From the desk of a devil's advocate: A Reflection
Liston Pennington
Issue date: 4/28/10 Section: Opinion
For a second week the Desk, shortened to make it easier on the reader, has received negative responses to pieces that have been published. Allow me to begin my rebuttal by stating that I not only accept, but also encourage the adversity. I respect the opinions of my counter-parts and encourage their continued critiques, but there is a large problem with the recently submitted responses to the Desk; there appears to be a lack of understanding from what has been published. Though I would like to move on to a final column for the semester, I feel that these misunderstandings must be addressed in this the last issue of the semester.
The first response came from Sean Noland in issue number fourteen in response to "Parking is an Issue" from the previous week. Though his response is well worded and it definitely addresses the majority of complaints on parking, which surround convenience; it appears as though the perspective on the problem presented from the Desk is overlooked. I agree with Mr. Noland that a majority of the complaints are due to an "overdeveloped sense of entitlement" by students who want shorter distances to walk, but the issue addressed in week thirteen was an administrative issue. That issue is made apparent with the difference between the number of parking spaces and the larger number of students, faculty, and staff that receive permits. The piece also addressed the issue of illegal parking, such as students and faculty, alike, parking in the marked off yellow areas of parking lots. Though I agree with Mr. Noland, that issues tend not to be brought up until they infringe upon an individual's personal convenience (which they are by no means entitled to), it does not mean the rest of the argument is invalid.
The second response is featured in this weeks Concordian and addresses "Over Use of Anonymity." I am at a loss of words in explaining the misunderstanding that has occurred for such a fiery response. The piece in dispute addresses the problem of a politically correct society and its impact on younger generations; anonymity was only one example, there was also an example of athletic competitions. While Mr. Noland's response addressed the problem, the second response is harder for me to respond to because it appears as though it was taken personally, but may I respond in this kind:
The first response came from Sean Noland in issue number fourteen in response to "Parking is an Issue" from the previous week. Though his response is well worded and it definitely addresses the majority of complaints on parking, which surround convenience; it appears as though the perspective on the problem presented from the Desk is overlooked. I agree with Mr. Noland that a majority of the complaints are due to an "overdeveloped sense of entitlement" by students who want shorter distances to walk, but the issue addressed in week thirteen was an administrative issue. That issue is made apparent with the difference between the number of parking spaces and the larger number of students, faculty, and staff that receive permits. The piece also addressed the issue of illegal parking, such as students and faculty, alike, parking in the marked off yellow areas of parking lots. Though I agree with Mr. Noland, that issues tend not to be brought up until they infringe upon an individual's personal convenience (which they are by no means entitled to), it does not mean the rest of the argument is invalid.
The second response is featured in this weeks Concordian and addresses "Over Use of Anonymity." I am at a loss of words in explaining the misunderstanding that has occurred for such a fiery response. The piece in dispute addresses the problem of a politically correct society and its impact on younger generations; anonymity was only one example, there was also an example of athletic competitions. While Mr. Noland's response addressed the problem, the second response is harder for me to respond to because it appears as though it was taken personally, but may I respond in this kind:
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