A drink for twos or maybe fours
I'll mind my pints as you your quarts
I'll do mine if you do yours
I'll clean the mirror if you the blade
A sniff to feel the power of unpain
I'll do it true as you don't feign
I'll clean the mirror if you the blade
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Earlier this month, a BW student died of alcohol poisoning, with the verdict still out on other possible substances in his stream. Rumors have abounded that he may have also had a significant amount of cocaine in his system. College President Mark Collier sent out a campus wide email expressing condolences to the family and encouraged students to do the same.
Prior to Halloween, a "Red Zone Alert" was issued for campus following an incident where a female student's arm was touched by an unknown male.
Following Halloween, a student from North Hall had his bicycle robbed and damaged, with the words "fuck you fag" scrawled on it or left on a note (a little unsure of this). He was also being left insulting messages on his board and harassed via AOL instant messenger. No campus email. No "Red Zone Alert". Just a hall meeting (for North Hall) with the Area Coordinator emphasizing that this kind of behavior would not be tolerated and the need of students to be vigilant.
I love my college, in theory. I mean, I do. I love BW. But when it comes to things such as this, where a minor incident and an overdose take some sort of precedence over a hatecrime... I begin to question my love of this college. It makes me question the kind of students that we attract here. I wonder often why certain things are kept hushed down, but other things take the banner. Maybe I don't know the entire situation... but it just seems to me that things here are not well.
It just seems, also, that ignorance has enveloped the campus. Take for example this stunning example of an op-ed that appeared in this week's "Exponent", our student newspaper:
No Blood for Cocoa
by Pete Smith
Staff Writer
Ah the wonderful irony of life: "They intervened in a disproportionate way." "They destroyed our property, they killed and wounded. We don't understand this violence." "They are attacking an humiliating us."
This was quoted by Ivorian minister Sebastien Dano in regards to France.
France? The peaceful, we don't fight or help the United States but we sure love to bomb innocent protestors over Cocoa, country of France. (sic) They have decided to unilaterally invade the Ivory Coast, without UN approval or any sort of coalition which sure seems like a challenge to France because their recent war records are similar to the championships won in Cleveland. Where are the ever useless UN and Kofi Annan to point their oil stained fingers to France? How come Hollywood isn't boycotting France for their harsh treatment of the Ivory Coast? Where is Jesse Jackson to come and join in the photo-op slash peace talk?
I don't laugh at the misery or the death of someone. France attacking countries and not a peep from the Main Stream Media, any news, something that gets more than ten viewers. I enjoy hot cocoa and am know (sic) concerned that Frances (sic) unilateral attack on an innocent country will hurt my chances of enjoying my cup of hot cocoa on such a blistery winter (sic) that I am sure will come as soon as possible. I feel that France is trying to corner the market in cocoa and they have already cornered the cheese and wine market. They will not stop for their ruler Chirac is so hell bent in his fix for chocolate. So if everyone could please attach a sign on their door that says, "No Blood for Cocoa", I feel that I have done my yearly protest over something that is important.
Now for a line by line refutation.
They have decided to unilaterally invade the Ivory Coast, without UN approval or any sort of coalition which sure seems like a challenge to France because their recent war records are similar to the championships won in Cleveland.
They have taken action in Côte D'Ivoire as a result of UN Blue Helmets being killed, among them nine French nationals. The United Nations peacekeeping force is still in Côte D'Ivoire and President Gbagbo is now requesting the return of French businessmen. They... want French business?
France attacking countries and not a peep from the Main Stream Media, any news, something that gets more than ten viewers.
I just cited the BBC. I think they get more than ten.
Ivory Coast/France Rebuff War Talk
How does CNN work for you?
Pete also seems to ignore the pre-existing relations between France and Côte D'Ivoire. Côte D'Ivoire was at one time, up until 1960 (I believe), a French colony. France has had a long history of trade with the colony/ex-colony and trading with France is also STILL in the Ivory Coast's best interest, as France is their largest market.
I have no idea what else to say. It's just ignorance in one of its many shades on my campus... spouting a personal hatred and trying to perpetuate it as fact without any supporting evidence.
Oh, BW, what will become of you?
-rl
