Letter From The Editor
By: Jeffrey Keeling

                While I attempt to put my abstract ideas into words, I sit here in The Undercurrent office, trying to come up with a witty introduction to a bang-up first article, when really I am thinking of concepts that probably would not interest you. But instead of finding something to say, I have stared at a blank Microsoft Word window, waiting for divine intervention.  Apparently, 1-900-DIAL-A-MUSE went out of business in our failing economy.  You would think I might have something to say without waiting for inspiration, being The Undercurrent Opinions Editor.  However, you would be mistaken.

                Oh, did I mention that I recently acquired the Opinions Editor position of The Undercurrent?  Rather, I should introduce myself.  Well into the semester, we are all aware of round table introduction, commonly referred to as the name-major-class-rank-hometown-one-thing-interesting-about-me-without-scaring-you-off-say-it-quickly-what-do-these-people-think-of-me method. So here goes: I'm Jeffrey Keeling, Photography junior from Broken Arrow (suburb of Tulsa, OK), and I don't like pickles.

                Hmm... there lies an opinion: my loathing of pickles.  Actually, that probably would not work – everyone would think I was being pretentious for writing a worthless article as my first act as editor, using my unbelievably huge weight as editor to force my whine through the presses and into your hands.  Perhaps that is not my best idea and definitely not a good way to start the year off.

                Anyway, how did I get this job?  A spontaneous decision gave me the chance to work here.  I ran into a friend, exchanged the usual haven't-seen-you-all-summer pleasantries, and told her I would accompany her to The Undercurrent meeting.  I think Eric mentioned something about the Opinions Editor position being open, and I volunteered after a quick, thoughtless think about it.  After a round of approval consisting of a few "Ums" and "Ughs," I was now gainfully (although not monetarily) employed.

                But here was the thing I did not think about: I lost my ability to write coherently this summer.  I was doing well, honest-to-deity-you-worship-or-loathe, and then I started working two jobs, the second being a night shift at Wal-Mart.  While I might have been the perkiest worker you would be frightened to see at night, my double-jobbed mind easily let slip my creativity and especially my competency.  Soon after I started, I could not even get out a good haiku, one of my passions.  I could barely read a chapter of the latest Harry Potter without having a brain cramp.

                So, what was I thinking when I came to write for The Undercurrent?  As the previous paragraph might suggest, I was not thinking.  But now I am here; the odd thing is, though, I feel neither stuck nor the need to leave.  In fact, I really want to stay.  Something tells me I could really do something with this paper, in some small way.

                For two years now, and coming on three, I have been an ardent reader of The Undercurrent.  Perhaps if you have, too, then you might have noticed, like I did, that The Undercurrent is missing something that it once upheld.  There were certainly a few great issues during the past couple years, but I think a lot of the passion for writing something for the student body has almost left The Undercurrent.

                So, look at me, blue spandex suit and red cape, soaring to save The Undercurrent... right?  Nope, in fact, The Undercurrent needs no saving.  The Undercurrent is what it is, and that's all that it is – to borrow from Popeye.  Maybe what The Undercurrent needs – actually, what I think we all might need is the chance to step back and look at ourselves and reclaim something we have lost: sanity.  If you remember The Undercurrent and the world around it like I do, then maybe you think, although ironically so, that things seemed a lot saner during the reign of Axnon the Bald, rather than fingers pointing in every direction these days.  "Ever since September 11th, 2001," the world has slowly lost its grip on reality, if you ask me.  In the world arena, many feel the need to prove themselves, although insufficient explanation and the failure to listen to others seems to be the dominant paradigm of modern thought.

                And there you have it, folks: my first capital-O Opinion.  I am fully aware that I sound like I am conversing rather than writing, but at least I kept my sanity instead of forcing myself to write something on abortion, peace, drugs, or some other rehashed leftist opinion.  I look forward to this year and hearing from all of you – good and bad.  Blah blah blah, insert some hackneyed phraseology here akin to a student council election speech, subsequently closing the article with a hesitantly uplifting, yet morally questioning statement, invoking a feeling that the conclusion is simply the beginning.