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Show * Monday, September 22,2008 EDITORIAL | , r THE SIGNPOST Signpost Viewpoint First Amendment rights. Right? in an editorial. "But I have a question of my own," she wrote. "It's one for my university ... WHY? Why did you allow this to happen? How could you let anyone close the door of a public forum to anyone - much less members of the press? A university? A place that should be standing for the greatest possible degree of freedom of expression? The greatest level of access to ideas?" While Scalia can demand whatever he wants when traveling to speaking events, USU should have felt compelled to make sure their public event was truly open to the public. Here at Weber State University, we have never had that happen to us. Members of pur student ress or other press have not been barred from events or speakers. We are welcomed into every university event, which is important in order to keep an accurate history of what happened at the events, in order to effectively report to the students and the community. We hope Weber State University would hold to that standard of allowing all of the public into the events, whether as spectators, print journalists, or broadcast entities. Freedom of the press is an important right to have as Americans. Without the access to the important events and the ability to report them in ways that the readers or viewers will be affected, we cannot do an accurate job of reporting the facts, which we strive to do as journalists. When we hear stories of the press being denied access to public events, ; most students would think of stories they had heard in their history classes or law classes, not in a modern-day situation. But last Monday, a current-day controversy came to Utah State University. Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Antonin Scalia was scheduled to speak at a political science department's muchpublicized conference. Ironically called "Freedom and the Rule of Law," the conference was said to be opened to the public. All were encouraged to attend. All except one specific group. Broadcast press were excluded from the oncampus event, which was put on by the publically funded university. All other press were welcome - they could take notes, take audio recordings, whatever they wanted - but the broadcast entities were not allowed in. Apparently, this was not a decision of the university. Justice Scalia has a dislike for camera people, and in his speech contract he makes it a rule to ban all video cameras from the venue, except for ones he has pre-approved. So when little Logan, Utah, got a "visit from a Supreme Court Justice, probably one of the most important events of the year, broadcast journalists were not able to document the pivotal event. Some USU professors and students were upset by the situation. Penny Byrne, a media law professor at USU, expressed her feelings on the subject Comment on this story at wsusignpost.com. Do you have something to say? Tell us what's happening by sending a letter to the editor at: thesign post@weber.ecl u H$ - w, n p / *m+ 1 HI E Editor in chief Managing Editor News Editor Sports Editor Photo Editor Business Editor Features Editor A&E Editor Adviser Ad Manager Office Manager I WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY SlGNP OST Jessica Schreifels Frances Kelsey Heidi LeBaron Jon McBride 626-7121 626-7614 626-7655 626-7983 Catherine Mortimer 626-6358 Ashley Salvador Tricell Taylor Samantha Neri Allison Hess SheUey Hart Georgia Edwards 626-7624 626-7621 626-7105 626-7499 626-6359 626-7974 -The Signpost is published Monday, Wednesday and Friday during fall and spring semesters. Subscription is S18 a semester. First newspaper copy free, each additional copy S0.50. -The Signpost is a student publication, written, edited, and drafted by Weber State University students. Student fees fund the printing of this publication. Opinions or positions voiced are not necessarily endorsed by the university. Vie Signpost welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must Include name, address, telephone number, relationship to staff, and the writer's signature. •The Signpost reserves the right to edit for reasons of space and libel and also reserves the right to refuse to print any letter. Letters should not exceed 3S0 words. Bring letters to the editorial office in the Student Union 401, or mail tor The Signpost, Weber State University, Ogden, Utah 84408-2110. Attn:iessica Schreifels. E-mail thesignpost@webcr.edu Out of right field: Don't Panic! Daron Nelson Signpost columnist This past week has been a historic rollercoaster ride for the stock market. The Dow Jones Industrial average has been all over the place. We saw it sink dramatically and then bounce right back over the following days. When the major dive set in, there were some nervous feelings, but the experts, at least most of them, told us not to panic. Turns out, it was a good thing that most people didn't panic. While I am no expert on finandeSrit'Seeins like it is a general rule to ride rribst things out, and that the general trend will be upward. I think that rule can apply to almost anything. There is far too much doom and gloom talk going around these days. It almost seems that sometimes the popular or hip thing to do is complain, gripe and moan about how awful the state of things seems to be. I beg to differ. We have seen worse. Much worse. Now is not the time to panic. I'm not saying that everything is running smoothly and that we should live with rose colored glasses on, but we should always take things into perspective, and keep our eyes on the big picture. As Americans, one of our greatest strengths is perseverance. We take pride would burst. It did, and the economy in the way we have endured through shows the telltale signs of their predictionadversities. We boast of the way we have come-true. Are we now supposed to run tackled impossible odds and come out around blaming the banks and mortgage the victors. We have conquered difficulties companies for their contaminated loans? in the past, not by complaining, nor by Weren't we the ones who bought what running around casting blame on anyone they were selling? Couldn't we have had and everyone we can think of, but by the willpower to not spend money we didn't have on houses accepting the situation too big for our needs? and moving forward. It almost seems We could take this We now find ourselves challenge head on, or in, admittedly, difficult that sometimes the we could do the stupid times. Our nation is popular or hip thing thing and panic. There at war. The housing is a way out of this market is in a big slump. to do is complain, mess; it's good oldAnd no one needs to be reminded of the energy gripe and moan about fashioned hard work and sacrifice. With costs we are facing. how awful the state the economy and the Still," this is not a time to job market the way panic. of things seems to be. they are, it is worth If, as students, we the sacrifice to earn find ourselves in a a college degree. It is difficult class with little previous knowledge of the subject, the best also always worth it to give up a few extra thing we could do would be to study, read wants now and then. and work just as hard as we can. Panicking Hey, I'm still waiting for a flat screen TV in that situation and trying to blame past and my wife tells me I may be waiting for professors or teachers for not preparing a while. us enough would be nothing but a waste No matter in what situation we find of energy and would lead us nowhere but ourselves, we should have the common to a failing grade. After all, we signed up sense to keep our heads level. We would be for the class, and we should have prepared smart to take the advice of a space traveler ourselves better. to a lost Englishman: DON'T PANIC! While the housing market was booming, there were some who said that the bubble Comment on this story at wsusignposi.com. What grinds my gears: $2.95 for Brownie bites! Oh, the insanity! bites won't insult my term paper. Brownie-bites won't punish me for a failed exam. Snacks such as these are Signpost always there when we need them, or at guest columnist least they used to be. I understand rising food costs A typical late night for me consists around the nation are responsible for of sitting in my LoveSac and watching the increasing prices of some of my a little "SportsCenter" before falling favorite baked goods, but there has to asleep. However, a few evenings ago be somebody to blame for this madness. I found myself craving a late-night Who that person is, I don't know. But I can see President Bush now, sitting in snack: brownie bites. I drove over to the nearest 24-hour his Oval Office, all smug, gorging on Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, and brownie bites, upon my arrival I made a disturbing w h i l e discovery. A smallish-size box of t h e brownie bites costs a whopping $2.95! This really grinds my gears! For that same amount I can buy three fast food ., burgers or even do a couple loads of laundry. How can a college student expect to pay for such an expensive, once-affordable childhood favorite that came in individual-sized bags for 75 cents? Anybody who has once been in college knows coffee, snacks and energy drinks are our lifelines. While busy studying for classes or even just relaxing, we often find solace in consuming tasty snacks. BrownieMatt Gerrish rest of Middle America has to deal with the unaffordable cost of such a delicious treat. I can look past high gas prices and other costly living expenses, but when it comes to my stomach, I will not budge on my stance for wellpriced munchies. Not only are the prices through the roof, I can no longer find the variety of brownie bites I once enjoyed. Where did the sugared, powdered sugar and chocolate glazed selections go? Together, as young and educated men and women, we must stand up and fight. We must fight for inexpensive goodies. We must fight for a colorful and extensive selection of these goodies. To me, if I can't take advantage of my civil liberties and fight corporate leaders from Smiths, Wal-Mart and Albertsons for my right to enjoy affordable snacks, then I don't deserve these liberties at all. If we can somehow succeed, never again shall "the man" who is getting fat off our wallets, and off our brownie bites silence our late-night cravings. Comment on this story at wsusignpqst.com. THE STANDARD fc THE SKNTOST HIGHER for CAMPUS NEWS *; |