I would like to begin by addressing the irony implicated in The Daily Campus’ stance on mass emails at SMU. I can’t imagine that I’m the only person who finished reading this article and asked myself, “The editorial board really argued in favor of limiting the amount of news students receive about campus events, resources and organizations? Really?” Our campus newspaper wants to limit convenient access to campus news.

Great.

I commend previous editorial pieces, which include, “Dyslexia: why it shouldn’t be ignored,” and “Depression hurts, but it doesn’t have to.”

However, this week students picked up The Daily Campus, looked to the opinion section in search of something important and the headline read, “Mass emails aggravate the student body.”

Again, I have to say — really? As a student body do we honestly believe that the delete buttons on our email accounts serve as headline news? I sure hope not, or else I picked the wrong university.

In this article the editorial board directly addresses Patrick Hite, claiming that it is far too annoying to be emailed more than once about opportunities for health care on campus. Did you hear that? Once is enough, please don’t bother students about menial issues, such health and wellness. We are simply too busy to press “delete.”

Did anyone from The Daily Campus attempt to contact Hite to understand the logic behind multiple emails? Is it possible that some people may forget when flu shots are available and a second or third email might serve as a friendly reminder?

Furthermore, the article implies that SMU students are closed minded and one dimensional because clearly “If I am a business major, I probably do not care about the speaker coming to campus from the anthropology department. I will not go…ever.” While I am not a business major, I am personally offended by the assumption that the major listed on my degree plan should be the optimum source in determining what events I am made aware of on-campus.

Do I have to be a dance major to learn about a dance concert in Meadows? Do I have to be a political science major to know if President Bush will be on campus? I sincerely hope not.

Perhaps the notion that we are too busy to be bothered with an overcrowded inbox is something that needs to be addressed.

The technology capability we have today is a gift, not a fundamental right owed to every university student. While we complain about too many emails, people worldwide and in the United States suffer from much larger, pressing issues. Poverty, unemployment and educational inequity to name only a few, and these seem to be much more newsworthy topics, wouldn’t you agree?

I can only speak for myself, but hopefully the following statements are more relatable to the SMU student body than The Daily Campus’ crusade against email inconvenience.

Hegi Family Career Center, please send me as many emails as you can about job opportunities, workshops and presentations that will help me after graduation.

Anthropology Department, please keep me informed about the human rights violations that plague this world.

Meadows, please send me your newsletter regarding your dance concerts, music festivals and plays. I would love the opportunity to take a break from psychology reading and enjoy the arts.

Dedman Center for Lifetime Sports, please let me know when you’re closing early on game day, or when you’ve run out of hot water. It will save me the trouble of showing up to a “game day only” parking lot and a locked door.

Finally, Patrick Hite, please continue to make me aware of all the resources available at the University Health Center. I am interested in staying healthy this semester — especially during flu season.

Let me be clear. I do not attend all of the events I am emailed about, nor do I read every email word for word. I have, however, attended an event I wouldn’t have known about without all of our “excessive emails.” The editorial board asked, “Is there a place on the survey we can express our sincere annoyance that we received the survey multiple times?”

In response, I would like to pose this question to The Daily Campus: Is there a place in your newspaper where I can express my sincere annoyance that you’ve spent 600 to 800 words on a topic that displays a true under appreciation for the resources available at SMU? Is there a place in your newspaper where I can express my sincere disappointment in the critical, unfounded judgment you’ve made that all students on this campus want to limit their opportunities to those reflected by their majors? If this article runs, then I guess I’ll have my answer.

Excuse me while I check my email.

Jessica Noel is a senior majoring in psychology and sociology. She can be reached for comment at [email protected]