The Daily Barometer Wants Your Kid to Drink? . . . And Satire

Satire is the first defense of the inept.  I don't mean that satirists are themselves inept; instead, I propose that whenever someone says or writes something that they didn't quite mean--which might have been intended as sarcastic, rhetorical or ironic and is instead taken literally--they retreat behind the defense that they were simply being satirical.  Indeed, many of their defenders will quickly leap on the satire bandwagon.

Satire has long held a privileged place in political discourse.  Its ability to mock without pointing fingers or directly insisting upon illegal or unpopular courses offers satirists protection from prosecution, or worse.  The refrain, "But it was only satire," is a shield that has effectively protected political protestors throughout history.  Yet that privileged position, the shield of satire, is like the proverbial skirt behind which one can hide when chased by schoolyard bullies.  It indeed has the power to protect, but used too often, or ineptly, it opens the would-be "satirist" up to contempt.

Last week, the editors of the Daily Barometer, a university newspaper published at Oregon State University, published what they called "A freshman's guide to college."  Much of the advice in the newspaper insert was pointed toward popular follies of the university experience--how to socialize, how to pass your classes with the least amount of effort, how to avoid spending hundreds of dollars on books which might never be opened.  What drew the ire of the public, and of this writer, was the photograph on the front of the guide--depicting simulated acts of underage, binge drinking (as well as a young woman playing video games, and a young man perusing a Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition)--and the promotion of underage, binge drinking in the "advice" section.  

Offered in bullet-pointed lists, their section on drinking included the admonition "Liquor before beer;" advised freshmen to chase cheap vodka with Tampico or Sunny D; and suggested freshman try locally brewed beers instead of the cheap beer they normally shot-gunned.  Let's be clear about this, the first piece of advice was not to make responsible decisions about drinking, but if one chose otherwise, one should at least try to be safe.  Instead, the editors blatantly promoted an illegal and dangerous activity.  

Some have defended this section by pointing out that some freshman are of legal drinking age.  Perhaps.  But the overall majority of incoming freshman are straight out of high school and  by targeting minors specifically for their insert--remember that it is a freshman's guide to college--the editors chose to address their advice to members of the community who cannot legally consume, purchase, or possess alcohol.

By far, however, apologists for the article have complained that it is satire--both the editors themselves, and students in letters to the editor.  Satire is itself a strict literary genre comprised of specific elements with the intent to be perceived as satire.  What's more, to be satire, a perceived vice or folly must be held to ridicule with the intent to shame an individual or group into change.  Jonathan Swift's "Modest Proposal" is satire because it exposed deeply-held class prejudices through a reasoned approach to cannibalism.  No one regarded his proposal as an honest attempt to cure hunger by eating children.

If the editors of the Daily Barometer intended their guide as satire, it should have held underage, binge drinking (itself a problem on campuses across the nation) to ridicule by shaming university administration, students, or society in general.  It did none of those things.  Instead, by offering advice on how best to avoid arrest for underage drinking, on which fruity beverages made the best chasers, and how to get drunk quickly (the carbonation in beer releases alcohol already present in the stomach to the bloodstream so that a person's metabolism is quickly overrun), the editors have crossed both the line of decency and journalistic integrity.

Sensationalism for its own sake, the last defense offered by the editors (though perhaps not in those words), is the opposite of journalism.  Stirring up controversy to promote dialogue about underage drinking on campus is shameful to journalism and detrimental to the conversation, as emotion quickly eclipses the substance of the argument.

The editors of the Daily Barometer have failed the test of satire, and its protection cannot be afforded them as they attempt to defend their actions.  They've done a disservice both to the university and to themselves and instead of offering a legitimate examination of a dangerous excess on campus they have distracted attention.  By advising people to engage in illegal activity, they've exceeded the protection of free speech and should tender their immediate resignation.

If you agree with anything I've said, let your voice be heard.  Share this with friends, link it to your own website.  You can write to the editors expressing your disapproval, or address your concerns to the University.  Let President Ray know that this is an issue you care about.  If you're an Alumnus, get in touch with the Alumni Association.  If you're the parent of a current student, or thinking about putting your kid (and a lot of your money) here, consider how this article affects the campus environment, and what it says about the University as a whole.  But the best thing to do is get in contact with the advertisers whose ad money supports the newspaper.  By expressing your disapproval to them, perhaps we can leverage a positive change in the discussion.



Daily Barometer:

• Editor-in-Chief
• Don Iler
• (541) 737-3191
  editor@dailybarometer.com

The Daily Barometer
c/o Letter to the editor
Memorial Union East 106
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331-1617
or e-mail: editor@dailybarometer.com

President Edward J. Ray
Mailing Address:
President
600 Kerr Administration Building
Corvallis, OR 97331-2128
541-737-4133 (phone)
541-737-3033 (fax)


Oregon State University
Alumni Association
204 CH2M HILL Alumni Center
Corvallis, Oregon 97331
541-737-2351
877-OSTATER (877-678-2837)
OSUalum@oregonstate.edu