Take Care While Covering Campus Events

Throughout the year, this newspaper has continuously misquoted and misrepresented various campus organizations, events, and individuals, a trend that was further highlighted with the unauthorized and premature announcement of the annual Spring Concert. In light of this most recent misrepresentation and in an effort to mitigate further mistakes, we felt that a response was necessary.

 

As a publication that "serves the students, faculty, and staff of the Boston College community as well as our neighbors in Allston-Brighton," [1] it is imperative that you publish accurate information. This includes, but is in no way limited to, using correct spelling and grammar, citing the correct sources, and checking all facts before they are printed. Furthermore, when a person or organization is credited with an achievement or event, it is highly suggested that you contact them to get their thoughts. Not only will it ensure an accurate article, it will also let those being discussed know that they are more than just words on a page.

 

In regards to this year's Spring Concert, you have done a poor job of describing the event. Rather than remarking on the large-scale collaboration between Black Student Forum (BSF) and the Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC), which we would like to add is the first of its kind, you chose to use out-of-context remarks that were made at an informal information session organized under false pretenses. Contrary to serving as just another Spring Concert, this year's event strives to be more inclusive of the entire Boston College community while highlighting the annual Black Family Weekend, a Boston College tradition that will be celebrating its 39th year on this campus. We appreciate the editorial commending UGBC's thoughtfulness in planning such a large-scale event, but would hope to find these same values reflected in current and future relationships between The Heights and student organizations. Therefore, Black Student Forum should have also been commended for their collaborative work to share a longstanding tradition with the entire BC community.

 

Articles such as the one in question hinder the community building that UGBC and other organizations, namely culture clubs, work hard to foster and encourage across campus. As the current administration strives to make UGBC more inclusive and representative of the entire BC community, you have continuously framed their efforts in a way that makes it seem as though they want to take credit for the hard work and innovation of others. If you seek to serve the BC community, then please do so consistently and completely.

 

We challenge you to print this letter in its entirety, with nothing deleted or changed. We want to emphasize that the concerns we have outlined far surpass the Spring Concert, as this is just one example of frequent misrepresentations of student organizations and individuals found within The Heights.

 

To the readers of this newspaper: If you see something printed that is inaccurate, whether it is an incorrect location or a misquotation, please let it be known. As the public that The Heights serves, it is our job to hold them responsible. They write for us. Let's hold them accountable to doing it well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diana Morris

President, Black Student Forum

 

Micaela Mabida

President,

Undergraduate Government of Boston College