Speaker challenges students to see through rationalizations

Carol Daniel wants to know what you are rationalizing in your life.

Daniel, a St. Louis-based radio news anchor for KMOX, asked that question at Southeast Missouri State University on Sunday night as she spoke at the 11th annual Michael Davis Lecture, sponsored by the Department of Communication.

Davis rationalized a fraternity hazing ritual, which ultimately killed him, Daniel said. "Michael Davis wanted to handle it and he thought he could make it through the beating. He rationalized his vision right to the grave."

When Davis' body was found at his apartment building, a notebook was discovered inside his underwear. In the notebook, Daniel said Davis had written "hazing is the physical conditioning of the mind."

This written message came from the mind of a man who had the vision of being on the TV news program "60 Minutes," Daniel said. "He wanted to be something huge and he had the audacity to that. He came to Southeast Missouri State University with a vision and he rationalized how to accomplish his vision."

Daniel said rationalizing is a dangerous game to play.

"I want you to live a full and relevant life," Daniel told more than 80 students attending the lecture. "If you have ever said, 'I got so drunk last night that I don't remember a thing,' then you are rationalizing."

Sunday's lecture is presented every year recognizing the contribution of African Americans in the media. It also honors Davis, a journalism major at Southeast who died on Feb. 15, 1994, after enduring a week-long hazing ritual of slaps, punches and body slams on the university campus.

Daniel worked for KZIM Radio in Cape Girardeau at the time Davis was found dead and covered the tragedy for the radio station.

She recalled her memories of the event and distinctly remembers the day it happened.

"That day, someone called and told me there was a body found," Daniel said. "At first, it was thought that beer and lack of sleep was the cause of this young man's unconsciousness. But then it started to unravel so quickly and we learned he had died from the beating and hazing."

Daniel also shared information about her profession in radio. At KMOX, she serves as an anchor, reporter and talk-show host.

"Being a talk-show host, the most challenging part about is to come up with a topic," she said. "You really have to put your finger on the pulse of the community your station is in."

She challenged the mass communication students at the lecture and told them to dissect certain issues and locate the stories that aren't being reported in the media.

Daniel, a 22-year, award-winning radio broadcast veteran, previously worked as a cable television host, a recruiter for the U.S. Census Bureau and a substitute teacher.

jfreeze@semissourian.com

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