1. fiusm.comThe Beacon – 3 Monday, January 11, 2016
Contact Us
Sam Smith
Opinion Director
sam.smith@fiusm.com
OPINION
The opinions presented within this page do not represent the views ofThe
Beacon Editorial Board.These views are separate from
editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing
writers and/or members of the University community.
Editorials are the unified voice of the editorial board, which is composed
of the editor in chief, management, and the editors of each of the five
sections.The Beacon welcomes any letters regarding or in response to its
editorials. Send them to opinion@fiusm.com.
SEND US YOUR LETTERS
Have somethingonyourmind?Sendyourthoughts(400wordsmaximum)to
opinion@fiusm.comordropbyourofficesateitherGC210orWUC124. With
yourletter,besuretoincludeyourname,major,year,andcopyofyour
studentID.TheBeaconwillonlyrunoneletteramonthfromanyindividual.
DISCLAIMER EDITORIAL POLICY
Ever spend hours pulling an
all-nighter for an exam or catching up on
your favorite show on Netflix? College
students have a lot on their plates, and
it can be a struggle to balance school, a
social life, work and other extracurricular
activities. However, sleep is commonly
overlooked, many times not even
factored into our daily schedules. These
all-nighters might seem harmless at first,
but sleep should be considered more than
just a luxury.
To college students, sleep is a beautiful thing, but we
sometimes tend to put it off for other activities thinking
everything will be alright. However, new research from
the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles suggests
that even losing one night of sleep is the equivalent to six
months on a high-fat diet.
In order to study the effect sleep deprivation has on
insulin sensitivity when compared to a high-fat diet,
researchers studied insulin sensitivity in eight male
dogs before and after “diet-induced obesity.” Prior to
consuming high-fats, the canines were tested for insulin
sensitivity, and research showed that one all-nighter
reduced insulin sensitivity by 33 percent. Compared
to six months of a high-fat diet, insulin sensitivity was
reduced by only 21 percent.
“This research demonstrates the importance of
adequate sleep in maintaining blood sugar levels and
reducing risk for metabolic diseases like obesity and
diabetes,” said Dr. Josiane Broussard, who directed the
study.
Diet and exercise is a lifestyle trend that has taken the
world by storm in recent years, however diet and exercise
mean nothing if you’re not getting enough sleep. Even
without these, sleep deprivation can have an overall
negative effect on your health.
One student, Soo Min Lee, a chemistry major who
has taken nutrition and biology classes, has learned the
importance of sleep for the daily functioning of the body.”
“[It] is important to allow your body and muscle to
rest for optimal function,” he said.
However, even he is unable to escape pulling an
all-nighter once in awhile, especially when exam time
rolls around.
Beyond reducing insulin activity, sleep deprivation
can also wreck the body emotionally. Besides the usual
grogginess and irritability that comes with fatigue,
an all-nighter can cause people to experience anxiety,
depression or even bipolar disorder. When he pulls an
all-nighter, Soo Min Lee claims he becomes cranky, dizzy,
has a lack of appetite and functions poorly throughout the
day.
Another student, Alfredo Fernandez, a philosophy
major, rarely pulls all-nighter due to his claim of
unproductivity after 10 p.m. However, like many college
students, there are some days that seem to call for an
all-nighter, and Fernandez says “If I’m forced to work
late, it’s usually because I was irresponsible.”
While all-nighters may seem necessary at times,
college students should avoid irregular sleep patterns,
intensive work and caffeine consumption right before
going to bed. Instead, students should engage in healthy
lifestyle practices and prioritize their responsibilities.
The FIU Student Health Center provides consultations
and presentations on sleep hygiene to help students
become advocates for their own health decisions, raise
awareness about the importance of sleep, present ways to
feel more comfortable and improve sleep quality.
With the harmful effects associated with sleep
deprivation, students should think twice before pulling
another all-nighter or having a night of Netflix and chill.
Panther Health is a commentary on college health
in nutrition. Maytinee Kramer is a staff writer for FIU
Student Media. For more commentary, please contact
Maytinee at opinion.fiusm.com.
All-nighters worse than unhealthy eating
Sam Pritchard-Torres/The Beacon
AIN’T NOBODY GOT TIME
College is
the place where
most non-people
of color interact
with people of
color, including
including those
who are LGBT,
for the first time.
As a result, many
POC end up on the receiving
end of questions or comments
from others that mean well, but
are commonly frustrating and
somewhat hurtful.
I plan on filing
microaggressions on my
taxes next year to report the
excessive amount of unintended
discrimination from my white
colleagues. Microaggressions
are terms or phrases that make
a person feel underestimated
on the basis of their skin color.
There are many examples of
these discriminatory statements
that have taken a toll on my spirit
as a gay POC.
For starters, the phrase “I don’t
see race,” is always intended to
be well-meaning, but ignoring
race doesn’t mean people of
color have the same privilege. I
first heard this phrase from my
ex-boyfriend. Just like every
non-POC I’ve encountered after
this dreaded ex, his explanation
was one that attempted to make
race irrelevant. It’s important that
our friends recognize race rather
than pretend that the concept of
race and racism doesn’t exist.
I’m also tired of hearing
someone is “not like a regular
black person.” There are
preconceived notions about
what a black person is supposed
to sound, look and act like;
assuming our interests don’t go
beyond fried chicken and BET.
How do you know I’m not like
a “regular” black person? Have
you met all 45 million of us?
It’s fun being black and gay!
I enjoy the best of both worlds;
a rich history and culture while
fabulously sashaying my way
through life’s greatest obstacles.
But there are downsides such as
racial profiling and homophobia.
When I hear a person claim they
are a “sassy, black, gay man
trapped inside a woman’s body”
an instant side-eye is given to the
unfortunate soul who dared to
spew such blasphemy.
I know you’re trying to
connect with me, but what
does that even mean? There’s
a lot more to being black and
gay than one might think. It’s
more than a quippy rebuttal and
sound advice to save your white
friend from making awful life
decisions (i.e. Kimmy Schmidt
and Titus Andromedon from The
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt).
When non-POC say things to
this degree, it sounds like they’re
also saying they’re “basically
black.” Again, what does that
even mean? You’re black because
you like Moesha? You don’t need
to be black or gay to relate to
me; we probably have plenty of
things in common already.
Aside from asking me
for sassy but sound advice,
lot of white people tend to
ask why there isn’t a “White
Entertainment Television”
channel. The answer is that
almost every major television
network is geared toward white
audiences. Only recently have
there been television programs
like Scandal, How To Get Away
With Murder and Empire that
have a leading black character,
but those shows are problematic
in their own right.
The Black Entertainment
Network was created out of a need
forblacktelevisionprogramming.
Though the landscape of
television is changing, most of
it’s programming is still geared
toward a white, middle class
audience.
By default, white people
and other non-POC will see me
and other black people as “the
black person with an attitude”
when speaking out against
microaggression or any form of
discrimination.
It’s time to let go of the idea
of thinking that we, as black
people, need to talk or behave a
certain way that appeals to others
outside our race. It’s hard to
prove microaggression, but when
a person feels undervalued on the
basis of their skin color then the
proof is in the proverbial racial
pudding.
For example, when a white
employer asks a black employee
if he or she turned in “the report”
isn’t the appropriate time to raise
hell about reparations. But if the
employer is wrongfully treating
the black employee differently
than his or her white counterparts,
then a microaggression is very
present.
What should be taken away
from this is that your black
friends are over your low-key
discrimination. It can be
argued that fighting against
microaggression is seen as
bullying disguised as progressive
thought. True, but only when
it doesn’t make sense, like the
example used above. The lesson
to take away from this is to
call it microaggression when
individuals belittle others on the
basis of stereotypes and to realize
that creating change requires at
least some sense.
Cocobttrdiaries is a
commentary based on the
black community and gay pop
culture. Darius Dupins is a staff
writer for FIUSM. For more
commentary, contact Darius at
darius.dupins@fiusm.com.
Microagressions discriminate against students of color
PANTHER HEALTH
MAYTINEE
KRAMER
COCOBTTR
DIARIES
DARIUS DUPINS