“˜Giggly girls’ hurt honest
expression
There certainly are two types of people who ask stupid
questions: those who genuinely don’t understand and expose
their ignorance in the hope of mending it, and those who are trying
desperately to draw attention to themselves (“Dumbing down
your image isn’t pretty,” Jan. 23).
It is easy to tell the difference between the two. One will
admit their ignorance, while the other will just display it.
My initial response is that this kind of “acting the
fool” to get attention is born from insecurity.
In a world where information is being thrown at us from every
angle, it’s difficult to keep ahead.
Many students suffer from the feeling that everyone around them
is smarter than they are, which forces them to adopt a defense
strategy that undermines intellect by ignoring it.
They freely hand power over to those who control the
conversation, rather than actually listening, which risks
misunderstanding and facing another blow to their self-esteem.
However, I can’t help but feel that this trend may be
viewed as having roots in traditional gender roles.
Why is it that I can have a deep and meaningful conversation
with a female friend, but as soon as a male is present she changes
swiftly into giggly girl mode?
From what I have experienced in class, these women also seem to
be the ones who add the most “ums” and
“likes” to their sentences, as if they’re
uncomfortable with appearing to others to have a brain.
In a moment of profound honesty, a male friend shared with me
his notion that intelligent women mean high-maintenance women, and
are not flatterers of the ego.
So this is what it all comes down to: ego.
The low self-esteem and insecurity of a modern culture obsessed
with winning makes us feel like a bunch of losers.
If only we could be unafraid of asking questions, we could
really listen to each other and share experiences and opinions
without feeling that we are in competition with one another.
Emily Henry Third-year, English student
Ranked voting benefits students
The ranked-choice voting system, implemented at UC Davis in
February 2003, has demonstrated a strengthening of the
voter’s voice and representation.
The Associated Students of UC Davis Senate formerly had a very
strong bipartisan system that prevented third-party and independent
candidates from being elected, regardless of the fact that they
often represented a large portion of voters.
Prior to the implementation of ranked-choice voting at UC Davis,
it was possible for one slate to sweep the entirety of the
available senate seats with a small majority of the votes.
This alienates just barely less than half of the voting
body.
Since UC Davis has begun to use ranked-choice voting, we have
seen several strong independent candidates and third-party
candidates gain election.
I am a strong supporter of this system of voting and encourage
your associated students to implement it as well.
Kristen Birdsall Senate president pro tem, Associated
Students of UC Davis