For $32,000 Snooki will come to your university, too.

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Twenty-five years ago, in a terrific book, Neal Postman warned we were Amusing Ourselves To Death in what I think is the best book on entertainment ever written. Postman understood that even more than cuss words and sex scenes impacting our morality, our addiction to entertainment would make us mindless and silly.

His prophecy came true at Rutgers University. Last week the Programming Association, who’s responsible for using student funds to plan campus events invited Snooki from “Jersey Shore” to campus. Price tag? $32,000 – more than they’ll pay a Pulitzer prize winning author to speak at graduation!

What did Snooki offer this esteemed institution of higher learning? Advice on partying, hooking up, and getting a tan. Rutgers defended itself by saying it’s what students want. As one student said, “I don’t care how much they spend, as long as its popular.”

This is what Postman warned us about: we’d rather be amused than thoughtful. We’d rather be popular than good.

Rutgers University Defends Snooki's $32,000 Appearance
Aman Ali | Reuters | April 01, 2011

Amusing Ourselves to Death
Neil Postman | Amazon.com

Christian Distractions: How Postman Saw It
All About God | www.AllAboutGod.com