By Anna Meany

Among college students, the means of attaining knowledge of current events and news stories are varied and few. Consumed by homework and partying, what importance do the protests in Egypt have on our lives? It’s the will to understand the world around us that compels us to educate ourselves on current events.

Have you read The Onion? It’s freaking hilarious. Unfortunately, every news story is completely fabricated for comedic effect. But the concept of The Onion is essentially what I wish every news network executed. As we move into adulthood, stories of natural disasters and political chaos lose their shock factor. College students aren’t compelled to read The Courier-Journal or The New York Times every morning. Although stories of human suffering are bland to us, literary creativity has the ability to capture our interest.

Total props should go to Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert for making news hilarious. I love poking fun at politicians for royally screwing up on television. Despite highlighting the most ridiculous aspects of politics, “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report” surprisingly have incredible news coverage.

News at the local level is especially important. With the history of crime on campus, students should be aware of threats in our neighborhood. Rumors about a tuition increase have sparked across campus. Of course, no one knows much because we’re all too lazy to investigate. How many people are even reading The Louisville Cardinal? Perhaps the most important pieces of information about campus news are ignored by students who would rather text or use the newspaper as a paper towel.

I’m not saying you should turn into my grandparents and watch Fox News or MSNBC. No one should do that. Watching biased television is perhaps worse than being totally ignorant.

I know it sounds cynical when I complain that college students are too isolated to worry about current events. I’d be sounding too critical if I didn’t admit that I don’t have enough knowledge of current events either. It’s much more natural for me to go to Facebook than to visit CNN’s website.

I completely understand the lack of will to stay informed. You probably wonder what benefit you’ll receive from simply being aware. If you don’t think very hard, that logic makes sense. That annoying cliché – “Knowledge is power” – is completely true. College students are paying $7,000 a semester to get an education, yet we have a complete inability to learn from the world around us. Being aware of current events engages us with important social and economic issues that – I hate saying this – will someday be inherited by our generation. Acceptance of our reality will only prepare us for life after graduation. I’m begging this campus to become more involved in issues that may or may not directly affect students.