No news is good news for many students at The University of Memphis.
With many distractions and demands on time, several students simply do not make knowing the news a priority.
"I read the paper the way I would read a novel, just something to keep my mind occupied while I eat breakfast," said Hannah Johnston, senior journalism major.
Often students only run into a news story if a friend or relative places it in their laps.
"I really don't watch the news," said Robin Schmid, junior music major. "I only have lately because my dad was watching it."
Another student, Silpa Pallapothu, a senior biology major, learned about the fighting in Lebanon only after she received text messages from friends stranded in the country.
Once she knew people who were directly involved, Pallapothu began checking the news online.
"I just don't think about it," Pallapothu said. "It's not that I avoid it, but I'm usually busy with something else."
Whether it is lack of interest or lack of opportunity, several students are unaware of action in the Middle East, the president's veto on stem cell research or even that local elections begin next month.
"Usually in college, anything that happens off campus doesn't affect (the students)," said Michelle Jackson, a counseling master's student. "They don't have enough sight to see that there are other things affecting them."
The gap between themselves and the events in the paper prevents them from having a large interest.
But according to political science professor David Richards, the news is always relevant to all of us.
"A democracy is based on self-rule," Richards said. "People are chosen to represent the public's choice. In order to have an opinion, you have to know something (about the news)."
Despite some students' apathy, there are still people on campus who agreed with Richards.
"It's important to have opinions and to understand what others are going through," said Marian Stillman, junior English major.
"I'm not an obsessive-compulsive news watcher, but I make sure I know the headlines."
But Jackson also argued that the "bubble" students are in may be beneficiary.
"Students have to be ready to understand what all is out there, and they won't see it until they are ready for it."
