A group of Missouri State University students are planning to protest construction of the University Recreation Center, a $22.9 building set to break ground next month.

The protest will occur from 2-to-3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 23, outside Carrington Hall on campus.

“There’s a Facebook group of over 150 students against the construction,” said protest organizer and Missouri State student Heather Welborn. “The most commonly posted reasons to rethink the project range from, ‘I’ll never use it,’ to ‘I don’t want to pay for it.’”

Welborn believes the construction is a waste of valuable resources during a time when the budget is incredibly tight.

“My goal is to shed light on an issue many at Missouri State feel strongly about,” she said. “This project is largely an awareness campaign.”

Welborn plans to circulate a petition calling for a student body re-vote “to see if this project is still in line with how students want their money spent.” Students originally approved a $16.5 million renovation of McDonald Arena in 2006, which later evolved into the construction of an entirely new building.

Welborn said students who cannot attend the protest but are interested in the cause should join a Facebook group called “MSU Students Against Construction of the University Recreation Center.” Information about further efforts to stop this construction will be posted there, she said.

“A protest is a great way to increase awareness on campus,” Welborn said. “It encourages student involvement in shaping and questioning the policies that directly effect them. If you hear about the Rec project for the first time through the protest, we made a difference.”

]]> http://www.msu-underground.com/archives/1114/feed 3 http://www.msu-underground.com/archives/679 http://www.msu-underground.com/archives/679#comments Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:15:50 +0000 Zach http://www.msu-underground.com/?p=679 by Zach Becker

I saw the following exchange on one of my friend’s Facebook pages.

“Garrett took the quiz, Which sexual position best suits you. His result is cowgirl.”

Comments:

“I find that disgusting.” – Lucille.

“Sorry Aunt Lucille” – Garrett.

Anyone remember the days before Facebook sold out? Before you had to worry that your aunt or grandma might see which sexual position a quiz says you prefer?

I see the future downfall of Facebook spelled out in that exchange.

Contributor

For the most part, it’s a good thing to have your voice heard. America has a unique situation where we’ve protected the rights of our citizens to say what they want (for the most part), and this atmosphere of public discourse has created a sense of entitlement among US citizens, who feel like what they have to say really matters, even when it doesn’t.

I recently did a story for this publication where I spoke to a journalism professor on campus. He told me how the technological revolution had made it so that consumers of the media were able to provide feedback more easily than ever before, and with that, they would not only would respond more, but expect their responses to be heard and read by others. The idea of a media that’s responsible to it’s readers is pretty cool to most people, because it should result in responsible journalism.

I mean, in theory, our ability to say anything, anytime, anywhere is pretty useful, but it can also be used for evil. I mean, who really wants to know what you ate for breakfast when you update your facebook status? Or for that matter, some undergrad’s opinions on the metaphysical (or lack of such)?

I know a lot of people feel the same as I do, so I’ll say it for all of us; when I jump online, usually I don’t read your updates. When I log into facebook, I ignore your comments about how you got three hours of sleep, if I go to Myspace, I don’t check your to see if your Mood: Elated! and thank god none of us use Livejournal anymore so I don’t have to pretend to keep up with your whiny introspective diary entries.

You know those friends that you had a few years ago, and then they look you up and connect to you? The Internet, and social networking especially is to blame for the fact that you can’t just let some acquaintances drop of the face of the earth like they should. You’re not “forced” to look at their third grade opinions every time a relevant news story becomes popular, but knowing they are out there is sometimes irresistible just for the entertainment value.

The important thing is to remember that what you say on the Internet could matter someday. And you don’t want to do something you may regret later. So what am I saying? Talk on the Internet as though you’re talking to a group of strangers and friends in real life. Not as though you’re sitting in your underwear eating graham crackers at three in the morning and your jokes are HILARIOUS.  Also, when you send messages in a public setting, make sure you don’t say anything too idiotic. Cause, like, we want to pretend we like you.