Editor’s note: Eric Pfeiffer is the campaign manager for ASUO Executive candidates Bret Jacobson and Matt Cook. This column was written after the ticket was removed from the ballot. They have since been reinstated and will appear in the general electio n, so Pfeiffer is again on hiatus until after the election.
I’ll soon begin my last spring term at the University, and it’s raining outside. Fitting, because University life has been anything but what I expected coming in. Ideally, I’d take it eas y during my last term of my college career; spend time with my family, tan my starkly pale skin, and not take any classes before 2 p.m. But let’s face reality: 20 credits, 8 a.m. classes, two jobs and it’s raining outside.
I might be a little depress ed if I believed my college years truly are going to be the best of my life. Thankfully, I don’t believe that for a second. I can’t speak for those other soon-to-be graduates, but I am literally counting down the days until I leave the University, and mor e specifically, leave Eugene.
There are a lot of topics I wish I had taken the time to write about, but a few unforeseen events came up in the meantime: working on a campus election that refuses to end and a few life-changing moments to boot. So, inst ead, I’m going to use this column for a little spring cleaning. Here is a short list of neat little things I think you might be interested in if you’ve enjoyed any of my columns so far:
First, for a healthy dose of alternative and mainstream political news coverage, go to the Web site www.gotcannedgoods.com; you won’t be disappointed. Canned Goods is a non-profit media collective that gathers news
and art from around the world and assembles it into a convenient package. Once you vi sit Canned Goods, be sure to sign up for its free e-newsletter, the Poopa Scoopa. It’s a daily roundup of important political stories from around the world that will save you a lot of time surfing the Web. Canned Goods is also a unique showcase for artist s, writers and underground journalists alike. So, if you like crafting media, instead of just consuming it, this is definitely worth your time to check out.
While you’re engrossing yourself in alternative media, you might as well listen to some good m usic. If you’re tired of the same crap polluting the airwaves, please give a few minutes of your time listening to the campus radio station, KWVA 88.1 FM. KWVA is run by students and features a variety of music ranging from Spanish-language programming to independent hip-hop. There’s something for everyone to enjoy on KWVA and something to annoy just about everyone as well, so don’t listen just once. Keep trying and you will definitely find something worth listening to that you aren’t likely to find anywh ere else. And best of all, no Dave Matthews Band.
Because this is a column on politics and the media, I can’t finish my tenure without mentioning one person in particular: Harlan Ellison. Everyone has some figure he or she looks up to, and this indivi dual is mine. Harlan Ellison is the most-awarded living fiction writer in the world today, and you probably haven’t heard of him. He is predominantly a short-story writer, but he has written novels, screenplays, comic books and even once did a media colum n back in the ’70s that is the inspiration for my own tour of duty. He is an incredible personality and an amazing writer. As he so humbly stated in the introduction to one of his books, your IQ will rise by at least 5 points just by reading him. So, if I’ve maintained your attention thus far, it would be in your interest to read something — anything — by this man. He is a genius in the true sense of the word.
Last in my spring cleaning effort, take a moment to read one of the other campus publicati ons that your student fees pay for. And have a good spring term. You’ll hear from me again soon.