Published since 1915 by the students
of Xavier University
Published since 1915 by the students
of Xavier University
— STAFF EDITORIAL —
As of now, most of Xavier’s students have their schedules planned out for next semester—and even though many of you probably did not get every class you wanted, at least it’s all done, right? Yet, even with it all finished, did anyone really feel completely relieved after scheduling that last class? Does anyone ever get a sudden panicky feeling that they will be graduating in May of their tenth year at Xavier? This all too familiar feeling can in many cases be thanks to what we endearingly call “core.”
The core curriculum here at Xavier is meant to “encourage students to explore the world through multiple avenues to truth which reflect the complexity of the human spirit,” says the Xavier University Catalog. To do this, students have to complete a shocking 60+ hours of core classes. That’s right. Sixty hours. And that depends on your major; many times it’s closer to 64 hours.
What this means is that if a student takes the norm of 15 credit hours per semester for four years, half of their time at Xavier will be spent taking classes that may or may not pertain to their major. Does anyone find this fact a little unsettling?
Not only does that seem like a high number, it seems especially high compared to other colleges’ general curriculum graduation requirements. Other colleges have cores closer to 30 and 40 hours. Some, like Xavier, have what seems to be an excess, such as Columbia College in New York which requires 17 classes (three hours a class would be 51 hours). Columbia…Xavier…Columbia…Xavier. We’ll just leave it at the fact that Xavier’s core curriculum expects a lot out of students who go to an academically mid-class school.
Sometimes it seems a little silly that an English major should have to take a year and a half worth of science courses or that everyone must take 24 credits of ethics classes (theology, philosophy or ER/S). However, the university backs up their decision by stating that “Xavier is committed to a broad-based liberal education in the Jesuit tradition.”
Everyone who applied to Xavier was aware of the core requirements, right? The speeches you heard from Xavier representatives included how proud they were of their core curriculum. It is admirable when you think about it abstractly. You just never thought it would be so hard to get everything done (especially if you are, heaven forbid, double majoring).
There is no denying that this core will have Xavier graduates prepared when they leave. We’ll be prepared in almost any subject,and be thoroughly versed in ethical principles. The only question we at the Newswire have is: Is that what college is meant for?
There are two ways to answer this: “Yes—undergraduate school provides a basis of learning; concentration on a specific subject is for graduate school.” The other answer is, obviously: “No, I don’t plan to attend graduate school—I need to concentrate on my degree now.”
Xavier is perfect for those students who can afford to spend time learning about many subjects. However, your experience at Xavier can become very busy and maybe even extended if you want to take less core classes than classes of your choice.
Matt Finger
Op-Ed Editor
Many consider corporal punishment to be one of the most important social issues facing us today. It affects our educational system, our family relations and perhaps our social makeup at large. Is the act of striking a child or person in an attempt to correct them effective? I mean, does it really work? Furthermore, should corporal punishment be banned from the school systems and from the home as well?
Bobby Knight seems to thinks not, as he was yet again caught by the ever-present media committing a no-no. By that I mean he smacked, lightly I might add, a player who was not paying attention to him. A lot of people are angry at Knight, even though the player, his parents and Texas Tech’s athletic director are not counted among them. Personally, I think Knight was in bounds. The player was not paying attention to him basically disrespecting him, and I think we all know that you do not disrespect Bobby Knight.
But I can see where the anti-spankers are coming from, even though I do not totally agree with them. An argument can be made that hitting someone in public is both humiliating and counter-productive, as it might spur the person to become even more uncooperative. In fact, many studies have found an increase in aggressive behavior in children being punished by their parents through means of corporal punishment.
I think that corporal punishment can be useful, as long as the distinction between punishment and abuse is maintained. Parents have been reprimanding their children since parents started having children. No, it is not okay to abuse and mentally scar children, but at the same time I think it is acceptable under specific circumstances to allow for the occasional physical punishment.
In the school system, however, I do not believe that corporal punishment is something to be pursued. It is, as aforementioned, shameful and humiliating to the receiver, and is likewise degrading to the punisher. I know that I would not respect or cooperate with my teachers any more than I already do if they utilized corporal punishment. Beating the crap out of a student is not going to make them want to practice their Latin any more than they already do, I promise.
At the same time, there are a lot of spoiled brats out there, and maybe what they need is a nice, firm slap on the bum to bring them back down to earth. People think that talking to kids and trying to reason with them is how to do it, because that way we aren’t scarring their psyche. We have to make them feel special and alive.
I call bull. They already feel special and alive. That’s why they won’t stop screaming for a candy bar in the grocery store. Sometimes the only way to get to people is by use of force. Yes, nice words are helpful and reinforce many desired behaviors, but while words don’t always get the message across, a spanking does.
No one wants to do it, but sometimes it needs to be done. So I say that if someone has made the decision to reprimand their child by way of corporal punishment, let them.
As for Bobby Knight: No, it was not his kid, but at the same time he didn’t do anything to hurt or permanently scar the player to the point of needing psychological care. He brought him to attention and got his point across. It was quick, moderate and effective, and I find it hard to criticize someone for that. I mean, come on, look at General George Patton. He used to hit his soldiers and look how much butt they kicked.
As selected by the Newswire staff
1. “Two steps this time” taunt directed at an opposing player who commits a travelling violation. Alternative translation: “why do you build me up, buttercup, just to let me down, and mess me around.”
2. “Dee-fense” cheer encouraging the Musketeers to dig in and get a stop on the defensive end. Alternative translation: “don’t break my heart, I’ll be over at ten, you tell me again and again, but you’re late.”
3. “You..you..you..you fouled!” taunt directed at an opposing player who commits a personal foul. Alternative translation: “I went to the door, I can’t take any more, it’s not you, you let me down again.”
4. “Score, Jesuits, score!” cheer encouraging the Xavier University Musketeers (little known fact: Xavier is a Jesuit institution), to convert a field goal attempt. Alternative translation: “But I love you still, I need you, more than anyone darling.”
5. “Ohhhhhhhh...peace!” taunt directed at an opposing player who has fouled out of the game. Alternative translation: “I’ll be home, waiting beside the phone, waiting for you.”
Patrick Stevenson
Assistant Op-Ed Editor
If I was the Supreme Overlord of Xavier University and had the ability to change anything and everything, this is what I would do:
There would be a public debate in the Cintas Center between Stephen Colbert and Brother Donnie Morris, the guy who yells a lot about AIDS on the greenspace every spring.
Johnny Wolf would shoot more like Steve Kerr and less like Shawn Marion.
The Xavier Radio Network would be recreated for the sole purpose of broadcasting “The Anthony and Abdoulie Show,” starring Anthony Coleman and Abdoulie Krubally.
The science requirement for the core would be dropped from nine credit hours to six.
The Burger King in the food court of the Gallagher Student Center would be replaced by a Chipotle.
Philosophy and Theology majors would be required to shut up every once in awhile.
There would be no classes in Cohen, Elet or the Armory before noon ever again.
Anyone seen photographing themselves would have their camera immediately confiscated and would be cited for excessive narcissism by Campus Police.
Professors would not be allowed to reduce a student’s grade because of poor attendance. It is unfair to punish a student who demonstrates mastery of the material simply because their attendance is spotty.
The entire campus would have high-speed wireless internet access that doesn’t crap out every 15 seconds.
We would have a well-funded student run magazine which would be a forum for students to showcase their artwork, photography and writing.
Any student who appears to like Ohio State athletics more than Xavier athletics would be deported to Columbus, Ohio with no exceptions. This would apply to Notre Dame fans as well.
If Sean Miller ever receives a job offer from a university in a power conference, he would be required to closely examine Skip Prosser’s current success at Wake Forest University before making any decisions.
The Xavier University Television Association would feature a lineup of funny and original programming.
In a related note, the columnists at the Newswire would occasionally make fun of something other than “Time Well Spent.”
Jason Mraz would never be allowed within 100 yards of the Cintas Center stage ever again.
The shuttle would be able to take students from Bellarmine Circle to Spencer Ave. faster than a covered wagon pulled by an alpaca could do it.
The Newswire’s “Police Notes” section would feature the names of anyone given a citation for things such as “urinating in a bush” or “sleeping on a bench outside of Kuhlman.” The students of Xavier need to know the true identities of these heroes.
The Late Night Movie Series at Gallagher would feature films that everyone hasn’t already seen. Instead of showing the mega-blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean II, the late night movie series would show good movies that many never got to see, like Little Miss Sunshine.
Conservative Week would become Conservative Month. Why not give conservatives a whole month to celebrate themselves? The event would be headlined by lectures on various topics given by famous out of work conservatives, such as Bob Taft on coin collecting, Mark Foley on netiquette and Tom DeLay on campaign finance.
Dunks like the one Derrick Brown had in the Coastal Carolina game would be worth 27 points. Such a move would also rehabilitate Keith Jackson’s basketball career.
Students would occasionally write letters to the Newswire Op/Ed page to express their own opinions instead of just disagreeing with my esteemed colleague Matt Finger.
The Volkswagen dealership on the corner of Cleneay and Montgomery would be replaced by a Waffle House.
People would stop thinking that waiting twenty minutes for a beer in a dank, unfinished basement with 300 other people constitutes having a good time on the weekend.
Finally, throwing water balloons at people out of a fifth floor window of Kuhlman Hall would not only be completely legal, it would be encouraged.
Students of Xavier, unite! You have nothing to lose but your dignity!
Your article this past week addressed the issue of homophobia and its foolishness. While I of course agree with you, I wanted to address the topic on a more personal level- homosexuals and Xavier University.
Although the homosexual population here at Xavier isn’t that of UC Berkeley or NYU, we are just as important. We are still young adults trying to find our feet in this heterosexist world, who have to deal with such monstrous things as coming out, finding relationships, and being proud of our identity.
While Xavier does in some ways cater to our needs by the Advocate program and by allowing the Xavier Alliance to be an established and recognized club, it also falls short in many ways as well.
The Alliance has no personal office space at all, but merely a one hour time slot in the Dorothy Day House. There is no established Safe Space program unlike at other Jesuit universities such as Loyola Chicago, St. Louis University, and Santa Clara. And, while “sexual orientation” is listed as part of the Universities’ Gender and Diversity Minor, there are currently no courses offered that exclusively accommodate GLBT issues.
I want to offer my appreciation for what Xavier has done to progress homosexual awareness and acceptance, but at the same time I challenge the idea that we are doing the best we can to fully recognize and support GLBT students and its allies.
Patrick McNearney
Class of ‘09
Matthew Finger 
Op-Ed Editor
Pat Stevenson
Asst. Op-Ed Editor
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