Opinion

Hypes and Gripes

This semester has certainly been eventful, engendering no shortage of opinion-generating controversies. From the life-changing events of Sept. 11 to the trivial (albeit costly) decisions of ASM, there’s been plenty to both gripe and hype this semester. Here’s a smattering in no particular order …

City Legislation

Hype: State Street remains in a sorry state. Fortunately, help is on the way. The city must capitalize on the newfound momentum received from the controversial arts district and federal funding.

Gripe: Proposals were made that the downtown area be zoned as an “entertainment district.” What this really means is an end to drink specials. Far better would be a crackdown on dangerous house parties.

Sports

Hype: For the second year in a row, women’s volleyball carried Wisconsin’s most realistic hope for a major sports championship. Although the quest for the crown fell short, back-to-back Big Ten titles is nothing to smirk at. Special salutes go to All-Americans Sherisa Livingston and Lizzy Fitzgerald, who leave Wisconsin with a phenomenal legacy.

Gripe: Men’s football was certainly rebuilding, and some performances were difficult to watch for fans with Rose Bowls fresh in their memory. Still, the amazing seasons had by Lee Evans and Anthony Davis mean a return may be sooner rather than later (what we?re saying is, “Please stay, Lee!”).

Administration Priorities

Hype: Professor James Thomson, who pioneered stem-cell research, was recently rewarded with a full professorship and pay raise years before he was due. It was refreshing to see the importance the administration has placed on researching excellence and biotechnology.

Gripe: Not so good is the priority placed on students. Twice this semester the administration was able to save money when bureaucratic jobs were on the line. These savings should have been discovered last summer when tuition was again raised by a greater percentage than inflation.

Intellectual Freedom

Hype: Thanks to the brave efforts of many, especially the Distinguished Lecture Series, free speech and intellectual freedom made a comeback in recent weeks. Most telling was the past two weeks’ civil and productive discussion on an issue that last spring was too hot to handle.

Gripe: After sending a post-Sept. 11 letter to student leaders calcomparing free speech to campus violence, the dean of students office shows it has yet to embrace prinicples of free speech. We hope the dean realizes that intellectual diversity does not undermine campus climate.

Companies

Hype: We have not had a lot of good things to say about SprintPCS. But low and behold, Sprint offered nearly all its customers a rebate of some sort, and built a promised new tower resulting in vastly improved service. We hope this appreciation comes across ?free and clear.?

Gripe: Charter, on the other hand, has become the bane of sports fans everywhere. Without warning ESPNEWS disappeared from channel 24, where it was nestled comfortably amidst its Bristol, Conn., siblings. In its place was the Golf Channel, so boring that the Home Shopping Network received new interest.

Politicians

Hype: The independence of Sen. Russ Feingold has been more important than ever since Sept. 11, when the fear of new terrorists attacks has led to sweeping new limitations on civil liberties. Especially disconcerting to students were several components of the Senate’s anti-terrorism bill. Unfortunately it passed 99-1. Fortunately for Wisconsin, the lone ‘nay’ vote was Wisconsin’s junior senator.

Gripe: Chuck Chvala has been under fire for allegedly politicizing his legislative office. We have no difficulty believing this, considering how Chvala has attempted to politicize the UW Board of Regents. Except for Tommie Jones, UW System’s newest student regent, Chvala has refused to allow a vote on confirmation for the last five appointees to the governing body of the UW System.

Diversity

Hype: Lost in the numbers is the importance of MCSC’s new organizational vision. The new MCSC would be a proactive group that seeks out students in its mission to catalyze diversity by creating an ongoing dialogue. This vision is sorely needed and should be encouraged.

Gripe: Still, we do have problems with the money. It was irresponsible for SSFC to give MCSC $1 million before they proved their vision was possible. MCSC should have received a smaller budget increase to implement organizational change, with their progress and budget reevaluated next year.

We hope you will give us your hypes and gripes all winter break in the feedback below. Happy Holidays.