Acorn

Issue date: 2/8/08 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: Merion Read

If this article was about a building blowing up on campus, would you read it? Of course you would. What if it was about a turtle that lived in the arboretum? Maybe if you're a nature freak, but for the rest of us, probably not. The point is that people enjoy reading exciting news and any good newspaper is aware of this. The juiciest of gossip is bound to make the front page.

It was exactly that type of story that sparked immense controversy at one of our neighboring schools.

Recently, at Montclair State University the student newspaper began snooping around their Student Government Association. Apparently, the Montclair SGA had been holding closed meetings. The school newspaper, The Montclarion, decided to report this to the general student body. However, before they got a chance, the SGA froze the $33,000 in funding that they had been providing the paper. A juvenile legal battle ensued, and after some bureaucratic debating, a mediocre resolution was reached. Being juicy gossip, it made its way into all the popular local papers.

I can safely say that, in recent years, The Acorn has gossiped about no student more often than me-nor more juicily. Nevertheless, I have always remained friendly and helpful with every Acorn reporter. At times it is difficult, but a student government official-especially a president-must encourage such challenges. One of the many jobs of a newspaper, whether it be that of a major nation or a small college campus, is to keep an eye on the government and draw attention to its flaws. Additionally, one of the jobs of government is to provide a forum for altruistic, uncorrupted, effective leadership.

We live in a country which tiptoes the fence between democracy and fascism. In 2005, the Bush administration was caught bribing major newspaper and television pundits and reporters, according to USA Today. Like the Montclair student government, they were using the money of their constituents to clean up their public image. This is absolutely disgraceful.

The media should be one of the most efficient ways for the people to control their government. Our own forefathers realized this over 200 years ago. Thomas Jefferson is known to have said, "Our liberty cannot be guarded but by the freedom of the press, nor that be limited without danger of losing it."

Newspapers uncover the truth, and a government that hides the truth from the people is a government which demands revolution.

As for my role in providing the truth, I believe that to know me is to trust me-but for those of you who don't know me, I pledge that I will not only support the efforts of your paper when they question my leadership, but I will continue to encourage them to do so. I will do this both during and after my term as SGA president.

We are all busy. Between swim practice, Ariel meetings, Little Shop rehearsals, and your academic life, you may not have time to make it to the Sunday night SGA meetings. Nevertheless, when the day comes that you can bring an idea to us, be grateful that you have such an extremely open student government. Until then, be equally grateful that you have a student newspaper with the courage to ask questions, seek out answers and share their findings with you.

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