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My Professional Writing Papers

Technical Writing ·  Exposition & Argumentation ·  Non-fiction Creative Essays ·  Grammar and Usage of Standard English ·  The Structure of English ·  Analysis of Shakespeare

Analysis of Literary Language ·  Advanced Professional Papers ·  The History of the English Language ·  First Internship: Tutoring in a Writing Workshop ·  Second Internship: Advanced Instruction: Tutoring Writing

Visual Literacy Seminar (A First Course in Methodology) ·  Theories of Communication & Technology (A Second Course in Methodology) ·  Language in Society (A Third Course in Methodology) ·  The Writer's Guild

Journalism

UMBC'S Conservative Newspaper: "The Retriever's Right Eye" ·  Introduction to Journalism ·  Feature Writing ·  Science Writing Papers

Articles Written for UMBC's University Newspaper: "The Retriever Weekly"

Local Article 1 ·  Local Article 3 ·  Local Article 4 ·  Local Article 5 ·  Local Article 6 ·  Local Article 7 ·  Local Article 8 ·  Local Article 9 ·  Local Article 10 ·  Local Article 11

Opinion Article 1 ·  Opinion Article 2 ·  Opinion Article 3 ·  Opinion Article 4 ·  Opinion Article 5 ·  Opinion Article 6 ·  Opinion Article 7 ·  Opinion Article 8 ·  Opinion Article 9 ·  Opinion Article 10 ·  Opinion Article 11 ·  Opinion Article 12 ·  Opinion Article 13

Where the Sidewalk Ends... and Political Crossfire Begins

Brett McKenzie, Retriever Business Manager, published November 18, 2003

While walking to class, it's hard to miss the colorful chalk messages and drawings that decorate UMBC's main sidewalk. Occasionally, the stretch of cement from Library Pond to the RAC acts as a calendar for upcoming events on campus or perhaps promotional space for an organization; other times it becomes a canvas of expression for various religious, sexual, and political ideas. From encouraging the celebration of National Coming Out Week, to promoting the "Hate is not a UMBC Value" motto, to announcing the place and time of a Take Back the Night Vigil, reading the sidewalks over the past three years has become one of my favorite ways to gauge what issues and events are important to my fellow students.

         When leaving the RAC last week, I noticed some brand new chalk writings and read them as I walked. Big, bold, pink letters triumphantly proclaimed: "UMBC thanks Bush for banning partial-birth abortion! I froze in disbelief. I read it again. UMBC thanks Bush. The entire school, the student body, faculty and staff thanks Bush?

         The collage of pro-life sentiments and praise for Bush continued along my walk back to the apartments, but I only thought of the one I had just read. How on earth could any organization presume that they had the right to speak for me and the other members of my community on this topic? I found it ironic that the College Republicans felt they could, considering the fact that I've been a Democrat since the day I knew what politics were.

         My political affiliation - and even my opinion on abortion - have absolutely no bearing on this issue. What does is that one organization assigned its beliefs to our university and did so on public property, in plain sight, in enormous letters. I am fine with - and actually enjoy - the fact that students use our walkways to express themselves, be it artistically, politically or even morally. In the same respect, I appreciated the public message boards the university put up on September 11th, even though I found some of the messages offensive. Students here who are excited and passionate about their beliefs create forums out of our sidewalks and message boards, and recently even some hopeful graffiti artists have decorated building walls and billboards with their opinions. I am thrilled that the community has thrown off the blanket of apathy, which covered us for the first few years of my time here. I am not happy, however, with one organization speaking on the behalf of myself and my peers, on a matter of personal choice.

         What can be done? Making rules as to what should and shouldn't go on the sidewalks would defeat the very purpose of them. They are symbolically ours. We can't share our meal cards or take more than two rolls of toilet paper from the desk; but we are free to encourage tolerance and awareness, to celebrate our values, or even voice our grievances using a small piece of chalk and the ground. However, the values and grievances we hold are our own, and we can only presume to speak on behalf of ourselves and like-minded people.

         No, I don't thank Bush. I certainly don't thank the College Republicans for making the gross generalization that all of us think alike. And because of the previous messages of organizations spreading tolerance and encouraging diversity, I know I am not alone in my anger.

Letter to the Editor: Rebuttal to "Where the Sidewalk Ends..."

Christopher Paul, published November 24, 2003

In rebuttal to Brett MacKenzie's article, "Where the Sidewalk Ends..." Silly Republicans! Every good fireman knows you don't fight fire with fire, you fight it with water. "You've been a naughty Republican! Now go to your room and study why Socialism doesn't work."

         My Word! What is the world going to when the Conservative Right in an attempt to get its political message out stoops so low to use the methods of the Liberal Right. I'm ashamed of you.

         Think about what this means. You put all that time and energy to praise President Bush for his decision on banning "Partial Birth Abortion," by chalking your message on the sidewalk. Stop and think a moment. What are sidewalks for? That's right, Walking! And how do human beings walk? Right again, with their feet. Therefore if you think about it, people are literally walking all over the very opinion that is so dear to you. Now isn't that silly. Why you've just reduced yourself to the level of the Liberal Left.

         Remember, according to James J. Martin, "Those who attack the rationale of the game, and not the players, are its most formidable adversaries."

         Now here's what you should have done. You should have gone out and counted how many places you are allowed to post according to SGA regulations. Then you should have thrown a "Celebration/Fund Raiser Dance Party" with the theme of celebrating President Bush's decision on Partial Birth Abortion, where all proceeds would be donated to Bush's Re-election Campaign Fund, and posted the message in all the appropriate places. Now that's how Capitalism works. After all, "The Dead Can't Dance." Silly Republicans, chalking is for Liberals!