Smart Kid

Columbia Spectator Columnist Anand Krishnamurthy strikes just the right chord on "campus activists" who are either being manipulated by angry adults off campus, or are just too self-important, ("I got into Columbia, I MUST be smart and important"), to see how stupid they look:

Ivy League Odds and Ends

The key quote comes on the last page:

"I'm keeping short because this almost speaks for itself. Organizations that make students feel uncomfortable on campus contribute toward this school's image problem, which in turn keeps Columbia from bringing in talent. Such groups, for example, have contributed to the destruction of Columbia's athletic programs since their upheaval of the Morningside Park gym. Over the course of four years on this campus, it has become comical to see embarrassing protest after embarrassing protest by small subsections of campus that do not represent the majority of students. To see so-called "activists" who come from some of the most privileged backgrounds in America commenting on issues that they can't even identify with is oh-so typical of the pretentiousness that unfortunately rears its ugly head at this University. Here's to hoping that, going forward, Columbia can produce a more intelligent, sensible community of activists who actually go on to improve society and become the world leaders of tomorrow, rather than the laughing stocks of daily conversation. Here's a hint: pick issues where you can actually effect change, such as student loan policy, as opposed to ranting and raving about massive failures on the part of the federal government and international community, where, sorry, your voice does not matter. Welcome to reality-quite the change from your cocoon of self-importance."

On another note: I wonder who is the Spectator columnist of "yesteryear" he's paying homage to in the first line of the column. Well, I know it ain't Max Frankel.

VA Tech Killings: A Note on Language

I realize the Virginia Tech killings mostly have nothing to do with Columbia, and this is supposed to be a site about football. But I have some thoughts to pass on regarding what happened yesterday:

1) Something like this probably wouldn't happen at Columbia because of its excellent security and the fact that ARMED NYPD officers are always visible in the area. I'm what you could call a moderate on things like gun control, but I think we can all agree that a better-trained and armed police force can nip these things in the bud.

2) My mentor and good friend, screenwriter Robert Avrech
points out that calling these shootings a "tragedy" is a disgrace. When people die accidentally due to a hurricane or a tsunami, it's a tragedy. When they die at the hands of a calculating mass murderer, it's an ATROCITY. Thankfully, when I brought this up to my colleagues at CNN they agreed to make the change networkwide.

3) Americans need to be more vigilant. Too often, this is written off to "living in fear." Hey, I'm a parent and I live in fear for my daughter all the time; it goes with the job. But it doesn't cripple me, and it doesn't ruin my relationship with her. It's called surviving in a world that's always been violent, even if we're just talking about the weather! People should always have some kind plan on how to defend themselves if the worst happens.

Okay, sermon over. We're back to football only after today.