Recently the letters to the editor section has been brimming with responses to Matt Presson's weekly column The Dark Side.
First and foremost, it is important to remember that Matt's columns are his opinion and do not necessarily reflect those of other Helmsman staff.
Unlike the articles found on other pages, the columns, commentaries and letters on page four are the personal opinions of their authors, and in the case of the editorial, the paper's official stance on an issue.
It is wrong to assume that because we print it, we agree with it.
Often we don't agree with what we print but our job is to provide you with all sides of an issue and let you make the decision.
In addition to reporting the news accurately and unbiased, we also work to solicit a wide range of opinions.
The belief is that through exposure to all points of view, no matter how skewed or outrageous they may be, the best ideas will rise to the top.
For that reason Matt is given great breadth within a few guidelines about what topics he can write on. What he says about those subjects is completely up to him. Anything less would be censorship and contradict the whole notion of the free flow of information.
Readers have also asked how one becomes a columnist. The position is filled each semester from a pool of Helmsman staffers who apply. On occasion, a past member of the staff has been given the coveted position.
Too often on college campuses, students seek to squelch speech with which they disagree. Instead of ignoring it or countering it, they take the easy way out and complain that it should be silenced.
You may disagree with Matt's opinion or his reasoning behind that opinion -- and the letters section of the paper is a perfect place to dispute what he says -- but don't disagree with his right to say it.
