Dear Editor,
I am only bothering to write a response to Mr. Villanueva’s article to defend myself and my department from what was most definitely a cheap shot extrapolated far out of context.
First of all, I never made mention that I was a psychology student, you pulled that into the discussion. I understand that is public record and if I was concerned about it then I shouldn’t have made such a joke. But, it is a little odd that you would look it up simply to attempt to sling mud. But, I really am not all that concerned about it because I can defend my humor adequately, and that is why I mentioned the joke.
But, before I defend the joke, I must defend the ETSU psychology department. By using a fallacious argument, Villanueva’s letter attempts makes me look insensitive and unempathetic to individuals who battle and live with mental illnesses every day of their life.
Having worked and studied in this department for upward of five years, I can personally attest that in that time until the present, the ETSU psychology department has never maintained anything but the utmost respect for anyone who battles a mental illness. This value is reflected in the training and education of all of their future professionals. But before I get the “well I guess they missed you” statement, I’ll get to defending myself.
As for the joke, I readily admitted that the joke was in poor taste, which is why I didn’t feel it should be printed in the East Tennessean. I did not suggest, as Villanueva claims, that “we should all go online and look up the punch line.” Instead, noting in plain terms in my own letter that the joke was tasteless, I said people should go and look it up for themselves and make up their own mind. Speech and expression are free according to the Constitution and taste is subjective. Any art major in Ball Hall can tell you that.
The basis of humor in the joke has nothing to do with making fun of anyone who would participate in the Special Olympics. Rather, the joke is meant to be shocking. It is meant to make you uncomfortable. It is meant to be so absurd and horrible that it becomes funny because some people could actually think that it is poking fun of people with mental illness or, even more terribly, that there are some people in the world with such terrible prejudice that they could actually laugh at the Special Olympics.
In other words, it becomes humorous because it is in such poor taste, not because of any associated -isms. Comedians like George Carlin, Jackie Martling and Carlos Mencia have made rather fine careers out of this sort of humor and, as such, they have always faced criticism from those who do not understand their humor- those with their own misunderstandings or, even worse, their own -isms. If you need a better example of this sort of distinction, I would suggest the movie “The Aristocrats” to flesh this out for you. But, with the same warning as the joke, if you don’t like tasteless humor, don’t watch the movie.
As for the football argument, I will make no further statements other than this. The football program became a “pet project” because the task force made it one. They didn’t just complain to their peers, they did something about it and that’s why the president got behind them.
As for the capital budget, just about every building on campus is receiving upgrades at this time, even Ball Hall. These would have happened football team or not. At any rate, if you want attention from the administration, you have to give them reason to listen to you. Come up with a feasible plan, and I am willing to bet it will be backed.
Finally, I will not be responding to any further letters because I know that once an argument in this sort of forum descends to the level that it has, it is time for the argument to end in that forum. So, if it is to continue, it will have to do so over a pint. I am not running away, I am just choosing not to waste anymore of my time writing letters when I know nothing productive will come of them.
– Zackary Cope

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