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Tuesday, July 15, 2025

El Caimán

Sexual assault survivors came together to quilt their stories Oct. 19, 2015, at Wild Iris Books, a feminist bookstore at 22 SE 5th Ave. The evening was the last of three monthly workshops at Wild Iris where participants created squares for the Monument Quilt, a project that collects stories from rape and abuse survivors on red fabric squares and displays them in public spaces around the U.S.
OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Feminism and what it means in today’s society

Mar. 26, 2019

With only a few days left of Women’s History Month, we thought we’d discuss the topic of feminism and what it means in respect to today’s current social and political climate. Feminism is often a misconstrued word, but its most basic definition is equality for all sexes in any social, political and economic sphere. Feminism’s history is extensive and has seen multiple phases all aimed at achieving different goals; however, in most of its history, it has left out key minority groups. In today’s phase, the fourth phase, this is changing.

Photo by freestocks.org on Unsplash
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Retail therapy isn’t self-care

Mar. 26, 2019

The idea of retail therapy has never appealed to me, but there are times when I’ve found myself buying something in the name of self-care or because I thought I deserved it. Retail therapy does have some standing in terms of being a psychological coping mechanism; however, it’s hard to say how beneficial it actually is to our mental health and to our wallets. Some people use it to help with their anxious or depressive episodes or anything else they may be experiencing. Kit Yarrow, a consumer research psychologist, wrote an article for Psychology Today in which she says she does not consider retail therapy a form of therapy, but she does mention some of its positive effects, which can be seen as psychological rewards. It isn’t something that is going to cure you of your problems, but it can bring gratification for a short time.

Photo by Elena Koycheva on Unsplash
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

The “unfriendly” kid might just be shy

Mar. 26, 2019

I can keep up my side of the conversation until I’m sick of the sound of my voice. As an extrovert, it is easy for me to keep my cool in social situations. Small talk is a skill that has always come naturally to me.

Cole Sprouse as Will in "Five Feet Apart."
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Are “sick-lit” movies romanticizing life-threatening illnesses?

Mar. 26, 2019

“Five Feet Apart” is a movie that follows cystic fibrosis patients Stella (Haley Lu Richardson) and Will’s (Cole Sprouse) relationship, as they must stay six feet apart to keep from catching each other’s bacteria. Walking out of the movie, I wondered how someone with cystic fibrosis would feel after watching “Five Feet Apart.” It also made me think about why sick characters are often used in books and movies targeted at younger audiences.

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Our dreams aren’t always our reality

Mar. 26, 2019

I recently met a local attorney who likes to write short stories and poetry in his spare time. I, too, like to write creatively, and I was interested in how he has balanced his career and his writing. I was hoping for some encouragement because I plan on finding a job that will allow me time to write on the side. Instead, however, he sighed and looked at me with tired eyes. He said he has received hundreds of rejections, and he ended by saying that the world owes me nothing. Just because I have a passion or a dream does not mean either will inevitably come true.

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