Every Monday and Thursday, I, like most students on our 84-acre campus, pick up a copy of the Eagle on my way to class. I look to your publication for insight and knowledge about the happenings on campus. However, over the past year, this publication, the Eagle, the independent voice of American University, has failed to live up to any standard of integrity or professionalism.
I do not claim to be an aficionado on modern journalistic standards and practices, but I do know what I look for in a newspaper. I know that I do not look for advertisements that take up the entire page telling me to read the very publication that I am reading. Advertisements of those sorts do nothing for the reader or for the publication and more likely than not demonstrates that either the staff is lacking in content or genuine advertisements. However, if it is the latter, who can blame the advertisers? Who would want to put money in a publication that in last spring ran stories that were written almost entirely from students at other colleges and had no saliency to AU?
In one issue this semester, the editorial page applauded the student body for their efforts to hold a university president accountable. In another issue this paper urges student to overlook mistakes in our own student government because we are just "college kids." I take pride in knowing college kids brought down a corrupt President one year ago. I take pride in knowing that college kids saved our tennis team for one more year. And I take pride in knowing that college kids will continue to shape this university and this country in the future.
It is not that we disagree. Disagreement is fine. Disagreement fosters debate and discussion. What bothers me is the hypocrisy that your publication has exhibited. What bothers me is the lack of thought you put into your work. What bothers me is the fact that in most editorials in this publication no position is articulated.
There is not a lack of stories at our university, and the quality of the writing is not in question, but what I do need to know is why should I continue to berate myself with the dribble and nonsense that this publication has produced time and time again. Why should I look to you for insight when there are other media outlets that are a lot more professional in their work than this one? This paper was started in 1925, the same year that this institution's undergraduate programs commenced. In 1925, professionalism was placed before pandering. In 1925, informing the campus was more important than inventing irrelevant stories. In 1925, the students were more of a priority than this paper's own decadence.
When this paper, the independent voice of American University, begins to make their voice heard, our voice heard, in a way that represents the professionalism of this institution of higher education we all will be grateful.
Sincerely, Joe Vidulich Class of 2008, School of Public Affairs
Vidulich is also the chair of the Student Government's Judicial Board.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
In the interest of transparency and open discussion, The Eagle would like to take this opportunity to disclose some facts about its staff and advertising policies.
-The Eagle's editorial staff is composed entirely of full-time undergraduate students at American University. Leadership switches each academic year. The Eagle does not have a faculty adviser, but does consult on an as-needed, non-mandatory basis with SOC faculty.
-The Eagle's business staff, which operates separately from the editorial staff under an appointed business manager, is also composed entirely of full-time undergraduate students at American University. The business staff is solely responsible for selling advertising to bring in revenue to cover over $140,000 of expenses per year. The Eagle accepts no money from the university administration or any on-campus club, group or body; does not receive money from the Student Activity fee paid by each student; and does not charge students for copies of The Eagle or access to TheEagleOnline.com.
-Writers are unpaid and offer their services on a volunteer basis. Some full-time editorial staff members receive stipends, which are paid out exclusively from funds raised from the aforementioned advertising revenue that is generated independently by The Eagle's business staff each year.
-Decisions regarding page count and ad placement for each issue are made after taking many factors into consideration, including available ad and print content, as well as a cost-benefit analysis of printing costs and restrictions set by the printer that produces The Eagle. House ads made by and for The Eagle are sometimes necessary to ensure there is enough space for all print content while page counts for each issue are being determined.
-All AU students are welcome to write for The Eagle and to apply to become part of the editorial staff. All members of the AU community are welcome to submit letters to the editor, which may be edited for length.
-For more information on The Eagle and its editorial policies, visit http://www.theeagleonline.com/home/generalinformation.
