Yesterday, the Vanguard ran an opinion article by Andrew Cattel taken from the news wire service to which the Vanguard subscribes. The article lambasted student cell phone users who leave their phones on in class and seem to have them surgically attached to their ears.
It was an amusing article but it contained a phrase that some students found particularly offensive. The phrase equated some cell phone bills to the “gross domestic product of the entire continent of Africa.” The students feel the phrase both trivialized and perpetuated the stereotype that all African nations are poor. The phrase is also inaccurate as no one continent can have a gross domestic product, only individual .
The headline also used a phrase that is associated with the oppression of Asian women.
One could argue that the upset students missed the bigger picture of the article, but that would marginalize their concerns, and besides, it doesn’t matter what the message is when it is marred by offensive language.
The editorial staff would like to apologize for any offense caused by the article. We would also like to thank those students who called the questionable phrases to our attention.
The Vanguard has a checkered past when it comes to relations with campus minority populations. Many still remember winter term 1999 when the Vanguard ran a swastika made out of handguns on the front page. As with this instance, no offense was intended. However, intent does not clear the paper from responsibility.
This year, a sincere effort has been made to increase the dialogue among those at the paper who decide what material goes in the paper. The editors make a concerted effort to openly discuss potentially offensive material.
For example, the popArts section wrote a preview of a documentary on Warner Bros. cartoons’ sordid history and opted to run a still from one of the offensive cartoons. Some on the staff felt the words should stand alone and the still left out. Other editors felt that combining text and imagery would make a more powerful statement and encourage more students to learn about Warner Bros.’ history. The cartoon still ran.
Even more recently, we opted to not run a political cartoon that equated the Earth Liberation Front to the KKK and Hitler. The editors chose not to run the cartoon because it didn’t serve the higher purpose of satirical political comment.
The editors make a conscious effort every day to take into account all students’ concerns, but they also need the insightful comments of the students the paper represents. The editors would like to encourage you to write a letter to the editor regarding yesterday’s article or any other issue you feel we don’t address enough. If 300 words cannot encompass your feelings, please contact the editor at (503) 725-5691 and inquire about writing a guest opinion article.