Newspapers / Gardner-Webb University Student Newspaper / Sept. 22, 2006, edition 1 / Page 3
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The Pilot, Friday, September 22, 2006 Page A3 Opinions Critics: Wall a mile in our moccasins Matt Tessnear matthewtI984@earthlink.net My supervisor at my job this sum mer was the editor of the newspaper. He wrote a Sunday column, which usually incorporated three or four ideas he had come up with during the week. These ideas didn’t always have anything to do with each other, but he always made sure that, by the end of the story, he tied them all together Some columns hashed Wisconsin’s fin est cheeses with problems concerning county commissioners. Other weeks, he might weave together tales about pickles with water quality issues. However, it was this straightfor ward, simple column that I have taken the most from. He centered it around a quote from an anonymous source, which seems ironic, only if you think like a reporter. “Doctors bury their mistakes, law yers litigate their mistakes and jour nalists print their mistakes on the front page.” It’s a funny notion, but he used it to seriously discuss how his staff pro duces the best quality journalism it can. Often, a newspaper will produce high-quality work that will make read ers praise the staff. It’s more likely, however, that readers will be quick to criticize what they see on the pages, whether it’s a mistake or a content- based remark. That’s what I’ve found to be true about this newspaper’s relationship with this campus. I haven’t sat in on a board of trustees meeting, or eaten in the faculty room in the cafeteria to listen to what faculty and staff think about the paper, but students sure are quick to criticize. Since my freshman year here at Gardner-Webb, I’ve seen the same general reading process of students. An individual enters the bottom of the DCC and picks up a copy of The Pilot. GASP! He or she makes an immedi ate comment about a story on the front page that he/she doesn’t like. Inside, there’s a misspelled headline at the top of page two. The student frantically shakes his or her head. Disappointed, the student tosses the paper down onto the table and meets a friend to go eat in the caf The dialogue that follows usually goes something like, “Have you seen the latest Pilot? It sucks, as usual.” If I had a dollar for every negative comment I’ve heard about The Pilot, I’d have enough money to pay for the rest of my education here. Yes, there are mis takes in every edition of The Pilot, but we work hard to catch as many as possible be fore they get into print. Think about your job. Have any of you done 100 percent perfect work every day? Most of you haven’t. Think about the last test you took on campus. What grade did you receive on it? For example, say you took a test on World War II in Dr. Eastman’s Ameri can Century class. The likelihood that you made no mistakes is very slim. If you had a 71 on the test, you might have made a C, but you also made plenty of mistakes. It’s your job to be a student and be professional, just as much as it’s the job of a Pilot reporter to write a story and produce a profes sional product. The only difference is the quote I mentioned earlier You could bury that test grade and no one else on campus would see it. The Pilot’s purpose is to be inform, so we must allow our mis takes to be published and read by the entire university. In all actuality, GWU students are just like the rest of Americans these days. One, they don’t favor the old school form of getting information from a newspaper Two, they don’t understand what it takes to produce a newspaper, whether it’s daily, or bi weekly. The Pilot is produced once every two weeks, but the process is much like that of a professional daily news paper First is the task of gathering story ideas and assigning them to report ers and photographers. After frack- ing down and interviewing sources, reporters must write the story and submit it to be edited. The story goes through an editing chain, until the ad visor gives final approval. Next is the arduous task of laying out a newspa per, and trying to make it look good from visual and content-based points of view. After design, it must go to be printed, and then picked up for distri bution. Doesn’t sound like much to many of you, but it is a daunting task with a small staff like the one here at GWU. With every step, there are opportuni ties for mistakes to be made. Maybe you don’t follow me, but that sounds just like any other job. From the be ginning to end of a workday, there are plenty of opportunities for mistakes. Many of them might get through and reach your audience, or customer. Maybe there are mistakes in The Pilot. Maybe the content isn’t tai lored to everyone’s interests. But I’ve got a simple solution for anyone who doesn’t like the newspaper: Join the staff and experience the news paper business before you criticize it There are good writers in every de partment on this campus. Not to take a shot at anyone in Withrow Hall, but I’m sure there are math and science majors who could put together a fine news story. Truth&lly, I think that would be an opportunity for compiling an investi gative story about why the university was able to gamer support for football stadium renovations, but Withrow still could use some improvements. I’ve read the writing of plenty of students on this campus who could create a very good story for The Pilot. It pains me to think of what kind of staff we could have if every talented writer at GWU placed a few bylines in the newspaper So, don’t think of this as an adver tisement, think of it as a way to stop burying your mistakes, and start help ing us keep ours off the front page. The Pilot Bob Carey and Nancy-Pat Dire Faculty Advisors Matt Tessnear Editor and Chief Stephanie Kay Designer Rachel Lloyd and Katie Bryant Photo Editors Ciara Lilly Sheyahshe Littledave Copy Editors Jacob Conley Sports Editor Rebecca Clark Ali Cunningham Jack Naish Staff Writers Haley Black Ashley Carter Joseph Fluty Kayley Potter Rachel Tucker Staff Photographers Phone Number: 704-406-3533 PO Box 5192 pilot@gardner-webb.edu www.gwupilot.com Jake and Jack Debate the Issues Giving Ray Ray a break is a no-no; sets bad precedent By Jacob Conley I’ll be the first to ad mit that the NCAA has too many rules and regulations. But since this is the case, the organization needs to stick with its policies. I am speaking, of course, of the NCAA’s recent deci sion to forgo the rule con cerning athletes who receive special privileges, so that Clemson University foot ball player Ray Ray McEl- rathbey can take care of his younger brother, Fahmarr. The brothers’ parents are battling drug and gambling addictions. The NCAA tried to do the noble thing, but in doing so, the integrity of college sports has been put at risk. For example, what if a top tier program wanted to recruit a high-profile ath lete? That athlete has nar rowed dovra his choice of colleges between two schools, one with a larger budget than the other The athlete has a legiti mate concem that he needs to go pick up medicine for his sick grandmother after practice, but cannot afford a car Since the NCAA has made this ruling, the big budget university would have an unfair advantage. They might offer the prospect a car that looks like it rolled out of Xzibit’s workshop, while the other might only be able to afford to pony up for a Pinto. Which school do you think the prospect is going to choose? That is why I say this ruling has the potential to ruin the integrity of the game. It could, in the future, give big schools with large budgets an unfair advantage over smaller, less affluent schools. I feel for McElrathbey and his brother, and I’m sure they would never take advantage of the break af forded them by the NCAA. But that won’t stop someone from doing so in the future. That is why the player in question and the NCAA should have worked togeth er and come up with a solu tion that does not have the potential of harming the in tegrity of the game. For ex ample, Fahmarr might have stayed with other relatives while Ray Ray finished his collegiate career. If this scenario had taken place, instead of the NCAA bending the rules and, in doing so, setting a danger ous precedent, the integrity of college sports would not be threatened. Exceptional case calls for an exception Jack Naish There is now an intense investigation as NCAA of ficials attempt to determine if Reggie Bush’s parents lived rent-free in their up scale San Diego home. If the investigation un covers any illegal benefit that violates a strictly en forced NCAA regulation. Bush could be stripped of the Heisman Trophy, among other penalties. The case of Clem son University’s Ray Ray McElrathbey, however, is entirely different. As McEl rathbey juggles classes, homework and a spot on Clemson’s football team, he also maintains custody of his 11-year-old brother, Fahmarr. As both of their parents battle addictions, McElrath bey makes room in his life to care for his younger brother, working to keep him away from foster care. However, as many peo ple attempt to reach out and aid the brothers, they are denied that chance, due to the same NCAA regulations that placed Bush under fire. This is a glaring incon stancy. There should be more detailed guidelines, out lining specifics for aids and benefits, rather than a catchall regulation. There remains no solid reason why those who are close to McElrathbey cannot lend a helping hand. As quoted on CNN.com, Tigers Defensive Coordina tor Vic Koenning said, “I can take two boxes of toys out of my basement and give them to Goodwill, but I can’t give them to Ray Ray?” Well put. I’d say. WISDOM ON WHEELS: Inside look at sports fan’s routine By Jacob Conley Unless you have been hiding under a rock lately, you should know that Gardner- Webb University plays Appalachian State University this weekend. Even though the game has lost some of its luster after the ’Dogs loss at UT-Martin, this is still argu ably the biggest game in GWU football his tory. In other articles in this week’s issue. I’ve covered the game from what I con sider to be every conceivable angle. You have the facts about parking, alumni of both schools and the impact of 10,000 fans in Ernest Spangler Stadium. Now that its nearly game time, I thought I would give my faithful readers an idea of my game-day routine as we prepare to meet the Moun taineers. 6:30 a.m. Wake up. I have to get an early start if I want to be at my peak by game time. To help me get pumped and fully awake. I’ll put my game-day mix in the CD player This includes such favorites as Nickelback’s cover of “Saturday Night’s Alright” along with “Who Let the Dogs Out?” and P.O.D.’s “Boom,” just to name a few. 7 a.m. Time for homework. I’ve got to do it sometime, and after we win, homework will be the farthest thing from my inind. Hopefully, my professors will read this and I won’t have much to do. (Hint, hint) 9 a.m. Since I am slightly supersti tious, my game day breakfast will be the same as it was two weeks ago when we beat Tennessee Tech University: grape Ga- torade and cinnamon raisin biscuits from Hardee’s. As a side note, the drive-thru is not designed for motorized wheelchairs. I know from experience. 10 a.m. Only eight hours until kickoff. It’s time to get angry, to tap into that primal rage that causes a fight-or-ftight reaction. I’m normally a peaceful person, so in order to accomplish this goal, I play one of the most violent video games I own, “God of War” As I send blood and body parts to the streets of ancient Greece, my adrenaline spikes and in my mind, enemies no longer wear togas, but black and gold football uni forms. 12 p.m. Now that I’m angry, it’s time to bring another emotion to the surface. Frustration. And what better way to be come frustrated than watch the Duke foot ball game. They have only scored 13 points all season - not exactly an offensive jug gernaut. 3 p.m. Break out the body paint. This is an exhaustive one- to two-hour process that requires me to stand the whole time. But it’s worth it. A friend is bringing over some bright red hair dye for me, too. It’s not permanent I hope. 5 p.m. Time to head to the stadium to see if I can get some hamburgers from the tailgaters. Another side note, paint flecks mixed with mustard and chili is not very pleasing to the taste buds. 6:04 p.m. Game time. For the next three hours, I will yell, scream and sweat the Bulldogs to victory. 10 p.m. Time for bed. After all, the Panthers play on Sunday and I’ve got an NFL game day routine, too. But that’s an other story for another time. Broad River Review seeks submissions for 2007 edition The Broad River Review, Gardner- Webb University’s literary magazine, seeks original poetry, fiction and creative nonfic tion works from members of the university community. Artists and photographers can submit works, because one will be selected to be on the magazine’s cover Works can be tumed in several ways. Hard copy should be sent to The Broad River Review, Campus Box 7224, GWU, Boiling Springs, N.C., 28017. Works can also be submitted by e-mail (as a Word at tachment) to BroadRiverReview@gardner- webb.edu. Please include your name, local mailing address, e-mail address and telephone num ber The submission deadline is Oct. 13. For more information, contact Dr Chris Davis at 3224 or cdavis@gardner-webb. edu.
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