The Issue: 'Heights' column stirs racial tension
What we think: Opinions section a forum for discussion
Last week, this newspaper published an opinion column, "It's time to be equal" by Tyler Hughes, that has generated a considerable amount of tension within the Boston College community. This tension has manifested itself in the form of letters to the editor, op-ed pieces, online comments, University panels, Facebook groups, and conversations among peers. While most of this buzz has been a direct response to the ideas set forth by that piece, some of the responses have called into question The Heights' decision to allow such a column to go to print. Therefore, we are taking this opportunity to discuss our role as a student newspaper on this campus.
For newspapers, there is a stark differentiation between news writing and opinion writing. A news piece is called an article and it elucidates the facts - the what, where, when, why, and how - of an issue. We refrain from publishing an article if it does not report these facts accurately and fairly. An opinion piece is called a column and its purpose is to reflect on an issue with a clear argument or individual perspective. Conversely, an editorial such as this represents the opinion of the The Heights' editorial board. We refrain from publishing columns that misstate or misrepresent objective facts, directly slander, or malign with slurs, epithets, or profane terms. In our view, Hughes' column, which expressed his opinion on affirmative action, did not violate these standards, but did toe the line because of the inherently provocative subject matter.
It is important for members of this community to understand the difference between an "article" and a "column." These terms are mutually exclusive and should not be used interchangeably. To do so is to misunderstand this independent student newspaper's role as both an informer and a medium for discussion.
The Opinions section of The Heights is a public forum for this University. This space is reserved for the thoughts, ideas, and arguments of members of the BC community. With this in mind, the pages of our newspaper can be the epicenter of many discussions, particularly the most difficult, which are generally the most necessary. We will never publish any piece with the intention of offending or inciting bitterness, yet we will never shy away from material that may cause heated dialogue.
The Heights does not know what will be the end game of poor race and class interaction on this campus, nor can we propose a solution. There is not one particular phrase or word that if printed will eliminate this problem. If one person held the key, surely the door would have already been unlocked.
What we do know is that the problem cannot be addressed without action and thought on the part of individual people every day. This newspaper supports the efforts of campus groups that host panels and dialogues about racial interaction. These organized events establish an essential framework for action and discussion.
However, a conscientious evaluation of positions and critical thought must always precede action. That is our role; we are a medium for these thoughts and debates and an advocate for potential solutions, not an antidote to the problem itself.
The process of committing an argument to paper necessitates thought, judgment, evaluation, and reason. These are all essential elements of proper discussion, which makes an Opinions section an excellent place to entertain these sensitive issues. In a way, writing an op-ed or letter to the editor is just a continuation of the liberal arts education we are receiving at BC. If the classroom prepares us for our future professional endeavors, then a debate like this serves as a preparation for our future interpersonal relationships and experiences. If this University is serious about its stated mission of educating men and women for others, then there should be no better time to discuss poor race and class interaction than within this collegiate and intellectual community. Use The Heights for this purpose.
Additionally, a newspaper is intrinsically historical. It is a tangible documentation of human history and a critical record of past thought and action. Take a look at the Heights archives in O'Neill Library, and you'll find a history of BC and the issues that dominated conversations throughout the decades. In the days, weeks, and years ahead, The Heights will be a marker of our progress, as it has been for the past 90 years.
With this, we strongly encourage you to continue producing letters to the editor, op-eds, and online comments. These actions and the thought behind them force the community to reflect on the issue of poor race and class interactions, and to make critical value judgments. In the end, though, it is your actions that will solve this or any other problem on campus. The Heights is not the final word. You are. We ask one thing of ourselves and of the BC community: to think.
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