2008 Woodie Awards
College students prioritize alcohol over global issues
Patrick Negri
Issue date: 12/7/06 Section: Opinion
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In most papers, a student must cite their sources and give credit to the people who gave them the ideas presented in the essay. Most of the time, this consists of a simple work cited page or bibliography of sources included with the final draft of the essay. Some students complain about this idea saying that they feel that their opinions do not matter. Some say, if every time you make a claim, you have to cite someone else, how do new ideas come about. The problem with this argument is that, in general, students can not back up their claim. Most students are not concerned with serious issues in society. How can we expect to be respected if many members of our generation simply just do not care about real issues? This carefree attitude can be seen through neglect of global news, choice of entertainment favorites and everyday actions.
For the most part, a student's life is very simple. They go to their classes, do their homework, sometimes hold jobs, and for the rest of the time, they can pretty much choose what they would like to do. It would be very rare to find a student who takes even some of that extra time reading up on politics and world issues. Many of them are devising plans on how to obtain alcohol this upcoming weekend, or who is going out with whom, or talking about what is in and what is out for the winter season. It is not as if the information is unavailable to them, it is just that they simply do not care. News stations are one click away from MTV on the television and at the rate that some students can type it is not even a hop, skip, and a jump to view CNN.com. Modern technology is so advanced and all this information is right at our fingertips, but for some reason we are not taking advantage of it. Too many conversations among adolescents start with "Yo Bro, what are you doin' this weekend."
I have been going to college for about two and a half months now and I have learned that it is not all that it is hyped up to be. Many high school students fear that they will work all the time and always act serious. This is one of the furthest ideas about college from the truth that I have ever heard. It seems like college is a party city 24/7. I have found about two people on campus who I know will talk about topics such as corrupted American values, and the problems in Africa for enjoyment and to broaden their horizons. It scares me that I feel that the only way that I could get an opinion about the war in Iraq is when a teacher asks about it. Then when they finally do say something there is nothing behind their claims. If they do not even want to talk about global issues they are not going to spend the time to research these issues.
For the most part, a student's life is very simple. They go to their classes, do their homework, sometimes hold jobs, and for the rest of the time, they can pretty much choose what they would like to do. It would be very rare to find a student who takes even some of that extra time reading up on politics and world issues. Many of them are devising plans on how to obtain alcohol this upcoming weekend, or who is going out with whom, or talking about what is in and what is out for the winter season. It is not as if the information is unavailable to them, it is just that they simply do not care. News stations are one click away from MTV on the television and at the rate that some students can type it is not even a hop, skip, and a jump to view CNN.com. Modern technology is so advanced and all this information is right at our fingertips, but for some reason we are not taking advantage of it. Too many conversations among adolescents start with "Yo Bro, what are you doin' this weekend."
I have been going to college for about two and a half months now and I have learned that it is not all that it is hyped up to be. Many high school students fear that they will work all the time and always act serious. This is one of the furthest ideas about college from the truth that I have ever heard. It seems like college is a party city 24/7. I have found about two people on campus who I know will talk about topics such as corrupted American values, and the problems in Africa for enjoyment and to broaden their horizons. It scares me that I feel that the only way that I could get an opinion about the war in Iraq is when a teacher asks about it. Then when they finally do say something there is nothing behind their claims. If they do not even want to talk about global issues they are not going to spend the time to research these issues.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Rachel Lynne
posted 12/13/06 @ 3:49 PM EST
Yeah, a cure for HIV isn't going to happen any time soon. Anybody who knows something about the HIV virus knows that there's a reason there isn't a cure, and it isn't apathy or some massive conspiracy to keep people dependent on expensive anti-retroviral medication. (Continued…)
Chris Black
posted 12/13/06 @ 10:24 PM EST
That is a thoughtful article, and should challenge some Marist students to ask themselves, "What am I doing here?", or more importantly, "What will I be when I leave here?"
Good luck in your search for answers - the questions are pretty good. (Continued…)
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