It seems unrelentingly dim ‘round these parts lately—both meteorologically and cerebrally. A glance at The Northern Star, on any given day, provides a bleak barometer of the wit, intelligence and wisdom of NIU students.

Friday’s letters to the editors consisted of one thought-provoking essay on the wastefulness of American energy users, one vacuous attempt to elicit school spirit and a discussion of the fashion situation of female war correspondents.

At least these hollowed pages, guaranteed for by the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution, have not atrophied into nothingness—but it’s close.

After skimming through the letters to the editors and visibly slumping from the mental exhaustion that overcomes one in reading these giants of contemporary college criticism, one’s attention is directed to the commentary of our newspaper’s finest editorialists.

oo-rah! The Greek system is finger-wagged at for being pseudo-elitist—‘alter the media.’ The second editorial is, finally, vicariously directed at the dying that is taking place in the Middle East.

However, the point of this essay is somehow wiggled out of by a hodge-podge of thoughtless contradictions. (Explain why it is a bad thing while also being a noble cause?)

Beyond all this, the Star has spared no trouble to point out to the NIU community that Jerry Thompson is not responsible for the material covered in the newspaper.

Why? The paper is so bad it may be deemed necessary to keep a scapegoat around.

As for Jerry’s attempt to poke fun at, castigate and accuse those people, for whom protesting is the only vehicle by which to communicate their dissent, by labeling them, I would add some to his list.

Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, wives, children and respected religious denominations of some of the soldiers are among the dissenters. Which of your categories do these fall under, Jer?

Thomas Elkins

Senior

Philosophy