Fara Amiri

More by Fara Amiri

Causes: Slut Walk

4/2/2012

On Sunday March 25 2012, The UNC colony of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated held their first Slut Walk as part of their Week of Illumination. Participants walked from the Dean Dome to the Post Office on Franklin Street holding up signs and chanting things like “No more victim blaming” and “Consent is sexy.”

 Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, a Latina-oriented sorority dedicated to diversity, community service and sisterhood, organized this Slut Walk in protest of Toronto police officer Michael Sanguinetti’s comment that "women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized." This cause was especially important to Omega Phi Beta because their national philanthropy is raising awareness of violence against women. Sanguinetti’s comments highlighted a culture of victim blaming when it comes to rape and sexual assault. Slut walks are meant to bring attention to “slut-shaming,” shaming women for being sexual. Nobody deserves to be raped no matter what they wear. The fact that a law enforcement official publicly made these comments shows the extent to which we as a society are still allowing a culture that is too permissive when it comes to rape and sexual assault.

How to Create the Ultimate Workout Playlist

1/23/2012

Having the right music for your workouts is very important in keeping you excited and motivated during your exercise session. Studies have shown that the rhythmic speed of your music influences your athletic performance. Researchers found that people who listened to music during their workouts pushed themselves harder than those who didn't listen to music. Researchers also found that songs with tempos between 120 and 140 beats per minute (BPM) are best for exercising. The right song can give you that rush of energy and momentum to help you push forward. For many people, music is essential to a good workout. Thus, here are some tips on creating the best playlist for your workout.

Best Celebrity Gossip Blogs

12/7/2011

Whether you embrace it or not, celebrity culture has a way of seeping into your day-to-day life. It’s hard to ignore the lives of the rich and the famous; before you know it, you’ll find yourself discussing Kim Kardashian’s 72-day marriage and the Chris Brown look-alike in Rihanna’s new video. Fame captures our attention and at some point we all end up participating in celebrity gossip. We do it because we’re bored. We do it because we want to be entertained. We do it because we enjoy it, and sometimes, we just do it because we want to escape reality. Whatever the reason, celebrity gossip is a prominent part our popular American culture. Here are a few celebrity news outlets and what you need to know about them when you need your celebrity news fix. Find out which celebrity news source is right for you:

TMZ
Leading the pack of the celebrity news world is TMZ.com, a celebrity news website established by Harvey Levin. TMZ is structured like a blog featuring a combination of text, legal documents, images, video, links and polls. TMZ has garnered a reputation for breaking big celebrity news, making it an online sensation with an estimated monthly readership of 4.1 million according to Quantcast.com, a web measurement service.

10 Annoying Things You Should Stop Doing on Facebook

11/8/2011

At some point in our lives we’ve all been guilty of oversharing and irritating our Facebook friends. It’s understandable. I know that I’ve certainly had my fair share of slightly obnoxious posts. Frustration and repeated offenses will eventually get you to the point where you consider defriending these people or my personal favorite, hiding them from your Newsfeed. It makes you wonder if these people are completely oblivious. Nonetheless, here’s a list of Facebook habits we all really should stop. Minor aggravations add up fast and nobody wants to be the person that has people rolling their eyes as they skim through their Newsfeed. Think of it as a public service to your Facebook friends.

My Campus Celebrity: Herrison Chicas

10/26/2011

Anybody who’s had the chance to see UNC-Chapel Hill junior, Herrison Chicas perform spoken word knows that it’s truly an experience. Chicas will quickly make you realize the influence of words. His poetry is especially noteworthy because of its ability to stay with you long after you’ve heard it. So don’t be surprised if you can’t get his words out of your head.

The passion and heart he draws upon to convey his poetry gives his performance a real lasting presence. His poem, “My Mother’s Illegal Music” is performed with such sincerity that it really hits home for a lot of children of immigrant parents and immigrants who’ve been disenfranchised by the American political system. Like Chicas said, “it needs to be heard.” He is quickly on his way to becoming a powerful voice for his generation and especially for the Latino people. But probably the most endearing quality about Chicas is his humility and commitment to helping marginalized people break through their struggle. Even with all the promise of success, it’s clear that Chicas will never forget who he is and where he comes from.

HC: How do you feel about the attention and praise you’ve been receiving for your poetry?
Chicas: I appreciate all the support people give me. Their support helps me and inspires me to keep doing what I do. At the end of the day, though, I try to remain humble because at the same time I’m still Chicas [laughs].