America still has a long way to go...

I don't know about you, but in elementary school we were required to dig in as much as we could during Black History Month. I remember having to do projects on famous African-Americans who have shaped our world while also learning about why this month is so important.

When you're a kid, you don't really see the importance. To me, I didn't see colors- I just saw people. And it baffled me that people were persecuted, forced into slavery and treated badly just because they had dark skin.

I've grown up now and haven't done anything special for Black History Month since I was in the 5th grade. But, I think it's important that we as a country are reminded of why this month exists. It's more important than ever before.

I am biracial though I am not African-American. I remember in elementary school having to answer what race I identify with. The choices: White, Black, Hispanic, Native American, or Asian/Pacific Islander. And each one of those tests, I had to make a decision- what am I? I'm half white, but I'm half Asian/Pacific Islander (I am half Indian, just to clarify). So- which one would it be? Usually, I just chose other if it was an option and I would split whether I was white or Asian/Pacific Islander. Finally near the end of high school, I saw an option meant for me: Two or more races. In 2007, we finally realized that multiculturalism is a real thing.

I talk about this because I realize so much that the idea of "if you're not white, you're not right" is still predominant today. It seems still, in many people's minds, if you are not a White Christian who is straight, you are in the wrong. And that mindset needs to go away. It should have gone away back in 1776. Heck, it shouldn't have existed to begin with.

This weekend opened my eyes to it by two Super Bowl commercials: one from Cheerios and the other from Coca-Cola. I will talk about them both below:

This isn't the first time we have met this family. In 2013, Cheerios also featured this multicultural family in a television spot. The ad, also placed on YouTube, was given some harsh comments on the site, so much so that Cheerios had to disable comments altogether. Some people didn't like to see a white woman and black man married with a cute kid, and Cheerios response to the original ad was that there were many families like this so what does it matter? And they made that statement with featuring this family yet again in front of the biggest television audience of the year (take that critics). What's even better: the fact this family is of mixed race is not even pointed out. There's no talk of the fact that there are different families at all; it just shows that families are incredibly similar no matter what they look like. And I heard barely a peep this time around from those commentators beforehand. Though, I would see them again after this next ad premiered.

Coca-Cola has always had fantastic ads. This one is no different. America the Beautiful, sung in many different languages and showing many different people. Some were angry, saying one of my favorites, "THIS IS AMERICA, SPEAK ENGLISH." Hey, sometimes I wish we could all communicate the same way too. But let's be honest folks; America has, and always will be, a melting pot. We are made up of different races, cultures, languages and religions. Not everyone speaks English and not everyone ever will. And, hate to break it to you, but we will live in an America where the language won't be predominantly English. In the next 20-30 years, there will be more Hispanics than Whites in this country and more Spanish spoken than English. I see it now working in Florida. So, as frustrated as we may get, maybe we all need to learn another language? After all, go to any country in Europe and you will find a person who speaks at least 3 languages (I guarantee it). 

Bottom line: These ads show what America has become and what it will be from now on into the future. The mindset of this country needs to change.

Let's take this back to Black History Month. Maybe you don't like him. Maybe you really don't like him and wish that he wasn't President with every bone in your body. But, half of our country voted for him and that says a lot about how times have changed. Our President, Barack Obama, is like me, like many other people in this country: biracial. When I was even young, the idea of having a President who wasn't "the status quo" of White, Christian and straight was a distant thought. Even when President Kennedy was elected, it shook things up because he was Catholic. Half of the country voting for President Obama shows that half of this country doesn't care if he's black or if his father was Muslim meaning he could possibly be Muslim. No, half of this country voted for him because they thought he was fit for the job, and isn't that why we should vote for someone?

He's not the only African-American who has been looked past the color of his skin. One of the most influential people in the world is not only African-American but a woman. Oprah Winfrey is someone that could have a category all to herself. Say what you want about her, but there's something about a person who says that she likes a book and it becomes an instant best-seller. She has launched careers for dozens of people and made them world-famous. She even put a huge league of women behind voting for the President! Not only that, but she is incredibly talented, being Oscar-nominated for "The Color Purple" as well as winning countless Emmys for her talk show. And barely is it mentioned that she is an African-American woman. There are countless other people besides the President and Oprah, but they are two in this modern world that have changed the way we think.

I think about that time in elementary school reading the stories of Martin Luther King Jr. and his dream that we would all live together. The dream is still coming true but it's not finished yet.

Our country is in the midst of yet another Civil Rights movement- this time for people who are gay, bisexual or transgender. Gay marriage has been a hot topic in the past decade and we are seeing more and more states recognizing gay marriage and gay rights. And there will be the day that all 50 states recognize it and extend those rights to everyone. Maybe we will even have a Gay History month like we have Black History and Women's History Months. We are witnessing history being made to better unite this country, why not join hand in hand?

I challenge you, America. We have come far, but we still have a long way to go. This Black History Month, let us all challenge ourselves to fight for equality and civil rights, just like Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr and many others did beforehand. Let's all band together and walk as a nation of equality in this melting pot we call the United States of America.

Why I may never go to Sea World again: Personal reaction to "Blackfish" and Sea World's PR Nightmare

**Disclaimer: All opinions presented in this article are my own and do not represent the views of any organization or other person. Thank you.**

The first time I vacationed in Orlando, my parents decided to give me the full Orlando experience. So, we went to all the major theme parks in the area: Disney, Universal, and Sea World. Unfortunately, a tornado had hit the same day we went to Sea World, so we couldn't do much of anything. We went there again a few years later, but didn't do much more since my brothers could barely sit through a show.

I always told myself I would one day go back to Sea World. I loved it because I love the ocean and ocean mammals (and Journey to Atlantis is an awesome ride). I have always been incredibly fascinated with dolphins, whales, turtles, seals, etc., so much so that I won't eat fish. And I loved being able to see them up close at a place like Sea World. 

I was naive when I was young; I didn't realize that maybe something was inhumane about it. I should have- there were a lot of clues. The tanks weren't huge at all. The dolphin nursery in the middle of the park looked as big as a fountain in the middle of a mall in the 80's. These animals were being used as a circus act.

I remember reading about the trainer death at Sea World in 2010. I didn't necessarily believe that the trainer should have been blamed (which Sea World did) but I didn't like that the media seemed to focus the blame on the whale, Tilikum. I didn't want this poor animal to be just tossed aside. There obviously was a reason that he had acted out so many times before. I really just wasn't seeing the entire picture. I wanted to believe Sea World was good because they had helped so many ocean animals and fish beforehand.

That all changed this week though. My friend, Stephanie, told me about how horrible Sea World is. It's hard to just take one person's words and completely change your opinion though. But, I was opened to listening. The points she made were interesting: how did these whales get to Sea World and become stars? Obviously they were captured somehow. And honestly, how humane is it to have an animal as entertainment?

So, when CNN decided to present "Blackfish," the critically-acclaimed documentary last night, I knew I needed to watch. And what I saw completely 180'd my opinion of Sea World and marine parks.

I watched men capture young whales in the waters, separating them from their families. I saw how horribly Tilikum was treated because he was a male. I saw the incidents that involved trainers' deaths first hand. I heard many former Sea World employees talk about how they knew it was inhumane but they were afraid to leave their animals to Sea World's care. I watched how Sea World willingly separated a baby whale born in its park from its mom and hear the mom cry out for her baby. It was heartbreaking.

Tilikum has been involved in 3 deaths: One at his old home at the now-defunct Sealand of the Pacific and 2 in Sea World Orlando. The first in Sea World was a homeless man believed to have entered the park after hours to swim with the whales and the second was a senior trainer, Dawn Brancheau, who was pulled in after a show. The documentary was a response to the major fallout after Dawn's death. Sea World initially stated her death was an accidental drowning, but the story was proven false from eye-witnesses. Sea World then blamed it on "trainer error," something those same eye-witness reports have refuted.

The fallout has led to a court case which resulted in the ban of trainers getting into the water with sea life. Sea World has since appealed the ruling. The fallout has also led to some major PR problems for Sea World, which have not gotten better because of the movie, "Blackfish."

In the past, I had defended Sea World in some way (although I never agreed with letting a whale with a known violent history perform in the parks). But, after seeing this movie, I can't do that anymore. Seeing how Sea World had captured whales, separated them from their families time after time, exploited these animals and had them living in horrid conditions has gripped me. 

That's not to say I don't think Sea World is a absolutely horrible place forever and ever. I know Sea World has done some great conservation work to help sea life. I saw it first-hand the last time I went to the park in 1999. But, overall I have realized that a "marine park" isn't suitable for these majestic sea animals. 

I'm not here to say all zoos are bad. I think some of them are great. Research is always useful so we can better learn how to live with animals. And I think Sea World has learned a lot from this incident to better themselves. I think it's important for young people to be able to learn from these animals and zoos help with that. But, I think this country and the world needs to better its system for taking care of animals in zoos. Sure, they have access to medical care, but are they really better off? Granted, are they really better off being released into the wild now after being held captive for many years?

One thought did cross my mind while watching this movie. Remember the movie, "Free Willy?" The orca who played Willy, Keiko, was actually in captivity; though the movie chronicles the whale's captivity and eventual release back into the wild. Keiko was suffering in captivity due to the climate and size of the tank. But, the whale eventually died of pneumonia while attempting to go back into the wild. It's sad and ironic. Sure, he died after going back into the wild but if he wasn't in captivity to begin with, he probably would have lived longer.

There's a lot of questions for me and the public after seeing this movie. I don't see me taking my future children to Sea World; not necessarily because I don't think they're a good park, but I don't know if there will even be a Sea World. I think that, yes, Sea World will be able to survive little by little but that can only go for so long. Sea World's PR after the Dawn Brancheau death took a huge toll on the company (considering they knowingly lied to the public). Also, they refused to cooperate and comment on the movie "Blackfish" until after it was released.

Here is Sea World's statement after its theatrical release, courtesy of Wikipedia:

"Blackfish is billed as a documentary, but instead of a fair and balanced treatment of a complex subject, the film is inaccurate and misleading and, regrettably, exploits a tragedy that remains a source of deep pain for Dawn Brancheau's family, friends and colleagues. To promote its bias that killer whales should not be maintained in a zoological setting, the film paints a distorted picture that withholds from viewers key facts about SeaWorld -- among them, that SeaWorld is one of the world's most respected zoological institutions, that SeaWorld rescues, rehabilitates and returns to the wild hundreds of wild animals every year, and that SeaWorld commits millions of dollars annually to conservation and scientific research. Perhaps most important, the film fails to mention SeaWorld's commitment to the safety of its team members and guests and to the care and welfare of its animals, as demonstrated by the company's continual refinement and improvement to its killer whale facilities, equipment and procedures both before and after the death of Dawn Brancheau."

Although certain facts that this statement presents are true, they could have cooperated with filmmakers. Instead, Sea World refused. Should Sea World have cooperated? Maybe- the company's refusal looks like they are hiding something and worried about how they will be portrayed. But, if they did comment during this story, it could have been "twisted" by the filmmakers and spun in a negative light. That's the tough aspect of public relations- words can be twisted. 

Sea World needs to go on a huge PR campaign for its company if they have any hope of keeping the spirit of Sea World alive. Click on any single tweet Sea World has sent and see the replies. Here's an example of some of those tweets: 

Sea World has again, defended themselves after last night's network television airing of "Blackfish." You can read their statement here.

So- what's my official opinion on "Blackfish" and Sea World? The movie: definitely see it. Is it one-sided? Yes, but that is Sea World's own fault for refusing to comment on it. As mad as they are for the lack of positive facts about Sea World, the company had a chance and blew it. It's a good study on the history of whale captivity and is an eye-opener.

As for Sea World? I won't be spending my money to visit the park (even if it is only 10 minutes or so away). I don't know if I can support the park anymore after seeing this movie. Should you go? That's up to you- I wouldn't judge you if you decided to go and had a fun time. 

If this movie "Blackfish" has taught the public anything, it's that we as humans still have a long way to go in wildlife conservation. And, maybe the next chapter in how to go further will be highlighted by this movie.

"Escape from Tomorrow"- Your move, Disney

When I first heard that a movie was made at Disney theme parks without the consent from Disney, I was pretty angry. 

The article I read about the movie talked about Disney being shown as a gruesome world and images of the parks being construed in a dastardly way. As a huge fan of the Disney theme parks, I was upset a film was made without Disney's consent. I was more angry that people at Disney (primarily cast members) are featured in the film without their consent as well.

Some of my friends thought the movie should be watched first and that I was harsh to say this movie should be done away with. I thought, maybe they are right. Although my problem was more with consent- what is this movie anyways?

I looked more into the movie to find out what it is about.

"Escape from Tomorrow" is about a man who finds out on vacation at Disney that he has lost his job. He realizes how unhappy he is with his life, which includes being in a loveless marriage and not having a tight relationship with his kids. He becomes virtually insane and sees the parks in a dark way He also becomes obsessed with two underage girls while trying to come to grips with reality.

Since the movie's premiere at Sundance, it has become the most-buzzed about movie this year at the film festival. The movie was shot guerrilla-style at Walt Disney World and Disneyland using a video camera almost anyone can buy for cheap at a store and they were not caught.

Disney has not commented on the film being released. This is probably the first (and maybe only ever) commercial film to be shot at in the parks without consent from Disney. Any TV show, special or video you have seen with Disney World being featured was used with consent. 

So, how should Disney react to such a thing?

The film itself looks good. Although the parks are the setting, the movie is not about Disney or trying to make a statement about the parks. It's truly a character-driven story that uses the parks as a backdrop. Does it show a different side of Disney? Yes, and it seems a little creepy but maybe cool in a film noir sense (as seen in the image on the right).

But, will Disney sue? It's quite possible- they have every right to. The film will probably never been screened in theaters or put out on DVD due to legal issues with the parks. It will probably rule the internet in the months to come for people to be able to see it. But, should they sue? Well, here is what I think.

Although I originally thought the film should not be screened and be pulled immediately, I believe I am going to retract my original thoughts. I was originally angry with it. But, learning more about what the film entails, I think it should be seen and be out there.

My main problem (personal and PR standpoint) with this movie is the "consent" thing. There are cast members that will be featured in this movie and have a role in this who didn't know and were not compensated. It's possible that this will be where the trouble with this movie will be. I know if I were to have some kind of role in this movie, I would not be thrilled. 

I believe that is the problem Disney will have. They may find some angry workers who were featured in this movie and are not happy. The company could be angry at themselves for not catching this (or just impressed that they could not catch the filming). It could become a huge liability issue for the parks.

Another issue would be with the movie poster and imagery in the movie. The film poster clearly shows icons known at Disney (the monorail, Spaceship Earth and Big Thunder Mountain) so that would definitely give Disney a case. They may not be happy with their likeness being portrayed in such a way as it seems to be in the movie with gruesome images of the characters (as has been reported).

If I were Disney, I think I'd let it go... for now. They should definitely watch the movie before they make any decision. And they should not make a decision right away. But, cast members should definitely watch this film (I know that once I can, I will watch it since I go to Disney all the time). I could see legal action being taken by a few of them (though not all). Do I think they should take legal action if they are in the movie? That is entirely up to them- since it's dealing with their own self, they should be the ones to decide.

But, they should definitely make sure it doesn't land in nearby theaters soon because if they do nothing and let that happen, then the legal battle will be hard to win.

Here is a clip of the movie. This scene (I believe) is one not filmed in Disney parks. But, it shows a little of what this movie truly is about:

Fall from Grace: Image Restoration

**UPDATE** Here is the statement Te'o released: “This is incredibly embarrassing to talk about, but over an extended period of time, I developed an emotional relationship with a woman I met online. We maintained what I thought to be an authentic relationship by communicating frequently online and on the phone, and I grew to care deeply about her. To realize that I was the victim of what was apparently someone’s sick joke and constant lies was, and is, painful and humiliating. It further pains me that the grief I felt and the sympathies expressed to me at the time of my grandmother’s death in September were in any way deepened by what I believed to be another significant loss in my life.

“I am enormously grateful for the support of my family, friends and Notre Dame fans throughout this year. To think that I shared with them my happiness about my relationship and details that I thought to be true about her just makes me sick. I hope that people can understand how trying and confusing this whole experience has been. In retrospect, I obviously should have been much more cautious.

“If anything good comes of this, I hope it is that others will be far more guarded when they engage with people online than I was. Fortunately, I have many wonderful things in my life, and I’m looking forward to putting this painful experience behind me as I focus on preparing for the NFL Draft.”

The statement is fantastic and was done within the 24 hours. I would have preferred to see him say this out loud so we could see the emotions on his face, but it is heartfelt. He is currently the victim of many online jokes, but that's to be expected. What he still needs to explain, along with the University, is the "meetings" he apparently had with this girlfriend. There are still unanswered questions that are going to need explaining in the coming days. That will truly determine whether he can move past this.

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''ESPN must be having a fantastic week."

That's what I said today following the Manti Te'o news that has been posted all over social media. Just this week alone, two big star athletes have fallen from grace. 

The "fall from grace" story is one I'm sadly all too familiar with. Athletes are most commonly put in this category; few have ever recovered.

Here's how the fall from grace works. A person rises to the top, sometimes though not always, in the face of adversity. He or she is admired by almost everyone. Few can say they do not respect this figure. But, one mistake gets out or happens. And in a second reality sets in and almost everyone doesn't like you.

In movies that feature the fall from grace, the main character almost always recovers by apologizing and saying some witty dialogue to lead to a happily ever after. But, in real life, PR can only do so much- we call it the image restoration theory. The theory tries to restore someone or something after a major crisis. But, if done incorrectly, you may never climb out of the fall from grace, or have that image restored.

I witnessed the fall from grace first hand when I attended Penn State University. I witnessed the fall of the greatest college football coach of all-time, Joe Paterno. A moral mistake cost him his job, and he died just two months later. Though he started to climb out of the fall after his sudden death, he fell back in due to the Freeh Report. Many Penn Staters still admire him, but outside, many do not.

Two fall from graces happened within a span of 48 hours this week: Lance Armstrong and Manti Te'o. Armstrong's fall has been on a steady decline over the last year while Te'o's happened just a few hours ago. 

Lance Armstrong is famous for winning 6 consecutive Tour de France's (more than anyone ever) after battling cancer. He founded the LiveStrong Foundation which benefits Prostate Cancer research (and other cancers in general). Athletes all over the world sport those yellow wristbands that started an advocacy trend around the world. But, when certain cyclists started testing positive for performance enhancement drugs, many pointed the fingers at the 6-time winner. He was found guilty and was stripped of his titles though he maintained his innocence. He finally confessed to using the drugs this week, 3 months after being stripped of his titles.

Now, there's the Manti Te'o story. Manti Te'o is a linebacker at Notre Dame University. He had sort of a "Cinderella" story season. He lost his grandmother to cancer and his girlfriend in a serious car accident and sick but still had a fantastic performance in games. The guy won numerous awards and talked to many news stations about overcoming adversity. Today, Notre Dame announced that while the grandmother did die, the girlfriend never existed and was a "hoax."

The public is mixed when it comes to Lance Armstrong. There are many who believe that even though he did use performance enhancers at one point, it should not cloud what he's done. But, there are still those who are disappointed in him, for doing it to coming clean too late.

So, what's the verdict on Lance Armstrong?

Personally, I could care less that he used performance enhancers. Most people who had cancer could still not win 6 Tour de Frances, with or without the drugs. My issue (and this is part of my PR professional opinion as well) is the time it took for him to come clean.

He was first accused of doping in 2005 and it only grew stronger throughout the years. By then, he had not been using the drugs and he most likely ignored the calls because he didn't want to take away from his success since. But, the longer you wait, the worse it becomes. He had a chance after the USDA ruling found him guilty and his titles were stripped. But, he still said he was innocent until just this week. Why wait so long?

I've said before you have 24 hours to respond to a crisis. Armstrong should have, a long time ago, even before the ruling, admitted to using at one point. I personally hate using this example but look at Alex Rodriguez. He admitted to using drugs at one point in his early career and was not punished and was still able to play baseball. Granted, it's a different sport and the drug was legal. But, his credibility has not been lost. Armstrong still would have had issues to deal with, but he probably could have still regained respect. It will be hard for him to climb out of the fall at this point, after his career is over and now that he's left the charity foundation he started. 

So, what about Manti Te'o- can he survive? It's still too early to tell. Not much is known about this whole "girlfriend hoax" story. Notre Dame has said that Manti himself was the victim; that this was an online relationship. Unfortunately, the presentation of the hoax has not been presented well at all by the university. People did not realize that this was never a real relationship outside a computer. The facts are confusing and do not make much sense. Manti Te'o definitely can survive this fall if within 24 hours, he responds with the whole truth in as sympathetic of a way as possible. 

The real fall will probably be with Notre Dame, which is undergoing scrutiny for hiring a firm to investigate the Manti Te'o story but not the alleged rapes by football players that resulted in a female student's death. The story is still developing and it's hard to tell what will happen in the days to come.

My advice to Manti would be to release a statement that he reads himself admitting to the hoax and telling the story truthfully while tearing up, occasionally. If what Notre Dame is saying is indeed true, he will be okay.

But, you need to be aware of the "fall from grace." Joe Paterno may never climb out of it, same with Lance Armstrong. Hey, how's Tiger Woods doing these days?

Manti might want to seek advice from one survivor of the fall- Michael Vick. He abused dogs by starting a dog fighting ring, went to jail, and made it back to the NFL winning the Comeback Player of the Year award and becoming an advocate for animals and children. Not everyone has earned his respect back, but many have.

The Fall from grace is not something you ever want to be a part of. Image Restoration is very difficult to achieve when you have such little time to do it. My school, Penn State, has been actively working on the image restoration theory since the scandal fallout more than a year ago. Although it's starting to finally work, there are still bugs needed to be fixed.

My final advice: Get the best PR guru out there immediately- you will need him or her stat.

Body Image Issues

Storytime: The other day on my Facebook, I posted a little rant about how women do not wear their appropriate size. It is a personal pet peeve of mine to see women wearing clothing way too small for them. Frankly, it's gross. But, then I started to wonder why this is such a frequent trend, leading me to quite an epiphany.

Just this week, CBS aired it's extremely popular "Victoria's Secret Fashion Show." Models walked up and down the runway in sexy lingerie and limited clothing. The tweets and facebook statuses during the show were endless. Many women though said the same status- "I wish I could LOOK like a Victoria's Secret model."

Here's just a preview of what some of the ladies looked like:

There's no doubt that these girls are beautiful, but they're also portraying an unrealistic image. Most of these females are 5'7'' and a Size 2, something that's a requirement in the modeling world. Women who are over that size are turned away. Pretty much all of my friends are beautiful women, but I don't think any of them fit this requirement.

And honestly, that is okay. But, according to Victoria's Secret, the modeling world and Hollywood, that is nowhere near okay.

Women labeled as desirable didn't used to fit into this requirement. The hottest star in the 1950's was a buxom blonde named Marilyn Monroe. This is what she looked like:

She is listed as probably one of the most beautiful starlets to ever grace Hollywood. And today, she would be considered fat. Popular UK Department Store Debenham's has listed her the best beach body of all time, even 50 years after her death. Her size? 37-23-36,  probably equivalent to a size 8, at most a 10! A SIZE TEN PEOPLE!

Her curves were desired by so many women and men alike, and people still admire her. Yet, women strive to be skinny when Marilyn admired her curves and could care less. Back then, curves were a desire. It wasn't until the fame of models like Twiggy did skinny get in. But, how people today say they want to look like Marilyn yet starve themselves baffle me. The woman was curvy and would not fit into the fashion model requirements of today at all. In today's world, Marilyn would be blasted by the tabloids for her figure. I honestly find it astonishing that those magazines talk about how beautiful she is and then go on to slam an actress who has gain some weight that would be comparable to Miss Monroe.

There are days when I think the world is starting to change and realize that the perfect body stereotype is a lie. America's Next Top Model crowned a plus-sized model. Kim Kardashian is listed as one of the top bodies in the world and also flaunts a curvier figure. Stars like Jessica Simpson and Kendra Wilkinson-Baskett have shown the world how difficult it is for a woman to lose weight after pregnancy.

It's still not enough, though. Many normal girls are slammed everyday for being fat and not skinny enough. The popular television show, Glee, is portraying a girl struggling with bulimia right now. Eating disorders are common and even more men these days are struggling with it.

That's why I am a HUGE fan of the Dove Real Women campaign.

I had the honor of meeting one of the 6 women who were featured in the campaign, Stacy Nadeau (seen here on the right). Today, she is a motivational speaker who goes across college campuses nationwide to talk about body issues. Stacy herself received criticism for the Dove Campaign- one journalist said he hated seeing her fat butt everyday on the way to work. But, women around the world rejoiced and defended Stacy. She is nowhere near a size 2, but that hasn't stopped her. She is proud and comfortable in her body and America fell in love with the Dove campaign (take away the criticism of the campaign for being owned by the same company as Axe).

Although there are strides in the beauty world to define what is attractive, America is still nowhere near where we need to be. As long as we have the Victoria's Secret Fashion show every fall showing us what women should look like to be sexy, the conversation will still be ongoing.

I may have criticized many people the other day for pointing out how women should wear their correct size. And you should- don't be so in denial that you're a larger size than you want to be. You should feel comfortable in your own skin. And, if you don't that is okay. Wear the size and then work on getting that extra weight off. Believe me, when the clothes are way too large for you, it will feel amazing.

I just ask women to be the size they are most comfortable in. Don't worry about what others think of you. It may seem hard (and it is hard) to accept. It was hard for me for a long time. But, once I started wearing clothes that made me look and feel good, I felt comfortable. And I'm definitely a happier person now. Am I a size 4 like I was in high school? No, and sometimes I do miss those days. But, I definitely am happy right now where I am today, and that's fine by me. Don't worry about what those models look like; screw them and Victoria's Secret and the media. Just be yourself and happy.

Penn State Greek Life's PR Crisis

*DISCLAIMER- THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS POST BELOW ARE SOLELY MY OWN AND ARE NOT THE VIEWS OF PENN STATE UNIVERSITY, ITS PANHELLENIC COUNCIL OR ANY OF THE SORORITIES AT PENN STATE UNIVERSITY*

I've learned a lot about crisis PR from Penn State, especially after my school became a punchline in the PR world with its handling of Jerry Sandusky. Unfortunately, its Greek Life, which I was a part of at the university, is also under scrutiny.

Recently, a photo went viral that featured the Chi Omega chapter at Penn State. The ladies were at a Mexican-themed social event and were wearing sombreros and dressed in ponchos. Some were wearing mustaches but what really got many people up in arms is the signs that they were holding. One sign read: "Will mow lawn for weed and beer" and the other said "I don't cut grass I smoke it."

One of the first things I learned from being a part of organizations (and not just greek life, but any organization or job) is to be extremely careful what is posted online. Certain posts or photos can put you in a negative light. Unfortunately, whoever posted this photo online was clearly not thinking or thought it was a funny photo, and now the entire sorority is being investigated and a suspension is possible.

This could have blown away a little quicker. The sorority's president released a statement yesterday apologizing for the photo. But, Penn State PHC decided to extend an invitation to expand and try and let Delta Delta Delta back in. Three years ago, Tri-Delta was kicked off campus for hazing and were told in three years they could come back. Since it has been exactly three years, Penn State's PHC decided, why not?

Bad move. Why would you try and bring back a sorority who got kicked off for hazing while you're investigating another sorority for posting a racist photo online? Delta Delta Delta declined the offer, but had they accepted it, things could have been worse for PHC.

I am an alumna of a sorority at Penn State. Hearing this on the news was disheartening. I do know a few women who were a part of the Chi Omega sorority and they are wonderful people. I know it's even more disheartening for them to see this on the news as well. 

Here's what Penn State needs to do: put them on probation and/or suspend them for the remainder of the semester immediately. This photo has got way more people outside the university up in arms. After what happened with Sandusky/Paterno last year, Penn State should know better. The semester is almost over; suspending them now is appropriate but probation is a must. The photo should not have been posted and something like this should not be happening- as sorority women you are held to a much higher standard. It's not always fair but it is the truth. This is a big NO NO and any business that would have put a photo like that up would have terminated whoever was responsible for now and put those employees on leave. If they are not punished, it basically says that it's okay what they did even if they are really sorry.

I know it's tough to do but it needs to be done. The sorority must be punished in some way. The statement was good and I'm glad the president put it out there but Chi Omega in general needs to do lots of damage control. I think they should get in contact with any club associated with students of Mexican background and the NAACP and issue statements as a WHOLE there. Education is the first step and even if they realize now that they were wrong, they should get in touch with these groups and talk about why this is wrong. They can become leaders against discrimination. Chi Omega should take steps in preventing prejudice on campus.

They should basically take a stand like Penn State did. The university has become a leader in the fight against child abuse and some of the organizations that have sprung up since the scandal last year have shined a new light. More people are proud of what Penn State has accomplished since last year.

When I was a student at Penn State, I saw so many signs condemning racism and hatred of other cultures. The photo does depict the exact opposite. If Penn State is truly against discrimination, they need to seek action against Chi Omega (it's only appropriate). It's unfortunate because I honestly think the sisters were not trying to be racist but rather witty. Unfortunately, it was racist and they need to have some form of punishment. Probation is a must and suspension cannot be overlooked. 

Penn State Panhellenic also should have some form of regulation on social media. Is it free speech? Yes, but there do need to be rules. Many clubs, organizations and teams have rules when it comes to social media and PHC should as well. All chapter presidents should meet together and accept the changes and pass it on to the chapter women. 

I love Penn State Greek Life. Many members of the greek community go on to have successful careers. Incidents like these are what brings them down. It's how you respond that is important. When a IFC prospect died after attending fraternities, many things changed and it made social life at Penn State safer. It seemed strict and unnecessary at the time but now, it works very well and is efficient. Penn State Greek Life should look at this PR Crisis and take some good out of it. It seems like strides are being taken but more needs to be done. The people who were involved need to be held accountable and the rest of PHC needs to work together to make sure an incident like this NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

I think Penn State PHC will recover from this and I hope they are able to bounce back from the negative backlash they have received. I know the women who are apart of PHC are strong and intelligent and I am confident they will realize what needs to be done. And I wish luck to Chi Omega; I hope that you will be able to bounce back too and learn from this mistake.

AGAIN, THIS STORY IS IN NO WAY AFFILIATED WITH PENN STATE UNIVERSITY OR ITS PANHELLENIC COUNCIL AND SORORITY CHAPTERS. THESE OPINIONS ARE SOLELY MY OWN.

Should the Kansas City Chiefs have played yesterday?

When it comes to crisis communications, you have to prepare for anything to happen at any time. You will either succeed at it or ultimately fail. And failure could mean the end. But sometimes, there are crises that no one, in their wildest dreams, could think of and ultimately, even you cannot decide what's best.

Such was the case this past Saturday, December 1st. News started rolling in that there was a shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs practice facility and a player was shot. Soon, the news stated that the player was dead. And then, the truth was told- the player shot himself in front of the head coach and GM not long after killing his girlfriend (and the mother of his young baby).

Jovan Belcher was a 25-year old starting linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs. Many said he was a loving man and were shocked by the news. Starting QB Brady Quinn couldn't put the pieces together when the coach who witnessed the shooting brought the team together and told them later that day.

Although the tragedy was a shock itself, even more shocking was the decision for the Chiefs game to go on as scheduled and that Romeo Crennel, the head coach who saw Belcher shoot himself, would also be on the sidelines coaching.

I personally could not understand how the game could go on as scheduled. FOX Sports contributor Jason Whitlock also couldn't. He said himself that this was no time to play football and that Roger Goodell should have cancelled the game himself.

So, should they still have played?
The Kansas City Chiefs went on to have an emotional win yesterday against the Carolina Panthers. But, was it okay to celebrate, especially after one of their own killed someone and himself?

Ultimately, there's no right or wrong answer. Jovan Belcher was a Chief, but the Chiefs are not Jovan Belcher. The inner demons inside of this man do not define the Kansas City Chiefs. It was up to them personally with how to play the game. They played and they won and the ghost of Jovan Belcher definitely haunted them throughout the day.

Many people can be angry that the game was played because someone was killed by a player on that team. And many people can be scratching their heads as to why the coach still coached.

Ultimately, it was up to him. Maybe he just needed to forget about what he saw. He said he wouldn't be talking about it and we can't blame him. I don't know and I hope many don't know what it feels like to see what he saw. Romeo Crennel needs to move on and we must let him.

But what about the team themselves? Should they celebrate the victory? It was hard for many of them to celebrate, but what was the statement exactly? That we move on from tragedy and overcome?

Something like this is hard and there's never going to be an answer. For the Chiefs, they played the game they loved for the fans who love them without their linebacker. It was their coach's call and that's what he wanted- to play the game. So maybe, they won for him, to help him heal from what he witnessed and could not stop.

The best thing for the Kansas City Chiefs to do is let go of Jovan Belcher. Support his family and daughter but let go of him. Let the police do what they need to do with this case and keep playing football.

Normalcy is the best medicine in the wake of tragedy. The Chiefs did what they needed to do. People will argue for days, maybe weeks, as to whether they did the right thing. Yes, two people are dead and a child is parent-less. The NFL needs to help support her. The Chiefs need to keep playing ball. And we all need to hope that one day, something like this will never happen again.

Decking the Halls prior to Thanksgiving: WHY?

I mentioned previously that I worked with the Mouse. I'm not going to say exactly what I do but I do spend quite some time at the Magic Kingdom. Halloween is a big holiday down here in Orlando, but once November 1st rolled around, there was a different sighting.

The pumpkins were replaced with tin soldiers. Holly, wreaths and snowflakes graced Main Street. And the signature music of old-time tunes turned into whispers of Jingle Bells and Sleigh Ride. Christmas had officially arrived, three weeks before Thanksgiving. 

All across the malls and shops in Orlando, sights of Christmas had popped up too. In the Florida Mall, I noticed Santa's Workshop was ready with a sign saying old Kris Kringle would be arriving VERY soon (as seen here on the left).

But why is that? Why start Christmas right then and now?

Of course, not every store was ready to "Deck the Halls." Nordstrom, a high-end retailer, took a very interesting move on the Christmas before Thanksgiving tradition that has started these days...

Nordstrom took the liberty to say Thanksgiving does indeed come before Christmas. But most stores and malls don't. Why is that?

There are a few answers to this that I've discovered myself. When talking to managers around the Magic Kingdom, it was quite simple: people visit Disney to celebrate Christmas during these months. Guests who come in November want the prestige of Christmas and since they can't afford to take their family during that time (the price difference is huge between the months), they take them then. Christmas parties start in November, with a few prior to Thanksgiving. Disney also made sure this year that there were ZERO Christmas parties during the week of Thanksgiving, mainly because they were unnecessary given the attendance increase during the week.

But, then begs the question, why do people want Christmas in November? Well, many visitors in early November are not American so they don't celebrate Thanksgiving (that's the short answer). The long answer can be the Christmas spirit entering us right when Halloween ends.

After all, some stores start Christmasing long before Halloween has gone for good. I've seen Macy's decked out 3 weeks prior to Halloween! So, why then and now?

My theory on the whole mall thing trickles down to the Christmas card. People get in line to have their kids see Santa early because, hey, that's their Christmas card photo. And that translates to the key word in this: money.

Christmas is ultimately, a consumer holiday. By decking out early, it gets people's mindsets on the holidays. Meaning they need to start buying gifts stat and maybe a head start wouldn't be too bad. If you start decorating early, people will see the holly and smell the gingerbread thinking about all they things to buy to prepare. And the earlier you start, the more money that could translate for your business.

Are there theories on this? Perhaps. I haven't personally researched any. 

And what about Nordstrom? If they wait 3 weeks longer, do they lose money? Obviously not. They still are doing it and a lot of people like the PR move they've put on them. It has brought the store wanted attention. Many people would say how they don't like Thanksgiving being overlooked so maybe they would want to shop at Nordstrom. Plus, since Nordstrom is a pricey place, they won't lose more money.

Nordstrom has done this for a few years or so and it has been successful. Would other stores follow suit? Most likely not; Black Friday has now started on Thanksgiving Day for big stores like Target, Wal-Mart and Toys R Us so don't look for that to change.

Ultimately, money is what these stores want. They're big corporations and Christmas brings lots of money. With the economy slowly picking up, they want to capitalize. And they must.

Only time will tell how far these stores will go for money. But don't criticize those people who feed into it. Christmas is a consumer holiday, but the holidays in general is a wonderful time of year for many- you can't blame them all if they want a head start.

Happy Holidays!