I was pleased to read that the Argus has clear and simple criteria for determining whether to publish a Wespeak (“The Argus Hates Censorship”, Feb 17, 2006). As an avid reader of the Argus, I’ve noticed that in past years these criteria have not always been self-evident, and I believe the Argus and the Wesleyan community suffered as a result. I’m writing to suggest the Argus consider three additional criteria beyond those you have already adopted: that Wespeaks (a) be well-written; (b) be well-reasoned; and (c) help advance an important discussion.
While I don’t mean to offend you and your colleagues, the title of ‘Editor’ is not fully justified unless you actually edit, in the broadest sense of the word, what the community reads. The irony is that censorship—which the Argus claims to hate—is actually pretty close to what you’re doing. Censors don’t care whether something is well written or important—they just block the “bad words” that are on the list and let everything else through. Sounds to me like this is pretty close to what the Argus does now with Wespeaks.
Though I am not a journalist, as a former trustee of Wesleyan and now as Vice Dean of The Wharton School at The University of Pennsylvania, I’ve had many occasions to observe campus publications. Take a look at a recent edition of The Daily Pennsylvanian (Penn’s student-led newspaper) and compare the letters to the editor with the Wespeaks that typically appear. Which are better written, more persuasive, and have greater impact for a typical reader?
Why do Wesleyan students come off so badly in this comparison? It’s not because Penn students are more capable of reasoning, writing, or opining on important issues (though they, like their counterparts at Wes, are enormously capable of all three). If The Argus had higher editorial standards, not a single Wesleyan student would be prevented from publishing a Wespeak, and I believe the number of Wespeaks would not diminish at all. They would simply be…better.
Failing to set high standards for oneself, and one’s community, is a shame. If you fail to take yourselves and your fellow students seriously, you should expect others—the Administration, faculty, employers and alumni—to do the same.
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