Busy? Ask answer guy

It can be problematic for busy college kids to follow the issues circulating on campus when they just don't have the time.\nFor convenience, this week this column presents the first installment of an extremely irregular series entitled: The Answer Guy.\nQ: Who, exactly, are the Democrats running for president?\nTo Anonymous Apathetic Voter: I'm glad you asked, because a CBS News poll came out last week that was frankly a little troubling for Answer Guy.\nIt seems that two of every three Americans -- people just like the citizens of the rest of the world, except held at a much lower standard -- cannot name one Democrat running for president.\nThis scares Answer Guy ... especially since there are nine candidates, and statistically speaking, if you put them in a room with 18 average Americans, odds are the only people in the room who could name the candidates would be the candidates themselves.\nMy suggestion: Pay attention. The primaries choose the nominee, and you want the right one, not the doofus, so your guy can win in the general election. Answer Guy has a word count, so if you want good information on all the candidates, the New York Times and Washington Post have both done fantastic jobs. Besides, most political analysts agree you can sleep through the summer nominating conventions. Booooring!\nQ: I'm trying to come up with ways I can be a more reckless cyclist. It's only the second week of school and I don't feel I've been intimidating enough for mere "walkers." By this time last year, I had hit two people.\nTo Anonymous Insane Cyclist: You must have been the cyclist that hit the Answer Guy last year when Answer Guy was walking to class. I am still quite upset with you. \nJust because you have a bicycle and you decide to wait until you have just three minutes to get to class on the other side of campus, doesn't give you the right to zoom dangerously by me and other pedestrians.\nQ: I was involved in a small controversy this week for my views I posted on my personal Web site on the IU server (specifically "Why homosexuals should not be teachers, elected officials and doctors," IDS, Sept. 5). I was asked to take it down, but then was allowed to put it back up. I would say reaction has been slightly mixed. How might I address this issue?\nDear Anonymous Professor in the Kelley School of Business: OK, I made that last submission up. We all know about professor Eric Rasmusen's Web log, and we know he wouldn't ask, of all people -- me, for help.\nAnswer Guy thinks it's good that we have a code of academic ethics to protect the faculty and staff to voice their opinions freely. That's simply what the First Amendment guarantees, no matter how asinine your comment is.\nAnd I'm glad the code encourages that "a teacher will strive to develop among students respect for others and their opinions by demonstrating his or her own respect for each student as an individual, regardless of race, sex, national origin, religion, age or physical handicap."\nBut it's amazing there is no mention of sexual orientation in that list. Without it, Answer Guy feels it's difficult to develop the respect the University claims it wants. \nAnswer Guy has a question of his own for the administration: when are you going to do the right thing and add "sexual orientation"?\nQ: Wow, Answer Guy, you sure helped me this week. Can we condense all complex issues in simple Q&A forums from now on?\nDear Anonymous Reader: We're out of time, Answer Guy has to go!