LETTER: 'Mean and Stupid'

To the Editor: Your "censure" of the Social Planning and Events Committee's handling of its forum was shocking, to say the least. While I understand it is the DP's prerogative to express its opinions in its editorial space, your attack on an organization which failed to meet your operational criteria was unprofessional and, indeed, unwarranted. As someone who is familiar with SPEC's efforts to solicit opinions from all members of the student body, I might try to defend the organization's integrity -- but SPEC is not the issue. The issue is the DP's unique position and power at the University. The media, especially one which has a virtual monopoly over a given readership, has the obligation of reporting a story in as objective a way as possible. The DP, in this case, clearly did not meet its obligation -- not that any pretense to this standard was made. As one who has, for the most part, come to respect the work of the DP, I was most angered and disturbed by the arrogance of your editorial. Does this mean anyone who does not entertain and fulfill the wishes of your newspaper is liable to be ridiculed and attacked on page 11, as you smugly told SPEC? While I have faith that the DP's intent was neither to be mean nor stupid, such was the effect. In the interest of fairness to SPEC and in the interest of salvaging the DP's credibility, it would serve your paper well to issue an apology to SPEC and your readers. YOU-LEE KIM College '93 Steering Committee Member Student Activities Council