Pass: Pre-Black Friday shopping
It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost a year since Wal-Mart’s Jdimytai Damour was trampled to death on Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving is a busy time for consumers, and perhaps this unnecessary casualty is one of the many reasons why so many big retailers have already commenced their generous sales and discounts. Last week, Kmart started its “”Better than Black Friday”” campaign. On Oct. 31, Sears began offering the “”Black Friday Now”” deals. Target is now accepting pre-orders of some highly anticipated DVDs for just $10, an arguably unbeatable bargain for popular movies. By easing into holiday spending, maybe the crowds won’t be so rabid and competitive on Black Friday, and this could be a very positive change. Whether or not these companies intended to slow down Black Friday traffic — or just begin the shopping season early — they get a pass for taking steps to prevent another holiday stampede.
Fail: Rec Center expansion film a depressing reminder of excessive spending
Yesterday, the Student Recreation Center Twitter and Facebook accounts posted a link to a short 30-second movie about the new gym expansion. The movie begins with a construction worker hammering away on a railing, and another employee turns on a plasma screen TV, which is placed outside in the construction zone. Viewers then get a glimpse of what the Rec Center will soon look like, and there are multiple advertisemasents for the mysterious “”Big Green Event,”” which the video spends no time explaining. “”Where are you going to be in 2010?”” the film asks, seeming to suggest that the audience begin the year at the Rec. The expansion is nearly complete, but many students have been greatly opposed to the renovations for years. For flaunting extravagant changes that have been very unpopular with students — particularly those who are concerned with all the money that went towards the expansion — the UA Rec Center gets a fail.
Fail: The “”Great Firewall of China”” still stands
President Obama just traveled all the way to China to discuss Internet censorship and free speech, among many other things. “”I’m a big supporter of non-censorship,”” Obama said. His efforts at encouraging unrestricted Internet access have gone ignored by China, at least for now. According to a report by The Associated Press, Obama’s “”words were drastically limited online and shown on just one regional television channel.”” China is reported to have the most complex, extensive Web monitoring system, and the country has created more regulations and rules as blogs and other trends have risen in popularity. Twitter is also blocked. For maintaining its oppressive reputation and practically silencing the United States president in his endeavor to put an end to censorship, China gets a fail.
— Editorials are determined by the opinions board and written by one of its members. They include Shain Bergan, Alex Dalenberg, Laura Donovan, and Heather Price-Wright.
