Category: Opinion

By Eric Soble

Opinions Editor

A picture is worth a thousand words, so a 30-second campaign ad should be worth at least 500. In the limited space The Bucknellian supplies me, I hope to take Christine O’Donnell’s infamous television advertisement and translate it into something educated Americans can understand.

O’Donnell begins with the pronouncement, “I am not a witch.” This opening is in response to a statement O’Donnell made on “Politically Incorrect” with Bill Maher. In this clip, O’Donnell explains that she “dabbled in witchcraft” when she was younger, culminating in a date on a “satanic altar.” It is odd that she would begin an ad in this way, suggesting that the ultimate thing on her mind is the restoration of her own reputation.

She then asserts, “I’m nothing you’ve heard.” This assumes two things: that I’ve previously been informed about O’Donnell, and that my informer was indubitably wrong. This clears up a lot of problems I had with O’Donnell. She must then: believe in the theory of evolution, treat homosexuality as a normal variation of human sexuality, understand the secularism of our constitution and realize the importance of comprehensive sexual education.

… oh, she doesn’t? Nevermind.

Next, O’Donnell puts forward an interesting argument by simply saying, “I’m you.” To the untrained ear, this kind of identity hex would only be possible if her previous denouncement of witchcraft were false. Instead, O’Donnell is alluding to an argument often made by conservatives “outside the beltway”—that she, as a candidate, is exactly like any other hard-working American.

This is the problem: I don’t want myself in public office. In fact, I know I would be terrible at politics. I don’t have the ego to think I could run this country; I can barely finish my 15-page international relations midterm.

Employing this underdog rhetoric has helped many politicians achieve widespread success. Americans tend to vote for candidates they could have a beer with instead of candidates who could be able to navigate complex negotiations in the Middle East. O’Donnell is just the latest of candidates appealing to populism to achieve electoral success.

O’Donnell levels several accusations against the “backroom deals” and “spending” in Washington. These are legitimate claims in our current political system. One cannot understand Washington without looking at nepotism and the vast web of interconnected success that permeates our capital.

It is telling that O’Donnell could only produce cliché, interchangeable themes for being such an outsider. Her advertisement does not put forth any substantial policy changes, nor does it advance any agenda of any kind.

But this doesn’t matter for her listeners, so long as she rallies against big government and taxes. As long as our current civic paradigm continues, tea partiers and conservatives alike have no reason to fight for a cause rather than against one.

One has to wonder how much longer Americans will buy the rhetoric advanced by O’Donnell and people like her. The faster we see the working class image politicians adopt to win elections as it is—a contrived veneer—the better.

By Leah Rogers

Contributing Writer

As Sam Adams would say, “I hate college but love all the parties.” We all know college is full of hard work during the week and, for many, hard partying on the weekends. But is the culture at the University too party-oriented?

The academic workload here at can get very heavy, so it is completely understandable that students want to kick back and relax on the weekends. Every weekend, at least one fraternity is having a party, and it is relatively easy for students to get in. There, students can choose to drink or just dance and have a good time.

Many people may think that fraternities and sororities just have out-of-control parties all the time where the main event is drinking, but this is not entirely true.

“The school is very Greek-dominated, but fraternities host non-alcoholic events too,” Mike Kehrli ’13 said.

His fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon, has events such as tackle football games and golf outings.

“We’re not just a drinking club, there’s a lot more that goes into it,” Kehrli said.

Although many students at the University do choose to get involved in Greek life, there are lots of alternative activities for those who prefer not to. Every week, Activities and Campus Events (ACE) shows a different movie for just $1 for University students. They typically show pretty current movies, such as “Toy Story 3” or “Iron Man 2.” The movies give students a way to relax and spend time with their friends. Students also get together and play popular videogames, like DDR or Rockband.

There are also other clubs on campus, such as C.A.L.V.I.N. & H.O.B.B.E.S., which provides students with free alternative activities on the weekends.

“Last weekend they went rollerblading, they’ve gone bowling and camping,” Rachel Celniker ’14 said.

Clubs like C.A.L.V.I.N. & H.O.B.B.E.S. give students a chance to avoid the party scene and still have fun with their friends.

But there shouldn’t be a huge social barrier between those who choose Greek life and those who do not. Students should be able to be in fraternities or attend parties as well as do other activities.

“I think many people don’t go to things like this [C.A.L.V.I.N. & H.O.B.B.E.S.] because they don’t know they exist or they think they are lame, but they’re really not,” Celniker said.

Students can check out both ends of the spectrum and get the best of both worlds.

Greek life does play a big role in many people’s social lives, but the University offers students a wide range of alternative activities. Students shouldn’t feel like they have to pick one or the other—don’t be afraid to mix it up, you never know who you’ll meet!

By Lizzie Kirshenbaum

Contributing Writer

Gun control is a major issue that has divided liberals and conservatives for years. As the world we live in becomes increasingly threatening, the desire to arm authorities becomes progressively more justifiable. When generations before us say “things were different when I was younger,” the classic example cited is the inability for people today to walk safely in their neighborhood.

But students at the University live in a microcosm of this world. Our campus may be without gates and relatively open to the public, but that is not to say we are unprotected. At any hour of the day, Public Safety cars are patrolling campus. On the weekends in particular, when the night becomes rowdier, the presence of Public Safety and the Lewisburg Police Department becomes even more apparent.

This week in New York City a 24-year-old man, Emmanuel Paulino was shot and killed by the police. Paulino had threatened the police with his knife and the police say they acted in self-defense. Several witnesses later attested to the fact that this man’s knife was barely capable of causing serious harm. Had the police not been armed with guns, perhaps such an extreme reaction could have been avoided.

While New York City police face many serious crimes, which justify their carrying of arms, Public Safety does not. In examining recent Public Safety logs in The Bucknellian, the majority of infringements concern illegal alcohol and drug use, which hardly warrant the use of arms. While one may argue that an intoxicated individual poses a potential threat to the campus community, in most situations the officers of Public Safety have the knowledge and training to deal with these people with minimal physical contact.

The recent homicide at Seton Hall University struck college students over the country with trepidation. Perhaps the key point to this unfortunate incident is that the shooting occurred at an off-campus party. Seton Hall’s Public Safety department was not held accountable for intervening at this party; instead, it was the responsibility of the local police to respond.

The University’s Public Safety department takes preemptive steps to minimize the presence of dangerous weapons on campus. Although one can never be confident that these rules are being followed, students’ criminal records demonstrate negligible physical hostility. Perhaps the better question is not whether or not Public Safety officers should carry guns, but rather what type of weaponry Public Safety officers should be equipped with in case of emergency.

By Maja Ostojic

Contributing Writer

This past Saturday, I attended one of the best information sessions for my future plans of pursuing a career as a doctor. Lately, I have been feeling overwhelmed with the task and the long road that I have chosen for myself, but the session reawakened my motivation and opened my eyes to the actuality of it all.

The session was led by David H. Janda ’80 and his daughter Allison Janda ’10 currently in her first year at the University of Michigan Medical School.

Allison and her father discussed the step-by-step process for applying to a medical school in a very clear and concise manner. They also provided tips for the MCAT preparation process, approximate timeline of meeting application deadlines and suggestions for interview etiquette. I learned that a score of 29 on the MCAT and a grade point average of 3.6 here at theUniversity will pretty much guarantee acceptance into a medical school.

Janda spoke in a very encouraging manner. He shared with us a past experience from one of his first pre-health information sessions.

He had been told to look to his left and then to his right, and that only one of the three people would make it to a medical school. He told us to do the same but he said that all three of us would make it to medical school and succeed, if we simply worked hard.

And I see that he’s right. If we want it enough, and if we are willing to put in the time and effort, doors will open before us.

Those of us who have chosen the path of medicine receive much support, but we also hear many negative comments about whether we are “smart enough” for the medical school and the hospital environment.

Our dreams seem to be questioned quite often, and even though we still push forth and proclaim that this is it, that we’ve wanted to be doctors since we were little, we can’t help but begin questioning ourselves.

Janda remained positive about this topic and told us to never let anyone tell us that we aren’t capable of doing something. We could all see the love and passion he had for being a doctor.

He also applauded all of us in the room for wanting to follow in his footsteps, even in the current economic status of our country. He admitted that the salary just two decades ago was not the same as it is now, but that that isn’t what being a doctor is all about.

So many find out too late that the job means more than the money people receive from it. Choosing to become a doctor means choosing to dedicate ourselves to prolonging and saving lives, to putting others needs ahead of our own, to trusting in medicine and health care and being the ones that so many people put their trust in.

By Chris Giglio

Opinions Edtor

My first year at the University, I received a call from a high school friend informing me that one of our peers had hung himself in his dorm room at the University of Pennsylvania.  Alex was smarter, more social and just an overall better person than I will ever be.  He was also gay.  Growing up in a conservative family, the pressure of hiding who he really was pushed him to the point of suicide.  It makes me sick to think of the little things I could have done to ease the pain he was feeling.  It also makes me sick to think we are currently exposing gay men and women in our military to the same type of pressure.

Since 1992 the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy has barred anyone who “demonstrate(s) a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts” from serving in the military because “it would create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability.” This is one of the most backwards statements I have ever heard.  Cohesion is indeed an essential part of the military, but forcing gay military personnel to hide who they are only isolates them from their comrades and impedes cohesion.

Being a soldier is probably the most stressful line of work anyone can be in.  In times of combat you fear for your life, deal with the stress of being away from your loved ones and the moral qualm between doing what is right and doing what is necessary to survive. It is unjustifiable to add even more stress to the estimated 65,000 gay servicemen and women who must worry every day about being exposed. And as this stress builds up they have nowhere to turn—they cannot talk to their comrades nor can they turn to the psychological services offered by the military.

The University of California Blue Ribbon Commission estimated that over 10 years we have spent $363.8 million discharging gays from the military.  It would be much cheaper to discharge the few soldiers who have a problem with fighting alongside competent gay soldiers. A Gallup Poll shows 79 percent of people within the 18-29 age range (the typical age of soldiers) are in favor of repealing “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.” Continuing this policy only serves to propagate homophobic behavior.

In an article you should strive to present the counter-argument of your position in the best of light.  But I can’t bring myself to support an argument which has killed a friend of mine and which puts thousands of others in a similar position.