Reactionary culture at UD: find a solution

Students at the rugby pitch enjoy camaraderie without conflict while watching a rugby game. Photo by Kaity Chaikowsky.

Outrage, online and otherwise, is ever present  in today’s culture. It has become so prevalent that it has formed its own culture.

This kind of outrage at current events, politics or whatever happened on ESPN the night before has taken its most common form online. Anyone who has visited a Facebook comment section can attest to this.

I would be surprised if there was anybody who has never taken part in this culture at some point. I know I have; in fact, I was terrible in my participation. But once I took a step back, I realized something essential about the concept of being angry about something: It does not require you to think critically. In fact, it is discouraged.

We are now in the age of social media, and the 24-hour news cycle is constantly engaging us and fighting for our attention. With the barrage of information, it is expected that there will be naysayers and critics of anything and everything under the sun.

This became evident here at the University of Dallas with the backlash against big issues like the concept of a degree completion program, and small ones like the axing of Stacy’s Mom from the TGIT playlist. Many students have voiced their opinions without suggesting any alternatives. So how do you express displeasure at a decision, but still have credibility and weight behind your criticism? Propose a solution.

Stepping back to analyze any problem can be extraordinarily helpful before speaking on it. This includes assessing all of the facts pertaining to a given situation.

Second, find the direct cause of the problem. This is why analysis of the problem on the whole is so important; it allows you to find the true root of the issue.

Third, plan out how to solve the problem. The plan of success is almost as important as the actions you take. It is akin to outlining an essay; the better the outline, the better the essay. The same principle applies in this case, and it is very effective.

Last, put the plan into effect. Whether it is in the form of speech, writing or actions, how you institute your plan is critical. Adhering to the aforementioned outline is of the utmost importance. If for some reason things don’t go according to plan, repeat the process.

So long as the critical thought process goes into the solution, those in charge will have a degree of respect for your ideas.


  1. Or you could just be like Keefe and threaten to punch people who disagree with you.

    The alternative to permanent institutional reprogramming is not to do it. UD students have every right to push back on harmful ideas, even if they don’t have a financial solution at the ready. It doesn’t take a fundraising expert to know what UD isn’t.


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