I must respond to a piece that was printed in the Daily on Veishea Friday, “Recognizing the mystical quality of Veishea” by Kris Fettkether. To call the effort sophomoric would be justified, but frivolous is probably most accurate. The writer was a friendly looking gal with “Miss Kris” as her handle. I would suggest “Miss Catachresis” might be used from here on out. This, after all, is a college newspaper.

Banality can be excused and often is in papers with supposedly more public concern, but not blatant misuse of the English language in an ebullient rendering of Veishea fluff. I am speaking specifically of the twice-misused word, abandon. Clearly, Miss K was striving to express the fun she has sought with abandon, as in lighthearted yielding to impulse, and letting go of restraint. Instead, she first neologizes with “unabandoned fun”, and ends the piece with the dissolute suggestion of “abandoned fun.” If I were an English maven, I would know I just used the subjunctive, and that “unabandoned” and “abandoned” are strike one and two for one particular jolly journalist. I mean maybe these would only amount to diction peccadillos if it wasn’t in the context of such stream of nostalgia dear diary muck. This piece was exceptionally indulgent let’s say. “Once again climb in that time machine and zip ahead to my second apartment I lived in as a Cyclone. My first real home, other than my parents’. I had my own room and roommates I got along with. Very nice.” The most patient of readers would flinch at such an emotionally stunted digression.

Veishea has come and gone for Miss Kris but her memories and the friends she has made she will have for life. Just remember Kris before you skip off that college rooftop and into the mystic, don’t abandon your Webster’s Vest Pocket Dictionary. Be young, be foolish, be happy.

Branden Pedersen

Senior, History/Sec. Ed.