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Show Monday, Oct. 18, 2010 Page 10 AfieWS & 0 i 111 I 0 111 Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.utahstatesman.com OurVi ew Abo ut US Editor in Chief Incoming freshmen don't quite measure up Pardon us if we're not surprised by Rob Nief and Tom McBride's comments about this year's class of college freshmen being unprepared for the challenges in front of them. Nief and McBride, who spoke to USU faculty last week, said that college freshmen across the country have displayed a sense of entitlement when it comes to their assignments and responsibilities, while also lacking the patience and understanding to complete basic assignments. For those of us old enough to remember when a phone was something you used to call people (as opposed to, you know, watch live European soccer matches), the shift to impersonal communication that has engulfed this current freshman class is alarming. It hit us, we think, somewhere between having to replace the "LOLZ" and "OMG" in their first articles submitted to The Statesman, and the awkward stares we got from the university's freshmen when we sat down to study for midterms. It got worse when we had to explain what midterms were, and that - believe it or not - we had to head to our respective places of employment (otherwise known as 'jobs') following classes. Ok, we know its standard practice to pick on the freshman, but who among us hasn't noticed a certain sense of disconnect when it comes to the most recent additions to the USU community? From hanging around the Junction smoking (seemingly 24/7, may we add) to text messaging right in front of professors in class, the behaviors of some of our school's current freshmen have left us wondering if they even know what they're here for. We're not saying college shouldn't be fun - no, that would be BYU - but there should be some work involved, and it's only expected that the struggle to balance academics, work and a responsible social life might incur a little stress along the way. Nief and McBride may be onto something, and if they are, count us among those who fear for the future. Let's take pride in our university and our studies, and prove that being a college student isn't just an oxymoron. Homecoming Week, leave your legacy It's that time of year again. Leaves are changing, our football team is winning, the air is crisp, and Homecoming has arrived. Our theme this year is "Leave your Legacy: Once an Aggie, Always an Aggie." College is supposed to be the time of our lives, right? Our experiences here are what connect us to this University. They are what motivate us to become proud alumni. I wanted students to take this week and think about making their mark on Utah State. We planned the week with the students as our main priority. We're kicking things off Monday with free lunch provided by the LDS Student Association on the patio at noon. Come 9 p.m. Monday, we'll be getting the night started with one of my favorite traditions, street painting. Clubs and organizations from around campus gather to represent themselves in street murals all along 700 North. Also starting at 9 p.m. is a campus favorite, the Paint Dance. The party will be located on the HPER Field and will feature DJ Breezy. The best part is, the paint will be fluorescent and illuminated by lots of black light power. Imagine the paint bar in Miss Congeniality and add 2,000 dancing Aggies and good music. It's going to be a blast. Tuesday will be a nice, chill day started off with our Mr. USU contestants serving free Aggie Ice Cream on the Plaza at noon, followed that evening with Moonlight and Music featuring Kaylee Cole and headliner Benton Paul in the amphitheater at 6 p.m. The night will end with a viewing of Toy Story 3 in the TSC Ballroom at 8 p.m. Wednesday holds my favorite event, Mr. USU. The competition has 10 great contestants representing all eight colleges, the Greek community, and diversity. Each will compete to be crowned the new Mr. USU and awarded with a custom ring made and donated by S.E. Needham Jewelers. The competition begins at 7 p.m. and admission is $2, or $1 with a can of food. All food collected will be donated to the Student Nutrition Access Center. Thursday is packed full with three events. First off is Alpha Chi Omega Dollar Days. The sorority will be out on the plaza selling hot dogs and other products for $1. All proceeds will be donated to their philanthropic cause, Victims of Domestic Violence. CI See HOME, page 11 Benjamin C. Wood News Editor Catherine Meidell Assistant News Editor Megan Bainum Features Editor Courtnie Packer Assistant Features Editor Kellyn Neumann Sports Editor Adam Nettina Assistant Sports Editor Matt Sonnenberg Copy Editor Chelsey Gensel ForumLetters Novak comes at high cost To the editor: If you haven't heard, BJ Novak is coming to campus. Yes that's right, one of the writers for the hit comedy, The Office, is coming to Utah State. Now before you pull out your Crackberry and tweet "OMG 50000 EXCITED B J N OVA K IS COMING TO USU!" you should also know we are paying him $50,000 to be here. Yes sir, BJ Novak is making an easy $50,000 to spend one hour standing on stage to amaze us with his practiced wit and humor. You want to know the best part? Not only are your student fees going to cover the down payment on his L.A. condo, only 2,100 of you get that chance to attend, better get those tickets quick. For those of you who don't like math that's $50,000 for a show only 12 percent of the student body gets to attend. As a former ASUSU Programming Director I think the most important piece of this is that this spree was all a gamble. Believe it or not USU has a diverse population. It is the job of those putting on these activities to try and bring a diverse group of speakers, musicians, comedians etc. so they can satisfy many students' interests. Spending over half your budget on an event only 12 percent of students can attend, hoping to make it back through ticket sales is risky and not good programming. Few students know that the ASUSU Arts and Lectures Director gets around $90,000 a year to spend on speakers, musicians and any other performers he or she sees fit. This, if anything, should be a wake-up call to students to pay closer attention at election time when you're picking next year's officers; your vote matters. : Kayla Harris Atheism article in bad taste tic. Why I seemed most annoyed by this story was the fact that it seemed as though it found this atheism objectionable. Why are we so concerned with what everyone else believes in? I had a friend that said, "I do not need religion to make good choices." Just because you do not believe in God, or any sort of higher being does not necessarily mean that they are a bad person. I found it ironic that one of the criteria of sending in a "Letter to the Editor" is being of good taste, but in my opinion this story was of very bad taste. I am disappointed to be attending the same university with someone that is so closedminded. Cameron Mumford Church stance hard to follow To the editor: As a young Mormon boy I often sang with gusto "follow the prophet he knows the way, follow the prophet don't go astray." Now, as a 25-year-old Latter-day Saint at USU, I find myself singing this same song with appenato instead. Since 2008 I have found myself increasingly at odds with my Church's position on homosexuality. The recent General Conference talk by Boyd K. Packer "Cleansing the Inner Vessel" further solidified my inner conflict. I feel, as do other Mormons I know, like I am moving in one direction, and my Church is moving in anothe r. Like all faithful Mormons I want to believe what the leaders of the Church say. I like the idea that there is a living prophet who speaks for God, and can direct me for good. It is a transcendent idea to believe that God loves us enough to be involved intimately in our daily lives through the Church. And, I owe much to the Church in way of great experiences and wonderful friends growing up. However, lately I have struggled with my commitment to Mormonism. The LDS Church's involvement To the editor: In the Oct. 13 edition of The Utah Statesman, I was very disgruntled by the headlined story, "Number of Atheists and Non-Believers Increases." I am a devout Latter-day Saint but grew up in both Vermont and Texas, and I have many friends that are either atheists or agnos- Downloading Go lapbops is what we do best. The Utah Sbabesman Letters to the editor • A public forum with Proposition 8, along with its historical insensitivity toward gays, has made me question what it means to be a Latter-day Saint. Although I will always consider myself a DNA Mormon, I am not proud of the way my Church is responding to social change in America. I believe in times like these, as Mormons, we need to take a step outside the box and reconsider our history. Since the Church's founding in 1830 its mission has been to bring people together in Christ. Under Joseph Smith's charismatic leadership, early Mormons unified themselves around the idea of building Zion, a place where God could dwell among his people and they would be of one heart and one mind. Nevertheless, throughout our Church's history, our understanding of Zion and who can be a part of it has evolved. We need only look back 40 years to find a Mormonism that did not allow people with African ancestry be part of Zion. Take a look back a little further and you will find a Mormonism that understood Zion to be communities of polygamous saints. Today, Mormons understand Zion to be the body of Church members all over the world. It has taken time but we now accept people of all races into fellowship and no longer practice polygamy. I don't know many Mormons who would want to go back to the way things used to be. As a people we have come a long way in the right direction and we do much good in the world. However, as I see it, there is still one group of people on the fringes of Zion. They are our homosexual brothers and sisters and they have been outside for too long. I don't know everything there is to know about the complex issues surrounding same-gender attraction, but I do know that historically, as a Church, when we have accepted change we have been enlightened in the process. When I read the words from the Book of Mormon, "He inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile," I am persuaded to believe that God's love is big enough to include everyone, including homosexuals. Brad Hansen Photo Editor Carl R. Wilson Assistant Photo Editor Alison Ostler Web Editor Tyler Huskinson Editorial Board Benjamin C. Wood Catherine Meidell Courtnie Packer Adam Nettina Chelsey Gensel Tyler Huskinson About letters • Letters should be limited to 400 words. • All letters may be shortened, edited or rejected for reasons of good taste, redundancy or volume of similar letters. • Letters must be topic oriented. They may not be directed toward individuals. • • • • Any letter directed to a specific individual may be edited or not printed. No anonymous letters will be published. Writers must sign all letters and include a phone number or email address as well as a student identification number (none of which is published). Letters will not be printed without this verification. Letters representing groups — or more than one individual — must have a singular representative clearly stated, with all necessary identification information. Writers must wait 21 days before submitting successive letters — no exceptions. Letters can be hand delivered or mailed to The Statesman in the TSC, Room 105, or can be e-mailed to statesman@aggiemail. usu.edu, or click on www.utahstatesman. com for more letter guidelines and a box to submit letters. Online poll Was hiring BJ Novak worth the price? • • Yes. He's hilarious and we'll make it back in ticket sales. No. There's plenty of funny people for a fraction of the cost. Visit us on the Web at www.utahstatesman. com to cast your vote and see results from this straw poll. |