Opinion: Editorial
The outsiders
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An advertisement appeared on campus over the past week promoting the Associated Students of Madison’s
In an effort to promote the program, the ads were displayed around campus and appeared in campus newspapers, including The Badger Herald. They feature a hastily-created map that includes colored lines to represent roads and labels representing an array of sites throughout the downtown area, while pushing students to “Get to know Madison like an insider.”
Now, maybe we’re still “outsiders,” but we noticed a few funny things with this map. For instance, our interpretation of the map puts the Memorial Union Terrace on top of Bascom Hill, the Farmer’s Market in the middle of campus fraternities and sororities and Monona Terrace somewhere near the Badger Bus Depot.
It appears a couple miles of land lies between West Washington Avenue and Lake Monona at Brittingham Park, when the thoroughfare actually runs next to the water between Regent and Park streets. The Alliant Energy Center is placed a couple blocks south of Vilas Zoo instead of the couple miles that actually separate them.
If students are looking to be part of the Grateful Red fan base at the Kohl Center, the map directs them to Meriter Hospital. And perhaps best of all, some road goes right through the middle of the state Capitol.
Putting slapdash cartography aside, the map also includes several classifications to represent several campus neighborhoods. In addition to “Sconnie” and “Hippie Christmas” (perhaps we’re out of touch, but we thought that was an event, not a place), the map includes the term “coastie.”
Despite the fact that “coastie” on the map represents the portion of Langdon Street near Library Mall, it’s clear ASM’s intent was to use the moniker to label the largely Greek residential area. We are bothered that a map supposedly representing everything Madison has to offer would include this term. At a time when ASM is trying to promote its legitimacy and bring students together, the inclusion of such labels only further divides the campus community.
ASM Chair Brittany Wiegand told the Herald that a representative from ASM StudentPrint created the map, which was later approved by “other students” and student bus pass advisor Margaret Bergamini. We are disappointed that these individuals allowed the ad to print.
Regardless of how the term coastie is interpreted, it is derogatory and offensive to portions of the student population. While ASM claims to represent the entire student body, carelessness such as this only cements a division between us.
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I think that this story highlights one of the primary reasons that members within ASM have attempted reform through the new constitution. One of the major tenants of the new Student Government structure is accountability, and this story illuminates its necessity. As a Student Council Member, Coordinating Council member (the quasi-executive branch of the current ASM) and the Chair of the Student Services Finance Committee, I have not seen the map referenced in this article nor was I consulted before it was published; however, I am concerned by the ramifications of this decision made by individuals disconnected from the elected representatives of the student body. Although the Student Council and Coordinating Council never viewed this document, the blame is attributed (in this case rightfully so) to ASM as a whole. With the new structure, perhaps the action can be attributed to the individuals involved within the headline instead of in the second to last paragraph via a quotation delivered by the ASM Chair. Ideally, a situation like this would never occur as the Student Government should not partake in the use of offensive or derogatory language, and I hope that with the inception of a new structure, we can avoid these embarrassments in the future.
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I don’t like the label man, it’s derogatory. While I am a man I don’t feel I should be labeled as so, because the label carries so many negative stereo types. Such as being “The Man”, or that I’m more likely to be more violent. I think all labels should be thrown out. No more straight or gay, I just need to trust that the person I’m marrying has the same sexual orientation. No more black or white. no more male or female, I should be able to use whatever restroom is closest to me. ABANDON ALL LABELS!! Lets all stop distinguishing ourselves and morph into an descriptive blob!! No more celebrating our differences! no more Jewish, Muslim, or Christians. ridiculous right?
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I hate to say it, but critical badger won this one
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But some of my best friends are coasties…
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So exactly how is Sconnie not offensive but Coastie is?
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I don’t know a single “person of the coastal persuasion” who was offended by this ad. Most out-of-staters I know realize that the term “coastie” (and Wisconsinites with the term “sconnie” for that matter) realize what it is, good-hearted jabbing. This is just blowing the whole coastie/sconnie thing way out of proportion.
Though I must say, I get a kick out of the this entire editorial criticizing the ad, yet never mentions how it might have been an error in judgment for the BH to run it in the first place if the thing was so wrong.
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4:18: Totally! Might this speak of differences in levels of easy-going-ness?