It's hard to get humor right. But it's hard not to see what went wrong with a college newspaper's visual April Fools' Day joke involving Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and other inappropriate Disney-themed depictions.
It peaked our interest as Ball State is celebrating Sexual Assault Awareness Week. Events like this should be taken seriously. They offer a positive statement in contrast to issues like the one facing a young newspaper editor at Boston University.
It ought to be an excuse for us to think about some of the messages we send, even when we're not trying to say anything at all, beyond getting someone to laugh.
The editor of The Daily Free Press stepped down Tuesday after realizing the repercussions of the material she authorized to run in Monday's edition of the paper. In this edition, a photo showed a woman being drugged and raped by "seven frat dwarves," among other salacious photos.
Attempts at humor get people in far more trouble than the serious things they say. Even worse is when discriminating messages are sent without the author realizing. One example is the unintended racial slur associated with a news headline about an Asian point guard on the New York Knicks basketball team.
This can snare politicians, too. Mitt Romney, who already has problems connecting with some voters because of his wealth, was chastised for a humorous recollection of the time his father, an automobile executive, closed a factory.
If there's any subject that ought to get close and careful handling, it's the subject of sexual assault.
This is a good week to think of that and consider what it means to be victimized and attacked.
Even though sexual misconduct is often underreported, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that 20 to 25 percent of college women will report sexual assault during their time on campus.
So what's the message? This is April 1st week, and the beautiful weather is a reminder of how fun life can be.
It's great to have a good time with a sense of humor, too. Just don't push it.
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