Corporate presence interferes with the true purpose of a university

I am in complete agreement with Cecilia Fosser's letter, "Effects of corporate behavior becoming obvious on college campuses," (Monday ). It is disturbing that corporations must occupy the UA Mall or any other public space in order to advertise their products. A university community is a place where, ideally, independent thought and inquiry should flourish. I would, however, argue that corporate America is capable of weaving a web of cultural control and persuasion far more inescapable than the two-day spectacle of last week.

The Nike Corporation is a perfect example. Every morning on my walk across campus I am confronted with a deluge of "swoosh symbols," the trademark of Nike. The emblem, which represents a large, multinational corporation, is the "symbol of choice" for many young people today. Unlike other signs which represent unique and challenging ideas dominant in the 1960s and '70s such as the peace symbol, the yin-yang, the raised fist or the Lion of Judah, the "swoosh" just means ... Nike (and that the wearer is using his/her body for advertising they actually paid to own and display). Other trademarks such as Reebok are also worn, but Nike is by far the most customary.

Jason A. Vrtis' article "UA, TCI struggle with contract talks" (Monday) is another case in point. Accompanying this article is a picture of a somewhat disgruntled young man standing next to a television cable outlet, with the caption explaining that he is being deprived of his MTV, as if cable TV were as essential as electricity or running water. This is apparently what the UA thinks, so much so that it is paying TCI over $800,000 (the equivalent of $22.86 per UA student, including those who don't live on campus or won't opt for cable if they do). Here is another example of taxpayer money being GIVEN to a for-profit company so that they can provide a service that inhibits, in fact contradicts, what the individual undergraduate university experience is really all about: expanding one's intellectual (and social) horizon!

Getting involved in a campus organization is far more enriching and provides an opportunity to actually DO something rather than being a passive spectator. Sitting in front of the tube is something you'll have plenty of time to do when you're old and gray!

Indeed, it is difficult to chase the money changers out of the temple, especially when those very money changers hold a monopoly over the thoughts and beliefs exhibited in the culture.

By James F. Tracy
Arizona Daily Wildcat
February 6, 1997