Academic Pressures

The Naked Truth Political ads use scandals and fears to as a senator. The ad avoided concrete stances and divert voters’ attention from important beliefs just as the ad criticizing Yoder exacerbated issues. a scandal that had no real effect on Kansas. In a time of such unprecedented partisanship regarding BY ELLIE SCHWARTZ issues such as gun control and gay marriage, voters NEWS EDITOR need accurate information regarding policy, not

Approaching the Nov. 4 election, a political skinny-dipping or a candidate’s irrelevant day job, ad plastered who appeared to be Kansas State to make informed decisions. Representative Kevin Yoder cannonballing nearly Ads are meant to scare voters, to produce a naked across voters’ televisions. The staged footage, hateful reaction toward the candidate portrayed, imitating his nude swim in the Sea of Galilee, played according to David Jaffe, Dean of Lynn University’s before dissatisfied Kansans, deplored Yoder’s lack College of International Communication. of clothing and paralleled it to his “stingy” funding. Therefore, ads deliberately avoid the important

Crude suggestions have become fair game issues and build fear in the political system, which in catching voters’ attention. With dramatized causes voters to make uninformed decisions. voices and vocabulary, the ad resembled the “Two The extent that voters and, as a result, elections Minutes Hate” from George Orwell’s “1989” more are manipulated by these ads is staggering. In closely than a substantial criticism. a study done by the University of Texas and

Ads from both parties manipulate information, University of Notre Dame, participants were shown using sensational scandals instead of addressing the one negative and one positive campaign ad against issues. And their questionable sources of funding both candidates before recording their updated also detract from their credibility. preference. Fourteen percent of voters rejected

The sources of funding for political ads don’t their originally preferred candidate after watching have voters’ best interests in mind yet heavily the negative ad. There was minimal movement influence elections. Thirty to 50 percent of all when shown the positive ad. Fourteen percent of money raised is used on negative campaign voters, enough to decisively sway elections, are ads, according to a research compilation from regularly swayed by scandals designed to scare the Journal of Advertising. Since most donors them every time a negative ad is released. expect favors in return for donations upon their While it’s nearly impossible to avoid political candidate’s election, their primary goal is to sway ads, voters can control what information they use voters. to make decisions. Examining voting records,

The amount of negative political ads used in ideological standings and debates is the only the 2012 presidential election increased more than way to make informed decisions when voting. 30 percent since the 2000 election, according to a Since campaigns and donors avoid real issues, research paper published by Erika Fowler. This voters must address them on their own. Reliable influx of ads comes from the selfish motivations of information does exist but not on the television donors. As a result, money influences elections that approaching election day. should be based on ideology. While the sources and messages of political

Political ads often avoid the issues voters ads are nearly as frightening as the ads themselves, should focus on. In the primary United States voters can and should actively inform themselves Senate race, candidate Dr. Milton Wolf’s ad showed through other means. The next time a politician him as a radiologist in scrubs, walking the hospital appears naked on a TV screen, voters must take halls as pleasant music played. In reality, Wolf’s control and ask themselves, ‘Why should this experience as a doctor didn’t increase his potential influence my decision?’

OPINION

Last Kid Standing

Senior Ellie Stingley adapts to life as the only child at home after her sister leaves for college.

BY ELLIE STINGLEY CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

After trying on countless outfits without satisfaction, I walked down the hall and knocked on my sister Sarah’s door for help. She was always my hero in such situations.

“You know, I won’t be able to help you with this every weekend once I’m at college,” Sarah said.

I suddenly realized how different everyday life would be without her.

Sarah and I are four years apart, which means she left for college as soon as I entered high school. During the months leading up to that first day without her, I assumed the only things that would change were not being able to ask for her fashion advice and not having someone with whom I could laugh at our quirky parents. Boy, was I wrong.

Since Sarah and I are the only kids in the family, her departure for college left me as the only child at home. In other words, I am the only child over which my parents have complete authority. The spotlight is on me. Yay. I’m not saying my parents don’t have lives or other things to do, but when they suddenly went from two kids to one, all of the attention shifted toward yours truly.

This may sound like a good thing, which is sometimes the case. However, as a teenager looking for more freedom in high school, the new abundance of attention isn’t always welcomed. When I come home from school, I am greeted by millions of questions about every detail of my day. And every time I decide to hang out with friends, another million questions follow the request for permission to go to a friend’s house. I’m not saying I don’t appreciate that my parents care enough about me to ask all these questions. But a little breathing room is sometimes necessary to avoid suffocation.

Another aspect of being the only child at home involves one thing we all hate: chores. Without a partner with whom I can divide the chores, the list of assignments including laundry, dishes and vacuuming is conveniently given to me. I can no longer only empty the bottom rack of the dishwasher or alternate weeks to vacuum.

Sarah’s leaving for college has meant more than a spare bedroom and wardrobe struggles. I’ve realized that having someone to fight with, something I always disliked, also means having someone to experience things with. And sometimes that just means being able to divide chores or endure the somewhat suffocating parental attention.

Through the past three years of being the only child at home, however, I have come to know my parents in more ways than I thought possible, which is something I’m grateful for. Yes, the unlimited attention can be overwhelming, but I know it is because they care. And when Sarah comes home to visit, it gives me more laughable stories to tell her about our sometimes crazy parents.