Well, it’s me, your incoming soon-to-be editor. My reign is set to begin in August, and I am indescribably excited and petrified for the show to start.
Running The Auburn Plainsman is something I certainly did not anticipate when I started off as a political science major way back in ‘05, but hey, you’ve got to follow your heart, and for me, journalism it is.
Enough of the warm, fuzzy I-feel-like-I’m-in-the-Auburn-family business. Let’s get to the real stuff.
Two weeks ago, an editorial was published which caused a little stir around campus. I suppose being inside The Plainsman office every day heightened the sense of importance to the issue, but to us, it seemed like the editorial (and the subsequent commotion) was the main buzz around campus.
First, put all of the arguments, disagreements and hard feelings aside for a minute. Minus these unfavorable consequences, I’m glad to see all the reactions which came about from the students.
Here’s why. For my first two years at Auburn, I was part of a political organization on campus. From my experiences during those two years, I felt most of the time like it was pulling teeth when trying to find people passionate and concerned about politics.
I understand I’m not going to school in Washington D.C., but still. I thought political awareness was close to being universal, or at least American.
So I became a bit discouraged. Are people fully content by wearing the right clothes, driving the right vehicles and going to all weekend games possible? (Don’t get me wrong, I crave SEC football season.) Do all of their the worries stop there? I think so.
But to a small extent, I was wrong. It turns out some people do care tremendously about their most fundamental beliefs, as our editorial proved.
Students sitting on both sides, and even the middle, of the fence let us know that they agree or disagree with our views of the whole SAN/College Republicans mess. Long, extensive letters to the editor explained several positions held by many and all their justifications for seeing things as they do. It’s great. Like I said, I liked to see any type of reaction.
So now that this particular issue has died down a bit, does reaction end here? Are we back to a semi-passive campus?
If y’all haven’t noticed, there’s a lot going on in that big, big world out there.
War. Slow economic collapse. A presidential election (that has been going on forever, I know. It’s hard to keep up.) Riots. Inflation. And, most importantly, the fact that I have to eat tuna sandwiches and ravioli daily so I can fill up my Hyundai which gets 30 miles to the gallon. I can remember when my poor Elizabeth was once an economical car.
I know I’m asking a lot of questions, but where is our reaction to everything?
Again, I’m a little discouraged and disappointed. I can’t imagine what else needs to happen before we as students and young people react.
We all know that we are the generation who will eventually rise up and handle this fiasco we’ve inherited, so I don’t understand what the reservation is.
Last week on April 4th, the 40th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King’s assassination, I was reminded, again, of a movement that once existed. In my mind it was a social movement which changed American history, but that’s what I’ve been told.
Civil suppression, a different war, and inequalities brought people out to the streets. Men and women rose up and actually said meaningful things with willed intentions.
All I’d like to see is public participation, especially this election year.
If you’re so animated about a student organization, or the voices who oppose it, stand up for all the causes behind both groups.
Take a part and be active. Don’t just be satisfied with passivity. Going to an organization’s first meeting doesn’t mean you can call yourself a member and then put it on your resume.
These are the college years to be fanatical (in the productive way) in whatever beliefs you hold. All I can stress is be aware and take a part.
I will forewarn everyone now, you can count on many politically-inspired columns from me next year. I just hope to hear your response.
Kristi Oberholzer is the incoming editor of The Auburn Plainsman. You can reach her at 844-9108.
