COLUMN: Home Improvement

From Jordana Horn's "in Possibility," Winter '94 From Jordana Horn's "in Possibility," Winter '94Chris was the official junior high school loser. Grant and the other kids, of course, noticed Chris. He was a victim waiting to happen. So Grant and his friends got to school early one day, went into class, took a screwdriver and carefully loosened the screws holding Chris's desk together. Chris's desk and chair set was left merely one pudgy butt in Levi's jeans away from catastrophe. When Chris sat down for homeroom, the inevitable happened – leaving Chris sprawled on the floor. He tried as hard as he could not to cry, as everyone else in the class made no effort to contain their laughter. Here on the University's campus, The Daily Pennsylvanian is a lot like Chris – it never actually speaks, but it is often perceived as having said far too much. The DP is the thing that no one minds mocking and that everyone loves to hate. Obviously, the reasons behind people's conceptions of the DP are far more complicated than a seventh grader's virulent hatred of Chris. Over the past year, tensions pulsating just beneath the surface of the University community have exploded in a tremendous burst of anger, frustration and enmity. We have all heard talk about the "wounds" of this threat to the University's well-being, the "scars" that some say have healed and others say never will, and the medicine being administered to the ailing community by groups ranging from the Commission on Strengthening the Community to the Edmund Burke Society. But the fact of the matter is that Chris is still on the floor, and the desk is in pieces. That is where you come in. This week marks the beginning of the 110th Board of The Daily Pennsylvanian. As head of this new board, I speak for us all in saying that you are what is needed to pick the pieces off the floor. This is a new start for The Daily Pennsylvanian, but it cannot really begin without you. It's easy for kids to stay in their seats and laugh at Chris – and it's a hell of a lot easier for people to criticize the paper than to do something about it. But if you stay seated now – the time when you could do the most to actually change things – you will only perpetuate the cycle of frustration and blame created by this formalized antagonism. That is why I ask you to come to The Daily Pennsylvanian's introductory meeting for new staffers for a new semester. If you hate The Daily Pennsylvanian with a passion, then I hope you will come in the door for our introductory meeting on Thursday, January 20th and take a step towards changing it for the better. And if you like the DP, come to Thursday's meeting and become more involved. And those of you who just don't care, well, you can feel free to come too. All that is needed is for you to walk in the door to our offices at 4015 Walnut Street on Thursday. No prior experience is necessary – if you've never taken a photo, sold an ad, written an article or tried computer design, we'll teach you how. Any interest that you may have can be filled here, whether it's art, writing, and design, or making money (now we're talking!). Business (Finance, Sales, Marketing, etc.) meeting is at 4:30, while Editorial (reporting, 34th Street, design, sports, photo, etc.) is at 5:30. And if you can't come, just call (898-6581). Why is this important enough to warrant an entire column? Because this is a chance for you to redefine The Daily Pennsylvanian, simply by putting yourself in it. And, as the new editors, we want you to know that we want all of the potential that you can bring to the paper. Over the past year, we have all seen the power of words – on Locust Walk, out of a High Rise window and on the pages of this newspaper. But words have great potential and possibility. They can engender fury, disenchantment, passion and devotion. My hope is that you will come to the paper, and turn your feelings and words into actions. So go on and pick the kid up off the floor. Because over the next year, we're going to try to build a stronger desk. Jordana Horn is a junior Communications major from Short Hills, New Jersey, and Executive Editor-Elect of The Daily Pennsylvanian. in Possibility will appear alternate Tuesdays.