Technician late on priorities
When I read the Viewpoint columns on political participation this past Monday [“People, let’s talk politics,” Nov. 2; “Responsibilities of our generation,” Nov. 5, Joe Wright], I thought just one thing: DUH!
This paper has failed in its duty to inform its readers of some extremely important political developments both here in America and other nations abroad. The writers for the paper say something about only after the speaker of the house visits nearby Meredith College? This is an outrage: Viewpoint, a potential forum for a rich exchange of ideas on political issues and major world events, is being wasted on inane columns on Halloween costumes and idle musings that should be in an advice column. I will admit that some writers have taken up the pen to stump for political issues. But this number is not big enough.
So this is my challenge to both the Viewpoint staff and students who read the Technician: In the next few weeks, let’s try to talk about serious issues, like the state of emergency in Pakistan, the seemingly inevitable confirmation of an attorney general who refuses to say controlled drowning is torture or even the amazing array of presidential candidates out there right now. Yes, we can defend our sports teams and still talk about some local concerns; student fee increases and student government come to mind.
But this forum is quite often wasted on trivialities, and this is unacceptable. Anonymous column writer: You want to see change? Start with the Viewpoint section.
Paul McCauleySophomore, Nuclear Engineering, Sociology
Pick the Right Section
When I picked up the paper on Nov. 6 and began to read [“SBP promises left unaccomplished,” Saja Hindi], I initially thought that the Technician editors had made a mistake and printed an editorial on the first page. Unfortunately, upon further examination, it became apparent that the “news article” on SBP Bobby Mills was not an example of placement error but in fact an example of abysmal reporting and a lapse in professional ethics. Throughout the article, the author’s contempt of the SBP became obvious to all.
Unfortunately, this contempt was so great that it led the author to blatantly misrepresent the truth. I will specifically call your attention to the athletics check box on the news insert, where it states that tailgating hours have not been extended. In fact, Mills has done much for athletics this year, including extending tailgating to 5 hours and opening up a third student ticket gate. I hope that the Technician will continue to maintain its high standards of professionalism and ethics by limiting the author to the editorial section, where this piece of poor journalistic work obviously belongs.
Donovan RagsdaleJunior, Business Management
