Editorial: The Write Stuff

August 30, 2006

Deciding which college to attend is a heavy task for most high school seniors. They are inundated with literature from many universities, take various tours of schools, and talk with admissions counselors and current students to try to find out what each college is about, and if it is the right one for them.

But one easy, and often overlooked, way to find out what a school is like is to pick up an issue of its student newspaper.

After picking up that paper, you’ll see both sides of the University. The successes and achievements of a sports team or an organization are highlighted, but you’ll also read about other aspects of the school that you might not hear from an admissions counselor. These are things you can’t get from a pamphlet, such as the newspaper's security report and other vital information for day-to-day living on campus.

An important section of the college newspaper is Commentary, which includes the editorial, a slant on an issue that is the general consensus of the newspaper’s editorial board, and other opinion pieces by students. Looking at these pages will indicate to readers what campus issues are on the minds of its members. In this section, one of the publication’s most important purposes is served: it becomes the vox populi of the campus; a veritable mouthpiece for the minds, opinions, lifestyles and thoughts of the students at large. Students who feel that their voices are unheard on campus can come to this section and wax philosophic, rage against the administration or generally assert their existence.

In a society where print media is on the decline, campus newspapers are becoming more vitally important. They help inform the student body about what is going on in their college community and are also one of the main outlets where students can voice their opinions. If we lose this great asset, what then becomes of the student body? If the campus newspaper goes unread, unappreciated, under circulated, if the newspaper loses its voice, then the campus loses its own voice. The campus newspaper is more than just something to read before class; it contains more than Sudoku or crime reports. The campus newspaper is you, the reader, and you, the reader, are your campus newspaper. The two are inextricably linked, which is precisely why a campus newspaper is so important for a vibrant and living campus community. Just as professors encourage college students to stay in touch with what is going on in the world on a national and international level, they should also be aware of what is going on in their campus community. The student newspaper is ideal for keeping students educated about what is going on around them.

There should always be open communication between the student newspaper and the college community, and a great way to keep this communication line open is to write letters to the editor. If you disagree with something the newspaper has to say or are simply concerned about a situation on campus, writing a letter to the editor is a great way to voice those concerns, whether it is a positive or negative missive. (And believe us, all newspapers revel in receiving letters to the editor.) It lets the editorial board and staff know that not only is the publication being read, but that others are reacting and concerned about similar issues and events. Everybody likes knowing their concerns, their voices, are being heard; letters to the editor let a campus newspaper staff know that they are not the only ones concerned with their slice of reality.

Since we are now in the digital age, most college newspapers have an online edition, which is just another way to keep Internet-addicted students in touch with their campus. The Collegian attained its goal of getting back on the web last semester, and we are happy that the whole world can now access our newspaper.

Additionally, college newspapers are also a great avenue for students wishing to become journalists to gain some experience, whether that be reporting on a fire, as the Collegian did when the gas main at Ogontz and Olney exploded almost three years ago, or reviewing a new CD, as the Collegian does practically weekly.

For the 848 members of the Class of 2010 (and the rest of the student body and college community), let the Collegian be your finger on the pulse of La Salle University and its students. Keep the communication lines open: send us a letter to the editor or any story ideas you may have at any time.

Together, and by association, we can keep our eyes open, our voices ringing, and have a student-led better year than last.