Having recently joined the Tufts Daily as an editor for the Viewpoints section, I was under the impression that my responsibility would largely consist of reading and editing an abundance of submissions from the Tufts student body and faculty.
As I'm sitting in the Daily office at 1:30 p.m., however, I'm slowly beginning to realize that the virtually empty mailbox for the Viewpoints Yahoo! account was not an anomaly last week, but was rather a continuation of a marked lack of articulated opinions proffered by the Tufts community.
So rather than sifting through a database of opinion pieces from other colleges, I'm writing a plea to the community at large: Please air more of your problems and grievances and praise in the open forum that is the Tufts Daily.
I know that Tufts students have a lot to complain about. Having just been screwed over by the lack of housing options for juniors going abroad and forced to deal with flaky landlords and barely-inhabitable apartments, I could easily write a novel on how inexcusable it is for Tufts to not offer guaranteed housing for four years. In fact, I sort of just did.
I know the social scene sucks. I know that there are student groups out there who feel slighted or unheard. I know that there are some of you who think the curriculum needs restructuring.
You can even forgo the college-student angst and write about something positive, or (gasp!) nonintellectual: There's really nothing I would love more than a comprehensive analysis of "American Idol."
What we need you to do, however, is write us an articulate and provocative piece that is between 700 and 1000 words. You can even curse in it. Or so I've been told.
It's frustrating to publish Viewpoints from other schools when there are issues begging to be tackled by members of the Tufts community. It's even more frustrating to publish Viewpoints that are far below the standard of thought that the Tufts community is capable of generating. You all talk in class, and you whine to your friends - so make the leap. Talk and whine to us.
It would be fantastic if at this time next week, the Viewpoints mailbox was full of interesting and intelligent works. I know you're capable of it. All we need you to do is produce it and send it to Viewpoints@tuftsdaily.com.
