lternative views are traditionally encouraged at American universities.
Not only are new, radical ideas common, they are fostered at many schools throughout the country, including Ball State.
Extremely unpopular ideas are often shunned, though, no matter what the setting is. For example, many students have had trouble accepting the thoughts and views of senior Tom Baker. He's not Satan. Nor does he claim to be. But he authored what was arguably the most controversial column published by the Daily News at the time - "Satan Speaks."
The title, which at first glance appears to be a declaration of Baker's religious beliefs, was actually meant to be an homage to Anton Levay, an essayist and founder of the Church of Satan. Levay's church does not treat Satan as a supernatural entity but uses the fallen angel as a symbol of its defiance and intolerance toward average, God-fearing members of society.
Although Baker does not claim an affiliation to any religion, he says he is a fan of Levay's writing. Either way, the content of "Satan Speaks" - his writing is dark, depressing and he once told his readers he was writing to them from Hell - earned Baker many negative letters, and Daily News readers began to refer to Baker as "Satan."
"That bothered me," Baker said. "That really bothered me."
Those who have seen both sides of Baker admit there seems to be a dual-personality at work. Tom Gubbins, editor in chief of the Daily News for the 2001-2002 academic year, inherited Baker from previous editors. Gubbins corresponded with Baker mostly through e-mail.
"I think we may have spoken on the telephone maybe once," Gubbins said.
The newspaper editor describes his former columnist as one who used a gimmick to get his message across, whatever that message may have been. In his writings, he was the "Satan" everyone referred to, but in casual conversation, he was not the person you would expect.
"Deep down, when it came through, there were two different people," Gubbins said.
Whether he believes in the devil or not, Baker does believe strongly in unnatural forces and spiritual phenomena at work in everyday life.
"I have an appetite and craving for anything bizarre, and (I) have had for as long as I remember," Baker said.
When Baker first began to write at age 15, he wrote an experimental book that he describes as "garbage," containing a few scenes that he says may or may not have been salvageable. The book was set in the future and was about a man who owned a killer TV set. The appliance represented either God or the man's father, Baker said, but he didn't know which.
"I eventually threw (the book) away," Baker said.
He wouldn't write another story until 1997, writing only song lyrics and letters during the period in between. Finally, he tried his hand at science fiction. He sent some of his writings to publishers, only to receive rejection letters in the mail.
Believing he was more talented as an essayist, Baker found his way to the Daily News, where he began his column, enjoying the feedback he received about his ideas and thoughts. While he claims the first couple of weeks were rather tame, Baker eventually found a niche, writing down whatever came to mind during a given hour, while he was in a given mood.
"I didn't expect anyone to take it seriously," Baker said.
But they did, and Baker found himself perplexed when people came up to him, as one girl did, telling him that he did not have to be so sad all the time. He told the girl not to worry, what he wrote wasn't really how he felt and went about his business, ignoring the dirty looks people would send his way.
"They take someone as crass and cynical as me seriously," Baker said in amazement.
Baker himself, though, chuckles while reading archived copies of his columns. "Did I write this?" Baker asked while flipping through an edition of "Satan Speaks" from the fall of 2000. He explained that much of what he wrote was similar to the casual conversations he has with friends, only written down on paper.
Baker does regret publishing one column that graced the pages of the Daily News on Sept. 11. In it, he wrote about his hatred for humanity. The column had been written a week earlier, and Baker had no idea it would be published on the same day as the deadliest act of terrorism yet on American soil.
"You have to wonder why God plays jokes on you like that," Baker said.
Following the attack, Baker spent a fair amount of time refusing to speak to people about the column that had run that day. He even thought about printing a retraction, but instead opted to leave the issue alone.
Two and a half months later, Baker penned a column bidding farewell to his readers. The final edition of "Satan Speaks" ran on Nov. 27, 2001. In it, he made one final response to his critics.
"I don't care what you think about me. You are probably wrong," Baker wrote. "But thank you for all the feedback, and I hope I made your paper-reading more interesting."
Response to Baker's departure was mixed, according to Gubbins. Not a week would go by without receiving some kind of response to Baker's columns, and his farewell was no different. While some were happy to see him go, others were not so thrilled about Baker's disappearance from the opinion page.
"There were a few that felt it was going to be a loss," Gubbins said.
Since then, Baker has focused on completing college, which he may do soon, but he's also looking for work and has gotten into self-publishing by peddling his poetry on the street and to his friends. In the meantime he suggests members of Ball State's student body - a group he describes as egocentric liberals who isolate anyone who chooses to stray from the norm - become more tolerant of the way people live their lives.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
