| by Annie Norton | 4/20/07 | 455 views |
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While I applaud the Review for putting out a good paper every week, I have one problem with the publication; the weekly “UnDressed” column. After realizing its sole purpose was to provide more entertaining and human interest appeal to the paper, I came to read the column just to see what kind of “advice” the editors were approving for print each week. However, to me the column is inappropriate and lacking substantial information. Not because the topic of sex and relationships is inappropriate (in fact I’m all for it), but because there is no credibility to what is being addressed. Sex, while it is obviously a main topic of discussion and activity among college students, it also something that requires knowledge to really talk about. Sex therapists and psychologists spend years studying the science of human behavior both in academia and personal work experience. The knowledge they acquire is rooted both in research and in speaking with and helping people for many years. It is a topic that requires a lot of things that we as mere college students have yet to learn. While some may argue college students have experience, I don’t think that compares to the things professionals or an older journalist has learned. And by having a column in a respected paper such as the Review, it gives the person a type of authoritative opinion and position that I do not think is deserved. Not to say the columnist’s opinion doesn’t matter, it just seems that the topics of discussion are meant more for talk amongst friends as oppose to a college newspaper.
The other thing is this column is representing the school. And frankly, some of the things said make it seem as if the entire school is doing them. I for one do not see spring break as a time to get drunk all day, hook up with random people, and win as many wet t-shirt contests as I can. This is not useful information. If the Review wants to have a legit sex/relationship column they should have one that is backed with real facts and talks about real problems. Not the problem of UD kids only hanging out with each other on spring break. Granted some of the columns are not all that bad (ex. the one this week on virginity) and they get people talking. But this isn’t Cosmopolitan; we are still young and learning new things, especially about sex. Does it talk about things college students can more readily relate too? Sometimes, but it could be presented in a more mature manner. I would give the column a lot more credit if it had some useful advice and information with reliable sources more times than not. I think the column has potential especially with a fresh perspective next year, but if they want people to take it seriously, they need to take it seriously. And it still doesn’t seem like they take it seriously. I guess if I don’t like the column I shouldn’t read it, but then where else am I going to learn that H stands for HIV, a potential deadly sexually transmitted disease?
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