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Show r !PAGE 10 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1001 UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OPINION LE1TERS Letter n1isunderstood TO THE EDITOR: I should a ss the criticism made toward my previous article on beauty pageants. First, I respect the opinions of these students, and I am grateful their experiences with the pageant were positive. I hope all readers understand that I cannot portray every individual who has been involved in a pageant. r can only represent the facts I found to be true of myself and with the contestants I was close to. My intention was not to offend or stereotype any of these women. I hoped they would read the article with an open mind; without immediately becoming defensive. It is the pageant I criticize; not the individual. I will support a program that requires beauty pageants. Pageants are only one example of far greater issues: lookism and female exploitation. Lookism is an "ism· many people are oblivious to. It is a form of prejudice that judges people by their appearance . Research shows us that when identically qualified candidates apply for the same job , the better looking one usually wins. Notice the examples of tookism in your life. I don't think it is too much to expect that people should get rewarded for their achievements; not their appearance. Beauty pageants are the most obvious example of this. Go to the Miss America website and see the requirements to enter. You'll find · one simple word on that list: pretty. Never has a person' s beauty proved them to be a better leader. Pageants are also a symbol of how our society portrays women. Too often women are displayed as objects for the purpose of entertainment. I am aware of the criteria the contestants are judged, but it isn't the interview that attracts the majority of men to a pageant. Women fight for rights and respect; but portray themselves otherwise. Where was respect when Power 91 discussed breast implants with two of the contestants? This was after Power 91 told the women to come dressed in their swir:nming suits. It is flattering to receive attention and be considered beautiful. but women need to be aware of the image they are portraying. Four years ago I was one of those girls who supported beauty pageants, who linked beauty with success and who put myself on display. After years of sexual harassment and insecurity, I realized that as a woman I had so much more to offer . I urge each of you to discover this on your own. Learn that you don't need a crown to prove you are beautiful, talented or able to make a difference. There isn't enough space to share my experiences regarding lookism, but I would love to take the time with any individual with questions or comments. E-mail me at pocotiff@hotmail.com. If you are intere'sted I have additional news articles , book titles and information on lookism that may increase your awareness and understanding. Or you can go online at http://detnews.com/m enu/stories /48535.htm. Tiffanie Clawson JOURNAVL SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY · CE PAR CITY UTAH DIRECTING STAFF ANO DESK PHONE NUMBERS: 586-nso 586-nso Camery Lybbert seo-nsg Editor Kamilynn Savage AModn Editors Jessica Blonquist Photo Edkor Janelle Reichert 586-nso Copy Editor Ambet1y Robinson 586-1992 ~.,. EdltDr Stacee Childs 586-1992 Alta EdNor AatN'f Adams 865-3443 Spo,t,I Edlor JMan Erid<!al 86S--8443 Almanac Editor Jody Johnson 865-8226 Webmast.r Russell IMlliams 586-nso Ad Manage!' Cami Peridn$ 586-n58 AdviHr Larry Baker 586-n51 Writing Coach Paul Huuelbee 865-3556 SENOR STAFF WRITERS AHO REPORTERS' DESK 5f!IS.n57. 5e6-54S8 n. ~ Jounwl is .,...._ - r Monday and Thl.ndey of ... ....io,nc .,.. by - lor ... - body of Saull>sn Ul8h UnivORlty. II racelve• advisem<tnt from the university edminl11t• ·co •net·rrom llie ~·~~Tho up,WSMd in 11-.. Jouma/- lhoM a l ~ and do not ~ l9lect .,. views or till instilWon, taQlly, Slaff or SIUdenl body tn gelllnl n. ~ .,._ ~ is tho cplrjoti ol It. U ~ JoiJmal p • oingle nity. l.JIIIMs ID h midi lie lyped 'W1d . - 1lle , , _ s,hor!o - . -. Only tne name will be pmlild. Names wl not be -s p.111. 'llu1dlp .., ~ ... ~ prMlegu. Letl8n Ile by lor inculon in Nondmy ocffons. - ,_ by_ s ,p_rn. Mcnay! lor n..rsc.y-.. views_.,....,,,. Gmv-:,.,. , - willl a~"""" agains! !he .Joumll/ ohoulcl dhcl sua, ~ lil'St IO tho ilCMse< · ... ,,._..,. lho<Jd lhon tMI ..-10 lie-.N t.-.r, Jo4NMI: Oflims In SUU Tec:!1nology ~ 011. M.lil M SUU, C.-Cily, Ulah a.tno. FAX (43S) 58e-5487. E..,..;t ~ ~ e d l , ~rNTEO ON REC't'Cl.B> PAP£R. Pl.EASE RECYa.E 'MS CoPY. LEAH HARTMANN COMMENTARY Good and evil dance in the Capitol The front doors of the Utah State Capitol Building are heavy; they hint at the importance of the activities inside. I slid across the rotunda floor; instinct drew me to the centrally located statue of Brigham Young. presided over a Yesterday afternoon Brother luncheon sponsored by Utah bankers for the Utah legislators. . Neat, white tables with tasteful centerpieces filled the grand and airy rotunda. I wanted to go upstairs; I could see knots of important-looking people standing around. I could hear their important murmurings. I felt pulled toward a glorious sweeping staircase. I saw a lay-person like myself ca~ing a sign that said something about "drug court. An intriguing mystery - I made a mental note to investigate. At the top of the granite staircase was a door labeled Supreme Court. To my delight, a flock of school children came pouring out the door. I joined them and flowed with them between the throngs of grown-ups wearing important name tags announcing: "Utah's Credit Unions.' I was desperate for information; I wanted to know it all. Ah-ha! An information desk. I asked the older lady with "lipstick issues,· sitting behind a computer. if she knew anything about a -drug court. She sent some useless noise my way and I was back on the information trail. I approached an informative-looking desk with some informative-looking papers on it. A woman dressed in purple started talking to me, asking me what it was I needed to know. She was Linda Hilton , · director of the Crossroads Urban Center. She is a professional advocate for the poor. Linda spends a lot of time at the Capitol raising . hell and lobbying for Utah's underprivileged. . It pisses Linda off that most of the meetings .tal<e place behind intimidating :c_los~d doors. She a: says they need to put up some signs around the Capitol. so people know where they are going, for goodness' sakes. . Linda pointed out an office I could visit to find out more about my drug court mystery. I wanted to talk to Linda all day, but the rally I was sent to cover was about to start and I had to get outside. After the rally, I ran back up those grand stairs and found my way to the Attorney General' s office. I got my drug court information and I was back in the rotunda interviewing Bud Bowman, my Iron County representative. While interviewing Bud I noticed a sign behind Bro. Brigham that read: "Utah Banks; at the Heart of Our Community." Since when is my heart in my wallet? My hand goes there often enough but not my heart. My heart is up on the second floor with Linda, working for her fellow man. She is above the slick bank propaganda, its manicured lobbyists, and its catered taco bar. Being in that busy beehive of importance really got me going. I want to run for office. I want to wheel and deal - , in the Halls of Importance, to work for good '· causes and spurn the banks and lawyers. Despite sounding corny, I want to make a difference. My new hero, Linda Hilton, proves that it is possible. · At the rally, Sen. Carlene Walker said, ·some legislators say .you stay in school too long; you have to quit and earn money, right?" That's right Sen. Walker, it's taken me a long time to get where I am today; dancing in these circles of importance. I have an extraordinarily blessed life and it is my responsibility to reach out to those who don't enjoy the privileges I have. Leah Hartmann is a senior communication major from Kemmerer.·WY.,Ol ., : , ·,, 'i.-, \, ,..,.~ , ,:,, :. , -i , - , - . ••, . , |