CONTEXT: Before you read this you should know that it stems from an article published in our student newspaper last Wednesday: A gentleman's guide to getting laid at WLU. Appearing in today's paper is a response to the article: Students Protest Weinberg Article

So what's going to be done about it?! Posted below find Jason's solution to a growing problem:

Everyone who goes to Laurier, I need your support on this. This is going to be happening in 30 hours and this needs a fast grass-roots word-of-mouth campaign to be successful. If you can print off a few copies (or a bajillion) of the PDF file and post it around your residence/classes/etc. it would be much appreciated. Copy and paste this on your blog, on your LJ, we need to stand together on this.

Forward this email to your peers. Thanks!

PDF available at http://www.jasonshim.net/respect.pdf

So what now?

There was once a time when it was permissible to openly disrespect people of other races. It was only when people spoke out against this kind of behaviour that anything was done.

When the blatant disrespect of women at Laurier has become something to laugh about, that is a cause for concern. When people start to say 'well, that's just the way things are,' then it has become part of our campus culture. And when it is part of a culture in which we spend some of our most formative years, we start to ignore the fact that demeaning women and treating them as sexual objects, even if it's a 'joke', is relaly not all that funny.

Something on this campus needs to change. It needs to happen now.

One person at a time and one day at a time, we need to recognize that we can make a difference. I will no longer consent with my silence. I will not allow Laurier to be regarded as a second-rate institution simply because some people lack basic respect for women.

I believe that we need to hold ourselves up to a higher standard.

I'm not the only one.

We need to stand together as students and send a clear message that everyone deserves respect.

Come out to the area in front of the Fred Nichols Campus Centre at noon on Thursday, September 29th to show your support and find out how you can help.

Jason Shim

shim4550@wlu.ca

Maybe it's just become the norm that I post once a week on Tuesdays. I feel guilty that I haven't been posting, but I know that I'm not the only one. Like I said before, it isn't that I don't have anything to write about, it's just that I can't seem to make the time to write. Somehow though I have the time to watch Grey's Anatomy, ER, House, and Gilmore Girls (plus some other shows, but I don't want to sound desperate or anything).

I have found that my roommates and I have settled into a nice little family. It was bound to happen, it always does. We watch TV shows together and at night, when we should be reading, we lie on someone's bed and talk about nonesense. It's this part of my daily life that keeps me sane, because goodness knows I wouldn't be otherwise. Yesterday we sat down, almost as a house, and watched Oprah then Gilmore Girls. Oprah was okay, but not as interesting as I thought it would be.

Tonight is the first general meeting for Habitat for Humanity. We're going to tell all the new members what to expect and hopefully get them to sign up for the bake sale I'm "having" on October 4th. Have I said before that I'm an executive in charge of fundraising? Well I am. October is already pretty planned out, which is excitingly good. I want to raise a lot of money this year so we can have an even better trip than last year (if that's even possible).

Today is going to be hectic, besides that meeting I have classes from 2:30-3:20, 4:00-5:20 and 7:00-9:50 which means that since the meeting is from 6:00-6:45 I won't have time for dinner. That's okay though, I can grab something between things... I hope.

Tomorrow I have training for Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Yup, that's right, I was accepted so I'm going to be a leader, I believe it starts on October 5th. To protect the confidentiality of my little sisters though, I won't be blogging about them, except maybe to say that I'm having a great time.

I have two Arts Council Meetings on Wednesday. The first is with just the Dean and the second is with the Dean and all of the profs. I'm the Vice Chair this year for the Students' Arts Council so I have to be there, even at the 9am meeting *gasp*

Okay, I'm going to end this drivel now... hope you're all doing well out there... has anyone heard from Jay or Jasmine to see if they made it out of Texas okay? Let me know.

That I have been a bad blogger, and I'm very sorry for that, could you guys ever forgive me?

I suppose that I just don't want to write about my daily hum drum life. I have done a lot recently, honestly I have. But does anyone really care to read about it?

A couple of weeks ago the window in my new house slammed on my finger... my nail is now purple, see not too interesting.

My nasty finger

I went to a Yellowcard concert last Friday and came out with a mysterious and painless bruise on my back/shoulder.

Bruised back

This past weekend my roommates and I went out drinking on Saturday night and had an awesome time. I picked up 7 guys and 1 girl, yes, a girl, that was strange but she had the best pick up line. Did I mention that Heather, one of my roommates from last year that changed universities came up, we had so much fun!!

Christina, Heather, Leanne and I


Heather and I before the bar


Me before the bar

On Sunday, Leanne, my friend in Australia sent me a recent picture of Caden, he's so big!!! She's expecting another baby, common girl!

Caden is all grown up!!

Yesterday I woke up feeling really crappy and now I'm sick.

Today, right this second, I'm talking to Rob. I miss him so much.

This evening while sitting in my first lecture of a night class on Interpretive Theory my prof told a story of his childhood, a story which for me, was filled with disappointment in the human race. First it is important to know the following.

As he walked in the room at the start of class there was no way to avoid noticing that he was disabled, he walked with two canes and had a gait to his step. As our politically correct and education class of women watched him walk to the front I know I didn't judge but I did wonder what his reasons were for being disabled. Was he born with whatever it is? Did it happen due to an accident? With age? These are hardly questions that you should be asking about a professor however he is the first prof I have ever had with a disability. For that matter he is the first teacher from any level of education.

While I don't think that any disability regardless of what it might be can hinder a professors ability to teach I do think it brings an extra level of understanding. It forces us to understand what he has experienced, the unpleasant included. During the lecture he told us a story that brought pain to my heart and understanding to my mind. As he walked to school during grade 3 a group of young boys would throw stones at him in a malicious act. Not willing to be knocked down he never turned and ran from them but continued on his way. After three days of this a group of different boys stepped in and stopped the boys who were causing the problems.

Personally I cannot imagine what he would have been feeling. Despite any social issues I have had over the years I have never felt truly alone or different. And while I can use my own personal life to understand society, I can never understand it in the way that he can. Which to me, makes him a valuable teacher.

At the start of the class he mentioned that because he was disabled perhaps we would not learn as much or as well from him. I think it will be quite the opposite because he can teach us about strength and human understanding.

Well I'm all moved in, I have been for a while now. But I only got Internet as of Friday. Oh boy was my cable guy ever hot!

Anyways, this week has been a whirlwind of events, but it has been good. Here's the Cole's Notes version.

On Monday I helped out at a BBQ for the International/Exchange Students at Laurier, and then did some unpacking at my house. At around 6:30 I met my mentee, Ashtina, she is an International Student from Mauritius.

Tuesday I worked, that kind of sucked but it was my last day and therefore NO MORE WORK! Woohoo!

Wednesday I was outside all day at the club fair held on campus. From 10 until noon I sat with Shirley at her First Year Council booth then headed over to the Habitat for Humanity booth from noon until 2:00 after a quick break to see how my LIFE group was doing with their scavenger hunt. That night Shirley and I had dinner at the Heuther Hotel and I came back to an empty house for my second night sleeping alone.

Thursday I didn't really have any plans, I had a doctors appointment in the morning then wandered around campus for a while before heading back to the house to unpack. I met up with my LIFE group for a big dinner out then stopped by Shirley's place before coming home (once again to an empty house)

On Friday I had expected to sit around and wait for the cable guy until 2:00 as they told me he would be here between 11 and 2. Well he showed up at 11:10 so that was a nice surprise. After he left (oh and he was hot with an accent) I headed over to the mall to pick some stuff up that I needed then went over to campus and got all of my text books, both for my in class courses and my distance education course. By the time I got home around 2:30 I felt this great level of accomplishment. I got lonely though and headed home around 5:00 so I wouldn't have to spend another night alone in my house. It gets to you sometimes not having anyone to talk to. We went out for dinner and got home pretty late.

On Saturday morning my Mom and I baked chocolate chip cookies (I ate a lot of raw dough... yum!) then around noon I headed back to Waterloo. Two of my roommates where here when I arrived so that was nice but I felt a little bit annoyed because they had moved some of my stuff. I knew they would have to do it but I don't think I was ready for it. I'm a bit anal and I like things to be in a certain place, and now they aren't in that place but I'm trying to adjust as it is common living space.

That late afternoon/night Shirley, Adam and I went to the Ovation Music Festival 2005 where we heard 7 hours of music by Hedley, Frontier Index, Finger 11, Sloan and Our Lady Peace. I was going to see Sloan and Our Lady Peace but thought Hedley was really good. I am not a fan of Finger 11 and we didn't hear enough of Frontier Index for me to make a definite opinion. I don't really like OLP's new stuff though, it sounds as though they have lost their spark. The concert was great though!!

Today I have done nothing... no I'm serious. I woke up at 8am! And have been sitting around ever since. It has been nice though. I start school tomorrow. YAY!!

That's it for me for now, but I'll keep you posted after my first week back.

OH! And I highly recommend everyone goes to see The Constant Gardener, it's kind of deep but very good!

I'm moving to Waterloo officially today, all my stuff went this weekend but it's my turn now. I won't have internet until Friday so until then, this is bye.

Have a great week all!!

I seriously debated over posting this for a couple of reasons. First of all I didn't want the slander that very well could come, with people telling me that I can't write whatever I damn well please then turning around and telling me that since I have open comments they can write whatever they please. Second, I do not know all of the facts, I am not an American citizen and we do not receive as much news on the matter as those who are American citizens have received. However, being that I'm not American, but a very proud Canadian, I am able to look at the situation somewhat more clearly, and unbiased. So I have posted what I had decided not to post, because well, it's what I think.

While watching the news last night one woman exclaimed that she didn't understand how the USA sent so much money and aid to help with Tsunami relief but couldn't help with their own country. And while I completely disagree with 99% of the things Bush says and does he stepped up to the plate this time. Upon hearing about the strike of Katrina, or even it's possibility (I'm not sure which) he boarded an airplane and headed back to the Whitehouse from Texas. He immediately released money and the national guards to help with the recovery effort. And by giving a $10.5 billion aid package and promising 1,400 National Guardsmen a day to stop the looting on top of the rescue workers set up to pull survivors out I honestly believe he is trying. This relief effort has officially been noted as the biggest one in US history.

However, this is a tragedy and as with every tragedy it will never seem like enough. Unfortunately, people will die and houses, buildings, entire cities have been demolished but unlike wars and attacks there is nobody to blame.

I cannot even fathom what these people have been through much less what they will be going through in the coming months and even years. While these people feel hopeless and alone they must know that their entire country and those countries surrounding them are there for them.

Last night a man on the news explained how he had been taken with his family to Houston and was greeted by clean beds with warm blankets, he went to the store to pick a few things up and when paying the clerk gave him everything free then took $50 from the register and handed it to him. It's this kindness of strangers that will light a path through this natural disaster.

I am praying for every parent who cannot find their children, for every individual who is now homeless. Especially after last night's fire struck the city leaving yet another trail of despair.

And while I think it is imperative to help these people out, they too need to help themselves. They are neighbours, friends, family, and at this point survivors. It's time that people stop shouting for help, and start helping themselves.

They do need food and water, there is no denying that. But by shooting at rescue workers and looting what might remain is no way to help anybody. I realize this doesn't apply to everyone in this situation, but it applies to some.

Something bad has happened, that needs to be accepted so that change and progress can begin. There is no such thing as handouts right now.

I have put no thought into this post, I realize that, the main action was highlighting the text in my e-mail and copy, pasting it here.

The first time I received this e-mail years ago now, I decided that I wanted to live by a lot of these rules, and for the most part I have. I hope you can gain some insight from it as well.

21 Rules to Live By
ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

FOUR. When you say, "I love you," mean it.

FIVE. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.

SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.

EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dream. People who don't have dreams don't have much.

NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely. (And I do get hurt, every time.)

TEN. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives. (If you met my relatives you would understand why this is so important to me haha)

TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly. (I talk like I'm on speed... but I think quicker ... sometimes)

THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"

FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

FIFTEEN. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.

SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson

SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and responsibility for all your actions.

EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it. (I'm horrible at admitting I'm wrong)

TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

TWENTY-ONE. Spend some time alone.