#KeepUNCSafe: An Open Letter to Kyle Bartosiewicz, Manager of Fitzgerald’s Bar on Franklin Street
Posted by UNCSiren on April 10, 2014 in Uncategorized | 2545 Views | Leave a response
**Trigger Warning for violent, threatening language and perpetuation of rape myths**
An Open Letter to Kyle Bartosiewicz, Manager of Fitzgerald’s Bar on Franklin Street:
Good afternoon. Our names are Sarah Pederson, Wilson Hood, Mars Earle, and Jennifer Waldkirch. We are UNC-Chapel Hill students who would like to respond to your harassment both in person and over social media of our friend Liz Hawryluk. Your actions of targeting and attacking a single, brave woman for standing up to you are both cowardly and mistaken, and we believe that such actions necessitate community accountability. Actions that attempt to silence and shame voices that are trying to keep our community safe cannot be tolerated in a community that supposedly values justice, dignity, and respect for all of its members.
Last Saturday night, Liz Hawryluk, West Holbrook, and two other friends who wish to remain anonymous, asked a guest DJ at your establishment if he would stop playing the song “Blurred Lines,” as it contains triggering, violent lyrics that perpetuate rape culture by normalizing rape (if you are having a difficult time understanding what rape culture is and how it relates to the song “Blurred Lines”, we encourage you to review this article). The DJ proceeded to scream at them- calling them “f***cking stupid”- after which a bouncer came up to the group, said “It is time for you to leave,” and escorted them out of your building. We have multiple witnesses that can attest to this as fact, despite your allegations that you simply asked this group to leave the DJ booth. Once members of the student community learned about this horrible mistreatment, many chose to use social media to voice their shock and disappointment at your choices. However, instead of choosing to listen to our concerns, you chose instead to continue harassing, demeaning, and belittling us by posting the following article on your personal Facebook page, a rant posted by the website “BarStool Sports” that violently attacks Liz and her allies:
barstoolscreenshot.png
We are deeply saddened by your choice to perpetuate this malicious, ignorant message. Not only is it unbelievably unprofessional, but it is also deeply hateful. We are shocked and deeply hurt by the comments that were made on this post on your personal Facebook, including comments made by members of Fitzgerald’s staff, and felt that they did not align with the apology issued by your organization earlier this week. If your business really is so committed to avoiding the promotion of rape culture within your establishment and providing “a safe, friendly atmosphere where people can come to enjoy a good meal and experience a fun time,” then why are you choosing to explicitly harass those customers and jeopardize their safety online? Thanks to you, your friends, and the author of the rant on BarStool Sports, Liz has been harassed repeatedly, including dehumanizing comments and rape threats, through her personal social media accounts:
We wish this outpouring of hatred for Liz came as more of a surprise, but following the insincere apology that you issued to Liz, West, and their two anonymous friends, it sadly comes as no surprise at all. In your apology- in which you misspell Liz’s name (it’s Hawryluk, we are certain you will take better care in your next apology to spell her name correctly)- the management stated: “We in no way promote a ‘rape culture’ in our establishment.” Every piece of evidence we have collected from your social media account shows otherwise. Your endorsement of these attacks on Liz stem from the same culture that accepts and normalizes “Blurred Lines” and many other damaging and sexist media. Your silencing of our voices comes from the same culture that silences and refuses to support survivors of rape. Your shaming of Liz for standing up for survivors comes from the same culture that shames survivors when they try to speak out about their experiences- and that culture is a rape culture.
We hope you take two things away from this response, one being that it is impossible for rape culture not to exist at your establishment. Rape culture exists everywhere. Part of rape culture is the collection of images, words, ideas, and yes, songs that shape our understandings of what sex is in a way that constructs sex as more about power and control (i.e. rape) rather than about human intimacy and connection. While certain aspects of rape culture certainly seem “normal” and “popular”, we all have a responsibility to ensure that our actions do not perpetuate this culture of violence. We also want you to know that you have made an error in assuming that Liz Hawryluk is a lone, “crazy” feminist attacking your establishment. She was not alone that night and she is not alone now.
We want to express our sincerest admiration and gratitude to Liz- she is a great leader in our community, an inspirational force, and has a huge capacity to love. In defense of this wonderful person and in a spirit of solidarity with survivors, we would like to make the following asks of our community:
Boycott Fitzgerald’s Pub until Manager Kyle Bartosiewicz is held accountable for harassing Liz Hawryluk and not taking the safety of our community seriously
In an effort to make Chapel Hill nightlife safe, require all Fitzgerald’s staff to participate in “Raise the Bar” trainings to ensure that staff understand how to prevent sexual violence
Tweet @Fitzgeralds_CH using the hashtags #KeepUNCSafe and let them know what you think about these events!
Come to #KeepUNCSafe: Stand with Liz to show Fitzgerald’s that we are united in our struggle to end sexual violence
Love and solidarity,
Sarah Pederson, Wilson Hood, Mars Earle, and Jennifer Waldkirch
Date: April 10th, 2014 8:32 PM Author: Flushed kitty cat
The attacking feminazi cunts and whiteknights included: Carey Hanlin (UNC), Irene Newman (UNC), Frankie Barrett (UNC), Natalie Dunlop (UNC), Sarah Pederson (UNC), Katelyn Blanchard (UNC), Madiha Bhatti (UNC), April Grossi (UNC), Caroline Pittman (UNC), Aya Avishai (UNC), Kelly Rae (UNC), Allison Turner (UNC), Hussein Kesvani (UNC), Sarah Pederson, Wilson Hood, Mars Earle, and Jennifer Waldkirch
Date: April 10th, 2014 11:24 AM Author: Rusted internet-worthy indian lodge
(guy who doesn't understand the difference between a government imposed "ban" and private citizens choosing not to patronize a particular establishment because it promotes immorality)
Date: April 10th, 2014 11:30 AM Author: thriller regret
she demanded a formal apology and humiliated a business for playing an extremely popular song. she was free to walkout and STFU about it if she is so gravely offended. This is still censorship, the only difference are the use of words like "rape culture"
the key is that a conservative will complain when this is on national television when kids are watching. only a shitlib complains about it being played in a PUB. and the shitlib opposes it for retarded "rape culture" reasons rather than logically pointing out that it is a morally degenerate influence.
Date: April 10th, 2014 7:01 PM Author: Rusted internet-worthy indian lodge
Lol shit good point. Yelling at businesses for doing shit you don't like is absolutely a government institution that she co-opted. How could I have been so obtuse?
Date: April 10th, 2014 8:24 AM Author: khaki national
I can't tell if this movement is genuinely gaining steam or if I'm just reading too much XO, but my gut tells me the former. These people seem deadly serious about this nonsense and no one is speaking up to tell them that they need to lighten up. I wonder if that'll ever happen.
Date: April 10th, 2014 8:33 AM Author: khaki national
It's really not enough anymore to shake your head and disregard it like it's a childish temper tantrum. These idea are seeping into the mainstream via editorial boards and the endless internet musings of underemployed college educated single women. They don't seek equality, they seek unequivocal dominance and it is going to upend western society in very bad ways. Since when is everyone entitled not to be offended, however tenuous and illusory the offense might be? Wtf.
Date: April 10th, 2014 9:52 AM Author: At-the-ready menage
you can draw that distinction and it's perfectly reasonable and technically correct to do so but frankly between #banbossy and all the rest of their puritan nonsense, it seems like a difference in degree, not a difference in kind. if their conservative archnemeses were doing this (see eg harry potter for a blast from the past example) they'd be screaming bloody murder, and for good reason.
Date: April 10th, 2014 9:58 AM Author: laughsome public bath deer antler
agreed. libs are using both the federal government and private institutions to censor speech. if Breyer had gotten one more vote, it would now be the law in the USA that free speech is permitted to the extent the federal government deems it useful for political purposes -- which turns the 1st amendment upside down.
libs have long enjoyed the ability to use universities to censor speech. they will continue to push that further and further.
in that context, a university student who demands that a bar not play a particular song is driven by the identical impulse.
Date: April 10th, 2014 10:13 AM Author: Thirsty puce gunner
So let's get this straight. You get to unilaterally declare that liberals acting the private market are driven by the same impulses as "liberals" that want to use the power of the state to ban certain kinds of speech.
It must be nice getting to assume you know your opponent's position better than they do.
Date: April 10th, 2014 10:18 AM Author: Thirsty puce gunner
I'm not saying you can't argue that someone has ulterior motives or use a slippery slope argument. The problem is that he isn't doing either of those things, he is just asserting that anyone that is offended by this songs should be placed in the evil statist category.
Date: April 10th, 2014 11:48 AM Author: laughsome public bath deer antler
yes i am. the same impulse. i continue to honor the important distinction between private censorship and public and if you could show me that lib students at state universities fight for the rights of conservatives to speak out at the universities, then i would be wrong about the impulses being identical.
is it the case that shitlibs at public universities predominately say, "i disagree with what you say but will defend to the death you're right to say it"? i don't think so.
shitlibs have a totalitarian view of their politics.
Date: April 10th, 2014 12:05 PM Author: Thirsty puce gunner
I don't grant that civility codes at state universities are free speech violations in the first instance. Most of the time people do not want to stop books from being published or academic debates from taking place, they just think that students shouldn't be allowed to be homophobic or racist when dealing with others. You might as well say that requiring students wear clothes to class is totalitarian.
Date: April 10th, 2014 10:08 AM Author: Out-of-control Home
wouldn't most college bars tell someone to fuck off who was bitching about something like this? it was only the most popular song of the year last year.
Date: April 10th, 2014 2:24 PM Author: Heady crackhouse boistinker
i don't really care much either way and would never complain to a business about playing rapey music, but this song is actually pretty fucked up. when i saw the uncensored video (recommended by my mom, lol) and listened to the lyrics, i *really* noticed it and decided his goal was basically to be the biggest asshole possible to gain attention and $$$. (which seems to be supported by interviews of his that i read)
have you seriously not paid any attention to the lyrics? and do you really not believe that these kinds of constant messages do not have an effect on people's perception of the world and relationships among men & women?
Date: April 10th, 2014 5:57 PM Author: Heady crackhouse boistinker
no, i think the lyrics are pretty fucked up.
the video is clearly meant to be super degrading, so i don't take it totally seriously. but even as a parody of something that is trying to be degrading, it is kind of degrading.
Date: April 10th, 2014 6:23 PM Author: Appetizing theater
but she already grabbed him, right? that is assault, unless we take a more balanced view of all this. in the end, he spend the whole time asking for permission and never gets it.
Date: April 10th, 2014 6:30 PM Author: Heady crackhouse boistinker
whatever. i am telling you what my first impression was of the song as a female who doesn't really give a shit or raise a fuss about feminist issues as a general matter. if that was my understanding, then i think it is probably reasonably representative of many people's interpretations of the song.
Date: April 10th, 2014 7:19 PM Author: Concupiscible school cafeteria
many things sound horrendous when you take them with zero context and then home in on your erroneous first impression.
you frequently sound pretty aspie when discussing your personal life, and your inability to grapple with the actual implications of this song vs. your knee-jerk emotional reaction to a few words in it (combined with likely insecurity over what you saw in the video) pretty much confirms you're somewhere on the spectrum.
Date: April 10th, 2014 7:27 PM Author: Heady crackhouse boistinker
which spectrum?
a pop song is not a fucking literary text. the most prominent lyrics are those which people will notice the most, and i am no different. you can't even make out most of the lyrics so you must default to those which are easiest to hear. i didn't give more than the most passing shit about the song/video, and i present myself as an average listener for my demographic.
i note also that the artist made a decision to emphasize those particular lyrics, so the average listener would not be out of line in homing in on those.
Date: April 10th, 2014 7:33 PM Author: Concupiscible school cafeteria
the autism disorder spectrum.
"a pop song is not a fucking literary text"
doesn't mean it's devoid of context and intended interpretation. the fact that it's popular entertainment doesn't give you greater license to just misinterpret things and then suggest they're the intended effect of the art.
i don't care if you couldn't hear most of the lyrics or what stuck out the most for you - you're still peddling your personal interpretation with some kind of nebulous argument that the way you hear it is the actual intent and popular perception of the song. that is full blown neckbeard XO aspie behavior. and you are not an average listener of the song since you're probably not particularly literate about popular music, you can't even seem to understand the song is about flirtation in a public space, or that it's meant to ridicule men.
"i note also that the artist made a decision to emphasize those particular lyrics, so the average listener would not be out of line in homing in on those."
that line happens to be emphasized more for musical reasons than anything else and it's not a chorus or even refrain. the song has a unique form with multiple hooks and catch lines, and it was designed that way. the fact that you have keyed in on one as indicative to a borderline conspiracy theory about date rape promotion and then cite it as some kind of imagined popular perception is beyond bizarre. you are waging a childish argument.
"i heard that part the most, so everyone else did too, and i thought it was 'rapey,' so every other woman does too!"
Date: April 10th, 2014 7:39 PM Author: Heady crackhouse boistinker
i am done with your trollish bullshit and this is my last post responding to you.
my interpretation was a reasonable one and i stand by it. you may say that i am deluded and aspie, but a hell of a lot of people reached the same conclusion based on a superficial listen, which is all that pop generally receives.
i did not say the song was actively intended to promote date rape. i stand by my contention that it was intended to be outrageous and shocking, and that the nsfw video was intended to be exploitative, perhaps to enhance the joke (the models themselves are being exploited, but in the end robin thicke is actually the fool).
Date: April 10th, 2014 7:49 PM Author: Concupiscible school cafeteria
i am in no way trolling. if you are that terribly offended by someone pointing out how ludicrous your myriad disorganized contentions are, then you might want to take another look at your position.
your interpretation is only reasonable insofar as you acknowledge that it's just your incomplete personal perception and not compatible with the actual intent or gist of the song. 'a hell of a lot of people' is a figure you have no clue about relative to the number of people who 'get' the song as its meant to be taken. all you know is that at some point there was some controversy over the song. the vast majority of people of either sex don't take it that way and you're latching onto a brief flare-up from an internet driven intellectual subculture to validate your odd interpretation.
the song was intended to be sexual and fun. there is nothing in it that is outrageous. the video is only exploitative if you take it that way. as virtually everyone else discussing the subject ITT has told you, the stated intent of the video is to laugh at swaggering, dumb men, not raw objectification of female bodies. go watch a nelly video from the late 90s if you want to see deliberately outrageous exploitation of women for a cheap shock factor. this was something entirely different, and anyone with even a modicum of artistic or contextual inclination (or not impaired with some kind of autistic hyper-literal and simplistic mindset) can easily understand that.
Date: April 10th, 2014 6:33 PM Author: Appetizing theater
no, and that was the point. it's not a song about a woman who said no. it's a song about a prancing dandy who keeps asking permission. once that's rape, a lot of stuff is rape.
Date: April 10th, 2014 6:29 PM Author: Heady crackhouse boistinker
that is irrelevant. i was sharing my opinion that i don't give a shit, but on first listen the song seemed date rapey to me because it provides a justification for the narrator's assumption that a girl wants sex but is just holding back. that is basically the core of the date rape debate and comes into play in most situations in which date rape is alleged.
Date: April 10th, 2014 6:48 PM Author: Appetizing theater
actually lolled. a big one.
that's my objection to the song. the genre of begging for it calls for subtle art. think about the gap between how Al Green and Marvin Gaye begged, as compared to TI.
Date: April 10th, 2014 7:30 PM Author: Heady crackhouse boistinker
it's not date rapey. it is creepy and obtrusive but that song lacks the physical immediacy of Blurred Lines.
In Blurred Lines you get the feeling that they are right there next to each other. In the Melissa Etheridge song, she is pathetically explaining how she wants to come over. there is no physical threat or implication (or possibility) of physical coercion.
Date: April 10th, 2014 6:24 PM Author: Appetizing theater
it's even campy. Thicke comes off as a prancing dandy singing falsetto. it was the least convincing masculine performance in a video since MJ's "the way you move."
Date: April 10th, 2014 6:56 PM Author: Heady crackhouse boistinker
it is meant to be degrading in an outrageous (and yes, campy) way. i am not going to back down from this position. it doesn't matter that a woman devised and directed it.
Date: April 10th, 2014 7:01 PM Author: Concupiscible school cafeteria
the artist's intent matters when you're citing it, and it was not their intent to degrade women. this was discussed ad nauseum in the media last summer.
just because you don't understand it does not mean your perception controls the artists' actual intent. it's meant as a celebration of the power of hot women and how it turns men into slobbering retards.
Date: April 10th, 2014 7:10 PM Author: Heady crackhouse boistinker
i am fully convinced that the artist's intent was largely to shock people in order to sell records. it is exploitative even if it is tongue-in-cheek and makes that point. (there are no naked dudes in the video, presumably because they bring in the $$$ the same way)
though the artist's intent is relevant and may be the most important factor in some moral way, popular perception is also relevant. additionally, an artist who creates a piece of work that half the population can't understand arguably has failed in their artistic endeavor.
Date: April 10th, 2014 7:25 PM Author: Concupiscible school cafeteria
nothing in this song is shocking to an average person. there are katy perry songs that contain more overt sexuality (although they're also tongue in cheek, but you don't understand that concept).
there aren't naked dudes in the video because that's not what the song is about. and if you think any time hot women are on display that it's exploitation, fair, but that has nothing to do with your complaints about this song somehow promoting or approving of a 'date rape mindset.'
think about what irrational claim that is. you claim that these guys wanted a mega hit, but then also suggest that it's deliberately and openly endorsing date rape. think about that.
"though the artist's intent is relevant and may be the most important factor in some moral way, popular perception is also relevant"
artist's intent is controlling when you are discussing INTENT, which you were. the popular perception of the song was not negative - it was a small minority of deluded bloggers and hyper-sensitive media gadflies that latched onto the 'rape culture' concept and turned it into a story. the reaction to the video exacerbated that perception for the people already prone to it.
"an artist who creates a piece of work that half the population can't understand arguably has failed in their artistic endeavor."
the fact that you can sincerely suggest this is the case without shame demonstrates that you fundamentally don't understand what is being discussed here. you can't separate your personal interpretation of the song with the intent of the creator's or its mass perception. talk about fucking blurred lines.
Date: April 10th, 2014 7:06 PM Author: Heady crackhouse boistinker
hush. you are just fixated on the hotness of the models. i am not MAF about them (though i agree that they are extraordinarily hot), but i did think the song was rapey.
Date: April 10th, 2014 3:08 PM Author: thriller regret
You probably shouldn't then. I am practically a hermit and literally NEVER listen to pop music AT ALL, even I'd heard of this song. It was fucking huge.
Date: April 10th, 2014 3:11 PM Author: Out-of-control Home
no, I've heard the song a million times (and I don't even like it). I mean I never knew that feminists hated it and considered it offensive.
Read the lyrics below - sure, they are ever so slightly sexually suggestive, but I do not understand how you can read "rape" out of it. It's about hooking up.
Date: April 10th, 2014 3:00 PM Author: Out-of-control Home
these lyrics are tame as fuck. There should not be any uproar. Is it a sexual assault song because it talks about getting "blasted" along with "I know you want it?" I don't understand.
"Blurred Lines"
(feat. T.I. & Pharrell Williams)
[Intro: Pharrell]
Everybody get up
Everybody get up
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
[Verse 1: Robin Thicke]
If you can't hear what I'm trying to say
If you can't read from the same page
Maybe I'm going deaf,
Maybe I'm going blind
Maybe I'm out of my mind
[Pharrell:] Everybody get up
[Pre-chorus: Robin Thicke]
OK now he was close, tried to domesticate you
But you're an animal, baby, it's in your nature
Just let me liberate you
Hey, hey, hey
You don't need no papers
Hey, hey, hey
That man is not your maker
[Chorus: Robin Thicke]
And that's why I'm gon' take a good girl
I know you want it
I know you want it
I know you want it
You're a good girl
Can't let it get past me
You're far from plastic
Talk about getting blasted
I hate these blurred lines
I know you want it
I know you want it
I know you want it
But you're a good girl
The way you grab me
Must wanna get nasty
Go ahead, get at me
[Pharrell:] Everybody get up
[Verse 2: Robin Thicke]
What do they make dreams for
When you got them jeans on
What do we need steam for
You the hottest bitch in this place
I feel so lucky
Hey, hey, hey
You wanna hug me
Hey, hey, hey
What rhymes with hug me?
Hey, hey, hey
[Pre-chorus: Robin Thicke]
OK now he was close, tried to domesticate you
But you're an animal, baby it's in your nature
Just let me liberate you
Hey, hey, hey
You don't need no papers
Hey, hey, hey
That man is not your maker
Hey, hey, hey
[Chorus: Robin Thicke]
And that's why I'm gon' take a good girl
I know you want it
I know you want it
I know you want it
You're a good girl
Can't let it get past me
You're far from plastic
Talk about getting blasted
[Pharrell:] Everybody get up
I hate these blurred lines
I know you want it
I hate them lines
I know you want it
I hate them lines
I know you want it
But you're a good girl
The way you grab me
Must wanna get nasty
Go ahead, get at me
[Verse 3: T.I.]
One thing I ask of you
Let me be the one you back that ass to
Go, from Malibu, to Paris, boo
Yeah, I had a bitch, but she ain't bad as you
So hit me up when you pass through
I'll give you something big enough to tear your ass in two
Swag on, even when you dress casual
I mean it's almost unbearable
In a hundred years not dare, would I
Pull a Pharside let you pass me by
Nothing like your last guy, he too square for you
He don't smack that ass and pull your hair like that
So I just watch and wait for you to salute
But you didn't pick
Not many women can refuse this pimpin'
I'm a nice guy, but don't get it if you get with me
Date: April 10th, 2014 3:14 PM Author: Appetizing theater
The TI part -- tear your ass in two -- isn't tame, but you won't hear whites blaming TI. white shitlibs will blame the white guy who sang the tame lyrics.
Date: April 10th, 2014 6:03 PM Author: Heady crackhouse boistinker
the suggestion is that she is saying no, but somehow he knows better that she secretly wants to fuck. that is pretty rapey. it's like the basic logic of date rape situations.
this isn't like hardcore misogynistic rap, which everyone gives a pass; it is mainstream pop loved by 13 year old girls. people therefore care when the lyrics are so (apparently) supportive of date rapey justifications for pushing for sex.
Date: April 10th, 2014 6:15 PM Author: Heady crackhouse boistinker
when did i say anything about rape? i said that this is suggestive of the kind of mindset of date rape.
frankly when i see the lines written out they are more subtle than i realized. i think that the video may have affected my interpretation of the lyrics because of the interactions between the men and women in it.
Date: April 10th, 2014 6:18 PM Author: maniacal jade digit ratio
Your second sentence answers your first question. It isn't rapey, it isn't date rapey, the scene appears to be a first meeting of strangers in a nightclub.
The video is objectifying but again, not rapey. Your opinion seems wholesale lifted from feminist bloggers, HTH.
Date: April 10th, 2014 6:21 PM Author: Heady crackhouse boistinker
i assure you i haven't read any blogs on this topic. i am capable of forming my own opinions and that is what i have done.
yes, strangers meeting in a nightclub are totally naked all the time.
what do you think the "blurred lines" are? my perception upon hearing the lyrics the first time is that the "blurred lines" relate to her saying no but meaning yes.
Date: April 10th, 2014 6:28 PM Author: maniacal jade digit ratio
Song is set in a club, not the video.
Blurred lines seems to refer to the woman crossing the line of cheating on her boyfriend or being bad instead of the "good girl" which is blurred due to her being around attractive, desirable men in an enjoyable club.
You may have made up your own opinion but it does match exactly with feminist bloggers and it doesn't spring to most people's minds naturally. It's about courting a chick in a club, not against her will. There are a million pop songs since as long as there has been pop music about charming the pants off your target, quite often sung by women and very aggressive, even.
Date: April 10th, 2014 6:41 PM Author: Heady crackhouse boistinker
anyone who releases a song with lyrics suggesting that a chick wants it even though she apparently is "playing coy" (as someone put it below) is retarded if they think this won't cause a backlash, since it is clearly suggestive of date rape type situations.
i personally think this was robin thicke's intention.
Date: April 10th, 2014 6:43 PM Author: Appetizing theater
maybe they thought that because hundreds and hundreds of hip hop hits by black artists say incredibly crude and rapey things and you don't hear that many white girls complaining.
Date: April 10th, 2014 6:38 PM Author: Heady crackhouse boistinker
i never took a position on the banning of the music. i don't give a shit as i have repeated over and over. i said that i had heard the song and independently decided that the lyrics seemed pretty date rapey.
Date: April 10th, 2014 6:51 PM Author: Heady crackhouse boistinker
i am not going to keep justifying my position. a song in which the singer repeatedly suggests that the object of his advances actually wants it in that kind of language definitely seems date rapey to me, and i think date rape is pretty fucked up.
this song is also very sexual. if she said she doesn't want it and the he goes on to repeatedly tell her that actually she wants him to fuck her rough and pull her hair, then it is pretty fucked up, yes.
have you ever had some guy follow you around and say nasty things to you in a low voice even though you have made it clear that you are not interested? have you ever had a guy get you really blind drunk (with friends), then isolate and corner you and try to fuck you? because this shit happens pretty regularly.
Date: April 10th, 2014 6:56 PM Author: Mauve Big Kitchen
I think people see what they want to see. To a hammer, everything looks like a nail. To a shitlib, everything looks like racism/sexist/rape culture/a trigger/etc.
Given the creepy, address-posting turn this thread has taken below, I'm not going to continue bumping it.
But I will note that attributing one's drunkeness to somebody else is hardly a model of female empowerment.
Date: April 10th, 2014 7:02 PM Author: Concupiscible school cafeteria
"and it was actually very openly criticized for promoting date rape/denigrating women/etc, so you must have been under a rock."
it was criticized by the same kind of idiots that boycotted the chapel hill bar for playing a song that might 'trigger' for some women in the crowd but never complained about the 10,000 other songs they probably play that are orders of magnitude more offensive to women.
Date: April 10th, 2014 12:23 PM Author: Buff ape lodge
"Junior Trevor Dougherty, who performs as a DJ under the name good ratio, read Hawryluk’s Facebook posts and decided he had to step in.
“I just think its totally unacceptable for DJs in a college town — or anywhere — to play it,” Dougherty said. “As a good DJ you can do better than playing a track that is so overplayed and so insensitive.”
Dougherty, who is studying abroad in Tokyo this semester, began posting negative reviews on Fitzgerald’s page for the bar’s actions."
Date: April 10th, 2014 3:19 PM Author: Flushed kitty cat
um...names missing...
Carey Hanlin
Not really impressed for a number of reasons. But for one, the management kicked out a friend of mine for requesting a song change when the DJ started playing "Blurred Lines," a song that encourages getting women drunk to have sex with them. Fitz also tends to treat women as a commodity by lowering the cover for women ...See more
Like · · on Sunday
26 people like this.
Liz Hawryluk Thank you for speaking out, love .
6 April at 23:26 · Like · 1
Mike Lenahan "Assertions that the patron and any friends were "kicked out of Fitzgerald’s" due to their complaint is without factual basis or merit. No patrons are permitted to occupy the area reserved for the DJ. Accordingly, security requested the patron(s) to va...See More
3 hours ago · Like
Write a comment...
Irene Newman
In an interview with the DTH in August 2013, the owner of Fitzgerald's named patron safety as the establishment's top priority. Playing music that promotes rape compromises an establishment's ability to create a welcoming and safe environment, but kicking out patrons who request changing a song that romanticizes sexual violence sends a clear message of Fitzgerald's priorities and attitudes toward patron safety and comfort. I hope Fitzgerald's will use last night's incident as an opportunity to renew their commitment to patron safety.
Like · · on Sunday
24 people like this.
View 1 more comment
Liz Hawryluk Thank you for speaking out, love .
6 April at 23:26 · Like
Mike Lenahan "Assertions that the patron and any friends were "kicked out of Fitzgerald’s" due to their complaint is without factual basis or merit. No patrons are permitted to occupy the area reserved for the DJ. Accordingly, security requested the patron(s) to va...See More
3 hours ago · Like
Write a comment...
Frankie Barrett
Saddened to hear that this establishment's response to student requests to change a problematic and upsetting song was to kick the individuals out. I hope that in the future, Fitzgerald's will work to end rape culture and create an environment that is welcoming and safe for all of its customers.
Like · · on Sunday
15 people like this.
View 2 more comments
Liz Hawryluk Thank you Frankie Barrett for speaking out - you are an incredible activist and educator! Hopefully we can get One Act involved ASAP!
6 April at 23:27 · Like · 3
Mike Lenahan "Assertions that the patron and any friends were "kicked out of Fitzgerald’s" due to their complaint is without factual basis or merit. No patrons are permitted to occupy the area reserved for the DJ. Accordingly, security requested the patron(s) to va...See More
3 hours ago · Like
Write a comment...
Natalie Dunlop
Very disappointed to hear about students being kicked out of the bar for asking a DJ to change a song that permeates rape culture, in a place and time where raising awareness about and preventing sexual assault is claimed to be a priority. I won't be back. Disreputable and just tacky.
Like · · on Sunday
14 people like this.
Liz Hawryluk Thank you for speaking out, love .
6 April at 23:27 · Like
Write a comment...
Sarah Pederson
Dear Fitzgerald's,
I was just informed that my dear friend, Liz Hawryluk, politely asked one of your DJ's to stop playing "Blurred Lines" last night at your establishment. I applaud this amazing person for her dedication and commitment to anti-violence struggles- our campus and our community are better places because ...See more
Like · · on Sunday
13 people like this.
Liz Hawryluk Thank you for speaking out, love .
6 April at 23:27 · Like
Write a comment...
Kevin Marcuse
Great place. Loved it
Like · · about 11 months ago
15 people like this.
Write a comment...
Katelyn Blanchard
Really sad to hear that someone was treated so poorly and kicked out, in reaction to asking for a song change. It's unsettling to see someone treated so badly when they were only trying to raise awareness of the issue of rape culture in our society. This is not the way to treat someone who is part of their clientele (assuredly won't be part of that clientele anywhere in the near future), and furthermore, the way they disregarded a very real issue in our society is just sad and shows poor judgement on the part of this establishment.
Like · · on Sunday
11 people like this.
Liz Hawryluk Thank you for speaking out, love .
6 April at 23:27 · Like
Write a comment...
Sarah Ashley
the word is out that you kicked my friend out for requesting the DJ not play "Blurred Lines" (because it is a despicable song). UNC students will not stand for the promotion of rape culture.
Like · · on Sunday
11 people like this.
Liz Hawryluk You're the best, Sarah . Thank you for your voice!
6 April at 23:27 · Like
Write a comment...
Jane Harper
I hear that some students were thrown out because they asked not to hear "Blurred Lines" I'm very disappointed. As a 56 year old woman, I see that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Have we learned nothing about rape in all these years? Why should patrons have to listen to a song about the culture of rape? Would you play something that contained the culture of hatred against gays, or blacks or Hispanics or Muslims? I don't think so. Please apologize to the students and move forward in a positive manner.
Like · · on Sunday
10 people like this.
Liz Hawryluk Thank you for speaking out, Mrs. Harper! So appreciate your words .
6 April at 23:28 · Like
Write a comment...
Madiha Bhatti
Kicked out a friend of a friend for requesting them to change the song "Blurred Lines" because of its non-consensual/triggering content.
One line that isn't "blurred" is that I wont be entering this establishment anytime in the near future.
Do better, Fitzgeralds
Like · · on Sunday
10 people like this.
Daanish Faruqi You know, this past December I had the displeasure of hearing said song play at a fancy *family-oriented* restaurant in...Lahore! Wish I had the gumption you did to insist they change the playlist.
6 April at 20:59 · Like
Liz Hawryluk Thank you for speaking out!
6 April at 23:28 · Like
April Grossi
What kind of message are we sending to future generations if we don't take a stand against rape culture now? Last night, my dear friend Liz was thrown out of Fitzgerald's because she requested that "Blurred Lines" not be played. A brave request on her part and a disgusting response from Fitzgerald's. Women deserve to be and to feel safe, day and night, everywhere.
Tonight, a female student was kicked out of Fitzgerald's for asking them to play a song other than "Blurred Lines." This kind of support for rape culture is inappropriate and unacceptable. I will personally be boycotting the establishment unless a formal apology is issued.
Like · · on Sunday
7 people like this.
Liz Hawryluk Thank you so much for speaking out!
6 April at 23:28 · Like
Write a comment...
Cody Matthew Welton
"RAINN’s (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network))recent recommendations to the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault, it repudiates the rhetoric of the anti–”rape culture” movement:
In the last few years, there has been an unfortunate trend towards blaming “rape culture” for the extensive prob...See more
Like · · on Sunday
5 people like this.
Katie Moylan When 1 in 3 women will be sexually assaulted on their college campus, and I can personally say that I know 7 rape survivors, I'd hardly say that a "small percentage" of men in the community are instigators.
Maybe instead of attacking the rhetoric, yo...See More
Date: April 10th, 2014 3:20 PM Author: Flushed kitty cat
LOL @ these fucking whiteknights
Hugo Bouvard
You kicking out ppl expressing their discomfort towards a song that not only participates in rape culture but is totally maintaining it is outraging and you can be sure that I will never set foot in your business. Ever. Unless you acknowledge the situation and formally apologize to the patrons who have been kicked out.
Like · · on Sunday
4 people like this.
Liz Hawryluk Thank you for speaking out!
6 April at 23:28 · Like · 1
Write a comment...
Gorgi Colon
I have been to Fitzgerald's on numerous occasions and while I understand the and not condone any violence against women, I have never seen any staff at this establishment act out unprofessionally. I have always had excellent food and drink service and will continue to patron this establishment. Keep up the good work guys and gals!!
Date: April 10th, 2014 3:26 PM Author: Out-of-control Home
lol at the thought even forming in one's brain of being offended by hearing this song in fucking Lahore Pakistan
You know, this past December I had the displeasure of hearing said song play at a fancy *family-oriented* restaurant in...Lahore! Wish I had the gumption you did to insist they change the playlist.
Chapel Hill, North Carolina (Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area) International Affairs
Join LinkedIn and access Liz Hawryluk’s full profile. It's free!
As a LinkedIn member, you'll join 250 million other professionals who are sharing connections, ideas, and opportunities.
See who you and Liz Hawryluk know in common
Get introduced to Liz Hawryluk
Contact Liz Hawryluk directly
View Liz's full profile
Liz Hawryluk's Overview
Current
Media and Outreach Intern at Orange County Rape Crisis Center
Research Assistant at UNC-Chapel Hill Political Science Department
Past
Policy Intern at Liberal Democrats
UNC Business Essentials Student Ambassador at Kenan-Flagler Business School
Student Action Coordinator (SAC) at Amnesty International USA
see all
Education
UNC Chapel Hill
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
National University of Singapore / NUS
see all
Connections
301 connections
Liz Hawryluk's Experience
Media and Outreach Intern
Orange County Rape Crisis Center
Nonprofit; 11-50 employees; Public Safety industry
September 2013 – Present (8 months)
Research Assistant
UNC-Chapel Hill Political Science Department
Educational Institution; 10,001+ employees; Higher Education industry
May 2012 – Present (2 years)
• 2011-2012 project: Analyze the portrayal of the economically disenfranchised in New York Times articles published throughout the 1960s to present utilizing database resources.
Study the interplay of race, gender, public sentiment and U.S. federal spending regarding poverty.
2013-2014: Analyze the narratives of NC death penalty exonerees in conjunction with The Innocence Project and subsequent crimes committed by the actual perpetrators.
Policy Intern
Liberal Democrats
Nonprofit; 501-1000 employees; Political Organization industry
January 2013 – April 2013 (4 months)
Worked with the Liberal-Democrat's policy team in framing UK policy on Education, Foreign Policy, Economics and Political and Constitutional Reform.
Answered policy questions for Nick Clegg's, Deputy Prime Minister, constituent office.
UNC Business Essentials Student Ambassador
Kenan-Flagler Business School
Educational Institution; 501-1000 employees; Higher Education industry
April 2012 – April 2013 (1 year 1 month)
• One of twenty UNC students selected for the $3,600 scholarship to complete the business online modules, spanning: accounting, economics and finance, marketing, business operations and business communication.
• Designed outreach and marketing efforts for the UNC community to publicize the program, in a collaborative effort among the other UNC Business Essentials Ambassadors throughout the 2012-2013 academic year.
Student Action Coordinator (SAC)
Amnesty International USA
Nonprofit; 51-200 employees; Civic & Social Organization industry
August 2012 – January 2013 (6 months) north carolina
Student Activist Coordinator for AIUSA activists throughout NC. Fostered the growth of local chapters, provided support to other campus organizers and coalition point person in working towards death penalty abolition.
Urgent Action Coordinator
Amnesty International
Nonprofit; 1001-5000 employees; Nonprofit Organization Management industry
September 2010 – January 2013 (2 years 5 months)
• Present weekly Urgent Action reports, analyzing a human rights issue, speaking at on-campus events.
• Coordinate petition signings, regional conferences, on campus events and local actions.
Field Organizing Intern
Amnesty International
Nonprofit; 1001-5000 employees; Nonprofit Organization Management industry
January 2012 – May 2012 (5 months) Washington D.C. Metro Area
Worked with a coalition of non-profits for death penalty repeal in Maryland.
-The National Coalition Against the Death Penalty
-Maryland Citizens Against State Executions (MDCase)
-Equal Justice U.S.A.
-People of Faith Against the Death Penalty
Orchestrated numerous events: namely the Ash Wednesday Faith Leaders day of action against the death penalty in Annapolis, the MLK Jr. protest, the Senate and House hearings.
Served as a Marshal / Point Person for:
-Syrian Solidarity Vigil in DuPont Circle [100 attendees]
-Guantanamo Bay 10th Anniversary [800 attendees]
-Protest at the Sudanese Embassy [100 attendees]
-Monthly protests at the Indonesian Embassy for Prisoner of
Conscience, Filep Karma
-Protest at the Embassy of the Russian Federation
Research Assistant
The Institute for the Study of the Americas (ISA), UNC-Chapel Hill
Educational Institution; 10,001+ employees; Higher Education industry
September 2011 – January 2012 (5 months)
• Drafted and conducted alumni surveys, researched contact information, received responses from over 300, analyzed results, formatted follow-up letters and coordinated department-wide academic, cultural and social events.
• Streamlined and compiled data regarding current area study courses, tenure-listings and study abroad programs.
Sales and Educational Outreach Intern
A Ban Against Neglect (ABAN)
Nonprofit; 11-50 employees; Nonprofit Organization Management industry
January 2011 – January 2012 (1 year 1 month) Chapel Hill, North Carolina
• Implemented educational programs in the Rogers Road Community and Orange County schools.
• Conduct sales meetings, pitch products and mission statement, update inventory and collect payments; sold our product line to Whole Foods, Cameron’s Gallery and Foster’s Market, leading to thousands in revenues.
• Orchestrate partnerships with Nourish International, Made by Survivors, Carolina for Amani and Amnesty.
Tutor and Team Member
Connected Learning Program
August 2010 – December 2011 (1 year 5 months)
• Constructed a syllabus for a first-year seminar at UNC regarding patriarchy, human rights, violence against women, and international constructions of gender roles.
• Teaching Social Justice created and implemented an afterschool program in Orange County regarding social justice issues, with my focus being on children soldiers and the UN’s role.
Tutor and Grant Writer
AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination) and APPLES (Service-Learning)
August 2010 – January 2011 (6 months)
• Tutored 27 children, ten hours a week, using the AVID alternative learning model.
• Analyzed entrepreneurial strengths and weaknesses of the organization. Proposed adjustments.
• Awarded the APPLES Partnership Grant allowing AVID students to tour A&T University.
Administrative Assistant
The Law Offices of Daniel Barker
May 2006 – August 2007 (1 year 4 months)
• Handled customer concerns, restructured and staffed the phone system, updated and filed confidential information, edited depositions, managed schedule. Hired following a “Career Day” shadowing session.
Is it me or are the lyrics just not even remotely rape culture related? They seem to be more cheat on your boyfriend that I can tell you don't want to be dating related? Or am I just completely missing the whole thing?
I see references to casual sex and aggressive sex. Nothing however about unwanted sex or really even drunk sex, unless you really take out the reference to Malibu far, which would be a pretty aggressive take.
Date: April 10th, 2014 3:26 PM Author: maniacal jade digit ratio
There's nothing rapey or non consensual about this. He's suggestive but not coercive unless letting a woman know via song that you got dat good dick is coercive.
Date: April 10th, 2014 6:42 PM Author: Mauve Big Kitchen
The interpretation they have a problem with is that Robin Thicke thinks the girl is into him, but she is apparently not making that obvious or explicitly saying so.
Given the other lyrics in the song, it would seem that's because of her boyfriend.
If you buy the premise that trying to convince someone to have sex with you is "rape", then the song is rapey. That's a BS premise, though.
Date: April 10th, 2014 3:36 PM Author: Flushed kitty cat
but if that's rape, then Patrick Hamm (Harvard) is a rapist
Practically asleep again, I started to murmur something about not being in the mood.
"You what?" [Patrick Hamm] demanded fiercely. I jolted from my haze.
His hand was back around my neck now, tighter this time. I hesitated before answering.
"I'm tired," I said carefully. "I don't feel like having sex."
"You don't feel like it?"
[Patrick Hamm] made it sound like the most inadequate explanation he'd ever heard. I shook my head. I felt like a girl.
"If you don't feel like it," [Hamm] continued. "Then you shouldn't have woken me up by rubbing your ass against my cock and making out with me."
[Hamm] had a wicked look on his face, the same one he had when he dragged me around his living room by the hair and forced my head down on his cock so hard that I had to strain to catch my breath. He didn't have to say a word and I knew I was fucked. I was going to be fucked.
"I'm sorry," I whispered.
[Patrick Hamm]'s grip tightened....and I started to gasp for breath. Even though sex had been the very last thing on my mind when we went to bed, I couldn't help getting wet from the feel of his hands around my neck. By the time he forced open my mouth with his cock, I was eager to spread my legs for him. He always pushed it a little deeper than what I could comfortably take. He was more than halfway down my throat when I couldn't stand it anymore and had to pull away. He asked me if I wanted him to fuck me and I nodded yes."
"I give that gurl a seizure, she forget her boyfriend, amnesia....i don't know about you but i'm really really fucked up no more liquor in my cup it's time for us time for us to fuck...i got dat goose in my system, somebody gonna be my victim, i got patron in my system, somebody gonna be my victim, iunno about u but i'm really fucked up it's time for us to fuck yeah it's time for us to fuck"
Date: April 10th, 2014 4:11 PM Author: Buff ape lodge
I think we might have found a legitimate example of black privilege.
Because white shitlibs are aghast at the idea of insulting the art of black musicians they have to turn a blind eye to the multiple references to sexual assault, sexisms and other themes which would otherwise be problematic and NOT OKAY.
Date: April 10th, 2014 4:16 PM Author: Appetizing theater
Robin Thicke parades around the video looking like a slightly less masculine version of Neil Patrick Harris, singing fairly tame lyrics. TI sings about tearing the woman's ass in two. Shitlibs: how horrible of that white performer!
Date: April 10th, 2014 6:45 PM Author: Flushed kitty cat
Elizabeth Hawryluk, a rising senior from Raleigh, is studying this summer in the Burch Field Research Seminar on Human Rights and International Law in Rwanda and The Hague. Hawryluk also studied this spring in the Honors Semester in London program in England. A political science major, Hawryluk received awards from the Davis-Barden Honors Study Abroad Scholarship, the Peter G. C. Mallinson Fund for Innovation in International Education and the Honors International Experience Fund.
Date: April 10th, 2014 7:14 PM Author: Concupiscible school cafeteria
hilarious things:
1. blog title is like something XO would come up with to mock generic travel chick bloggers
2. the content of her blog has slowly shifted from peabrained travel photos of tourist attractions and food to full-time discussion of feminist and VICTIMIZATION issues. it was always about her rather than travel, but now it's just an aimless personal platform.
3. she self-describes as an "activist." OH WHAT AN ACTIVIST!
Date: April 10th, 2014 5:15 PM Author: Odious Casino Brethren
’m exhausted.
Today one of my closest friends told me she was raped last night. She did not lay claim to the term, nor did I when I was with her, but it took all of 45 seconds for her to start victim blaming herself, rather than holding the man accountable who responded to her statement I don’t want to have sex with “okay” then proceeded to do otherwise.
It didn’t help, either, that her claim was minimized by friends who said “Wow, what a jerk. Want to start a rumor about him?” as if what he did was not a felony offense nor immeasurably damaging to her life-long physical and emotional health.
I’m exhausted.
Tonight I was contacted for the first time in five months by my emotionally abusive ex. What started off as an unhealthy relationship spiraled downward when I finally reclaimed control and ended things. What started off as a minimalizing claim “…I happened to be filtering through old texts and I’m pretty sure I didn’t mean to send this to you” to disregard a drunk text he accidentally sent back in September turned into him, once again, telling me how I felt: “And I’m sure it doesn’t make sense to you.”
I felt frozen, once again.
Then things took a turn for the better. He made another minimalist claim: “And yes, I have realised I was a bit of a nob.” His drunk texts somehow started to reveal that yes, he did claim that he was “Maybe more than a bit of a nob” and then apologized, wishing me well, saying he was sorry that he was wrong and “never had the balls to admit I was wrong.”
After pausing for thought, I simply responded with I appreciate that.
Instantly, the tone changed.
“Okay, you did get all my bad side,” he claimed. And went on to say that he was not a bad person, just “didn’t conduct my business appropriately.”
So, I was minimized to a transaction.
I’m exhausted of being told how to feel. Yes, as to be expected, he went on to further degrade me.
I’m exhausted of being told that emotional abuse was simply deriding properly conducted business, and of having close friends say “Well, he was just being a jerk.”
No. He was being emotionally abusive and that is distinctly damaging to one’s psyche, but also to structural issues of male entitlement.
I’m exhausted.
Of victim blaming. Of abuse. Of a criminal justice system that less than 15% of survivors feel comfortable in reporting to, and in which an estimated 3% of rapists will ever be held accountable. Of close friends from high school saying “I’m very disappointed” in the feminist satire I post. Of some men instantly dubbing feminists as “man-haters” as the easiest possible means of disregarding their all together too pertinent points. Of being derided as politically incorrect and insensitive for daring to offend those who actively participate in systems of oppression — as if calling attention to the dangers of their actions is somehow impermissible, while their actions are not.
I’m tired of it being called radical for women to expect equality. For articles, such as Tomi’s and mine to be derided as twisted man-hating ideologues rather than taken for what they are: reclaiming safe spaces for survivors.
I’m exhausted of privilege. Of ignorance. Of rape culture. Of hurtful, hateful verbatim rather than taking the time to sit down and listen. To read. To educate. For a call to act.
I’m exhausted of men like one who messaged me two weeks ago and said, “So, what bad thing happened to you?” as if my story is any of his business, as if that question isn’t phenomenally privileged in nature, as if his later claim to “not be the type” to get involved in that type of work somehow made his question palatable. No. It was triggering, problematic and deeply offensive.
I’ve worked on human rights issues for more than seven years. For three, I’ve spoken clearly and often about the necessity of ending the death penalty, of recognizing the structural injustices and deeply permeating discrimination which demarcates its utilization. Never have I been so regularly degraded and personally attacked for calling for human rights as I have been since working in a rape crisis center, speaking against interpersonal violence, and openly identifying as a feminist – something I never experienced when working with rehabilitation and death penalty abolition. Nothing separates feminism from a call for the recognition of human rights. Instead, the degradation of feminists it is the knee jerk reaction of privilege, pride and self-defense. That doesn’t make it right. It makes it pervasive and exhausting for those who speak against it.
I’m exhausted of a reality comprised of 1 in 3 women experiencing abuse in their lifetime, of 66 million girls globally out of school, of 80% of human trafficking victims of being female-identified and an estimated 150 million girls being subjected to sexual abuse each year. I’m tired of claims that feminism is antiquated, its goals have been met. Anyone who takes a moment to research these issues, even if not feminine-identified and living the manifestations of these oppressions each day, will recognize that feminism is necessary, timely and immeasurably important.
I’m inspired.
Contrarily, I’m inspired by this beautiful feminist community I’ve found. For the solidarity it provides. For being taught the tools to deconstruct my own oppression. To recognize how my own thoughts have been silenced. How being called a man-hater for arguing for equality is a defense mechanism for the privilege for others. For Bell Hook’s articulation of what love really is. For organizations like the Orange County Rape Crisis Center. For One Act training and other community education models which articulate that interpersonal violence includes emotional, physical and verbal abuse. For the feminist theories which breathe life into the everyday. For beautiful publications like this. Of days of remembrance like this. By photos projects like this. For the words of Jackson Katz, who asserts that violence against women is a men’s issue: because men perpetuate 95% of violence against both women and other men; the responsibility does not lie with the survivor, but with the men who commit the offenses. Last, I’m inspired by the beautiful community that has welcomed me as one of its own.
ImageImage
Image
I hope.
That one day, each and every one of you feels compelled to get involved. To join the feminist movement and interpersonal violence prevention effort because it touches each and every one of our lives. Men, boys, girls, women, and all of those fitting outside that gender binary are influenced by constrained constructions of masculinity, of the predominance of men’s violence (against other men and women), and by the fear that this violence creates in our lives. I hope for a day free of this violence. I hope for a day in which gender equality is realized.
And in honor of the immeasurably inspiring recently passed Nelson Mandela, and for all of you standing up for equality but also having an incredibly difficult time, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
Image
Filed under Uncategorized | 2 Comments
NOV
12
Flashes
Posted on November 12, 2013 by Liz H.
Standard
Yesterday was a flash of inspiration. Inspiration to write, to reflect, yes. But even a day to reflect the meaning of activism - not only as an identity, but moreover as a way of living that has come to feel like home.
This semester has been a beautiful, albeit chaotic one. Days are filled with classes / the internship / my job / working with the fabulous co-chairs of the Coalition for Human Rights / supporting the campus y / seeing friends / having chill Carrboro moments / biking at all hours / procrastinating real work by applying to all/any international fellowships.
But days like yesterday are worth documenting.
A few weeks ago, the Coalition for Human Rights had our first huge event: the Human Rights Festival. After weeks of stress, it all came together. Twenty social justice organizations – ranging from CAST (Carolina Against Slavery & Trafficking) , the Carolina Women’s Center, Project Dinah’s Dear Assaulter Photo Project, SWAG (an organization for Gender Equality), SUIE (for immigration reform), the Duke Human Rights Center, Immunization Ambassadors, Globe Med and many, many others – eight performances, ranging from moving spoken poetry, the Guitar Heels, the Carolina Ukelele Ensemble, the amazing Morning Brigade performance, and a variety of acappella groups, joined the event. It was a space for collaboration, activism, energy and #HumanRightsHappiness.
1
2
At the event, Emily, who works with the Duke Human Rights Center, and I ended up chatting and sharing ideas. She invited CHR members out to a talk this evening with John Prendergast. John is exactly the sort of person I want to be — a background with the UN, Human Rights Watch, UNICEF, co-founder of the NGO Enough, but also former Director of African Affairs for the National Security Council, part of the Clinton Administration, with substantial work with the State Department, he has managed to seamlessly flow between the government, politics, policy and activism — casually name dropping my idol, Samantha Power, as his best friend.
Yep, so you better bet I took Emily up on her offer.
This evening, two lovely members of the Campus Y & CHR joined me for the trek over to Duke. We somehow managed to arrive to the reception right as it started. Emily sweetly nudged us in the direction of John, right as he emerged from an interview. We managed to have a small group chat with him for 20 minutes. Including photos. We had to work hard to downplay the enthusiasm. It was incredible.
3
He spent the evening’s discussion on the role of activism, how to make it effective, and his own route. His talk ranged from forming a team, means of staying inspired, how to engage in meaningful work. It was just the spark I think we all needed in the audience.
4
So excited. This week is full of incredible human rights oriented events, as well as entirely too much work / class facilitation planning / an incredibly large application. But Wednesday will hopefully be marked by talking to John with a few other activists. #SoMuchHappiness.
More soon. Over & out.
Lots of love,
Liz
P.S. – These songs: +1 +2. This +blog. This +moment. This +news article. This +activist. This +description. This +quote. This +piece.
Filed under Uncategorized and tagged Carolina Against Slavery & Trafficking, Coalition for Human Rights, Duke Human Rights Center, Human Rights Festival, Human Rights Watch, John Prendergast | Leave a comment
SEP
11
The Valleys Where We Hid
Posted on September 11, 2013 by Liz H.
Standard
The days grow long and challenging. The stress comes in waves. The passion, activism and enthusiasm drives me onward. But every now and again – evenings are spent just like this. Sipping white wine in my favorite cafe, in the nearby presence of friends, writing my first (attempted to be published) piece of travel writing. Of course about Rwanda. Late this afternoon, as we wrapped up our teach-in, dialogue regarding Syria at the Coalition for Human Rights, another Campus Y member mentioned the notion of having our very own commemoration of Rwanda’s 20th anniversary.
I couldn’t be more thrilled at the prospect. Until later, then. Much love.
Liz
The Afternoons We Spent Broken Down: When communities came together to fetch us from the hills in which our van fell into disrepair. Games ensued.
A Figure of Strength: Jackson, our host, guide and beloved friend – spending a day with us touring Rwanda’s most notorious killing sites. Photo Cred: Sarah Collman.
The Valleys Where We Hid: The moment when a valley, so graceful in its peace, came alive for us when we realized it was only through its murky marsh waters that many found their survival.
Filed under Uncategorized | Leave a comment
AUG
19
Balance
Posted on August 19, 2013 by Liz H.
Standard
One of my favorite things about this past year has been searching for this balance. It practically reeks of the ultimate chick flick that I shamelessly watch (and indulgently read before jetting off for India a few summers back) Eat, Pray, Love when protagonist Liz (yes, Liz) who is galabanting through India, Indonesia and Italy to find herself (among other things; yes, we can discuss the levels of disconcerting parallels later) articulates:
“Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it. You must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it.”
It’s good to be back. But also a slippery slope of over commitment / being told you aren’t committed enough / lots of scary applications / surprise deadlines / syllabi that run 15 pages long / 10 minute meetings where you are made to feel really, really small.
So, here’s to a challenge: chasing happiness and a personal sense of fulfillment/worth. Now that the Peace Corps application is off, I’m going to carry on with the flippant notion of trying to be happy and do what I can, but not succumb to the frenzied state of being that has marked my, admittedly, very few (and for this reason) semesters at UNC. Instead, here’s to wishing / learning / growing / nerding out/ listening to others / loving / adventuring / dreaming.
Song of the day: here.
Image
All my love & happiness / excitement for reunion & the new academic year to you all!
Besos,
Liz
Filed under Uncategorized | Leave a comment
AUG
18
Glass Half Full
Posted on August 18, 2013 by Liz H.
Standard
There is nothing quite like a rainy day, steaming cup of Open Eye coffee and a good life chat to make me think of the UK.
london eye view
Song of the morning: here.
Back in “Hippie-town” (i.e. Carrboro) as dubbed by a Mr. Matthew Hotham, the grad student who many a time amused the 25 crazy kids of the SEAS (Carolina Southeast Asia Summer) program as we galabanted through Singapore back in 2011.
Moved in last night to what I can only describe as the perfect room (thank you Anna for making it feel like home), tucked away right around the corner from Weaver Street market / down the street from Open Eye café / and fully immersed in Carrboro culture. Could not love it more.
But finally facing a bit of that reverse culture shock as the burden of applications, ordering textbooks, checking schedules for classes, recruiting the incoming “kiddies” as I internally think of them (in other words, first years) for the nifty Coalition for Human Rights at Campus Kickoff (Warning: shameless plug coming. We like human rights, do you? check us out at the Campus Y on Tuesdays this upcoming fall.) and applying for errrrything under the sun.
Trying to evade the stress of it all with beautiful reunions and some much needed perspective. Received kind of a damning email from a former professor the other day as he tried to explain the caliber of former recipients of a particular scholarship I’m being ridiculous and applying for. He noted these candidates have already changed the world. This lent itself to his not so subtle point – so what have you done? [ps - the phrase "changed the world" just sounds so white-man's-burden and imperialistic to me these days; as well as an extremely short-sited notion of global development. just throwing that out there]
Which brings me to the point of this post. Many of you have become acclimated to me dropping off the face of the planet in the blogging sphere as I … re-appear stateside. But every now and again, discussing pertinent points like reassessing value and determining worth are certainly things that deserve a post and some reflection. Because at its core — it’s arbitrary. What defines what drives you? What makes you worthwhile? It’s easy to lose sight of your unique traits when filling out forms like the one I’m attempting to power through now which essentially asks which big name scholarships I’ve gotten in the past / if I’m working on an honors thesis etc. Mind you, this is the cover page. I’m a little afraid that they won’t look past it.
But as all of us dive into that ever so lovely pool of applicants for scholarships / grad school / med school / jobs and perpetually hear the line, “So, what can you do for me?” or feel the pressure of proving our worth to a particular committee with members on board that have more letters behind their name than you have in the spelling of yours, just take a deep breath, have a bit of faith, give a smile and just be you.
Because you’re enough. [in the much beloved phrase of one of my closest friends, Lizz]
Date: April 10th, 2014 7:14 PM Author: supple institution headpube
"Fundamentally, all I was aiming to do is to create a safe space in the Carolina community," Hawryluk said. "In a lot of ways, violent or graphic images that allude to sexual violence are triggers."
Liz Hawryluk is on Facebook. Join Facebook to connect with Liz Hawryluk and others you may know. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the ...
Chapel Hill, North Carolina - ‎Peace Corps, Cambodia
View Liz Hawryluk's professional profile on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is the world's largest business network, helping professionals like Liz Hawryluk discover inside ...
Liz Hawryluk profiles | LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Liz/Hawryluk‎
View the profiles of professionals named Liz Hawryluk on LinkedIn. There are 2 professionals named Liz Hawryluk, who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ...
Liz Hawryluk's (Raleigh, NC) High School Softball Stats ...
Mad at Liz Hawryluk? Email your dissent: hawryluk@live.unc.edu. but be RESPECTFUL, k? .,.,...,,.,.,.,:,,:,...,:::,...,,:,.,.:.:.,:.::,. 04/10/14. also, please ...
#KeepUNCSafe: An Open Letter to Kyle Bartosiewicz ...