as a foul-mouthed, pot-smoking hippie advising him to chill out. Others wrote passionately in Mr. Riner's defense: "He stood up against political correctness, and it is about time," opined senior Stacey Kourlis: "No one has been hurt or denied their rights. If anything, Riner has just created the chance for everyone to argue about a controversial topic." Freshman Brian Chao suggested that "had Riner instead espoused the virtues of Muhammad, Buddha, or any other religious figure, he would be applauded."

That people disagreed with his ideas did not surprise the senior, a history and government double major, but the frequent unwillingness to engage those ideas surprised and disappointed him. "I wish people would wrestle more with the issues raised in my speech rather than with the propriety of theThere is a rich tradition of songwriting and music in the state of Tennessee. While most people might be more familiar with Nashville as a songwriting and Country music hub, Eastern Tennessee is also home to many great musicians and songwriters. After all it is from these Appalachian Mountains that The Carter Family, some