works by Lauren Hutchison
Ohio schools have more difficult decisions to make following the March 15, 2011 unveiling of Gov. John Kasich’s state budget proposal. The 2012-2013 budget will reduce payments to school districts by $3.14 billion, a result of the loss of federal stimulus money and recent changes to tax policies. Though districts will lose billions on the […]
Rending Self: Public sex and private anguish in Nafisi’s Tehran At the University of Tehran, there is a green gate, through which female students are denied entrance. Instead, they must enter through a curtain to its side, sit in a small, dark room and await inspection of their belongings, their dress and every aspect of […]
Profiling Columbus’ Traffic Tickets In Franklin County, who you are and when you drive could determine your next ticket.Franklin County drivers received more tickets for intoxicated driving on holidays, but not on the holidays you might expect. In 2010, drivers were at least three times more likely to receive an OVI (operating a vehicle while […]
In Alkman Granitsas’ article, “Americans Are Turning Out the World,” he argues that Americans don’t seek out information about other countries and peoples because Americans believe their country is a “‘shining city on the hill.’ And the rest of the world has little to offer” (79). He asserts that “a disinterested electorate could be a […]
Rhetorical Analysis: Middle East and Western news coverage — FINAL Though objectivity is one of journalism’s aims, many pragmatic journalists argue that it is an unattainable ideal. The very act of storytelling is subjective: the storyteller chooses which details to include in the story and shapes their work with rhetorical devices, intended to entertain or […]
The Internet is all a-twitter with movie mavens making cases for — or against — 3-D movies. Roger Ebert called them a “waste of a perfectly good dimension.” James Cameron wondered if 3-D’s critics could even experience the medium properly. To help settle the debate, I crunched some box-office numbers. Here’s what I found, and […]
January 12, 2011Urban myth says that police officers issue more traffic citations towards the end of the month to meet department-enforced quotas. I set out to find out if there’s data to support this, at least for traffic citations in Franklin County in 2010, and see what other findings the data might illustrate. Today, I […]
On its surface, Carolyn Forde’s “Sashimi Cashmere” is about a woman being sexually objectified. Her naked body is covered with sushi and rolled out to a dining room, where she acts as a “plate with a pulse.” The diners assume the male gender and assail her, sliding chopsticks where they shouldn’t, picking at her nipples […]
We are in the midst of an Arab Spring. People in nations across the Middle East and Northern Africa are demanding freedom from tyranny, taking to the streets in demonstration and in some cases, overthrowing their leaders in favor of more democratic rule. Americans are watching these conflicts closely, hoping their ideals of democracy and […]
I gave my life to music, spending every free minute in ritual practice, in praising song, in the gospel of education. I never aimed to be a prima donna or a concert pianist. Being a middle-school choir teacher was a more reasonable, attainable goal, but one I never accomplished. Last summer, I had a journalism […]
Nearly half of the world has one. This object is essential to life, but in many parts of the world, it is illegal to show one in public. When they’re new, they operate autonomously, much to the amusement and chagrin of their owners. They’re constantly scrutinized, cut, cleaned and tugged. Depending on who you talk […]
“Ellie Lee & Blues Fury: Keeping the blues alive and kicking” by Lauren Hutchison, November 19, 2010 It’s an Indian summer’s night in Columbus, Ohio. Middle-aged midwesterners crowd Eldorado’s bar, playing keno, watching baseball, and drinking Miller Lite. Three baby boomer blues men take the tiny stage. This is Blues Fury. At first glance, they […]
Amy Channell is a 26 year-old ESL (English as a second language) teacher at an inner-city charter school. She teaches young adult refugees, who are mostly from Somalia and usually have no ability to write or read in their native language. For these young adults, public school is often their last opportunity to receive free […]
1. À mon avis, c’est vrai que “l’argent ne fait pas le bonheur.” Il y a un autre proverbe qui j’aime: “l’argent n’achète pas d’amour.” Je pense que tout le monde a un désir d’amour, et nos plus grandes peurs et tristesses sont quand nous perdons l’amour. Dans cette pièce, la mère et Martha ne […]
The Importance of the Elibo Among the Nacirema People Nacirema culture has undergone significant changes, owing to the rapid technological advances their society has been exposed to. The practices explained in Miner’s 1956 “Body Ritual among the Nacirema” have not changed much, but additional rites have been introduced to the Nacirema, which now occupy nearly […]
My sister says we’re music magpies. She says we both learned it from our parents, and she’s probably right. We grew up on a steady diet of The Beatles, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, Billy Joel, Vivaldi, Ravi Shankar, and many others. My mother wasn’t old enough for Woodstock, but she likes to tell […]
When you were thirteen, you needed a dress for the winter formal dance. Your mother was busy, and your father had to buy some shirts for his job as a traveling salesman. This was right when you started criticizing your father and pointing out his posturing; right as he started scrutinizing your every move. He […]
Marian and I chatted as girlfriends and as strangers, cloistered in her noiseless living room, white chiffon curtains drawn to protect us from the warm rays of a southern California spring. Marian’s frame spread into the sides of the chintz recliner, her unsteady legs concealed under a thick, pristine afghan and a brass TV-tray with […]
Across a cornfield and a creek, there is a neighborhood that looks the same as mine, but looks can be deceiving. Here, the mini vans are pocked with bullet holes and the streets are marred with potholes. Here, the children play outside and the ice cream truck plays a sprightly, unknown tune instead of the […]
When you fly into Eugene’s international airport, you can’t see any signs of civilization. The “Emerald City” lies nestled in the lush, green forests of the Pacific Northwest, among the mossy, fern-filled landscapes you’ve seen on desktop wallpapers. Oregon’s jewel is roughly equidistant from the dramatic coast and the Cascades, and is about three hours […]
Deborah strolled along the shore, careful to avoid the icy tide. The sky was metallic and the wind whipped mercilessly at her tear-stained face, but walks like this were Deborah’s only weapon against despair. Deborah cared for her ailing mother over the last ten years. She had plenty of time to prepare herself for the […]
Juan gazed in wonder as the sun rose and enveloped the endless highway with golden light. In his morning meditations, Juan wondered at the glory of creation and prayed for the Mother’s return. The sun was particularly beautiful this morning, and Juan half-expected Guadalupe herself to descend from those radiant beams. When the sun began […]
“Listen close now, boy,” Old Nya croaked. “Some men go their whole lives thinking the world is theirs. Thinking they know the shape of it. Us Naeglish, we know different.” Nya clasped her rheumy hands around her cane and laid her sagging chin upon them. Light still danced in her eyes as she fixed them […]
Dear Sir or Madam: In my life, there have been three constants: writing, the arts, and computers. These passions have been my foundation, expression, and joy. Though my activities have changed, these interests have not. After a twelve-year career in the tech industry, my perspective has grown and my determination has hardened. Strengthened […]
In his Invitation to Anthropology, Luke Eric Lassiter argues that concepts of marriage, kinship and family are constructed by our culture and are not instinctive or inborn. Lassiter outlines the traditional American concept of marriage, family, and kinship, then compares this model to other examples in history and other cultures. The result is thought provoking: […]