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OPINION
Campaign ads fall short
- 1^,
Zachar»yTihomas
V Staff Writer.^
Like the storms of
spring or the dead heat
of summer, the campaign
season wouldn't be complete
without its accompanying
slew of politicd
advertisements. Ranging
from bright, inspirational
messages to monochromatic,
heavy, negative ads to tlie image of Herman Cain's campaign
manager smoking a cigarette, campaign ads run a wide
gamut of possibilities.
Just remember to take the claims made in these ads, which
sometimes seriously straddle the boundary betv\^een truth
and fiction, with skepticism.
"I wouldn't trust them," says Associate Professor of
Political Science Ken Gilmore. "I don't trust them. You need
to have a critical eye... these ads mainly play on emotion."
That's something important to digest. Take, for example,
a Gingrich-attacking ad run in Florida by the Romney-
supporting Super PAC "Restore our Future," dissected and
fact-checked by Jonathan Karl of ABC News. It does get some
facts right. Newt Gingrich was indeed fined $300 thousand in
ethics violations as Speaker of the House, and his consulting
firm was paid $1.6 million by embattled mortgage company
Freddie Mac.
The rest of the ad is much, much more open to question.
It accuses Gingrich of co-sponsoring a bill with Nancy
Pelosi that would have given money to a U.N. program that
supports "China's brut J one-child policy."
However, the bill in question — a 1989 measure to combat
global warming and improve fuel standards — doesn't
have much to do with China's one-child policy. In fact, it
specifically prohibits any funds from going to "involimtary
sterilization or abortion or... family planning." Yes, Gingrich
and Pelosi co-sponsored the bill, but so did 142 other
members of Congress. The slanderous claims made by this
ad are bizarre and seem to have little factual basis.
Given this low standard of truth that is accepted as a part
of campaign advertising, whaPs the average voter to do? It
starts with being a critical thinker and varying one's sources
of information.
This is a sentiment echoed by Richie Zweigenhaft, Dana
professor of psychology, who teaches an annual course on
American media and culture.
"You see political candidates sold with advertising," said
Zweigenhaft. "IPs highly visual and emotional. We all think
we're not affected by the advertising, but thaPs not always
true. Political messages in particular require more critical
viewing than most advertising."
IPs tough to say with certainty who holds the impetus
for accountability in regards to campaign ads. Is it ^e
responsibilit}^ of the candidates who are doing anything
they can to win? How about the press, who are sometimes
accused of not pushing the candidates and investigating their
statements enough for the "trutli"? Or is it the general public,
for not demanding a better democracy?
"IPs basically all the above," said Gilmore in response to
the questions. "You get the democracy you asked for."
Zweigenhaft, however, sees some hope with the Internet
and what it brings to the table for politick discussion.
'The Internet changes the dynamic," he says. "It
incorporates text, gets people to read, and that's a good
thing."
I'm inclined to agree. Campaign ads have proven again
and again their effectiveness with the public, even if mey
oftfen unreasonably deviate from the truth. Journalists are
I constantly reminded to find multiple sources before writing
a story, and I would advise the same for evaluating politics.
IPs an oft-repeated piece of advice, but iPs worfh restating
as something we all need to keep in mind heading forward in
2012 and the ongoing campaign season.
ROTC cadet encounters disrespect
«By Casey Horgan
Michael Mellinger first chose
Guilford College for the school's
outstanding German department
and its new track and field
program. He also picked it for
its proximity to a host Reserved
Officers' Training Corps program
that he could attend down the
road at NC A&T University.
He became a cadet because he
........ wanted to join the military after
college in a leadership-based role.
ROTC allowed him the opportunity to get an education
"while being protected in school from deployment," as
he put it.
Despite Guilford's academic and extracurricular
opportunities that seemed to fit so well with Mellinger's
needs, he left after only a year.
He transferred his sophomore year due to several
incidents of students shouting offensive slurs and a
couple of incidents of people spitting at him while he
was in uniform.
"I made sure to not react (because) I represented not
only myself, but the United States as well," he said.
So, to whom it may concern:
You're anti-war? Fine. That's your belief and I
won't judge you for it. I certainly won't spit on
you. I will, however, judge you for your actions.
You're disrespectful, you're immature and you haven't
learned that your narrow-mindedness can profoundly
impact your peers.
Your fellow student transferred because of you.
You drove away a student from Guilford because you
didn't like what his uniform stood for.
Don't hide behind your faith. That's cowardly. I
understand that Quakerism denounces warfare. I'm
not asking you to support it. Though Guilford is a
Quaker school, students are not required to adhere to
the Quaker faith and anyone who differs in opinion or
action has the right to do just that. You cannot justify
your actions through faith, because no faith, not a
single one, condones acting in this manner towards a
fellow human.
It's intolerance, plain and simple.
"Let it be known that I did not let these students get
the best of me," said Mellinger. "The administration
was equally as bad and that bothered me. My goal was
to stay at Guilford for as long as possible to prove that
I would not succumb to those who had a difference of
opinion.
"I made a ton of good friends who accepted me for
who I was. Some of my friends were Quakers. During
my time there, they became my brothers — my family
away from home."
One of the main reasons that Mellinger finally
transferred was that "most people (at Guilford) had no
interest in anything but their beliefs," which, he added,
included professors.
At no point, said Mellinger, did the administration
or student body carry out the values of equality and
acceptance that Guilford touts, with the exception of
a select few.
"The servicemen and women put themselves in
harm's way to defend a nation that has provided them
with an opportunity to excel as human beings," he
said.
Guilford made him question this principle.
"I questioned the fact that if people treat me like
this, what am I really defending? In the end, I would
be defending my fellow soldiers, for they would be the
only ones who would understand," said Mellinger. "I
would be defending my family and my friends, and
that is more than enough reason to stand on the front
line."
Mellinger is currently a sophomore at Appalachian
State University majoring in psychology, and he
intends to study clinical abnormal psychology to help
soldiers who suffer from PTSD.
He embodies the core values of our schooL Someone
who would treat a man in uniform as a second-class
citizen, and who would go so far as to insult and
intimidate him, does not embody these principles.
According to our school's website, "Guilford s
longstanding mission is clear and distinctive: to provide
a transformative, practical and excellent liberal arts
education for every student."
The "timeless" core values of community, diversity,
equality, excellence, integrity, justice and stewardship
that Guilford so proudly puWicizes evidently fall short
sometimes.
So, to whom it may concern: remember that you're
a part of the whole. You cannot expect that everyone
you'll meet in life will share your opinions and you
cannot react to those who stand in opposition to your
ideals by sinking so low that you would spit at another
human being.
NOMINATIONS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED
The Bruce B. Stewart
Teaching AwarcJ is intended
to recognize individuals
for their contributions to
attaining the highest levels
of academic excellence for
the students and academic
programs of Guilford
College.
Nominate only one candidate on each form you
submit. The candidate information you provide can be
supplemented by additional supporting documentation
by the nominator or the candidate. Please submit
nomination forms to the Office of the President.
For 2012, the college will award three
Bruce B. Stewart Awards at $5,000 each:
two teaching awards for faculty and one
community service award for staff.
Any full-time faculty member is eligible to
receive an award. Candidates should be
nominated based on meritorious service
that is beyond the responsibilities normally
assigned to their positions.
Deadline for
NOMINATION
IS FRIDAY,
MARCH 16,
AT 5:00 EM.