**1. Todd Akin’s ‘legitimate rape’**
When Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo. suggested in September 2012 that women couldn’t get pregnant from “legitimate rape,” I legitimately wanted to jump off the Cliffs of Moher. I was studying in Ireland last semester, but as Akin’s comments made their way across the Atlantic, I was embarrassed to be on exchange from the state of Missouri’s university.
**2. Ignorant tweets**
After learning a lot during J2000 my sophomore year, I was embarrassed to go here when I saw this tweet, which was posted by a journalism student during Cross-Cultural Journalism this semester:
“Seriously guys. I’m going to be selling corn to white farmers. I dont need a culture reporting class.”
and this one:
“I hate J2000. Raise your hand if you dont really give a damn about minorities. #SorryImNotSorry #JSchoolProblems”
Pretty sure there is a #problem with this tweet, and it’s not your lecture on social stratification, poverty and class lines.
**3. #FreeMichaelDixon**
The week where I couldn’t go on Twitter for fear of seeing another variation of the “Free Michael Dixon” hashtag on my feed, I was embarrassed to call myself a Tiger for fear of being assumed bigot by association. I quickly regained my black and gold spirit after advocates for sexual awareness responded by calling reckless tweeters out across several platforms.
**4. Missouri and gun laws**
The time that the Missouri House of Representatives passed legislation just a few weeks ago that guarantees the protection of Missouri’s right to bear arms (regardless of federal law) was a bummer. Rumors of state cession started, which were embarrassing because seriously what’s not embarrassing about that.
**5. The BearCat**
The time the City Council approved the purchase of a $200,000 armored vehicle for the Columbia Police Department, I was embarrassed to live here. Not only was this purchase unnecessary, but it’s called a BearCat, which is actually a real animal that looks exactly what it sounds like.