2008 Woodie Awards
Letter to the editor
Issue date: 4/28/08 Section: Opinion
As a student of political science, I have the utmost respect for the first amendment. I am in no way questioning a writer's free speech. However, what is often published on the opinion page of the Courier is very troubling.
In the article "Things to do before leaving Western," the author lists ten activities to partake in before leaving for the summer. These range from "make whoppie in the library" to "see someone take the walk of shame."
The article also encourages students to tour Adams Street on a Finals Week night. Forget your finals, the culmination of your semester, instead go to Adams St. and find some fun. It is okay because "you've earned the right to be a jackass for one final night." What logic suggests that the completion of the school year permits you to act like a jackass?
While this article was disturbing, the lack of journalistic credibility did not stop there. In the article "The ab'dorm'al life" the columnist stated many fallacies about Corbin Hall. I have yet to step over a drunk girl passed out in the lobby or witness vomit in the stairwell, both of which he claims to be true.
He fails to mention the Fine Arts Floor which has one of the highest renewal rates on campus. This is a floor by the way, that has not encountered one fine or documentation all year long. He also forgets to mention the remarkable stories of residents recently elected to hall government positions.
Many candidates ran because they felt as transfer students they had found a home in Corbin. As I watched a tour of prospective students today, these are the stories I hoped they would read about when they picked up a Courier. Instead, they were greeted by the typical disappointing, disturbing, and distorted opinions I read on a weekly basis. While I believe there are plenty of positive aspects about the Courier and its writers, I hope the staff will take the time to reflect on the nonsense that has consumed these pages.
-Zak Foste
In the article "Things to do before leaving Western," the author lists ten activities to partake in before leaving for the summer. These range from "make whoppie in the library" to "see someone take the walk of shame."
The article also encourages students to tour Adams Street on a Finals Week night. Forget your finals, the culmination of your semester, instead go to Adams St. and find some fun. It is okay because "you've earned the right to be a jackass for one final night." What logic suggests that the completion of the school year permits you to act like a jackass?
While this article was disturbing, the lack of journalistic credibility did not stop there. In the article "The ab'dorm'al life" the columnist stated many fallacies about Corbin Hall. I have yet to step over a drunk girl passed out in the lobby or witness vomit in the stairwell, both of which he claims to be true.
He fails to mention the Fine Arts Floor which has one of the highest renewal rates on campus. This is a floor by the way, that has not encountered one fine or documentation all year long. He also forgets to mention the remarkable stories of residents recently elected to hall government positions.
Many candidates ran because they felt as transfer students they had found a home in Corbin. As I watched a tour of prospective students today, these are the stories I hoped they would read about when they picked up a Courier. Instead, they were greeted by the typical disappointing, disturbing, and distorted opinions I read on a weekly basis. While I believe there are plenty of positive aspects about the Courier and its writers, I hope the staff will take the time to reflect on the nonsense that has consumed these pages.
-Zak Foste
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
Jon Vellender
posted 4/28/08 @ 7:39 PM CST
First of all how are you so credible to be writing to the Courier. Even though some of the things in the article might have been exaggerated that does not mean the writer of "The ab'dorm'al life" is not credible. (Continued…)
Andrew
posted 4/29/08 @ 10:55 AM CST
Here is another perfect example of someone who loves to complain about the contents of the Courier but who has no desire of actually writing for the paper. (Continued…)
Matt
posted 4/29/08 @ 5:10 PM CST
Zak, buddy, you need to stop taking everything so seriously. You should also try wandering around on Adams Street. I don't want to get into another conversation about how WIU students are a bunch of drunken buffoons but walking around there on a weekend night is definitely an interesting experience. (Continued…)
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