Last Thursday saw the reintroduction of The Observer, an independently funded conservative student newspaper that ceased publication on campus in 1998. In addition to covering campus issues, the newspaper offered its take on heated topics, most notably professing anti-abortion, pro-war, and anti-French sentiments.
The cartoon that, in 1998, ended The Observer's publication depicted members of the Ku Klux Klan, a Nazi rally, and a Planned Parenthood clinic, with the caption, "Which one kills more blacks?"
The publication, returning this week with Chris Pizzo, A&S '05, at the helm as editor-in-chief, along with a staff of approximately 35 students, showed the new Observer's potential for generating discussion. Students scrambled for copies of the new conservative voice on campus, leading to varied reactions to its content.
"I think we got the reaction we expected. We have people who love it, people who hate it," said Pizzo. "There is nothing there that would deter us. The majority of what we have gotten back haven't been positive, but that is okay, we expected that."
Students expressed mixed views upon first reading The Observer. Most saw the need for representation of the conservative viewpoint on campus, but some found the coverage offensive.
"I don't mind that they put a conservative voice on this campus, but it just seems so hard to agree with," said Joe Competello, A&S '03.
"It was nice to see something outside the norm," said Robert Daly, CSOM '03. "They weren't watching themselves which I liked; they weren't tiptoeing around the issues. A lot of people use freedom of speech for their own purposes and look at something conservative and say they can't do that. But freedom of speech goes both ways."
Others took a more negative view of the publication."It's a bunch of yellow journalism without much content," said Michael Greco, CSOM '04. "All they're doing is playing devil's advocate."
"They're just using shock and awe," added Jarrod Phipps, CSOM '04.
Some students see the merit in The Observer's trying to generate discussion, even if they didn't agree with the slant of its coverage.
"There is room for a voice like that on this campus," said Arar Han, LSOE '03. "I don't completely agree with it but I stand by freedom of speech. I'm hoping that it leads to some discussion."
"In regards to the newly re-organized Observer, I believe that additional voices on campus can only serve to enhance the forum for debate and discussion," said Michael Davies, legislative chair of the Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC) and A&S '04. "Yet when those voices become purely sensational, the essence of discussion is lost along with any credibility that voice may have carried."
In his official statement regarding The Observer, Davies also said that, "I believe the writers of the Observer should keep in mind that criticizing others is a dangerous thing, not so much because you may make mistakes about them, but because you may be revealing the truth about yourself."
Some disagree with The Observer's methods in inducing controversy.
"It was not an invitation into discussion but more of a cutting down the other side of an issue," said Anne Batchelder, Global Justice Project (GJP) member and A&S '03, "not presenting their issues as one of many points, but as the one view as they discredited the others."
The GJP holds views different to those of The Observer, most notably its anti-war stance.
"I would say it's good to have a conservative newspaper on campus for conservative people to express their thoughts and opinions because GJP has been all over," said Batchelder. "But I find it shocking and somewhat disrespectful to the issues."
The paper's front page led with a teaser of a story exposing "Racism in the BC Housing Policy," an allegation also causing mixed reactions from students and faculty.
Regarding the story, Pizzo said that the "front page is always going to have something controversial on it."
In reaction to the article, Han, AHANA Leadership Council (ALC) director of research, said, "If they wanted an issue to pick, they certainly chose a good one. To be frank, I'm a little worried because some of the arguments Chris Pizzo and his staff put forward are attractive, and I think AHANA students will be faced with the challenge of deciding what's good for now and what's good in the long term.
"It's divisive: pinning one minority against the other. I think ALC will have a role in making sure there aren't divisions among AHANA students."
Some minority students were unhappy with the possibility of housing using racism in its selection processes.
"As an African-American person at this school, this [article] makes me feel unwelcome and that my spot here was unearned housing-wise," said Naema Abdal-Khallad, A&S '03. "I know black people that have three years of housing so it's not accurate anyway."
"I see the point [The Observer] is trying to make," said Karl Akoko, A&S '04. "At the same time, I feel that African-Americans and minorities in general coming to this school are already at a disadvantage. If the paper feels it's not fair, they should petition the school rather than write a paper about it."
Other topics in the paper included reactions to the announcement of Allies, BC's gay/straight alliance. The paper's comments on Allies criticized the presence of homosexuality on campus.
"In terms of my lifestyle I think it goes along with a lot of Catholic hopes and ideals," said Foster Matt Johns, A&S '05. "I try to serve my neighbors as I would be served ,and I know I would not publish a newspaper with so much hatred towards people here on campus. That's not serving your neighbor well."
Johns said he felt The Observer's criticism of the approval of Allies during Holy Week was inappropriate, as well as its publication during a time when students focused on celebrating the Arts Festival and preparing for finals.
The publication also coincided during a week with an influx of campus tours as prospective students visited BC more often before the University's May 1 enrollment deadline.
"Had I seen a copy of The Observer while touring campus, I would have serious thoughts about coming to a campus where I would feel unwelcome and oppressed," said Johns. "It makes me feel that alternative lifestyles still are not an alternative here.
"What they have published feels like a hate crime."
Pizzo disagreed. "I consider it a fantastic success. This paper caused controversy and is going to continue to cause controversy."
"There are a lot of people on campus who would find content of The Observer objectionable," said University Spokesman Jack Dunn. "I know I was personally offended by some of it. But, in matters such as this, I think that it is important to seek the wisdom of Voltaire, who said, 'I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.'"
On the paper's anti-abortion position, Dunn said, "The message of supporting life is a perspective that is welcome on this campus. We're a Catholic university; we want our students to be aware of Catholic teachings and Catholic values."
Dunn also said that the University had not received any complaints about the publication.
Sources close to The Observer told The Heights that the paper had received several complaints alleging that they had misquoted student leaders and members of the University's administration in articles.
"We stand by every quote that was in there," said Pizzo. "We didn't misquote anyone. Some people may not like the way we presented their quotes, but they said it, so they have to deal with it."
"This issue was meant to put the campus on notice," he said. "We'll be publishing again next year. The Observer isn't going anywhere."
As of yet, two editors and one staffer have officially resigned from The Observer, citing dissatisfaction with its controversial stances.
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