The Cornell American
Letters to the Editor
This issues selected etters to the editor.
By: Staff on October 12th, 2005 at 11:28 PM
VP holds breath for American apology
The following letter was submitted by Mr. Thomas Bruce of Day Hall. Unlike other submissions, our editorial response will appear bolded throughout the letter’s text below as a testament to the undeserved consideration we have given it.
Dear Editor,
The free flow of ideas is a cornerstone of American society and is practiced diligently in our academy. [While it is a bedrock principle of American freedom, it is not observed here at Cornell. As we have noted previously, 97 percent of Cornell professors are registered in New York’s Democrat, Green, and Liberal parties. Eleven of the past 11 commencement speakers have self-identified as “liberals,” and Cornell is practically devoid of Republican administrators.]
Such a discourse provides new insights, opens our minds to alternative points of view, and allows ideas to stand or fall on their own merits. [What “alternative opinions?” Cornell’s only home-grown sources of traditional conservatism are The Cornell American, The Cornell College Republicans, and the handful of conservative professors who teach here.]
Perhaps your article entitled, “The Color of Cornell’s Crime – Unmasking the Face of Ithacompton” was intended to prompt such a debate. Unfortunately, it did not. [Then what do you call the nearly 5,000 hits and 300 comments on our website, the dozen or so printed campus letters and articles, the quotes on the back page of this issue, and the flood of alumni donations to our newspaper?]
The only debate you have sparked – if there is any – is about the Cornell American’s penchant for inflammatory rhetoric that is objectionable to the very community it seeks to engage. [Our last issue, and the leftist reactions to it, have boosted our circulation, swelled our contributors list, increased our financial independence, and brought new facts to light].
This time, you did so by lending credibility to the questionable research of the New Century Foundation, whose founder, Jared Taylor, seeks respectability by promoting what the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) describes as a “genteel” and intellectualized racism. [Don’t you find it the least bit hypocritical that you and others have criticized us for using allegedly ultra right-wing, extremist sources, and use nothing but the opinion of ultra left-wing extremist sources to make your case?] Legitimizing this kind of diatribe tarnishes your own publication and your stated goal of promoting debate.
As editor, your job is to recognize when an article does not merit publication. Unfortunately, you did not see that this one failed to cleave to certain commonly held journalistic standards: accuracy, legitimacy of sources, fairness, and most importantly context. You should have dismissed it as lazily written and researched, sloppily biased and replete with specious reasoning. [What exactly does “sloppily biased” mean? Is that the opposite of “sloppily objective” or “neatly biased?” Regardless, we assumed that Ivy Leaguers would realize that we are a conservative paper. But, from now on, we’ll make sure to put a disclaimer before each article: “WARNING: This is a conservative newspaper, with conservative writers, and just may come to conservative conclusions.”]
You say “the Cornell American is fundamentally about encouraging dialogue in its pages, rather than encouraging intimidation and closing off the exchange of ideas.” Then, the sooner you recognize that your actions have accomplished the latter, the sooner you will get to fulfill the former. An apology would be a good start. [Perhaps we should change our motto to “WE DO NOT APOLOGIZE?” It would certainly get some use. We already practice it.]
Sincerely,
Thomas W. Bruce
Vice President for University Communications
Transfer Center Tart Bites Back
Dear Editor:
It is unfortunate that Cornell’s campus life is subjected to the floundering nonsence [sic] you spew in your paper. You are truly disgraceful individuals with no right to abuse the English language for such purposes. Eric Shive, you have made your insecurities and self-loathing available for all of Cornell’s campus to see and laugh at.
We understand how inadequate you must feel...but honestly. It must be one hell of a low point in your life - the most inspiring topic you can write about is how HATEFUL you are? Please. Your words are so transparent it’s disgusting.
If you don’t like Cornell parties, then don’t go.
If you don’t like “bimbo’s,” [sic] then don’t associate.
If you don’t like free beer, then get off your cheap a*s and purchase your own.
If you can’t appreciate diversity, crawl back into your hole. And stay there.
You have no place, nor purpose, in society [sic]. If Cornell wants to read about how miserable and hateful you are- we’ll let you know.
Until then do some worthwhile research and write about something that doesn’t completely give away the lacking capacities of your mind.
The Cornell American??? American??? please [sic].
Melissa Kujda ‘07
Thank you for your letter. It’s always enjoyable to receive responses from readers, especially when they are poorly written and borderline incoherent. For example, you claim that no one on this campus “wants to read about how miserable and hateful” I am.
The mere fact that you sent me a letter to the editor in response to my article proves that it was something you wanted to read. Add into the equation thousands of hits on our website, many other letters received, and the lovely facebook group that you created with your Transfer Center cronies (“People Who Think Eric Shive is One Hell of a Motherf*cking Douchebag”), and I would say pretty confidently that the campus is interested in what I am writing. The same goes for The Cornell American as a whole.
As for my opinion of Cornell parties, I feel that it was expressed very well in my last editorial. I don’t like bimbos and I definitely do not associate with them. Your severe reaction to what I felt was a rather tame discussion of the Cornell party scene implies that my critique must have uncovered a bit of truth and struck a nerve.
Perhaps you are the Drunk Whorish Bimbo, the crying girl in the corner, or Little Miss Not-So-Hot? Or maybe you have an undying (and incomprehensible) love for Milwaukee’s Beast? Whatever the reason, I’m sure you’ll keep reading as long as I keep writing. I will definitely not “crawl back into [my] hole.”
—ES
The birds & the bees
To the Editor:
Firstly, on Page 12 of the September Issue of the CA, please clarify your quote by Phyllis Schlafly. Having never heard of the man/woman or having any context to the quote; what is this inhereint [sic] “human nature” s/he refers to?
Thomas Riehl ’09
Firstly, how many men have you known with the name Phyllis? Phyllis Schlafly is one of the great heroines of twentieth century conservatism. It was through her effort that the feminazis’ Equal Rights Amendment was squashed. As for the inherent human nature Schlafly cites, it’s as simple as this: boys like trucks, girls like dolls. Any eight-year-old could tell you that.
Mid-West is best
To the Editor:
This is an excellent article from a first rate student. However, I must confess my bias: I was Tristen’s American Government teacher last year. Not that I am trying to take any credit for her you understand, just proud of her. Tristen’s conservative values, Mid-West work ethic, and good sense will be much appreciated at a fine school such as Cornell. I look forward to reading many more of Tristen’s articles.
Donald Buelow
Lander, WY
Thank you for your note. We are pleased to have Tristen as a part of our staff. She is a great new writer and will hopefully be a force at The American for much time to come.