In a couple of my mass communications classes two weeks ago, my peers and I were asked to comment on the happenings in Syria.

Last week, we were asked to comment on the mass shooting at the Navy Yard.

During both instances, I sat quietly at my desk amazed when many of my peers either decided on “no comment” or said they didn’t know enough information to comment.

These repeated situations encouraged me to question: In a world filled with technological advancements and information at our fingertips, how does anyone have an excuse of not knowing enough information?

Many professors question if students are too busy or if we flat out don’t care about the happenings of the world. There are no straightforward answers to these concerns; however, one can guess.

I use technology as a tool to help follow multiple news sources on Twitter and use news sources’ Apps on my phone.

The advancements in technology are being wasted among my peers who choose not to use their access to internet and smartphones to gain knowledge.

I may be a biased mass communicatoins student, which makes it feel like my eyes are on a digital screen 24-7, but not only mass communication majors should use technology to stay informed.

I’ll admit, I still do not know enough about current events in America and across the world.

Perhaps some people feel overwhelmed with how many resources exist, and they are not sure the accurate way to learn information.

It seems these days, news consumers have to compare and contrasts various news sources to get multiple sides of information, because the ratings (making money) mean more to the higher-ups than accuracy.

Why go through all the confusion? We go through the confusion to gain understanding and to help in the present and in the future. We may not gain understanding 100 percent of the time, but at least we try.

At least we read the online version of a news site more than once a week or follow the Washington Post on Twitter. This is my thought process anyway.

Learning some information is better than learning no information.

None of my peers straight out responded they didn’t care, but I realize how the awkward silence between the question and the time to answer can make professors think this is the situation.

However, some students did voice they would rather not learn more about a tragic event, because they go with the “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil” theology.

I thought I’d heard of everything, but this is an absurd response for an absurd comment.

The chemical attack in Syria leaving thousands dead or the too often use of automatic weapons to kill mass amounts of people in the U.S. and in other countries should not be unheard, unseen or not spoken about.

Ignorance will not solve anything. As a fellow mass communications major, I do not know how obliviousness can be a response to a current event question. We are supposed to be itching to become informed and itching to spread our knowledge.

There are tragedies occurring every day and all over the world, most of which aren’t broadcasted or written about in U.S. media.

If we don’t learn about them, we will help no one and injure ourselves by becoming ignorant to reality.

I don’t know about you, but I do not want to live in a world where reality is distorted into a world with no troubles, no starvation, no homelessness, no lack of faith, etc.

This may seem like a negative rant for some, but it’s the truth.

Plenty of people our age or older do not follow current events.

They go on with their daily lives, self-absorbed and withdrawn from society. Students witness this lack of caring and think it’s okay for us not to know what’s going on.

First of all, it’s not okay. The lack of being informed leads to lack of making decisions and the lack of a movement.

Second of all, we have advantages over those our age or older than us who do not go to a university that students do not use.

One of the many advantages of being in a university setting is there are many resources and opportunities to learn.

Students should take advantage of special lectures taking place on campus, reading The Advocate or the simple act of starting a conversation with a friend or stranger about a recent event.

Getting informed does take work, but if people are willing to work then they’re willing to help.

The consequence of not knowing is not caring, and this ultimately leads to no progress.

BY JESSICA JASPERSON
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