Logic 101: opinions are often biased
by Chris Taylor, editor-in-chief

    With this being the last paper of the semester, and the last paper for me, I figured now might be a good time to give a refresher course on newspapers.

   Over the course of the semester, we get a ton of letters calling us biased and questioning our journalism skills. I don’t really pay attention to these personal attacks because it’s hard to take criticism of my journalism skills from someone who lacks those skills in the first place.

   Others around here have, on occasion, let the criticism get to them.

   Criticism is fine, but one thing people don’t take into account is that page 2 is for opinions. Thus, anything on there is an opinion and, by definition, automatically biased. To call someone’s opinion biased is just plain silly.

   All these self-proclaimed journalism experts who call our opinions biased and proceed to make ad hominem attacks never have claimed our news stories are biased. That’s the whole key. Our news stays objective and impartial, but that fact is often ignored.

   If our detractors looked at the opinion page as just one part of the newspaper, maybe they wouldn’t be so petty.

   There has actually been some friction from outside sources over our opinions. The Collegian has received several letters and phone calls requesting my resignation or demanding my firing.

   I can only assume the reason was my opinion. My qualifications were never even questioned, but my opinion was. So there go my First Amendment rights—I can say what I want as long as it’s what everyone else wants to hear.

   If I sound angry, I’m not, but I’m a little ashamed of what some of people will write in their letters. The staff has the courage to put our names and pictures with our opinions, but many letter writers don’t have that same courage.

   Also, I have to wonder how these angry letter writers would react if someone said those things to them, their children, parents or significant others.

   I’ve never had a problem with the hate letters. I actually make it a point to print them. But I have a problem with the ones who go too far and try to have me terminated. They are the ones violating my rights. Will they recognize themselves in this column and learn from it?

   Probably not, but I can dream.