2008 Woodie Awards
Letter to the Editor
Issue date: 2/1/08 Section: Opinions & Editorials
I begin with a disclaimer: Humorless readers should proceed with caution, for this brief composition will feature both petty personal comments and snide remarks. Those looking to broaden their perspectives should stop reading immediately and take cover at a convocation.
I am not being paid to defend The Lawrentian. In fact, I'm not sure that any amount of money could persuade me to defend such a shoddy and backwards publication. I have no doubt that, were we living in 18th-century London, The Lawrentian would be written by greasy little men in the attics of Grub Street (a little inside joke for the English majors) and scorned by the likes of Swift and Johnson.
However, the staff of The Lawrentian works hard to fill the newspaper with a wide range of material meant to appease a lot of people: students, staff, alumni, community members, and stalker parents.
Reading a certain letter to the editor in last week's issue had me on the verge of tears, and not just because its composers used the word "remonstrances." To think that certain individuals cannot find laughter in the inane comments of some poor girl named Kayla, or the obscene amount of time and energy wasted on an in-depth analysis of Ugg boots, is disheartening.
Campus has never been in such dire need of cheer, considering the threat of meth labs, the imminent closure of Lucinda's, and the aftermath of trivia weekend. Unfortunately, some people are wound up tighter than J.B. Sivanich's pants. How is that for a remonstrance?
So, if you find it difficult to laugh at what is intended to be funny, I encourage you to laugh at the people who intended it to be funny, but who were so sorely mistaken. Or, laugh at the dubious quality of the Photo Poll, where images look like pictures of cell phone pictures. Laugh at headlines like "Swimmers enjoy a LUSTy season," headlines that are so terrible, they could be found in Fox Valley Technical College's newspaper.
If you can't find humor in the tasteless fodder, or the unintentional blunders, get back to your studies -- you can read a prosaic snooze-fest when you get to grad school.
Alex Bunke
Class of 2009
I am not being paid to defend The Lawrentian. In fact, I'm not sure that any amount of money could persuade me to defend such a shoddy and backwards publication. I have no doubt that, were we living in 18th-century London, The Lawrentian would be written by greasy little men in the attics of Grub Street (a little inside joke for the English majors) and scorned by the likes of Swift and Johnson.
However, the staff of The Lawrentian works hard to fill the newspaper with a wide range of material meant to appease a lot of people: students, staff, alumni, community members, and stalker parents.
Reading a certain letter to the editor in last week's issue had me on the verge of tears, and not just because its composers used the word "remonstrances." To think that certain individuals cannot find laughter in the inane comments of some poor girl named Kayla, or the obscene amount of time and energy wasted on an in-depth analysis of Ugg boots, is disheartening.
Campus has never been in such dire need of cheer, considering the threat of meth labs, the imminent closure of Lucinda's, and the aftermath of trivia weekend. Unfortunately, some people are wound up tighter than J.B. Sivanich's pants. How is that for a remonstrance?
So, if you find it difficult to laugh at what is intended to be funny, I encourage you to laugh at the people who intended it to be funny, but who were so sorely mistaken. Or, laugh at the dubious quality of the Photo Poll, where images look like pictures of cell phone pictures. Laugh at headlines like "Swimmers enjoy a LUSTy season," headlines that are so terrible, they could be found in Fox Valley Technical College's newspaper.
If you can't find humor in the tasteless fodder, or the unintentional blunders, get back to your studies -- you can read a prosaic snooze-fest when you get to grad school.
Alex Bunke
Class of 2009
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