Spring Break
Provocative opinion page energizes campus debates
Emily Brown
Issue date: 4/25/06 Section: OpEd Page
The consensus is in - being co-editor of a highly controversial page is no romp in the woods, especially as a so-called liberal. But even in this job, partisanship matters very little, or perhaps too much, to my critics, as I learned in the wake of my April 7 column "Educate student body with bipartisan political week." A leading Democrat on campus took issue with my proposed Get Political week on the premise that it was just too nonpartisan while another felt I made sweeping claims about the campus political climate.
The Republicans remain silent, perhaps because they know all too well that I meant them when I wrote about "rancor" and "denigrating insults."
Look, I write opinion columns folks, not campus or community articles. I write a biased, opinionated, at times passionate 500-word column on whatever the hell I want. If I feel that politics on this campus breed discontent and are monstrosities reminiscent of the national bipartisan maelstrom, then I'll write about it.
I'm of the belief that the opinion page is desperately in need of a space for letters to the editor for the editors. So often, I am compelled to respond to a published letter or my own columnists exhortations that I wonder where my outlet is. Of course, I have this one, but who reads these columns anyway?
Sometimes, I wish for that space to criticize my own editing abilities, such as the decision to publish Eric Frey's March 28 political cartoon that unfairly portrayed the candy-touting "save a life" recovering addicts in a racist and violent manner. Political cartoons are always highly controversial, enigmatic representations of current issues and thus, Frey's role as a college newspaper cartoonist is no easy gig. I take the blame for allowing the publication of such an incendiary cartoon.
Sometimes, the customary letters to the editor space ticks me off. It is a site for debate, discussion and insight but recently I have seen it devolve into a space for bickering, bitterness and dispute. One such instance hits too close to home as professors sound off on the future of the Western College Program. One letter, one rebuttal. That's it. The letters space is no arena for full-fledged war. Now that a second letter from the Dawishas has surfaced on the opinion page, the editorial editors may be beholden to publish another rebuttal, continuing this ridiculous cycle of call and answer. And what is up with the all out furor of the Dawishas toward the Western College Program? It may be more elucidating for us to know exactly why they are on a murder mission for the program, rather than the reasons for its disablement (on which we are all well versed by now).
Despite my role as co-editor of this page, I take issue with it on every publication, whether for my own misjudgments or others' opinions, which I value regardless. A position as a columnist, co-editor, cartoonist or the like invites criticism and sometimes rancor. It can wear down a more insecure spirit, but for those who contribute to this opinion page, I believe we have done well to provoke the passions, politics and criticisms of a whole lot of people.
That is opinion page success.
The Republicans remain silent, perhaps because they know all too well that I meant them when I wrote about "rancor" and "denigrating insults."
Look, I write opinion columns folks, not campus or community articles. I write a biased, opinionated, at times passionate 500-word column on whatever the hell I want. If I feel that politics on this campus breed discontent and are monstrosities reminiscent of the national bipartisan maelstrom, then I'll write about it.
I'm of the belief that the opinion page is desperately in need of a space for letters to the editor for the editors. So often, I am compelled to respond to a published letter or my own columnists exhortations that I wonder where my outlet is. Of course, I have this one, but who reads these columns anyway?
Sometimes, I wish for that space to criticize my own editing abilities, such as the decision to publish Eric Frey's March 28 political cartoon that unfairly portrayed the candy-touting "save a life" recovering addicts in a racist and violent manner. Political cartoons are always highly controversial, enigmatic representations of current issues and thus, Frey's role as a college newspaper cartoonist is no easy gig. I take the blame for allowing the publication of such an incendiary cartoon.
Sometimes, the customary letters to the editor space ticks me off. It is a site for debate, discussion and insight but recently I have seen it devolve into a space for bickering, bitterness and dispute. One such instance hits too close to home as professors sound off on the future of the Western College Program. One letter, one rebuttal. That's it. The letters space is no arena for full-fledged war. Now that a second letter from the Dawishas has surfaced on the opinion page, the editorial editors may be beholden to publish another rebuttal, continuing this ridiculous cycle of call and answer. And what is up with the all out furor of the Dawishas toward the Western College Program? It may be more elucidating for us to know exactly why they are on a murder mission for the program, rather than the reasons for its disablement (on which we are all well versed by now).
Despite my role as co-editor of this page, I take issue with it on every publication, whether for my own misjudgments or others' opinions, which I value regardless. A position as a columnist, co-editor, cartoonist or the like invites criticism and sometimes rancor. It can wear down a more insecure spirit, but for those who contribute to this opinion page, I believe we have done well to provoke the passions, politics and criticisms of a whole lot of people.
That is opinion page success.
