Friday, Dec. 10, 2004
www.theloquitur.com
PERSPECTIVES | 11
CAP Board sounds off Questioning ‘Loquitur’ bias To the campus community,
It has come to our attention in recent issues of “The Loquitur” that some students do not feel as though CAP Board has put the effort in to programming a successful semester. The staff writers of the paper here at Cabrini have been more then zealous in pointing this out to us. However, CAP Board begs to differ. We would like to raise several questions that should demand immediate attention not only from “The Loquitur” but the entire campus community. We would like to first thank Angelina Wagner and Alyssa Schoenleber who took time out of their very busy schedules to meet with the Executive Board of CAP. We know that through this meeting we have made great strides in building an incredible student dynamic between two extremely hardworking groups of students, the Executive Board wished to compliment these two editors for their professional edacity and class they exhibited, “The Loquitur” should be proud to have them on staff. From this meeting we have learned that the editors of the paper are intelligent hardworking individuals and the first question we pose to Cabrini students would be why we aren’t holding the staff writers to a higher standard that would deserve our time and energy in reading their stories. When assigned a story, CAP Board has been assured that writers are given our contact information for their stories. Why is it then that some writers still feel the need to quote our advisor? Amy is a
hardworking administrator who advises CAP Board diligently; but try and quote one of the members of the Board. Amy will tell you any day; the students are truly the deserving members of our organization. Our expectation of you as a journalist is to make our members feel comfortable knowing that exactly what they said is exactly what is quoted. We enjoy compliments from our peers and our backbones can sustain even the toughest criticism, however we ask for professional courtesy when criticizing our organization and what we do. We also ask that you please remember that we are your fellow classmates and although we are members of CAP to gain valuable, fun and unique experiences we are ultimately here to serve you. It is, and always has been, our goal to entertain our student body. For any student who has questioned CAP events or decision making ability in either a story they wrote, a story in which you were quoted, or a story in which you read we cordially invite you to join us at any CAP Board meeting. It is here you may question the events we plan, and work as a member of our organization to do what’s best for Cabrini College. It is our belief that we have allocated a budget in the most effective and efficient way possible to program events on this campus. It is this fact that makes CAP Board question why we are the only organization scrutinized for how much they spend on events and how many they should bring. The paper was quick to inform the public of the SGA budget allocations to all the organizations back in October, yet no one, not a member of “The
Loquitur,” a member of any such organization or a concerned portion of the student body has questioned any other groups spending practices as they do CAP Board’s. We have continued to fight relentlessly to make this campus a better place for all of our fellow classmates. Imagine the degree of difficulty that comes with planning Spring Fling, now imagine being up against administrators already battling the alcohol abuse of the weekend, holding issues of “The Loquitur” in their hands which cite examples of students wanting to “Make every weekend a ‘Spring Fling Weekend.’” This is the truest example that we work for you, day in and day out we strive to better ourselves so that we may better your college experience. So, to any naysayer or critic out there we now challenge you to step up to the plate, because come spring, believe us, you will see that we already have. To all the incredible members of CAP, we thank you for all your hard work. Finally, to our greatest supporters, who love what we do and never miss an event, hold on to your seats, you haven’t seen anything yet. One last note, please feel free to contact CAP Board or any of the Executive Board. All contact information can be found on our newly designed website found under the Student Organization link on the Cabrini College homepage, just click on the Campus Activities and Programming Board link. Thank you, The Executive Board Campus Activities and Programming Board
In the first editorial of the school year, Sept. 9, Shawn Rice wrote: “The new staff of ‘The Loquitur’ will run a newspaper whose goal is to report the truth, whether favorable or not, to the Cabrini community.” Well, I do believe you, and I mean that. I believe “The Loquitur” has improved greatly over the four years I have attended Cabrini. It is due to the dedication the writers and editors put into the paper, staying up until all hours of the morning, just so we can read things to criticize. However, with regards to bias: we all know media isn’t bias for the things they publish, only bias for the things they don’t. Week after week, I flip through “The Loquitur” to find countless articles about John Kerry, and his ability to lead this country, without ever holding a seat in the Oval Office. Article after article rolled in, praising his numerous advantages over George W. Bush. Well, that’s great I think, considering most articles gave facts as well as reasons why you think so, which I respect greatly. However, I am truly puzzled; maybe you can help me out. “Especially, in a year that will see a presidential election, it is the role of the news media to represent the truth not party affiliation,” Rice said, in the first editorial of the year. Well, aren’t you news media too? Come on, say yes. I could only bite my lip and smirk when I opened “The Loquitur” the following week
after the election, reading zero articles about its outcome. Yes, zero articles. Oh yea, there was one paragraph in your ‘News Briefs’ section about Bush, but one paragraph in the paper is far less than any vote-preaching paper should have in there (in my opinion). Surely my opinion means something, whether we agree or not. I have learned to express my views in the most respectful way possible. But, let’s just say I’m wrong. I am out of line for being concerned about such a lopsided, selective view. You guys and gals preached how important voting was to democracy, and I am preaching the importance of fairness and responsibility. I must be ridiculous and just a close minded conservative, for ever thinking you should have ran at least one real article about the biggest news of 2004. You did however find room in the paper, an entire page, for informing the campus on the impact and fine art of video games. Good thinking. America starts with you. Take care Loquitur, Will Harmon
Sophomore year: moving forward New year makes for new opportunites KATIE MCNULTY STAFF WRITER KMM725@CABRINI.EDU
Entering college as a freshman, there is an overall feeling of excitement. You are eager to meet new people and start fresh. You can’t wait to experience your first college party and drink on a Thursday night. No longer do you have to listen to your parents tell you to be in at a certain time or to do your homework. You make all the decisions. If you decide to make the wrong decisions then that is ok, as long as you deal with the consequences. Returning to Cabrini as a sophomore, I had a different outlook on what the year would be like. I figured that sophomore year in college was probably going to be like sophomore year in high school. It is almost as if the sophomores seem to disap-
pear. You can always pick out the freshman and upperclassmen, but the sophomores just float around in the mix. It’s like no one cares about you anymore. Your parents don’t even get all excited about you going back to school. They do not buy you new things for the year. They basically just send you off. The thought of new freshman girls coming in all dressed up, in their short Abercrombie skirts trying to impress the upperclassmen just irks you even though you did it too. The attention no longer belonged to you. You are old news. Thinking about the start of sophomore year, I was a little apprehensive to say the least. I knew things would be a lot different. For one, I would be living with new roommates this year in a different building. I was so comfortable living in Xavier with my old roomie. We had become so close and she became one of
my best friends at Cabrini. Would living with different people affect our friendship? Would she become so close to her new roommates that she would forget all about me? Would everyone that I hung out with last year continue to be friends? Would I have so much work to do that I would not be able to go out on Thursday night? These were some of my concerns as I drove up to Cabrini on move in day. Passing by Xavier, I began to reminisce about the crazy times me and my friends spent outside of the building just hanging out. I remembered the numerous fire drills that we had around four in the morning and everyone pouring out of the building half dressed, either laughing because they were drunk or angry because they were sound sleep. All of these memories brought a smile to my face. However, it was time to move on. Freshman year was in the past
and I would just have to realize that nothing could ever beat it. Sophomore year was here at it was time to just let it happen. Two months into sophomore year, and I am realizing that I was completely wrong about my expectations for this year. I love living in New Res and everything is working out with the new roommates. My old roommate and I remain close friends, and no she did not forget about me. Our group of friends has expanded this year and I know that these will be my friends forever. The work load is definitely heavier this semester, but I have become more responsible and more passionate about my work. I have become involved with the College Republicans and discovered my new love for politics. I have been told by numerous people that I have definitely changed since last year and in a positive way. I have discovered a new hap-
piness within myself and that is more rewarding than partying on a Thursday night. It is certainly not being the center of the social circle that makes you happy or some cute guy on the soccer team. It’s success that makes you happy and knowing who you are and what you want to be. It’s your friends who are always there for you and care for you no matter what. Sophomore year, so far has definitely given me more than freshman year ever could have. Yes, freshman year was a blast and you will always have those memories, but when it comes time for the end don’t feel so glum. There is so much to experience and I know there is more to come. So I would say to the current freshman, as your sophomore year approaches, don’t think that there is nothing to look forward to. You will learn so much about yourself and it could be the best year of your college career.