Editors respond to faculty letter criticizing the Concordy
Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: Opinions
As editors of the Concordiensis, we appreciate the letter received from a group of fifteen faculty members from various departments who all take issue with our decision to print the interview with Professor Berk entitled, "Professor Berk responds to guest speaker and Palestinian-American journalist Ramzy Baroud" (February 14, p.5). We remain, however, disappointed by the patronizing and disrespectful tone used by those select faculty in their critique of the Concordiensis.
Before illustrating this point, we would like to clearly state the position of this newspaper in regard to the substance of these faculty members' complaint. We remain steadfast in our view that the Concordiensis, as a newspaper by and for the students of Union College, was not incorrect in its decision to prioritize covering stories in our "Campus News" section that pertain more directly to local student life than the Israel-Palestine conflict. The op-ed in question, however, appeared in the "World Views" section because it reflected the opinions of an individual, in this case Professor Berk, in regard to an international issue. The Campus News section of this newspaper is not beholden to its World Views opinion section, and therefore may choose to function independently from it. We do understand that the printing of a news story detailing Mr. Baroud's speech would have been ideal, but as an entirely student run newspaper, the Concordiensis unfortunately lacks the resources and staff to cover everything; prioritizations occur.
Moreover, it is regrettable that the faculty letter cleverly shrouds subtle jabs and criticisms of specific students, the Concordiensis staff as a whole, and especially the professor in question. Such comments are entirely inappropriate in a learning environment such as our college. It is troubling that these professors, who hold positions of high-regard and command considerable respect from their pupils, would slyly jab the students who devote a great deal of their time and effort to publish our "small campus paper."
Before illustrating this point, we would like to clearly state the position of this newspaper in regard to the substance of these faculty members' complaint. We remain steadfast in our view that the Concordiensis, as a newspaper by and for the students of Union College, was not incorrect in its decision to prioritize covering stories in our "Campus News" section that pertain more directly to local student life than the Israel-Palestine conflict. The op-ed in question, however, appeared in the "World Views" section because it reflected the opinions of an individual, in this case Professor Berk, in regard to an international issue. The Campus News section of this newspaper is not beholden to its World Views opinion section, and therefore may choose to function independently from it. We do understand that the printing of a news story detailing Mr. Baroud's speech would have been ideal, but as an entirely student run newspaper, the Concordiensis unfortunately lacks the resources and staff to cover everything; prioritizations occur.
Moreover, it is regrettable that the faculty letter cleverly shrouds subtle jabs and criticisms of specific students, the Concordiensis staff as a whole, and especially the professor in question. Such comments are entirely inappropriate in a learning environment such as our college. It is troubling that these professors, who hold positions of high-regard and command considerable respect from their pupils, would slyly jab the students who devote a great deal of their time and effort to publish our "small campus paper."
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