The long weekend is over and the dust on Court Street has settled, but no one should forget the surge of violence that took place when thousands of Ohio University dads came to town. Police arrested 52 people Saturday night, dealt with gunshots, a stabbing and a student death. Before we return to the routine of life in Athens, we all must ask why.
Drinking, that customary scourge of civility, probably deserves much of the blame. On top of that, a long weekend and the influx of out-of-towners made for a bad combination, it seems, and kept police busy Friday and Saturday. But it was Dads Weekend - shouldn't the presence of parents have meant everyone was on their best behavior? According to police, fathers were responsible for the lion's share of the disruptions. And because no one expected a traditionally orderly weekend to produce almost as many arrests as Halloween, police Friday night were caught off guard. The increased police presence Saturday night most likely defused many potentially explosive situations, and cooperation between Athens and OU police helped ensure that both the city and campus streets were well patrolled.
Now, city and university officials will probably start to ask what they can do to prevent violence for future event weekends, but they do not bear the primary responsibility. If dads, moms or siblings visit Athens, they should keep in mind that despite its reputation, the city is not a lawless refuge. Parents may feel transported back to their youthful college days of boozing and revelry, which is to be expected, but someone should be the adult in those situations, even if it's the child. City and university leaders can take a cue from Halloween in getting ready for future weekends, and hold student hosts responsible for their guests' behavior, even if the guests are paying their tuition.
Super Bowl ads deserve air time
CBS took flak from critics a few months ago for pulling what it deemed a controversial look at Ronald Reagan from the airwaves, and the network is in the news again for denying two organizations advertising spots during the Super Bowl. Now, just as before, the criticism is warranted.
The Super Bowl is the most-watched television event of the year, drawing a market share almost double that of its nearest competitor. Immense viewership has turned the game into a showcase for not only the top two teams in football, but also for the biggest corporations to present their best advertising offerings for the new year. A 30-second spot generally costs about $2.4 million.
Two organizations will not have the opportunity to reach this immense audience. CBS turned down a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals ad that promotes vegetarianism by claiming that meat causes impotence and a MoveOn.org spot critical of the United States' immense budget deficit.
CBS executives can stubbornly deny anyone they want from their air, but not without looking foolish and hypocritical in the process. The network's only problem with the ads is they attack controversial subjects. It is unclear what CBS is so afraid would happen if it were to show the ads. In a marketplace where skin, sex and over-indulgent portrayals of alcohol consumption are regularly offered, it is difficult to understand how advertisements calling into question the budget deficit and America's obsession with red meat can be considered controversial.
While advertisements opposing smoking and drunk driving have regularly appeared on past Super Bowl broadcasts, CBS argues that since no one would defend these actions, they are not controversial. But, again, with the notion of official beer sponsors and the like, the network is providing similarly controversial topics loads of airtime.
It seems highly improbable that viewers would have a real problem with these two ads when considering the other content they will see during the game. If these two groups are willing to pony up the exorbitant asking price for these advertisements, then CBS should let them speak. Just as during the Reagan controversy, CBS is showing a short-sightedness that is stifling its programming, and a sense of unnecessary morality and fear that borders on censorship.
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