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Opinion
 

Staff Editorial

                        Robyn Morrow             Chris Elliott                        
                                               John Arterbury       Caitlin Cuppernull

Satire should be 

used wiselyStudents' attempt at satire at Central Connecticut State University's The Recorder didn't go over so well, prompting the university's president to create a committee to review the publication's procedures, the Student Press Law Center reported.

The student newspaper is under fire for publishing an article titled "Rape only hurts if you fight it," claiming rape has been a "positive force in Western civilization," the SPLC reported. Although this article was satirical, editors at The Recorder should have practiced better judgment.

Rape is a controversial issue that should be written about in a much more respectful manner. Students working for The Recorder should have anticipated the student body's reactions and edited the article accordingly. Now their publication is in danger of being censored.

CCSU President Jack Miller's committee will review The Recorder's constitution and the roles of its editors and adviser and offer recommendations, the SPLC reported. Although Miller told the SPLC the committee's creation is not an attempt at censorship, it's a step in the wrong direction.

The Recorder's students know they've done wrong. To prevent future problems, Editor in Chief Mark Rowan has held weekly meetings to give staff the chance to discuss potentially offensive articles.

Miller needs to let the student staff at The Recorder learn to handle this type of situation. They can't grow as journalists or leaders if someone else comes in and cleans up the mess they made.

This incident teaches them to look more carefully at what they publish and how to approach controversial or sensitive subjects in a more productive manner.