Campus Forum || July 16, 2009

Neverland has a place

Do you know what originally inspired J.M. Barrie to write Peter Pan? It was watching his own five adopted sons slowly grow up and abandon the idyllic gambols of their youth, gambols that inspired the well-known adventures of the bumbling Lost Boys. He wanted to create a child who would never leave that world, who would never have to grow up, and who would never face death or pain. Obviously, this is not realistic, but I think the magic of such a place will always hold power to bewitch humanity.

Perhaps this is why the loss of so many beloved (and at times, falsely-idolized) figures will always deserve mention in our news. Like it or not, celebrities connect powerfully with the multitudes, whether we join them weekly on television; sing loudly to their music in our cars; or cheer them on wildly, emotions running high in the fourth-quarter. Though their time fades, the memories in the hearts of those they inspired does not.

I do not think these stories should supplant others of merit, but such news will always have a place. What reflection would it be on humanity if our only news was a daily regurgitation of the world’s endless list of ills? Is this an accurate representation of our culture’s heart? On the contrary, we are people who care about “the economy, wars, genocides, global warming, hunger, poverty, disease, human suffering, and other actual issues,” but also the ones who wrote that song to which we danced to in middle school or to which we listened for consolation or inspiration in turbulent teenage years. It’s all the same isn’t it? Respect for the human spirit, both in the large holistic channels as well as the tiny mundane ones.

Selectively editing the news as described in Paul McCauley’s column is equivalent to destroying Neverland, that place of comfort and childhood magic. A world without hope for Neverland would be a place devoid of imagination and dreams. A world abundant with suits, Blackberries and suffocation. It would be a dreary, lifeless place, full of dull, lifeless (though very realistic) people, now numb to all that surrounds them.

Heidi Klumpe

freshman, aerospace engineering

New Student Orientation is valuable

I have been employed for the past ten years in the Office of New Student Orientation. I am writing concerning the "Abolish New Student Orientation" article that appeared in last Thursday's Technician. At a time when N.C. State needs to pull together and present itself as a united institution, we are instead turning on our own.

Our Orientation Counselors, who spent the spring semester enrolled in an Orientation Training course and are working this summer from early morning until late in the evening to ensure that students have the best experience possible and will be excited about coming back in the fall, woke up to an "opinion" that what they are doing is worthless.

Incoming students and their parents are on campus this month attending Orientation. They were told this morning, by the student newspaper, that they are wasting their time and money being here.

If the Technician had five minutes to review our website, www.ncsu.edu/orientation, its members would see that we have years of outstanding Orientation evaluations from students. Our staff works with colleges and campus departments during the academic year to create the best possible program.

I am proud to say that I am a part of this office. I am proud of what we accomplish and how we represent ourselves on this campus. I am proud of the work that we do and the work we will continue to do for incoming students to the University. I am not writing this because I am concerned for my job but because I want you to know that I am proud to be associated with New Student Orientation. 

When the reporter interviewed our director late Monday afternoon, Gabe (Director Gabe Wical) asked him why the Technician will only print negative articles about Orientation and never anything positive. The reporter's reply was that good stuff does not print well.  What a sad commentary for journalism.

Lori Wilson

administrative support specialist, New Student Orientation

Technician needs to take things seriously

I know it's summertime – readership is down, not much is happening on campus and the beach is much more appealing.

But you want to encourage changes to NSO by complaining about ugly tote bags? You also conveniently avoid any serious discussion of alternative solutions to the challenging task of helping thousands of new students navigate the complex college course bulletin and matriculation requirements – which are orders of magnitude larger than a typical high school's elective offerings. It may be news to you, but "adequate web tools and support services" don't come cheap or quickly.

This isn't the way to be taken more seriously by the student body and campus administration – unless, of course, you don't care to be taken seriously.

Saket Vora

NCSU class of 2007