Only As Good As Your Last Act?

I'm sure we are all aware of the movement that took the college world by storm, KONY 2012. It seems the activism that it spurred has come and gone. It also appears that since the organization's creator, Jason Russell, had his public meltdown that people have forgotten about the charity and instead focused on the fallout.

You're only remembered for the last memorable thing you did, I suppose.

It's a sad fact really. Sure, on the surface it seems funny that a man who successfully got a large portion of a generation to rally around a cause ended up crumbling and getting arrested for none-other than masterbating in public. But is that all we're going to talk about from here on out? Unfortunately, the answer is probably yes.

That seems to be the way we work. Joe Paterno is being remembered for the scandal not his accomplishments, for example. It's almost as if, as a society, we enjoy watching heroes fall. We like to point out that they are only as human as we are and then negate their accomplishments.

Don't get me wrong, I'm neither supporting or objecting to Russell's charity... simply pointing out what seems to be a universal truth.

I'm merely suggesting that perhaps we need to stop defining people such as Jason Russell by their latest action and instead look at them as the person they are and the things they've accomplished as a whole. As a society we need to stop sensationalizing mistakes to sell papers and magazines and instead focus on the real issues at hand.

The issue at hand here is not that Russell apparently had a mental breakdown, it's that he brought attention to an issue that is deserving of attention.

Our attention is misdirected. When will we stop wasting our energy on time cutting people down to size?

WAY Too Little, WAY Too Late

This week we received an e-mail from the Penn State Board of Trustees regarding, once again, their reasoning for firing Coach Paterno... and to be honest, I can't even put into words how put off I was by it.

First of all, thank you BoT, but you're about four months too late and the damage has been done. As Penn State has collectively been wrestling with the events of the past few months, it had finally reached a point that the campus had quieted down a bit. People began coming to terms with what happened and were ready to move forward remembering simply what JoePa did for all of the students at Penn State. The BoT effectively just re-ruffled the feathers of the people who have long been critical of their decision. They need to stop trying to get the approval of the community for their actions. It's been made quite clear that they're not going to get it. We understand that you stand behind your decision... that doesn't mean we have to.

Additionally, they once again have flip-flopped back and forth from supporting and honoring JoePa to dragging his name through the dirt. Prior to his death they were accusing him of a lack of moral fiber. Once he passed he was once again a legend to the community in their eyes. Now in this e-mail alone they have flip-flopped once again. They state that they "especially honor the the great legacy of Coach Paterno" and his emphasis on academic performance, yet a mere seven, short paragraphs later accuse him once again of "a failure of leadership."

They go on to attempt to justify their firing of Paterno via telephone and essentially blame him for hanging up before they were able to lift his spirits by telling him they would get all the benefits of a tenured employee! Note the sarcasm in my typing tone. I'm sorry, but if you fire me on the phone after 60+ years of dedication, you're getting the *click* of a dead phone line from me, too! If you could have an employee walk up to his front door, knock, and tell him to call so he could be told he was fired... you could have had an employee walk up to his front door, knock, sit down inside and give the family the respect they deserved. They're cowards, bottom line.

I give the Paternos so much respect for biting their tongues for so long and not speaking ill of the Board for so long. This time, however, the BoT took it too far and I couldn't be happier that the Paternos finally gave them a good tongue-lashing. (Check that out here: http://onwardstate.com/2012/03/12/paterno-family-responds-to-board-of-trustees-statement/ ... couldn't have said it better.)

Overall, the BoT's statement is way too little and way too late. They need to stop releasing their criticisms of a man who is no longer here to defend himself. They need to stop releasing their criticisms of a man who dedicated his life to this school, and in turn, to them... Not that they deserved it, anyway.

It's Spring Break... Take a BREAK!

Spring Break. It’s the week that every college student looks forward to all year long. Students plan for months to go to Mexico, Panama City, or just about anywhere tropical. When it ends and we all return to real life we’re overwhelmed by the exchange of spring break stories, each trying to one up the previous and then immediately discussing what’s in store for next year.

I have to say my freshman year of college I was just as thrilled by the idea of a wild spring break filled with drinking, partying, and all things “spring break.” So, I booked a flight with my friends and embarked on a trip down to Panama City.

That was the last time I was interested in a wild spring break.

While I understand the appeal of going out and going crazy, I think a lot of students really undervalue just taking the time to relax and regroup. We’re so caught up in the idea of what spring break should be that we don’t really take advantage of the time we’re given to take a break… To let our bodies slow down from the constant motion of school and weekend partying that wears us down for a majority of the year.

Yes, I came back from Panama City with a few outrageous stories, but I also came back from Panama City completely exhausted.

Instead, last spring break, as well as this one, I chose to go home and see my family and friends and take a break. For a week, I have permission to sit on my couch and do absolutely nothing. I’m definitely going to take advantage of that. I’m taking the time to catch up on the sleep I don’t get when I’m spending endless nights in the library. I’m catching up with my family and friends that I don’t see nearly enough. I’m not looking for any crazy story to tell… but rather to go back to school and feel refreshed and ready to take on the rest of the semester.

What are you doing for spring break?