How is it a senior military college uses its main source of school news to inform us of half-naked protestors, riots at other colleges and alcohol ads but not of a fallen alumni being forever remembered on Virginia Tech’s most memorable memorial?
I was not only angry but also enlightened by the lack of mention of the pylon dedication ceremony held on Friday, April 10 for Tech graduate Seth Mitchell who died in Iraq in November 2009. I enjoyed the small picture featured on the back of the paper with the incorrect caption referring to the corps of cadets rifle team, which does not exist.
I am fully aware that there was an article published in the November issue of the Collegiate Times about Capt. Mitchell’s death with reference to the dedication ceremony, which makes its absence in the paper even more upsetting.
Even more upsetting was that this paper could run about five different articles about a parking garage but no more than a 2-by-4-inch picture could be allotted for the remembrance of a fallen hero.
Of course the front page was riddled with important information like a drunken party at JMU, again information about the parking garage and how our beloved CT can no longer peddle alcohol ads. The only real news on the front page was about the Westboro Baptist Church, and even it was ruined with the party boy protestor whose infamous bottom took up more space than a war veteran’s dedication ceremony. Yeah, that sounds about right.
Not making the frontpage is something I can understand. It is a somber topic, but as I thumbed through the entire page dedicated to a sport not even in season and an editorial about, what else, the parking garage, I began to wonder if the columnists at the CT think all Tech students care about is where to put their car next year and that Tyrod Taylor threw a 35-yard touchdown pass during a scrimmage against his own team.
I understand that as a college newspaper the CT has to appeal to students, and what better way than parking permits and public nudity. However as a newspaper it also has an obligation to report the news.
It might just be the opinion of one Tech student, but I feel remembering the sacrifice of a Tech alumnus should warrant more than a caption on the back page.
Catherine Lijewski
Freshman communication major
A version of this article appeared in the Apr 16 issue of the Collegiate Times.
Leave a comment 7 Comments Write a letter to the editor
All letters to the editor must include a name, e-mail, daytime phone number and affiliation to Virginia Tech. Affiliation includes: year and major for students; position and department for faculty and staff; current city for alumni and parents.
I agree with you fully Catherine. Unfortunately, the sacrifice made by Captain Mitchell in defense of our country in Iraq has become a non-sequitur. Why?
Because the administration here has changed and those who once raged against soldiers in Iraq and Bush in office during public rallies are now silent. Has anyone else noticed this? That there are few, if any anti-Iraq or anti-Afghanistan protests in the streets nowadays?
Reply to this Top
More than just one student, Catherine. Thank you for speaking for many of us.
Reply to this Top
Thank you, you are not alone in this opinion.
Reply to this Top
Just another look, the ceremony itself is extremely scripted and deviation from tradition is rarely made. The Corp of Cadets is it's own entity within the Virginia Tech campus, a fact made more obvious by the separation of their quarters from the rest of campus. People may have been ignorant of the fact that this service is indeed public and not just for the Corp. Bear in mind it's also a memorial service and perhaps the family involved may not have wished for the publicity. Also with the coming of the WBC protestors, I can see why coverage would be limited since exposure would only entice them to come and interrupt this sacred ceremony. I am in no way defending the CT, merely playing devil's advocate and shedding light on other possibilities to alleviate your frustrations.
Reply to this Top
It's alumnus, not alumni. Alumni is plural. "A fallen alumni" makes no sense.
Reply to this Top
What makes no sense is your need to point out a grammatical error in an article about an important subject. Further, the writer got it right in the last paragraph. Your Latin teacher my be proud of you but to the rest of us you're just acting like a jerk.
Reply to this Top
I too was frustrated by the lack of coverage of this event.
Reply to this Top