Free speech requires responsibility

Kristen Kubisiak -- Staff Column

Disclaimer: The Chronicle does not share the views of this columnist and shall not be held responsible for the emotions that may erupt in response to this column.

Maybe a disclaimer is exactly what the Chronicle needs.

For several weeks, the University Chronicle staff has received quite a bit of flack (both deserved and undeserved) regarding columns and articles generated by its staff. I am afraid this column may also deter readers, as it does something no other article thus far has attempted to do: compliment the Chronicle staff.

I have been with the Chronicle since I was a sophomore. As a writer and reader, I generated and witnessed what later turned out to be debatable headlines, amateur or uninformed writing, poor staff decisions and errors of fact and grammar that often sparked controversy. These are unfortunate side-affects of all newspapers.

But over the years the different editors and section editors I have worked with have proved to be the most dependable, dedicated people I have met in college. The 2001-02 Chronicle staff hustled to put together a special 9-11 edition, the 2003-04 staff hauled computers and equipment to Atwood earlier this year during a partial campus blackout to complete production.

I never met anyone on the staff with a blatant disregard for the standards and ethics of journalism. I never met anyone malicious or purposefully biased.

Letters to the editor and constructive feedback help the staff grow. But misdirected anger, and name-calling - although proven the least effective forms of reasoning - remain the most frequent means of communication.

I implore readers, whether students, professors, alumni or community members, to help the staff to grow, but not into bitter and defensive journalists. I implore writers and editors to continue the pursuit of those ideals we learned in class, to strive for accuracy, and remember our First Amendment right isn't just a privilege - it's a responsibility.

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