OUR VIEW: We’ve been telling you, it’s time to listen
Sometimes college students live in a bubble. The world could collapse around us and many of us wouldn’t know it. Though The Statesman did an article about the construction behind the HPER, we still get questions. Though we wrote an article about who won what positions in ASUSU, we still get questions.
It seems as though issues that affect almost every student – budget cuts, HB 477 and ASUSU elections – do not lead to discussion by the student body, but one article about how we all fail at dating just won the award for most-commented article of the year. Why is it that a topic that would be front page news for checkout line tabloids causes such a stir, but other main events go unnoticed?
We challenge this university to raise the standard of awareness. We challenge students to prove the rest of the world wrong in their thinking that today’s young adults don’t care about real issues. In line with the student elections this year, SPEAK. Speak out on the issues. You all have opinions. But how are we supposed to form logical opinions without educating ourselves first? An opinion is not an opinion if it cannot be defended.
Be ready to stand up for what you believe in. Pick up a newspaper and read more than the comic and gossip sections. Know the issues, and know how they will affect you. We are the future of this state and country. Some of these issues may not directly affect you now, but they will affect all of us eventually.
Just once this semester get your nose out of the (Face)books and act. Write a letter to your legislators telling them how important your classes are to you. Run over to the library on Fridays between 12 and 1 p.m. for Verbatim, a chance to say whatever you want on camera. Read the newspaper and comment on the articles. Send feedback to writers and answer opinion polls. Just do something.
Most of us will only be in college once. Take advantage of the fact that you have access to free newspapers three times a week. Be grateful for instant news, whether it is online, print or through our new Statesman App. Be responsible for your future, and do it by reading The Statesman, because it’s just that good.