MARCH 1989 Opinions U. THE NATIONAL COLLEGE NEWSPAPER MARCH 1989 * Opinions U. THE NATIONAL COLLEGE NEWSPAPER 7 THE NATIONAL COLLEGE NEWSPAPER' By presenting a wide range of opinions and ideas reprinted from hundreds of campus newspapers, we hope to enhance the quality of campus life as we inform, entertain and engage the national student body. We acknow- ledge the commitment of student journalists across the nation, supported by their media advisers and journalism professors, to report the activities, issues and concerns of their fellow students. PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER Sheena Paterson-Berwick ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Mike Singer DIRECTOR OF CAMPUS RELATIONS Dick Sublette CIRCULATION AND DISTRIBUTION Operations Manager: Annalee Ryan RESEARCH Director: Steve Nachtman PROMOTIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS Manager: Julie Du Brow MARKETING OPERATIONS Account Executive: Ross Fischman Coordinator, Data Systems: Troy Rennebe EDITORIAL Rebecca Howard, News Features Editor Brent Anderson, Life and Art Editor Marc Bona, Dollars and Sense Editor Mark Csanock, Student Body Editor Liz Camfiord, Assistant Editor ADVERTISING SALES Sales Manager: Ava Weintraub Los Angeles (213) 450-2921 Classified Saes Maner:Jennifer Flynn Advertising Assistan Cudia Malis New York (212) 840-6080 Account Executives: Joseph Finkelstein, Karen C. Tarrant Advertising Assistant: Christopher Sorgie Midwest (313)643-8447 rg Laine Meyers. Inc. EDITORS ON FELLOWSHIPS Brent Anderson, Daily Nexus, U. of California, Santa Berba' Marc Bona, The Daily Iowan, U. Of Iowa Mark Charnock, The Breeze, James Madison U., VA * Rebecca Howard, Kansas State Collegian, Kansas State U. EDITORIAL ADVISORY COUNCIL DR.J. DAVID REED, Immediate Past President, DR. FRANK RAGULSKY, Manager of Student Society r terColle Journalists, The Eastern News, Media, Daily Barometer, Oregon State U. leeerentteteU.JAN T. CHIL.DRESS, DirectreofStedent Peb- FRED WEDDLE, Immediate Past President, liaeons, UeivrsityDaily, Tenas Tech U. ManagersAmOlton efUniersit Peitiens ED BARBER, General Manager,Independent Florida Alligator, U. of Florida MONA CRAVENS, Director of Student Publica- HARRYMONTEVIDEO, General Manager, The tions, Daily Trojan, U. of Southern California Red & Black,U. of Georgia EDMUND SULLIVAN, Director, Columbia Scho- lastic in, Clm U BRUCE D. ITLE, Manager of Student Publica- TOM ROLNICKI Executive Director Associated tions, State , na tte U. Collegiate Press ' ' ERIC JACOBS, Immediate Past President, Col- lege Newspaper Business & Advertising Managers, DR. DAVE KNOTT, Immediate Past President, The Daily Pennsylvanian,U. of Pennsylvania Cellegn MediaAdvisers, The Ball State Daily RICHARD C. LYTLE, General Manager, Texas News,,Intl Stete U_, IN Student Publications, The Daily Texan, U. of W. B. CASEY, Publisher, DailyIowan, U. of Iowa Texas, Austin U. is published eight times a year by The Amer- Copyright 1988. All rights reserved. ican Collegiate Network, 3110 Main Street, Santa BPA Consumer Audit membership applied for Monica, CA 90405. Tel: 213 450-2921 August 1987. The beautiful shall inherit the media in '80s America By Ross Levi The Daily Free Press Boston U., MA First off, let us agree that beauty is seen in the eyes of the beholder. A look at the Russian version of a hot babe ems to put an end to any argument on t at subject. Clearly, different cultures, times or individuals have their own con- cept of what is sexually, emotionally or aesthetically pleasing. We all have a picture, provided by the media, in our mind of what our culture holds up as the perfect woman or man. She is in her early to mid-twenties, medium height, blond, thin and lightly b sty. He is in his late twenties, tall, k-haired, thin, and muscular. Those with blemished or non-white skin, crooked or colored teeth, or an overly prominent nose or set of ears need not apply. From films to television to fashion magazines, we are constantly presented with generically beautiful people doing fun, exciting things. It's the Kevin Cost- rs and Tom Cruises that become ball or billiards stars, are chased by the CIA, or lose their virginity and get accepted to Princeton all in the same weekend. And it's the Elizabeth Shues v N V O G ! c J '0 and Kelly McGillis's that actually have the physically and economically uncon- an exciting night of babysitting, teach ventional to find a respectable niche in a pilots to fly and always get the man. landscape as varied as the national In a way, it's justified that we look for media. Just look at those times in Holly- pleasant-looking people in our films, wood when average, even slightly un- television, and advertisements. Enter- attractive people were able to make tainment is for enjoyable escape and it's their presence known. hard to enjoy yourself when watching a Humphrey Bogart wasn't very attrac- 400-pound leper. (Well, unless she is a tive. Neither was James Cagney. Clark he named Divine.) Still, it is possible for Gable had ears like Dumbo. Even Bette Davis with her gorgeous, riveting eyes was no looker. Even recently, the '70s seemed to celebrate unorthodox beauty (remember The $1.98 Beauty Contest?). The '80s and its values have created an intolerance for deviant looks, be- havior and class. The only black fami- lies we are interested in today are those of a comfortable obstetrician who acts whiter than a freshly cleaned diaper. And that's the danger in exclusively beautiful and wealthy people setting the standard for success in our fictional stories. Is media just reflecting society or is society beginning to incorporate the ideas of media? One of the most famous episodes of The Twilight Zone television series told the story of a deformed, hideously ugly woman who's only hope was a corrective operation that might allow her to look normal and live a productive, worth- while life. When the bandages were re- moved, the audience saw the face of a beautiful woman. It was then that the operation was announced a failure by a deformed-looking doctor and his nurses. It was titled "Eye of the Be- holder." But what did Rod Serling know any- way? He was ugly as sin.