Upon unfolding the Oct. 2 issue of The News, I was struck to read a commentary I felt lowered the paper’s quality of writing standards. After reading the piece thoroughly, just to be sure there was no hidden joke I may had missed, I arrived at this conclusion only to be disappointed.
The commentary (All Hail: Life through the eyes of a freshman), in its most simple description, was a commentary about life as witnessed from the perspective of a Northeastern student. It is difficult to understand what the writer’s intentions were for submitting what appears to be a thoughtless rant, carelessly strung together with racial undertones and obvious discontent for a variety of disjointed topics.
Oddly enough, rather than cast the paper aside to be left abandoned in its disheveled folds, my curiosity to learn more about this seemingly misplaced story led me to analyze and critique other stories in an effort to understand its context. Much to my dismay, I realized that the All Hail was not only recklessly senseless but it demonstrated a lack of tasteful journalism.
In my determination not to simply categorize this on the premise of unskilled writing, I began to wonder how this article made its into the pages of a newspaper that strives to reflect the Northeastern community. Was I the only person who felt slightly insulted by the editor’s decision to publish a story with such seemingly inappropriate context?
These thoughts provoked me to upload the newspaper’s website on my laptop where I read the comments from other readers, hopeful to gain insight into opinions other than my own. Much to my assumption, I was not alone in my befuddled judgment of the piece.
Some students replied to the story by saying it was classless and a “disgrace to journalism.” They even recommended the writing style was preferable for a blog and not a college newspaper. In one opinion, the newspaper was criticized for its misdirected mission, while other readers argued the contrary, saying it was “a stroke of genius.”
A more critical reply challenged the integrity of the school’s reputation, expressing concern for the admissions standards in a backhanded insult directed to the author’s intelligence.
Ultimately, criticism aside, the piece is an example of free speech. The appeal of any free newspaper is the equal opportunity for the exchange of ideas. Students should feel especially lucky to take advantage of the campus paper, an outlet for practicing journalism techniques and developing a well-trained voice. It is, however, a privilege that is not to be abused.
While I value the freedom of expression, I equally value tasteful execution of publishing content in the context of representing Northeastern. It is equally the duty of the reporter as well as the editor to see to it that the standards of the newspaper are firmly upheld.
My hope for the future of both The News readers and writers is an increased inclination to produce thoughtful, articulate pieces that speak to the school’s respected reputation. When we value purposeful journalism we are speaking to the intellect of the community.
The story that concluded with an acknowledgment of its own pointlessness was a weak example of freedom of speech, leaving me to wonder if the newspaper was looking to fill space on the editorial page, or if it was simply a slow news day.
-Rebecca Fenton is a middler journalism major.
