I am writing in response to Eric Gremillion’s editorial in Tuesday’s edition of The Reveille. I agree with Mr. Gremillion’s statement that the public, especially college students, knows very little of what goes on in the outside world, but the real problem is newspapers do not give adequate information needed to educate people. That is, newspapers have become more entertainment than education. Mr. Gremillion’s illustration in his article is a perfect example. People aren’t reading newspapers for the new, because there is no news. They read it for the interesting articles. And conversely, newspapers are more concerned with whether or not people will be interested in their articles, rather than trying to inform the public, and publish no news. The Reveille is no exception. Most of the articles in The Reveille have no real news value. They don’t inform students of what goes on in the world. In today’s (Tuesday’s) paper, the U.S. and international news total a whopping half a page. The advertisements on the back page alone take up more space.
A few weeks ago, you ran a two-page article on a transsexual. I am not trying to argue over the worth of that article, but I was shocked to see an article concerning North Korea’s nuclear weapons program only was given about 200 words. Two hundred words written about what possibly could be the biggest diplomatic crisis in a quarter of a century. And I’ll bet very few people even read that. The Reveille was more worried about “shock value” than actually informing readers of current news. I will admit many of the articles The Reveille writes are interesting, and some do need to be told, but simply cutting and pasting articles from the Associated Press is not reporting the news. Perhaps a little original research into foreign and domestic news would be in order. And if you do a good job, then people also will want to read it. It certainly would add more news to your newspaper. Students do need to be more informed, but part of the responsibility lies with the press in educating the public.
Joshua Johnson, Freshman — Mechanical Engineering
Scheduling may have been a whole lot better and easier this time, but there still are major problems. Students should not have to wait 30 minutes just to schedule for classes.
Many people may have been able to schedule in the first ten minutes, but the idiots like me got stuck waiting 30 minutes. By the time I did get to schedule, all of the classes I wanted already were full.
I tried to schedule an extra class that opened up today, but I wasn’t allowed to because I wasn’t a “major.” It is ridiculous for a computer to tell you that you aren’t a “mass communication major” when you are.
The other scheduling system may have been more tedious, but at least after 30 minutes I had the opportunity to get lucky and get the classes I wanted. Now there is no hope at all.
How are people supposed to graduate if they can’t even get into the classes they need? I won’t die if I don’t get these classes right now, but I will end up staying at LSU longer than I had planned. I’m sure LSU won’t mind, since that just means more money for it.
The new scheduling system may be better than the old one, but it has a long way to go before it will satisfy everyone on campus. It probably wouldn’t be so bad if there were more sections in the more popular classes.
Rachel Miller, Sophomore — Mass Communication
Imagine enjoying a good night’s rest or working through some last-minute cramming for a test, when all of a sudden, your ear drums rattle in outrage at a fire alarm being set off at 2 a.m. Here at the Herget Residential Hall, late-night fire alarms are becoming as commonplace as wearing flip-flops in the shower.
I don’t know if this is someone’s idea of a prank or if people are too lazy to go outside to smoke a cigarette, but this needs to stop. Not only is it extremely annoying both to Herget residents and local firefighters, but it is extremely dangerous. Like the boy who cried wolf, people will stop listening to these alarms. If there ever is a real fire, the results could be disastrous. Also, firefighters wasting their time coming to Herget every other night may be taken away from real emergencies.
The first couple of times were almost excusable, but this is getting old. I know the alarm system allows the Herget staff to pinpoint the floor where the alarm came from. Some action should be taken.
I’m not sure what can be done, but these nightly fire alarms are both annoying and deadly. Perhaps a fine of some kind for the floor that the alarm comes from. Whatever the choice, something has to be done. We cannot go on living like this. People may get hurt. When your fellow residents’ lives are on the line, prank fire alarms do not seem too funny.
Rory Callais, Freshman — Mass Communication
Why on earth would anyone criticize a person utilizing his right to speak freely in the United States? One of the main reasons our forefathers fought and died to create our great nation was so individuals in America could express what they think without being punished for it. The preacher in Free Speech Alley does just that.
I am sick to death of hearing people complain about the preacher who has been madly yelling in Free Speech Alley for the past week. He has the right to be there, just like each one of us has the right to turn a deaf ear and walk away if we want to. Or, we could stop and listen to what he has to say and consider our ways. Better yet, why doesn’t someone just step up to him and yell back if he or she disagrees?
If this man wants to tell the whole campus we’re all going to hell, he can do just that. It’s all a matter of opinion, and that’s his personal belief. He has every right to yell it to all the world. What about all the promiscuity among college students in Baton Rouge? Don’t you think sometimes it does go a little too far? Speak your piece.
This man may be aggravating to some people, but he has a message that he has every right to convey. I think more people should use their right to speak out in Free Speech Alley, or anywhere for that matter. We all have thoughts, ideas, beliefs, schemes and dreams that shouldn’t be kept inside any longer. I encourage you today to go let it out.
Michelle Masson
Sophomore — Mass Communication