For some reason I feel frustrated towards this semester’s current line-up of Argus columnists, aside from the dynamic duo Stephen and Sussman. This past month I have read columns about Res Life’s interior decoration and contra dancing. I am sorry, but this is not what I am interested in hearing about from an Argus columnist. Whatever happened to political commentary, pop-culture critique or serious discussion of serious on-campus issues? Not fucking contra dancing, for Christ’s sakes.
Most of the columns I have read so far strain to amuse and entertain me, or drop jazzy celebrity or Wesleyan references. Disturbingly, I also detect that same old tiresome trend of ironic, self-deprecating comments. It is although the authors want to use their precious Argus space to be “hip” and poke fun at themselves, in place of writing sincerely passionate, analytical and daring polemic. I don’t think the new Argus columnists should feel the need to be “funny” and “quirky.” Stephen Aubrey already does it better than you anyway.
Funny and quirky columns are fine, but I have read too much funny and quirky and not enough bitchy and angry. I can’t say how many Wesleyan students actually read the Argus, let alone the Argus columns, but is it that silly to say that the columnists have a responsibility to piss us off rather than bore us? In general, I think students will read a column if the columnist writes passionately and articulately and has a real opinion, a unique voice, and a unique angel on an issue of substance.
In the future I hope the new Argus columnists become more comfortable with the format, and realize their responsibility isn’t to entertain us, but to be an important critical voice on campus. Thus they will begin to choose their column topics accordingly. The columns I read before were sweet and everything. They just didn’t feel very important.
On a final note, what is with the new, huge print in the Argus opinion columns? I can only think of a few explanations: 1) the Argus staff thinks large print will attract more readers. This is so intellectually patronizing I can only bury my head in shame. 2.) The columnists write their articles at the last minute and cannot meet the word limit, thus the Argus layout staff has to “puff it out” a little. If this is the case, it is outrageous. Columnists, please, take your column seriously and so will we.
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