Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Oh, Badger Herald... not you, too!

There was a time when I wouldn't even read the Daily Cardinal because the Badger Herald was so much better... not so much anymore. I'm all for free speech, but shouldn't staff writers be held to some sort of standard? I was a little concerned when I found the following on a blog post from Kyle Szarzynski concerning the termination of political student org columns.
"Rydell wrote fluff, Sara M is an idiot and Paul Pryse never wrote about local issues.... but the SPD column was almost always substantive and local..."
But then again, I guess I really shouldn't be surprised by this sort of thing when Kyle's superior, Sam Clegg, thinks the following comment from "Bill Cosby" is "hilarious":
"And just for the record, Sara Mikolajczak isn’t that hot, but she’ll do things other girls won’t. Sordid and disgusting things.... And, yes. Her favorite flavor is chocolate!"
Is this really the type of higher intellectual discourse the Badger Herald wants? The kind of discourse that, instead of being morally objective, rushes to insult people at the first sign of disagreement? It's not about Kyle thinking I'm an idiot or Sam being a pervert, it's about the Herald holding on to what small shreds of integrity they have left before they lose it all and go down in opinion-page flames like the Cardinal.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

hey sam if i write a letter to the editor about what a jerk you are will you print it or censor me?

Anonymous said...

I would assume that most of the people writing for the Herald are pursuing professional writing careers, or would like to believe so. These comments are completely out of line, unprofessional, disrespectful and most importantly have no evidence to back them up. If the Herald wants anyone to take them seriously - they should start by refraining from making such petty comments about someone's alleged escapades or intelligence and spend time researching concrete issues. But that might actually take a little effort and we wouldn't want that, now would we?

Anonymous said...

WELL. SAID.

Jerad said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jerad said...

I am appalled by the Herrald. When I originally tried to become a staff writer for the Herrald and was told I was basically wrong because I took an opposite stance towards an article one of their more experienced writers took on Sarah Palin's credibility. I knew I was being censored, and I refused to conform to their views. In the start up meeting, I remember Jack saying that Sara wasn't that good of a writer, but she is good enough to be published, but as I got to know Sara throughout the semester in CR, I discovered that she was a very poised and intelligent woman. This post highlights something that I have known for a long time: Jack and Sam are pompous. They censor those who disagree with them, and they are all around insidious people with over inflated egos. At first I thought the Herald was more balanced and more in depth, but now I deeply question the integrity of the Herald, and am now pursuing a writing gig with the Cardinal without regrets. I call for all people to show their disgust for the chief pricks of the Herald Opinion Page.