The debate between college and the “real world” has been long and painful, but it’s becoming apparent what the answer is: If college is the real world, the Santa Claus is the guy that hides Easter eggs.

Don’t believe it? Read on.

In the real world newspapers are able to call virtually anyone “who’s anyone” for comments. Unless the reporter is really out for blood, the interview usually is granted with pleasure. For the most part, public and private business officials as well as local, state and national government leaders are easy to get on the phone.

They’re usually in their offices during the day. Sometimes, they take reporter’s calls even if they’re in meetings. Even the busiest of them return calls.

Those who are fairly hard to reach have press secretaries. The press secretaries love to talk to reporters and always are more than willing to send facsimilies of their boss’ opinion and quotes.

On the whole, most anyone is willing to talk. Many secretaries will call their bosses on the road and have them call newspapers from their hotel rooms. It makes reporting a pleasure.

Not at NIU.

Most of the people this newspaper likes to call “NIU officials”-otherwise known as staff and admisistrators-are impossible to reach. They are in meetings during the afternoon. They have so many meetings there’s no breathing room between them.

Or, they’re on another line and will call back. Ah, how infrequently the phone rings. In addition to all this, the entire university shuts down from noon to 1 p.m. for lunch.

To quote Charlie Brown, “Aaaaauuuuggghhh!”

If reporters are persistent enough, the people they’re trying to reach might tell their secretaries to make appointments for sometime next week. That’s a start, but this paper comes out every day.

Fortunately, not all are like this and do go out of their way to help the paper. But those are few nd far between and usually don’t have the hard-hitting information.

What’s more, this paper often is criticized for not probing far enough into the minds of “NIU officials”. Unfortunately, what’s printed often is the mot that anyone is willing to reveal.

The worst thing is that taxes pay their salaries. As long as their standard of living is maintained by the public’s pockets, they shoudl be available to talk to the public. Their lack of accessibility is disturbing and upsetting.

Another appalling aspect of the whole mess is the snooty manner in which these people act once they are on the phone. Many refuse to talk while at home. Others make reporters feel like their time is a gift-a privelege. Some refuse comment altogether.

Is it that they’re afraid to say something because their jobs are on shaky ground? Probably not, though it seems that way after talking to many of them. Anyway, this isn’t a private school. They really have little to be afraid of.

They all could take some advice from “real world” outsiders: Use your phones. They don’t bite. Really.