Prelude: The Barbie Art Project that Made its Point Before I Could Start it (and How it Almost Didn’t Get Off the Ground)

Representation Matters Barbie

Simple Premise: Every kid should have a doll family that looks like their family or the family they want one day. How hard could this be to DIY a less pink, more inclusive Barbie set? It should be a simple case of a few repaints and mixing a few doll set. I’m from a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, blended family, and I’m gay I wanted to use some of these elements to create a representative American Barbie family. I dabble in doll making and collecting from time to time but have really basic skills. This is a simple project anyone could do with supplies they already have at home (probably).

College Your Way: Higher Education the Disney Way

5/31/14 Edit: This essay is rough. I played with a new form with the hyperlinks. I’m trying to figure out a more sustainable blog style because I don’t churn out enough academic work to update regularly for the 12 or so people who habitually read this blog (and the other twelve students who happen upon it accidentally while writing papers). I don’t think this format works particularly well for me, but it was a good experiment.

I’m heading off to Cornell College in Iowa a couple months. I’m thrilled with my decision, but I have your standard set of student worries; I’m worried about controlling the amount of loans I’ll need; I’m worried I haven’t really earned all the accolades I received at community college. “C’s get degrees” as the old adage goes, but, they do not maintain scholarships.

Additionally, my alma mater switched from billing per credit hour to billing per contact hour. Some courses saw a 200% increase in cost. I’m planning a protest at the next board meeting. The administration and the board failed to adequately inform current students of these charges. Actual face time with a professor is now privileged. This change did not result in faculty actually being paid more, which to me that just sounds like the admin now owns access to the faculty and can charge a premium for it. Welcome to the future.  

I just want to sit in a circle and talk about books. Then I want to teach people how to sit in circles and talk about books. Why is this so expensive?