Rethinking extent of reality television

KRISTIN AGOSTINELLI STAFF WRITER KMA724@CABRINI EDU

With the 21st century invasion of reality shows, people are bound to wonder if television has taken the spoof too far. While it is nice to see people humiliate themselves every now and then in front of millions of people weekly, you have to admit that the stint gets old after a while. When will networks realize that they need to provide their audience with something actually worth viewing every so often.

I am not bashing the whole reality television era, yet with shows such as American Idol, The Amazing Race, The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, Survivor, Fear Factor and new shows such as Super Nanny and

Nanny 9-1-1, there needs to be at least one person saying enough is enough. While I, myself, am occasionally caught up in one or two of these shows, it seems as though every station that I turn to there is a reality show airing. For once, I would like to turn to a station where there was not some random person competing with others to win a sum of money by eating random animal body parts, or someone trying to win the affection of another by going on national televisions to do so.

I feel reality shows have engulfed too much of television airtime that people are getting sick of them, and only watch them because there is nothing else left to watch. This may not be true, but in my opinion, I just think that television needs to rethink their networks decisions on what should air and what should not.

KIMBERLY WHITE STAFF WRITER KMW722@CABRINI EDU

From the fall of 2001 through the spring of 2002 I wanted nothing to do with college. I attended various college tours and presentations simply to humor my parents, or to get out of the daily, predictable high school class routine. I wasn’t thrilled to be finishing high school and my main focus was on the fun I planned on having before the dreadful beginning of college.

I didn’t really care where I wound up attending school, but I felt most at home during my tour of Cabrini. I was upset at the thought of leaving all of the friends that I had built such strong and amazing relationships with over the past four years, and decided I was going to commute to a school close by. I couldn’t imagine enjoying the “resident” college student role.

Freshman orientation came the day after senior week ended. Of course I was dreading the thought of staying at an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people after what I thought to be the most unforgettable week of my life had just ended. This was it, I came to realize upon my arrival at Cabrini’s freshman orientation that I was no longer a dependent high school child, but somewhat forced into being an independent adult entering the adult world of college.

My parents drove away and left me there, alone. Although I had spent the past year trying to get as far away from them as I could, I realized at that point that I wasn’t nearly as independent as I once thought and hated the thought of my parents abandoning me there.

By the time my parents came back to Cabrini, as orientation ended, I had a more positive outlook on my college career. In fact, I even shocked them by asking if I could still change my mind and live on campus instead of commuting when the semester began in August.

Although surprised and possibly somewhat disappointed they allowed me to do so, assuming it’s what would make me most happy. My parents were right because I did move into Xavier

Hall in August of 2002 and had the most amazing time. I met some unforgettable people with whom I created lasting friendships and memories with. I spent my sophomore year living in House 2 and had a great experience there as well.

I began my junior year in August of 2004. I decided to commute this year for various reasons, which makes my college experience much different from the previous years of residing on campus. Although residing on a college campus and commuting from home are two completely different experiences for anyone, they both served as learning experiences in my life.

I never expected my resident experience to be as meaningful and enjoyable as it was and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. As a commuter I’m now viewing college from a completely different perspective. I don’t regret either choice I made, but would recommend experiencing life on a college campus to any freshman who is deciding whether or not they want to live on their college campus.