UFV's Student Press Since 1993
By J.D.R. Brown (The Cascade) – Email
Date Posted: September 29, 2011
Print Edition: September 28, 2011
The Cascade has struggled with the quality of its content in the past, and while there have been some tremendous improvements over the last two years, sloppiness can undo months of work and make fools of those who produce this fine publication. That’s what happened last week, when my superiors saw fit to change the headline of my column at the last minute before sending the paper to press. By itself, changing the headline is not objectionable in the least – everyone has a boss, and mine decided that my suggested headline was too risqué. But what you all have noticed by now is that last week’s headline had an error. That’s right, a typo. A misspelling.
I conceive of The Cascade and the opinion section in particular as a forum within which members of the campus community may write and argue about whatever it is that sticks in their craw. To that end, I’ve endeavoured to publish a wide range of pieces with a diversity of views, from both students and non-students. And while in recent times no faculty or staff members have come forward to write op-eds or letters to the editor (excepting the brave Mr. Fowler), the opportunity exists for any and all to submit and to discuss. Such an environment of open discourse – something which the very concept of the university is dedicated – requires a fearless honesty and respect which so very often goes unarticulated.
The error in the headline to my column last week was terribly embarrassing for me personally and for the paper as whole, and served to undercut my rebuttal to Mr. Fowler’s letter. And while it is understandable that a student publication would make errors and typos from time to time, the blunder in the headline is ultimately small potatoes. Rather, what matters is the retreat from honesty in our discourse, and the courage of the participants to put themselves up for public scrutiny. In the latter case, Mr. Fowler’s doomed attempt to defend Sodexo ought to be warmly welcomed. Not because I or any of us may agree with it—I certainly do not—but because our campus is chock-full of a diversity of views and individuals, and the very best way to understand them is to engage critically with them.
My original headline was “Sodexo sucks and here’s why.” I still feel that it is a superior headline, but not just because of its pith or simplicity. It’s superior because it is honest, and it accurately reflects what my argument and view of Sodexo was in my response to Mr. Fowler’s letter. I think that Sodexo sucks, and I set out my reasons for thinking so. Retreating into politeness does no favours for anyone, especially if that politeness means typo-laden absurdity. Trying to deflect the full force of my criticism or the intensity of my antipathy toward Sodexo only made us all look like fools, and I’m sure did not change Mr. Fowler’s reaction in the least.
We at the paper need to be fiercer in our honesty, but that will only come when the rest of the campus community begins to actively demand it. I’ll continue to publish what I can and fight to keep things as honest as they themselves are, no matter how disquieting it may be. Until the rest of you—students, staff, and faculty alike—begin to contribute and enter this public forum, we at the paper will never have the proper incentive to be as fearlessly honest as we really ought to be.
And in the end, all of us will be diminished because of it.
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A spelling error is not such a huge deal. I don’t think it required a 600 word explanation. Perhaps there are more important issues to be covered in the space this piece took up in the paper? Maybe it was “terribly embarrassing” for you, and that is unfortunate (in that you are controlled by what people may think of you).
In the end, this isn’t the New York Times. People understand that these things happen. All you have done here is drawn attention to a simple mistake that many people probably didn’t even notice (and if they did notice, they probably didn’t care).
Four people have asked me, independently, and on separate days, whether I was the person who wrote and posted the above comment. My answer is that I am not that person.
@ the first responder:
I completely agree with you! What a waste of space.
The Cascade is going downhill and is completely lacking well-rounded articles. Student run newspapers should be about building up your university community, not about tearing it down and saying that your own school “sucks.”
Thank you for your constructive criticism, Joe.
However, I’d like to add two things.
1) While you can certainly take issue with the point of this article, the writer was not attacking the school, rather The Cascade’s spelling errors. While I can see your complaint with the point of the article, the ‘suck’ing in the title was not referring to UFV.
2) ‘Completely lacking’ in well rounded articles? While there absolutely are articles each week that could use more work or a better perspective, The Cascade has not been devoid of, as you describe it, anything close to quality content. Just talking recently, in the news section there’s the example of excellent reporting on the Campus Cards promotion by Nick Ubels in addition to regular coverage of campus events/lectures. In opinion there’s been Joe Johnson’s coverage of politics. In Arts and Life most notable was the well-articulated research on circumcision done by Joel Smart, in addition to the fine coverage of the EAT food festival by Sasha Moedt and Amy Van Veen and our regular music reviews/interviews, which I also regard as well done (and did before I wrote for the paper). I’ve been attempting to improve in the area of film criticism, and sports editor Sean Evans will be giving the Abbotsford Heat the best level of coverage they’ve had in this paper so far.
The Cascade is not on top of the world right now, but to completely disregard the paper is to ignore some hard working writers who, no, haven’t turned campus life upside down and made Abbotsford a destination for the world to see just yet, but make The Cascade worth reading, if only in fits and starts some weeks. The paper isn’t perfect, but to say we’re driving it into the ground is a matter of a different set of values at best and of ignorance at worst.
Remember that The Cascade is your paper too (I’m assuming you’re a student). If you perceive the paper to be lacking, help drive its direction by attending our weekly meeting (Mondays at 9:15 am in C1429) where we field ideas from people such as yourself.
well said, Michael.