Pennsylvania union leader who has recently been put under scrutiny for threatening to file legal action against the city of Allentown, Pennsylvania. The threat is a result of volunteer works that was done by an aspiring Eagle Scout who wanted to create a clear walking path in a park as a project for earning his Eagle Scout badge. The president of the Service Employees International Union’s Allentown chapter, Nick Balzano, states that the union may file a grievance against the city due to the actions of the 17 year old. Their argument was that the now cleared pathway was intended to pay approximately 39 laid-off union members to perform the work.
The threat of filing a grievance against the city as a result of humanitarian work performed by the youth in this community is a form of social control because the union in this case is attempting to control the actions of volunteers in the community for personal reasons. I understand that the state of the economy and finding a job is hard to come by but attempting to punish a teenager for volunteering is an unacceptable form of control. In no way was this 17 year old causing deviance or contributing to social disorder which would be acceptable reasons for implementing control over the situation. In a generation which typically places a negative stereotype on teenagers it is important to encourage the importance of volunteering rather than discourage these actions through a form of control that discourages volunteer opportunities.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,575650,00.html?sPage=fnc/us/crime
10-year-old is tasered by officer in Arkansas
Victoria Atencio
Post #5
The article that I found on the MSNBC website was about a ten year old girl being tasered by police in Ozark, Arkansas. The incident, which was a result of the girl being sent to a youth shelter, occurred after her mother had called police at which point the officer report explains that when the officer arrived on scene the girl was found on the floor crying and screaming. After refusing to follow the instructions given by her mother the mothers told the officer to use his taser gun on the young girl. The officer then proceeded to carry the young girl into the living room at which point she began kicking officer Bradshaw striking him in the groin with her legs and feet. These actions resulted in Brashsaw briefly stunning the girl with his taser followed by taking her to her destined location.
The actions administered by the officer in this case were taken to an extreme to the point of using excessive and possibly dangerous force on a child. The amount of control exerted by the officer demonstrates unnecessary reminders of the control uniformed officers have on society. Of course there are situations in which taser guns are extremely important in order to protect officers such as stunning individuals who pose a threat to the officer’s life yet the manner in which the taser was used in this particular case was an unnecessary form of control. A ten year old girl throwing a fit should not be administered bolts of electricity through her body as the solitary means of control. The article quotes the officer who administered a “very, very brief” stun with the taser yet they do not define the term brief and as a result begs the question as to what lengths officials will go in order to control any inconvenient form of disorder. If shocking a ten year old girl with a taser gun is deemed ok by society then who is to say that shocking a nine year old child is acceptable so long as the slightest amount of deviance is carried out by the child.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34014497/ns/us_news-life/
Post #5
The article that I found on the MSNBC website was about a ten year old girl being tasered by police in Ozark, Arkansas. The incident, which was a result of the girl being sent to a youth shelter, occurred after her mother had called police at which point the officer report explains that when the officer arrived on scene the girl was found on the floor crying and screaming. After refusing to follow the instructions given by her mother the mothers told the officer to use his taser gun on the young girl. The officer then proceeded to carry the young girl into the living room at which point she began kicking officer Bradshaw striking him in the groin with her legs and feet. These actions resulted in Brashsaw briefly stunning the girl with his taser followed by taking her to her destined location.
The actions administered by the officer in this case were taken to an extreme to the point of using excessive and possibly dangerous force on a child. The amount of control exerted by the officer demonstrates unnecessary reminders of the control uniformed officers have on society. Of course there are situations in which taser guns are extremely important in order to protect officers such as stunning individuals who pose a threat to the officer’s life yet the manner in which the taser was used in this particular case was an unnecessary form of control. A ten year old girl throwing a fit should not be administered bolts of electricity through her body as the solitary means of control. The article quotes the officer who administered a “very, very brief” stun with the taser yet they do not define the term brief and as a result begs the question as to what lengths officials will go in order to control any inconvenient form of disorder. If shocking a ten year old girl with a taser gun is deemed ok by society then who is to say that shocking a nine year old child is acceptable so long as the slightest amount of deviance is carried out by the child.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34014497/ns/us_news-life/
Students drink more and more often if living in coed dorms
Ashley Villanueva
Blog #7
This article was taken from usatoday.com. A new study found that when compared to single sex college dorms, students living in coed dorms are more likely to drink alcohol on a regular basis. It also found that they are two and a half times more likely to drink to excess every week. More recently, dorms have become coed and only about 10% of dorms are still single sex. In this study 510 students were surveyed that lived on five different campuses. Out of these students 87% lived in coed dorms. The students living in coed dorms were more likely to say they drink alcohol at least once a week and excessively. Forty one percent said they binge drink compared to seventeen percent in single sex dorms. This coincides with another study done by the Harvard School of Public Health that found that 44% of students attending a four year college binge drink.
This is an example of social control because the environments these students are in are controlling their behavior. The environment of living in a coed dorm has fueled their need to drink more. I think this is because they want to fit in with the other people and drinking will help them to be more social. Many people meet each other and college parties and the majority of them are drinking. It’s the pressure of being liked and “cool” that controls these students to drink in order to do this. In single sex dorms there isn’t as much pressure to meet someone so there isn’t as much drinking.
Blog #7
This article was taken from usatoday.com. A new study found that when compared to single sex college dorms, students living in coed dorms are more likely to drink alcohol on a regular basis. It also found that they are two and a half times more likely to drink to excess every week. More recently, dorms have become coed and only about 10% of dorms are still single sex. In this study 510 students were surveyed that lived on five different campuses. Out of these students 87% lived in coed dorms. The students living in coed dorms were more likely to say they drink alcohol at least once a week and excessively. Forty one percent said they binge drink compared to seventeen percent in single sex dorms. This coincides with another study done by the Harvard School of Public Health that found that 44% of students attending a four year college binge drink.
This is an example of social control because the environments these students are in are controlling their behavior. The environment of living in a coed dorm has fueled their need to drink more. I think this is because they want to fit in with the other people and drinking will help them to be more social. Many people meet each other and college parties and the majority of them are drinking. It’s the pressure of being liked and “cool” that controls these students to drink in order to do this. In single sex dorms there isn’t as much pressure to meet someone so there isn’t as much drinking.
Policing Tightened in Rockaways After Two Rapes
Social Control
Sasha Mora #6
This article was in the New York times. In Far Rockaway, there were two women raped within a 27 hour period. The two incidents also happened 11 blocks away from each other. The man the two women described seems to be the same person. They both stated the man was wearing a green hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans. They also described the same height and ethnicity of the man. The New York City police department has now increased the amount of police man on the streets at the time the women were raped. Uniform and undercover policeman have both been increased.
This relates to two particular social control chapters. On is policing and the second involves changing security to improve society and increase safety. Women need to feel secure coming home from work and the neighborhood needs the increase in security to improve the quality. There are many reasons socially that society benefits from an increase in security. According to theories, an increase in crime only perpetuates more crime. Therefore effort made towards improving an area can help to keep it safe and crime free. It will also help to keep families in that area. If an area becomes bad for a family to live in, they will choose to move on.
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/policing-tightened-in-rockaways-after-two-rapes/?scp=1&sq=policing&st=cse
Sasha Mora #6
This article was in the New York times. In Far Rockaway, there were two women raped within a 27 hour period. The two incidents also happened 11 blocks away from each other. The man the two women described seems to be the same person. They both stated the man was wearing a green hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans. They also described the same height and ethnicity of the man. The New York City police department has now increased the amount of police man on the streets at the time the women were raped. Uniform and undercover policeman have both been increased.
This relates to two particular social control chapters. On is policing and the second involves changing security to improve society and increase safety. Women need to feel secure coming home from work and the neighborhood needs the increase in security to improve the quality. There are many reasons socially that society benefits from an increase in security. According to theories, an increase in crime only perpetuates more crime. Therefore effort made towards improving an area can help to keep it safe and crime free. It will also help to keep families in that area. If an area becomes bad for a family to live in, they will choose to move on.
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/policing-tightened-in-rockaways-after-two-rapes/?scp=1&sq=policing&st=cse
Suspect to be charged with murder in slaying of gay teen in Puerto Rico
Savannah Brandenburg
post# 8
The suspect in the brutal slaying of a gay teenager in Puerto Rico will be charged Wednesday with first-degree murder and four other counts, the prosecutor in the case told CNN.Juan A. Martinez Matos was arrested late Monday in connection with the slaying of Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado, whose decapitated, dismembered and partially burned body was found Friday afternoon on a road in central Puerto Rico.In addition to murder, Martinez Matos will be charged with three weapons violations and one count of hiding evidence, prosecutor Yaritza Carrasquillo said.Prosecutors are weighing whether to recommend that Martinez Matos be charged under federal hate crimes law, Carrasquillo said. That decision was not expected to come Wednesday.The U.S. gay community is asking authorities to investigate whether the slaying was a hate crime, said Pedro Julio Serrano of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force."The brutality of the slaying and the fact that he was openly gay leads us to believe it was very possibly a hate crime," Serrano said Tuesday.
Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, which means federal agencies have jurisdiction. The U.S. Attorney's Office, in consultation with local officials and other agencies, would determine whether the slaying will be prosecuted as a hate crime.
"It's at a very preliminary stage," Lymarie Llovet, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office in San Juan, Puerto Rico's capital, said Tuesday. "There's the potential for a federal investigation."
Martinez Matos, 26, was arrested late Monday at his home in the Mogote de Cayey neighborhood, said Wilson Porrata Mariani, another spokesman for the Guayama police district.Police impounded two cars and also are investigating a home in another neighborhood, Huertas del Barrio Beatriz de Cidra.Lopez Mercado's body was found on Puerto Rico Road 184 in another part of town, Barrio Guavate de Cayey, police said.Authorities are investigating whether the killing involved sex, Hector Agosto Rodriguez, police commander in the town of Guayama, told CNN affiliate WLII TV.
The slaying has reverberated through the gay and lesbian community in the United States, where supporters started a Facebook page called "Justice for Jorge Steven Lopez -- End Hate Crimes." The group demands an investigation by Puerto Rico Gov. Luis Fortuno and prosecution of the case under the federal hate crime law.
The Federal Hate Crimes Law was enacted in 1969 to guard the rights of any U.S. citizen who is targeted because of race, color, religion or national origin, or because of an attempt to engage in one of six protected activities, such as voting, going to school or attending a public venue.President Obama signed into law last month the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which extends federal protection to illegal acts motivated by a person's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.If Martinez Matos is charged under the hate crimes provision, it is believed it would be the first such case under the latest addition to the law.
This case is horrible to even think about a 19 year old boy who was decapitated, dismembered, and partially burned is ridiculous to do to anyone let alone if it is a hate crime. This is social control because of the fact that this young boy was openly gay then lends to a federal crime.Also becuase it is in US territory.Because this could be a hate crime it deals with social control because it includes to social mechanisms that regulate individual and group behavior, leading to conformity and compliances to the rules of a given society or social group.It is amazing that if this is a hate crime what the suspect would be facing. I think if anyone is murder and especially like this need to get the highest punishment.
post# 8
The suspect in the brutal slaying of a gay teenager in Puerto Rico will be charged Wednesday with first-degree murder and four other counts, the prosecutor in the case told CNN.Juan A. Martinez Matos was arrested late Monday in connection with the slaying of Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado, whose decapitated, dismembered and partially burned body was found Friday afternoon on a road in central Puerto Rico.In addition to murder, Martinez Matos will be charged with three weapons violations and one count of hiding evidence, prosecutor Yaritza Carrasquillo said.Prosecutors are weighing whether to recommend that Martinez Matos be charged under federal hate crimes law, Carrasquillo said. That decision was not expected to come Wednesday.The U.S. gay community is asking authorities to investigate whether the slaying was a hate crime, said Pedro Julio Serrano of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force."The brutality of the slaying and the fact that he was openly gay leads us to believe it was very possibly a hate crime," Serrano said Tuesday.
Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, which means federal agencies have jurisdiction. The U.S. Attorney's Office, in consultation with local officials and other agencies, would determine whether the slaying will be prosecuted as a hate crime.
"It's at a very preliminary stage," Lymarie Llovet, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office in San Juan, Puerto Rico's capital, said Tuesday. "There's the potential for a federal investigation."
Martinez Matos, 26, was arrested late Monday at his home in the Mogote de Cayey neighborhood, said Wilson Porrata Mariani, another spokesman for the Guayama police district.Police impounded two cars and also are investigating a home in another neighborhood, Huertas del Barrio Beatriz de Cidra.Lopez Mercado's body was found on Puerto Rico Road 184 in another part of town, Barrio Guavate de Cayey, police said.Authorities are investigating whether the killing involved sex, Hector Agosto Rodriguez, police commander in the town of Guayama, told CNN affiliate WLII TV.
The slaying has reverberated through the gay and lesbian community in the United States, where supporters started a Facebook page called "Justice for Jorge Steven Lopez -- End Hate Crimes." The group demands an investigation by Puerto Rico Gov. Luis Fortuno and prosecution of the case under the federal hate crime law.
The Federal Hate Crimes Law was enacted in 1969 to guard the rights of any U.S. citizen who is targeted because of race, color, religion or national origin, or because of an attempt to engage in one of six protected activities, such as voting, going to school or attending a public venue.President Obama signed into law last month the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which extends federal protection to illegal acts motivated by a person's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.If Martinez Matos is charged under the hate crimes provision, it is believed it would be the first such case under the latest addition to the law.
This case is horrible to even think about a 19 year old boy who was decapitated, dismembered, and partially burned is ridiculous to do to anyone let alone if it is a hate crime. This is social control because of the fact that this young boy was openly gay then lends to a federal crime.Also becuase it is in US territory.Because this could be a hate crime it deals with social control because it includes to social mechanisms that regulate individual and group behavior, leading to conformity and compliances to the rules of a given society or social group.It is amazing that if this is a hate crime what the suspect would be facing. I think if anyone is murder and especially like this need to get the highest punishment.
Going for the Bling: Hollywood Burglars
Social Control
Sasha Mora #5
This article was found in the New York times. It is about seven individuals all under the age of thirty, most of which are still teenagers, who broke into the homes of well known celebrities and stole their belongings. It is reported that these individuals began stealing things from random vehicles they would pass. They would check to see if the car was left unlocked and if so they would take things. From this the individuals began to steal from the homes of celebrities. Strategically they used the internet to find the addresses of their victims. Their internet sources also provided them with information on when the stars would be attending events and therefore would not be home. Some of the stars, such as Paris Hiltin, left back doors unlocked and left their homes easy to enter. Paris Hiltin also left her safe unlocked, which made her a victim that the group of robbers visited numerous times. Not all of the individuals have been charged yet nor have they all declared their plea. However, near 2 million dollars of the missing merchandise was found in the accused homes. There is still more missing, but most of the individuals are cooperating and sharing more and more information concerning the burglaries.
I thought this article related to social control because unlike those who run away or simply live up to the labels they are given, these individuals are amused and desire to be given these labels. In interviews, the demeanor of those charged with the burglaries has shown that this is thought of as a game to some of them. Others are said to have talked about the burglaries proudly and flaunted that they had gotten away with so much merchandise from so many stars. It seems as though this group is loving the attention that they are given and acting as though publicity, even though in this case it is negative, is still better then no publicity or attention at all. The information I have found makes this group seem as though they are proud of the labels being given to them and enjoying the attention.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/fashion/15bling.html?pagewanted=3&_r=1&sq=steal%20from%20paris%20hilton&st=cse&scp=1
Sasha Mora #5
This article was found in the New York times. It is about seven individuals all under the age of thirty, most of which are still teenagers, who broke into the homes of well known celebrities and stole their belongings. It is reported that these individuals began stealing things from random vehicles they would pass. They would check to see if the car was left unlocked and if so they would take things. From this the individuals began to steal from the homes of celebrities. Strategically they used the internet to find the addresses of their victims. Their internet sources also provided them with information on when the stars would be attending events and therefore would not be home. Some of the stars, such as Paris Hiltin, left back doors unlocked and left their homes easy to enter. Paris Hiltin also left her safe unlocked, which made her a victim that the group of robbers visited numerous times. Not all of the individuals have been charged yet nor have they all declared their plea. However, near 2 million dollars of the missing merchandise was found in the accused homes. There is still more missing, but most of the individuals are cooperating and sharing more and more information concerning the burglaries.
I thought this article related to social control because unlike those who run away or simply live up to the labels they are given, these individuals are amused and desire to be given these labels. In interviews, the demeanor of those charged with the burglaries has shown that this is thought of as a game to some of them. Others are said to have talked about the burglaries proudly and flaunted that they had gotten away with so much merchandise from so many stars. It seems as though this group is loving the attention that they are given and acting as though publicity, even though in this case it is negative, is still better then no publicity or attention at all. The information I have found makes this group seem as though they are proud of the labels being given to them and enjoying the attention.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/fashion/15bling.html?pagewanted=3&_r=1&sq=steal%20from%20paris%20hilton&st=cse&scp=1
Techno guy settles with SUB over music dispute
Savannah Brandeburg
Techno Guy and the SUB have worked out a deal, but it won’t necessarily bring peace and quiet to campus.English Professor James Burbank led a complaint against the loud music played by Josh “Techno Guy” Arellano outside the north end of the SUB last month.Since then, Arellano met with Ryan Lindquist, associate director of the Student Activities Center, to determine an appropriate volume level to play his boom box.“We had three meetings with Josh to work on his volume out there,” Lindquist said. “We wanted to make sure that it was at a level that was more in accordance with what other people do on campus.” Per the meetings, Lindquist and
Arellano agreed upon a maximum volume level for the music, which Arellano said is signi cantly lower than past levels.“I’m trying to stay optimistic because I can still bring my boom box here, but the volume level has been pushed down 60 percent, and I feel like it’s a slap in the face,” he said. “Honestly, my laptop is louder than what the boom box is allowed to be at. It’s kind of a joke. It’s not even worth my time or e ort at this level.”Burbank, who led the complaint to the Dean of Students about Arellano’s music being disruptive, said he was satis ed with the new restrictions.“I feel like Joshua is trying to work with the Student Activities Center,” Burbank said. “I was up there today and it seems like his music is at a reasonable volume, so he is complying with the restrictions.”Burbank said he received threats and other fallout after ling the complaint.“People want to silence me. They have threatened me personally and I nd that despicable, frankly,” Burbank said. “Everybody has a right to free speech,and you can’t suppress other people just because you don’t like what they are saying anymore than I would want to suppress Joshua.” e purpose of playing the music outside the SUB is to expose students to a different type of music,Arellano said, and the new volume level makes that di cult. “If I wanted to be listening to my music by myself in my own surroundings, then I would have just brought head phones and there would be no reason to bring a boom box,” he said. “If I wasn’t trying to a ect other people’s realities then I wouldn’t have brought a boom box in the first place.”The volume control policy should make other music makers and music players wary, Arellano said. “The boom box represents something political,” he said. “It represents something that is antiestablishment. What happens now that they have pushed me down, if something else comes up I might be used as a precedent as to how to act when someone wants to express themselves.”Should Arellano turn up the volume again, Burbank said he won’t hesitate to lend another complaint. “the more people say I should shut up, the more I feel I should speak out. I guess that’s just how we are as human beings,” he said. “People can say what they want, but free speech is free speech and that’s what I advocate for.”
I'm partial in this issue. I do think that sometimes Arellanos music is a little loud but he is not really next to any class rooms and i do not think it disturbs anyone else they are walking by. He clearly is making a statement with is music which defiantly goes along with college life and being on campus there are somethings people might not like or feel comfortable about. I do not think it actual harms anyone or offends anyone beside that noise level. I mean with the anti abortion pictures no body seemed to complain about that, it still stood standing for many days. And i pretty sure this offended people alot more so then the music. This is social control becuase the school stepped in due to a complaint by a teacher tell Mr. Arellanos that he has to play his music at a certain level. Does this mean if anybody plays music it must be a certian level even outside?
Techno Guy and the SUB have worked out a deal, but it won’t necessarily bring peace and quiet to campus.English Professor James Burbank led a complaint against the loud music played by Josh “Techno Guy” Arellano outside the north end of the SUB last month.Since then, Arellano met with Ryan Lindquist, associate director of the Student Activities Center, to determine an appropriate volume level to play his boom box.“We had three meetings with Josh to work on his volume out there,” Lindquist said. “We wanted to make sure that it was at a level that was more in accordance with what other people do on campus.” Per the meetings, Lindquist and
Arellano agreed upon a maximum volume level for the music, which Arellano said is signi cantly lower than past levels.“I’m trying to stay optimistic because I can still bring my boom box here, but the volume level has been pushed down 60 percent, and I feel like it’s a slap in the face,” he said. “Honestly, my laptop is louder than what the boom box is allowed to be at. It’s kind of a joke. It’s not even worth my time or e ort at this level.”Burbank, who led the complaint to the Dean of Students about Arellano’s music being disruptive, said he was satis ed with the new restrictions.“I feel like Joshua is trying to work with the Student Activities Center,” Burbank said. “I was up there today and it seems like his music is at a reasonable volume, so he is complying with the restrictions.”Burbank said he received threats and other fallout after ling the complaint.“People want to silence me. They have threatened me personally and I nd that despicable, frankly,” Burbank said. “Everybody has a right to free speech,and you can’t suppress other people just because you don’t like what they are saying anymore than I would want to suppress Joshua.” e purpose of playing the music outside the SUB is to expose students to a different type of music,Arellano said, and the new volume level makes that di cult. “If I wanted to be listening to my music by myself in my own surroundings, then I would have just brought head phones and there would be no reason to bring a boom box,” he said. “If I wasn’t trying to a ect other people’s realities then I wouldn’t have brought a boom box in the first place.”The volume control policy should make other music makers and music players wary, Arellano said. “The boom box represents something political,” he said. “It represents something that is antiestablishment. What happens now that they have pushed me down, if something else comes up I might be used as a precedent as to how to act when someone wants to express themselves.”Should Arellano turn up the volume again, Burbank said he won’t hesitate to lend another complaint. “the more people say I should shut up, the more I feel I should speak out. I guess that’s just how we are as human beings,” he said. “People can say what they want, but free speech is free speech and that’s what I advocate for.”
I'm partial in this issue. I do think that sometimes Arellanos music is a little loud but he is not really next to any class rooms and i do not think it disturbs anyone else they are walking by. He clearly is making a statement with is music which defiantly goes along with college life and being on campus there are somethings people might not like or feel comfortable about. I do not think it actual harms anyone or offends anyone beside that noise level. I mean with the anti abortion pictures no body seemed to complain about that, it still stood standing for many days. And i pretty sure this offended people alot more so then the music. This is social control becuase the school stepped in due to a complaint by a teacher tell Mr. Arellanos that he has to play his music at a certain level. Does this mean if anybody plays music it must be a certian level even outside?
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Utah girl’s pierced nose brings suspension
Utah girl’s pierced nose brings suspension
The student was trying to connect with her Indian heritage and traditions
Victoria Atencio
Post #4
I found this article on MSNBC about a 12 year old girl in Utah who was suspended from her middle school because she disobeyed the schools policy of no body piercing and got her nose pierced. What made this situation gain national attention is that the girl is of Indian descent and by piercing her nose she was attempting to connect to her Indian culture. The argument the school made in order to defend their decision was that the nose piercing is a cultural choice not a religious requirement. The young girl’s mother, a Mormon from Salt Lake City, defends her daughter’s decision and supports her actions because she realized this is her way of embracing her culture and heritage. In the end it was decided the girl was allowed to keep her nose piercing as long as she wore a clear unobtrusive stud.
This story is a strong example social control because the actions taken by the school are not only interfering with the girl’s interests but scrutinizing the culture of which she is a part of. The school is controlling in itself because the institution sets boundaries which students must follow or face the consequences. And to what point is the limit set? Suspending a young girl for embracing her culture reaches a point of control that should not be overlooked. If a school can suspend a 12 year old girl for connecting with her heritage what form of control what comes next can only be a more strict form of control. The article also examines the view from a second generation American’s point of view. If a person were to walk down the street wearing a turban it would be assumed from the majority of people that they are foreigners. That same person is automatically stereotyped and placed in a category and assumed to belong to another country. This is another form of control because we as a society are generally not open to the idea that if someone wears their ethnic outerwear that they are American. We see it in the news and at an early age in textbooks that if someone wears a certain type of clothing they are not American but rather from a different country. This makes it difficult for American minorities to feel welcome in their own country.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33773152/ns/us_news-race_and_ethnicity/
The student was trying to connect with her Indian heritage and traditions
Victoria Atencio
Post #4
I found this article on MSNBC about a 12 year old girl in Utah who was suspended from her middle school because she disobeyed the schools policy of no body piercing and got her nose pierced. What made this situation gain national attention is that the girl is of Indian descent and by piercing her nose she was attempting to connect to her Indian culture. The argument the school made in order to defend their decision was that the nose piercing is a cultural choice not a religious requirement. The young girl’s mother, a Mormon from Salt Lake City, defends her daughter’s decision and supports her actions because she realized this is her way of embracing her culture and heritage. In the end it was decided the girl was allowed to keep her nose piercing as long as she wore a clear unobtrusive stud.
This story is a strong example social control because the actions taken by the school are not only interfering with the girl’s interests but scrutinizing the culture of which she is a part of. The school is controlling in itself because the institution sets boundaries which students must follow or face the consequences. And to what point is the limit set? Suspending a young girl for embracing her culture reaches a point of control that should not be overlooked. If a school can suspend a 12 year old girl for connecting with her heritage what form of control what comes next can only be a more strict form of control. The article also examines the view from a second generation American’s point of view. If a person were to walk down the street wearing a turban it would be assumed from the majority of people that they are foreigners. That same person is automatically stereotyped and placed in a category and assumed to belong to another country. This is another form of control because we as a society are generally not open to the idea that if someone wears their ethnic outerwear that they are American. We see it in the news and at an early age in textbooks that if someone wears a certain type of clothing they are not American but rather from a different country. This makes it difficult for American minorities to feel welcome in their own country.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33773152/ns/us_news-race_and_ethnicity/
Facebook, Wikipedia execs brief Vatican on Web
Ashley Villanueva
Blog #6
This article was taken for usatoday.com. There will be a meeting held at the Vatican to inform the Catholic bishops and officials of the internet culture of today. The executives from Facebook, Wikipedia and Google will be the ones attending this meeting. The goal of this meeting is to talk about what the internet means for the church and its mission. Also, it will talk about how to communicate its mission to others around the world. Although Pope Benedict XVI writes emails and has launched a YouTube channel, the Vatican has fell short of coming into the Internet age. To be discussed at this meeting will be social networks, strategies for the church to communicate, and if the internet is changing religious practices. Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli believes the Catholic Church should use these new technologies to communicate its message to people and especially the young.
This is a good example of how the internet and technology has become such a big part of our lives. It has made its way into so many aspects of our daily lives. There is rarely a day where we don’t get on the computer, use our phones or use some other type of technology. It is an obvious example of social control because mostly everyone uses technology at work, school or for entertainment. We also use it to learn about the events going on around the world. I think if the Vatican did use to internet more, they could be more effective in getting its message out. So many people use the internet so more people would be aware of the events going on with the Catholic Church.
Blog #6
This article was taken for usatoday.com. There will be a meeting held at the Vatican to inform the Catholic bishops and officials of the internet culture of today. The executives from Facebook, Wikipedia and Google will be the ones attending this meeting. The goal of this meeting is to talk about what the internet means for the church and its mission. Also, it will talk about how to communicate its mission to others around the world. Although Pope Benedict XVI writes emails and has launched a YouTube channel, the Vatican has fell short of coming into the Internet age. To be discussed at this meeting will be social networks, strategies for the church to communicate, and if the internet is changing religious practices. Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli believes the Catholic Church should use these new technologies to communicate its message to people and especially the young.
This is a good example of how the internet and technology has become such a big part of our lives. It has made its way into so many aspects of our daily lives. There is rarely a day where we don’t get on the computer, use our phones or use some other type of technology. It is an obvious example of social control because mostly everyone uses technology at work, school or for entertainment. We also use it to learn about the events going on around the world. I think if the Vatican did use to internet more, they could be more effective in getting its message out. So many people use the internet so more people would be aware of the events going on with the Catholic Church.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
The Internet: A room of our own?
Nick R. Post #5 Dissent Quarterly, summer 2009 Written by Evgeny Morozov
The Internet: a room of our own? is an article about how the Internet is controlled and being controlled by governments, bloggers and social activists. The number of users of the Internet and other smart technologies has increased dramatically in the last decade or so. It affects many social, economic and political forces. It has also created a venue for change. This change is it for better or worse? Or is it a little bit of both? Digital activism is being used by governments around the world, from the State department to Europe. One presumes that the Internet is used by civil society to operate. It provides the means to which a civil group can build and send its message in order to gather a larger following. This can take shape of organizing, fundraising, self publishing and mobilization. This could be good when one is trying to effect change in a particular nation or region. The actual effect of the Internet has been the opposite. It has decreased the power of the nation-state, but on the other hand it has increased the power of not so friendly social groups. The article eludes to the fact that the Internet has provided a place for uncontrollable elements that could be dangerous to society. The article looks to Russia and China for examples of Internet control.
In Russia the Internet has been used in a number of different ways; nationalists use it for propaganda, fundraising and recruitment of new supporters. While the Kremlin uses to spread its ideological beliefs. China censors the use of the Internet by cracking down on pornography and political speech. This censorship technology is being provided by companies from around the world. Earlier this year the Chinese government closed down these "offensive" sites. While the porn sites reopened for business the political speech sites have remained closed. In Russia a blogger named CYXYMU posted blogs criticizing the Russian and Georgian governments. He was subsequently a victim of cyber attacks that resulted in him ultimately being shutdown. Software to censor the Internet is being utilized by the Chinese and other governments. In the U.S. companies try and sensor Google by utilizing software that removes any bad press about said company.
This has to do with social control in so many different ways. The use of the Internet for social activism good be both good and bad depending on who the group is and its intentions for the world or society. Governments are using the Internet to censor opposing thoughts and beliefs form their own citizens. By censoring them on the Internet the government is squashing a productive form of activism. Corporations are using the Internet in a number of ways as well. They are using programs that delete all bad info about them and also monitoring Google to see if they come up in a search on the first page. The Internet itself is up for grabs in terms of social control. You have control hubs fighting for control of information. Policing is going on by bloggers, watchdog groups and governments. Anti governmental groups are spreading their word about change and their ideals/beliefs.
The Internet: a room of our own? is an article about how the Internet is controlled and being controlled by governments, bloggers and social activists. The number of users of the Internet and other smart technologies has increased dramatically in the last decade or so. It affects many social, economic and political forces. It has also created a venue for change. This change is it for better or worse? Or is it a little bit of both? Digital activism is being used by governments around the world, from the State department to Europe. One presumes that the Internet is used by civil society to operate. It provides the means to which a civil group can build and send its message in order to gather a larger following. This can take shape of organizing, fundraising, self publishing and mobilization. This could be good when one is trying to effect change in a particular nation or region. The actual effect of the Internet has been the opposite. It has decreased the power of the nation-state, but on the other hand it has increased the power of not so friendly social groups. The article eludes to the fact that the Internet has provided a place for uncontrollable elements that could be dangerous to society. The article looks to Russia and China for examples of Internet control.
In Russia the Internet has been used in a number of different ways; nationalists use it for propaganda, fundraising and recruitment of new supporters. While the Kremlin uses to spread its ideological beliefs. China censors the use of the Internet by cracking down on pornography and political speech. This censorship technology is being provided by companies from around the world. Earlier this year the Chinese government closed down these "offensive" sites. While the porn sites reopened for business the political speech sites have remained closed. In Russia a blogger named CYXYMU posted blogs criticizing the Russian and Georgian governments. He was subsequently a victim of cyber attacks that resulted in him ultimately being shutdown. Software to censor the Internet is being utilized by the Chinese and other governments. In the U.S. companies try and sensor Google by utilizing software that removes any bad press about said company.
This has to do with social control in so many different ways. The use of the Internet for social activism good be both good and bad depending on who the group is and its intentions for the world or society. Governments are using the Internet to censor opposing thoughts and beliefs form their own citizens. By censoring them on the Internet the government is squashing a productive form of activism. Corporations are using the Internet in a number of ways as well. They are using programs that delete all bad info about them and also monitoring Google to see if they come up in a search on the first page. The Internet itself is up for grabs in terms of social control. You have control hubs fighting for control of information. Policing is going on by bloggers, watchdog groups and governments. Anti governmental groups are spreading their word about change and their ideals/beliefs.
"A Pall of Orthodoxy" The Painful Persistence of Loyalty Oaths
Nick R. Post #4 Dissent Quarterly, summer 2009 written by Marjorie Heins
The article examines the use of loyalty oaths in Ohio and throughout history. In 2006 Ohio created the Ohio Patriot Act which requires new public employees to take and answer NO to six questions. These six questions were designed using the U.S. State Department's "Terrorists Exclusion List." Apparently the oath also applies to anyone who receives a government contract over $100,000 in a given year. Answering "yes" or leaving blank any of the six questions automatically declines you form receiving a governmental position. The article states that the questions can be confusing and hard for the average person to understand. The State Department's definition of terrorist groups and organizations are broad and undefined. The article also cites a professor in California who lost her job at the state university in Fullerton in 2007. Bearing arms against enemies foreign and domestic was part of her loyalty oath. She being a Quaker refused to bear arms and was subsequently terminated. They article goes on to explain the history of test oaths in the U.S.
this is interesting because state government is trying to control who gets a job within its walls. This is based on you signing an oath. I understand oaths in the military and by the president, but at a state level? So if I lived in Ohio and wanted to be a park maintenance worker, I would have to swear an oath to defend the state? Does one really think it is a good idea to have people swear oaths? Do people really defend those oaths? Or is ti just a way to terminate and imprison people? I took an oath to defend my country, but I am also in the military. There is nothing wrong with people taking oaths in certain situations. I think oaths at universities and other state agencies is a little ridiculous.
The article examines the use of loyalty oaths in Ohio and throughout history. In 2006 Ohio created the Ohio Patriot Act which requires new public employees to take and answer NO to six questions. These six questions were designed using the U.S. State Department's "Terrorists Exclusion List." Apparently the oath also applies to anyone who receives a government contract over $100,000 in a given year. Answering "yes" or leaving blank any of the six questions automatically declines you form receiving a governmental position. The article states that the questions can be confusing and hard for the average person to understand. The State Department's definition of terrorist groups and organizations are broad and undefined. The article also cites a professor in California who lost her job at the state university in Fullerton in 2007. Bearing arms against enemies foreign and domestic was part of her loyalty oath. She being a Quaker refused to bear arms and was subsequently terminated. They article goes on to explain the history of test oaths in the U.S.
this is interesting because state government is trying to control who gets a job within its walls. This is based on you signing an oath. I understand oaths in the military and by the president, but at a state level? So if I lived in Ohio and wanted to be a park maintenance worker, I would have to swear an oath to defend the state? Does one really think it is a good idea to have people swear oaths? Do people really defend those oaths? Or is ti just a way to terminate and imprison people? I took an oath to defend my country, but I am also in the military. There is nothing wrong with people taking oaths in certain situations. I think oaths at universities and other state agencies is a little ridiculous.
Facing Down the Fanatics
Nick R. Post #3 Facing Down the Fanatics, National Geographic,October 2009
Written by Michael Finkel
Facing Dwon the Fanatics is an article about Islam in Indonesia. Indonesia is the largest muslim country in the world with 207 million people. It is also the third largest democracy in the world following India and the United States. Indonesia has been the home to numerous bombings and other terrorists activities. However over the last few years the population seems to headed in a different direction. The majority of muslims in Indonesia believe that their religion and democracy and a modern society can all exsist together. The local traditions of the native population has still remained in place even though the majority of the population is muslim. The combing of acient tradiontions and being a devote muslim has worked well for the population of Indonesia. More and more territories in Indonesia are voting to become reuled by Sharia Law, which follows the Koran.
This is intersting in terms of social control. There are a number of different factors that come into paly in Indonesia. Religion being the main factor followed by leadership and then the population. Religion is the collective conscience in Indonesia and the governmental forces hace always been based on that. The control through religion can be very strict as it is in the Islamic religion. But the population of Indonesia is making it work so everyone lives in peace together. Democracy since the overthrow of dictatorship is the predominant force. The best example of social control comes fromthe article itself, "When the Western influence gets to strong, the Islamist voices grow louder. When the Islamist voices get to loud, the more secular voices will be raised." This is a good example of upward control because the people are the ones doing the balancing of the societal rules or laws.
Written by Michael Finkel
Facing Dwon the Fanatics is an article about Islam in Indonesia. Indonesia is the largest muslim country in the world with 207 million people. It is also the third largest democracy in the world following India and the United States. Indonesia has been the home to numerous bombings and other terrorists activities. However over the last few years the population seems to headed in a different direction. The majority of muslims in Indonesia believe that their religion and democracy and a modern society can all exsist together. The local traditions of the native population has still remained in place even though the majority of the population is muslim. The combing of acient tradiontions and being a devote muslim has worked well for the population of Indonesia. More and more territories in Indonesia are voting to become reuled by Sharia Law, which follows the Koran.
This is intersting in terms of social control. There are a number of different factors that come into paly in Indonesia. Religion being the main factor followed by leadership and then the population. Religion is the collective conscience in Indonesia and the governmental forces hace always been based on that. The control through religion can be very strict as it is in the Islamic religion. But the population of Indonesia is making it work so everyone lives in peace together. Democracy since the overthrow of dictatorship is the predominant force. The best example of social control comes fromthe article itself, "When the Western influence gets to strong, the Islamist voices grow louder. When the Islamist voices get to loud, the more secular voices will be raised." This is a good example of upward control because the people are the ones doing the balancing of the societal rules or laws.
Suspect Has A Violent History
Justin Pierson
Post #10
YEAH IM FINISHED!
A young woman, Brittini Carlini, was brutally beaten and killed when she tried to retrieve her snowboard from supposed friends Ryan Vigil and Christopher Midyette. The twenty year old's body was found in the mesa near Rio Rancho burned and buried. Ryan Vigil, who has had a history of violent behavior, was arrested and placed in a juvenile detention center in April upon accusations of arson and stalking. Vigil has been accused of stalking another girl, breaking into her home and stealing undergarments and later setting fire to the home of the girl. Vigil spent two years in the detention center and many say this recent act of violence could have been prevented. Reports say that Vigil had been violent toward his family also, attempting suicide after being apprehended for stealing his mother's car. The family of the girl that had previously been stalked by Vigil stated that they were saddened by the news of Carlini's death but they were glad that it wasn't their daughter. The family also claimid that they begged authorities to keep Vigil detained in fear of further violent acts.
This article shows how authorities can sometimes fail society. It seems that Vigil's behavior could have been prevented if authorities would have monitored Vigil's behavior or kept him detained. This article also illustrates Weber's rationalization thesis, Vigil's violent history had been noted and it seems that because of this his current act of violence could have been forseen. Although Vigil served his time for his previous acts of violence his was not closely monitored and society's attempt to reintegrate Vigil into society had failed. This is an example of restorative justice Vigil was given the chance to reintegrate himself into society and become a law abiding citizen but could not contain his violent tendencies. This also shows how the community may become involved in decisions made concerning the release of certain individuals. The family of Vigil's previous vicitim begged for him not to be released and only if authorities had listened to this family, twenty year old Carlini may still be alive. Some individuals deserve to be incarcerated or if not incarcerated ought to receive mental help, it seems as if authorities were too eager to let Vilgil re-enter society and this backfired. Violent behavior is very difficult to predict but in this case a death could have been avioded if Vigil was more closely monitored. We ought to be thankful that these individuals will serve a significant amount of time incarcerated so that they can no longer hurt anyone else.
This article may be found in the November 10th issue of the Albuquerque Journal.
Post #10
YEAH IM FINISHED!
A young woman, Brittini Carlini, was brutally beaten and killed when she tried to retrieve her snowboard from supposed friends Ryan Vigil and Christopher Midyette. The twenty year old's body was found in the mesa near Rio Rancho burned and buried. Ryan Vigil, who has had a history of violent behavior, was arrested and placed in a juvenile detention center in April upon accusations of arson and stalking. Vigil has been accused of stalking another girl, breaking into her home and stealing undergarments and later setting fire to the home of the girl. Vigil spent two years in the detention center and many say this recent act of violence could have been prevented. Reports say that Vigil had been violent toward his family also, attempting suicide after being apprehended for stealing his mother's car. The family of the girl that had previously been stalked by Vigil stated that they were saddened by the news of Carlini's death but they were glad that it wasn't their daughter. The family also claimid that they begged authorities to keep Vigil detained in fear of further violent acts.
This article shows how authorities can sometimes fail society. It seems that Vigil's behavior could have been prevented if authorities would have monitored Vigil's behavior or kept him detained. This article also illustrates Weber's rationalization thesis, Vigil's violent history had been noted and it seems that because of this his current act of violence could have been forseen. Although Vigil served his time for his previous acts of violence his was not closely monitored and society's attempt to reintegrate Vigil into society had failed. This is an example of restorative justice Vigil was given the chance to reintegrate himself into society and become a law abiding citizen but could not contain his violent tendencies. This also shows how the community may become involved in decisions made concerning the release of certain individuals. The family of Vigil's previous vicitim begged for him not to be released and only if authorities had listened to this family, twenty year old Carlini may still be alive. Some individuals deserve to be incarcerated or if not incarcerated ought to receive mental help, it seems as if authorities were too eager to let Vilgil re-enter society and this backfired. Violent behavior is very difficult to predict but in this case a death could have been avioded if Vigil was more closely monitored. We ought to be thankful that these individuals will serve a significant amount of time incarcerated so that they can no longer hurt anyone else.
This article may be found in the November 10th issue of the Albuquerque Journal.
'Techno Guy' Forced to Pause His SUB Tunes
Justin Pierson
Post #9
Due to a complaint filed by a faculty member, Josh 'Techno Guy' Arellano has been forced to significantly decrease the volume of the music that he plays outside the Student Union Building. Arellano has been playing techno music outside the SUB twice a week, if not more, for the past five years without a single complaint. The complaint was filed on behalf of UNM students claiming that the volume of the music is disruptive to a learning environment. Arellano stated that he could understand this claim if he was playing his music outside the library, but outside the SUB seems to be an appropriate place to play music, dance, relax, and have some fun. Most students, if they have ever passed by the Student Union Building have heard the music and are farmiliar with 'Techno Guy'. At first I really did not enjoy the music being played, mostly because techno is not my genre of choice, but I felt that at a University where student lives can be stressful and drab it was nice to see someone enjoying himself and compelling others to relax and have fun during their break in between classes. Contrary to the filed complaint, 2,417 students have signed a petition supporting 'Techno Guy's' desire to play music, dance, and have fun.
This article shows how a University can act as a policing agent and punish those who do not conform. Arellano's punishment began with him not being able to play his music, now a compromise seems to have been made Arellano is allowed to play his music just at a more reasonalbe volume. This article also shows how one individual, a faculty member in this instance, can complain and restrict others. This seems to be an example of community policing, a member of the University community has complained about something that had been going on for the past five years and now 'Techno Guy' which to me is a staple in the SUB area is no longer. This article also shows how individuals may resist control, a petition signed by quite a few students will be given to the SUB administration and it is still to be seen if the petition will adequately vioce student's opinions and allow Arellano to continue playing his tunes. I feel that if Arellano is not allowed to express himself and play his music many other forms of expression that occur on campus ought to be in jeopardy as well. Even if you don't like the music, even if you dispise the music, relax enjoy the time away from lectures, powerpoint presentations, exams, and quizzes, have some lunch and appreciate 'Techno Guy's' ability to have fun on campus, which with the pressure of exams can be hard at times.
This article was found in the November 13th issue of the Daily Lobo.
Post #9
Due to a complaint filed by a faculty member, Josh 'Techno Guy' Arellano has been forced to significantly decrease the volume of the music that he plays outside the Student Union Building. Arellano has been playing techno music outside the SUB twice a week, if not more, for the past five years without a single complaint. The complaint was filed on behalf of UNM students claiming that the volume of the music is disruptive to a learning environment. Arellano stated that he could understand this claim if he was playing his music outside the library, but outside the SUB seems to be an appropriate place to play music, dance, relax, and have some fun. Most students, if they have ever passed by the Student Union Building have heard the music and are farmiliar with 'Techno Guy'. At first I really did not enjoy the music being played, mostly because techno is not my genre of choice, but I felt that at a University where student lives can be stressful and drab it was nice to see someone enjoying himself and compelling others to relax and have fun during their break in between classes. Contrary to the filed complaint, 2,417 students have signed a petition supporting 'Techno Guy's' desire to play music, dance, and have fun.
This article shows how a University can act as a policing agent and punish those who do not conform. Arellano's punishment began with him not being able to play his music, now a compromise seems to have been made Arellano is allowed to play his music just at a more reasonalbe volume. This article also shows how one individual, a faculty member in this instance, can complain and restrict others. This seems to be an example of community policing, a member of the University community has complained about something that had been going on for the past five years and now 'Techno Guy' which to me is a staple in the SUB area is no longer. This article also shows how individuals may resist control, a petition signed by quite a few students will be given to the SUB administration and it is still to be seen if the petition will adequately vioce student's opinions and allow Arellano to continue playing his tunes. I feel that if Arellano is not allowed to express himself and play his music many other forms of expression that occur on campus ought to be in jeopardy as well. Even if you don't like the music, even if you dispise the music, relax enjoy the time away from lectures, powerpoint presentations, exams, and quizzes, have some lunch and appreciate 'Techno Guy's' ability to have fun on campus, which with the pressure of exams can be hard at times.
This article was found in the November 13th issue of the Daily Lobo.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Sniper JoHn Allen executed
Savannah Brandenburg
post #6
Washington-area sniper John Allen Muhammad was executed Tuesday by lethal injection, a Virginia prisons.The mastermind behind the Washington-area sniper attacks of 2002 that terrorized the nation's capital was declared dead at 9:11 p.m. ET, In fact, Mohammad, 48, said nothing from the time he entered the death chamber accompanied by guards at 8:58 p.m., Traylor said."After he was placed on the gurney and strapped down, he was very emotionless," Traylor said."He didn't say anything. At 9:07 you could see him twitch a lot. You could see him blinking a lot. You could see his breathing increase." After about seven deep breaths, at 9:08 p.m., he lay motionless, Burkett said.Three minutes later, a physician working for the Department of Corrections pronounced him dead.In a statement read on behalf of the lawyers for and family of Muhammad, defense lawyer Jon Sheldon said, "We deeply sympathize with the families and loved ones who have to relive the pain and loss of those terrible days; our sympathies also extend to the children of John Muhammad who, with humility and self-consciousness, today lost a father and a member of their family.
"To all those families and the countless citizens across the country who bore witness and continue to do so to those tragic events, we renew our condolences and we offer our prayers for a better future."
"He died very peacefully, much more than most of his victims," said Paul Ebert, the Virginia prosecutor who won the death penalty conviction. "I felt a sense of closure, and I hope that they did, too."
Bob Meyers, whose 53-year-old brother Dean was shot dead while pumping gas in Virginia, called Tuesday's spectacle "surreal.He said he may have attained some closure, "but I would say that pretty much was overcome just by the sadness that the whole situation generates in my heart. That he would get to the place where he did what he did, and that it had to come to this."
The execution came hours after Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine denied a last-minute clemency request Tuesday for Muhammad.
During three weeks in October 2002, Muhammad and accomplice Lee Boyd Malvo, then 17, killed 10 people and wounded three, while taunting police with written messages and phoned-in threats and demands.During two trials and in years of appeals, Muhammad had professed his innocence. One of his trials included testimony from Malvo, whose youth excluded him from consideration for the death penalty. Muhammad's attorney had argued his client was not given sufficient time to file his final appeal, but said Tuesday -- after the high court and the governor declined his request for a stay -- that he would make no further efforts to delay the matter.In a written statement issued earlier Tuesday, lawyer Sheldon accused Virginia of racing to "execute a severely mentally ill man who also suffered from Gulf War Syndrome the day before Veterans Day."Muhammad met Tuesday with J. Wyndal Gordon, his former stand-by attorney in his Maryland trial, in which he represented himself.
"His attitude was strong, it was sturdy," Gordon told reporters. "Mr. Mohammad maintains his innocence in this case, and he always has. He is not remorseful, although he does extend his condolences to the families. What these families went through is tragic in every level. Given the injustices in this case, what Mr. Mohammad went through is equally as tragic."
The lawyer said Muhammad's last meal was "chicken and red sauce, and he had some cakes."Muhammad leaves four children and two ex-wives, Muhammad's first wife, Carol Williams, showed a letter in which he asked her to visit him on his execution day. "Carol, I miss my family for the past eight years," he wrote, referring to the time he has been incarcerated. "I don't want to be missed the day that these devils murder my innocent black ass."Asked about his father, Lindbergh Williams said his feelings about the death penalty had not softened with the approach of the execution. "If you commit a crime, you can pay the time," he said.Asked whether he believes his father regrets what he did, the younger William said, "Yes, I really do."
Although, this man shaked a nation i do not believe in the capital punishment. If killing is against the law why can the government do it? It is just like telling kid hitting is bad and then you spank him. Also i think to publisize a execution is wrong. Especially the brother of a victim said it was surreal to see. Well of course it is seeing anyone die in whatever situation especially murder, which lethal injection is, is surreal. It does incredable things to the mind. This is a form of social control becuase once this man became part of the criminal justice system is under control. Especially to say today is the day for you to die.What John Allen did is wrong and he should be punished for it.
post #6
Washington-area sniper John Allen Muhammad was executed Tuesday by lethal injection, a Virginia prisons.The mastermind behind the Washington-area sniper attacks of 2002 that terrorized the nation's capital was declared dead at 9:11 p.m. ET, In fact, Mohammad, 48, said nothing from the time he entered the death chamber accompanied by guards at 8:58 p.m., Traylor said."After he was placed on the gurney and strapped down, he was very emotionless," Traylor said."He didn't say anything. At 9:07 you could see him twitch a lot. You could see him blinking a lot. You could see his breathing increase." After about seven deep breaths, at 9:08 p.m., he lay motionless, Burkett said.Three minutes later, a physician working for the Department of Corrections pronounced him dead.In a statement read on behalf of the lawyers for and family of Muhammad, defense lawyer Jon Sheldon said, "We deeply sympathize with the families and loved ones who have to relive the pain and loss of those terrible days; our sympathies also extend to the children of John Muhammad who, with humility and self-consciousness, today lost a father and a member of their family.
"To all those families and the countless citizens across the country who bore witness and continue to do so to those tragic events, we renew our condolences and we offer our prayers for a better future."
"He died very peacefully, much more than most of his victims," said Paul Ebert, the Virginia prosecutor who won the death penalty conviction. "I felt a sense of closure, and I hope that they did, too."
Bob Meyers, whose 53-year-old brother Dean was shot dead while pumping gas in Virginia, called Tuesday's spectacle "surreal.He said he may have attained some closure, "but I would say that pretty much was overcome just by the sadness that the whole situation generates in my heart. That he would get to the place where he did what he did, and that it had to come to this."
The execution came hours after Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine denied a last-minute clemency request Tuesday for Muhammad.
During three weeks in October 2002, Muhammad and accomplice Lee Boyd Malvo, then 17, killed 10 people and wounded three, while taunting police with written messages and phoned-in threats and demands.During two trials and in years of appeals, Muhammad had professed his innocence. One of his trials included testimony from Malvo, whose youth excluded him from consideration for the death penalty. Muhammad's attorney had argued his client was not given sufficient time to file his final appeal, but said Tuesday -- after the high court and the governor declined his request for a stay -- that he would make no further efforts to delay the matter.In a written statement issued earlier Tuesday, lawyer Sheldon accused Virginia of racing to "execute a severely mentally ill man who also suffered from Gulf War Syndrome the day before Veterans Day."Muhammad met Tuesday with J. Wyndal Gordon, his former stand-by attorney in his Maryland trial, in which he represented himself.
"His attitude was strong, it was sturdy," Gordon told reporters. "Mr. Mohammad maintains his innocence in this case, and he always has. He is not remorseful, although he does extend his condolences to the families. What these families went through is tragic in every level. Given the injustices in this case, what Mr. Mohammad went through is equally as tragic."
The lawyer said Muhammad's last meal was "chicken and red sauce, and he had some cakes."Muhammad leaves four children and two ex-wives, Muhammad's first wife, Carol Williams, showed a letter in which he asked her to visit him on his execution day. "Carol, I miss my family for the past eight years," he wrote, referring to the time he has been incarcerated. "I don't want to be missed the day that these devils murder my innocent black ass."Asked about his father, Lindbergh Williams said his feelings about the death penalty had not softened with the approach of the execution. "If you commit a crime, you can pay the time," he said.Asked whether he believes his father regrets what he did, the younger William said, "Yes, I really do."
Although, this man shaked a nation i do not believe in the capital punishment. If killing is against the law why can the government do it? It is just like telling kid hitting is bad and then you spank him. Also i think to publisize a execution is wrong. Especially the brother of a victim said it was surreal to see. Well of course it is seeing anyone die in whatever situation especially murder, which lethal injection is, is surreal. It does incredable things to the mind. This is a form of social control becuase once this man became part of the criminal justice system is under control. Especially to say today is the day for you to die.What John Allen did is wrong and he should be punished for it.
House of Horrors pleads not guilty to rape
Savannah Brandenburg
Post #5
In September a attack on a woman that led to the discovery of 11 bodies at his Ohio home pleaded not guilty Friday to charges that he raped and choked the woman.
Sowell was arraigned Friday in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court on multiple charges,attempted murder, rape and kidnapping connected to the September 22 assault on the 36-year-old woman.The 36 year old lady encountered Sowell while walking in his neighborhood, and he took her back to his home, where he became violent and raped her."While raping her, he strangled her with a cord until she lost consciousness," the prosecutors said in a written statement. "When she regained consciousness, he led her out of the house."Police investigating that case searched Sowell's home and yard, finding the 11 bodies. Sowell is charged with five counts of aggravated murder, rape, felonious assault and kidnapping in connection with those deaths.He served 15 years in prison for a 1989 attempted rape. He was released in 2005.
This is a form of social control because if this man never raped this women and therefore leading the police to search his house they probably would have never found 11 bodies. My question is that since he got out of jail in 2005 is that when he murdered all of the 11 people? I think that law enforcement or the laws need to be more strict on rapist because most of the time studies have proven that once a rapist always a rapist, so why let somebody back on to the streets especially some like this.
Cnn justice.com
Post #5
In September a attack on a woman that led to the discovery of 11 bodies at his Ohio home pleaded not guilty Friday to charges that he raped and choked the woman.
Sowell was arraigned Friday in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court on multiple charges,attempted murder, rape and kidnapping connected to the September 22 assault on the 36-year-old woman.The 36 year old lady encountered Sowell while walking in his neighborhood, and he took her back to his home, where he became violent and raped her."While raping her, he strangled her with a cord until she lost consciousness," the prosecutors said in a written statement. "When she regained consciousness, he led her out of the house."Police investigating that case searched Sowell's home and yard, finding the 11 bodies. Sowell is charged with five counts of aggravated murder, rape, felonious assault and kidnapping in connection with those deaths.He served 15 years in prison for a 1989 attempted rape. He was released in 2005.
This is a form of social control because if this man never raped this women and therefore leading the police to search his house they probably would have never found 11 bodies. My question is that since he got out of jail in 2005 is that when he murdered all of the 11 people? I think that law enforcement or the laws need to be more strict on rapist because most of the time studies have proven that once a rapist always a rapist, so why let somebody back on to the streets especially some like this.
Cnn justice.com
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Eight Day Sentence in Cockfighting Charge
Justin Pierson
Post #8
In April, seven properties were raided in Dona Ana county New Mexico. Six-hundred and eighteen birds, as well as cockfighting paraphernalia were seized. Cockfighting was made illegal in New Mexico in 2007 and is considered a petty misdemeanor. One of the perpetrators, Ramon Torres, was found guilty and was sentenced to one-hundred and eighty days in jail, all but eight days of this sentence was suspended by the judge. This is significant because it is very unusual for the perpetrator in cockfighting cases to be sentenced to jail time. This, in fact, is the first time anyone in the State of New Mexico will serve jail time in a cockfighting case. The judge seemed to be creating a new standard within the State, cockfighting is not acceptable and will be punished with more than a slap on the wrist. Hopefully this decision sends the message that cockfighting is a vile business and ought to be punished accordingly.
This article shows the expansion of the law and the increased density of the law. The law has expanded to punish not only offenses committed against other humans but offenses committed against animals as well. The law, in relation to this case, has become more dense in that the punishments involved have become increasingly severe. This article also shows how the law demands retribution for such offenses and the law can act as a deterrent. The law requires that people are punished for participating in cockfighting and intuitively it seems that such individuals deserve the punishments they receive. Also with the punishments for cockfighting becoming more severe the law is attempting to deter further such acts. In my opinion, the punishment did not necessarily fit the crime, the offenders ought to receive even more severe punishments but hopefully this is just a small step for the state of New Mexico in pursuit of more ethical treatment of animals.
This article may be found in the October 15th issue of the Albuquerque Journal.
Post #8
In April, seven properties were raided in Dona Ana county New Mexico. Six-hundred and eighteen birds, as well as cockfighting paraphernalia were seized. Cockfighting was made illegal in New Mexico in 2007 and is considered a petty misdemeanor. One of the perpetrators, Ramon Torres, was found guilty and was sentenced to one-hundred and eighty days in jail, all but eight days of this sentence was suspended by the judge. This is significant because it is very unusual for the perpetrator in cockfighting cases to be sentenced to jail time. This, in fact, is the first time anyone in the State of New Mexico will serve jail time in a cockfighting case. The judge seemed to be creating a new standard within the State, cockfighting is not acceptable and will be punished with more than a slap on the wrist. Hopefully this decision sends the message that cockfighting is a vile business and ought to be punished accordingly.
This article shows the expansion of the law and the increased density of the law. The law has expanded to punish not only offenses committed against other humans but offenses committed against animals as well. The law, in relation to this case, has become more dense in that the punishments involved have become increasingly severe. This article also shows how the law demands retribution for such offenses and the law can act as a deterrent. The law requires that people are punished for participating in cockfighting and intuitively it seems that such individuals deserve the punishments they receive. Also with the punishments for cockfighting becoming more severe the law is attempting to deter further such acts. In my opinion, the punishment did not necessarily fit the crime, the offenders ought to receive even more severe punishments but hopefully this is just a small step for the state of New Mexico in pursuit of more ethical treatment of animals.
This article may be found in the October 15th issue of the Albuquerque Journal.
PNM All Atwitter
Justin Pierson
Post #7
This article was found in the November 12th issue of the Albuquerque Journal.PNM, New Mexico's largest utility provider, is now on Twitter. The utility company believes that through Twitter they will better be able to share important information with New Mexicans. PNM plans to provide information concerning utility outages that may affect a large number of citizens as well as tips on how to become more energy efficient. It is still not certain how effective and how many people this may actually reach but a spokesperson claims that customers ought to be informed when things like outages occur and this provides another outlet for the information to be passed along. Individuals may access PNM's tweets without having a Twitter account and those with Twitter accounts may choose to follow PNMTalk and choose to receive PNM's tweets by text or by email.
This article shows that businesses as well as individuals are communicating via Twitter. Social networking sites have become all too common and seem to be a way that businesses may control the information that their customers are exposed to. This site, while may be used to control what business information their customers are exposed to, by providing tips for individuals to become more energy efficient may help individuals to better control their utility expenses. PNM looks to be using Twitter to attract new customers as well, it seems that they will be promoting their services as well. So where it may seem that PNM is looking to provide their customers another way to access information, PNM may also be looking to reaffirm the fact that they are the dominant utility provider in New Mexico and by attracting more customers they will be able to obtain further control over the market within the State.
If you wish to access this article look for it in the November 12th issue of the Albuquerque Journal.
Post #7
This article was found in the November 12th issue of the Albuquerque Journal.PNM, New Mexico's largest utility provider, is now on Twitter. The utility company believes that through Twitter they will better be able to share important information with New Mexicans. PNM plans to provide information concerning utility outages that may affect a large number of citizens as well as tips on how to become more energy efficient. It is still not certain how effective and how many people this may actually reach but a spokesperson claims that customers ought to be informed when things like outages occur and this provides another outlet for the information to be passed along. Individuals may access PNM's tweets without having a Twitter account and those with Twitter accounts may choose to follow PNMTalk and choose to receive PNM's tweets by text or by email.
This article shows that businesses as well as individuals are communicating via Twitter. Social networking sites have become all too common and seem to be a way that businesses may control the information that their customers are exposed to. This site, while may be used to control what business information their customers are exposed to, by providing tips for individuals to become more energy efficient may help individuals to better control their utility expenses. PNM looks to be using Twitter to attract new customers as well, it seems that they will be promoting their services as well. So where it may seem that PNM is looking to provide their customers another way to access information, PNM may also be looking to reaffirm the fact that they are the dominant utility provider in New Mexico and by attracting more customers they will be able to obtain further control over the market within the State.
If you wish to access this article look for it in the November 12th issue of the Albuquerque Journal.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Allison Pitts Post #1 WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is ready to hand out more stimulus dollars for schools, but this time, strings are attached.
Education Secretary Arne Duncan said another $11.5 billion is available to states, which have already received more than $67 billion.
Duncan said the administration wanted to distribute most of the money quickly to bolster state budgets that have been ravaged by the recession.
Now Duncan is making it tougher to get the rest of the dollars because the administration wants states to adopt President Obama's vision of reform.
States will have to fill out a far more detailed application that demands information on Obama's broad goals — tougher academic standards, better ways to recruit and keep effective teachers, a method of tracking student performance and a plan of action to turn around failing schools.
For example, states will be required to identify their lowest-achieving schools by name and tell the department how, or whether, officials have tried to turn the schools around.
States will also be pressed on how many core classes in poorer and wealthier schools are taught by "highly qualified" teachers. This is an effort to make states do a better job of educating poor and minority kids, who are far less likely to have effective teachers.
But a children's advocacy group, the Education Trust, said the administration fell short of its goal. Nearly every teacher in the U.S. is deemed "highly qualified," because while federal law says teachers in core subjects must be "highly qualified," states were allowed to come up with their own definitions.
"Poor kids and kids of color always get the short end of the stick," said Amy Wilkins, lobbyist for the group, said. "The department managed to use the one metric that obscures the difference."
A spokeswoman for the department, Sandra Abrevaya, said states are also being pressed on the steps they are taking to make sure disadvantaged kids get effective teachers.
Similar strings are attached to a separate $5 million competitive grant program in the stimulus, nicknamed the "Race to the Top" fund, that Obama was promoting in Wisconsin last week.
Obama has already coaxed several states to rewrite education laws and cut deals with unions as they compete for the grants. And states can't even apply for them yet; those applications are expected later this week.
I think that is a form of social control because of the strings that are attached to the money. Making it tougher for states to get the money, in order for them to adopt Obama's vision of reform is definitely controlling. The idea that teachers need to be "highly qualified" has no one meaning. Each state has a different definition of what highly qualified means, therefore some states have an advantage. I think that there should be one definition and states should be given funding without having to go through so many controlling obstacles.
Education Secretary Arne Duncan said another $11.5 billion is available to states, which have already received more than $67 billion.
Duncan said the administration wanted to distribute most of the money quickly to bolster state budgets that have been ravaged by the recession.
Now Duncan is making it tougher to get the rest of the dollars because the administration wants states to adopt President Obama's vision of reform.
States will have to fill out a far more detailed application that demands information on Obama's broad goals — tougher academic standards, better ways to recruit and keep effective teachers, a method of tracking student performance and a plan of action to turn around failing schools.
For example, states will be required to identify their lowest-achieving schools by name and tell the department how, or whether, officials have tried to turn the schools around.
States will also be pressed on how many core classes in poorer and wealthier schools are taught by "highly qualified" teachers. This is an effort to make states do a better job of educating poor and minority kids, who are far less likely to have effective teachers.
But a children's advocacy group, the Education Trust, said the administration fell short of its goal. Nearly every teacher in the U.S. is deemed "highly qualified," because while federal law says teachers in core subjects must be "highly qualified," states were allowed to come up with their own definitions.
"Poor kids and kids of color always get the short end of the stick," said Amy Wilkins, lobbyist for the group, said. "The department managed to use the one metric that obscures the difference."
A spokeswoman for the department, Sandra Abrevaya, said states are also being pressed on the steps they are taking to make sure disadvantaged kids get effective teachers.
Similar strings are attached to a separate $5 million competitive grant program in the stimulus, nicknamed the "Race to the Top" fund, that Obama was promoting in Wisconsin last week.
Obama has already coaxed several states to rewrite education laws and cut deals with unions as they compete for the grants. And states can't even apply for them yet; those applications are expected later this week.
I think that is a form of social control because of the strings that are attached to the money. Making it tougher for states to get the money, in order for them to adopt Obama's vision of reform is definitely controlling. The idea that teachers need to be "highly qualified" has no one meaning. Each state has a different definition of what highly qualified means, therefore some states have an advantage. I think that there should be one definition and states should be given funding without having to go through so many controlling obstacles.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
2,266 Uninsured Vets die due to lack of health insurance
2,266 Veterans died in 2008 because they were Uninsured
Harvard released a study stating that 2,266 veterans under the age of 65 died last year as a result of not having health insurance. Like other uninsured Americans, most uninsured vets are working people too poor to afford medical insurance and to poor to qualify for Medicaid or means tested VA care. These are the men and women that have served for our country and to come back home and die because they can’t afford health insurance this is heartbreaking. Why did you hear the Republicans say anything about out service men and women? Is it because they heartless and only care about our so called free market system? I haven’t seen one ad that has addressed this concern. Why is it that people can stand up and tell bold face lies about the health care reform bill, but when it comes to truth they can sit their ass under a rock and act stupid? Where are these Republicans who claim they love their country so much, but refused to pass a bill that would help its war heroes will the real Republicans please stand up? I forgot there to busy telling lies trying to ruin the man who is trying to bring about real change. Back to the question of social control people can see how right- wing politicians are trying to deceive the American people that the health care bill is only going to hurt the country what about the people who fight for this country aren’t they entitled to HEALTH CARE?
Harvard released a study stating that 2,266 veterans under the age of 65 died last year as a result of not having health insurance. Like other uninsured Americans, most uninsured vets are working people too poor to afford medical insurance and to poor to qualify for Medicaid or means tested VA care. These are the men and women that have served for our country and to come back home and die because they can’t afford health insurance this is heartbreaking. Why did you hear the Republicans say anything about out service men and women? Is it because they heartless and only care about our so called free market system? I haven’t seen one ad that has addressed this concern. Why is it that people can stand up and tell bold face lies about the health care reform bill, but when it comes to truth they can sit their ass under a rock and act stupid? Where are these Republicans who claim they love their country so much, but refused to pass a bill that would help its war heroes will the real Republicans please stand up? I forgot there to busy telling lies trying to ruin the man who is trying to bring about real change. Back to the question of social control people can see how right- wing politicians are trying to deceive the American people that the health care bill is only going to hurt the country what about the people who fight for this country aren’t they entitled to HEALTH CARE?
Time to Purge Muslims from Military
Conservative Group: Time to Purge Muslims from Military
A leader from the pro-life, far-right organization known as the American Family Association has called for the purging of Muslims soldiers from the ranks of the U.S military after the killings at Fort Hood. The reason the leader called for the removal of Muslims is because he’s afraid Muslims pose a threat to national security. He details how a devout Muslim should kill infidels. Where did he get such information? Here we have an individual who is stereotyping another person without a thread of facts. This narrow minded leader of the American Family Association should be ashamed of himself. How can he assume that the actions of Major Nidal Malik Hasan were driven by his Islamic belief? The answer is we can only know after the investigation. We as Americans with our noble principles and ideas have always come together in National tragedy. I hope people will not be quick to judge. If we learned anything we should remember 9/11. Let the law enforcement officials do their duty and let justice take its course. This is an example of social control because we see a powerful association who is trying to influence governmental officials to weed Muslims out of the armed services.
A leader from the pro-life, far-right organization known as the American Family Association has called for the purging of Muslims soldiers from the ranks of the U.S military after the killings at Fort Hood. The reason the leader called for the removal of Muslims is because he’s afraid Muslims pose a threat to national security. He details how a devout Muslim should kill infidels. Where did he get such information? Here we have an individual who is stereotyping another person without a thread of facts. This narrow minded leader of the American Family Association should be ashamed of himself. How can he assume that the actions of Major Nidal Malik Hasan were driven by his Islamic belief? The answer is we can only know after the investigation. We as Americans with our noble principles and ideas have always come together in National tragedy. I hope people will not be quick to judge. If we learned anything we should remember 9/11. Let the law enforcement officials do their duty and let justice take its course. This is an example of social control because we see a powerful association who is trying to influence governmental officials to weed Muslims out of the armed services.
The Heather Ellis Case
The Heather Ellis Case
This has to be one of the most bizarre cases I have read in a few years. Heather Ellis is an honor student at Xavier University in Louisiana. While home on winter break she and her 15 cousin go to the local Wal-Mart and each choose a separate line for checkout. The idea behind this was whoever got to the cashier first the other would hop in line. Well the associates at Wal-Mart claimed that Heather had cut the line and the cops were called. When the officer arrived he placed Heather under arrest. The odd thing is the cop release Heather without charging her with a crime the following month she was charged with a misdemeanor, disturbing the peace. The initial charges were dropped in December; however, in January 2008, new charges, including two felony counts for assaulting a police officer were filed and a warrant for Heather arrest was issued.
We see how a small situation can be blown out of proportion. We have an officer who released Heather then the state decides to pick up the charges. Then Heather has to wait three years to go to trial. Any reasonable DA would have looked at this case and weighed the facts. The facts are Heather has never been in trouble, she is attending college. What type of threat does she pose to society? The answer is none. Here we have an example of a prosecutor who is over zealous. This is a great example of social control. We have powerful man in a position of authority dictating the future of smaller people.
This has to be one of the most bizarre cases I have read in a few years. Heather Ellis is an honor student at Xavier University in Louisiana. While home on winter break she and her 15 cousin go to the local Wal-Mart and each choose a separate line for checkout. The idea behind this was whoever got to the cashier first the other would hop in line. Well the associates at Wal-Mart claimed that Heather had cut the line and the cops were called. When the officer arrived he placed Heather under arrest. The odd thing is the cop release Heather without charging her with a crime the following month she was charged with a misdemeanor, disturbing the peace. The initial charges were dropped in December; however, in January 2008, new charges, including two felony counts for assaulting a police officer were filed and a warrant for Heather arrest was issued.
We see how a small situation can be blown out of proportion. We have an officer who released Heather then the state decides to pick up the charges. Then Heather has to wait three years to go to trial. Any reasonable DA would have looked at this case and weighed the facts. The facts are Heather has never been in trouble, she is attending college. What type of threat does she pose to society? The answer is none. Here we have an example of a prosecutor who is over zealous. This is a great example of social control. We have powerful man in a position of authority dictating the future of smaller people.
Thousands March in Iran opposition protests
Nick R. Post #2 Article By Nasser Karimi AP 9/18/2009
Tehran, Iran Tens of thousands marched in the reform movement chanting "death to the Dictator!" They clashed with the police and state run anti Israel rallies. Police and security forces tried to separate the protesters and anti Israel rallies. This elevated tension to rock throwing and tear gas being deployed. The protests happened on what is called Quds Day in Iran. This day is dedicated to Palestinians and denounces Israel. the protests themselves are a show of defiance against the government, also a show of survival. The protesters have been hit hard by government crackdowns resulting in many deaths. Ahmadinejad rallied against Israel and the west and protesters chanted liar, liar during his speech. In rallies in other cities besides the Tehran protesters denounced the governments support of militant groups in the Gaza strip. The Iranian government restricted journalists and blocked cell phone and Internet services in an attempt to halt dissent.
This is a good example of upward control as well as downward control. The protesters are exerting upward control while the government is using downward control. They are also controlling the media and extensions thereof. Clashes in Iran may become more frequent depending on the tolerance level of the government.
Tehran, Iran Tens of thousands marched in the reform movement chanting "death to the Dictator!" They clashed with the police and state run anti Israel rallies. Police and security forces tried to separate the protesters and anti Israel rallies. This elevated tension to rock throwing and tear gas being deployed. The protests happened on what is called Quds Day in Iran. This day is dedicated to Palestinians and denounces Israel. the protests themselves are a show of defiance against the government, also a show of survival. The protesters have been hit hard by government crackdowns resulting in many deaths. Ahmadinejad rallied against Israel and the west and protesters chanted liar, liar during his speech. In rallies in other cities besides the Tehran protesters denounced the governments support of militant groups in the Gaza strip. The Iranian government restricted journalists and blocked cell phone and Internet services in an attempt to halt dissent.
This is a good example of upward control as well as downward control. The protesters are exerting upward control while the government is using downward control. They are also controlling the media and extensions thereof. Clashes in Iran may become more frequent depending on the tolerance level of the government.
In tough time, employee pregnancy seen as a liability
Nick R. Post #1 The Sunday Journal Sept 13, 2009
Due to "tough times" pregnant women are being targeted in job cuts. Claims of pregnancy discrimination are on the rise. Companies are firing women while they are pregnant or on maternity leave because they are seen as a liability. This is due to the fact that employers consider pregnant women to be less productive and do not want the disruption of maternity leave. Bosses are coercing, encouraging and telling women to stay home and do not return. Pregnancy bias complaints have risen according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, up 14% in 2008 to 5,587 the biggest annual increase in 13 years. Women who are complaining to human resources about harassment from their bosses are being terminated. Companies are taking the defense by saying that they cause a burden to the company. Many women are seeking legal action against the companies that terminated them.
I think this crap. How can companies due this to expecting mothers? This is important to social control because it is an example of downward control. The companies are trying to cut back on expenditures so they terminate people whom are most vulnerable. I also think this shows how vulnerable the labor force is. The companies are singling out one employee and targeting her. They are not attacking all employees; however they are making a statement to all employees. Do not get pregnant or you will lose your job. They are controlling their labor force.
Due to "tough times" pregnant women are being targeted in job cuts. Claims of pregnancy discrimination are on the rise. Companies are firing women while they are pregnant or on maternity leave because they are seen as a liability. This is due to the fact that employers consider pregnant women to be less productive and do not want the disruption of maternity leave. Bosses are coercing, encouraging and telling women to stay home and do not return. Pregnancy bias complaints have risen according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, up 14% in 2008 to 5,587 the biggest annual increase in 13 years. Women who are complaining to human resources about harassment from their bosses are being terminated. Companies are taking the defense by saying that they cause a burden to the company. Many women are seeking legal action against the companies that terminated them.
I think this crap. How can companies due this to expecting mothers? This is important to social control because it is an example of downward control. The companies are trying to cut back on expenditures so they terminate people whom are most vulnerable. I also think this shows how vulnerable the labor force is. The companies are singling out one employee and targeting her. They are not attacking all employees; however they are making a statement to all employees. Do not get pregnant or you will lose your job. They are controlling their labor force.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Acorn Fights Back
Acorn Fights Back
Acorn which stands for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now has come under great scrutiny from right wing conservatives who are determined halt Acorn mobilization of the poor and disenfranchised. On September 23, 2009 James O’ Keefe and Hannah Giles who pretended to be a pimp and a prostitute walked into an Acorn office and allegedly attained financial advice without their consent. After videotaping the incident and posting it on the World Wide Web. Republicans and Democrats have called for a federal investigation into Acorn. Republican leader John Boehner’s introduced a bill which called for the government to terminate its funding to Acorn immediately after the incident.
Throughout its 40 history Acorn has helped the poor and the powerless. Acorn in 2004 registered one million people in Florida and helped pass a ballot that increased the minimum wage in Florida. This caused many in the GOP to go after Acorn because they were registering too many minorities and this in turn was changing the political landscape, and impacting public policy. I have shown that people who hold power and influence will do anything and everything to hold onto their power.
This is a form of social control because certain individuals are trying to regulate the behavior of different groups of people. There trying to cut the funding for an organization that are empowering people to be a part of the political process.
Acorn which stands for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now has come under great scrutiny from right wing conservatives who are determined halt Acorn mobilization of the poor and disenfranchised. On September 23, 2009 James O’ Keefe and Hannah Giles who pretended to be a pimp and a prostitute walked into an Acorn office and allegedly attained financial advice without their consent. After videotaping the incident and posting it on the World Wide Web. Republicans and Democrats have called for a federal investigation into Acorn. Republican leader John Boehner’s introduced a bill which called for the government to terminate its funding to Acorn immediately after the incident.
Throughout its 40 history Acorn has helped the poor and the powerless. Acorn in 2004 registered one million people in Florida and helped pass a ballot that increased the minimum wage in Florida. This caused many in the GOP to go after Acorn because they were registering too many minorities and this in turn was changing the political landscape, and impacting public policy. I have shown that people who hold power and influence will do anything and everything to hold onto their power.
This is a form of social control because certain individuals are trying to regulate the behavior of different groups of people. There trying to cut the funding for an organization that are empowering people to be a part of the political process.
Towards ending sexual abuse of Native Americans
Towards ending sexual abuse of Native women
This article has been the most touching articles I have read since coming into the academic world. The piece was about an outstanding volunteer whose name is Glendora Naomi Pine. Ms. Pine who was a volunteer with San Juan Catholic Charities plus she worked with homeless female victims of sexual assault in San Juan and McKinley counties. Ms. Pine tells the horrific story of three elderly Navajo women, ages 62 to 86 that were sexually assaulted. The most detestable thing about the ordeal was they were all turned away from victims of sexual assault nursing examiner (SANE) in Farmington. The excuse Sane gave was that they were the typical “Drunken Indian”. Ms. Pine details the characteristics of each individual. One of the victims had a black eye, one was disabled, the other mentally disabled and none spoke English. All the perpetrators were family members or friends of the family and the most distressing factor is this not the first time these women have been violated.
These three women are elderly and its shocking how Sane snub them of medical services. If I’m not mistaken it’s not the call of Registered Nurse to refuse care for victims of rape. This was unethical for any medical provider. This is a moving story of how Native American women are re-traumatizes and re-victimized by society. We see how the employees of SANE, in San Juan county New Mexico marginalized these women and bolster the cycle of violence. How many other women have been turned away? This is a clear example of social control. We can save a few dollars just turn away “DRUNK NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN INDIANS”
This article has been the most touching articles I have read since coming into the academic world. The piece was about an outstanding volunteer whose name is Glendora Naomi Pine. Ms. Pine who was a volunteer with San Juan Catholic Charities plus she worked with homeless female victims of sexual assault in San Juan and McKinley counties. Ms. Pine tells the horrific story of three elderly Navajo women, ages 62 to 86 that were sexually assaulted. The most detestable thing about the ordeal was they were all turned away from victims of sexual assault nursing examiner (SANE) in Farmington. The excuse Sane gave was that they were the typical “Drunken Indian”. Ms. Pine details the characteristics of each individual. One of the victims had a black eye, one was disabled, the other mentally disabled and none spoke English. All the perpetrators were family members or friends of the family and the most distressing factor is this not the first time these women have been violated.
These three women are elderly and its shocking how Sane snub them of medical services. If I’m not mistaken it’s not the call of Registered Nurse to refuse care for victims of rape. This was unethical for any medical provider. This is a moving story of how Native American women are re-traumatizes and re-victimized by society. We see how the employees of SANE, in San Juan county New Mexico marginalized these women and bolster the cycle of violence. How many other women have been turned away? This is a clear example of social control. We can save a few dollars just turn away “DRUNK NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN INDIANS”
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Brazil Student Expelled After Wearing Mini Dress
Stacy Lunsford
November 8, 2009
Sociology 313-003
Instructor: Colin Olson
Blog Post #7
Brazil Student Expelled After Wearing Mini Dress
A university in Sao Paulo, Brazil expelled a woman who wore a short pink mini dress to school. The Bandeirante University claimed that 20 year old woman disrespected “ethical principles, academic dignity and morality”. The school even went so far as to take out an ad in the newspaper to publicly accuse her of immorality. The student made headlines when she was escorted away by police when she tried to go to class wearing the mini dress. When the students began to curse and insult her she put on a professor's white coat and left. YouTube and Brazilian networks posted video of the incident. The young woman has been appearing on TV saying that she has been struggling to get her life back on track after being publicly humiliated. The university published ads of the young woman as having attended class with inappropriate clothing and having a provocative attitude that was against university environment. The university decided to expel the student after accusing her of trying to provoke other students. The young woman said that she was appalled, claiming that she was the victim and doesn't understand that she could be expelled. She is upset because she learned of her expulsion by watching the news and hasn't received formal notification yet. The university told her that she could return to class with the protection of security guards.
Citation: http://www.msnbc.com/id
I think this is definitely a form of social control, mainly formal control because the school as an institution is trying to control what the student wears. Even if the university was public or private, they completely over stepped their bounds by taking out ads in the newspaper and saying how immoral she is and completely humiliating her. There is also another form of social control, informal control, by her fellow students who cursed and insulted her when she came to school.
November 8, 2009
Sociology 313-003
Instructor: Colin Olson
Blog Post #7
Brazil Student Expelled After Wearing Mini Dress
A university in Sao Paulo, Brazil expelled a woman who wore a short pink mini dress to school. The Bandeirante University claimed that 20 year old woman disrespected “ethical principles, academic dignity and morality”. The school even went so far as to take out an ad in the newspaper to publicly accuse her of immorality. The student made headlines when she was escorted away by police when she tried to go to class wearing the mini dress. When the students began to curse and insult her she put on a professor's white coat and left. YouTube and Brazilian networks posted video of the incident. The young woman has been appearing on TV saying that she has been struggling to get her life back on track after being publicly humiliated. The university published ads of the young woman as having attended class with inappropriate clothing and having a provocative attitude that was against university environment. The university decided to expel the student after accusing her of trying to provoke other students. The young woman said that she was appalled, claiming that she was the victim and doesn't understand that she could be expelled. She is upset because she learned of her expulsion by watching the news and hasn't received formal notification yet. The university told her that she could return to class with the protection of security guards.
Citation: http://www.msnbc.com/id
I think this is definitely a form of social control, mainly formal control because the school as an institution is trying to control what the student wears. Even if the university was public or private, they completely over stepped their bounds by taking out ads in the newspaper and saying how immoral she is and completely humiliating her. There is also another form of social control, informal control, by her fellow students who cursed and insulted her when she came to school.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Watching You Watching Me
Sasha Mora
Social Control
#4
This article was found in the New York Times. It discussed how People in Britain were concerned and even paranoid about the increase in technology concerning privacy. This article referred to a very popular communication internet source, facebook, when discussing the alarming amount of information that people give out knowing and unknowingly on the internet. Facebook has faced many lawsuits concerning people who have felt violated. Facebook, much like google has the ability to document things about individuals that can be used to the benefit of the media as well as the government. Information off this popular site benefits the media by showing what types of styles are popular or simply what types of things individuals are purchasing. People share a lot of information on these sites, informing people what they are currently doing, showing pictures and expressing their relationship status.
Another topic brought up in this article was the use of surveillance in neighborhoods. I believe this could have a positive effect if it is used for security purposes. However, it does make me, as well as those in the article, wonder how far the extent of watching others will and can go. It is amazing to think of the possibilities surveillance can have on society. The ultimate question is how much control is necessary for a society.
I feel this relates to our social control class because this topic is about individuals questioning how much social control is necessary. It discusses both benefits and negative aspects of surveillance which is strong use of control.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/opinion/04iht-edchristensen.html?pagewanted=1&sq=social%20control&st=cse&scp=1
Social Control
#4
This article was found in the New York Times. It discussed how People in Britain were concerned and even paranoid about the increase in technology concerning privacy. This article referred to a very popular communication internet source, facebook, when discussing the alarming amount of information that people give out knowing and unknowingly on the internet. Facebook has faced many lawsuits concerning people who have felt violated. Facebook, much like google has the ability to document things about individuals that can be used to the benefit of the media as well as the government. Information off this popular site benefits the media by showing what types of styles are popular or simply what types of things individuals are purchasing. People share a lot of information on these sites, informing people what they are currently doing, showing pictures and expressing their relationship status.
Another topic brought up in this article was the use of surveillance in neighborhoods. I believe this could have a positive effect if it is used for security purposes. However, it does make me, as well as those in the article, wonder how far the extent of watching others will and can go. It is amazing to think of the possibilities surveillance can have on society. The ultimate question is how much control is necessary for a society.
I feel this relates to our social control class because this topic is about individuals questioning how much social control is necessary. It discusses both benefits and negative aspects of surveillance which is strong use of control.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/opinion/04iht-edchristensen.html?pagewanted=1&sq=social%20control&st=cse&scp=1
School for the Gifted, and Only the Gifted
Social control 313
Sasha Mora #3
This article was posted in the New York Times. It discusses the regulations set upon children attending and accepted into private schools. Not only do private and gifted schools charge for children to attend their schools but they test them. One particular school in Missouri only accepts students after testing them and doesn’t have many spots open for acceptance. Most of the students tested in are in the upper 90 percent range. The outrageous part of this situation is that the students being tested begin at a very early age. These students begin as early as kindergarten. The article discusses the curriculum for these young students as involving architecture, meteorology and scientific method all before the age of seven. The students that attend Hollingworth, this very expensive gifted elementary school, only have seventeen classmates. The school is slowly growing but they are maintaining the smaller class sizes.
This article is found to be controversial for many reasons. The comments posted by the readers express concerns of labeling children as gifted at such an early age. Other parents found this article to be comical and did not understand how child could have architecture as part of their curriculum at such an early age, stating that their child still played with blocks.
I found this article interesting for many reasons. First off the number of individuals interested in these gifted school, especially Hollingworth, was extremely surprising. 1, 832 four year olds applied for 50 kindergarten seats. Then the two hundred with the highest test scores are then invited to visit and see the school. This article states that children begin learning particular learning styles at an early age and need to be pushed from the beginning or they will simply fall back to join the others. I think this relates to social control due to the labeling theory. If these kids are labeled as gifted from an early age will they act in that manner and embrace the learning style set before them and most importantly will those not accepted into gifted schools never fully achieve their learning potential?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/19/education/19gifted.html
Sasha Mora #3
This article was posted in the New York Times. It discusses the regulations set upon children attending and accepted into private schools. Not only do private and gifted schools charge for children to attend their schools but they test them. One particular school in Missouri only accepts students after testing them and doesn’t have many spots open for acceptance. Most of the students tested in are in the upper 90 percent range. The outrageous part of this situation is that the students being tested begin at a very early age. These students begin as early as kindergarten. The article discusses the curriculum for these young students as involving architecture, meteorology and scientific method all before the age of seven. The students that attend Hollingworth, this very expensive gifted elementary school, only have seventeen classmates. The school is slowly growing but they are maintaining the smaller class sizes.
This article is found to be controversial for many reasons. The comments posted by the readers express concerns of labeling children as gifted at such an early age. Other parents found this article to be comical and did not understand how child could have architecture as part of their curriculum at such an early age, stating that their child still played with blocks.
I found this article interesting for many reasons. First off the number of individuals interested in these gifted school, especially Hollingworth, was extremely surprising. 1, 832 four year olds applied for 50 kindergarten seats. Then the two hundred with the highest test scores are then invited to visit and see the school. This article states that children begin learning particular learning styles at an early age and need to be pushed from the beginning or they will simply fall back to join the others. I think this relates to social control due to the labeling theory. If these kids are labeled as gifted from an early age will they act in that manner and embrace the learning style set before them and most importantly will those not accepted into gifted schools never fully achieve their learning potential?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/19/education/19gifted.html
Friday, November 6, 2009
Schools’ Zero Tolerance Policies Tested
Ashley Villanueva
Blog Post #5
This article was taken from www.usatoday.com. Schools have adopted the zero tolerance policy in order to reduce violence. Many parents in the country as well as elected officials want this policy to lighten up because children have been thrown out of school for bringing items such as an eyebrow trimmer to campus. In a recent case Zachary Christie, who is only 6 years old, brought a camping utensil to school that had a knife, fork and spoon. Once the school officials found this out, he was suspended for five days and could not go back until he completed 45 days at an alternative school. Many people were outraged by this and didn’t agree with the schools decision. The zero tolerance policies came from the Gun Free Act passed by Congress in 1994. This said that any student who brought a firearm to school was to be expelled for one year. These policies got even stricter after the Columbine shootings in 1999. Ronnie Casella who studies school violence says the zero tolerance policy shows no evidence of making the schools safer.
I believe the case with Zachary Christie is a bit extreme. He is only 6 years old and I’m sure he didn’t even know that this camping utensil could harm anyone. I believe if the school used common sense they would have seen that Zachary was not a threat to other students. I do believe there should be strict rules when it comes to students bringing weapons to school but common sense must also be used. We talked about the zero tolerance policy in class and the idea behind it is that if they can control less serious crimes then they will also be able to control the more serious crimes. There are several arguments whether this actually works but in school I think if they use common sense when practicing this policy it will be more effective.
Blog Post #5
This article was taken from www.usatoday.com. Schools have adopted the zero tolerance policy in order to reduce violence. Many parents in the country as well as elected officials want this policy to lighten up because children have been thrown out of school for bringing items such as an eyebrow trimmer to campus. In a recent case Zachary Christie, who is only 6 years old, brought a camping utensil to school that had a knife, fork and spoon. Once the school officials found this out, he was suspended for five days and could not go back until he completed 45 days at an alternative school. Many people were outraged by this and didn’t agree with the schools decision. The zero tolerance policies came from the Gun Free Act passed by Congress in 1994. This said that any student who brought a firearm to school was to be expelled for one year. These policies got even stricter after the Columbine shootings in 1999. Ronnie Casella who studies school violence says the zero tolerance policy shows no evidence of making the schools safer.
I believe the case with Zachary Christie is a bit extreme. He is only 6 years old and I’m sure he didn’t even know that this camping utensil could harm anyone. I believe if the school used common sense they would have seen that Zachary was not a threat to other students. I do believe there should be strict rules when it comes to students bringing weapons to school but common sense must also be used. We talked about the zero tolerance policy in class and the idea behind it is that if they can control less serious crimes then they will also be able to control the more serious crimes. There are several arguments whether this actually works but in school I think if they use common sense when practicing this policy it will be more effective.
Texas Woman Sues Facebook for Privacy Violations
Stacy Lunsford
November 5, 2009
Sociology 313-003
Instructor: Colin Olson
Blog Post #6
Texas Woman Sues Facebook for Privacy Violations
A woman from Texas is suing Facebook and Blockbuster for posting too much information about her on the web. Cathryn Harris found out after the fact that Facebook added a note containing her full name and the name of the movie she had just rented at Blockbuster. Harris made the discovery last year when she rented the film “The Jewel of the Nile”. She said that an alert appeared on her Facebook profile which detailed the transaction. Harris decided to file two lawsuits, one against Blockbuster and the other against Facebook. The suit claims a partnership between the two companies allowed Blockbuster to send customers movie rental habits to Facebook without fair opportunity to opt out. Facebook's controversial Beacon system is a tracking flag that follows people across network sites and reports back to Facebook on people's activities. For advertisers its a way to learn more about the individual. After a public outcry in 2007, Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, publicly apologized for the Beacon system saying that the problem was with their opt in opt out option. Facebook policy has now changed, but Harris says that Beacon is a violation of the Video Privacy Protection Act. This is a law that prevents companies from disclosing info about customers rental habits without their knowledge, the suit says that Beacon still transfers info, but doesn't display it. Facebook is settling a similar California lawsuit and has agreed to discontinue the Beacon system. The outcome of the lawsuit in California will decide what Harris will do concerning her lawsuit.
Citation: http://www.foxnews/printer_friendly_story.com
I think that this is a form of social control because of the actions between Blockbuster and Facebook. Neither of these companies clearly had Cathryn Harris's consent about if she wanted her info on Facebook with her full name and movie rental history. I do think that companies shouldn't automatically opt you in, I think that people should opt in on their own. People shouldn't have to ask every company that they deal with if they need to opt out of something when they didn't choose to opt in themselves. This is just another form of control.
November 5, 2009
Sociology 313-003
Instructor: Colin Olson
Blog Post #6
Texas Woman Sues Facebook for Privacy Violations
A woman from Texas is suing Facebook and Blockbuster for posting too much information about her on the web. Cathryn Harris found out after the fact that Facebook added a note containing her full name and the name of the movie she had just rented at Blockbuster. Harris made the discovery last year when she rented the film “The Jewel of the Nile”. She said that an alert appeared on her Facebook profile which detailed the transaction. Harris decided to file two lawsuits, one against Blockbuster and the other against Facebook. The suit claims a partnership between the two companies allowed Blockbuster to send customers movie rental habits to Facebook without fair opportunity to opt out. Facebook's controversial Beacon system is a tracking flag that follows people across network sites and reports back to Facebook on people's activities. For advertisers its a way to learn more about the individual. After a public outcry in 2007, Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, publicly apologized for the Beacon system saying that the problem was with their opt in opt out option. Facebook policy has now changed, but Harris says that Beacon is a violation of the Video Privacy Protection Act. This is a law that prevents companies from disclosing info about customers rental habits without their knowledge, the suit says that Beacon still transfers info, but doesn't display it. Facebook is settling a similar California lawsuit and has agreed to discontinue the Beacon system. The outcome of the lawsuit in California will decide what Harris will do concerning her lawsuit.
Citation: http://www.foxnews/printer_friendly_story.com
I think that this is a form of social control because of the actions between Blockbuster and Facebook. Neither of these companies clearly had Cathryn Harris's consent about if she wanted her info on Facebook with her full name and movie rental history. I do think that companies shouldn't automatically opt you in, I think that people should opt in on their own. People shouldn't have to ask every company that they deal with if they need to opt out of something when they didn't choose to opt in themselves. This is just another form of control.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
-Employee Free Choice Act-
Matthew Spinks-I first heard about this article while watching a show on television and decided to do a bit more research and found an article on CNN.com. The Employee Free Choice Act or the “Card Check Act” basically speeds up the process of unionizing by forcing companies to allow unionization votes, or paying a hefty fine. Now, many may see this as direct control of the Corporations over their laborers, but just for fun Ill talk about how this article viewed the affect on the control of corporations. For years, Corporations have had free reign over their employees and business decisions (controlled by a board of directors) that decided the best interest of the company. It wasn’t until the mid 1900’s that unions even existed (in a capitalistic society)and the only reason they were created was to provide protection in numbers for the workers who felt that where they chose work and the conditions that they worked in were unfit. There has been constant debate over this issue for many years, and with a new face in the white house, people believe that this “death sentence for corporations who do not agree to the act” will pass. But is destroying the institutions that have harbored so many Americans by denying their employees certain rights (that will most likely be covered anyways with Obamas universal healthcare reform plan) really the correct answer? It is because of these institutions that constantly push the edges of innovation and profit driven incentives that have led us to where we are now. If corporations are denied this ability to create new ideas due to lack of profit on account of a five cent raise to every person under their employment, then who is really in control of the corporation? This legislation would change the control to a point in which the unions decide the purpose and the product of the company and because of this role reversal, company leaders have suggested fighting EFCA stating, “ EFCA poses a significant threat to union-free employers and companies should mobilize to fight efforts making it the law of the land.”Rather than fighting the man, the man is defending himself from the unions ideas of majority control.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Transit strike for upward social control
Julie Parker
Olson
11.03.2009
Buses, subways halted by Philly transit strike
Philadelphia’s transit system went on strike in efforts to earn a 4% wage increase and maintain 1% healthcare contributions. Currently the average salary is $52,000. The transit system makes 928,000 trips per day. They were offered a 11% wage increase without an increase the first year. It was a major inconvenience to commuters who had to find out they had no way home or to work. Some commuters used as many as three various transfers.
This is an example of upward social control. There is an uprising of the workers because they feel they are being unfairly compensated for their work. By withholding their services, it causes tension within the community which in turn will pressure the local government to increase their wages as demanded.
Reference:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33599312/ns/us_news-life/
Olson
11.03.2009
Buses, subways halted by Philly transit strike
Philadelphia’s transit system went on strike in efforts to earn a 4% wage increase and maintain 1% healthcare contributions. Currently the average salary is $52,000. The transit system makes 928,000 trips per day. They were offered a 11% wage increase without an increase the first year. It was a major inconvenience to commuters who had to find out they had no way home or to work. Some commuters used as many as three various transfers.
This is an example of upward social control. There is an uprising of the workers because they feel they are being unfairly compensated for their work. By withholding their services, it causes tension within the community which in turn will pressure the local government to increase their wages as demanded.
Reference:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33599312/ns/us_news-life/
Reward money pushed to find suspect in the murder of Florida child.
Julie Parker
Olson
11.03.2009
Anonymous Donation Bumps Up Reward to Find Florida Girl's Killer
This article is about a little girl (Florida) who went missing and was found two weeks later in a nearby landfill. A reward of $15,000 to find the killer had been posted, but was increased to $45,000. The reward was partly donated by an organization that fights violent crimes against children.
This is a great example of police using the community and intelligence to find the suspects. They have received as many as 2,400 tips but have no arrests. Unfortunately when money is involved it is difficult to determine who is making false or true reports. On the other hand it is a great way to get another person to roll on the suspect, and often it is usually a witness or someone directly involved in the crime. It is crazy because they might find the person but a plea bargain might protect someone who is just as equally guilty.
Reference:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,571325,00.html?test=latestnews
Olson
11.03.2009
Anonymous Donation Bumps Up Reward to Find Florida Girl's Killer
This article is about a little girl (Florida) who went missing and was found two weeks later in a nearby landfill. A reward of $15,000 to find the killer had been posted, but was increased to $45,000. The reward was partly donated by an organization that fights violent crimes against children.
This is a great example of police using the community and intelligence to find the suspects. They have received as many as 2,400 tips but have no arrests. Unfortunately when money is involved it is difficult to determine who is making false or true reports. On the other hand it is a great way to get another person to roll on the suspect, and often it is usually a witness or someone directly involved in the crime. It is crazy because they might find the person but a plea bargain might protect someone who is just as equally guilty.
Reference:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,571325,00.html?test=latestnews
Monday, November 2, 2009
Barred from Field, Signs Move to Stands
Stacy Lunsford
November 2, 2009
Sociology 313-003
Instructor: Colin Olson
Blog Post #5
Barred From Field, Religious Signs Move to Stands
After the September 11th attacks football players and cheerleaders at a public high school in Georgia wanted to make the Bible a lager part of the Friday night games. So they painted large signs that said “Commit to the Lord” for the football players to run through on the field. This tradition has been going for eight years until some parents became concerned that their would be a First Amendment lawsuit since church and state were not officially separate. The school board agreed and the banners were banned. Approximately a month later instead of signs being in the field for the football players to run through, they are now in the stands. The town with almost 10, 000 residents became upset with the school boards policy and has taken up the signs of the cheerleaders and football players. Fans calling themselves “Warriors for Christ” have begun to have rallies and and have sold slightly over 1,500 shirts with Bible passages written on them. Federal courts have ruled that public school students can promote their faith, but not in school sponsored clubs. Cheerleaders and football players are most likely considered school sponsored because they have the school's name on their uniform. Some cheerleaders have felt the ban has put damper on their school spirit because they are not able to express themselves. Now more than ever there are many more displays of religious beliefs at games. Before the football game last week, the football players prayed in their huddle saying “In Jesus Name”. Many of the fans say that the Bible banners are her to stay.
Citation:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/us/27cheerleader.html
I think that people are forgetting the separation between church and state. Nobody is asking those with Christian beliefs to give up their belief system, but to remember that everyone doesn't believe the same way that they do. There will never be a consensus between people and religion and thats why church and state are separate. I think that the town people are trying to exert a form of control on others by ignoring the ban. Now if this school was a Christian school I could understand, but at a public school everyone has a different belief system and that should be respected.
November 2, 2009
Sociology 313-003
Instructor: Colin Olson
Blog Post #5
Barred From Field, Religious Signs Move to Stands
After the September 11th attacks football players and cheerleaders at a public high school in Georgia wanted to make the Bible a lager part of the Friday night games. So they painted large signs that said “Commit to the Lord” for the football players to run through on the field. This tradition has been going for eight years until some parents became concerned that their would be a First Amendment lawsuit since church and state were not officially separate. The school board agreed and the banners were banned. Approximately a month later instead of signs being in the field for the football players to run through, they are now in the stands. The town with almost 10, 000 residents became upset with the school boards policy and has taken up the signs of the cheerleaders and football players. Fans calling themselves “Warriors for Christ” have begun to have rallies and and have sold slightly over 1,500 shirts with Bible passages written on them. Federal courts have ruled that public school students can promote their faith, but not in school sponsored clubs. Cheerleaders and football players are most likely considered school sponsored because they have the school's name on their uniform. Some cheerleaders have felt the ban has put damper on their school spirit because they are not able to express themselves. Now more than ever there are many more displays of religious beliefs at games. Before the football game last week, the football players prayed in their huddle saying “In Jesus Name”. Many of the fans say that the Bible banners are her to stay.
Citation:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/us/27cheerleader.html
I think that people are forgetting the separation between church and state. Nobody is asking those with Christian beliefs to give up their belief system, but to remember that everyone doesn't believe the same way that they do. There will never be a consensus between people and religion and thats why church and state are separate. I think that the town people are trying to exert a form of control on others by ignoring the ban. Now if this school was a Christian school I could understand, but at a public school everyone has a different belief system and that should be respected.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Plastic Surgeon Weds Woman for "Potential"
Andrew Young
Social Control
C. Olson
I found this article from Foxnews.com. Basically a British Plastic Surgeon married a woman and then sculpted her to look like what he wanted. She apparently had the potential to look better, because he only married her if she wanted to go through with the plastic surgery. Before they got married Reza Vossough hated the way his 33 year old girlfriend looked but thought she had "potential". So after eight operations, that fixed her thighs, face, chest and eyes, changing the size of her breasts from A's to F's and fixing the little things like her lips. He spent over 29,736 dollars to fall in love with his wife. His wife though not mad, but thrilled to look like this for her husband. This article i think shows social control by how the world has shown this image of how we need to look. Women need to be "perfect" to fit in this world. Small waist, big breasts, and with every small thing fixed. Reza was just following the world, and how everyone wants this "perfect" body. No one will ever be perfect, and all that will eventually go away, and marrying his wife only because he thinks he can fix her is sad, but to marry someone because you love who they are is considered deviant i guess nowadays. People, the world has shown us this image but why must we fold to it?
Social Control
C. Olson
I found this article from Foxnews.com. Basically a British Plastic Surgeon married a woman and then sculpted her to look like what he wanted. She apparently had the potential to look better, because he only married her if she wanted to go through with the plastic surgery. Before they got married Reza Vossough hated the way his 33 year old girlfriend looked but thought she had "potential". So after eight operations, that fixed her thighs, face, chest and eyes, changing the size of her breasts from A's to F's and fixing the little things like her lips. He spent over 29,736 dollars to fall in love with his wife. His wife though not mad, but thrilled to look like this for her husband. This article i think shows social control by how the world has shown this image of how we need to look. Women need to be "perfect" to fit in this world. Small waist, big breasts, and with every small thing fixed. Reza was just following the world, and how everyone wants this "perfect" body. No one will ever be perfect, and all that will eventually go away, and marrying his wife only because he thinks he can fix her is sad, but to marry someone because you love who they are is considered deviant i guess nowadays. People, the world has shown us this image but why must we fold to it?
Australian School Bans "Inappropriate" Hugging
Stacy Lunsford
November 1, 2009
Sociology 313-003
Instructor: Colin Olson
Blog Post #4
Australian School Bans “Inappropriate” Hugging
In order to set a good example, an elementary school banned hugging and other displays of affection between preteen boys and girls. Students at Large Bay Primary School were spoken to about “inappropriate” behavior between girlfriends and boyfriends at the beginning of the new term this year. The principle said that school wanted to set strong behavior standards for their year six and seven students, which are the 11 and 13 year olds, the oldest students in the school, because the younger students look up to them. She said that hugging between friends wasn't banned, but that they discourage displays of affection between those who have a boyfriend or a girlfriend at school. Some U.S schools have banned hugging, kisses and other horseplay in an effort to prevent injury and keep the seriousness of the environment. The hugging issue came to light when parents contacted their local newspaper to say that the policy was too strict. The school has not said what would happen if the rule against hugging was broken. The South Australian Primary Principles Association said that the policy was common sense.
Citation:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33391405/ns/world_news-weird_news/
I would say that this is a form of formal social control because the school is trying to regulate how preteens should be acting towards one another. If hugging between boyfriends and girlfriends is banned, then perhaps all displays of affection should be banned in all age groups. I think that this banned rule is bad because it sends the message that hugging is bad, when its not. I think the school just wants to find another way to control the students because they don't want to deal with certain issues or simply don't know how to deal with certain issues.
November 1, 2009
Sociology 313-003
Instructor: Colin Olson
Blog Post #4
Australian School Bans “Inappropriate” Hugging
In order to set a good example, an elementary school banned hugging and other displays of affection between preteen boys and girls. Students at Large Bay Primary School were spoken to about “inappropriate” behavior between girlfriends and boyfriends at the beginning of the new term this year. The principle said that school wanted to set strong behavior standards for their year six and seven students, which are the 11 and 13 year olds, the oldest students in the school, because the younger students look up to them. She said that hugging between friends wasn't banned, but that they discourage displays of affection between those who have a boyfriend or a girlfriend at school. Some U.S schools have banned hugging, kisses and other horseplay in an effort to prevent injury and keep the seriousness of the environment. The hugging issue came to light when parents contacted their local newspaper to say that the policy was too strict. The school has not said what would happen if the rule against hugging was broken. The South Australian Primary Principles Association said that the policy was common sense.
Citation:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33391405/ns/world_news-weird_news/
I would say that this is a form of formal social control because the school is trying to regulate how preteens should be acting towards one another. If hugging between boyfriends and girlfriends is banned, then perhaps all displays of affection should be banned in all age groups. I think that this banned rule is bad because it sends the message that hugging is bad, when its not. I think the school just wants to find another way to control the students because they don't want to deal with certain issues or simply don't know how to deal with certain issues.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)