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Show Wednesday, October 15, 2008 |i r THE SIGNPOST EDITORIAL Signpost Viewpoint 1NSTEAP0F FAINTING 1N"IHR0R,THEYKE WRITING CHECrS FOR Campus face-lift worth the wait Oh, the construction. Weber State University students have dealt with the Ogden campus being torn up for the last couple of years. First it was the Shepherd Union Building, then the campus exploded with projects: the new roundabouts, Elizabeth Hall and the Bell Tower project, among others, were getting a new look. And what did we, as students, do? We complained about it, of course. We talked about how there was no way to get to our classes in time, the Bell Tower clock doesn't work, the road construction was confusing and the construction noise disturbed our class time. Did we care about" the end result? No. Most of us probably thought we'd graduate before the projects were even done. It seemed like the construction would never end. But now the campus is slowly coming together and real progress is being made. The roundabouts are done, though we still may not know how to navigate them. The Shepherd Union Building's phases are both now completed, and many student organizations on campus have relocated back to their offices in the building. Even the Bell Tower is looking up. Though the clock still doesn't work, the construction fences were pulled back on Monday, and while the clock area is still under construction, students can now walk through the middle area of the Bell Tower to get to classes a bit quicker. But the best part of it all? It looks great. The landscaping in the Bell Tower Plaza is a big upgrade from its previous look. There's plenty of trees and rock waterfalls that bring the campus to life, while still leaving enough open space for students to gather and have activities in the plaza. The Union Building also turned out top-notch. The facility students have now is unbelievable compared to the building pre-construction. What was an aging building with health code problems has become a new student center with a food court that looks like a fancy airport terminal and nice, new furniture throughout. These last few years of construction has definitely paid off. Not only is our campus more up to date and more functional for students, it is now a wonderful place to be. Between the mountain backdrop, the trees and bushes dotting the campus, and now a great new building for students to hang-out in, Weber State University has done a good job at insuring that their students have a great place to be. Comment on this story at wsusignpost.com. m have somethin to say? Tell us what's happening by sending a letter to the editor at: thesignpost@weber.edu r M £1 WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY 1 HE SIGNPOST Editor in chief Managing Editor News Editor Sports Editor Photo Editor Business Editor Features Editor A&E Editor Adviser Ad Manager Office Manager Jessica Schreifels Frances Kelsey Heidi LeBaron Jon McBride 626-7121 626-7614 626-7655 626-7983 Catherine Mortimer 626-6358 Ashley Salvador 626-7624 Tricell Taylor 626-7621 Samantha Neri •"#26-7105 Allison Hess 626-7499 Shelley Hart 626-6359 Georgia Edwards 626-7974 •Vie Signpost is published Monday, Wednesday and Friday during fail and spring semesters. Subscription is $18 a semester. First newspaper copy free, each additional copy $0.50. -The Sigjipost 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. 77te 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 350 words. Bring letters to the editorial office in the Student Union 401, or mail to: The Signpost, Weber State University, Ogden, Utah 84408-2110. Altn.Jessica Schreifels. E-mail thesignpost@weber.edu SOURCE M L C L A T C H Y TRIBUNE A bit of common sense: A very slutty Halloween Recent online scouring for a decent Halloween costume has left me at odds with the whole holiday. Women's costume options almost entirely consist of slutty cop, slutty nurse, or slutty cat. Yes, staring at my computer screen, quickly losing hope to find something that would work, images of costumes that could only work in a bachelor's party assaulted me. I was left wondering how it was possible that every option out there involved a skirt hemline that doesn't quite make it to the thigh. Fantastic. The many circulating theories seem to be that the inner-whore of a woman comes out on Halloween. I'm going to have to disagree. In my mind, as a woman, the whole slutty Halloween costume springs from insecurity rather than how badly a woman wants to have sex with some random guy. There are not a lot of women brave enough to actually be scary or funny with their costumes. Girls expect all the other girls at the party will dress cute and there is a status quo to meet. Who wants to be the outcast in the uncute outfit? The lone nun at the party, singled out by her lack of sex appeal in comparison to the rest. The problem is "cute" has turned into "hot." The sexier the better? And even if none of this seems true, the fact remains there are very few options left for women seeking variety. Sure they are all different, but they are all the same too. While one costume is definably a pirate, there are no real differences in the actual costume from a bunny, minus accessories. While this subject has been beaten to death, it is still one of the stranger female phenomena observable in American culture. Each Halloween, thousands of college and high school girls hit the streets in ridiculously revealing outfits - thigh here, breast there, midriff everywhere. The Disney characters never saw it coming. There is the idea that the Halloween costume is a physical manifestation of another personality, an expression of innerself for just one night. If this is true, what does that say about women? Is it just for the sake of "keeping up with the Joneses" that women are trying to out-slut each other, or something much sadder? And this trend began nowhere else, except maybe the Playboy Mansion, than college campuses. Low self-esteem and bad judgment mingle each time a girl leaves the house in a white teddy and bunny ears. I have one major issue with this whole, what I am guessing is a college-originating trend, of sexy costumes; it is bleeding into younger and younger age groups. I never thought I'd say this, but thank god for Hannah Montana because at least little girls won't dress up as some clearly sexual character. On the Feminist Law Professors blog, you can see for yourself the obscene drift from college into middle-school regardingwomen'scostumes.rileven throw out an example, "Miss Behaved," a little pink-and-black prisoner outfit including broken chains around the wrists. There are clearly effects to slutty Halloween. Little girls want to grow up faster and are then emulating what they see in their older counterparts, i.e., Paris Hilton as a slutty Alice in Wonderland. In an attempt to shock, Halloween has turned ugly. It's a bad trend with no end in sight. Comment on this story at wsusignpost. com. Chatting over the fence: Morals and associations officials to have at least a certain moral standard of integrity. However, there are certain areas of personal belief driving candidates to act in certain ways that may not be character-based in the fundamental ways you seem to be alluding to, Mike. Issues like providing for the middle class, protecting our beautiful natural lands, providing health care for the Mike: Issues are important, but poor, taking care of our elderly, and I believe the most important aspect making sure our rising generation is of any kind of leadership position receiving the best possible education is character. We are not electing an might matter more to people than agenda or a basketcase of positions the nitty-gritty details of a candidates on issues, but we are electing a leader. personal character. It's more what With that leader comes a framework a candidate does, and not what a of ethical decisions and ideologies. candidate professes to live by, that When voters go to the polls, they do matters more - to me at least. In the not only need to consider what stance case of Obama, he has fought for reform they have on abortion or the Iraq War, to aid the poor; therefore, I think him but what the candidate feels is right a conscientious and compassionate individual. He's fought for educational and wrong. Both presidential candidates have programs; for this reason I think he their flaws, but John McCain brings values education. In essence, we need an ethical the most character and integrity of the two to this race. Liberals might scream president with sound values. But and try to bring back to memory beyond this quota, many of the issues Keating 5 and other instances of poor at stake this election carry a moral judgment, but I believe we saw the true current. I believe Obama has the McCain this week. In one of McCain's moral fiber and the compassionate own rallies, people criticized Obama substance to lead our country in the and McCain drew jeers and boos for proper direction. Mike: Political positions are extremely defending his rival. Instead of inciting hateful remarks, McCain, in his true important, but at the end of the day, we form, defended his opponent. I feel need people who will make correct moral decisions, which give us a glimpse of their this shows class and character. 1 Chris: I agree recognizing and judgment. Although McCain has his fair addressing an untoie statement about share of blunders, I feel Obama does not one's rival is a sign of good character have the moral fiber we need right now. u and upbringing. I think we all want a A wise man once said, "y° can tell the president and other political officers character of a person by the company who are honest, not only with their he keeps." In my opinion, Obama does rivals, but with us, the American people not make wise decisions about the who elect them. We expect our elected people he has around him. For example, By Mike Kofoed, Republican and Chris Bentley, Democrat we all remember the Reverend Wright controversy, where Obama's preacher presented obscene, ideas about race and patriotism, or his relationship with Bill Ayres, an admitted and unrepentant terrorist, who bombed the New York City Police Headquarters and the United States Capitol building. Obama has had campaign and fundraiser meetings at this man's house. The question we need to ask ourselves is how long did he know about the fact the Ayres was an admitted terrorist (and who, by the way, said he would commit his crimes again today if he could) and what did he do about it. It greatly concerns me that instead of logical reconciliation of these facts, Obama supporters claim, that associations don't matter and that we need to judge the person as an individual. If this is true, why does the Democratic Party remind us time and again of the connection between George Bush and lohn McCain. If associations don't matter, should we not just talk about McCain and his policies? Chris: It's dangerous to assume one's associations reflect exactly upon an individual's character and worth. I'm sure we all have some associations with people we might not be proud of. In the case of Obama, I feel he was unfairly used, especially in the case of Reverend Wright. I think we need to accept what Obama has said already about his association with Reverend Wright and look past this. Obama has many very admirable and strong associations with many other people. It's sad when people insist on looking at one or two bad examples and disregard all else. I would only associate McCain with President Bush if McCain's policies were similar, and I'm afraid that many of them are dangerously similar. • Comment on this story at wsusignpost.com. |