by Joe Buffaloe
Daily Lobo
I feel so sorry for you, John.
You're getting a world-class education for a fair price. You have a forum to voice your opinions, however asinine, through this newspaper. If you somehow graduate, you'll be qualified for numerous high-paying jobs.
Boohoo.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
You don't have to complain about every problem you see. It's unhealthy. Soon you'll be boycotting water because it's too bland. Guess what? Nothing's perfect. Get over it, and start appreciating what you have.
The favorite pastime of college students isn't basketball, Xbox or beer pong. It's the blame game.
"I didn't do my homework because the professor was mean to me."
"I couldn't study because the food at La Posada temporarily blinded me."
"I couldn't finish my reading because my hemorrhoids make it hurt to sit for long stretches of time, and I got hemorrhoids because my professor didn't post the syllabus online."
Professors, I'm warning you - hundreds of students who've never set foot in Zimmerman Library will fail to turn in their final papers on time because of the fire. They were totally about to do their research.
Letters exposing the criminal inadequacy of the online database will soon be pouring into the Daily Lobo office. Do not believe these liars. If they hadn't done their research already, they weren't going to. There are exceptions, but they are few.
I'd like to add that the fire in Zimmerman Library saddens me. But it's just as sad that so many students don't seem to care.
Luckily, many at this University are happy to be here. They've fought tooth-and-nail for scholarships, federal grants and student loans - all for opportunities some people take for granted.
At the very least, college increases your chances of getting a high-paying job and supporting a family. But college also provides society with vital services. Without it, we'd have no doctors, teachers or engineers, for example. I appreciate the education itself, too. Call me a nerd, but I've enjoyed a lot of my classes here.
Of course, I have my complaints like everybody else. I wish we could ban Myspace and Facebook from the computer pod. I wish I didn't have to do my chemistry homework online. I wish the University had printed a few schedules to look at, or organized the online catalog in a coherent way.
I'm also concerned with the rising cost of a college education in the United States. We've got it easy in New Mexico - most states don't have the Lottery Scholarship, and tuition is generally higher in the first place. But we've seen our tuition jump higher and higher the past few years. College should be affordable for everyone, not just the rich.
And don't even get me started on the freedom-hating, fascist, anti-smoking coalition. If they have a problem with the way I live my life, they can grow a pair and confront me personally. I was going to quit smoking over the summer, but if it gets banned, my lungs are willing to stick it out another year. They are my shriveled, tar-encrusted freedom fighters, and I am proud of their selfless commitment to personal liberty.
Just the same, such problems are not exclusive to college. Wherever we end up in life, we'll have to deal with ineptitude, disrespect, politics, boredom and bad luck. Part of growing up is learning how to deal with these issues. In that respect, college is good practice.
So get over yourself, John. Shut up, and go to class.
