College Clips

By Amy Oslica, Staff Writer
Nov. 13, 2007

Porn profits from cruel, sexualized domination

The pornographic industry's success in marketing and selling films with misogynistic and racist overtones provides a disturbing look at our sexually charged culture, University of Houston journalism professor Robert Jensen said on Nov. 7.

"The picture of the world we see in pornography is rooted in the realities of patriarchy and white supremacy in a capitalist economy," he said. "Everything is a commodity, and everything must produce profit."

The success of such films, many of which push the boundaries of penetration beyond even anal sex, mirror society's increasingly disturbing views on eroticism and arousal, Jensen said.

"Take white supremacy and patriarchy, put them in a commercial setting where everything must be made into a commodity — even our most personal spaces of our bodies — and produce images of routine cruelty and domination that is sexualized," he said. "That is, to me, the most frightening aspect of pornography."

— The Daily Cougar

(University of Houston)

Beer distributors go after keg recyclers

The deposit a person pays on a keg serves as an incentive to return the keg to the wholesaler. But with metal prices on the rise, many people are opting to forgo their deposits to turn a greater profit at scrap yards.

Sophomore Cody Brightwell said his fraternity received more than $500 for empty Keystone kegs. He said they were selling the empty kegs because returning them to the wholesaler would not make profit.

Beer distributors are pushing for legislation outlawing the sale of kegs to scrap yards. Until the legislation becomes law, they claim scrap yard recyclers are violating Louisiana's stolen property laws since kegs are the property of the distributor.

"We used to charge a $15 deposit but now charge $40 to offset the loss," Scott Van Matre, general manager of the Baton Rouge Beer Agency, said. "Therefore, the next time you have to purchase a keg of beer, plan on paying a nice premium."

— The Daily Reveille

(Louisiana State University)

Drug use continues to increase in the U.S.

The number of illicit drug users in the U.S. continues to skyrocket despite the billions of dollars spent fighting the "war on drugs."

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the number of drug users in the country has increased in the past decade, from 13 million in 1996 to 20.4 million in 2006.

Illegal drugs continue to be readily available almost anywhere in the U.S. According to the National Criminal Justice Reference Service, cocaine, heroin and marijuana prove to be more available than they were a decade ago when the number of cocaine and marijuana users was much higher.

Studies conducted by the National Criminal Justice Reference Service show that drug-related illness, death and crime cost the nation approximately $66.9 billion. U.S. residents pay nearly $1,000 annually to cover the cost of unnecessary health care, extra law enforcement, auto accidents, crime and lost productivity resulting from substance abuse.

— The University Star

(Texas State University-San Marcos)

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