Illustration by Moe Buckley
When the time feels right, and a longing for adventure strikes, Wittenberg students have been turning to their animalistic roots, and unleashing their inner Tigers all over campus.
However shocking, there seems to be a rising abundance of sex outside of the bed taking place on Wittenberg’s campus, and Witt student’s blame adrenaline.
“Students like having sex in crazy places because it’s an adrenaline rush,” said junior Katie Wenger. “They like the fact they may be able to get caught and it makes it more exciting.”
Other students agree, saying that by taking sex, something that is already a rush, and moving it to someplace unique, it becomes that much better of an experience. So where is it that Wittenberg students’ have left their mark? Well that depends on personal preferences related to sports, education and traditions.
It seems that sports fans have headed straight to their roots. Some students told stories of football field frolicking, stadium sex and baseball banging. In particular, one 2010 graduate explains her desire for adventure led straight to her passion of baseball.
“My boyfriend at the time was a baseball player, and as soon as he suggested the idea, we went for it, driving to the field, jumping the fence, and just doing it,” said the anonymous graduate. “It was a homerun… or I guess you could say grand slam… literally.”
Other Witt students find their passion to be related to their education. Students revealed another hot spot for hookups are bathrooms and hallways in Hollenbeck or even rooms in the library that you can rent out for “studying”.
“The library study rooms were made for hooking up,” said one current junior female. “I was sober and nervous we would get caught, but the adrenaline was what kept us going.”
Some Witt students have even gone above and beyond, landing themselves directly in the middle of campus. The Hollow, not unfamiliar to naked bodies thanks to streaking, seems to be a common place for Witt students to get down and dirty.
“My boyfriend literally picked me up, threw me over his shoulder, and carried me into the hollow,” said another 2010 alumni. “Forget streaking the hollow… I effed in the Hollow!”
Since Wittenberg is all about tradition, many students find the need to surpass the sex lives of their friends, and push Wittenberg traditions to the limit. Despite the inability to step on the seal in the center of campus, Witt students have found ways around the curse in order to get it on.
“One of my fraternity brothers had sex on the seal with his fiancé right after she graduated,” said an anonymous senior male. “He was a year under her, so she had to be on the bottom so that he wouldn’t endure the “curse” of the seal. They are now married and expecting their first child.”
Despite the many places on campus that seem to be tainted with Wittenberg loving, there are even more adventures to be found in surrounding areas. One 2010 Wittenberg grad explains that her passion was put into play on the walk to McMurray’s.
“It was graduation night a couple of years ago and I found myself on the hood of a truck parked in the alley behind Mc’s,” said this graduate. “A motion light detector came on, allowing everyone on College and Fountain to see us. We finished and then walked to McMurray’s for liquid satans and the aids wall.”
If education, nature, sports or tradition doesn’t get your heart pumping, Wittenberg students suggest a plethora of other places to try out. Krieg Hall practice rooms, Wally Witt, dorm lounges and laundry rooms and even the McMuray’s bathroom are just some other places Wittenberg students suggest trying out to keep things interesting and unwind from the stressful environment of college.
“Sometimes the stress of college life makes you just want to do something crazy,” said junior Sammy Miller. “Why not unleash your inhibitions and have some fun every now and then.”
(Kristin Komar / s11.kkomar@wittenberg.edu)
This article is disgusting and doesn’t deserve to be in our paper. It is crude and does nothing but cast a poor “light” on our campus by allowing prospective students and their parents to see what our newspaper is REALLY writing about. It may sway their opinions because the parents may not want their children attending a school that is more obsessed with “effing in the hollow” than with issues that really matter.
Wittenberg is supposed to be an prestigiously academic campus…putting articles like this in our paper does nothing to reflect that.
I agree with the above comment. I understand that we have fun at college but to encourage this activity in our Campus Newspaper is pretty gross. I mean it if it is really worth bragging about tell your friends don’t put it out there for the world to see especially now that the Torch is online. It is just great to think prospective students will miss out on the opportunity to go here because there parents will refuse to pay for them to come to a school that advertises things like this.
This article is distasteful and offensive, and is an embarrassing disgrace for the Wittenberg community. It is not acceptable to for our newspaper to justify sexual promiscutiy as a response to the “‘stress of college life,’” much less allowing said justification to accompany the advertisement of Wittenberg students in such a foul light to the entirety of the Wittenberg community. This is not the news that should to be distributed to Wittenberg. This journalistic approach is nothing to be proud of. A level of quality is expected from The Torch that this article is regrettably lacking.
I am so disappointed in the Torch, and in Witt. We can do better than this. Yes, we should be discussing more than the purely academic side of student life in our publications, but this far oversteps the boundaries of what is acceptable. We do not need to publish this negative portrayal of students at all, much less publish it in the formidable position of center page. I agree with the first comment: Witt should not allow this sort of justification for promiscuity ever. I know Wittenberg is better than this, for we are a very diverse, talented population. I sincerely hope the caliber of the Torch will increase and the staff will consider using discretion after the reactions to this article.
According to Webster’s dictionary….
Definition of JOURNALISM
1
a : the collection and editing of news for presentation through the media
b : the public press
c : an academic study concerned with the collection and editing of news or the management of a news medium
2
a : writing designed for publication in a newspaper or magazine
b : writing characterized by a direct presentation of facts or description of events without an attempt at interpretation
c : writing designed to appeal to current popular taste or public interest
Now that you are familiar with what journalism means….. I can get on with my own opinion, since you were all so quick to state yours.
This is a newspaper,made up of journalists, student and staff writers, that write stories they are given by their teachers and editors. Then they take their stories and send them to the torch, where they are either accepted by the editors or denied.
While this topic might be a bit racier than other topics the torch has published (and that no one has responded too…), it none-the-less is news. It was taken on by the torch because they knew they could handle it, and that it was going to get people talking.
While you may find this article a bit more racy than some others, the fact is that these events are something you probably werent aware of before reading this article, and so it is news.
This girls just doing her job, taking the stories her teacher gives her, and writing them as an objective JOURNALIST. thats what they do. So if this story offends you, but I think its a bold piece of writing. If it hurts your eyes, dont read it. Plain and simple.
Personally, I really like the story. It is very well written and I don’t think people are giving Kristin, the author, enough credit. As journalists, our job is to report what is going on and I am proud of Kristin for breaking this story wide open and reporting the news…there is lots of sex happening on campus and in the craziest places, this is the news!! I’m so happy that everyone is talking about the torch and picking it up, that is the goal! These kinds of stories are the ones most people read.
I totally agree! Kristin is just doing her job, writing the TRUTH about what goes on on campus. There have been plenty of other racy articles published covering various subjects. To say that this article is disgusting simply because it discusses an issue that some students/people are uncomfortable with is to say that virtually every well written, intriguing journal article is disgusting and shouldn’t be published. I picked up the torch this week for the sole purpose of reading this article, because it is SO interesting and well written! The racy articles are the ones people want to read, not the ones about what color the new carpet in the CDR is!!!
While I do not believe Kristin should be condemned or ostracized for writing this piece, I think something does need to be said about the relevancy and appropriateness of any journalistic piece that is a representation of the entire Wittenberg community. As mentioned in previous comments, Wittenberg is better than this. Each of us has a responsibility to uphold the policies, procedures and respect that this community demands of us. If we fail to adhere to these basic principles, the ability of our community to rise above the stereotypes that are falsely provided for us as “college students” will soon diminish. We have to remain steadfast to the values for which we, as a University, were founded or risk losing everything that those who have labored before us worked to create.
Wittenberg needs to be unified on this. Again, to reiterate previous comments, every single tour that passes through our campus identifies the torch as a point of interest. That is our direct connection with the future students of this community. If we permit this kind of dialogue now, in complete ignorance to our core values, then there will be nothing to prevent this kind of event from becoming the norm.
While scandalous articles may increase readership of the Torch on campus, I do not feel comfortable allowing this kind of rhetoric to represent myself as a student and I think the other voices on this blog are a testament towards the student body’s agreement.
One line from the article reads: “Since Wittenberg is all about tradition, many students find the need to surpass the sex lives of their friends, and push Wittenberg traditions to the limit.” This is one tradition that I think our campus cannot allow to continue. The work world we will all enter soon after our time here is harsh enough, we need not fight amongst ourselves but this is something that impacts each student, faculty member and alumni. We must consider how we allow ourselves to be represented.
AIDS. not aids.
you mean “a” not “an”
… remember an is for vowels.
who are you trying to correct?
I personally think this article was the most real one I’ve seen all year, let alone my whole time at Witt. What is it that college students really care about? Not opinion columns about coffee or a man named joe..but instead the juicy stuff the human race thrives on – sex, drugs, alcohol, among other racy stories. This kind of stuff goes on everywhere, on EVERY college campus – so why not publish it, make it known, and be real. Often times the truth hurts, but come on people..get over it, it’s one article.
this is college. at least people are talking to each other about the article rather than ignoring the usual torch stories….
this is awesome. at first i thought it was kind of a gross article to read just because its a little uncomfortable but after reading all of these comments i think it’s awesome that it’s generating so much feedback.
wittenberg students need to communicate with each other more and it looks like an article about sex caused us to actually discuss something exciting for once.
sometimes we all need to step outside of our comfort zones.
college students (most) are interested in sex, drugs, & alcohol and always will be.
at least wittenberg students are talking and communicating with each other over this topic. nobody ever talks about the torch.
it’s great that so many people are posting their opinions about this story. that means that we have a lot of talented individuals on our campus.
while i felt uncomfortable reading about sex all over campus, i think it’s great that it’s generating so much attention
This is an editorial, not a credible news story. The angle in which the story is written is extraordinarily biased and leading. I firmly believe in the integrity of journalism; that even the controversial stories should be tackled but absent of reproach. It’s disappointing that the article was written with such carelessness; placing blame on specific sports teams with colorable evidence at best, giving anonymous quotes, holding those who gave consent to use their name in a negative light, the list is perpetual. The people who are mentioned in this story could press charges for libel if they felt the need. How is the reader supposed to take this article seriously and not as a verbal smack in the face when it has no credibility? WAKE UP, PEOPLE. Readers might actually trust this. That, my friends, is unfathomably sad.
There is not one piece of opinion in this story. It is not an editorial and it is not the views of the author that wrote the piece, I don’t even think it is the views of the torch. These are real quotes from real people. Grow up and read it like a light hearted story and stop taking everything so seriously.
People need to stop hating on this article. I hope everyone who had a negative comment realizes that hardly anyone reads the Torch unless there is something worth reading and, let’s be honest, the food in the CDR and the condition of old buildings is old news that no one cares about. This is a COLLEGE newspaper, not the New York Times. If you don’t like what’s in the Torch, don’t read it. The goal of a newspaper is to report the news and bring to light interesting/controversial subjects that targeted audience cares to read about. The Torch’s audience is college-aged students, most of which are mature enough to be able to discuss drugs and sex on campus. The fact of the matter is, that no matter what college you go to, there will be alcohol, drugs, and sex, and not talking about these things isn’t going to make them go away, so why not discuss them? Putting boundaries on what the Torch can and can’t write about is going against the whole purpose of journalism.
Yes Steph!! It’s interesting that people are commenting on this story and not others…would people have even read the torch if this article wasn’t in it and they hadn’t heard about it?
Part of a journalist’s job is to receive both positive and negative feedback.
Steph – I disagree. Don’t you WANT to have feedback from your audience? “If you don’t like the Torch, don’t read it” is the wrong thing to say to your audience…a good editor wants to target his/her audience in the appropriate way, NOT encourage people not to read it.
Yes, the other articles don’t have comments on them but that doesn’t mean that they’re not important or that people didn’t read them. Maybe THIS one has so much feedback because IT’S A BAD IDEA TO PUBLISH THIS IN A NEWSPAPER THAT PROSPECTIVES AND THEIR PARENTS SEE. Let’s be real: you said the audience is college-aged people. I would refute that after reading from above comments that during many tours, with personal examples including myself, the tour guides give The Torch to the student and their parents. If my parents saw this, they would think it’s vulgar and I can honestly say they’re not stupid – they know sex happens all across college campusues. Don’t be ignorant in saying the audience is just college kids. Don’t put boundaries on writing, I agree – but don’t open up boundaries to make it seem like our campus is immoral and crass to those outisde when we as student work hard for our prestigious reputation.
You go girl! College is the time to leave your morals at the door and enjoy the life of little responsibility. Give Kristen some credit for writing about a normal human need that students are making a little more exciting. Who cares if you “effed in the hollow” or “hit a grand slam” at the baseball field; those are some of the most memorable college times. Get off your high horse….or maybe go get naked in the hollow…and relax a little bit.
“Wittenberg University provides a liberal arts education dedicated to intellectual inquiry and wholeness of person within a diverse residential community. Reflecting its Lutheran heritage, Wittenberg challenges students to become RESPONSIBLE global citizens, to discover their callings, and to lead personal, professional, and civic lives of creativity, service, compassion, and INTEGRITY.” (Emphasis mine)
–Wittenberg Mission Statement (Only the first paragraph. Should I cite more?)
As an adult reading this article, I am shocked that anyone at Wittenberg would be proud to write such an “article”. As an institution that holds its students to a higher moral, ethical standing than most universities, it makes the students look like nothing more than an animal with no higher level thinking as well. As a parent and part of the local community, I am very disappointed in seeing such trash, and that is what it is, as a representation of the type of students we are preparing for the future.
My mom always told me, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” You, my friend, obviously were never taught that. I’m not even the author but, as a fellow journalist, I was deeply offended by your comment that this piece is “trash,” and your insinuation that all of the students at Witt are also trash. You’re allowed to have your own opinion, that’s what the first amendment is for. But calling a whole group of people “trash” just isn’t right.
As a former student, I was happy to see the Torch online. However, I was not so pleased to see this article. I am not unrealistic. Sex happens on campus, all over campus. Got it. But if this is the “news,” as some claim, shouldn’t Witt students be engaging in other activities? It sounds like there is not enough material for other stories. Are students volunteering, interning, going to academic conferences, organizing charity events, performing, etc.?
Furthermore, as one poster pointed out, there is no mention of safe sex whatsoever. Why not take the opportunity to let students know where they can find condoms for free, or where they can be tested for STIs (STDs) if they think they have been exposed? What are the numbers or websites for dealing with unplanned pregnancies or family planning information?
I don’t think that “People need to stop hating on this article” as one poster put it, in not-so-eloquent terms. The fact is that it is hard to see outside the Witt Bubble as a student. It’s hard to think about parents of prospective students reading such articles without any regard to student health and safety. So talk about it, if you must, although I think this classifies more as tabloid fodder than “journalism.” Just be sure to include helpful information about contraceptives, STI testing, and counseling. Maybe not everyone wants to feel peer-pressured into engaging in “wild sex” all over campus.
If you have such a strong opinion you can always email your thoughts to editor.
Who is the editor? I think I need to send an email.
For alumni that worked their asses off giving the Torch it’s voice BACK to the students for 40 hours a week their senior years, thanks for giving a pointless and pathetic attempt at keeping that tradition alive. There are classier ways to write about scandalous wittenberg happenings. “Effed”?????? Awesome. But nice website.
I’m so happy to see the torch online, and with that, I’m elated to see all the discussion going on. My opinion about this article is irrelevant, because what I want to say is that I find all the arguments made to be valid. It’s nice to finally have a place to discuss things about our school. There is one thing we can learn about this article that has NOTHING to do with sex: that our campus is full of smart people with many ideas and opinions. And I hope that if prospective students and parents see this conversation, they will see that there is never just one side to a story, and never just one type of people on a campus.
As a current Witt student, this article did not really bother me, and I actually found it rather amusing.
That said, it embarrasses me greatly that those who are not members of the Wittenberg community, who may not understand the light that this should be taken in, could pick up the Torch and read an article like this. Prospective students, parents, grandparents, younger siblings, etc. all have the potential to see this, and develop (and spread) a very negative view of our campus. I would cringe if my grandmother or 10 year old sibling read this, and I know that on college visits, the student newspaper was the first thing my family and I picked up when we were waiting around. As much as I support the reporting of “interesting” news, I feel that the Torch needs to take in to account who their audience outside of Witt students may be, and how this type of article would be interpreted by those people. Making this article more than just a gossip piece could make it more appropriate for all audiences, but unfortunately that is not how it was written.
To everybody who has read my article, been offended by it, or loved it, i write this…
I am a JOURNALIST, a journalism student. My job is to write the stories that my teachers present to me. I do not make up stories and quotes (such as “effed” in the hollow), nor do I have a personal preference for the subjects I may write about. I simply get the facts, write the stories, and put them up for publication.
When this topic came up I specifically asked my teacher if it was “Torch appropriate”, he responded that it was most definitely, and that, and i quote, it was a “fun article to cover”. He then proceeded to introduce me and my story to the faculty advisor to the torch, who also loved the article.
With that said, my duty as a journalist was then to hand over my story to the torch, and let them do what they want with it.
No strings attached, my job is a journalist. That is all I am to this story. The reporter.
I understand some of you may be offended, but I am sorry that you dont accept this topic. That is your opinion, which you are entirely allowed to. AS AM I. And I find it hurtful that so many people find the need to bash my article in the newspaper because it is not tasteful to their morals, or because it is not in their most accepted of subjects.
I will not sit here and apologize for writing the story, because I did as I was told, and it is my job to present the stories as they are.
With that said, I hope those of you who do not appreciate this story, or my writing, whatever it may be, keep your negative opinions to yourself, and keep this website for positive reinforcement and comments to the torch as a whole.
If you have other torch story ideas of your own that you believe are going to be more responsive to Wittenberg students, then please submit them. The Torch editors are always looking for more stories.
But I will not apologize, because I have done the one thing that my editors and fellow journalism students strive to do every day… CREATE NEWS. Look around this website, have you seen a comment on ONE OTHER SINGLE STORY? No. You do not.
And so I rest my case.
First of all, I want to say “way to go” for “defending” yourself. You are right in the fact that you were just doing your job. I think the part that bothers me is who comes up with these ideas? You said your advisors gave you the prompt; did you have a choice? Were there multiple topics to choose from? I’m just baffled as to why they would consider this appropriate for a newspaper that is viewed by so many more people besides current Witt students. Overall, I find the subject horrendous, but I must say, the article was written very well, with many clever play on words.
As a fellow contributor to the Torch, I want Kristin to understand that, though controversial, the article was well written. Technically, I would call it flawless. The fact that the controversy exists says much about your ability as a journalist.
Having said that, I found the article tasteless and completely inappropriate. It sheds a tacky spotlight in which we all look bad. The fact that it is placed so strategically and prominently makes that spotlight even uglier.
What about journalism with pride? Must we slip into the gutter to get someone to pick up the Torch?
This is not journalism. You have not generated “news” because people are commenting on your story; rather that people are offended and think this is a complete joke. I am a tour guide and discouraged the prospectives and their families on my tours from picking up the latest Torch because of this ridiculous article. I told them it was an “old edition”… not that one of our distinguished, “journalism” students wrote an article about the raunchy behavior of students that all visiting parents would have been horrified to read. Excellent call. Oh and this weekend is another big visit day, so I’m sure Admissions will love the repercussions of this.
“… an article about the raunchy behavior of students that all visiting parents would have been horrified to read.”
That’s funny, I actually talked about this article with one of these parents you so narrow-mindedly generalize about. She seemed rather amused, saying, “I got a crack out of the article about sex. Looks like students are definitely enjoying themselves here!”
And let’s be serious, if this article is a deal-breaker for prospective students and their parents, the administration has far bigger issues to worry about.
While I don’t think that the article was poorly written (the quotes gathered for the article were just really crass and seemed to give students an “airhead” vibe) or there is any need to attack the author – I agree that there is complete justified reason to comment on the subject matter. I have always really loved the Torch and what it provides for students, it just concerns me that sex around campus even had to be written about as the main point of the article? With no real edge to the stories, either. While I think the Wittenberg Torch has come a long way, proof being that we even have a substantial website to allow students that don’t work for the paper to voice their opinions, I believe that the editor should have more of a professional approach to the articles he/she chooses to place in the paper. I’m not saying that articles on the CDR carpet, or any type of censoring should go on (we’re not Cederville!) just take a second and look at the quality of the article before publishing it – because you have more than just one type of people reading and critiquing the paper. It’s good to know that the people around you are expecting more of you, it’s because we know you can do it!
Not only is this article a disgrace to the repetition of Wittenberg at large, it is completely inappropriate for a school newspaper. The article does not address any issue but is simply exposing intimate experiences of students. Honestly what is the point of this article (if you can even all it that)? It seems that the author simply wanted to be shocking and controversial but overlooked any issues that could be explored with this issue. This issue could have been addresses in a more intelligent way. I find the article extremely shallow.
I wonder how many people who complained about this article probably have found themselves watching or possibly even liking the show Sex and the City, which is all about a journalist writing about real life and sexual encounters. If all you could write about were subjects that everybody could agree upon then there would be only a blank newspaper that said The Torch at the top, and that’s only if people could agree that they didn’t like a different name for the paper more. This is real life people, there are plenty of people on our campus who aren’t afraid of “sex” not everybody looks at it as a taboo subject. So I think it is perfectly fine to voice that you do not like this article but don’t ever try to silence free speech because we aren’t trying to silence your opinion even if it disagrees with ours.
Dear author,
You say that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, as are you, however, you want everyone to keep their “negative opinions to (themselves), and keep this website for positive reinforcement and comments to the torch as a whole”?!? I agree that the torch could use some more positive feedback overall, however if you want to call the Torch a “newspaper” and yourself a “journalist”… suck it up! It’s a part of reporting and people sharing their opinions. If you or the torch do not want feedback on articles, don’t give the public the option.
This article topic, although a little promiscuous, isn’t that bad for a school paper. What is bad is how it was handled and written. The article makes it seem like everyone on campus is banging left and right, which obviously isn’t the case. Asking your facebook friends to tell you about their stories only captures a small portion of the campus’ ideas. What about the people that don’t have sex around campus? What about the people that are obviously upset about this? If you call yourself a journalist, take the time to get facts by constructing a survey. You will be much more credible if you can say: 2% of Wittenberg has done it in a tree…etc.
My problem with the torch is more about last weeks edition. An article about the negatives of the service dog program??? Are you kidding me?? An article about how wittenberg is like a high school?? If you don’t want it to be awkward on monday after your Saturday night mistake, don’t be a whore. If you don’t want to go to class, don’t go to college. What about an article on how great it is to go to a small school? The torch going online is big step, but right now all this website is doing is giving our university bad press to more people–prospective students, parents, grandparents, job recruiters etc. C’mon torch, you are better than this!
I 100% agree with what was just said by Anonymous. You are better than this!
I have been through my journalism class. I know what it means to report the “truth.” I know our right as a campus to speak up and about issues.
I am not unaware, I am not ignorant of free speech.
However, this is the first time since sitting on top of a dryer in a basement with a “40″ duct-taped to my hands (full and unopened), watching my “fellow” freshmen athletes drink themselves into a blackout, that I have felt truly estranged from my campus. Where does acceptance begin? When does the fun of college life start? I stopped saying a while ago that idiots who go to college simply for the “college experience” could experience the same thing if I gave them a hundred books and the address of a strip club. I found too many people that are quality individuals that reminded me of the inherent good of humanity. But I might start saying my cynical line again after reading this article. Having sex on the hood of a car? In the Hollow? In Hollenbeck? ON THE SEAL?
So where is my issue with the article (because I must certainly have one)? Is it my outrage that my parents who are dedicated readers of the Torch might pick it up? Yes, but not entirely. Is it that prospective will be appalled after reading it? Again, yes, but not my point. My main issue is the insinuation that “everyone is doing it.” I’m a virgin. I know lots of virgins ON CAMPUS. Similar to the assumptions that everyone drinks, this article grossly oversimplifies our students and boorishly depicts them with no counter evidence to the contrary. Most couples on campus do not go to these extremes, but I’m glad to know some do. Cool. Whatever. But what happened to the voice of the meek? The voice of those already feeling the incredible sexual pressure that just being in our media crazed day and age presents? The voice of the innocent, the inexperienced? Is it OK to be myself without downing a “40″ or screwing someone in the library?
Wittenberg Torch, I know it isn’t news-worthy to print, but are there any people out there like me? Because I see about 20 above this comment. These are the voices you are suppressing with your “free speech.”
Beautifully said Colin.
Interesting story… it’s real news that gets the most criticism. Personally would have edited out a lot of things, and made it either very news-y or more of an editorial with some opinion; It can work as either but definately not both. Very interesting subject matter.
Hooray for the First Amendment.
While I do not necessarily agree with this article being published, I honestly think this brings to light a larger problem with the Torch. This is most definitely not the first article that has been published by the Torch that puts the University in a bad light.
Articles bashing Witt administration, police and security, food services, physical plant, etc…. All have been published by the Torch, while articles praising Witt’s own workers are hardly ever seen.
This is completely FALSE. The Torch has archived all it’s issues, if you’d like to check them out – go ahead. And the point of a student newspaper is for students to write stories. So pick someone that inspires you and submit it. :)
If you don’t like it, don’t read it. One man’s vulgarity is another man’s treasure.
Personally I love it.
Just because the torch belongs to an academic institution does not mean that it has to be academic criticism. This is an interesting article and raises potentially unknown information. For many people this is new information and makes us aware of social deviance that is occurring on our campus. Times are changing, and older generations may not understand why someone would want to have sex in Hollenbeck; this informs people. There are a few goals that are aimed for in journalism; it should be created to entertain, inform, and/or educate. I think personally that this article does all three! This article does not devastate our school; this is probably common on most campuses. Here is an example of a more hurtful story about a college campus: http://news.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20100518/NEWS01/305180056/Miami-sorority-suspended-two-years
The article talks about a few bad instances dealing with some Greek organizations on Miami’s campus. Those students were causing noticeable public disturbances, and making the Miami University Greek community look a lot worse than they actually are. If a part of the Wittenberg community is disturbing the peace of Springfield or surrounding areas, then Wittenberg’s image may be viewed as a bit more negative.
As for the content of this article here is what I have to say: If sex in a public location is the worst crime being committed on our campus, then I am proud to go here. So what if people are getting a new thrill from having sex in the dorms? It is up to the student on whether or not he or she will want to be judged for their remainder of the four years here. If anyone actually catches someone having sex in Carnegie, go ahead and call the cops, since it is illegal. I personally don’t care; I just hope the custodial staff is cleaning off the tables and such around campus. *Hint for a response article about what the Witt Police & Security team will do about this, and what the custodial staff will do in response to this*
Thank you. THIS is the kind of response we were looking for. You even gave a suggestion for a future article! That is exactly what we intend when we write these kind of stories. I’m glad someone gets it. :)
This is absolutely unacceptable. Perspective students’ parents pick this up. Is this how we want Wittenberg to be portrayed? Come on.
I am so disappointed to say that I go to a college that writes about where students are having sex and call it news. If you as the author, or even as the advisors of this paper can’t see how this puts Witt in such a horrible light, then you should be removed from your positions. If my mother had picked up The Torch with this article in it, I would have never been allowed to finish the tour of the campus! SO distasteful.
This story was so much to read! And people around campus are talking about how the Torch is read by perspectives and that this is offensive. Please. The Torch is not a PR organization to make students come to Witt. This is a news organization. It was a fun story- we are all in college and we know it happens- but where do people do it is the question. That is news.
THANK YOUUU!!! exactly.
Too much, too young, too fast?
Go Colin Payton/Caity Valley. Go. Lots of cowardice (anonymous, good one, alumni2, etc.) here on the interWEB.
While I don’t really approve of this article, I understand freedom of speech and need to appeal to the masses, I’ll offer some suggestions in hopes that something similar will be written better for next time.
1. A wider variety of people interviewed. Virgins, males, etc.
2. Someone already mentioned this but safe sex or risks
3. what drives kids to do this? breaking laws? some sort of neurological function? research!
4. It was a lot of a brag-fest.
Right on, if you have to write, it write it right. Do some research take a bigger sampling.
It seems like a lot of people are complaining about the fact that the article does not place the school in the best light. The Torch is not a propaganda newspaper. If you want it to be filled with articles that only show Wittenberg as a cheerful and wonderful place, there’s Wittenberg Magazine. If you wish for something that people around the school actually respect then the goal of this article, which was to show something that really is happening, should be applauded. That is not to say that there are not legitimate complaints about the article, as the implication that everyone is doing it is certainly a legitimate criticism, but that isn’t where the majority of the criticism is coming from.
This is a new low for Wittenberg. God forgive us please. I’m thinking about transferring.
A few weeks ago the front page of the Torch was headlined about somebody masturbating in the library and people stealing stuff from campus. There have been articles about drug use, which beer is best, and for years upon years articles about people having sex in the Honor’s house.
For all of you complaining that prospective students and their parents picking up these articles, understand that this is hardly anything new and should not be squandered. Not even going to lie, I hardly ever read anything more than the headlines for most Torch articles, simply because I find many of the subject areas simply unappealing. These articles, however, I do read.
Thanks Torch!
This article is creating such a scandal because not only is it inappropriate, it isn’t NEWS. Sure, the research going into the article was journalism, but it isn’t news. People have sex. People have sex in obvious places. It isn’t really that shocking because clearly these people have already been spotted doing exactly what this article describes. They are in public. We are all aware. Therefore, it is not news, so please do not put stories like this in a NEWSpaper. Some of us actually want to read about stuff that isn’t smut and it’s embarrassing to open a paper and to see this instead.
Congratulations, you’ve discovered an anomaly. Witt students have sex on campus.
This is a breaking story and highlights major issues or events happening here.
I hope you look back on your time at Wittenberg and see this article as a major highlight. What an accomplishment?!
Who would ever think of the day that I had to refer to the Torch on where to have sex? I totally agree with the Witt Alum. If tons of Witt students are participating in wild sex escapdes on campus, wouldn’t we want to encourage safe sex options? Unless, you are hoping that after all the sex that is happening on campus you will be able to follow up with an article about the rising number of sexual transmitted diseases. Followed by how terrible the Health Center is, follow by something else that is horrible, and disgusting.
I look forward to the day that the Torch will be able to write something positive that the Wittenberg community is doing.
Ok, lets start with this: every other article in the torch has to do with someone jerking off in the library, some townie shooting up parties, or the police reports involving the drunken ramblings of our freshman population as they incoherently stumble from dorm to dorm at 2 am because they are not welcome at Mc’s anymore. So these articles make you proud to be a wittenberg student???? At least this is trying to be entertaining and I would have hoped that we could all be adults and get at least a chuckle out of it instead of this bashing by you far right wing nut jobs and your rejection of the free loving hippie liberal douche lifestyle which has been dominant on this campus since the JFK administration. Why don’t you all just calm down and get laid… but you can keep it in your dorm room.
I am absolutely appalled and embarrassed that such an article was published by the Torch!!!!! And to think that it was actually on the front page! I am sure that other prospective students/parents read this article and would definitely say NO to Wittenberg based on the supposed behavior of its students. Wittenberg is a church affiliated university, and even though I realize that not all Witt students attend church, many parents are looking for a college that has strong morals with students who behave in a respectful manner. Shame on the author of this article!! You have defaced a wonderful university!!!!! I hope and pray that you are not permitted to write any other articles!!!!
Children playing with their naughty bits. *Yawn* One day with luck, your lives will be bigger than your genitals.
Is this all Wittenberg has to write about? Come on, this university has much more to tout about than to stoop to this level to write such an article. I have two children who both graduated from Wittenberg and we have always supported this fine campus. We have financially supported this establishment, but must say I will think twice the next time a student calls me for money. What were you thinking to think so little of the reputation of this campus? The information in this article does not deserve to be written or discussed. This might be something I would see on facebook, not on university newspaper. Shame on you….Shame on Wittenberg!
I totally agree with all of the comments that have been posted. Honestly, this article does not make me proud to be a Wittenberg student, to say the least. There are plenty of students putting in hard work and doing great things on this campus who deserve to have something written in the Torch about them, and instead our paper is filled with all this useless information? College students don’t have to read an article in the paper to realize that students are having sex on campus, so what is the point of this article? I’d also like to point out the numerous bulletin boards and pamphlets available on campus that promote abstinence or using protection. This article mentions neither of these and glorifies sexual promiscuity, which seems pretty contradictory to basically everything this school stands for.
If you have ideas for the torch, we would be happy to write about them!
I wish I could “like” this Savannah. :)
Did you know all of these places that people were having sex?
I didn’t think so…That’s why it is news.
a definition of news: “information about recent and important events.” this is important?
Let’s do a better definition of news:
“a: a report of recent events
b: previously unknown information” (Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary)
“a. Information about recent events or happenings, especially as reported by newspapers, periodicals, radio, or television.
b. A presentation of such information, as in a newspaper or on a newscast.
c. New information of any kind.” (Answers.com and thefreedictionary.com)
“1. a report of a recent event; intelligence; information:
2. the presentation of a report on recent or new events in a newspaper or other periodical or on radio or television.
3. a person, thing, or event considered as a choice subject for journalistic treatment; newsworthy material.” (Dictionary.com)
Need I cite more?