You ever come across something in life that, as the illustrious Peter Griffin would say, “really grinds your gears?” Like George Dubya or using “heart” as a legitimate verb? I get that feeling when I watch the indignant and self-righteous outrage that springs up periodically at Wesleyan when I read Wespeaks filled with shock about the University’s policy towards chalking. So many students direct their anger at the University’s policies when it should in fact be directed towards fellow students. As a much heralded Wesleyan tradition, it would be logical to assume that chalking maintained a presence on campus for a good many years (while I didn’t go to “the best private school in Baltimore”, Ben Cohen, I can at least deduce that much with my paltry and insufficient Southern public school education, and I really appreciated your obviously on-point critique of Doug Bennet’s capabilities as president, what with your 2-3 months of residing at Wesleyan- good job). Therefore, it would seem reasonable to expect that chalking at some point in time took a negative turn and became not so much a form of freedom of expression and intelligent debate so much as it became an anonymous venue to write hurtful messages and promote an atmosphere of hate on campus for some. When Wesleyan students failed to maintain at least some measure of responsibility and foresight in chalking their messages, we failed the tradition of open dialogue via chalking. It’s always a shame when a few bad apples ruin a good thing for everybody else.
P.S. Collin McMichael, because I like you and you’re a good person, I won’t even touch the debate about the Butterfield tunnels. I’m a big fan of painting butt tunnels white. Oh, snap!
Kudos to Ashley Casale and Norah Emara for their Wespeaks in response to Jose Chapa. They were a true testament to what coherent thoughts and legitimate arguments can do for a usually abysmal collection of Wespeaks (perhaps mine included). And maybe I’m alone on this one, but does anybody else get tired of people during class that when they raise their hands preface every statement with “Well, I was just gonna say…”? You know what? You weren’t just GONNA say. Maybe you’re not really aware of it, but you are in fact SAYING. Therefore, get on with your intended statement. Thanks.
And last, but certainly not least, friends at the Argus, your profile on Cardinal Athletes of the Week? Remember that? Your women’s tennis profile on Tori, class of ’07? The last name is SANTORO. Not SANTURO. Get it right. You’ll see that name at Wimbledon one day.
I am done.
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