Whitman Wire

Difficult Conversations Must Welcome Experienced Voices

Ben Shoemake, Columnist • May 5, 2016

When the voices most essential to the conversation belong to people who don't feel safe coming to the table, we need to make the table safer.

Reactions to North Carolina’s Anti-LGBT Law Detract from Bigger Issue

Ben Shoemake, Columnist • April 21, 2016

What interests me most, though, aren't the particularities of the bill or the conversations surrounding it, but the complete and total lack of perspective surrounding trans rights in general, which these recent events have served to make apparent.

Clinton Leads Sanders in Effort to End Racism

Ben Shoemake, Columnist • March 10, 2016

When Hillary Clinton called for greater accountability during her speech in Harlem, it was a groundbreaking moment.

Supporting Critical Engagement

Ben Shoemake, Columnist • February 18, 2016

Conversations on the subject of power and privilege need to happen year-round, and real action needs to follow up as a result.

The Cost(s) of an Education

Ben Shoemake, Columnist • February 4, 2016

Second semester is upon us, and as a senior Gender Studies major, that means it is time to get cracking on my thesis. Some of you might be struggling to fill your distribution credits, deciding on your...

Finding Support in the End of the World

Ben Shoemake, Columnist • December 10, 2015

Post-apocalyptic stories aren't just a fad, they are something that modern youth relate to, precisely because they shed light on the world which they are growing into.

The Poke Narrative

Ben Shoemake, Columnist • November 19, 2015

By not assigning its own meaning to acts of friendship, Pokémon games allow players to create it themselves, weaving a narrative that may not be represented fully in the game, but which is tailored uniquely for each user.