CrossFit: An Epidemic? By: Kaylee Boudreaux

Introduction

             
             Many different connotations may come to mind when asked about CrossFit, depending on the individual asked, of course.  CrossFit has become a way of life for hundreds of thousands of people all over the world, although the workout isn’t proven to be without flaws and has recently become what is considered to be an upcoming epidemic (Kuhn).  CrossFit claims to be more than a

fitness regimen, a community organized and dedicated to the life of fitness, but has the idea been taken to the extreme?  It’s not characterized as the typical workout—it’s more so a “lifestyle that encourages participants to strive for an ‘elite’ and ‘optimal’ state of fitness and health” (Kuhn).  CrossFit has taken the idea of perfection and molded it into a hardcore, sweat nducing, muscle straining workout that pushes anyone brave enough to try it to their limits.  If you ask anyone who has participated in CrossFit, you may get super positive feedback occasionally followed by an update on their progress, but what most CrossFit athletes don’t realize is that the lifestyle may be doing them harm, instead of good.  Society glorifies the idea of fitness and with each passing year, new ideas of beauty in regards to the human body are established; CrossFit has harnessed this idea and developed its marketing focus on the idea of extreme lean and health.  Society has taken this absurd idea and used CrossFit as a staircase to unrealistic ideas of what it means to be fit.

History

Greg Glassman developed CrossFit, the fitness regimen consisting of fast, intense movements combining cardio and weights, combatted with diet to create the ultimate health combination with “proven results”, officially in 2000 (Kuhn).  The company’s first partner was CrossFit North located in Seattle, but by 2005, there were a total of 13 affiliates (Origins of CrossFit).  The growth made progress and became more popular over the years.  The intense popularity of CrossFit came in great part because of the CrossFit games, created in 2007 (1).  In the initial games, males and females competed against each other for a mere $500 (1).  Throughout the years, the annual CrossFit games swept the nation, and with the growth of the sport, major businesses such as, Reebok and ESPN began to spread the word and sponsor the games (1).  In 2011, just four years after the first summer CrossFit games, the top prize was a whopping $250,000; today, the prize can range around $1 million (1).  These games continue to pull together people from all over the world to compete for CrossFit champion, but most of all, motivate the average Joes to start a journey of fitness.  By 2013, only a dozen years after the company began, there were 7,000 gym affiliates worldwide (CrossFit History).  Today, the sky is the limit for the thousands of CrossFit individuals across the globe.  Although the sport appears to be all fun and games, no pun intended, can this amount of strain on your body truly be healthy—is the sport pushing the boundaries too far?  

    

Causes

There have been cases all over the world that show increased creatine kinase and lactate levels affecting the amount of muscle protein broken down in the body and furthermore poisoning the blood stream of the affected individuals (The Controversy Behind CrossFit).  Many others have shown signs of muscle decline due to the constant build up and tear down of their muscle fibers.  Pushing abilities to the limit each day, despite the signs of soreness and fatigue, and not allowing time for adequate rest in between, can result in a reverse effect when working out than generally anticipated.  CrossFit has taken the idea of high intensity and developed high-stakes workouts built around a community of motivated individuals all working for the same outcome—ultimate fitness; and what would “ultimate fitness” be without some kind of diet? 

CrossFit dug back to the beginning of society’s roots and found that the Paleo Diet ensures maximal results combined with the intense training regimen (Kuhn).  The diet is based on a similar diet our Paleolithic ancestors would have eaten, consisting of lean meats, vegetables, nuts and seeds, and some fruit (1).  Low carbohydrate intake and avoiding starches and sugars is encouraged because they have been proven to have a part in the obesity epidemic undergoing in our society today (1).  Although, individuals with diabetes, for example, may struggle with the suggested diet due to their individual nutritional needs, along with others who need an excess or reduction of certain food groups in order for their body to function normally (1).   Many critics believe that the Paleolithic diet is not one of health and wellness and tend to counteract the ideas of how our ancestors lived with the notion that our species is constantly adapting and evolving, leading the final thoughts of their argument to linger with the concept that although the diet is beneficial to most, the extreme means taken may not be the most recommended by those specializing in the field of health (1).    

Effects on Society

The standardized diet and workout CrossFit has published is proven to show results in high magnitudes across the globe, but is defiantly considered one of the more extreme diets developed.  The exact science of the diet is still up for deliberation, but combined with a regular exercise routine, the diet can result in optimal outcomes (Steven Kuhn).

According to Dr. Val Jones, who has participated in various workout trends over the years as both as an athlete and a physician trained in sports medicine, CrossFit has a number of pros and cons in its history (Jones).  She labels some of the pros as CrossFit’s difficulty, nutritional emphasis, community support and encouragement, affordability, and overall portability, accounting for the use of body weight training on some occasions (1).  On the other hand, the cons lead as frequent injury compared to most other fitness programs, challenging techniques required for the exercises, peer pressure to constantly do more, an overall “glorification of the mesomorph” and the idea that the CrossFit way is the “best way” (1).  She ends her article stating that she further recommends a compromise called “CrossFit light”, which is characterized as a lighter version of the parent CrossFit (1).  It’s a less extreme and more tolerable program.  She elaborates, concludes, and encourages the reader to find their workout niche and follow it because some exercise is more than nothing (1).

Examples

Nika posted a testimonial on March 16, 2015 of her CrossFit journey and how it has “increased [her] self-esteem, motivated [her] to push [her]self, and taught [her] how to respect [her] body” (CrossFit Moxie Foraging Elite Fitness).  She was never one for regular exercising and would only jog occasionally (1).  Her weight caught up to her and after persistence from her friends to join their local CrossFit gym, Moxie, she finally gave in (1).  She elaborates and states that her first class was anything but easy—as she thought the warm-up was the actual workout (1).  She began preparing meals and cleaning up her diet and got on a workout schedule for three times a week at Moxie (1).  She explains that after just two months of this lifestyle change, she has never looked or felt better and stronger (1).

Oscar Armstrong has had two total hip replacement surgeries causing him to not be able to run, play racquetball, or even basketball (CrossFit 858).  His life was shifting with going back to school and changing his career at the age of 54 (1).  He began CrossFit after seeing an advertisement and considered the promising results; he believed that the lifestyle could help give him back mobility and strength in his hips to help him function in his everyday life as normal as before (1).  After a couple months, he was up to three workouts a week and feeling better than ever (1).  Now, six months after the beginning of his journey he states that he is in the best shape of his life (1).  He is more optimistic and sets goals throughout his life that he would have thought impossible before (1).     

Solution    

 It’s hard to not applaud CrossFit for its outstanding motivation and evolution, but it is difficult to ignore what doctors are saying about long term effects.  You may get mixed reviews if you talked to various CrossFit affiliates, but ultimately, in respects to the pros and cons of the sport, you have to take into consideration what you are willing to risk and whether or not you are willing to dive in head first (Jones).  Your results depend on your mindset and passion for results.  Both of the examples we reviewed were of beginners with different backgrounds who took caution and moderation with their workout and diet.  Health complications don’t come into light until extremes are taken and over intensity become the only way one chooses to workout.  CrossFit light, as mentioned before, is a recommended version of CrossFit that is performed without the extreme weight maneuvers; an overall slow escalated program (1).  The paleo diet isn’t a must and cardio is encouraged. 

CrossFit is not considered ineffective or bad for your body as long as it’s done correctly, but due to the system’s popularity, the regime has been diluted (The Controversy Behind CrossFit).  More and more first time CrossFit athletes rush into exercises not completely prepared for the weight attempted or weakened from the day before with muscles fatigued (1).  Society has glorified the ideas of CrossFit and with its popularity; the system has grown more in quantity and less with quality.  With knowledge and precaution, listening to your body and what it is telling you at all times, CrossFit will become less of a hazard to your health and more of a benefit, as intended, and you will see rezults.

Camus and Absurdity   

            Camus, a philosopher held at high regard,  believes that there is no meaning when it comes to life—you are born and you die, the two inevitabilities in life; everything else is filled with an “irresolvable emptiness” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy).  In his writing The Myth of Sisyphus, he takes a more complex approach to his ideas and outlooks on a life as he explains that a moment in between struggles is the most important moment in one’s life (CrossFit: A Sisyphean Endeavor?).  Camus saw not a “pained expression and wearied walk”, but a face bathed in “freedom, triumph and agency” (1).  He saw a man readying himself to confront himself in the face of struggle once again.  In the moment “in between” the character Sisyphus is conscious and willing, although Camus doesn’t believe in a higher power or life after death, he acknowledges struggle and prosperity in life (1).  Cross Fit thrives on prosperity through struggle and determination.  Camus would of saw the seconds in between exhausting rounds as a time to compose oneself and gather the strength to continue what one set out to do—he would of admired the sport and the true idea that an athlete will watch a stone fall back down a hill after an attempt, immediately turn around to retrieve it and begin again (1).  The “awareness” of the struggle and difficulty, but persistence to continue the fight is the true reward for Camus (1).  Although there is no real overall meaning in life according to the philosopher, there is character and a willingness to succeed and those are what push one to live day to day (1).           

Conclusion    

            CrossFit, is just one of many epidemics in our society today; although unlike most epidemics,

it is controlled by the individual participating in the sport and varies with each person.  Intensity, diet, and time put in depends on the commitment and insanity one is willing give to the lifestyle.  CrossFit affiliates are persistent, determined, and absolutely willing to give everything they have for their goal results and to feel good about themselves.  Advise caution and access your own abilities before attempting the sport and know your limits.  CrossFit can easily overcome your boundaries and quickly take over your life if you let it.  Just remember, the athlete is in complete control, the timer and workout are only there as guidance, it’s better to push less today so you can work out tomorrow, than to do too much.  Although it’s an epidemic, CrossFit isn’t completely bad—you are in control, so at the end of the day, blame the player, not the game.   

Works Cited

Aronson, Ronald. "Albert Camus." Stanford University. Stanford University, 2011. Web. 19 Apr.

2016. <http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/camus/>.

"Crossfit History." FitMYBox The Site for Crossfit Affiliates. Web. 07 Apr. 2016.

<http://www.fitmybox.com/crossfit-history.html>.

Drexler, Jane, Dr. "CrossFit: A Sisyphean Endeavor? by Dr. Jane Drexler." CrossFit Journal.

Web. 19 Apr. 2016. <http://journal.crossfit.com/2013/03/crossfit-a-sisyphean-endeavor.tpl>.

Jones, Val, Dr. "The Pros And Cons Of CrossFit: A Physician’s Perspective." Better Health

RSS2. Web. 03 Mar. 2016. <http://getbetterhealth.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-crossfit-a-physicians-perspective/2013.09.27>.

Kuhn, Steven. "The Culture of CrossFit: A Lifestyle Prescription for Optimal Health and

Fitness." Illinois State University. Web. 03 Mar. 2016. <http://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/sta/1/>.

"Origins of CrossFit." The Box. Web. 14 Apr. 2016. <http://www.theboxmag.com/article/origins-

of-crossfit>.

Ross, Brooke. "The Controversy Behind CrossFit." LIVESTRONG.COM. LIVESTRONG.COM,

2016. Web. 03 Mar. 2016. <http://www.livestrong.com/article/545200-the-fall-of-fitness/>.

"Testimonials." Crossfit Moxie. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.

<http://www.crossfitmoxie.com/testimonials/>.

"Testimonials: Hear from Our Members!" CrossFit 858. 2011. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.

<http://www.crossfit858.com/testimonials/>.

Bullying In American Schools by Hailey Willard

Introduction

Eighty percent of adolescents reported being bullied during their school years (Garrett 1). Seventy one percent of the teachers or other adults in the classroom ignore bullying incidents (1). Eighteen percent of students who suffer from bullying have attempted suicide and some even succeeded (Hertz, Donato, Wright 1). Most victims go unnoticed because they are too scared to speak up. Most victims don’t even understand the true definition of bullying and sometimes do not even realize they are being bullied. School has become a place of fear rather than a haven for education. Bullying in schools across the nation has become an epidemic, one that if not stopped will lead to an increase in the number of students cheated on their education due to their fear of attending school where they are literally pushed to their breaking points. For this reason, it is our duty as students in public school to raise awareness to this epidemic and put an end to it once and for all.

History

            The history of bullying can be dated all the way back to the first time children were born into a society and able to interact with one another. Everyone has picked on someone in their life. Children are the biggest culprits for forming groups and bullying other group or individuals. Children and young adults always seem to find something to criticize about others, but it’s how one handles those negative thoughts that defines bullying. Bullying has always been a part of life however in the past century with the rise of social media and technological advances, bulling in schools has enhanced and grown worse than ever before. We have seen millions of cases of bullying in schools across the country, some of which have led to suicide. This outbreak is spreading farther and wider and if not stopped will continue to infect and damage more and more American students throughout the nation and even beyond.

Examples

There are millions of cases of bullying in the media, news, on the internet and even in your own schools. Almost everyone on the world was bullied at some point in their life. Everyone has their own stories, but those brave enough to share are the ones who inspire victims to get through their situations. Many famous celebrities were bullied as children and continue to be cyberbullied by “haters” as their careers prevail. Some of these celebrities include Ansel Elgort, Rumor Willis, Jennifer Lawrence, Derek Hough, Justin Timberlake, Sandra Bullock, Robert Pattinson, Miley Cyrus, Jason Segal, Jessica Alba, Jackie Chan, Megan Fox, Lady Gaga, Tom Cruise, Demi Lovato, Michael Phelps, Chris Rock, Tiger Woods and many, many more ("Bullied Celebrities"). These people were bullied, harassed and beaten, as a child in grade school but did not let that stop them from proving people wrong and following their dreams. Another example of the bullying epidemic in schools is the story of a man named Nick Vujicic, a quadriplegic that took his story of being broken by bullies to inspire others that nothing is impossible. Nick was born with a disease in which none of his limbs develop during his lifetime. This made school hard for him because each day he attended he endured hurtful words and physical abuse without end. The difference between Nick Vujicic and other victims of bullying is he chose to rise above. Vujicic began to take those words and use them for fuel to feed his dedication to promote anti-bullying later

in life. He is now part of a nationwide attempt to eliminate bullying in schools all over the country (Vujicic).

             Bullying is a major problem in schools across America and always has been. As it is now more popular than ever, it is our duty to put an end to it once and for all. With the help of awareness spread by famous celebrities whom people admire as well as the stories of ordinary people who face bullying, we can spread the word of bullying and it’s effects on the lives of it’s victims to keep schools across America a safer, healthier environment for all students.

Solutions

There are a number of actions that can be taken to prevent bullying in American schools. In addition to the programs that are currently set in place, there are a number of ideas that could be put into play to try and stop bullying. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has used it’s observations, research, and experiments to devise a procedural solution that will cure bullying in schools in America.

First an assessment needs to be conducted at each school to determine the extent of bullying in schools and who the main culprits and victims are ("Prevention at School"). The items that need to be assessed are how often bullying occurs, where it happens, how students and adults intervene, and whether the current prevention efforts are working (1). This will allow a good overview of further action that needs to be taken to affectively rid individual schools of their problem.

            The next step in prevention is getting the community involved in abolition efforts ("Prevention at School").  Youth, parents, teachers and community members should become actively engaged in the efforts to rid bullying among schools in order to form a strong backbone for the fight. Students can share their perspectives on bullying so that an effective approach can be conducted. Parents can build strong relationships with the teachers and staff as well as become involved in school activities and volunteering opportunities.  Teachers and staff should greet the parents and students with a welcoming atmosphere each day of school and establish strong connections with parents to make the aware of their child’s safety status and physical/emotional states while at school.

            In addition, a set of rules and policies should be put into place that clearly define the rules and regulations regarding the treatment of others while at school along with a list of set consequences if these rules are violated ("Prevention at School").   An example of this would be a code of conduct or a mission statement explaining the safety standards and behavioral expectations for students at school. These rules and policies cannot simply just be set, they must be enforced and incorporated in daily activities so that students are familiar with them and will cooperate. Another safety factor that can be added to this system of policies would be a reporting system that would allow students and teachers to easily but privately report incidents of bullying they’ve witnessed in order to better treat the problem and add to the safety of the students.

  After rules have been established, a safe environment should be built to protect students from the dangers of bullying ("Prevention at School").   Respect for others as well as self-respect should be implemented into the mindsets of students to create a positive atmosphere. Also, organization and management should be enforced into the staff of the schools so that students have a solid foundation to turn when they need to seek help. With organization and order comes a safe, positive environment that makes bullying harder and learning easier.

   Finally, after these steps have been mastered, the last step is to educate and raise awareness of bullying ("Prevention at School"). It is important that students are informed of signs of bullying so they can determine if they are witnessing bullying or even experiencing it themselves and were not aware. Then students should be trained on how to properly address bullying if it’s witnessed so that things don’t escalate too far. There are various ways to educate on bullying. Visual presentations, class discussions, or even certain programs can raise awareness for bullying and provide examples of what to look out for in schools and the community. Many victims may not even feel that what they are experiencing is bullying because of the fact that there are so many different types of bullying that people don’t learn about. The proper education on bullying is necessary when trying to prevent bullying so that all possible scenarios are addressed and can be recognized as abuse.

   Another solution to ending the bullying epidemic would be the proper counseling/ mentorship available to students who seek it. This could prevent bullying in two ways; it could prevent bullying from happening in the first place by providing an alternative method of releasing anger for the bullies themselves and second it would allow the victims to have a place to resort to when help is needed where they will be guided by a professional to help resolve their bullying problem. Often times victims let bullies push them to their breaking points because they are too embarrassed of the situations or do not have a trustworthy source to report their suffering to. With the proper counseling available, many cases could be cured before they escalate to self-mutilation or suicide.

    With this procedure at hand, the prevention of the bullying epidemic is left to us, the students, to take action. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services believes a cure for the social epidemic is possible, therefore the steps offered above are crucial for sparing innocent lives that have fallen victim to this devastation and ending bullying in schools everywhere.
Camus’ Beliefs

  Albert Camus, the author of The Plague would view this bullying epidemic as a true depiction of the reality of life. Camus was a rationalist and took things as they were. He would feel that the idea of trying to prevent bullying in schools is absurd and a waste of time because he’d believe that bullying is part of human nature and a factor that will never go away. Camus states in The Plague, “The evil that is in the world almost always comes of ignorance, and good intentions may do as much harm as malevolence if they lack understanding” ("Albert CamusQuotes"). With this he would argue that we as human beings will never understand theexplanation behind the idea of bullying therefore trying to solve the issue would only make it worse. Camus would claim that the basis of bullying is ignorance and it would be nearly impossible to rid bullying because there would be no way to rid the world of ignorance. His belief in that idea of trying to end this bullying epidemic would be that similar to the scientific approach mentioned above. Camus would agree with scientists in that bullying is represented in all aspects of nature, animals being a good example (Kalman). He would say that bullying is merely an expression of natural dominance and is a form of survival of the fitness. To interfere with this system would be absurd in that it would interfere with the natural selection of society. This idea seems harsh when considering these are human beings being discussed, however it is a rational, approach to the subject which is the perspective Albert Camus would have taken given the background information of this era.

Conclusion

             The number of victims who suffer from bullying rise each day, as does the harm inflicted by others and by the victims themselves. The power to end this horrendous epidemic is in our hands but we must utilize the right tools in an effective manner to take action and stop it’s spread. Many attempts to end this epidemic have been taken however nothing has had a large enough impact to turn the epidemic around. The idea of ending bullying in schools across the nation seems absurd, however it is possible with the proper approach. It is up to us to take back our school as a safe haven for education and eliminate the violence and bullying in schools all over America in hopes of saving our peers from falling victim to this act of hatred and reducing the number of bully based massacres that jeopardize the safety and sanity of students everywhere. We must provide help for bullies who feel alone and help them help themselves and encourage victims to let their smiles change the world but not let the world change their smiles.

Bibliography

Albert Camus Quotes." Notable Quotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2016. <http://www.notable-

quotes.com/c/camus_albert.html>.

"Bullied Celebrities." Hey Ugly. Web. 01 Mar. 2016. <http://www.heyugly.org/Celebrities

WhoHaveBeenBullied.php>.

Garrett, Anne G. Bullying in American Schools: Causes, Preventions, Interventions. Jefferson,

NC: McFarland, 2003. Print.

Joaquin Phoenix, and Michael Honda. "Column: Our Children Face a Bullying Epidemic."

USATODAY.COM. 28 Aug. 2012. Web. 18 Feb. 2016. http://usatoday30.usa today.com /news/opinion/forum/story/2012-08-28/joaquin-phoenix-bullying-epidemic/ 57379318/1.

Marci Feldman Hertz, Ingrid Donato, and James Wright. "Bullying and Suicide: A Public Health

Approach." Health and Human Services (2013). National Center for Biotechnology

Information. 2013. Web. 18 Feb. 2016. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ pmc/articles/PMC4721504/ .

"Prevention at School." Stopbullying.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2016. <http://www.stopbully

ing.gov/prevention/at-school/index.html>.

Vujicic, Nick. "Nick Vujicic on the Evils of Bullying." Crosswalk.com. 4 Apr. 2013. Web. 01

Mar. 2016. <http://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/nick-vujicic-on-the-evils-of- bullying.html>.

Bullying in Schools by Taylor Sanders

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Taylor Sanders

Professor Hammett

February 16, 2016

Bullying in Schools

Gay, chunky, or different are just some of the reasons that children are getting bullied these days. Bullying has spiraled out of control, leading to low self-esteem, aggression, and in extreme cases, suicide. This epidemic causes around 160,000 children to stay home from school in fear of being made fun of. (Salmon 1.) These once fun- loving kids turn into an isolated, dark person nobody ever saw coming. Many cases of bullying often go unnoticed until they beg for attention through lashing out at others or even their wrists.

Bullying is the result of children picking on other children for not fitting in or not being just like everyone else. When a kid is a little different or weird, they are more likely to become a victim of bullying. Bullying is directly connected to children interaction, ever since kids have come in contact with other kids bullying has been a problem (Smith, Peter K., and Sonia Sharp). Bullying is a common theme in many books about adolescent that date back to the 19th century from authors like Charles Dickens, J.K Rowling, and S.E Hinton. Although bullying has been around for ages, the increase in the number of kids committing suicide, going on shooting rampages and being harassed on social media has increased awareness on the bullying epidemic ("Common Causes of Bullying”). It was children that had been bullied or harassed that caused the many shootings that plagued the U.S. in the 1990’s.

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In 2002, the U.S. Secret Service sent out a report that came to the conclusion that bullying played a major role in many recent school shootings and that efforts must be made in order to eliminate the violent bullying behavior ("The Origins of Bullying."). Between the many suicides and mass shootings, it is apparent that bullying is taking a violent toll on the youth in America ("The Origins of Bullying."). Bullying has rapidly involved into something we no longer have control over. If we do not take action soon many more kids will be wiped out by the bullying epidemic. Many new websites have been formed through the local and even federal levels to help stop these problems. There are websites on how to take control, phone numbers of people who are there to listen, and the Peer Assisted Leadership (PAL) program which helps raise awareness.

Loading...            One in six American school children report being bullied verbally, physically and online, as often as two to three times a month (Carroll). Bullying has been the most common form of violence; I believe it has come to the point where children skip school due to the fear of being made fun of or mocked. When the PALs make their way to the elementary schools they visit   daily, they are faced with many cases of bullying. One day, one of the PALs was placed in a class room, as soon as she walked in she could tell one of the children was getting stressed out by all the noise and chatter in the classroom. She walked over to him as all the kids were scooting away from him because “they do not like him.” He sat crying at his desk due to the children isolating him from their fun activities. He almost broke his glasses due to all the anger he had built up inside of him. The PAL tried to calm the child down, but it was already too late. He had been a victim of bullying. It would take a lot more than just a hug to make him the happy little kid he once was.

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The projects and groups working towards better relationships between the people in schools and places of work have not only created support groups, but have also found many celebrities that have similar stories to those of the children being bullied which gives them motivation to stand up for themselves and stop the bullying.  The celebrities like Taylor Lautner, Channing Tatum, Emma Stone, and Miley Cyrus who are prime examples to show the victims that life can get better and you can grow from your experiences. Their childhood bullying gave them the motivation to do something they loved and run with it. Many were bullied, because they were in drama class, video production, or choir, but look at where they are now. “Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life, but define yourself,” said Tim Fields, meaning do not let your peers bring you down, because they think you are stupid or ugly; if you are happy with yourself, that is the only thing that matters.

The bullying epidemic has spread all of the world with many cases leading to suicide, shootings, and death threats. There are now many organizations trying to help this cause and stop it for good with awareness campaigns, guest speakers, and community outreach events. Everyone deserves to find happiness in their life, not to live in fear or being judged or harassed every day.

In high schools they have a program called PALs, which stands for Peer Assisted Leadership, the kids apart of the program attend many different schools in the district to help mentor and keep kids on the right track. Many of the kids they work with are living in unstable homes, being bullied in school, and need a push to get back on the right path.

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The PALs work together to teach the kids on how to cope with being bullied and different strategies on how to stand up to the problem for not only themselves, but other bullied peers as well.  

The Humanity Project is another anti-bullying associations that brings kids together to create innovative arts-based programs that help youth solve pressing social problems through collaborative efforts that emphasize the value of each individual ("The Humanity Project."). Together the program creates and implements all-original programs that reduce problems like bullying, teen driver safety, and teenage social isolation issues while strengthening respect for the individual and promoting self-value, they call their unique approach "shared value" ("The Humanity Project."). The Humanity Project believes in teaching important lessons through the arts, like music videos and crafts, helps make their main message more memorable for kids. Art forces an emotional connection that helps the information to stick with the kids. With this project it not only brings the kids together to fight against bullying, but adults as well; the more people we have standing against the big, bad bullies in the schools, workplace, and on the play grounds the better.  

Recently, many people who are signed up to participate in the many projects DoSomething.org create received an email about a notion to reduce bullying. The email stated, “Be yourself. Everyone else is taken,” meaning you should be whoever you want to be and everyone is different in their own way. The email also informed the readers that students with disabilities are up to three times more likely to be bullied versus their nondisabled peers. They included ways for the readers to have a part in the campaign by being a part of the organization and help reduce the bullying count.

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Due to the amount of people that may have no interest in helping out they included a celebrity to say they’ve been through it all and still made it, which would encourage more people to help out.

The cure to an inevitable epidemic is none, the most we can do is reduce the amount of bullying cases but I do not believe it can ever be fully subtracted from our society. Many of the anti-bullying projects have only minimized the amount of hatred that many have against one another and of them acting out on their feelings for their peers.

The solutions that have been created to stop bullying like programs in schools, support groups, and many other projects that have done an amazing job spreading the awareness of the bullying epidemic and how it has taken a toll on the current generation of kids and they have also diminished the amount of children that are being bullied.           

            In the novel, The Plague, Camus displays many examples of absurdity in the people of Oran’s everyday life. This can be displayed in everyone’s life, the word absurd can be defined as lack of purpose or you are constantly going through meaningless actions that make you feel as if your life has no purpose or goal. During an epidemic many feel as if it is impossible to stop or even make a dent in the number of cases, because it is “out of their hands”. So the society goes along with their daily routine, never impacted by the problems arising because they are blinded by their meaningless events. And when that one, brave person stands up and says enough is enough, many will follow behind, leaving their own purposeless lives behind to strive for a better life for everyone.

           

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I believe many people stick to their meaningless lifestyles, because they are too afraid to face their fears. When sticking to their normal daily routines they are able to block out the many things going on around them in the society. The people in The Plague continued to walk through the streets of Oran while moans and screams came from the victims of the plague dying inside the homes, much like the people do to many serious problems, they just close their eyes, act as if everything is normal, and maybe one day it will just disappear.

            Camus, after looking over the facts and solutions of the bullying epidemic, would believe the people in our society live very absurd lives to ignore the problems going around them so that it does not really affect them. He would think this social epidemic lessens the amount of absurdity, just like in a plague or another epidemic, forces a change to people’s daily routine and makes them think about how their lives are so bland without any excitement or change.

             Bullying has been around ever since people have been on the planet. To many, it seems almost as a rite of passage to be bullied in their childhood. It has become a normal problem, but today’s bullies are not the same as they used to be. Indeed, it is not uncommon for people to regard bullying as a natural process, part of the inevitable and turbulent process of growing up ("Bullying in Schools.").  In the previous generations, much of the bullying happened on the playground, on the walk home from school, or in the park. As a bullied child today, they are generally bullied everywhere except the playground, including inside the classroom, at the lunch table, at home in their own bedroom, and on social media.  There is no limit to where or how often someone can bully you because they no longer have to be standing in front of you in order to harm you ("Why Is Bullying Such a Big Deal?"). 

         7  

 People are bullied because they are different; different in race, age, hair color, or relationship choice. Bullying is described as aggressive behavior normally characterized by repetition and imbalance of power (Smith).  The bullies are usually the popular kids in school that have lots of friends, which only increases the power and confidence they have to hurt others. Children nowadays will pick on anyone who is slightly different from what they are used to. We all need to do our part to raise awareness that bullying is happening and don’t let it be ignored. In time, hopefully, we’ll be able to recreate the cultural norm where once again, bullies aren’t celebrated, but called out for their violent, harmful behavior.

           

Taylor Sanders

Works Cited

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Change. Web. 27 Apr. 2016. <https://www.dosomething.org/us>.

Kaltiala-Heino, R., M. Rimpela, M. Marttunen, A. Rimpela, and P. Rantanen. "Bullying,

Depression, and Suicidal Ideation in Finnish Adolescents: School Survey." Bmj 319.7206 (1999): 348-51. Web.

O'moore, Mona. "Bullying in Schools." Western European Education 22.1 (1990): 92-117. Web.

            < http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2753/EUE1056-4934220192>

Salmon, G., A. James, and D. M. Smith. "Bullying in Schools: Self Reported Anxiety,

Depression, and Self Esteem in Secondary School Children." Bmj 317.7163

(1998): 924-25. Web.

Smith, Peter K., and Paul Brain. "Bullying in Schools: Lessons from Two Decades of Research."

Aggr. Behav. Aggressive Behavior 26.1 (2000): 1-9. Web. <https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Peter_Smith34/publication/246881849_Bullying_in_school_Lessons_from_two_decades_of_research/links/550054a50cf2de950a6d5dfa.pdf>.

"The Humanity Project." The Humanity Project RSS. Web. 26 Apr.

2016.   <http://thehumanityproject.com/>.

"Why Is Bullying Such a Big Deal?" Teen Counseling Phoenix Arizona Doorways. 2012. Web.

27 Apr. 2016. <http://www.doorwaysarizona.com/why-is-bullying-such-a-big-deal/>.

"Prevention at School." Home. Web. 03 May 2016. <http://www.stopbullying.gov/prevention/at-

school/index.html>.

Smartphone Epidemic by Stephen Marcellino

                A study was conducted at the Alabama State University showed that 75% of students rated themselves totally dependent on their smartphones (Richard, et al). In a society that has become completely over ran by technology, this number may be an understatement. This phenomenon was thought to be a completely absurd thought as few as just 10 years ago. However, smartphones have infiltrated our everyday lives as they now become our alarm clocks, research device, phone, and even our camera. As smartphones become more popular and smarter, will these be another piece of technology that will be obsolete after a few decades, or will they become the new norm of society?

              When the word “smartphone” is used, today’s generation automatically imagines the latest iPhone or Samsung phone. However, the smartphone has been out long before either of these companies had even thought of developing such devices.

The first smartphone was known as the Simon by IBM and was first released in April of 1992 (Sager). This is not the smartphone that you would normally think of with apps, games, a camera, and multiple screens you can swipe through. This smartphone, instead, attempted to incorporate in your phone, the ability to fax, page, and call, all in one device (1). This phone weighed a whopping 18 ounces and had features that allowed you to touch or poke with a stylus to select through multiple icons that included a calculator, phone, and even email (1).

The smartphone was not popular, however, until Apple’s announcement of the revolutionary iPhone in 2007 to be released later that year ("Apple - Press Info - Apple Reinvents the Phone with IPhone."). This phone featured a single home screen button, and emphasized the use of a touchscreen. In the coming years, smartphone sales would raise from 122 million sold units to 1.4 billion units ("Smartphone Sales Worldwide 2007-2015 | Statistic.") pushing iPhone to be the 9^th best-selling consumer based commodity of all time (Calio, et al).

Google also released their first smartphone soon after the iPhone was released in November of 2008 ("A Brief History of Smartphones - TheSnugg.com."). This phone was not as well released as the iPhone as it had a physical keyboard, rather than the onscreen keyboard featured on the iPhone (Smith). This phone did have all other features that the original iPhone featured like email, texting, calling, and even limited internet capability (2).

As the popularity of the smartphone grew, so did the addiction, growing from something that was nice to have but only obtained by the wealthy, to a product that everyone uses for every part of their daily lives. A large share of the blame for this sudden addiction to something that was once seen as a materialistic product to own goes to how accessible they are.

This could prove to be problematic as we tend to want to use our smartphones when we should be focusing on more important tasks, the latest and most dangerous example, using our phones while we drive. However, this seems to be a problem that does not seem to be going away any time soon, especially since the usage of GPS on the phone is growing in popularity. According to a poll of more than 9,000 people conducted by Lifehack.com, more than 60% of people prefer to use their cell phones as a GPS over a dedicated GPS devise, or even an in-dash GPS unit that comes in a car (Henry).

Another big cause of smartphone addiction is the implementation of games on cell phones. Starting with the arcade classic, Snake, being added into cell phones in 1997, cell phone gaming has become a community all of its own to now include games like Grand Theft Auto 3 and long RPG’s like Final Fantasy VII (Purewall). The one game that seemed to have started the craze and lust for gaming on cell phones was a game called Angry Birds. This game, released in May of 2009, grew to over 50 million individual downloads over the next few years and had accrued more than 200 million minutes of game play per day (Mauro).

While games on smartphones are designed to give rewards in order to give the sense of accomplishment, phones also have this basic design in them, increasing the amount of dopamine released in the brain and making them more addicting (Itzkovitch). Phones accomplish this through the satisfying ding that they emit when you get a message, the tone they have when you get a phone call, and even by appealing to our materialistic side by making owning the latest phone a status symbol (1).

The addiction of smartphones is being passed down from generation to generation, starting the next earlier than the last. According to a study reported by Going Wireless, 38% of children under 2 use mobile phones and a staggering 69% of children under 8 are reported to owning their own cell phones ("Kids Wireless Use Facts."). When children are given a device that is capable of doing so much at such a young age, it only stands to reason that an addiction is going to form.

Children are not becoming addicted to smartphones and other devices just because they are given them at a young age, they are also seeing that being addicted to smartphones is socially acceptable and do not view this as a bad trait to have. In 2012 a study was conducted of 5,000 people of several different nationalities and races and found that smartphone addiction is occurring all over the world (Gilbert). The study found that 84% of those they surveyed admitted that they could not go a single day without their phones, 20% check their phones every 10 minutes, and more than 50% sleep with their phone next to them (1).

This addiction can also cause possible bodily harm when used in situations when smartphones should be left in a person’s pocket. In 2013, a Taiwanese tourist visiting Australia had to be rescued after falling off of a pier because she was looking at her phone and walking ("Tourist Walks off Australia Pier While Checking Facebook - BBC News."). She was found in a floating position on her back after the police arrived in a speed boat because she could not swim, apologizing and telling the officers that she said “I was checking my Facebook page on the phone and I’ve fallen in.” still clutching her phone the whole time (1).

Someone walking off of a pier looking at their phone may seem like something to laugh over and thankfully no one was hurt. However, there are times that result in very tragic accidents and can lead to be fatal for one person or many people. Three Houston teens were killed on their way back from a spring break vacation in South Padre Island (Karedes). Using her phone as a GPS to navigate herself back home, one of the teens were distracted and veered into oncoming traffic, then colliding with an 18 wheeler(1). Distracted driving occurs more frequently since the popularity of the smartphone and cause around 330,000 injuries every year and is six times more dangerous than driving drunk ("Texting and Driving Statistics - Distracted Driving Drives Up Risk.").

With the growing risk of smartphone addiction and smartphone use conflicting with our daily lives in a way that could harm us, texting and driving for example, there have been steps taken to try and prevent people from being hurt. These steps have been taken by our local governments, federal government, and even the private companies that make these phones and cell phone providers. It may be too soon to see whether most of these steps will be successful in trying to pull each other out of the small screens that seem to control our minds, but there definitely have been many attempts that have failed to do so.

One of the steps taken have been from varying local governments across the country have implemented strict cell phone laws that prohibit cell phone use while driving. Currently there are 14 states that have passed primary enforcement laws against any kind of cell phone use while driving ("Distracted Driving Laws."). This means that a citation can be written to a driver for using their cell phone without another traffic offense being committed(1). However, it is believed that these laws prohibiting cell phone use while driving does not reduce the number of crashes caused by distracted driving. In a study conducted in 2012 explained that these accidents weren't preventing accidents by removing the risk of cell phone use, instead they were just taking the cell phone use away from people who would have gotten into accidents anyway (Morton). They explain that the problem with drivers being distracted by cell phone use actually stems from the users willingness to use the technology, rather than the user's willingness to obey traffic laws (1).

Another main cause of the smartphone epidemic is the fact that using smartphones has become so easy, it becomes addicting to use. Some people even experience withdrawal symptoms when they go an extended period of time without their cell phone. There are various ways you can fight this addiction in the same ways you would fight any other addiction. This addiction is also not like others in a way that it is next to impossible to detox yourself from smartphones and stop using them all together. One way that is proposed is to slowly ween yourself off of smartphones bit by bit until you are down to a level of use that you are comfortable with (Steinmetz). They also state that it is very important to inform everyone that you plan on doing this in order to prevent any conflict of you slowly weening yourself from these devices (1).

While weening yourself off of smartphones is a good way to lower your use of these devices, you still need to be able to get over the urge to check and use these devices. One way proposed is when you have an urge to use your phone, close your eyes, take a deep breath, count to five, then continue with what you were doing previously (Wong). Doing this action will help fight the urge to check your phone when you are busy doing an activity or working. Wong also writes that if this does not work and you still have the urge to check your device, just repeat the action again until you can focus on what you were working on before (1).

In order to fight the addiction that smartphones hold over our lives, we must instill in our children that it this behavior is not a good one to have. There have been major pushes to ban smartphones from schools in order to remove the constant distraction that these devices bring. A study conducted by the London School of Economics found that schools that have strict bans on smartphone use in the school have test scores 6.4% higher than schools that do not (Kottasova). The use of technology in schools can be very beneficial in some cases, however, there is a time and a place that these devices should be used, and they are currently causing more of a distraction in a classroom setting than they are helping. This solution working depends on the cooperation of the parents that allow their children to have smartphones. Most parents dislike schools banning these devices because it limits them being able to contact their children (1).

While the smartphone epidemic does not fit into what an epidemic is usually viewed as, it still has the basic concepts of what an epidemic is. Miriam-Webster defines an epidemic as affecting or tending to affect a disproportionately large number of individuals within a population, community, or region at the same time or excessively prevalent (Merriam-Webster). It fits in as an epidemic because the amount of people who own a smartphone is such a large amount, and just about every single person who owns a smartphone suffers from smartphone addiction and has become a problem that is very difficult to find answers for.

Camus may not have seen smartphone addiction as an epidemic in a traditional sense, but he will have viewed that the amount of people that are addicted to these devices to be reaching the same level of a disease caused epidemic. Camus may have thought that the amount of control that these small devices have over our everyday lives vastly absurd and would have really enjoyed studying how this came to be. Camus’s extreme belief in freedom would have caused him to be extremely happy in the amount of freedom that has been given by using these smart devices in such places like the Egypt, and even sparked a revolution (Guston). Camus may have argued that for this reason, the addiction to smartphones may be an acceptable outcome of providing humanity with this level of freedom. However, Camus may also have seen how some freedoms have been taken from us in the form of companies using and collecting our data and selling it to the highest bidder in order to learn our behaviors and how to sell us products.

Smartphone addiction is an epidemic that has been brushed off as something that is not as serious as other addictions. However, the growing number of people who own a smartphone compared to the amount of those owners who claim that they cannot go a full day without using their phone proves otherwise. With new phones coming out every year that are more advanced and are making our lives easier, this may be an epidemic that we cannot overcome.

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