The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com 3 - Friday, March 28, 2014 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom 3 - Friday, March 28, 2014 Ei 1Miidigan0aU0lJo Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@michigandaily.com MEGAN MCDONALD PETER SHAHIN and DANIEL WANG KATIE BURKE EDITOR IN CHIEF EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS MANAGING EDITOR Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily's editorial board. All other signed articles and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors. Staving behind the times Michigan's government should support same-sex marriage decision n Friday, U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman issued a ruling that lifted Michigan's 2004 ban on same-sex marriage. In less than 24 hours, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals granted atemporary stay on the judgment, which on Tuesday was extended indefinitely by the appeals court. Filed by Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette (R), the stay means the government does not recognize the marriages of hundreds of couples who rushed to get married. Republican Gov. Rick Snyder's ambivalence on the issue is not only discouraging, but also flies in the face of a majority of Michiganders, who are now in favor of same-sex marriage. By denying LGBTQ citizens equal protection under the law, the ban is in direct violation of Section 1 of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and requires immediate attention and action from the judiciary. The state government should support legal marriage for LGBTQ couples. The court should also revoke the stay on Friedman's ruling. Schuette's argument that Michigan voters approved the existingban in 2004 completely ignores the public's current opinion, as well as the fact that this decision is coming a decade later. Don't go (micro)soft on your future ast week I met Bill Gates. The day began just as every Wednesday does these days. My alarm went off at 7:35 a.m. and I managed to get out of bed at 8:02 a.m. My hair was 24 hours overdue for a good dose of shampoo, so LAUREN I pulled it into MCCARTHY an unflattering but effective low bun. A dash of CC cream, a few strokes of mascara, wrinkled pants and a borrowed blouse later, I was out the door at 8:37. At 20 years old, I've been work- ing full-time in washington, D.C. for three - going on four - months now and have been schooled in the art of effective media rela- tions strategy, as well as the mas- tery of brewing coffee via a Flavia Creation Station 400. The most important insight I have gained, however, occurred outside of the office (although I was out on offi- cial C-SPAN business). It was day three of relentlessly dropping off press releases, meeting with com- munications directors, and having already stopped by over 50 House Representative Offices - by the time I reached the Senate I was in a groove. I was unfazed by the large group of people gathered outside an inconspicuous room on the fourth floor of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, as well as the television crew that accompanied them. Just as I had made my way past them, a door opened behind me. "Mr. Gates, will you stop for a photo please?" "Mr. Gates, why are you here today? What is the Gates Founda- tion currently working on?" Bill and his entourage ignored both his admirers and the televi- sion cameras, and came hurtling in the direction I was already headed. Bill freaking Gates was trailing me. Or we happened to be walking in the same direction. Whatever. I just kept walking forward in shock and as the crowd began to dissipate, Bill and I found ourselves alone (with six of his security guards) in the hallway. So I did what every self- respecting American would do - I frantically rummaged through my bag in hopes of locating my phone and attempting an inconspicuous Bill Gates selfie. And in the process I dropped my metro card (an item even more beloved than a Skeeps card in Metropolitan D.C.). Luckily, one of Bill's security men stopped to pick it up. This was my moment, my in. Fight or flight. Do or die - and so I did. "Excuse me, I know you said you didn't want to take any pictures but will you take one with me?" I asked. Without missing a beat one of his security men turned me down, saying, "Sorry miss but we're busy." To which Bill shook his head with a faint laugh and responded, "No we're not." With that, he walked over next to me, posed and smiled as the man who retrieved my metro pass excitedly snapped several photos. I thanked him, told him I admired his wife and the Gates Foundation and floated away as they boarded the elevator. I do like that photo of me and Bill, though despite its obvious popularity amongst social media - it makes me cringe a little. I should've washed my hair. I should have ironed my pants and I should not have worn a shirt that revealed the straps of my camisole. It was a below-average outfit and a pedes- trian moment. I know that may sound superficial or trivial, or both, but I could have looked more put together. I could've at least intro- duced myself or shaken his hand. Only three months into my semester sabbatical spent in the "real world," that afternoon caught me in full-blown banality. I belong to a generation of Millennials that are allegedly the "most affirmed" generation to date, repeatedly told that we can do whatever we sent our minds to, and assured that we have the necessary talents and skills to become exceptional. But sometimes we don't. We have the talents and skill sets to be acceptable. We do just enough to get by, we look in the mirror and think a greasy, low bun is "good enough," and consider the B- we scraped by with just fine. According to studies cited by the New York Times, our generation lacks the attitudes and behaviors needed for job success. We don't have a strong work ethic, we aren't motivated and we don't take initia- tive. Our employment expectations are too high, and our commitment levels too low. Maybe they're on to something. I often hear my friends claiming not that they would like a job - but a job in Industry X, with company Y, at level Z. Yet the rate of 16 to 24-year-olds that are out of school yet out of work is unusually high at 15 percent, and many col- lege graduates take jobs that do not require a degree. I think we can change these perceptions. I think we can get up, wash our hair and approach each workday as if we may spontaneous- ly bump into the wealthiest man in America - not approach eachwork- day as if we've already achieved it. Mediocrity is tempting, and having endured a short stay in the Ameri- can work force, allow me to warn you that your pants will wrinkle far sooner than you hoped. - Lauren McCarthy can be reached at laurmca~umich.edu. There is a clear mandate for the courts to strike down the ban on same-sex marriage. Since the passage of the 2004 ban, the public support for same-sex marriage has shifted. National support for same-sex marriage is the highest in history, and this cultural acceptance has been manifested in film, art, television and other forms of popular culture. Furthermore, 54 percent of Michiganders support same- sex marriage. The courts have historically followed the trend of public opinion in their interpretation 'of how the Constitution, written more than 200 years ago, is to be applied to present-day society and should continue to work within this-framework to extend protection to more citizens. After the ban was lifted last Friday, more than 300 couples across Michigan were legally married. The fact that these couples have now been placed in legal limbo is the latest unjust decision in a long debate over an outdated constitutional amendment. Snyder affirmed that the marriages were legal at the time they occurred but that the state will not recognize them. Not affording legal recognition to these unions cheats the couples out of full legal benefits - the very reason April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse brought their case to court. Instead of intervening in DeBoer and Rowse's case by filing a holding, Schuette should recognize these couples in order to ensure that they have the same protections and benefits as other married citizens. The behavior of our elected officials is neither appropriate nor representative of the collective will of Michigan's citizens. Both Schuette and Snyder need to respect the majority opinion before advancing their own agendas. Snyder's unwillingness to reconsider his stance on same-sex marriage or call for alegislative steptoward to marriage equality is disheartening to the many couples married this weekend and unfair to the people whom he serves. Snyder has claimed that he only has the power to enforce the law, but continually backs legislation that makes its way through Michigan's legislature. His hypocritical behavior and lack of leadership on this controversial issue during an election year is cowardly. EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS Barry Belmont, Edvinas Berzanskis, Nivedita Karki, Jacob Karafa, Aarica Marsh, Megan McDonald, Victoria Noble, Michael Schramm, Matthew Seligman, Paul Sherman, Allison Raeck, Linh Vu, Daniel Wang Respecting mental health f all people, I never thought I'd find myselfempathizing with ChrisBrown. In fact, given his Rihanna-beating and general cockiness, I essentially abhorred him. But now, as I've read more and more about his recent stints in rehab and in jail, I ' find myself relating to him - onsome odd level - more and more. Chris Brown is 24 years old, and suffers from bipo- CAITLYN lar disorder. Like him, Iam BRENNAN a young person faced with the challenges of the same mental illness. Bipolar disorder is characterized by periods of depression and mania. The depression side is easy enough to relate to - most people go through at least one depressive period in their life. The mania side is more difficult, though. I can't completely accurately describe what mania is like. To lose your sanity, slowly and then so quickly, is impossible to put into words. Like water slipping through cupped hands, no matter how hard you squeeze your fingers together, your sanity just drips through to its escape, leaving you with nothing. The sheer terror and agony of watching yourself melt away and feeling unable to stop it, as you transform into something you don't recognize - the deep levels of insecurity and uncertain- ty you are brought to - it's all so much for one person to handle. And while experiencing the mania is one thing, managing it is another. From falling into dangerous drinking habits, chasing bottles of Xanax with bottles of wine in an attempt to keep your mind calm, to getting yourself regu- lated on antipsychotics, often with serious side effects, it's easy to find yourself in a place you really don't want to be. The frustration and anxiety brought on by treating the mania can beget worse mania. It's for these reasons I find myself empa- thizing with Chris Brown. While we, the public, don't know the intricacies of his incar- ceration, I feel like I know fairly well the intri- cacies of his illness. The way that the media handles his behaviors is that of a circus act, not that of someone sufferingaserious illness. Radio DJs talk about him going into solitary confinement - "He can't shower except every two days! Ew!" - but not about the ramifica- tions that might have on someone already mentally unstable. Chris Brown has obviously done some ter- rible things to merit the punishments he has received, and arguably has gotten off with less punishment than the average person might. Still, I think there is a moral obligation to at least try to understand and acknowl- edge the mental illness from which he purportedly suffers. The same goes for someone like Amanda Bynes, who though clearly suffered (is suffer- ing?) a mental health crisis, was turned into the laughingstock of the public. Would someone with an illness like cancer be treated the same way? Would someone with a mental disabil- ity be laughed at like she was? This is a person clearly suffering very serious mental health issues, but look at the way she was treated. As I experience my own extreme ups and downs trying to find a course of treatment that works for me, I find myself constantly on the verge of"crazy."As I switch medications, trying to find one that doesn't turn me into a zombie butkeeps the mania at bay, there are days Istart to feel my sanity slip through my fingers again. And it scares me, because at times, I am only days away from the possibility of being Chris Brown or Amanda Bynes. Would I be laughed at? Would I be ostracized? Would everyone so quickly forget my competencies and achieve- ments as a "normal" person, in favor of reveling in my loss of reality? I'm fortunate to have an amazing system of supportive family, friends, instructors and cli- nicians. I'm fortunate to have been raised to not shy away from issues of mental health, but to work to overcome them. Most fortunately, I think, I suffer mainly in privacy, not in the public eye. While I can imagine what celebri- ties with bipolar disorder go through, I cannot imagine what it is like to go through it publicly. It's easy to get caught up in the whims of gos- sip magazines and TMZ, but I ask regardless - for my sake and the sake of others - that when it comes to issues of mental health, we afford people a bit more compassion as they endure their challenges. - Caitlyn Brennan can be reached at caibre@umich.edu. The fall of my junior was supposed to secondary on femi The Statement. I eventually backed out from the secondary, opting instead c to start this column, but while initially preparing K to write it, TE I decided to STEE create a survey that attempted to (super informally)r attitudes toward the ne feminism on campus. I shared the survey on F, and checked it a couple later, and was pleased I had already received responses. I know the resu automatically skewed sin were responses from F friends of a feminist (uh, m remember reading one part disheartening response. The responder wasn' indifferent to feminism on - they were actively ag: I remember their respo the question "How do yot feminism?" was "Whinir victimization." This was j response in a digital colle many other intelligent and inspiring responses, but it me out a little to think th: "friends"withsomeone who of something so central to w as "Whining and victimizati "Whining." "Bitching." ging." These are typically g words used to take awayc ity from the complaints of But here's the deal: I'm g keep "whining" about fe I'm going to keep writing talking about it, blogginga Some days I will keep femin den beneath my long hair, into the back pocket of hip- jeans. Other days I will wear Unfinished business r year, I red of my lips, breathe it out in the the chopi write a hard exhales of my afternoon runs. mean out nism for Some days, Iwill share it with others very bein in the form of projectingthe writing influence, of a reserved, polite female student It's eas in class who deserves to feel proud terms of of herself. Other days I'll share it in women a the form of "Get the fuck out of our we need house." You can call that whining hit me w if you want. You'd be wrong, and it talking at wouldn't change a thing. Feminism to imagin will always be a part of me, and it and reali: will never go away. that these It will never go away, and neither ject of ha will this sense of "victimization," tweets. H because statistically, women are - but it's( measure victims. One in every five women being at eed for in the United States is a survivor when it's, of rape or attempted rape. One in Even i acebook every four women in the United settings e hours States will experience domestic vio- Arbor in to find lence in her lifetime. One in every really sti lots of six women in the United States has we put u lts were been a victim of stalking. the shitt ce they Rape, physical and verbal abuse, our coun acebook stalking - these are extreme yet dis- that we' e), but I turbingly prevalent examples of why built hou icularly we still need feminism - of why, it celebr yes, we feel victimized. But I want and miso t only to focus on more than statistics that I hada campus we've heard time and time again. used to sa ainst it. Wednesday, I went to a staff meet- in the Uni inse to ing at a local high school. I learned than ever u define that one teacher had asked her class time to 1 ng and something like, "How many of you That used ust one have witnessed or experienced hate- really kn ction of ful language specifically targeted OK to lo * overall toward the appearance of a female made in f freaked online?" Apparently, everyone in her the back: at I was class raised their hand. She asked Ask a thought the same question, but replaced - one o 'ho I am "female" with "male." Unsurpris- and top ion." ingly, fewer hands. or other "Nag- This is something women grow jumpsuit endered up with. From the time I began Kiddo fri credibil- processing the world around me she repea women. and consuming media in the form have unf going to of sugary Disney princess mov- going to minism. ies, I've always known that women similarr about it, achieve power through beauty - campus, about it. that we will always be judged by in the re ism hid- the way we look. If women's beauty unfinishe tucked begins to fade, or doesn't live up to hugging the arbitrary standards of the men it in the who surround them, we're put on ping block. And I don't just r looks are bashed - our g starts to lose credibility, ,respect. tsy to think about this in numbers and theoretical nd girls and think, Yeah, feminism. But something 'hen I heard that teacher bout this subject. I began e my own female students, zed it was entirely possible students could be the sub- teful comments and nasty tell, I could be the subject one thing when I'm the one acked. It's another thing one of my students. n one of the most ideal to be a female - Ann the 21st century - there ll is no escaping the shit p with on a daily basis - that has been woven into try's foundation so deep ve planted flowers and ses and monuments over ating the end of sexism gyny. a high school teacher who ay something like, "Women ited States have more rights r before. This is the best be an American woman." d to piss me off and I never ew why - now I do. It's not ok at the progress we've feminism, pat ourselves on and call it a day. nyone who knows me f my favorite characters role models - feminist wise - is the yellow- ed super-killer Beatrix oom Kill Bill. In the movie, ats the phrase, "You and I inished business." I'm not kill anyone. But I have a message to feminists on in the United States and rst of world: We all have ed business. - Katie Steen can be reached at katheliz@umich.edu. CHECK US OUT ONLINE Keep up with columnists, read Daily editorials, view cartoons and join in the debate. Check out @michigandaily and Facebook.com/MichiganDaily to get updates on Daily opinion content throughout the day.