21 days. That is exactly three weeks. Can you imagine wearing the same 21 clothing items over and over again for three weeks? That includes shoes. With Oregon’s constantly changing weather, that could get complicated.

Now let’s take that to an extreme: What about doing this while simultaneously committing yourself to giving up fast food or only taking cold showers? It gets more complicated, though. What about not being able to wash your clothing in a washing machine unless you have two other people sharing the load?

This is the challenge that 50 University of Oregon college students, all involved with the on-campus InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, volunteered to complete over the past 21 days. The group finished the project this Wednesday night.

The InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is an evangelical group that caters toward both students and faculty on college campuses across the nation. The group’s mission is to transform students and faculty and see the world change before their eyes.

The idea for the project came from other InterVarsity Christian chapters on the West Coast that had previously completed the challenge. The groups shared their results online, inspiring the UO chapter to participate as well. The project was open to everyone on the University of Oregon campus.

The group also held a clothing drive at the end of the challenge in order to give back to the community; the clothing was donated to a Catholic relief organization.

Kayla Sundin, a member of the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, said the InterVarsity group, which meets regularly, focuses on a different theme each term. This term the theme was justice. The idea was that at the end of the challenge, the people involved would see that cutting back on the things that we take for granted could use their disposable income more justly.

“How do you live every day when there is so much oppression in the world and how do you do that with Jesus?” said Sundin. “There is only so much you can do in college so this was meant to be a heart change for the future. It might not be realistic to wear only 21 items all the time but we are hoping that this can be a catalyst for the future and how we can start making those different changes in order to live justly every day.”

Rebecca Mendoza, a University of Oregon senior, was an event organizer for the challenge. Mendoza thought the project was very challenging yet ultimately successful.

“We want God to change our insides as well as outsides. Learning how to think and interact with the world in a different manner, we learn how to be people that are open to being changed and can see things from a different perspective. Justice is more than just words.”

For more information on the group, meeting times and to get involved with future challenges, you can visit the group’s Facebook or the group’s site.

Thanks to the collaboration between the ASUO Women’s Center and Lane County’s Sexual Assault Support Services, last night was the 36^th annual Take Back The Night event.

Take Back the Night is an international project and non-profit organization with the ultimate goal to end all forms of rape and sexual violence. A typical Take Back The Night event will include a march, a vigil and a rally. Take Back the Night aims to raise awareness about sexual violence and support survivors regardless of gender.

As someone who had never attended an event like this, I had no idea what to expect. As I walked on campus before the start of the event, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. However, as I moved towards the EMU, I began to sense that this would be anything but a typical Thursday night. The energy in the air was electrifying: Students could be seen holding homemade signs that said things like, “Violence is a choice.”

To begin the evening’s program, the Service Employees International Union led the crowd in singing a song about taking back the night. Hundreds of voices, both male and female, filled the air. Organizers expected at least a few hundred people to show up and estimated that they had already reached their goal by the beginning of the event and expected more to show up throughout the evening.

Brandon Brezic, a University of Oregon sophomore, attended the event with a few of his fraternity brothers in order to show their support.

“This [sexual violence] is something that effects Greek Life in the University of Oregon. It is an issue that should be presented to everyone. Guys in Greek Life aren’t all horrible and we want to support good things like this,” Brezic, a first time attendee, said.

Multiple student groups performed throughout the program. The event also featured keynote speaker Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha, who is a femme writer, performer, organizer and sexual assault survivor — among many other things. Leah spoke about the importance of knowing the truth in a culture that is often filled with lies. She also encouraged students to learn the difference between what their yes was and what their no was.

“I think it is really amazing to see so many people come out against sexual violence and rape culture and it is really amazing to see the diversity of the folks who are out here and that folks are willing to take a stand a break the silence,” Piepzna-Samarasinha said.

As the sun set, participants joined together for a march to Downtown Eugene. The march symbolized a fight for the end to the violence women face while walking in public at night, as well as the end of patriarchy and date rape.

Afterwards, the event congregated in the Lane Community Downtown Campus for a speak-out, during which sexual assault survivors could tell their stories of pain, recovery and hope, in an environment free from judgement and full of validation.

Caitlin Corona, the coordinator of Sexual Violence Prevention and Education was pleased with the way the evening turned out.

“I hope everyone feels empowered,” Corona said.

The rapper 50 Cent ruined my life in 2005. He released the “Candy Shop” video and I never was the same again. I wanted a taste of the fast life and I also really wanted a pink Cadillac Escalade.

Thanks to 50 cent and BET’s Making of the Video show, my innocence was forever lost. I didn’t understand what I was seeing but I knew that when I grew up I would never settle for a boring party.

Remember that scene in The Great Gatsby when he has that amazing, blowout bash at his palatial mansion? We, the chubby Americans, all sat in the theater entranced by what was occurring on the screen. We all had the same thought: “That is one hell of a party. How could I attend something like that?”

After the movie, we all went home depressed because we knew that it was very unlikely that we would ever in our life attend something that fun. This is exactly how I felt after watching 50 Cent’s Making of the Video for “Candy Shop.”

I want you to dig deep into your brains and unearth a memory for me. I want you to remember what the middle school version of you thought would be an ideal party.

Think about when you would sit in front of your home computer and wait for instant messages while listening to Nelly. You more than likely were fantasizing about how you would be spending your nights once you were old enough to get your driver’s license. I’m willing to bet that the memories are probably somewhat horrifying.

At least mine are. My ideal party was a little different than what you would expect from your typical beezy from suburbia. I’d describe it as a subtle mixture between the LA riots and an adult film festival (one that was held somewhere bizarre like a compound in Miami. Not the warm one. The Miami in Ohio.)

I had a vivid fantasy that involved me pulling up to a party in a pleather dress while my Lincoln navigator played Danity Kane’s “Showstopper.” Once I reached eighth grade, the fantasy expanded to include a real perk — a personal bottle of Malibu. Mama, we made it.

My parents are really to blame for all of this. When I was in fourth grade, they blocked MTV. In order to stay up with my peers and their excessive knowledge of pop culture, I was forced to turn to extremes. I became a voracious consumer of BET and VH1. I watched programs like Making of the Video and Flavor of Love.

A particular favorite I had at the time was the Blind Date show. Essentially, those programs turned me into a tool, helped create a false sense of reality. It eventually would lead me to disappointment later in life.

But I didn’t notice. I was too consumed with the idea that these people were having a blast. Their actions were bizarre but they loved life. It was intoxicating.

I began to gather valuable life knowledge. For instance, you guys have no idea how many everyday uses baby oil has. It’s actually a valuable tool for any independent sexy woman. I also learned how easily hot tubs could be converted into the site of a roman orgy. Up until then, my experience with hot tubs was strictly when my sister and I snuck into the one at the Y.

But the most important lesson that I took away was to never settle for normal. If it isn’t bizarre or extravagant, is it really worth the hangover?

All of the rappers were having fun. I wanted in. I wanted to be a player that drank champagne while wearing bedazzled Juicy sweat suits.

The moral of the story is simple. Think about what your ideal is and try to make it happen.

Also please stop throwing really shitty parties. Don’t settle for hamburgers when you have a craving for champagne.

Fellow students, now is the time to throw bubbly bashes. Even when we grow up and are able to buy the good stuff (anything but Burnett’s), our parties will never be as crazy as they have the potential to be now.

One day, I will receive an invitation to a 50 Cent party, but until then I’ll be in my bed on the weekends, sipping chardonnay in my Juicy suit. Until then, keep it bizarre and extravagant, my fellow Ducks.

Consent is sexy. That is one of the lessons that organizers hope students take away from the events going on during UO’s Sexual Violence Prevention Week, which began April 18 and lasts until April 25. The week lands during the month of April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and allows students to come together as a community and work to address the issue of sexual assault in the community and on campus.

In fact, the Sexual Wellness Advocacy Team believes consent is so important that they are asking students to take pledges in order to prove their commitment to promoting healthy actions and relationships.

“This is a great opportunity to get more awareness around about these topics,” said Abigail Leeder, the director of Sexual Violence Education and Prevention, a group affiliated with the Office of the Dean of Students. “Students will know that there are safe and confidential resources. This is just one of many things the university does to address sexual violence. We are trying to add more programming and awareness to this topic.”

One of the events that are going on this week is the Consent Pledge and Healthy Relationships Photo Project, which is a part of the Please Do Ask (PDA) project. The event is being put on by the Student Leaders of Sexual Wellness, a new campus group affiliated with University Housing, and they hope for a big turnout. The event encourages students to sign the “PDA Project Pledge” which expresses the need to end sexual violence in our community. The pledge is available to everyone and all students are being encouraged to take it.

“This project is all about promoting healthy sexual relationships and consent, especially,” said Claire Johnson, a member of the Student Leaders of Sexual Wellness.

By signing the pledge, students are pledging to only practice consensual sex: Making sure their sexual partner says yes, asking partners what they want every time they engage in sexual acts, and becoming an active witness when one suspects sexual assault.

Students are also asked to sign their names on the “Pledge Poster,” similar to how one would make a public declaration. Willing participants also had the opportunity to answer questions concerning sexual relationships and consent on whiteboards. Students then took pictures with their whiteboard responses. The pictures will be posted on the group’s Facebook page.

If interested in taking the pledge, the event will be running from 12-4 p.m., Monday through Wednesday and is located in the EMU Amphitheater. For more information on other events and programs going on during Sexual Violence Prevention Week, here is a calendar. You can also visit this site to get involved and contact the various programs.

Throughout the country, April is recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. At the University of Oregon, we recognize the week of April 18-25 as Sexual Assault Prevention week. Free events will be offered to students throughout the week — here’s a complete list.

April 21-23, The Consent Pledge and Healthy Relationship Photo Project: The event is sponsored by the Student Leaders in Sexual Wellness. All students are invited to take the pledge. The event will be interactive and intends to gather as many pledges as possible; 12 -4 p.m., Monday through Wednesday at the EMU Amphitheatre.

April 21, Free Meal and Conversation: Students have the opportunity to share a meal and a conversation with Michelle Roland-Schwartz, who is the executive director for Oregon’s Sexual Assault Task Force. The dinner will be at 6:30 p.m. and the conversation will begin at 7:30. p.m. The event will be sponsored by the Wesley Center. 6:30 p.m. at the Wesley Center, which is located at 1236 Kincaid St. (right next to The Duck Store).

April 22,, Liberation Lunch and Workshop: Abuse Prevention in Business and Faith Communities: This is the first of two events offered on Tuesday. The event will consist of a free lunch and conversation about risk reduction, policy writing and prevention strategy. 12 p.m. at the Wesley Center.

April 22, A workshop: Healthy Relationships and Supporting Survivors: The University Counseling and Testing Center will sponsor this event from 5:30-7 p.m. in the EMU Century Room.

April 24, Take Back the Night:  Take Back the Night is an international event and a non-profit organization that is working to put a stop to all forms of sexual violence. The event will feature Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha, who is recognized for her work as a poet, activist and performer, amongst other things. This event will consist of a rally, a march and a speak out. The speak out is a chance for students to tell their stories of sexual violence and to hear other students’ testimonies. Similar events have taken place on college campuses throughout the country. For more information on the Take Back the Night organization, click here. The ASUO Women’s Center and Sexual Assault Support Services (SASS) will sponsor the event, which starts at 6 p.m. in the EMU Amphitheater.

April 25, Open House Debrief and Support: An open house session will take place and support will be offered to students. Snacks, art, conversation and studying will be offered at the event. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Wesley Center.

April 25, Sexual Violence and Masculinity: A multi-gender discussion: Be a part of a discussion about men’s role in preventing sexual violence; the ASUO’s Men’s Center staff will lead the event and is sponsored by the same group. 1-2:30 p.m. at the Men’s Center in the EMU.

April 25:“So Let’s Understand Terminology”: Workshop on language, the UO and the Media: A look at the relationships between language, our college and the media. University Housing sponsors the event. 6-7 p.m. at LLC Performance Hall.

April 25: Performance: Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha will give a performance. The event is sponsored by the ASUO Women’s Center. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Event begins at 7 p.m. in the Global Scholar’s Hall Great Room.

For more information on any of these events, you can visit here or email asap@uoregon.edu. For more information on SASS in general, click here.

Marijuana and movies. If you enjoy these two pastimes, then you would like comedian Doug Benson, a professional who will be covering these topics in his fourth annual 4/21 comedy show at WOW Hall on April 21 at 8 p.m.

The San Diego native prides himself on his marijuana jokes. If Benson’s name sounds familiar, you’ve probably come across one of his projects or comedy sets. The majority of these projects and comedy sets are related to marijuana. Benson is a card-carrying-medical-marijuana patient and a strong advocate.

His most notable project, Super High Me, is a documentary riffing off the format of the popular documentary Super Size Me. The plot of Super High Me follows Benson for 60 days on his trek to do some serious cannabis research. The first 30 days, Benson undergoes a period where he cleanses marijuana from his system and abstains from all cannabis use.

During this period of abstinence, Benson records his current state of mental and physical health through various tests. You can probably guess what happens next.

Benson then proceeds to smoke himself into a stupor for the next 30 days while under the supervision of his physician who monitors the changes in Benson’s physical and mental states. The tests that Benson undergoes include a sperm count test, a SAT test and a lung capacity evalution. At the end of the 60 days, Benson’s doctor analyzes the tests and proclaims whether or not marijuana has been detrimental or helpful for Benson.

I won’t give the ending away, but the film is pretty interesting.

Benson first began comedy when he was 22-years-old on a dare from his friend. However, Benson did not begin to smoke weed until he was 29-years-old and began performing with other comedians. Benson smoked heavily after shows with comedians Brian Posehn and Greg Proops.

Once Benson started smoking, he was hooked. Now considers himself a major stoner.

Benson then began to incorporate “stoner humor” into his jokes and has now qualms cracking jokes about the drug.

Benson is a regular on Comedy Central. Benson also began a weekly podcast in 2006 titled “Doug Loves Movies,” which is available on iTunes.

Notable guests of the show include Zach Galifianakis, Sarah Silverman and Aubrey Plaza among numerous others. Benson also competed on Last Comic Standing and was a star of an on-stage show that he personally wrote and starred in which was titled, The Marijuana-Logues. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what topics Benson covers in this show.

This is the fourth time Benson has performed on 4/21 in Eugene. So roll a doobie — or don’t — the show will be enjoyable either way. Head over to WOW hall on April 21.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $22 at the door. Doors will open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. For more information, you can visit www.wowhall.org.

Want more weed? Here are other Emerald stories about the green.

Why a weed issue?

Let’s clear the smoke an introduction to the Emerald’s weed issue

What do you people actually think about pot?

Weed Diaries

Getting high:

The effects of marijuana on your brain

Eugene baker Sharon Cohen makes strides in hemp food market

More than smoke, edibles offer a different marijuana experience

What is your preferred method of flight?

Dank or Schwag: Do G13, Matanuska Thunder Fuck or Peter Danklage disappoint?

Anatomy of a bong

High activities:

Altered states transform ordinary games into memorable highs

Tichenor: You think ‘Harold and Kumar’ is about weed? Think again.

Playlist: Songs to get high to

This is what happens when you listen to Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ while stoned

The legal stuff:

Is it time for Oregon to legalize marijuana?

Getting caught with marijuana on campus can have consequences

Medicinal use:

Eugene’s newest medical marijuana dispensary Oregon Medigreen brings patients relief

Eugene’s Elvy Musikka is one of only four recipients of federal medical marijuana for Glaucoma

Strict medical marijuana restrictions may hinder those in need

There is a major divide in equality for men and women and it all boils down to money. Although it is 2014, women continue to make less money than men despite the fact that, on average, more women than men are actively seeking out higher education. According to the foundation Women Moving Millions, females now outnumber males who are enrolled in higher education learning institutes.

At the University of Oregon, the student body is comprised of 46 percent males and 54 percent females. Female college students need to be concerned about this pay gap as the difference in wages means that it takes females longer to pay off college debt.This is especially problematic, as it will affect a female’s personal life upon graduating.

On average throughout the country, women make 77 cents per every dollar a male makes.  That is a 23-cent difference and while that may seem miniscule, it adds up. In Oregon specifically, The National Partnership for Women and Children released its findings that women make 79 cents for each dollar paid to males. This number applies to specifically to full-time, year-round work. These findings were taken from US census data.

Although there are various reasons, the main one being direct and indirect discrimination, cited for why this difference in pay exists, it still boils down to the fact that women are still not earning as much as men, yet are expected to pay the same prices as their higher earning male counterparts.

Even more concerning is the fact that women head up to 151,881 of the 420,121 households in Oregon according to an April 2013 study by the National Partnership for Women and Children. Out of these 151,881 households, 52,095 households run on incomes that fall below the poverty line. The study also found that if the pay gap were eliminated, women could earn up to 10,000 dollars more a year. It stated that these extra funds would be enough to pay for up to 72 more weeks of food, six more months of mortgage and utility payments, 12 more months of rent or 2,671 additional gallons of gasoline.

The gender pay gap is not something new. Every year, April 8th is dedicated to the cause and is recognized as National Equal Pay Day. This year, President Obama signed an executive order that was written to eliminate workplace discrimination and allow employees to negotiate their wages. Obama will now require federal contractors to turn in data that will document how much employees, categorized by gender and race, are being paid.

Even though the year is 2014 and we do pride ourselves on being a progressive country, there is a major problem right in front of us with no clear solution in sight. Women continue to earn less than men yet carry more responsibility than ever. Until the pay gap is eliminated, women will not be treated fairly in a country that prides itself on democracy and equality. Women everywhere need to rise up and demand answers from legislators.

For this female college student, it all boils down to this: Why should women support a government that has continually failed to provide equality for us?

Can you be a good person and still not particularly enjoy Disney’s latest movie Frozen? Not according to popular belief. It was announced earlier this week that the hit movie is the highest grossing animated movie of all time. Its soundtrack has spent eight weeks at the top of Billboard 200, the longest run since Adele’s 21 in 2012. It has been lauded by fans as a progressive Disney movie with two strong female protagonists. I think that we have a case of overhype on our hands. Now hold yourself back, Internet trolls, and listen to my reasoning.

Frozen was good. Were there some positive messages? Yes. Was it life changing? No. Were there some negative messages hidden within a plot? Of course. Frozen is a Disney movie after all. I’m all about taking a piece of creative work and interpreting it in whatever way you want (whether that be support for healthy body images or sexual preferences). So, after reading numerous articles that Frozen was life changing, I knew that I had to check it out.

The list of hidden negative messages in Frozen is extensive. So I’ll try to keep this brief.

Let’s start from the beginning with Elsa and Anna’s relationship. After Anna is frozen, Elsa is far too willing to relinquish their relationship. As an older sister, this felt creepy. Couldn’t the two still interact in a limited context?

Then the parents die. Why does someone have to die in every Disney movie? Was this punishment for their role in helping Elsa keep her secret? Parents do not need to be terminated for someone’s life to get better. Take notes, Disney.

The character Prince Hans lacked thought and depth. Throughout the movie, Prince Hans is portrayed as someone who wants to help. At the end, when he leaves Anna to die in the room, it’s a startling 180 degree turn from the character that viewers thought they knew. What is Disney trying to establish with this abrupt change? From there on out, a gruff mountain man who doesn’t seem to have much going on intrigues Anna. He doesn’t seem princely, but Anna doesn’t care. Disney implies from the beginning that Anna is willing to settle for anyone by having her character get engaged to a man she has known for one day.

Frozen is based off of a Hans Christian Anderson story titled “The Snow Queen.” I’m not saying that the original story was better, but the plot had some female heroines that could have been included to add more depth to the plot. The plot of the original story has at least four female characters, but Disney still only uses two female protagonists in Frozen. The majority of characters in Frozen are male. Disney could have easily not included any male characters and instead focused on the relationship between the two sisters. Instead, they’re still implicitly stating that a heterosexual love story is needed for an interesting plot.

Frozen is good. But it isn’t as good as the hype makes it seem. See it if you haven’t already, but be warned: If you’re looking for a movie chock full of life lessons, this is not the one for you. Disney did their best to create a progressive film but sadly fell short.