College Football Needs a Playoff

Last year, the University of Texas Longhorns football team, after having only lost a single game, was not given the chance to play for college football supremacy in the national championship. The University of Oklahoma Sooners, who had the same record as the Longhorns, and even lost to them head-to-head that year, were instead slated to play in the final game of the year against The University of Florida Gators. This occurred because, in the current system, a computer formula is used to determine who the best two teams are at the end of each collegiate season. A computer decides who has the chance to become champions. This current method, dubbed the Bowl Championship Series, is an extremely unfair system to determine who should be allowed to play in the national championship, as, more often than not, only teams from the BCS conferences are allowed the chance. The NCAA needs to make a revision and undo the monopoly the board of directors of the BCS conferences has on all of the big games, that payout the big money to their respective conferences and schools. A playoff system, like the ones implemented in every other collegiate sport in America, needs to be utilized in college football as well.

There are exceptions to the BCS system as well, as teams such as Boise State in 2007, and Utah last year, were given the opportunity to play in a BCS game, even though it was not the national championship game. Both teams had perfect records going into the BCS games. The Broncos and the Utes both made the most of their postseason trips, as they decisively won their respective games, even though their opponents were billed as “much better teams” that would simply outmatch the two “mid-major” teams: Boise State, and Utah. However, under all the scrutiny and pressure, the Broncos and the Utes won the games, further pushing the envelope in the argument for a playoff system. Both teams were thought to be subpar, because of the conference they are from, the Western Athletic Conference, and the Mountain West Conference, respectively. Regardless, both defeated teams that were considered better because of the their respective conferences, which were both BCS conferences.

That being said, there have been many other examples of teams that have been snubbed of a chance to compete for the national title because they were not picked by the computer system. These teams’ not being able to have a chance to play, however, is not the only issue in the debate. In addition to being able to play on the biggest stage in the world, at the end of the year, the 8 teams chosen to play in the 4 BCS games, including the national championship, are also awarded millions of dollars that go straight to their respective schools and conferences, regardless if they win or lose. In the end, the BCS schools have a stranglehold on all of this money, as teams from the same six conferences make the trip back to the same BCS bowl games year after year, garnishing all of the accolades and money, which leads to better recruiting for each of the schools, better training, and the ability to hire better coaches. With all of these components in place, it is almost inconceivable that a team from a “mid-major”, non-BCS can expect to compete with these schools when the BCS schools simply have more money, more talented recruits, and better coaches.

The boards of directors of each of these conferences have a stranglehold on all of the money and they know it. They continually vote against any thought or motion to implement a playoff system into collegiate American football because they know that it will be more difficult for their teams to receive automatic berths into the biggest and most lucrative of games. Out of the 119 Division 1 schools in college football, only 8 are allowed into these BCS games and given all of the glory each year. If even a 16 bracket playoff system were implemented, it would greatly improve the chances of some very good teams in mid-major conferences to make it to the championship games.

Critics of a playoff system have claimed that if student-athletes were to play 2 or 3 more games each season, their studies would suffer. This theory is flawed, as studies and evidence show that many of these Division 1 “student-athlete,” continually cut class, receive less than satisfactory grades within the current system. In turn, their comments are nullified because of this fact. In conclusion, all of the reasons for a playoff system are there: mid-major teams have continually shown, especially in this past decade, that they can play with “the big boys”, of the BCS conferences, there are no reasons to believe that a couple more games a season will deter any student-athlete from his studies, and most-importantly, the monopoly upon the big games and the big money needs to end. The time to push for a playoff system in college football and permanently do away with the BCS is now!

I recently had a run in with our illustrious campus police for participating in the safe, enjoyable and healthy activity that is rollerblading. I was totally in control and going a moderate speed on one of campus’s well-paved roads. The two underpaid, overenthusiastic young, single men found this an opportunity not only to use their sparsely limited power but almost break my neck in the process. Standing on the sidewalk on which I skated, and holding his arms outstretched like unto Moses before the red sea, this wrecker of recreation force me onto the grass while traveling close to what must have been 40 miles per hour. After talking to me about the dangers of rollerblading on campus, this kind officer said I must leave immediately or else. I saw that he only had a flashlight and a pair of overly tight slacks, but I didn’t want to take my chances. I kindly asked the fine gentlemen if I could rollerblade home, and after a series of awkward looks, some cop grunts, and a couple of full body scans they agreed.
I tell you that tale not to rag on our esteemed campus police, but to bring to your knowledge a pressing concern for rollerbladers everywhere. I started this hobby a little more than a year ago. Although I started out shaky I quickly learned how to avoid people and weave in and out of traffic without so much as a scratch. I was excited to come to BYU and try them out on the neatly paved roads and stretches of sidewalks. Now I understand the concern when the campus is packed with stressed students sprinting off to their next class but when it is late and there is not so much as an ant on the pavement, I do not see the harm.
The other day I saw a guy on a bike almost cream an innocent young freshman female with his three ton mountain bike traveling at mock 5. I do not know about you, but I would rather see someone spin out of control and fall into a bush on rollerblades because of me than be flattened by Skippy on his tricycle. It just would be more comfortable not to be stuck in the spokes of a high speed vehicle.
Did you know that roughly 80% of America is now obese? Banning rollerblading on campus is adding to that frightening number everyday. Now granted that rollerblading represents roughly one fourth of one percent but I think that making rollerblading legal would get more people involved and lower the number, because lets face it everyone has an innate desire to rollerblade. Allowing rollerblading on campus would not only be safe, but it would be a fun and healthy way for people like me and you to get to class.

The Ancient Sport
Imagine for a second that you are in the mountains of southern Idaho on a chilly fall morning. You can see your breath as you breathe, and hear everything from the wind to the crunching of the leaves and small stick as you are trying your best to sneak through a patch of trees to get to your special spot before the sun rises. All the sudden you hear the majestic, ear splitting bugle of a bull elk less than twenty yards from where you stand, your heartbeat quickens and you can feel the adrenaline pumping through your viens. This will become one of those amazing stories that you tell around the campfire to friends and family. As a young boy I always waited expectantly for the first week of October because it meant I was able to experience things like this as well as spend time my father in the mountains. I enjoy spending time in the wild, being able to see the changing of the leaves, feel the chill as winter sets in, and getting up extremely early to spend the day with my father. Every year we go hunting for elk and deer together, sometimes my little brother, grandpa, or one of my uncles will tag along. It has been something of a tradition in my family for many generations, but in recent years hunting is being attacked by gun control laws and anti-hunting groups seeking to put a stop to this sport.
I recently had an experience that gave me the motivation to write this paper. Several weeks ago I returned home for Labor Day for a fishing trip that I had planned for a few weeks with my cousin and girlfriend. I spent the day trying but very unsuccessfully to catch a fish, I guess I am just not a patient enough person. Despite our obvious lack of success on this trip we had a great time, which proves that people don’t just go hunting and fishing to kill. There’s more to it than that. But back to my story, the next day I returned back to school and ran into one of my friends on campus. We talked about what we did over the weekend, and when I told her that I went fishing, her reply was- “isn’t that a little redneck?” Now I realize that your perception of hunting is largely affected by the culture of where you live or were raised.
So what is it that possesses so many people each year to leave the comfort of their homes, take work off, and live in the wild during the cold fall months? I would like to believe that it isn’t just because they have a blood lust to kill anything they see. From personal experience I know that hunting isn’t just about killing, there is more to it. I recently read an article by a man named Russ Chastain, who tried to put into words why it is we hunt. He said, “What leaps to mind is a quote from my father. Someone had asked him why he loved to hunt so much; what was so great about being in the woods. His reply was, "If I have to explain it, you wouldn't understand." This really sums up the feeling many of us have.” He goes on to give his own description, “There's just no way to adequately portray the majesty of a forest and the creatures within, when you feel like the only man who's ever stood where you stand. It doesn't matter that you're walking on a well-worn trail, and that you spy spent shotgun shells alongside it from time to time. You feel all alone, at peace, fully alert, ready for anything. I never feel closer to God than I do when I walk in the woods, his most wondrous creations all around me, with the challenge of outwitting them on their own terms in front of me.”
So now we sort of know why people hunt, but does hunting have any useful purposes? Or is it just the sport you see in movies of high powered telescopes mounted to fully automatic weapons used to slaughter animals. Actually there are many benefits to the animals themselves and to us as humans. Hunters do actually have a good impact on the animal herds which they hunt by helping maintain their populations so that they the herds do not over populate causing many to die from a winter with not enough food. Also hunters are involved in maintaining the environment because if they destroy the land then their sport is over. For example, in the year 2001 there was $70 billion dollars spent by hunters and fishers in America, a large portion of this money is then used to maintain the mountains, rivers, trails so that not only hunters, but ecologist, hikers, photographers can continue to enjoy their hobbies and passions. Also I think that $70 billion dollars must help out our countries currently weak economy.
The thing that bothers most people about hunting is that animals are being killed. These same people who so passionately oppose hunting had bacon for breakfast, a hamburger for lunch, and a steak for their dinner. Does any of this seem a little hypocritical to you? Where does this meat come from before you buy it in a little plastic wrapped package at your local grocery store? I personally grew up on a cattle ranch and know first-hand where all the popular American places such as McDonalds and Burgerking get their food from. The fact of the matter is that many hunters are not hunting for sport, they are hunting to put food on the table for their family at home. With the expensive price of beef these days many people find that even though wild game is not as tasty it is economically more suitable to their wallet. So you have to ask yourself if there really is a difference between going to the grocery store to get your meat or hiking five miles in the snow to shoot an elk to feed your family. I don’t think there Is a difference, just that people feel more humane because they do not know where the meat came from, nor do they want to know.
The title of this article is The Ancient Sport, and hunting is just that. Since the beginning of time mankind has been hunting, whether it be for food, protection, or survival, it is in our nature. Its about competition, which I know our country is very competitive. Do you know that on average a hunter, after spending possibly hours sneaking around, or waiting for a deer, will only have 7 seconds to try and get a shot off. So its not what you would call a walk in the park. So why not do a sport that everyone in the family can be involved in, imagine how much better off this country would be if more fathers were like mine and took time off from work to be with his family.
I have spent the last two years in a country that knows nothing about hunting, the citizens aren’t even allowed to own guns. I can tell you exactly where you will find me come October, I will be out there in the mountains with my dad and little brother enjoying every minute that I have away from the hustle and bustle of college life. I already know I will enjoy the peace of the mountains and challenge of

The Honor Code

The Honor Code


Although many view Honor Code restrictions such as overnight camping trips with the opposite gender as wholesome activities, the Honor Code Office has deemed this and other seemingly innocent activities inappropriate for BYU students. I recently read an article from an author who viewed these new additions as “micromanagement” and wondered what happened to the famous quote by Joseph Smith: “I teach them correct principles and let them govern themselves.” So why, then, do we have all these rules? What does BYU possibly have to gain by imposing so many inconsequential rules onto its students? Contrary to popular belief, the point of the Honor Code is not to aggravate already stressed students, nor is it to further establish its dominating presence over all who are obliged to obey. Rather, the object of the Honor Code (and any rule and Commandment for that matter) is to protect, to teach, and to discipline, so that students can more wisely make good decisions for themselves in the years to come.

First, let’s take the recent addition of the rule “no overnight camping trips with the opposite sex” to the Honor Code as our example. There are many who feel that this new rule is particularly imperious and unnecessary, and is therefore not worth keeping. It is highly unlikely, however, that our BYU leaders sit around large tables in dark basements, devising newer and more superfluous rules they can impose on us while drinking pickle juice and arguing over whose family line is more directly linked to Hitler. Assuming our leaders do not hold such conferences, surely this new rule must serve some constructive purpose aimed at benefiting us in some small way? In fact, all of BYU’s rules serve at least one undeniable purpose—to teach us what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior of a BYU student. Whether it be who you can spend a night in the woods with or what not to ingest into your body, BYU students quickly learn what is expected of them and that knowledge is largely instilled by the Honor Code. There are some people who honestly don’t know that it’s dangerous to go camping in the woods overnight, or who don’t understand why they shouldn’t drink alcohol and do drugs. The Honor Code is tailored to those people so they can have structure in their lives and quickly learn the necessary things to help them succeed at BYU.

Also, the Honor Code helps protect innocent people from harm. A lot of students are relieved upon arriving in Provo, believing it to be a “bubble” filled only with good people who only do good things. This is a dangerous and potentially fatal assumption. Although it is true that Provo is saturated with good LDS culture and ideology, it is just as dangerous a place for young people as any other city in America. According to a recent FBI report, Provo’s forcible rape rate is actually higher than the national rate (Whittle, Heather. “Provo Crime Statistics Measure City Against National Average.” Daily Universe. Brigham Young University, Provo. Web. 23 September 2009). I’m not saying that every overnight camping trip invariably leads to rape, but it’s a big issue that many students are unaware of due to their faith in others here at BYU. Because of this false security that many are lulled into, it’s necessary for our leaders to sound a warning to those who might believe spending a night in the woods with a friend (or in a group) is a perfectly safe and innocent activity.

Lastly, BYU is a school known around America for its high standards. Those standards would quickly plummet if there was no Code for which to measure up to; it would be nearly impossible to tell which students were helping to keep the standards of BYU high and which ones weren’t. Concrete rules are necessary to ensure that the principles BYU was founded upon stay firm and don’t fluctuate with personal interpretation. This helps us students know how to keep BYU’s reputation true. Additionally, these firm rules must contractually be agreed to in order for a prospective student to enter BYU. This means that they know the rules, and have already agreed to the consequences in the case they are caught breaking those rules. Just like laws of a country, the Honor Code is a fair way to make sure everyone knows what is expected of them and what the consequences are if you’re found breaking those rules. In effect, the Honor Code is the means by which BYU can impartially and justly discipline its students.

Rules presented in our beloved Honor Code are the tools with which our leaders teach us correct principles so we can govern ourselves responsibly in our post-BYU years. Fortunately, we won’t continue to be subject to an Honor Code Office after graduation, at which point I plan on tossing my Mach 3® and watching to see how long my beard can get. Until then, however, I am proud to uphold the principles that have made BYU such a great university, no matter how silly or impractical they might seem.

What is Beauty?

What is Beauty?

Beauty can easily be found in nature, architecture, art, music, dance, the human body, and the like. However, for our purposes, beauty that manifests itself in the human body will be the only type acknowledged hereafter. Often we hear the phrase, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Yet, so much time, effort, and money is devoted towards making ourselves appear more pleasing to the general public. Women are known to willingly spend an hour each day altering their natural appearance. Both sexes exercise to maintain a desirable body shape for their pleasure and to appear more pleasing to observers. Unimaginable amounts of money are spent to acquire the latest clothing trends or even change a person’s natural skin color through tanning. A relatively new fad has hit the United States: cosmetic surgery. Why does this all occur? Almost everyone wants to be considered beautiful. If this is so, what exactly is beauty? Popular magazines may try to define it, favorite movie stars might have it, and the general public strives to obtain it. There is no ultimate beauty everyone can look to and idolize, contrary to popular belief. Human beauty is a characteristic found in an individual that produces pleasure, meaning, or satisfaction through any of the observer’s senses. Therefore, beauty is dependent on the observer’s culture, society, personal preference, and time period.

When thinking of beauty, a person would most commonly turn his thoughts towards the physical. However, it could be argued that the most important or meaningful beauty is that found on the inside, or the inner beauty. This type of beauty is often associated with positive traits such as a kind disposition, intelligence, an optimistic personality, charm, a high self-esteem, or willingness to do good works. Unfortunately, this type of beauty is often forgotten and to make up for this loss, more time and effort may be spent on the physical aspect. This could result in a greater mental inferiority and/or obsession with the outside appearance. It seems that more and more motivational speakers address the issue of focusing on the inner beauty. As they point out, physical attributes wrinkle and wither, but talents never cease.

The United Sates seems to have an impossible standard of physical attractiveness. In order for men to be considered good-looking, they must have noticeable muscles (but not too much), broad shoulders, a v-shaped torso, pronounced facial features such as a strong jaw, a healthy (or natural) tan, and be taller than most women. For women to be considered beautiful in the U.S. culture, they must have facial symmetry, a youthful appearance (including full lips, clear/smooth skin, healthy hair, good muscle tone, etc), large breasts, a healthy tan, a good body mass index, larger hips and round buttocks, and a shorter height than most males. For the most part, the rest has to do with preference and what the average American might find pleasing to the senses.

Different cultures and societies have their own ideas on what is sought after or considered beautiful. In Asian cultures, it is considered beautiful to be pale and special creams are sometimes used to reach this goal. In fact, my Taiwanese sister-in-law refused to believe that there were such things as tanning booths until she came to the United States for the first time. A unique tribe found by the border of Thailand and Vietnam, known as the Padaung, believes in elongating the neck as a sign of feminine beauty. At age five or six, girls are fitted with special rings that fit around the neck, and with each passing year, a couple of rings are added. In many African cultures, it is desirable to be obese or large in order to attract a mate. Students in Ghana rated heavier bodies more favorably than the skinny. As unpleasant as it may seem to the average American, the French don’t feel the need to bathe on a regular basis. It just isn’t that high on their list of priorities, along with shaving in areas such as the armpits.

The idea of what is beautiful and what is not, is evolving constantly. What once was fashionable is now considered hideous. A corset, a garment worn to mold the torso into a desirable shape, was first introduced in the middle of the 16^th century. It continued to develop through the ages, correlating with the change of the desired shape. In the 16^th, century, the corset was used to emphasize the breasts. It then evolved, during the Victorian age, in order to create an hourglass shape. Later, the S-bend corset was used to push the breasts forward while the hips went back. This gave the illusion of a slimmer waste, but then the corset evolved into a different garment—the girdle. Foot binding was a custom that took place in China from the beginning of the 10^th century to the 20^th. At age six or even earlier, girls would have their feet tightly bandaged. The feet became highly deformed, but retained their small shape. Because of the abnormality of their feet, women were forced to walk with a certain sway which was deemed attractive to males.

Since there have been mates to be won, beauty was sought after in many different ways. During the Mesolithic period (10,000 BC), people would attempt to soften their skin with castor oil and grease. Dye collected from plants, were used to tattoo the skin. Egyptians, such as Cleopatra, used finely crushed carmine beetles to make a deep red pigment for lipstick. Assyrian men and women wore elaborate braids and were very meticulous in personal hygiene and bathing. Ancient Greeks often wore beards which symbolized power and strength, attributes desired by their counterparts. The Romans were the first to introduce shaving and daily washing which later lost popularity in Europe. They also initially believed that blonde hair was a sure sign of prostitution. But when slaves from Scandinavia were brought down, noblewomen began dying their hair lighter shades. Chalky complexions were often desirable, which some women used white lead to obtain. This resulted in skin care products. High foreheads and a lack of eyebrows (that had been shaved off) also became stylish.

The popularity of wigs, especially among males, increased dramatically during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, who was its great advocate. Wigs soon became an art form in France, only dying out after the French Revolution. After the revolution in France and during the Neoclassical period, the idea became fixed that men were meant to be rational and women emotional. Dress began to express this ideology turning male wear into plain, reasonable clothing. On the other hand, female wear became simplistic and light, decorated with frills and ruffles. Through time, brighter and more vibrant colors were sought after accompanied by more lace.

In today’s society, it seems as if men—but especially women—are plagued with their own ideas of what is the “ultimate beauty.” I, myself, skipped high school (more than once) because of insecurities pertaining to my physical appearance and have known others to done the same. Bratz and Barbie dolls are given to little girls who begin idolizing biologically impossible figures. Advertising and modeling is another blow to the mental mind set of the general public. More and more airbrushing and retouching occurs thanks to new-found technology. We are given false impressions that such people exist. Advertising companies don’t care about these false notions; their job is to sell products. What they try to do is sell beauty: “Buy this product if you want to look like this.” It is false advertising and keeps us reaching for the impossible. Do we give up? No.

One out of every one hundred female adolescents is anorexic. Anorexia is when a person has an intense fear of being fat. Therefore, they starve themselves, sometimes to death. Four out of one hundred college-aged women are bulimic. Bulimia is when the person has an episode of binge-eating followed by unhealthy ways of weight control (purging) including vomiting. Being thin for women is looked on favorably by the media and our society. Women go to extremes to reach these standards which are often portrayed in advertisements. Men are also known to go to extremes while becoming more muscular and don’t know when to quit. Most people never feel that they are up to par; it is not in human nature. We work diligently to be considered perfect, but what is that? These disorders exist because of the overwhelming concern for becoming what we believe is “beautiful.”

It is proven that the “ideal” beauty is dependent on people’s opinions that have been molded by their culture, society, preference, and time period. Beauty has evolved and will continue to do so because of the evolution of people’s thoughts or wants. Our posterity will look at our jeans with purposefully placed holes and our orange tan thinking, “Why?” just as we look at our mother’s prom picture and think the same thing. Some qualities will always be sought after, while others fade. However, two things are guaranteed. The first is that human beauty will constantly revolve around anything that gives pleasure or satisfaction to the human senses. The second is the fact that there will always be people that are considered more beautiful than you; it’s impossible to please everyone. The trick is to realize and move on. Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.

A Case for the Classics

Lee Deppermann

Opinion Paper Draft

September 22, 2009

A Case for the Classics

Mark Twain purportedly said that a classic is a book that everyone wants to have read but no one wants to read. Throughout much of modern history a liberal education, which can be defined as an education that focuses on acquiring intellectual skills through strenuous study of history, philosophy, mathematics etc, (with heavy emphasis in the Greek and Roman classics) was considered the foundation for both a good education and a productive life. Not so anymore. Paradoxically, Americans enjoy an unprecedented amount of prosperity while becoming less and less educated with each generation. Formal education, in both the high school and colligate levels are responsible for this shift.

Despite recent media attention surrounding public education, with President Obama’s recent speech as the prime example, no one taking an easy look at America’s education would think that the current system was dangerously lacking. After all, a Lexus in every garage and a headphone in every ear would suggest that although we may be less fluent with the classics, we’re not worse for the wear. A closer look, however, may change our opinion. The complexities that modern societies bring create new social problems that demand creative, intellectual solutions that go beyond the kind of innovation that produces a sleeker iphone. If our modern political, legal, social and moral issues are to be resolved it will be because cultivated minds apply mental prowess to find ultimate solutions. Liberal educations, with strong roots in the classics, have long been recognized as essential to shaping intelligent minds.

A resurgence of classical education is definitely within reach. Many American high schools, primarily public, still operate under the anachronistic model of preparing students to enter the workforce. A litany of research shows conclusively that college enrollment is higher than ever before and still rising. High schools that remain committed to basing their curriculum in vocational classes are seemingly ignoring the fact that the purpose of high school, for most students, is to be prepared intellectually for higher education. A student I met recently remarked that all of his business and ‘career preparation’ classes in high school were little prep for university level business training. In nearly all cases, formulas and strategies are quickly forgotten.

In contrast, a high school education with strong emphasis in liberal education would be much better college preparation, without sacrificing job-training opportunity. Studying Classical literature exposes students to other cultures, problems and ideas. Consider the student who applies himself in a class that studies ancient (or modern for that matter) history. Although he will likely never be in the same position as those he studies, in learning how to weigh evidence and evaluate decision the student will have gained critical reasoning skills not to be gained otherwise. Further, the student that applies himself to mastering literature and languages learns how to discipline himself, fostering the mastering of future material, whether in the classroom or on the job.

A liberal education, in contrast with vocational education, gives every student skills he can take into both college and into the workforce. Is there really a job that does not require you to think analytically? Critical thinking and writing skills are essential today, even considering the high tech environment that dictates many jobs. Perhaps more importantly, these skills are essential for college performance. Whether it is a business, history, engineering or art class, university students will need to be able to reason, think critically and communicate effectively. On the other hand, students who had a vocation job base in high school will need to learn those skills at the same time he or she should be using them most.

Educational experts agree that the high school years are formative. Not only do these years prepare students for the work force and college, they should prepare the student for a lifetime of learning and cultural awareness. Studying classical literature and history exposes students to new ideas and cultures. Vocational classes and curriculum do little to promote lifetime learning.

This transition, or reintroduction, can be subtle. But it must happen. Today’s problems need minds trained to think, and that training best comes from a liberal education, hopefully started in the high school years.

Public Interest Pieces Not in Best Interest of The Daily Universe - by Jessica Croft

The other day, I picked up a copy of our campus newspaper, The Daily Universe. The headline of the feature story, which sprawled across the page, sporting bright colors and bold text, read “The Art of the Independents: Indies find success in the mainstream.” Meanwhile, stories about President Monson's recent devotional address and the Provo city elections were shoved to the outer edges of the page, fighting to be seen in the shadow of the gigantic feature article. I was, to say the least, surprised at the condition of the front page. The article that demanded the most attention was the one that had the least relevance and importance to the majority of BYU students. The public interest piece on independent films was completely stealing the spotlight from political and religious articles. This is not an isolated incident. The Daily Universe often neglects to place priority on articles that have real relevance, and instead uses its front-page space to display public interest pieces. Our campus newspaper needs to rethink its layouts.

Layouts should be logically formulated. The front page should be reserved for information that is most informative and helpful to its readers. Public interest pieces are not what I consider to be informative. They can be entertaining, yes, but they do not tell students anything that they could not learn by simply living their lives as BYU students and residents of Provo. The student body is quite capable of recognizing and perpetuating its own cultural practices. Reading stories about BYU dating habits may be entertaining, since the topic is so familiar, but doing so does not result in much else beyond a chuckle and an understanding nod. Referencing our culture can be important, but it is not productive in the sense that we learn something new. Entertainment has its value, but so does news. Hopefully we all agree that the purpose of a newspaper is to present news.

Because newspapers are meant to present news, the overabundance of public interest pieces on the front page can have detrimental consequences. Think about it logically. If BYU students are occupied with public interest pieces, they are paying less attention to news pieces. We college students have a limited amount of time for reading the newspaper. The pieces that we see first when we pick up a newspaper should be the pieces that matter the most. The news is far too important to college students for it to be hidden underneath stories about cardigan sweaters and skinny jeans (see front page of The Daily Universe, September 22, 2009). We, as college students, are at an important stage of life. We need to be preparing to enter the real world, where the real issues are. We can't afford to stay trapped in the bubble of BYU cultural practices. BYU students will not learn to become aware of world and national issues by reading public interest pieces that are directed at a narrow audience. The Daily Universe cannot draw so much attention to its own campus and still expect students to become responsible consumers of news media. It must instead look outward, and by so doing, encourage its readers to look outward and recognize world issues.

This is not to say that looking inward is necessarily completely detrimental. It can be important to draw some attention to one's own culture. Public interest stories do occupy an important space in journalism, and the journalists that write them contribute to the newspaper just as much as the journalists who write world and national news pieces. However, public interest stories need to be printed where they belong; that is, they need to appear in a public interest or student life section of the newspaper, and not as the main headline on the front page. It is possible that public interest pieces could appear on the front page of a newspaper, but they should never distract from the newsworthy pieces with which it shares the page. The careful organization of a newspaper is essential to its efficacy. The Daily Universe is, in part, an opportunity for student writers to publish their work in a realistic setting. Major newspapers put newsworthy issues as the top priority when creating a newspaper layout because they understand that readers will look to the front page for the most important news. The Daily Universe should also prioritize their news stories so as to produce a noteworthy newspaper for its readers and staff.

While autumn outerwear and independent film festivals could be of interest to some readers of The Daily Universe, it remains a fact that news should come first in a newspaper. Entertainment is a secondary function of a newspaper. The primary function of a newspaper is to inform readers of the news issues occurring in the world, nation, state, and community. It's time for The Daily Universe to do the responsible thing and rethink the way it presents its articles and information.

Arguing in the USA

It seems that  arguments in the US are often more like screaming matching than reasoned debate.  Arguments should make a claim, give evidence, consider opposing views, and work for understanding and consensus.

Melodic Malfunction

Katie Macdonald

Opinion Essay

Melodic Malfunction

Music—it is indefinable by words alone. In the way that some are devoted to a religion or an ideal, I marvel at the mulish temple of melodies (and occasionally alliteration) and will do everything within my power to make others feel the same affection for them that I do. Music is a foundation for the prevalent world. It is a drug ingested via the ears; different kinds of music have different effects, and some kinds are enjoyed more than others. For instance, there are only so many times that listening to a Jonas Brothers’ song is tolerable, and when the play count reaches over seventeen in just two hours, a line must be drawn. But I suppose having floor-mates who relish in the noise that is modern day music makes that line difficult to draw. And with the overwhelming conglomeration of genres such as rap, pop, and techno breeching the top song lists everywhere, the line is nearly non-existent. Indeed, one of the problems with society today is this erosion of the general span of music as we know it, and while some consider this decay “progressive change”, I simply see it as a disservice to one of the bedrocks of our existence.

To be blunt, it is extremely unfortunate that people settle for superficial mediocrity while real artists are ignored. Never before in the history of Western music has popular culture dictated people’s conception, definition and taste of music to such a disproportionate extent. Although there has always been a distinction between music for the masses (“popular music”) and a more sophisticated music for an elite (“art music”), popular music has not been able to fully shove art music to the cultural margins the way it does nowadays, and now that “50 cent” is the new Bach, classical music is dying a slow and silent death in a didactic ghetto. But the demise doesn’t stop at classical music—other forms are suffering as well. For much of the population, however, these forms merely exist as a museum piece; seen only if they happen upon it and are exposed to it in some way outside their intent and control.

Popular music and art music, though, cannot be compared. The individual genres and subsets that span from them are uniquely their own kind of music. The pop view of music says that music is made for entertainment; it does not serve any higher purpose. A piece's worth is measured by how catchy the melody is, how danceable the beat is, how many scantily clad women there are in the music video; et cetera. In some cases, the value of the music might be provided simply by a good performance. The "art" view of music says that music exists for its own sake: it should be appreciated not as entertainment, but as a work of natural beauty. Art musicians seek out some higher aesthetic goal. Often, they are simply exploring the possibilities of what music can be. Writing with unusual amounts of dissonance, or complex time signatures, or unconventional playing techniques, are all examples of this type of exploration.

Most music falls between these two extremes, and while I prefer a great jazzy rendition of a classic hit as opposed to a synthesized rap song, I can’t quite argue that the commercial music of the age lacks some pretense of trying to create art. Also, the musical genres do fall more purposefully under their own stereotypical ambiences; after all, it would be rather difficult to start a mosh pit to Frank Sinatra crooning “Fly Me to the Moon”. It can be said as well that it isn’t necessarily pop, rap, or techno music that is driving other, non-appreciated forms of music into the ground, but more the programming situation in general. For example, jazz today is caught in a vicious cycle in which radio and recordings have programmed a simple-minded music to appeal to a mass market—the lowest common denominator. In so doing, they have cultivated an audience that is prejudiced against and largely incapable of comprehending anything more substantial than that which is regularly programmed for it. Commercial radio won't play jazz because the audience doesn't like it; the audience doesn't like it because it hasn't been exposed to it enough to begin to understand it. Now, replace “jazz” with anything from musicals to contemporary… excluding pop.

This tragedy can’t really be helped, and unfortunately it makes my dreams of the general population breaking into coordinated song and dance even less of a reality. The melodic and harmonic invention, musical variety, structural and formal richness, intricate counterpoint and intellectual and emotional profoundness that the underdogs of the musical world hold will essentially always fall short in the midst of a new itunes hit. Herein lays my frustration: most kids listen to these top hits for superficial features, such as “a nice beat”, a sing-able tune or a lifestyle feeling that is expressed in the music. Listening is perhaps the wrong term here, for most pop music isn’t even actively listened to, it is merely passively consumed. Since pop music is so omnipresent, many people nowadays regard music as nothing but auditory wallpaper: something nice one can relax to and which doesn’t require a lot of attention. This apathy is what causes even more cookie-cutter, dance-beat, electronically-enhanced songs to be written; people don’t want to have to think about the depth artists create in their lyrics, nor the convoluted diameter of a melody. Hence the under-appreciation of song writers whose names should appear in the top lists throughout the world but don’t quite make it.

However, just because I see it as a cataclysm and just because a song isn’t as complex contrapuntally, or doesn't contain as grandiose chord structures as the later romantics doesn't mean that it is base. Music is merely a vehicle for words, ideas to be transmitted. If the writer managed to transmit those words or ideas in the correct emotional context, then it's an art, regardless of whether or not I personally like it. Alas, I will forever have to consolidate pop music and others, because with the Jonas Brothers and Flo Rida coming out with new top singles every month, it’s not something I can really escape from.

Fairytales and Imagination: Pathway to Dreams

Kirby 1

Courtney Kirby

Dr. Danette Paul

English 150

September 22, 2009

Fairytales and Imagination: Pathway to Dreams

Where would the world be today with Fairytales? They’re a part of every person’s childhood. Bedtime is only tolerable with a story and a glass of milk, right? Fairytales have been a rampant part of my ascent from childhood to adulthood. From the already known to the ones I came up with on my own, they’ve helped me get past my struggles and look onward to the happily ever after. I suppose in the end I’m a hopeless romanticist. I believe in happily ever after and the road it takes to get there. Some may fear that I’m lost in a world that will never be. In response to the babycenter Momformation blogspot “Stepping Off: You Can Live the Fairytale” I argue that it’s the one that really has always been there.

Fairytales correspond directly with life. Everything seems well in the beginning. There’s always the air of uncertainty, but it seems like everything is generally okay and always will be. Then an inarguably terrifying change occurs and suddenly happy life becomes miserable chaos. Whether this change is an evil stepmother who is secretly an evil witch, or a move to a new town, it’s all unfamiliar and scary. And then someone comes along to help. This someone could be a prince, but more often is a best friend, sibling, parent, leader, teacher, or pet. Regardless of the age, gender, or species, it’s some being we can rely on to be there when we need them. Our world may be sadly lacking in Fairy Godmothers, but there are plenty of caring people just waiting for someone to ask for their help. There are even some people who, like Fairy Godmothers, seem to randomly pop in just when we need them most and have begun to wonder how truly alone we are. Then the great and terrible foe, from dragons to dirty bedrooms, becomes quite defeat-able and life goes back to the good and content beginning of the cycle.

As a metaphor for life, Fairytales work just fine. But really, how useful are they? Even the ones with the greatest morals are just stories after all. What good are they? It could be argued that they’re detrimental to the mental health of our youth. They are after all complete works of fiction, and let’s be real- happily ever after doesn’t come with a prince charming and a castle. Happily ever after doesn’t even come, according to some. Life is a constant struggle to get by and come out on top. Fairytales detract from reality, causing people to dream uselessly and lose sight of what’s truly important.

But then, what is reality? The fourth edition of American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language defines reality as: “The totality of all things possessing actuality, existence, or essence”. Reality is most often viewed as the harshness of the world. When people talk about coming “back to reality” most often they’re mentioning how they came out of their happiness. There is more to reality than the hard and mundane. Triumphs and joy are also real- they’re just more overlooked. Fairytales are about people who surmount impossible odds and fulfill their dreams. In all “reality” fairytales help to remind us that life can be good. They are the better half of what makes life real.

It is argued that there are no real points in fairytales. Sure, they have noble characters and happy endings- but how does this help you? You have no Fairy Godmother, after all, and you never will. However, you always have someone who cares. Fairytales remind us that we never have to face things alone, and that help comes in every shape and size. Sleeping Beauty had a prince, snow white a handful of dwarves, and Pinocchio Jiminy Cricket. We have family, friends, and God. Fairytales don’t just provide metaphors for the friends we sometimes forget we have, they inspire us to believe in ourselves as well as those around us.

A wise quote by an unknown author goes, “Everything is okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end”. It can be believed that Fairytales lead us to think that the end comes after a few trials and everything is good. It is a clever argument, but is misleading in and of itself. Fairytales end with “Happily Ever After” because the wise writers know that in the end, everything really will be okay. The characters have learned how to deal with problems, so while there will be more it will be “okay” because they will be able to get through it. They know how to be happy for forever, so they will be.

While there are arguments against the perseverance of Fairytales in modern advanced culture, I hope you have become discouraged towards the points these arguments are trying to make. Fairytales give birth to dreams which in turn bring about the beginnings of new ideas, progress, imagination, and more dreams. They are the necessary sparks in a child’s life that light the way into a better, happier future of ever afters.

Corruption on Capital Hill

Jared Sybrowsky

September 15, 2009

ENG 150, 59

Corruption on Capital Hill

How much do we really know about the people who run our country? As university students we are here to study, and eventually become our county’s future, however; many of us don’t know about some of the most important political issues of our day. Most of us live in the dorms, and therefore don’t have easy access to a TV. When we can use a TV, CNN or FOX News is rarely the first station we tune into. Instead we try to see what has happened in our favorite Soap Opera or Sit-Com. It is important that awareness be raised about the corruption in our government, such as ACORN, or Anthony Van Jones and others in Obama’s inner circle. By exerting just a small amount of effort, it will be easy to figure out what side of the issue we stand on – then we can take action. Through studying the issues of our country, we can truly exemplify a motto of BYU by entering to learn, then going forth to serve – our country.

Do we really know where our tax dollars are going? The ACORN scandal has been all over the news for weeks. For those who don’t know, undercover reporters went into various ARCON offices across the country to ask for help to set up a brothel where illegal immigrants could live and work. Not only did the ACORN employs gladly offer to help, but they encouraged the two reporters with their “business”. What is worse than the shear morals of these people is the fact that up until recently, ACORN was being funded partially by the U.S. government. Reports have come in with numbers as high as $31 Million that the government has given to the ACORN organization in the past ten years. Our tax dollars are being used to keep terrible organizations afloat. The alleged voter fraud in the most recent election does nothing to calm the mind in regards to ACORN. We, the people, need to take a stand against the government funding corporations that has such corruption in it. If the government had done more regular check ups on what ACORN was doing with our money, millions of dollars could have been saved; in a time of such great national debt, that’s exactly what we need. As busy as we are, we need to know what our tax dollars go towards. It’s our responsibility to be proactive in the government - a government that is “of the people, by the people, and for the people.”

A pattern is beginning to present its self concerning the people who influence our president. During the most recent election, Obama’s relationship with Reverend Wright was a major issue. Wright was Obama’s pastor for over 20 years. The attention of the media was brought to Wright because of his radical and anti-American speeches. With our president sitting in his congregation of over 20 years, there is no way he was not influenced by Wright. Now, I’m not saying Obama shares his view and political ideas; however it worries me that he remained in his congregation for so long. Anthony “Van” Jones was also recently on the news for resigning form his position as the green jobs czar. This man, who has been a friend of President Obama’s for years, has been proven and admitted that he is a communist. We need to be sure that we really look at each person appointed by the president. Just because we don’t elect them doesn’t mean they are out of our control. Seeing these that Obama associates himself with people with such ideals should send up red flags for all of us.

Can we really do anything to help put an end to corruption in the government? Not only can we, but it is our duty. The purpose of this editorial is not to smear President Obama in any way. It is to promote us, the university students, to take hold of our new responsibility as the citizens of our country. If we want our children to have the life we dream of for ourselves, we need to be proactive in finding out the facts and letting the government know we won’t stand idly by. Reverend Wright and Van Jones were both uncovered by the media. News stations saw a problem in our country, and they worked on it until it didn’t threaten us anymore. The ACORN scandal was uncovered by two regular citizens - students in fact - who didn’t have any support system; they decided to find the truth about a questionable organization. Students all over the country need to follow politics and take their role as the future of America, by helping shape it today.

Fine Arts

Alexis Apostalon

Why Are We Pulling These Programs?

Dear Board of Education Members:

I have noticed some movement growing within the public school systems. It’s been festering for a while. It’s been spreading like a disease. Do you know what this plague is? It is the plague of cutting the funding of fine arts from public school systems.

Let me share a little story with you. It was my senior year of high school and I was busy! I was taking I.B. (International Baccalaureate) classes; I was extremely involved with my church and all of its activities; I was a nanny for a family with a daughter who has RETS syndrome; I did ballet and ninjitsu outside of school; and within school, I was a member of the elite choral group, Madrigals, as well as the competing group for our high school, Chamber; I was also the secretary and activities planner for the French Club (often doing more than I should have due to the other leaders’ lack of drive to get anything done); and finally, topping the year off with my involvement in the high school musical production, Oklahoma.

It was a lot; I’m not going to lie. I was quite overwhelmed at times, but the only thing that kept me sane were the two things that I loved to do: sing and dance. More than half of my involvement in those two areas came from participating in the fine arts programs at school. That same year, I also started to hear rumors (which were later confirmed true) that other schools were having their funding cut from their very own fine arts programs. What if my school had taken away these things? I am 100% positive my happiness level would have gone down. Unfortunately, when I am not happy, my productivity also goes down. I doubt I would have made the grades that I did in school or, perhaps, even participated in those other activities to help give me a well-rounded life.

I am not entirely positive why funding is being cut from the fine arts. My supposition is that people don’t want to pay taxes on schooling so much anymore. I mean why would a taxpayer, who is most likely completely done with all types of schooling, want to pay more for schooling after they’ve already paid enough (especially when it comes to college)? It would make a lot more sense if those taxpayers had kids that went to public schools, but a large majority of them don’t have children. And the percentage that does, about half of them send their children to private schools because they think (with good reasoning) that they’ll get a better education. So overall, we’re getting less money for public schools, as you as Board Members are well aware.

So now you are debating on where to cut your funding from, am I right? You can’t just take away from reading, writing, mathematics, or science. Those are the basics that everyone needs. So then it comes down to a vicious battle between the fine arts and sports, and unfortunately, the fine arts departments in many schools are losing. Is it because you think that more people play sports than participate in the fine arts? Is it because you think more people besides high school students can and do enjoy watching high school sports more than any field of the high school fine arts? Or is it because you believe that playing sports leads to greater teamwork and school spirit than the fine arts do?

Well, let me answer those questions from my perspective, a recent high school student who was very active in the fine arts and reaped the benefits of it. To answer the first question, from my experience, there are as many different facets of the fine arts as there are different types of sports, possibly even more. This gives a child more options to choose from, to find their niche and feel comfortable in a place that they can excel. This is important to self-esteem, which I believe to be crucial during that age.

When I was a freshman, I participated in dance team. It was absolutely wonderful! I enjoyed it thoroughly and gained a lot of great experience and knowledge from it. However, due to scheduling conflicts, I was unable to continue with the team. This was devastating, but because I had other outlets, such as choir, I was able to keep my head high and have opportunities for something other than straight schoolwork.

Second question. While it is true that school spirit is often incorporated within football and basketball games and many people enjoy watching them (I have many great memories myself), it is also true that there are people that enjoy watching theater and choral productions, viewing art galleries with paintings and sculptings of high school students, and seeing the handiwork of a multi-media art piece even more than watching a tennis match. Why should we be depriving those fans of their pleasantries?

And to answer the final question of teamwork and skills, I say to you: those skills can be learned just as easily within fine arts programs as sports teams. The fine arts teach a multiplicity of skills that can be used later on in life: creativity, handiwork, hard work, self-imposed goals, entrepreneurship, and yes, even teamwork. If you’ve ever sat in on a choir practice, this will become evident. For a choir to sound great, all the members need to harmonize, make the right vowel sounds and blend. If you are not working on these things outside of practice, they won’t come to you. And if you are not thinking with a creative mind, patterns of musical stanzas will not make sense. Furthermore, those skills will not only be handy for one’s own personal life, but many employers look for well-rounded and balanced people that can add more to their company or business. A background in fine arts can help with that.

To add one final word about the fine arts, which was recently touched upon, but not explicitly said: the fine arts are long lasting. A piece of art can stay with you for as long as you live, if you take good care of it, and can even be passed down to your children and your children’s children. Not only that, as mentioned before, those skills are used throughout your life continually. Sports, which provide similar learned skills, will last forever, but the actual skill of participating in a particular sport is hard-pressed to go passed one’s 20s. Many people are injured and can be taken out of a sport for as short as 6 months or as long as their entire lifetime.

Board members of Education, I am not trying in any way to belittle the sports, but I do feel like the fine arts have been belittled way too often. I believe that their skills have been overlooked. Personally, I believe that everyone needs both: a physical outlet and a creative one. But we do not have the money to fund all of these things. So, in all earnestness, I implore you to keep the fine arts within schools to promote intellectual growth, skill-set, self-esteem and much more.