Are video essays the new big thing?

Article by: Angela Bray

“Share a one-minute video that says something about you. Upload it to YouTube or another easily accessible Web site, and give us the URL. What you do or say is totally up to you.” One can only do so much in a minute.

This year for the prospective Class of 2014, Tufts University (Medford, MA) has added an optional video option to the application supplement. Is this appropriate?

It sounds fun; it’s a way to form an impression off-paper and interview-free. Video submission ideas are limitless to creativity and talent as stated on the application, and anything may be done or said. Seeking amusement, my roommate and I clicked the link to the applicant videos. Some made us laugh, while others were absolutely demeaning. The stream was synonymous to the standard YouTube channel. We viewed a variety of things: raps, songs, dances, and… a math dance? Thrown in the mix of music videos was a girl rapping with her mouth rubber-banded shut. Random?

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The Journal brings home the bronze

The Suffolk Journal’s office walls are peppered with awards. In the 1970s, apparently, this paper was really, really good. However, we haven’t won a big award since 1999 and we haven’t won an Associated Collegiate Press annual National College Journalism Convention award since 1979.

Well, we finally brought one home. Last Sunday, at the ACP’s annual convention, the Suffolk Journal won Third Place Best in Show for our website content and design out of hundreds of schools from all across the country that were entered in the contest.

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The GOP ReTort to Health Reform

Article by: Edmund Plamowski, Jr.

“The solution Republicans should offer for health reform is no health reform”

Over the past year, as Democrats in Congress have pushed their proposals for the socialization of America’s health care system, Republicans have offered both constitutional criticisms of the Democrats’ plans, as well as counter measures that would in effect overhaul health care without drastically increasing the size of the federal government. The key argument against Democratic health care bills has been that it would be unconstitutional to mandate that individual American citizens buy insurance, whether it is from a private company or through some sort of public option. It is a valid argument: if any American wants to go uninsured it should be (and is) their constitutional right.

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Letter to the [sports] editor

This reader is writing in response to Alex Mellion’s article, “Opinion: R.I.P. NBA Slam Dunk contest” (Feb. 17). It has been edited for style and content.

You are obviously entitled to your opinion and are free to write whatever you want, but I feel like I should respond to some of the things you were saying. First of all, the dunk contest most definitely isn’t dead. This year’s definitely lacked the variety and creativity of years past but definitely isn’t a sign that it will never be able to recover… I really think you took a lot away from Shannon Brown and DeMar DeRozan. Both of them are outstanding players and Shannon Brown is just a freak athlete to say the least, so while people may not have heard of them, they are incredible.

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