In society, there is always going to be conflict. People will always disagree and maybe even argue, failing to see another’s point of view. When one person or group has the avenue of a newspaper to make their voices heard, it may seem like they have the upper hand. Those without this avenue of communication may feel as though they are not being heard.
In the March 17 edition of The Renegade Rip, an editorial cartoon was published on the Opinions page, and it sparked some controversy. It went along with the Pro-Con articles on Student Government Association elections and depicted a monkey running for SGA. The cartoon’s message was that if we do not vote in SGA elections, we have no say in who is making decisions for us, and we may end up with monkeys throwing feces instead of a qualified student politician. Although it was not the cartoon or its artist’s intent, some people believed the cartoon was depicting President Obama and was offensive. The editorial board has since issued a statement apologizing for the possible hurt we might have caused, which can be found on our newspaper racks around campus.
The first amendment of the United States Constitution gives us many things, including freedom of the press. But this freedom goes both ways. Not everyone has the means or desire to write for a newspaper, but everybody has access to a letter to the editor.
Newspapers are made by people just like anyone else. Through our studies, we learn to be objective and save our personal beliefs for pages clearly marked “Opinions.” On those pages, journalists are allowed to air how they feel on a certain topic, and sometimes those topics are controversial and incite passion in readers, whether they agree or disagree. The media follows an equal time rule, though, and for people who feel as though their voices are not being heard or as though they are being misrepresented, a letter to the editor serves as the perfect venue to give an opposing opinion.
After the controversy following the SGA election cartoon, we expected many letters to the editor. Although we knew the letters would be critical of us and of our decisions, we looked forward to publishing them and giving people the chance to tell their story. Instead of piles of letters, we received only one that we felt did not do the other side justice. Letters to the editor can be just as effective as anything we write, but they should be well written. This is the reader’s chance to get their thoughts in the paper, but for it to do any good, it needs to make a well thought-out point.
This newspaper is just as much yours as it is ours. We do our best to give you the information we think you might be interested in. If you have a comment on something we publish, be it positive or negative, we not only welcome letters to the editor, we encourage them. We want to give everyone the chance to let their voices be heard.