2008 Woodie Awards
Letters to the Editor
Issue date: 6/6/07 Section: Opinions
Brooks' letter attacks First Amendment
To the Editor:
This is in response to the letter submitted by Rev. George Brooks on the experience and views of columnist Matthew Hurtt and his recent promotion at The Daily News Journal. ["Get involved; write for local papers," April 19] Sir, to incite anyone, regardless of race or creed to put a 'journalistic hurting" on a fellow journalist is encouraging an environment of competition and retaliation rather than an atmosphere of open expression and respect. I regret seeing a man involved in the distribution of free thought have such little respect for the First Amendment that gives him that right.
As far as the accusation that Hurrt's work is racist and too conservative for the community, Hurtt is merely tackling a side of the issues honestly and representing a sect of the conservative population that may not find a voice on a liberal college setting, while the accusation of being racist ridiculous. Are you not as well calling for the representation of those who may not have a voice? We should not be fostering an environment in which the opinion of one under-represented minority is more important than the other.
Furthermore, I find your call for young black journalists to rise up and put any sort of hurting on Hurtt racist in the sense that you have now made it a racial issue. Before, the issue was one of preserving historical accuracy or the divide between conservative and liberal views. You, sir, have now made it an issue of race. I challenge you to use your power and clout in the community not as a representative of the division of races, but rather one who unites two sects of the journalistic community in open dialog and respect for the First Amendment.
Samantha Chesak
Senior, College of Basic and Applied Sciences
Art department declares art 'irrelevant'
To the Editor:
On April 12, art professor Marsha Morrison received a letter declaring her university contract for the fall 2007 Semester nonrenewable, ending her position as a probationary faculty member. This letter was postmarked just two days after select students issued complaints against Morrison. After much inquiry, the department chair, Jean Nagy, responded to Morrison, "Last Tuesday you showed a video." The video, "Paris is Burning," is a documentary on how 'voguing' as a contemporary art form was developed by homosexual Latino and black men to create solidarity in a subculture. This film examined art as a structural form while showcasing aesthetic themes and the conceptual ideology of what art is.
To the Editor:
This is in response to the letter submitted by Rev. George Brooks on the experience and views of columnist Matthew Hurtt and his recent promotion at The Daily News Journal. ["Get involved; write for local papers," April 19] Sir, to incite anyone, regardless of race or creed to put a 'journalistic hurting" on a fellow journalist is encouraging an environment of competition and retaliation rather than an atmosphere of open expression and respect. I regret seeing a man involved in the distribution of free thought have such little respect for the First Amendment that gives him that right.
As far as the accusation that Hurrt's work is racist and too conservative for the community, Hurtt is merely tackling a side of the issues honestly and representing a sect of the conservative population that may not find a voice on a liberal college setting, while the accusation of being racist ridiculous. Are you not as well calling for the representation of those who may not have a voice? We should not be fostering an environment in which the opinion of one under-represented minority is more important than the other.
Furthermore, I find your call for young black journalists to rise up and put any sort of hurting on Hurtt racist in the sense that you have now made it a racial issue. Before, the issue was one of preserving historical accuracy or the divide between conservative and liberal views. You, sir, have now made it an issue of race. I challenge you to use your power and clout in the community not as a representative of the division of races, but rather one who unites two sects of the journalistic community in open dialog and respect for the First Amendment.
Samantha Chesak
Senior, College of Basic and Applied Sciences
Art department declares art 'irrelevant'
To the Editor:
On April 12, art professor Marsha Morrison received a letter declaring her university contract for the fall 2007 Semester nonrenewable, ending her position as a probationary faculty member. This letter was postmarked just two days after select students issued complaints against Morrison. After much inquiry, the department chair, Jean Nagy, responded to Morrison, "Last Tuesday you showed a video." The video, "Paris is Burning," is a documentary on how 'voguing' as a contemporary art form was developed by homosexual Latino and black men to create solidarity in a subculture. This film examined art as a structural form while showcasing aesthetic themes and the conceptual ideology of what art is.
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news across the neocon empire
posted 6/09/07 @ 10:00 PM CST
Regarding Samantha Chesak's Letter to the Editor: I agree with Rev. Brooks. I have read many of Hurtt's editorials and frankly a person would almost have to be completely blind to not see the thinly veiled racism laced through out much of his writings. (Continued…)
mean green motha'
posted 7/02/07 @ 12:37 AM CST
"For those of you who want to argue that Judaism is a religion, I am aware. It also happens that there is a group of people who are Jewish. They do not all practice the religion of Judaism, but that makes them no less Jewish. (Continued…)
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