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Letter to the Editor

Pacer wrote Leno-worthy headline


A headline on the front page of last week’s Pacer read, “Casual sex puts you at risk for STD.” Incredible. Higher education at its finest. What will this week’s headline be? I submit the following suggestions: · “Driving while under the influence of alcohol endangers yourself and others.” · “Failure to study may lead to poor grades, dismissal from University.” · “Illegal parking lot puts you at risk for ticket, loss of $10.” · “Poor eating and exercise habits may cause obesity, heart disease, death.” And finally my favorite: · “Sexual activity may result in pregnancy , or at least that what my parents tell me.” My purpose is not to denounce the article’s writer, who is a very capable journalist. Rather, I’m ashamed at the need for the article. It seems that many university students have yet to learn one of the most important principles of personal decision-making: every choice we make has a consequence, for better or worse. You reap what you sow. While it amazes me that many students begin college ignorant of this principle, it’s even more amazing that some will graduate having never grasped it. Adults who are seemingly oblivious to the potential consequences of their actions are fools, not victims. Consider the repercussions of your actions. Master your emotions, or they will master you. As Og Mandino has said, “Weak is he who permits his thoughts to control his actions; strong is he who forces his actions to control his thoughts.”

Todd Higgs is a senior Management major from Martin.