From the Waist Down… and a side of Humor Column

I saw Michelle Buteau at the National Association of Campus Activities Conference in October. The comedian had the pleasure of hosting one of the showcases, and I had the pleasure of falling in love with her! Maybe it was the ghetto side of me, the one that snaps her fingers and swings her head back saying, “Get it gurl!!”

You may be wondering what the title “From the Waist Down” is all about . That’s her signature saying. It’s like adding “in bed” after every fortune cookie (if you’ve never done that you should, it’s hilarious!!) After the showcase I made the rest of our program board run with me to meet Michelle. I stood in line for 30 minutes so I could get a photo and autograph. Then I turned to her agent and said, “I want her at JMU!” We started working on a contract there and I began the anxious wait to see my straight crush again =)

The combination of Michelle Buteau and humorist Michael Larrick from The Breeze has pushed this Funny Freakin’ Friday on February 5^th to my number one all time event! I’ve worked on a lot of events with UPB and seen some pretty amazing people. None compare to the happiness in my heart right now. So be there! And get yourself some free Campus Cookies too!! =)

– Patrick

Breaking Down the “Gay” Assumptions

One of the first questions I always get when people find out I’m gay is “How did you know?” The answer I’d like to give people with a sarcastic smile is “Oh you know, I just woke up one day and BAM! I decided I like guys.” It’s obviously not something that happens overnight and no one has come up with a definite answer as to how/what/why people are homosexual/bisexual. I’d rather not get into the debate about this because I can’t really speak for anyone else. For me the realization came in eighth grade. I caught myself once looking at a boy in gym class and then things were pretty clear =).

Jason Stuart, our comedian for Funny Freakin’ Friday this week on January 15^th, is an out and proud gay man. Coming from Hollywood, he has been in movies, TV shows, and performed stand up in comedy shows all over the country. The greatest characteristic of the performer is that his comedy breaks down stereotypes and transcends the boundaries of race, sex, religion, and homosexuality.

In the good old city of Harrisonburg, it’s my goal to help address some of these common assumptions: Gay guys all dress well, speak with a lisp, swing their hips, wear makeup, and all look “gay.” Granted I think I dress well, but some days I just like to kick it back in sweat pants and eat awful food. I don’t speak with a lisp, and I don’t swing my hips, but I could probably out-dance any straight guy. I don’t wear make-up (although Zac Efron does and he’s dating one of the hottest girls in Hollywood.) I have also seen some straight guys who look “gayer” than I do.

The thing to realize is that just like you, the LGBT community comes in all shapes and sizes. I know plenty of gay guys who go to the gym and work out constantly (myself included!). So let’s not judge the book by its cover. Come out this Friday from 8 – 9 PM in TDU and laugh out loud to the silly assumptions you’ve made about me. Plus there will be FREE COOKIES =)

– Patrick

Deforestation Of Festival

Now a days when I think of the jungle, I think of all the destruction currently taking place in the Brazilian Amazon. According to mongabay.com, between 2000 and 2006 Brazil lost nearly 150,000 square kilometers of forest. In case you wanted to put that into perspective, that would be like losing Greece. One country I don’t want to lose, too many hotties on the beaches =).  So why does this happen when we all know it’s bad?? Historically commercial and speculative interests, misguided government policies, inappropriate World Bank projects, and commercial exploitation of forest resources can attribute a large portion of deforestation in Brazil to land clearing for pastureland. So, lets stop growing corn, wheat, using logs, and raising cows in Brazil and our problem will be solved!
Luckily for Harrisonburg, a jungle is growing in our backyard!!! This year’s first Late Night Breakfast will be this Thursday from 10 pm to 12 am in Festival. It’ll be crazy jungle fun with plants, a butterfly cube (chances to win convo tix here), a trunk toss (more chances to win prizes), a face painter, breakfast food, a DJ and much more! =) For those craving a jungle appetite, we are having scrambled (bird) eggs, (monkey) bacon, (tree trunk) French toast sticks, and dirt dessert!!!
Hope to see you there! And don’t deforest Festival please =)

– Patrick