‘Tiger King’ Highlights Hypocrisy in Private Zoo Industry
(Photo Credit: Netflix)
By Denise Phillip
Netflix’s new docuseries “Tiger King” has quickly grown into what can only be described as a cultish obsession. It garnered traction after a slew of celebrities including, Kim Kardashian and Chrissy Teigen, weighed in with memes and future dream-casting films on social media.
Released March 20, the show chronicles the lives and scandalous activities of the most infamous big cat breeders in America, and in the process exposes the dark underbelly of the “big cat” world.
Seven jaw-dropping episodes follow the central star: Joe Maldonado-Passage, a roadside zookeeper and eccentric, over-the-top “big cat” enthusiast in Oklahoma. Also known as “Joe Exotic” or the “Tiger King,” Maldonado is a mullet-wearing polygamist with two husbands. He was a failed presidential candidate in 2016 and a libertarian candidate for governor only two years later and is often depicted as cuddling and wrestling with his tigers, while wearing a gun strapped to his hip.
(Photo Credit: Netflix)
Maldonado is currently serving a 22-year prison sentence for charges, including eight counts of falsifying wildlife records, and nine counts of violations of the Endangered Species Act. However, the series barely dives into the world of cruelty and suffering the animals endure as part of the breeding and selling process. Instead, it focuses on the drama between Maldonado and his arch-nemesis in the industry, Carole Baskin.
Flower crown-wearing, bike riding animal rights activist, Baskin owns a Florida sanctuary known as Big Cat Rescue. Baskin has devoted her life to saving big cats and lobbies to outlaw breeding and personal ownership of exotic cats in the U.S. Her cat sanctuary business relies largely on unpaid volunteers, despite the funds raised.
Although she was supposed to act as the voice of reason, scandal follows Baskin as well, as Joe accuses her and it was insinuated in the series that she might have killed her second husband, Don Lewis. Lewis was a wealthy man who disappeared in 1997 after attempting to take out a restraining order against his wife. Because of the bizarre twists and turns in her story, it’s hard to know whether there’s any truth to these suspicions. Viewers are left guessing, forced to turn to social media to discuss their theories.
But Baskin and Joe Exotic aren’t the only over-the-top characters in the series. They’re matched by Bhagavan “Doc” Antler, another polygamist who, according to one former employee, coerces teenage girls into working 100-hour weeks at his ranch. If you’re thinking Woah, I agree.
Jeff Lowe also joins Maldonado’s world and brags about using his exotic pets to lure women to his bed. Both Antler and Lowe’s facilities pretend to operate with rescue conservation purposes, when in fact animals are ripped from their mothers immediately after birth and subjected to abuse.
(Photo Credit: Netflix)
Watching humans and tigers interact on-screen is one of the most appealing aspects of the show. The natural strength and power of the animals are exciting, as is the unveiling of the secrets behind how these cats are used for profit, which is in fact a blatant disregard for their well-being.
However, while “Tiger King” tells an incredibly compelling story, it also turns the events depicted into a large, terrible spectacle.
Sadly, Netflix dropped the ball by choosing to focus on the perpetuated drama rather than diving deeper into the abuse the animals suffered at the hands of the zookeepers. The series paints Maldonado and “Doc” Antler as colorful, funny, strange characters who are heavy on the shock factor, as opposed to the cruel and villainous men that they are. Maldonado has defended his reasoning for killing tigers, calling it an act of “mercy,” according to the New York Times.
Throughout the series, we see examples of Maldonado’s violent and cruel ways. He fantasizes about torturing Baskin and jokes about sending her snakes for her birthday. He is so often overheard saying, “I’m gonna kill that B*tch,” that the viewer automatically knows to whom he is referring. Operating in a world of misogyny, Baskin is able to hold her own by launching repeated lawsuits his way.
“Tiger King” makes it apparent that there are no heroes. It’s a messy story about drugs, guns, sexual abuse, suicide, embezzlement, and attempted murder. The blatant exploitation and abuse of the tigers and employees leave viewers feeling uncomfortable yet enlightened about the “big cat” industry. The docuseries is eye-opening, hard to turn away from, and will make viewers think twice about visiting private zoos.
Healthcare Workers Overwhelmed with COVID-19 Crisis
(Photo Credit: Pixabay)
By Denise Phillip
“The hysteria nurses are feeling stems from the guidelines constantly being changed by the CDC about the way COVID-19 is transmitted; we feel exposed,” said Vinessa Lee, a 5-year veteran Registered Nurse at NY Presbyterian Hospital who also tested positive for the virus. “First, they thought the virus was airborne and we needed the N95 respiratory mask. Then, they told us we didn’t need them. Now, they have us reusing our equipment because of shortages.”
(Photo Credit: Airman 1st class Taylor D. Slator)
New York City has become the epicenter of the pandemic, with 136,806 confirmed cases, 18,569 hospitalized, 3,120 in the ICU, and about 10,344 deaths, which represents 43 percent of confirmed cases in the United States as of April 20, according to the New York Times. NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio reiterated hispleas for the city’s need for more equipment, and medical workers echoed this demand.
“I’m stressed because we don’t have enough PPE (personal prevention equipment) to work with. Also, my unit is designated for all COVID-19 positive patients in the hospital. It’s a little scary,” said Lee.
“I have moments where I feel overwhelmed and felt myself getting emotional because of the people being admitted with COVID-19 and the feeling of being helpless,” said a Lehman student and Infection Prevention Liaison at New York Presbyterian Hospital who asked to remain anonymous about the stress of working on the front line during this pandemic.
The need is especially severe in the Bronx, which is home to more than 60 percent of New York City's very low-income residents and also leads in hospitalizations with 27,014, and 2,245 deaths, the New York Times reported. It noted that Bronx residents are twice as likely to succumb to COVID-19 and are dying at double the rate because of pre-existing health conditions linked to coronavirus complications, and a lack of access to healthcare.
Bronx’s Lincoln Medical and Mental Health reported having very few remaining ventilators for patients, while in Brooklyn, doctors at Kings County Hospital Center said supplies have gotten so scarce that they are reusing masks. Workers were setting up separate areas to manage COVID-19 patients, because of the overcrowded E.R. waiting rooms, according to CNN.
Nurses and doctors are not the only healthcare workers on the frontlines. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and first responders are also the first line of defense during this pandemic, and also find themselves struggling for adequate protection.
(Photo Credit: Pixabay)
“We are being asked to sanitize and reuse our N95 masks that are meant to be used once,” Ashley DeJesus, a 3-year FDNY EMS worker, told the Meridian “We are running out of PPEs and are running into dire situations with less protection on. It’s honestly no secret that the entire healthcare system is currently in crisis mode, but we need more protective equipment.”
She also stated that during the month of March, 6,406 calls were made daily to 911 citywide, by people with COVID-19 related illnesses. “We are overwhelmed by the volume of people calling 911,” she said. “We want people to be mindful and only call us in life-threatening emergencies only because there are people that are severely ill and need our attention.”
The Fire Department of New York confirmed that more than 20 percent of the EMS workforce were out sick, according to CNN.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is sending 250 ambulances and 500 EMTs and paramedics to help the city contend the crush of calls to 911 during the pandemic, Mayor de Blasio’s office said in a press conference.
“It’s honestly no secret that the entire healthcare system is currently in crisis mode, but we need more protective equipment.”
To help with the demand for medical supplies, Lehman’s Biology and Chemistry Departments donated 165 N95 respirator masks, 50 pairs of slip-on medical shoe covers and boxes of latex gloves to Montefiore Medical Center, the University Hospital for Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Lehman’s high-quality nursing education programs are designed to train aspiring nurses to take the lead in health issues that impact both the local community and the world.
The school isn’t unscathed in the pandemic as they mourn the loss of Lehman alumni Freda Ocran, former head nurse of Jacobi Medical Center who worked on the front lines, and the stepfather of former nursing student Walkiris Cruz-Perez.
“We can take precautions to protect ourselves and healthcare officials by washing our hands and practicing social distancing, along with wearing a face covering when possible,” says Giovanni Rodriguez, a Lehman Nursing student.
Lehman Women Celebrate Empowerment
By Denise Phillip
Women’s History Month is especially relevant to Lehman students, since 68 percent of them are female--a higher proportion than the national average of 56 percent, according to pewresearch.org. The 2020 theme for the month is “Valiant Women of the Vote,” which pays homage to the women who fought for the right to vote and who continue to fight for the voting rights of others, according to The History Channel.
We asked Lehman students to share what this month means to them, and a moment they felt empowered as women.
“It’s a month where we celebrate the contributions of women that have made an impact in history, women that do not get enough recognition. It is a time to learn and reflect how us [women] have come a long way and should continue to strive for a better future.”
Madelin Arias Bueno, senior computer science major
“I teach management courses, and more than half of my students are female. In addition to live cases in the business world, I use examples of being a daughter, a wife, a girlfriend, or a mother to illustrate the concepts discussed in the textbook. Students feel connected by the examples. I can tell from their nodding heads and smiles on their faces.”
Ning Chen, Professor of Management at Lehman
“Women’s History Month is a time to acknowledge women who made history because for so long, we were not a part of the conversation… [and] to inspire and remind future generations that women are strong, capable, unique, intelligent, fearless, and special.”
“For the past few years, I had the honor and privilege to meet and work with so many amazing, exemplary women leaders throughout the CUNY system – most of them are students. Despite how hard and exhausting it is to balance school, work and personal life, they still dedicate their time and energy to give back- to advocate on behalf of every student they represent. They are great examples of women in leadership, who lead with confidence, compassion and courage.”
Nhi Phan, Introduction to Leadership Mentor - HHL Center for Student Leadership Development
“Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate all of the women who have come before me and have paved the way to where we are today. I think it is especially a time to remember and honor women that tend to be overlooked or ignored in our history, like trans women, queer women, and women of color. We have come so far, but we still have so far to go.”
Angela Peteani, 23-year-old senior English major
“When do I feel empowered as a woman? Lots of ways, some easier than others. Here’s an easy one: my 25-year-old daughter wanted a raise and promotion that wasn’t forthcoming, so she looked for another job, didn’t get the one she wanted but got another, and then went to her home company and asked them to match rank and salary, which they did and then some. I told her, “Always remember that you stand on the shoulders of women who asked and were refused, or (more common) never even dreamed of asking.”
Paula Loscocco, Professor & Chair of English
“In my opinion, 31 days isn’t enough time to discuss so many achievements women have done, past and/or present. Women continue to break barriers and accomplish many important things whether it’s in the medical field, education, science etc. Women are killing it! More months should be dedicated to us.”
Sandra Gutierrez, 26-year-old Business Administration major
“I think Women’s history month is an important time to work on female solidarity. However, as a feminist, it’s always women’s history month for me! As a professor, I teach and read predominantly women, especially women of color who are often left out of the literary canon or classroom.
I always feel empowered when I read my poetry out loud for an audience. It’s a powerful thing to bear your truth to strangers. One time was in 2017 when I gave a reading at my Alma mater Fordham University on my birthday. I shared a number of personal poems about what it’s like to be a Mexican American woman in New York City in a loud clear voice and it was very well received. Another time was when I was asked to honor poet June Jordan with an original poem at Radcliffe College. I intertwined her poetry with mine for a unique piece and I could feel her presence with me.”
Melissa Castillo Planas, Assistant Professor of English
“To me, Women's History Month represents the struggles & obstacles we had faced, & also the triumphs & contributions we have achieved globally. For example, women were huge contributors in deciphering the Mayan written language (I highly recommend the documentary "Cracking the Mayan Code," where it describes the influences of Tatiana Proskouriakoff & Linda Schele). Not only is understanding the Mayan important for learning about history, but it also granted the present-day Maya people for learning about their past as the written language had been lost).”
Emily Willen, junior Lehman ABC (pre-med) major
“A moment in which I felt empowered as a woman was in the two Lehman College programs called: “Introduction to Leadership” and “Leadership Narratives.” These two programs helped me explore more about my individual abilities and also how I can use my natural gifts to help others within my environment/community, my career path, or in any other situation in general. This is extremely significant to acknowledge, because as an individual with two health impairments and also as the oldest of three sisters, I would love to be the role model for them and others. Furthermore, out of all of this, I hope to continue breaking barriers and hopefully setting positive examples for others like me or with a different story.”
Susan Vicente, 19-year-old dietetics and food nutrition major
What Black History Month Means to Lehmanites
By Denise Phillip
Black History Month is observed annually to commemorate the sacrifice of Black Americans during the African Diaspora, honoring unsung heroes who contributed to the past, present and future of African-American culture. The holiday-month originated in 1936, when historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History announced the second week of February as “Negro History Week.” The Meridian asked Lehman students what special meaning February and its Black history roots hold for them. Their answers pointed to how Black History Month should be considered a focal point for a larger conversation in order to incorporate it into American history, and that the fight for civil rights and human rights by Black people should be taught, spoken about and celebrated every month.
“Black History Month is a time when African-Americans can take the time and see what the people before them fought for. It is also a time for rejoicing, celebrating those people for giving us hope and valuable life lessons that we can use.” Patrice Vasquez, a 34-year-old psychology major and Lehman junior.
“Black History should be taught all year long.” Deyanira Calvo, a 32-year-old Lehman senior.
“Black History Month means the world to me as a black man. It celebrates the fight that my brothers were trying to achieve.” Donald Taylor, a business administration major and Lehman junior.
“It means equal opportunity and love for everyone.” Sara Mazahreh, 22-year-old Lehman senior.
“Black History Month is a time when black people can shine. There was a period in time where they were judged by their features and the color of their skin; thankfully, this is no longer the case, and being black is acknowledged, celebrated and appreciated. This is a time where we look back on how far we’ve come as a society and are able to use this as motivation to keep fighting for change.” Carina Campos, a 27-year-old Lehman senior.
“It’s a time to learn and be united. To embrace differences and celebrate a culture.” Cinthia Serrano, a 24-year-old Lehman junior.