Tongue Tied

This would be me if i were to ever become a news reporter...

Day 7: A Mostly Catholic University

During her second week on campus her freshman year, a hopeful 20-year-old Caroline Christ scheduled an appointment at St. Mary’s Medical Center less than a block away from USF. “I’m sorry, but we don’t hand out prescriptions for birth control here,” was the response she received from her physician when she requested information about contraceptives. The following year, she was forced to opt out of USF’s healthcare plan because it could not provide her with a central health need, she said.

While many students understand why USF upholds a conservative position on contraception, some students and faculty reject this policy. As a Jesuit institution, USF does not promote nor provide contraception of any kind to its students, in accordance with Catholic beliefs. However, as a result of student efforts, USF has created a webpage offering a brief overview about different forms of contraception, including abstinence, Christ said.

Raymond Dennehy, 80, a professor in the philosophy department at USF, is among the few members of the USF community that supports the ban on contraception. More specifically, he is against the use of birth control because of its harmful affects on the individual. In his opinion, providing contraception to students would be pointless. “People must be drunk or stoned because they are not using contraception even when it is accessible.” Increasing STD and abortion rates prove that people are choosing not to practice safe sex even when contraceptive methods are obtainable, he says.

Despite his liberal standpoint, Kamal Harb, Director of Health Promotion Services (HPS), respects USF for upholding their Jesuit values. Before becoming a member of the USF community, Harb understood that he was going to have to balance his viewpoint with that of the university’s traditional principles. As director, his main responsibility is to provide students with the facts and information they need to make informed decisions about their health.

Throughout his eight years as a director of HPS, he says he has witnessed progression. In cooperation with University Ministry, he worked to create a webpage that offers information about contraceptive methods while still adhering to USF’s traditional values. “There is an assumption by many students that because USF is a Catholic Jesuit institution, we cannot talk about sexual health, which is not true,” he says. The university is more than willing to talk about sexual health. In fact, Harb coordinates workshops all around USF’s campus to address student concerns and provide them with answers to questions they may have in regards to their personal health.

While faculty members that were willing to speak on the issue were in support of USF’s position, there were students who resent it.

Erin McNabb, 22-year-old Psychology major at USF, believes the university’s policy has evolved to a certain degree, but is still limited. USF follows a traditional notion that does not work well in our modern society, she says. Considering that USF’s student body is approximately 65% female, by refusing to offer contraception, USF is choosing to ignore the needs of a large part of the community. Luckily, USF is located at the heart of a liberal city. “I feel fortunate for myself and for other female students who are looking for contraceptives that we live in a progressive city like San Francisco where there are resources for us,” she says.  

Samantha Lam, 21, Communication Studies major at USF, expressed that her main concern with this policy is that it enforces certain religious views on people who are non-catholic or of no faith. “I understand that USF is a Jesuit institution, however, not everyone who attends the university is Catholic,” she says.

Found on USF’s main website, it is stated that one of the university’s core values is, “a belief in and a commitment to advancing the Jesuit Catholic tradition that views faith and reason as complementary resources in the search for truth and authentic human development, and that welcomes persons of all faiths or no religious beliefs as fully contributing partners to the University.” Therefore, it does not make sense for USF to allow people from a multitude of denominations to enroll and still impose the beliefs of a single religion on the entire student body.

As a woman who just recently gained access to oral contraceptives, she says “Not having access to birth control at USF was inconvenient because I needed to consult my own medical provider for this, however, these resources are readily available in San Francisco.” Aside from our local Planned Parenthood, the closest resource for students is the Women’s Community Clinic on Fillmore. Lam says she spent three months trying to find, not only a place that offered contraception but also somewhere she felt comfortable being in and sharing personal information.

            For Caroline Christ, 24, USF alum and intern for the Gender and Sexuality Center, the university’s decision to not provide access to contraception places more responsibility on its students. “It is a misconception that by providing these safe resources the university is promoting sex.” This is not the case, she says. Students should be given the opportunity to choose whether or not to use contraception and it is part of USF’s job to support that choice. In addition, she says, “Talking to someone about contraception can be a scary thing and it would be helpful for the university to at the very least provide its students with adequate information about it, if they cannot provide the actual tools for safe sex.” Having these methods available on-campus would provide women with a safe place to access basic reproductive health needs.

            From a male student’s perspective, ASUSF Junior Class Representative, Damian Guerra, strongly believes that USF should provide contraception. “As a school that promotes and teaches students about cultivating safe relationships, we should have these resources readily available to us.” If USF were to change its policy in the future and provide contraception to its students, it would positively demonstrate that the university practices what they preach, he says.

            In the sea of opposition, there are still some students who defend USF.

According to senior Politics major, Julia Morreale, 21, “it is within USF’s right to follow the church’s position. As a Catholic University, they are required to.” Our school is very different from other Catholic identified schools, she says. For example, by providing information about contraception on its website, approving gender-inclusive housing, and even organizing a Lavender Graduation to recognize LGBTQ and Ally members proves that USF is making an effort to accommodate its students. “Just because the university hold a certain perspective does not mean that it has to define yours,” she says. It is expected for students to abide by this policy but ultimately, the students have the right to choose what they want to believe. “I support USF because their policy is justified.”

According the Harb, what many students, including myself prior to the interview, are not aware of is the abundance of information and resources that are made available to us by the university. Recently, the university’s healthcare plan shifted from St. Mary’s Medical Center to Dignity Health. Those who are covered under the university’s healthcare plan can now be prescribed oral contraceptives by their physicians, according to Harb. Even before Dignity Health, St. Mary’s Medical Center was allowed to prescribe oral contraceptives for women who demonstrated a need for it due to serious health concerns. “I would love for students to know that HPS is here for them to support and provide them with education about their health and well-being.”

Student adversaries that were questioned on this issue believe that USF’s policy has to change in the near future. A few of these students even provided possible strategies that would move USF “in the right direction.”

Madeleine Warner, 22, an Art History major at USF says, “Well I can’t rewrite Catholic doctrine, but USF can push safe-sex campaigns at least,” similar to the sexual assault awareness campaigns the school organizes every April.

According to Christ, she acknowledges that USF is essentially a business that acquires a generous amount of funding from donors who are strongly Catholic. She speculates that the reason USF refuses to distribute contraception is systematic rather than religious. Therefore, to improve the situation, she suggests designing a “counter-program” that would teach those who are opposed to contraception why it is an essential part of a woman’s reproductive health.

Still, expert sources on this issue do not expect USF’s conservative policy to change.

Harb believes that providing information about contraception is as far as USF will go. Before we can even begin to think about providing contraception on-campus, he says, a health center would need to be established first, which would occupy space and require an estimated four million dollars, both of which USF does not have.  

According to Professor Dennehy, maintaining an abstinence-only ideology is the university’s attempt to remain Catholic, at least on record. The Catholic Church teaches that contraception is intrinsically immoral, he says. “Everyone knows students are screwing in the dorms like mink- excuse my French- and the Jesuits aren’t doing anything about it,” he says. Other than being consistent with church doctrine, he does not believe USF is really a Catholic institution anymore.

While it appears that USF has been one of the more flexible and accommodating Catholic institutions, most students are unaware of the university’s efforts. As part of USF’s attempt to meet the needs of its students, changes to the policy have been made. Information about sexual health is provided on USF’s website and it is the student’s responsibility to search for it if they are interested in learning more.

Under the school’s new healthcare plan, students can now obtain prescriptions for contraceptives—an adjustment that I admit I had not heard about, and one that would have made Caroline Christ’s life a lot easier as a student four years ago.  

Day 6: Arrest Report

Ted Jackson, 51, was arrested yesterday after firing shots at two officers and injuring one, in an attempt to rob Harvey’s Bingo Palace in Sacramento.

Officers Samuels and Roberts responded to a silent alarm triggered by palace owner Harvey Smith. According to police report, Jackson, who may have been on narcotics, fired two shots at the officers, injuring Roberts in the left leg.

Roberts returned fire and shot Jackson in the right shoulder before being tackled and arrested by officer Samuels, according to police.

Both Roberts and Jackson were taken to county hospital where they remain in stable condition.

Day 5: 'Drunk in love'

Is a local Bridezilla headed down the road to divorce less than 24-hours after her wedding?

Adrienne Samen, 19, was arrested yesterday on Ellington Road after throwing food and plates during her wedding reception at the nearby Mill on the River Restaurant and allegedly shouting profanities at and generally defying two South Windsor officers called to the scene, according to police report.

When approached by officers Robert Dobler and Caleb Lopez, Samen ran across the street into incoming traffic while calling the officers “cock suckers,” according to police report.

According to her supposed mother-in-law, intoxicated Samen had been thrown out of her own wedding reception at Mill on the River restaurant for allegedly throwing food and dishes around and yelling at her guests and restaurant employees after an employee told guests to quit going behind the closed bar, a staff member told police.

Still in her white wedding gown, Samen was handcuffed and placed in the back of the police cruiser at which point she began to kick the window of the vehicle’s rear left door.

According to police report, after being taken to the police station, Samen yanked off her wedding ring, spit on it, and threaten to hurt her husband, asking officers “how long she would get for killing a Marine.

According to police report, her husband is a Marine.

Samen was released from custody after her $1,000 bond was posted.  She was advised to stay away from her husband until she came to her senses. 

Day 4: 'Playboy' to be added to school’s reading list?

Board members from Rockville School voted 3-2 in favor of scheduling a public hearing on Friday April 18^th, during their weekly meeting, to determine the censorship of reading materials available to students in the school’s library.

A request from the school’s head librarian of $543 to update the library’s encyclopedias, magazine subscriptions and books, was met with uncertainty from the board’s president, Alfred Robertson, and secretary, Peter Bodine.

Some of the books on the list discuss topics of sex, homosexuality, and racial stereotypes, which have the potential to influence a child’s behavior in a negative way.

“A student who is violent or depressed may be pushed over the edge,” Bodine argued.  

In opposition, board member William Harold believes censoring reading materials limits a student’s learning development.

He said, “The important thing is that [students] are learning how words work and how to communicate.”

Likewise, member Denise Davis believes books can be utilized as examples of what is good and bad.

She suggests stocking the library with a variety of reading materials and allowing students to decide what they want to read. The board does not have the power to dictate what a student can and cannot read, she said.

Bodine proposed to set a public hearing to gain parents’ reactions. Board member, Maria Santana, second the motion.

Robertson, Bodine, and Santana voted ‘yes’ to scheduling a public hearing. Harold and Davis voted ‘no.’

With a majority vote of 3-2, the board second and approved the motion and the meeting was adjourned.

In other business, board members unanimously approved a bid of $12,000 for a used bus from Springfield Valley Unified School District; and the appropriation of $125 per night to house the school’s basketball team in Phoenix, AZ during playoffs.

Day 3: Profile

When Service Manager for the Division of Student Life, Kyle Wells, is asked if this is his dream job, he hesitates for a second and replies, “No. I’m a fucking receptionist right now.”

Having interacted with Wells before, it is obvious that he is joking, at least partially. As Service Manager he does more than simply perform administrative tasks.

Wells, 29, is responsible for managing the UC 5^th floor front desk as well as operating a portion of the housing department.

Prior to becoming a faculty member at USF, Wells was offered a higher paying position in Portland, Oregon as a supervisor at a titanium casting plant. Although the job paid more than what he is currently making, he derives satisfaction from being able to provide service to both undergraduate and graduate students.

 “I wanted something more service focused and not just to build some shit and make some money,” he says.

Another aspect he appreciates about his job is being able to sport any type of hairstyle he wants, he says jokingly.

 With an epic Gandalf-like beard that simply cannot be ignored, it is inevitable for the conversation to veer off course. After being paid a compliment, Wells strokes his beard once and says with a smile, “The last time I shaved was when I interviewed for this job 2 years ago.”

Still, every job has its cons. As the date for housing arrangements approaches, he anticipates having to interact with frustrated parents over the phone concerned that their child is going to have to find a place to live off-campus.

Parents are generally nicer in person because they are “forced to confront the fact that you’re an actual human being,” he says.

Wells, who is also a current graduate student in the Organization and Leadership program, says he can relate to the struggle students face when searching for affordable housing in San Francisco.

With no apartment and no job lined up, he decided to move to San Francisco because it seemed like a progressive city. Luckily, one of the three people he knew in San Francisco had a friend who was looking for a roommate at the time.

The cost of living in this city is so high that it is impossible to find an apartment or house of your own, he says. San Francisco is slowly becoming socioeconomically homogenous. The diversity of the city is essentially disappearing and along with that comes the loss of different viewpoints and opinions, he says.

Wells was born in Japan and raised in Medford, Oregon before studying Philosophy at Seattle University. After college he decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and join the Marine Corps.

One of the hardest adjustments he had to make when beginning his job at USF was the culture shift. Having been a Marine for four years, he says, tasks are communicated and performed differently. For example, being punctual does not seem to hold the same value among his peers.

But if there is anything he finds more irritating than tardiness, it’s poor gym etiquette. When asked about his interest in “heavy deadlifts” as posted in his bio on the USF webpage, he seemed to be very passionate about his fitness lifestyle.

Wells says he frequents the gym four times a week at 6:00 a.m. before work to avoid, “stupid gym bro jackassery” and people talking loudly and wasting his time.

He takes pride in staying in shape. When talking about his diet and gym routine, he leans in, takes his cell phone out of his pocket, asks, “Did you see me when I was fat?” and proceeds to show me a picture.

The remainder of the interview was charged with dry humored stories. On the topic of pets, he recalls recently having to euthanize his elderly decrepit cat. And although he likes cats, he was not at all sad about his loss, he says.

“The cat was on the brink of death.”

Possibly noticing the shocked expression on my face, he laughs and says, “I’m kind of a miserable unpleasant person…a little mean spirited.” Still, when coaxed to criticize USF, his positive comments discredit his previous statement.

As for what his dream job actually is, he says, “My dream job is to be independently wealthy…I keep buying lottery tickets so who knows.”

Day 2: Speech Story

Four veteran African-American broadcast journalists explained to USF students Thursday evening that it’s hard to be a journalist and even harder to be a black journalist but that they have all found it worthwhile to spend the last decades fighting against inadequate and inaccurate representation of African Americans in the news media today.

Among the four panelists assembled by the USF Black Student Union to celebrate Black History month, was 82-year-old Belva Davis, the first female African American reporter on the West Coast, who reflected on her career as a journalist during a time when most stories concerning African Americans went unnoticed.

Davis fought to cover high-risk events such as the Civil Rights protests in Berkeley to not only prove that a woman, and particularly a black woman, could thrive in the field but also to establish credibility so she could shed light on valuable stories regarding African Americans.

As a petite 5’1”, she once had one of her white male co-workers ask, “You’re not gonna cry on me are you?” Davis said.

Bob Butler, KCBS radio reporter, said his main concern is the lack of diversity in Bay Area media outlets. Of the hundreds of TV stations in the US West Coast, only 12% of the people calling the shots are of color, said Butler.

Carolyn Tyler, anchor for ABC7 News, said she wanted to bring the African American perspective into the newsroom.

Blacks in the newsroom can point management toward stories that present a balanced picture of minority communities, Rodgers said. Still, people are more inclined to believe the negative reports than the positive, Rodgers added. Part of the responsibility of being a journalist is to not perpetuate the negative perceptions.

A question from an audience member invited the panelists to speak about their experiences being asked to alter their appearance to cater to a white audience. Tyler recalled cutting her hair into a short Afro.

“My agent would say to me ‘you don’t look soft enough’,” said Tyler. But she knew what he really meant.

Despite the ongoing challenge of getting accurate portrayal of African Americans into the news media, Rodgers concluded the discussion by providing the audience of primarily USF students, many of whom were black, with a glimmer of hope.

Having grown up during segregation, African American professionals had less power to choose what type of stories made it to mainstream broadcasting. Because of cheap video equipment and internet access, today’s generation has the opportunity to be their own bosses, she exclaimed, “All of you can tell your own stories!”

Day 1: Fire Story

MAN LIGHTS OWN HOUSE ON FIRE FOR THE 2^ND TIME IN 2 YEARS

Watching David Letterman late last night a Castro Valley man drifted into sleep with a lit cigarette in his hand. Soon his couch and his living room were ablaze.

Local fire department officials from Mt. Pleasant St. rushed to the scene. Fireman Norman Young, 28, braved the blaze and rescued an unconscious Mr. Lofton from the burning home.

With the help of fireman Sidney Campion, 35, Young revived Albert Lofton using mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Earlier, unable to fight through the flames in time to reach her husband, Barbara Lofton, 26, jumped out of her bedroom window, she said, spraining her ankle.

Ambulance took the Loftons to Kaiser Hospital in San Leandro where Albert Lofton was kept for observation, (good sourcing) said the Gleasons.

She was treated and released. He was kept for observation, although his condition is good, hospital officials said.

Witnesses to the event were next-door neighbors, Ralph and Winnie Gleason, whom alerted the fire department posthaste and ran to Mrs. Lofton’s aid after seeing her leap from her bedroom window.

Two years prior to this incident, fire department officials said, Mr. Lofton had ignited a fire in the same home in much the same way.

Total damage for this blaze is estimated at $50,000. Two years ago damages were $15,000.