College Newspapers

Does frighteningly alarmist journalism begin at a collegial level?

My university has two main newspapers that are freely distributed across campus. One of these papers seems to have a degree of real engagement with college life, the other however, is ridiculously removed from all concepts of reality. In fact, many people are beginning to wonder if any semblance of journalistic integrity can be found at all.

Unlike any writer for this paper, I am actually going to qualify this extreme opinion. Upon opening the last two editions of this paper, it becomes quite obvious that they have an intention to perpetuate alarmist rumours that only serve to create an idea of the evil, homosexual, foreign terrorist. It seems that we are always seconds from disaster and that these people are just biding their time before tearing down society around us. Of course, these insidious rumours are hardly put out in the open, but are subtly referenced in articles through tone and language in order to implant ideas unnoticed.

Perhaps I am being too harsh on a newspaper that was initially set up to counter their university sponsored adversary. In fact, the paper does have some interesting pop culture sections in every edition. But there is a very good reason that the Student's Union recently stopped funding this paper, such "journalism" only creates enmity and fear where we need unity and courage.

I do not call for censorship of such papers, just wisdom on the part of their readers.

-The English Student

Nineteen Eighty-Four: The Mutability of the Past

"Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past."

Winston is confronted by this Party doctrine which articulates the government's control over all elements of history. By removing all physical evidence of past events and by editing others, The Party dictates the entire history of London. This control forces us to wonder whether the past can truly be altered at will.

On the face of things, this apparent "mutability of the past" is entirely possible. Our newspapers, history books and countless other physical media contain evidence the past, but these media are all corruptible. Even personal memory is fallible and can be manipulated. So, the question emerges: does the past actually exist anywhere or can it be fabricated?

I have a natural inclination to say that the past does indeed exist. Of course, any human would. The idea that nothing we experience or do has any lasting effect whatsoever is simply abhorrent. Perhaps the answer lies in this instinctual rejection of "the mutability of the past". The past may not have an objective existence, but it is hard to deny the impact that everyday occurrences have on our present and future. Whether measurable or not, our instincts and inclinations are formed by past experience.

No account may exist, but the past is latent in everything we do and everything we are. That past, is not mutable.

-The English Student

Reclaiming our Music Venues

Cynical advertisment has become an epidemic in the music industry.

One of our largest music venues has recently succumbed to insidious branding by a large company. If one wishes to book tickets for any show here, they are bombarded by this company's logo and image. In addition to this, ticket preference has been allocated to existing customers of the company's main service.

There are many potential problems for music lovers here. This company will only see live music as a commodity. To increase business, it is possible that the new caretakers of this venue will exclusively book extremely popular bands at the expense of emerging artists. In effect, music venue proprietors are becoming the new record companies, with their emphasis on the lowest common denominator over musical variety.

The parallels with record companies can be taken further to theorise a solution to this problem. In the same way that musicians have bypassed record companies and exercised ownership over their art, they should control how live music is presented. After all, these are the people who know precisely what it takes to put on a good show and at what price is fair. If a group of musicians were to take ownership of this venue, they could charge appropriate prices, encourage new artists and increase the frequency and popularity of shows.

With this system in place, artists and fans will have a greater connection through live shows. The only one who loses are these manipulative advertisers.

-The English Student

A Victory Speech For Barack Obama

Fellow Americans, we have arrived at a momentous occasion.

It has taken us a long time to get here, we have seen prejudice, violence and hatred in our history. Not only hatred towards African Americans, but women, old, young and Hispanic Americans. Their voice was often unheard, their dreams denied.

But I believe that today we have heard the voice of this country. It is a voice that has rung out strong amongst the cynics, a voice that has shattered the myth of apathy and declared with thundering certainty: Yes we can!

Of course, having the power to change is just a step towards this change. We must put aside our old divisions and look for unity when facing the challenges ahead. As two opposing sides, we will only create enmity. But as one, we can affect great change for the future of our country, and the future of our world.

I have heard your voice today and together, we can face whatever comes tomorrow.

-The English Student

Book Megalomania

Once again, my list of ideal jobs has grown longer with the addition of Book Megalomaniac.

A book megalomaniac is a person who spends a huge amount of time, money and energy in the acquisition of rare works of literature. They concentrate on amassing a collection of the oldest, most valuable books in existence and have been known to spend millions on individual works. Surely there can be few greater jobs than the preservation of our literary masterpieces.

Indeed, the benefits of such book megalomaniacs are manifest when one views their collections. These books are preserved immaculately, with the highest level of security implemented. Beyond this safety, an appropriate level of reverence is paid to these works and the collections have the air of sacred temples devoted to past gods of literature.

But this heightened security and formality greatly limits the appreciation of these works to a small minority of the public. The vast collections are often not advertised and catalogues for their entire works are rare, if they exist at all. This security removes the literature from their original intention – to be read and enjoyed. But this complaint seems ridiculous when compared with the potential loss of our literary heritage to theft or depreciation. I only wish that more than a tiny percentage of these collections be shown, while the rest is protected as it should be.

The only thing I could fathom spending huge amounts of money on is literature – hopefully I will have that opportunity at some point in my life!

-The English Student