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.
