Dear Editor,
I am writing concerning the advertisement for Seminole Ridge apartments.
The ad shows a close-up view of two pairs of feet sticking out from under white bed covers. The text reads “Redefine the word roommate.”
I feel the ad was very effective in conveying the attitude of Seminole Ridge as a whole but is definitely not conducive to our university’s ongoing attempt to present themselves as a choice university.
I feel the ad was overly sexually explicit and frankly tacky and uncouth.
Please know that I am in no way trying to be some crazy conservative trying to stir up controversy. I understand fully the life of college students and that sex is as routine as ordering textbooks.
However, I also have two years of training as a Preview leader who wants nothing more than to prove to the world that ETSU is the best university in Tennessee.
I feel that putting this style of advertisement in the first edition that incoming freshmen and transfer students are likely to read, is simply not the most effective way to spread ETSU pride.
I also find it ironic that in the same edition there was an excellent article on new health challenges that face freshmen.
It is obvious the East Tennessean cares about the health of students but doesn’t cover any information about sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancy or rape in an article about healthy living. Maybe because the last page of the same edition seemed to promote the act that brings about the consequences coincidentally left out of the article.
I strongly question the choice made by the East Tennessean editorial staff to allow the whole back page of the first edition of this school year to be propagated by an ad that is not promoting a healthy lifestyle for students.
Let me also say that I respect the East Tennessean very much and appreciate its contribution to the campus and students.
Nonetheless, I feel the level of journalistic integrity and ETSU’s reputation to the community at large was slightly jeopardized by running this ad.
I realize the importance of advertising to any newspaper but I also understand that each paper must take a stand when it comes to weighing the advantages of financial security versus the level of integrity they wish to uphold with their readers.
I will continue to faithfully read the paper every Monday and Thursday but I must say that as a reader and a student, I was somewhat offended that such an ad made it to publication.
Travis Eisenbise

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