This is Your Newspaper
Editor-in-chief Alison Stratton remarks on how students should--and should not--voice their opinions
Alison Stratton
Issue date: 11/6/08 Section: Opinion
As Editor-in-Chief of The Swinging Bridge, it is both my job and privilege to provide a mouthpiece to the students of Messiah College. Through the student newspaper, upper- and under-classmen alike can articulate their personal convictions, start healthy discussions on topics that are timely and relevant, and inform one another about noteworthy events. Unfortunately, some seem to be unaware of The Swinging Bridge's purpose, opting to harass writers and editors in person and on Facebook for material published in our newspaper.
The two criticisms of this year's Swinging Bridge that I have heard the most is that we feature the men's soccer team too much and that our articles are politically biased toward Barack Obama. It is certainly true that we have run more articles that articulate support of Obama over McCain. It is also a fact that the men's soccer team has appeared in more issues of The Swinging Bridge than any other team. "Why does The Swinging Bridge seem to be so biased?" people have been asking. The answer is simple: student contributions.
As a staff, The Swinging Bridge works hard to establish and maintain a newspaper that is written, produced, and perfected by students. That being said, we can only publish what people give us.
Do you disagree with Mike Holmes' critical review of Cardinology? Send us an email. Do you have a problem with Tim Mackie tackling the issue of Messiah's stance regarding homosexuality? Post a comment on our website. Would you like to present a counter-argument to Amanda Arbour's advocacy of Barack Obama as the next U.S. president? Write an article in response!
It is simple to read an article that you flat-out disagree with and complain to your friends about it over dinner in Lottie. But what will that accomplish? The Swinging Bridge is the one publication on campus in which students can voice their opinions without having to go through the filtering systems of staff or faculty. That is its purpose--to give students a voice and a safe place to address the issues that they perceive as important.
The two criticisms of this year's Swinging Bridge that I have heard the most is that we feature the men's soccer team too much and that our articles are politically biased toward Barack Obama. It is certainly true that we have run more articles that articulate support of Obama over McCain. It is also a fact that the men's soccer team has appeared in more issues of The Swinging Bridge than any other team. "Why does The Swinging Bridge seem to be so biased?" people have been asking. The answer is simple: student contributions.
As a staff, The Swinging Bridge works hard to establish and maintain a newspaper that is written, produced, and perfected by students. That being said, we can only publish what people give us.
Do you disagree with Mike Holmes' critical review of Cardinology? Send us an email. Do you have a problem with Tim Mackie tackling the issue of Messiah's stance regarding homosexuality? Post a comment on our website. Would you like to present a counter-argument to Amanda Arbour's advocacy of Barack Obama as the next U.S. president? Write an article in response!
It is simple to read an article that you flat-out disagree with and complain to your friends about it over dinner in Lottie. But what will that accomplish? The Swinging Bridge is the one publication on campus in which students can voice their opinions without having to go through the filtering systems of staff or faculty. That is its purpose--to give students a voice and a safe place to address the issues that they perceive as important.
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