October 8, 2004

• Topic: Big day at Wash U.

  
  

  So…I saw some the live taping of Crossfire yesturday, and then I watched Chris Matthews’ Hardball on tv.  One thing I realized from watching Hardball, was just how average Wash U can be.  There was more than a couple of inarticulate, and uneducated comments by Wash U. students.  I’m not saying I would have done any better.  It’s not very often that a major news program does such an exclusive get to know the students segment.  The show spent about 10min. of air time talking to students, and the problems I talk about in my book, College Daze, couldn’t be more evident.  When students were pressed by Chris Matthews to explain their views, most stuttered, and it didn’t appear to be just out of nerves, but more out of a lack of education.  My friend said it was an example of propaganda at work.  “Students can repeat the words they’ve been told, but they don’t understand the words fully.  They don’t understand the ideas.  It’s as if the ideas own them, not the other way around.”

  
  

  I jokes that our Chancellor, (who has said that Wash U will not seek the 2008 presidential debate, because this event has not proven to be the PR event he had hoped for.  “On the news, they keep referring to this as the debate in St. Louis, and they forget to mention it’s at Washington University.”  Just goes to show how important a name is.) anyways…i joked that our chancellor would be flying in smart kids from Princeton to get on camera and try to convince anyone who watched lastnights program that we really are an intelligent school.

  
  

  Matthews actually made a point of asking how much tuition is.  The students explained it was anywhere from 30 to $$$40,000!!!  He talked about the draft.  “Should rich kids like you be able to say it’s ok to have a war, and not fight in it?”  I was loving every minute of it, sticking it to Wash U.  I don’t want to say Wash U. is a bad school, anymore than they are free to market how wonderful they are.

  
  

  Which brings me to a dilemma.  Obviously, no business is going to speak about their weaknesses.  They’re not going to tell students, “there’s a possiblity, based on testimonials from past students, that you won’t have a very good experience at wash U”

  
  

  I’m going to share w/ you an idea of mine, although I hesitate to share w/ you an idea that i know i won’t get my act together and do, because i lack the resources to take it on.  but, i’d love to do a documentary about Wash U.  Showing the class environment, students bitching about the school, professors expressing disatisfaction w/ the school and the education students are actually getting.  Oh…it would be so sweet.  Nobody wants to do what I want to do, because it’s digging up dirt.  I see it as a chance to expose reality.  In the same way that the recent report on Iraqi weopons has exposed to everyone the reality of Iraq not having the weopons or capacity to build the weopons, which were the primary reasons that the public was told we needed to invade Iraq. 

  
  

  So…Alexandra Robbins, who co-authored the book the Quarterlife Crisis, has gone on to publish a second book, called Conquering your Quarterlife Crisis. The co-author of the first book, Abby Wilner, graduated from Wash U., but I have not had any responses to my e-mails to her.  I just e-mailed Robbins today. 

  
  

  This world, as you’ve all heard before, is about who you know.  It’s about being in the right place at the right time.  Robbins’ big break was uncovering George Bush’s grades at Yale.  Now she’s free to practically write about any topic she wants.  She’s in.  That’s where I need to be.  I need to be in.  Because my words and ideas have the potential to do so much.  It actually is an important book.  But, it’s all about getting it to the right contacts, who can help me to “get inside.”  So many books are just nonesens, meaning for purely entertainment value.  Other books, are for a purpose, but, more informative than anything.  My book is truly important.  I’m in the process of getting in touch w/ some of those people who might be able to “get me in,” I’m starting to open up to the idea of dedicating the rest of this year to that task.  I’ve always looked at one-year as a long time, but, to spend my 23rd year of life busting my butt to be heard, so that during my 24th year, I’ll have an audience to speak to, seems like a smart decision to make.

  
  

  Topic: What if we got passionate about life like we did this election

  
  

  As I look around campus, people are united in many ways.  People are wearing political shirts, buttons, stickers, carrying signs, occassionally cheering (actually, the cheering is saved for the tv cameras).  The big thing is, “you have to vote.”  And, the bottom line is, either Kerry or Bush is going to win, so “you have to vote,” really means, “There’s one guy we need to win, and we can only win if people vote.”

  
  

  There is no such unity to change education.  No passion to have everyone educate themselves on the issues.  To discuss corporate corruption.  To discuss ways to save the environment.  Many of these people who are rallied up by politics and the election, are going to go back to normal lives of, “not making a difference” once the elction is over. 

  
  

  Only continued passion about change will lead to change.  What will emerge after the election, I wonder?

  
  

  I have an opportunity to make a sign and stand for a few hours to get on tv.  It would be cool, but i’m not sure i have the energy for it.  It obviously wouldn’t be a political sign.  I’d like to market my book, but i doubt that’d work.  Maybe a giant blue peter sign for Outward Bound.  I’m sure a lot of people who randomly see the sign would get a smile out of that, but again, probably not worth my time.

  
  

  peace, i’m outta here.

  
  

  -dan

  • 3:21 pm
  • 3 Comments