T H E D A I LY TA R G U M
OPINIONS
PA G E 1 0
MARCH 31, 2010
EDITORIALS
Alma mater must remain unchanged
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here are many aspects of society that warrant change in order to remain fair and balanced toward all sexes and races, but then there are those that should just be left alone. In the case of our alma mater, “On the Banks of the Old Raritan,” a change would serve to destroy University ideals and traditions while helping only a part of students feel better about themselves. “My father sent me to old Rutgers/And resolv’d that I should be a man,” are the lines that begin our more than a century old song. Members of the Douglass Governing Council along with others have recently attempted to change the words to accommodate men and women of the University instead of the standalone “man.” A change to our song would, instead of being a fair treatment of both sexes, be a loss of tradition that goes back to 1873 when Howard N. Fuller composed the piece. The argument that with modernization, a certain change is required therefore is hardly logical. While women perhaps need more equality at the workplace, such as fair salary and treatment, the notion of incorporating both sexes into the song would not help them in finding parity in the modern world. What would the next step be? If women are one fraction of students that has currently been riled up about changing a tradition, what happens to others who believe that “I should be a man or woman” is not enough? The problem stretches far beyond the equality of women within University borders — it reaches the question of fairness across the board, including transgender students. Ultimately though, complete satisfaction on all parts is not plausible. Changing one word could lead to changing the entire song. Claims have been made that even the part, “My father sent me to Old Rutgers,” does not address modern, non-traditional families that send students to the University. We simply cannot satisfy every group. With regard to the Douglass Governing Council, there still is a certain separation between it and the rest of the University. The sign still stands in front of College Hall on Douglass campus and Douglass College, despite ending its tenure, continues to reserve housing for only its students. Even if they acted as part of the University, however, the notion of changing the alma mater still seems unreasonable. We, as a University, have retained very little tradition. The graduation walk between the gates at Old Queens has been replaced by a much less appealing graduation at Rutgers Stadium and the School of Arts and Sciences has taken the place of the, perhaps only nostalgic, Rutgers College. If we hope to retain a gram of tradition while perhaps disappointing a few students, we must be resilient to change to “the Old Raritan.”
Catholic Church abuse not just ‘petty gossip’
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he sex abuse scandals that have enveloped the Catholic Church as of late leave very little for the public to defend the clergymen and rightfully so. With the travesties occurring in Ireland and Germany especially, the Vatican has done little to address the serious, legal accusations facing its subsidiaries and therefore has been attacked even more than usual. One of the Catholic Church’s failures surfaced back in the 1990s with the Vatican’s failure to defrock an American priest who was accused of molesting 200 deaf boys in Wisconsin. The scandals go as far as 1980 and keep in close proximity with Pope Benedict XVI when he, as a German archdiocese of Munich and Freising, allowed proven child molesters to return to old priesthood positions. Rather than taking legal actions then, the Church decided to pursue its own agenda and escape almost unscathed. Today’s scandals touch on this idea of Church-guided legal system. While more than 100 people have come out in Germany, saying that Catholic officials had put them through sexual abuse, the repercussions go as far as the Church itself, rather than any deeper, legal solutions. That is what we believe is the main problem. The Catholic Church, as one of the world’s major religions, must choose to reform itself — something that is hardly plausible. Its resilience to reform puts the Catholic Church at fault as it resists any legal repercussions. And as a main figure in many lives, the Church has a duty to remain an upstanding part of society rather than an uncontrollable giant. It is in the public eye, therefore it should exhibit its projected ideals — one thing that has been a problem in the Catholic Church. It could be compared to a political figure, and just as President Barack Obama has come under criticism for his health care reform, justly or not, he must possess the ability to prove his opponents wrong or reform his ways. The Catholic Church has always had enemies, but up until today, cases were widely unreported and even unaddressed by the Church itself. Now with the massive numbers of people speaking up, justice may actually be served, as long as the Catholic Church reforms itself or heavier legal actions are taken. Up until then, however, the singling out of the Catholic Church amongst others is deserved, because as long as the Vatican fails to control its powerful machine, blame should be thrown in its direction.
QUOTE OF THE DAY “The University caters to a lot of different minority groups and LGBT people need more support from the University.” Krista Pecoraro, BiGLARU president, on the new Center for Social Justice STORY ON FRONT
MCT CAMPUS
Liberal bias among students justified
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n an attempt to undercut liberals argue that it is absurd a columnist for The Daily to interpret the constitution Targum in his crusade to today as those did in the 18th become “Liberal of the century, i.e., when property Month,” I have decided to included slaves and women forego making fun of tea party could not vote. To think as a activists or individuals trashliberal necessarily takes more ing the health care bill without open-mindedness, attention to ERIC KNECHT actually understanding it and nuance and the confidence cut right to the chase: I would necessary to accept change like to argue that it makes very little sense to be a conand uncertainty. In other words, many of the values that servative while in college, especially right now. Before I help you excel in college. But, since these are argucontinue, I want to be absolutely clear. I am not saying ments as to why colleges have always been highly corthat conservatives as a whole do not make any sense; if related with liberal thought, then why are students paryou would like to see why this very different but equalticularly justified in being liberal today? ly valid assertion is true, simply read any column writIn terms of values, the conservatism of the past few ten by Tuesday’s columnist, the latest example being decades has increasingly taken up views fundamental“Opinions require serious takes.” Rather, I am arguing ly at odds with the younger generation. For example, that all things considered, the average college student despite the overwhelming scientific evidence, many has no reason to be politically conservative. conservatives continue to deny climate change. Of course, in the status quo the liberal bias in highConservatives also tend to line up against same-sex er education is largely recognized and has been a point marriage. On college campuses, many with a large of concern among conservatives for decades. A study numbers of gays, this belief seems crude, inherently from 2005 shows that roughly 70 perunfair and increasingly anachronistic. cent of college professors in the United Both of these views tend to support the States describe themselves as liberal. notion that conservative values would “... it makes very Unfortunately for those on the right, seem outdated to a younger audience. little sense to be studies also show that individuals with Beyond this, consider the leaderhigher IQs are, on average, more likely ship our generation has come of age a conservative to consider themselves liberal. And yes, under. Namely, the debacle that was while in college ...” the former President George W. Bush this higher IQ among liberals comes in spite of factoring in political science administration was the first time majors, a truly extraordinary feat. many of us were cognizant of governIt is difficult, perhaps impossible, to say whether ment and politics. Before we could even vote, we higher IQs among liberals are due to intelligent people learned what happens when the country chooses the having a stronger proclivity for liberal ideas — as I would candidate they would rather have a beer with than a like to believe — or the product of higher education turndebate with (see 2000 presidential election). In short, ing out individuals who tend to think a certain way. But our generation was introduced to conservative valone thing is clear: In the context of our generation more ues with an example of how not to run the country. specifically, it makes perfect sense why college students Here is the unnecessarily lofty conclusion: should gravitate to liberalism as opposed to conserCollege, at its most basic level, is a time to educate vatism. I would go as far as saying that today it is almost ourselves in a general sense. It is the best opportuniirrational to be a conservative college student. Obviously ty to figure out what we wish to pursue and who we anyone can reason that conservative values, whether wish to become. It is perhaps the only time we can regarding lower taxes, less government or more religion continue to question our beliefs before we are presresonate less with 18 to 22-year-olds. But let’s move sured into solidifying them at the expense of being beyond these basic assumptions. In other words, even if called hypocritical if we do not. Because of this, there you are someone who appreciates these values, there is is a natural tension between the type of conservatism every reason to be turned off by the dominant conserthat has been dominant as of late and the very nature vatism of today, especially while in college. of the college student. That is, we are taught to be First, let’s make some brash generalizations about inquisitive, open-minded and logical but are exposed the way conservatives arrive at their views. On balance, to conservative thought by individuals who do not conservative values tend to be geared towards black exhibit any of these qualities, giving us no reason to and white distinctions. Government spending is bad buy into it. It may have once been true that if you are and leads to inefficiency. Free markets are good and under 25 and conservative you have no heart and should always be trusted. In law, conservatives tend to over 35 and liberal you have no brain, but today’s condraw bright lines, or at least try to, in interpreting the servatism asks that you surrender both. U.S. Constitution. It does not change, they say. It cannot simply mean what we want it to today. But liberals tend Eric Knecht is a Rutgers College senior majoring to view the world in a more dynamic light. Moreover, in economics and history.
Unfair and Unbalanced
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