COLUMN: Intelligent questions only, please
After a fantastic lecture, Spike Lee had only one request during the question and answer period: intelligent questions only.
For the most part, Utah State University students asked well-thought-out questions, to which Lee gave well-thought-out answers.
Most asked questions about Lee’s films and the various perspectives portrayed in his work. Lee obviously appreciated those “intelligent” questions. More than once he said, “good question.”
But, it seemed as if some students didn’t take the lecture and opportunity to ask questions seriously. Remember, this is a man who took time out of his undoubtedly hectic schedule and flew thousands of miles to give a lecture, and then faces questions like why Hollywood stars protest this “war for oil” but continue to drive around in “gas-guzzling limos” and private jets.
Others asked asinine questions like nationalizing health care, a topic which Lee didn’t even touch in his lecture.
One question however, which topped all others for sheer stupidity, was asking Lee if he would be willing to help in a fund-raising effort for USU’s women’s basketball team which will begin play next season after a 17-year hiatus.
There probably would have been a better time and place to confront Lee about such a request, assuming it was even appropriate to ask in the first place. That a student who is not a representative of the women’s basketball team would make the request in front of thousands of people is even more asinine.
When Lee followed up the request by asking if the individual was a coach for the team, the individual said, no, but he had been attending Aggie games since he was 6 years old.
Well, I’ve been attending Aggie games since I was young too, maybe I should do my part and hit up another high-profile sports fan for donations for the athletic department. I’ll call Jack Nicholson first thing in the morning.
Then again, he’d probably think I was stupid, too.
Tyler Riggs is a senior news writer. Comments can be sent to str@cc.usu.edu.