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Editorial: Digital Age not an excuse for laziness

This week, an article titled “Top 25 most dangerous college campuses in America” was released via Find The Best and immediately went viral, from news stations to social media sites.

Bradley University came in at No. 4 behind Drake University, Alabama A & M University and SUNY College at Plattsburgh.

Within just a few hours of its virality, it was taken down, and the site reported that it had “found an error in the analysis of the data used in [the] report.”

Less than 24 hours later, an entirely new listing was released, revealing that not one of the colleges that had appeared on the first edition was listed in the updated version.

In this day and age where we read our nation’s news more often from the sidebar of our Facebook home pages or Buzzfeed “10 things you should know” countdowns, it’s no surprise that we would jump on an article that reads easily, includes pictures and supplies us with gossip-worthy conversation.

However, what is a surprise is that we were so quick to believe it and pass it on.

Bradley is, by no means, a Harvard, but it is a school with students who know the importance of being well-versed, credible and informed citizens.

So, are we so naïve that we allow some random website to “inform us” that our school is the No. 4 most dangerous school in the entire country?

Yes, we receive the occasional ForeWarn text message and Safety Alert email, but of the more than 2,800 four-year colleges in the United States, did we really think a slideshow on a random site would reveal this shocking news to us if it were true?

While this is but one situation that has come and gone, there is a greater message.

Just because we live in the Digital Age, it does not mean we are exempt from doing our research. Resources are more readily available and accessible now than they have ever been before, but not all are credible.

Technology often receives a bad rap for shielding us from the discomfort of face-to-face interaction or detracting from the lessons learned and knowledge gained from reading books and seeking out experts.

However, technology can also be a resourceful companion, as online databases, credible news sources and even books (e-books, that is) are at our disposal at any moment.

It’s time to remove ourselves from the land of headphone isolation and computer screen solitude long enough to realize the importance of being well-informed people.

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The Scout is published by members of the student body of Bradley University. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the University.