Jessica Weiss Staff Reporter

What do Cindy Crawford, Lauren Hutton and Barbara Streisand have in common? They had the courage to accept themselves--perceived physical flaws and all. Think about it. Each of these women have attributes many would try to minimize or otherwise alter by way of plastic surgery. Crawford with her trademark mole. Hutton and her gap-toothed smile. Streisand with her prominent nose. Instead of viewing their attributes as imperfections, they turned their flaws into something that set them apart from the crowd. A unique signature, if you will. That, my friends, is self-acceptance. It’s easy to fall into the trap of measuring yourself against some outside standard—be it fashion magazines, television or peers. Sometimes it almost seems as if everyone is in a contest, obsessed with idealism and unattainable perfection. Who doesn’t have a physical characteristic they wouldn’t mind altering? I’m willing to bet the farm that we could all come up with a few things we’d like to “get done”—unless, of course, you’re the that guy who sings the “I’m too sexy” song! (just kidding!) With the proliferation of plastic surgery in today’s society, it doesn’t seem insane to be so vain. It seems like almost every celebrity has had a nip here or a tuck there. In fact, some may actually owe their celebrity status to the operation they’ve had. Take Pamela Anderson, for example. Tell me you didn’t envision a big chest as soon as you read her name. It’s pretty safe to say she isn’t known for her acting ability. Who wants to be known for a body part? Not me. Then there are the people who take the whole concept way too far. Today, the name Michael Jackson has virtually become a synonym for cosmetic surgery. He now looks as though he’s from a different planet, but that’s another topic in and of itself. My point is I think it is ridiculous how synthetic some people would like to be. Many people undergo the knife each year, each shelling out thousands of dollars just to make an unnecessary change in their appearance. Maybe you have even fantasized about how you would look if you had your (fill in the blank) done. But don’t you think it would be a lot healthier to appreciate the one-of-a-kind individual that you are? To actually like—not just tolerate—your face, your hair and your figure? Learning to let go of what others think and instead concentrating on pleasing yourself certainly takes some courage. However, once you begin to embrace your uniqueness and accept yourself the way you already are, your true beauty will begin to shine through.

Weiss, a junior mass communication major, hails from LaMorre, Calif.

There’s always that one kid in class who seems to know it all, until the professor discovers that not only has he/she not read the book, but he/she is basing all knowledge of the subject at hand on a movie. The most obvious way this person is unmasked is when they get the facts wrong. They try to convince their American history professor that Forrest Gump really was the inspiration for the “have a nice day” smiley face. Or, perhaps, they attempt discussing “Gone with the Wind,” but somehow never got to the part where Scarlet had two other children besides Bonnie. Although not severely academically detrimental, students who give up books for their cinematic counterpart lose the adventure of conjuring up the images in their heads. What did students do before televisions and movies? Without the challenge of creating their own images, students today are banished to a world of unoriginal images. With no active part of the imagination, story lines become repetitive and boring. In a movie everything is prepared and no imagination or thought has to go into it. Society becomes more and more passive as less and less involvement is required from entertainment. Perhaps the biggest reason stated by students why movies are better than books is because it is easier to watch a movie than read a book. This is reflective of a society where almost anything is simplified and modified for “convenience sake.” Remote controls and microwaves make entertainment and food available at a moments notice and at a minimal effort. However, the “real” world is not like that. When students get their first job, the primary purpose will not be to make their lives easier. Taking the easy way out is not the best preparation for making it in the job market. To read and learn out of a book it take effort. Even if students get the correct answers on tests because they watched the movie, they still lose something by not reading the book. In “What Reading Does for the Mind,” a study found that prime-time television used fewer “rare words” than even children’s books. In an article by Alex Leibman of Yale University, he stated a study that people who read more know more about every day questions. Of people surveyed 70 percent believed that there were more Jews in the world than Muslims. In this same study reading volume increased the test scores and television exposure was associated with lower scores. Students shouldn’t allow themselves to be cheated by neglecting to read the books. By all means go watch the movie for a night of passive entertainment, but they shouldn’t skip out on truly educating themselves with the books.

Editorial written by Paige Dickerson, a sophomore English major.