E.B.O.N.Y. confronts ‘bust downs’
Panel opposes stigma surrounding sexual women
Article by:
LaShaunna Watkins - Cultural Affairs Reporter
• lshaunna@northernstar.info
The sexual behavior of females on campus was the focus of E.B.O.N.Y.
Women’s panel discussion Monday night, “How Bust Downs Get
Down.”
Nekika Skinner, president of E.B.O.N.Y. Women, said a “bust
down” is a girl who sleeps with numerous people without any discretion
and also carries herself in a bad manner. Skinner said E.B.O.N.Y.
Women decided to host the event because they wanted to help the women
of this campus.
“Our goal is to uplift women,” she said. “A lot of
women have a reputation and don’t know they do, and we also want
to help women prevent themselves from getting the reputation.”
The panel discussion featured five male students who expressed their
opinions about the sexual patterns of “bust downs.” The
panelists discussed issues from male sexual frustration to infidelity.
Julian McElroy, a junior elementary education major and member of
the panel, said women on campus should be careful about the actions
they take. He said many women on campus get involved with men with
inaccurate notions.
“Women need to be smart about what they do,” McElroy said.
“Women go through many relationships thinking she can change
a guy.”
McElroy said after going through many relationships and having sex,
a woman becomes a “bust down” when she gives a guy all her
heart, with the intent to change a man.
The female audience members raised many questions. Senior history
major Sharina Ware questioned the integrity of the panelists.
“If a bust down is a girl who doesn’t respect herself,
what does that say about the men who sleep with her?” she said.
As the male panelists expressed their opinions about what makes a
girl a bust down, the female members of the audience disagreed. Sophomore
English major Jinifir Jay Fermando said the panelists were not qualified
to speak at the event.
“I think the men were too young to be on the panel,” she
said. “This issue is a real problem and I don’t think they
took it seriously.”
Dennis Leaks, a freshman political science major, said the females
in the audience were mad because the opinions of the panelists were
an accurate reflection of what happens on campus.
“The audience didn’t accept the realistic statements made
by the panelists because they can’t handle the truth,” he
said.
Skinner said she hoped the women who attended the discussion got
an idea of the male perspective, and also understood the confusion
men have about women.
Junior business major Leonard Thomas said he learned many things
at the panel discussion. He said he hoped the women learned to be
careful with people they have relations with. He also said that women
on campus should not be judged.
“You shouldn’t pre-judge a person before you get to know
them,” he said.
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