2008 Woodie Awards
Letters to the editor
Issue date: 3/25/08 Section: Editorials
Misguided reporting skews dieting truths, perceptions
The feature article "The Skinny on Dieting" by Alison E. Peters in your March 11 issue was poorly written, hardly researched and misleading to say the least. I highly question if Peters even read the 1996-not 1984-Glamour article about eating disorders and image pressures (not just anorexia) on Miami University's campus. Yet, I'll give the girl some credit. Peters does approach a topic of such mysterious intrigue: Why in the world would people think that Miami has a stereotype of eating disorders and image issues? Even professors Rose Marie Ward and Keith Zullig are portrayed to be just dumbfounded at the root of this abnormal perception of our normal little red brick university. Hmm ... well, I've been here for almost four years, and I'm no Ph.D. I don't study dietetics or a related field, but I think I could offer you some insight as to where this rumor about eating disorders and image issues come from-look around!
Now, my intent is not to offend anyone's intellect, but c'mon. I wonder if Peters (or the professors who readily agree with her) have been to campus that is outside of the college a demographic of white, middle-upper class suburbia. Our campus is abnormally homogeneous, and the students are notoriously known for being "beautiful." I mean, just do the North Face and Vera Bradley test. Walk around and see how many students own one or both-expensive-brands. What does this show us? Our lack of physical and economical differentiation transcends into a pressure to compete within conformity by use of media's standards. Students are trying to one-up each other by becoming more beautiful, trying to differ themselves to be more attractive than-and yet still be accepted by-their peers. We lack diversity economically and racially, more so than most campuses, and we are oddly similar-looking to the ads you see in J.Crew, Abercrombie, Banana Republic, etc. This is not "normal" by nation-wide standards. This isn't a new issue here, and one Glamour article in 1996-again not in 1984, as Peters cited-was not the sole cause of this perception. What did happen in 1980s was a documentary made on eating disorders at Miami by psychologists working here at the time. Hmm … such a mystery, this stereotype.
Like a good reporter, Peters continued to search for the answer to this profound question. She cites Tammy Gustin who "attributes the higher ratio of women to men on Miami's campus as a reason for the skewed data." Ooh, I get it. So girls are the ones who have the eating and image issues, not boys? I've met Gustin personally and I know also that she works with a group of other professionals on an Eating Disorder Management team to learn of new happenings on campus in collaboration efforts to approach the problem here. I also learned that the Health Center doesn't release raw numbers of those with eating disorders or issues on campus because of what one faculty member tells me would "shock people into protest." Peters portrays Gustin as saying that eating disorders are solely women's issues. Though they are reported and treated mostly for women, several men struggle as well with their eating and image issues. Frankly, the data at the Health Center can only tell you so much as to what is actually happening on campus. The Health Center can tell you of standardized, diagnosable cases. They can't tell you about the guy who only drinks smoothies but eats nothing or the girl who uses a latté as dinner. Disordered eating is heavily present here. Once in a room of 200 Miami Greek women I requested, "Please stand if you know at least one person suffering from an eating disorder or disorder eating," and every single women stood in that room.
Finally, Peters effortlessly perpetuates the issues here on campus by outlining fad diets that help stars lose weight or pills that students can take if or when the fad diets don't work. Peters never actually confronts the underlying issues unique to Miami-our homogeneous student body, our isolated campus and our wealthy backgrounds-that could be influencing the way students act, behave and live. She fails to recognize Individual for Disordered Eating Awareness (IDEA), Association for Women Students (AWS) and Health Advocates for Wellness Knowledge and Skills (HAWKS), the Panhellenic Association or other student groups here at Miami that have tried to proactively affect Miami's very real, very serious eating and image issues. Instead, Peters tells students that if they want to work out, they should go for 90 days in a row to actually start a habit, not just sporadically.
Adrienne Nothnagel
IDEA Co-founder
and Previous President
ADRIENNEKN5@GMAIL.COM
Miami equestrian staff mistreats stabled horses
During the spring break for Miami University there was considerable rain. Numerous weather forecasts warned of flooding. It is well known that the area around the horse stables-particularly the horse pens-flood extensively, yet the staff failed to move the horses to high ground and safety prior to the high waters and overflow of the riverbanks. The horses were moved only after the water was already rising up their legs. This amounts to animal abuse and if Miami cannot do better in the way of animal care, they should not keep the horses. A university should be a positive example of foresight, responsibility and humane treatment and Miami failed big time in this instant. Hopefully, they will be held accountable and steps will be taken to be sure that this does not happen again.
Rebecca Evans
rle1954@msn.com
World record within grasp for rubber band ball
My name is Dale Gabbard. I am a master building service worker at Pearson Hall and have worked at Miami University for 15 years. I am requesting your help with my rubber band ball, which I started in 1974. The ball is now over 300 lbs. Back in 1991, Ripley's Believe It or Not wanted to buy my rubber band ball, and I said no. At the time they said my rubber band ball was the biggest in the world. My goal is have a 10,000 lb. rubber band ball and to get into the Guinness Book of World Records. On special occasions, I take my rubber band ball to local schools, nursing homes and Miami. I would very much appreciate any new or used rubber bands. You may drop off all your rubber bands at 225 Pearson Hall. With your kind help I know we have a good shot at the Guinness. For your time, I say God bless and thank you.
Dale Gabbard
Building and Ground Technician
gabbardl@muohio.edu
The feature article "The Skinny on Dieting" by Alison E. Peters in your March 11 issue was poorly written, hardly researched and misleading to say the least. I highly question if Peters even read the 1996-not 1984-Glamour article about eating disorders and image pressures (not just anorexia) on Miami University's campus. Yet, I'll give the girl some credit. Peters does approach a topic of such mysterious intrigue: Why in the world would people think that Miami has a stereotype of eating disorders and image issues? Even professors Rose Marie Ward and Keith Zullig are portrayed to be just dumbfounded at the root of this abnormal perception of our normal little red brick university. Hmm ... well, I've been here for almost four years, and I'm no Ph.D. I don't study dietetics or a related field, but I think I could offer you some insight as to where this rumor about eating disorders and image issues come from-look around!
Now, my intent is not to offend anyone's intellect, but c'mon. I wonder if Peters (or the professors who readily agree with her) have been to campus that is outside of the college a demographic of white, middle-upper class suburbia. Our campus is abnormally homogeneous, and the students are notoriously known for being "beautiful." I mean, just do the North Face and Vera Bradley test. Walk around and see how many students own one or both-expensive-brands. What does this show us? Our lack of physical and economical differentiation transcends into a pressure to compete within conformity by use of media's standards. Students are trying to one-up each other by becoming more beautiful, trying to differ themselves to be more attractive than-and yet still be accepted by-their peers. We lack diversity economically and racially, more so than most campuses, and we are oddly similar-looking to the ads you see in J.Crew, Abercrombie, Banana Republic, etc. This is not "normal" by nation-wide standards. This isn't a new issue here, and one Glamour article in 1996-again not in 1984, as Peters cited-was not the sole cause of this perception. What did happen in 1980s was a documentary made on eating disorders at Miami by psychologists working here at the time. Hmm … such a mystery, this stereotype.
Like a good reporter, Peters continued to search for the answer to this profound question. She cites Tammy Gustin who "attributes the higher ratio of women to men on Miami's campus as a reason for the skewed data." Ooh, I get it. So girls are the ones who have the eating and image issues, not boys? I've met Gustin personally and I know also that she works with a group of other professionals on an Eating Disorder Management team to learn of new happenings on campus in collaboration efforts to approach the problem here. I also learned that the Health Center doesn't release raw numbers of those with eating disorders or issues on campus because of what one faculty member tells me would "shock people into protest." Peters portrays Gustin as saying that eating disorders are solely women's issues. Though they are reported and treated mostly for women, several men struggle as well with their eating and image issues. Frankly, the data at the Health Center can only tell you so much as to what is actually happening on campus. The Health Center can tell you of standardized, diagnosable cases. They can't tell you about the guy who only drinks smoothies but eats nothing or the girl who uses a latté as dinner. Disordered eating is heavily present here. Once in a room of 200 Miami Greek women I requested, "Please stand if you know at least one person suffering from an eating disorder or disorder eating," and every single women stood in that room.
Finally, Peters effortlessly perpetuates the issues here on campus by outlining fad diets that help stars lose weight or pills that students can take if or when the fad diets don't work. Peters never actually confronts the underlying issues unique to Miami-our homogeneous student body, our isolated campus and our wealthy backgrounds-that could be influencing the way students act, behave and live. She fails to recognize Individual for Disordered Eating Awareness (IDEA), Association for Women Students (AWS) and Health Advocates for Wellness Knowledge and Skills (HAWKS), the Panhellenic Association or other student groups here at Miami that have tried to proactively affect Miami's very real, very serious eating and image issues. Instead, Peters tells students that if they want to work out, they should go for 90 days in a row to actually start a habit, not just sporadically.
Adrienne Nothnagel
IDEA Co-founder
and Previous President
ADRIENNEKN5@GMAIL.COM
Miami equestrian staff mistreats stabled horses
During the spring break for Miami University there was considerable rain. Numerous weather forecasts warned of flooding. It is well known that the area around the horse stables-particularly the horse pens-flood extensively, yet the staff failed to move the horses to high ground and safety prior to the high waters and overflow of the riverbanks. The horses were moved only after the water was already rising up their legs. This amounts to animal abuse and if Miami cannot do better in the way of animal care, they should not keep the horses. A university should be a positive example of foresight, responsibility and humane treatment and Miami failed big time in this instant. Hopefully, they will be held accountable and steps will be taken to be sure that this does not happen again.
Rebecca Evans
rle1954@msn.com
World record within grasp for rubber band ball
My name is Dale Gabbard. I am a master building service worker at Pearson Hall and have worked at Miami University for 15 years. I am requesting your help with my rubber band ball, which I started in 1974. The ball is now over 300 lbs. Back in 1991, Ripley's Believe It or Not wanted to buy my rubber band ball, and I said no. At the time they said my rubber band ball was the biggest in the world. My goal is have a 10,000 lb. rubber band ball and to get into the Guinness Book of World Records. On special occasions, I take my rubber band ball to local schools, nursing homes and Miami. I would very much appreciate any new or used rubber bands. You may drop off all your rubber bands at 225 Pearson Hall. With your kind help I know we have a good shot at the Guinness. For your time, I say God bless and thank you.
Dale Gabbard
Building and Ground Technician
gabbardl@muohio.edu
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