A few people on the posting section of our website have insinuated that it is the job of Observer staff to patrol our message boards and respond to counterarguments. It is not. We simply publish the material. Where you want to take it from there is up to you. I am unaware of any campus publication that is expected to address every counterargument made by the student body. If people want an honest, open dialogue, why not put together a panel in which critics, as well as supporters, of the Monologues are invited to attend? Some type of panel may have already happened this year (I have not been monitoring the Monologues), but I am sure that no Observer members were invited, even though, as some posts point out, the Observer has been the most outspoken critic of the show in the past.

Dear Readers:

People will frequently read an opinion piece in The Observer and remark that the “editorial” was offensive, and wonder why The Observer would publish such a thing. Please consider the following points:

1. An “editorial” is the official position of the newspaper. If you want to know what the paper itself believes, look at our writings on pages 8 and 9, or under “Editorials” above. These are written by the staff.

2. An “op-ed” or “opinion” piece is an opinion written by an individual writer, and may or may not be the official position of the paper. To assume that it is would be a mistake.

3. Just because The Observer publishes something does not mean that it agrees with its content. We frequently publish pieces that may seem extreme, but this is because we believe the author has something to say that the community should read, not necessarily because we automatically agree with it.

Thank you for your consideration. I hope you continue to read and enjoy our publication.

Sincerely yours,

Jesse Naiman

Editor-in-Chief

Hey Everyone!

The latest issue of The Observer at Boston College hit the stands today and is already causing quite a controversy on campus. Overall I believe that this is one of the best issues we have ever published. We have four excellent breaking stories, including one which should have some legs to it. The news section is rounded out with some really interesting features, which have taken the place of regional and national news in our publication. Additionally, the guys and girls in sports did an excellent job putting together in-depth analysis of BC’s Bowl selection and an original interview on Reggie Jackson. This marks the second issue in a row that they have gotten top-notch interviews with star BC athletes.

Congrats to our Business Section, which has won the first-ever Editor’s Cup! We are hoping to make this a tradition at The Observer, rewarding the most improved section for all of their hard work during the year. Dana Flynn has done an outstanding job and we can look forward to great work from her section in the future.

Michael

The Observer at Boston College was announced to be runner-up for the prestigious Collegiate Network Newspaper of the Year Award. Although The Virginia Informer won first, The Observer was cited for its work with the theology department and its revamped financial model. CN head Amanda Yasenchak also mentioned how much improvement she has seen in the newspaper over the course of the past year. There were 113 college newspapers competing for the prize, including local newspapers at Harvard, Tufts, and Holy Cross.

The Observer has created a new facebook page: Check it out here!

A number of recent graduates and current members of The Observer have participated in BC’s Honors Program, a series of courses that expose students to the great works of the Western Cultural Tradition. To continue this tradition, The Observer recently reached out to freshman Honors students and received a high response rate from interested students. We will hold a meeting this week with Honors students interested in writing for The Observer, and we hope to continue bringing in intellectual heavyweights who will ensure The Observer’s success for years to come.

I sat on a panel about race relations tonight, the second of a four-part series in which The Observer is participating. Student reaction to our views were extremely positive and I was pleased that so many people seemed open to taking personal responsibility for the lack of racial integration at BC. I ended my comments by giving every student group represented my e-mail address so that our staff could be notified of diversity-themed events. I think that most people came out of the meeting with a much better opinion of The Observer than they had before the panel. It is difficult to shed the false impression that so many students have of The Observer, but each panel that goes well helps change heart and minds. The only downer of the night was the kid who came up and called me a “sellout” and the “scum of the earth.”