Students are revolting
Tuesday, October 14, 2008 Thirty years ago, when I was at university, I launched (with a friend) a Private Eye-style student newspaper. We called it Campus and it caused quite a stir.
We attacked student politicians of all persuasions (we were eventually sued for defamation by one injured party) and generally gave everyone in authority a hard time. I vaguely recall being summoned to see the vice-chancellor. I definitely remember inventing a blonde nymphomaniac called Debbie. Unfortunately readers began to mistake our fictional character for a real-life first year student, also called Debbie, who complained to her tutor and we were forced to kill her off (the character, not the student).
Campus may have been full of childish, catty, spiteful remarks, but we didn't take ourselves seriously and parts of it were very funny. The official student newspaper was our favourite target because it was so boring, so worthy, so dull, so .... ugh!
I was reminded of this by a leading article in the current issue of The Journal, the Edinburgh student newspaper. Commenting on the introduction of graphic health warnings on fag packets, The Journal says:
Smoking has been firmly ingrained into our culture, and a significant shift away from tobacco will prove painful to many. But the government clearly has the right idea: there is simply no justification for failing to take action against a phenomenon that has such damaging effects across every section of society.
After the deaths of thousands from passive smoking, the move to ban smoking in enclosed public spaces was eminently sensible. Yet a glamour still clings to the habit, particularly among the young. To confront smokers so candidly with such grossly unpleasant reminders of what lies in store for them can only serve to blunt this enticingly sexy image. The Department of Health has acted responsibly and in the long-term interests of the country as a whole.
Full article HERE. Whoever wrote it is clearly angling for a job with the BBC or the Guardian. How depressing. So earnest and so po-faced - everything that most students are not.
Funnily enough, I recently contacted someone who used to feature in the pages of Campus. Reflecting on my role with Forest, he replied:
"Actually I have a great deal of sympathy with your position on the smoking ban ... not sure driving it out and potentially underground is doing any good with the young. My 20 and 19-year-olds both smoke as do the vast majority of their friends and I'm pretty sure 'rebellion' is a driver."
I couldn't agree more. This, surely, would be a far more interesting subject for The Journal's fun-loving readers than an article meekly supporting the government's war on tobacco?
BTW, who funds The Journal? My guess is the government taxpayer. I think we should be told.
Reader Comments (2)
What a tedious piece of nonsense !
Written, perhaps, by a Scottish Merchant Banker.......................?
'The Journal' is Edinburgh's unofficial and independent student newspaper, funded through advertising. I'm sorry you don't enjoy it; unfortunately, it's aim isn't entertaining idiots. Glad you took care of that while you were at university - and enjoy your war in defence of a fatal addiction!