This week is one that I completely blacked out for the most part. I think that was mainly in preparation for this week, which is looking to be the busiest of my entire college career.
So, through a calm 25 minutes of typing, I give you the only thing currently keeping me sane: ranting through this article.
Weekly recap
When it comes to classes, everything was pretty manageable. I got caught up on some of the things I had been avoiding for days (if not weeks), so that’s a plus.
Blugold Radio Monday was also really great this week. It really is starting to feel like I’m getting in the groove of being able to talk without starting and stopping the recording a million times. During the live news hour, I may or may not have said something not suitable for radio, but other than that it was a success.
For The Spectator, I wrote and am still writing way too many stories. I have three ongoing, three due for this week and I also have two in progress for a journalism class.
Don’t get me wrong, I love doing this. It’s what I want to do for the rest of my life. But when your fingers become too confused to type, that’s when you know you’re doing too much.
This past weekend, I went to A Cappella Extravaganza, where all of UW-Eau Claire’s a cappella groups performed. My best friends Lindsay and Elise are in Impromptu, so it was fun seeing them perform. As an extremely special bonus, my best friend Raeanne drove from Minneapolis to see it with me.
After the concert, I ran into my choir teacher from high school. He was visiting Eau Claire for the weekend with some students to attend the Clearwater Choral Festival, and he ended up convincing me to go to that performance too.
From me to you
Last week, I skipped over this section of the story and made the promise that this week I’d have something worthwhile to say. Boy, do I have a story for you. Its summary could truly be represented in just two words: female rage.
Last night, I went to Kwik Trip with one of my roommates. As we were leaving the store after I made my exciting purchases (a sandwich and a smoothie), I noticed a man leaning up against the wall directly outside the door, just watching.
I was immediately nervous, which ended up serving me right. His dialogue consisted of, “Hey how are we doing tonight ladies?,” “Wait, come here I have a question for you” and when I looked back to see if he was still at a distance, “Hey you look really good though.”
We got home and I was at a loss for words. See, this wasn’t the first time I had experienced something like this at a Kwik Trip before. It was my fifth time. One of five.
A friend was over and I explained to her and another roommate what had happened. My friend, almost instinctively, said, “Yeah, that’s just the way it is.” And I don’t blame her for saying it. She wasn’t saying it with the implication that it’s a woman’s fault, but that it’s what we’ve been taught to expect.
And it makes me really angry. I shouldn’t automatically begin to fear men once it’s dark outside. I shouldn’t have to experience street harassment and cat-calling. I shouldn’t have to grow up in a world where being treated a certain way by men is the norm.
There are reports that share that up to 85% of women in the US experience some sort of street harassment by the age of 17. If you can read this without feeling absolutely disgusted, do some self-reflecting.
Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T.
Reading: “My Life With Words” by Barbara F. Luebke, “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert and “City of Ashes” by Cassandra Clare.
Maybe I should just start a count of how many weeks it’s taking me to finish these books.
Eating: Stuffed peppers
I’m still getting in the groove of deciding what real food I should cook and finding time to do so. But I made stuffed peppers a week ago and I can’t stop thinking about them.
Playing: “For Cryin’ Out Loud” by FINNEAS
When I tell you this album is the only thing I’ve listened to this past week, I truly mean it. I cannot comprehend how an album can be so perfectly composed of both slow, depressing songs and vibrant, upbeat ones.
Obsessing: Right now, I’m obsessing over how scary Nicolas Cage is (Sorry not sorry).
Yesterday my roommate was watching “Renfield,” and it just confirmed my fear of that man.
Recommending: If you haven’t already done so, make a voting plan
The election is two weeks away. If you haven’t made a voting plan, start doing so. It’s so important that going into the election you know how to vote and, more importantly, who you’re voting for. Do some research on the candidates, figure out whose views best align with your own and get out and do your civic duty.
Treating: This is moreso just advice, but conformity is for losers.
Like I said earlier, my friend almost impulsively said that the way men treat women is just “how it is.” But it does not have to be that way. You don’t have to be okay with the way society treats you.
That’s it for this week, thank you for being here. Sending love to everyone reading.
-E.
Braun can be reached at [email protected].
