Letters to the Editor, Feb. 7

By Cole Mickens

Published: Sunday, February 5, 2012

Updated: Thursday, February 9, 2012

I applaud Ellen Weissinger, senior vice chancellor for academic affairs, on her thoughtful critique of the Daily Nebraskan's actions these past few weeks. The paper had a chance to do an involved investigation, report the facts and let the court of public opinion decide whether a wrong occurred. Instead, the articles were heavily biased and the editorial staff took a strong stance against a department of the university. Calling for resignation without doing the due diligence of reporting is beyond unprofessional, it's petty.

Greg Bright's Feb. 6 letter to Dr. Weissinger criticized her for unprofessionalism and pettiness. Greg should take care not to succumb to the very vices for which he condemns others. Calling someone "pathetic" and refusing to address them by their title is quite within the realm of what constitutes pettiness. Dr. Weissinger gave constructive criticism as a part of her feedback on the articles. She expressed an opinion that reflects many of my peers living in the residence halls. If the DN is to be a learning experience for young journalists as Greg says, then it should own up to its mistakes as well as its successes. Take the "A"s as well as the "F"s and learn from them. The DN's recent articles were great examples of how not to do professional journalism. But, it's still early in the semester and failing one test doesn't mean you fail the class. If the DN works hard, takes notes and studies well, I think they can still manage a "B" average this semester.

Cole Mickens

Senior, computer science major

Rhino

Tue Feb 7 2012 23:35

Anonymous, it's like 230 cents a semester! Can you believe that, it's crazy how much of our money goes to this rag. It's like two cents per issue. I could definitely spend that two cents a better way, like by putting it in my piggy bank!

Anonymous

Tue Feb 7 2012 23:19

It is funny that Mr.Bright would say that there is nothing sinister going on here and even more funny that the DN seems to agree. The DN is more than thrilled to sensationalize emails that are taken out of context and demand the resignation of a highly respected university official, but when the ethics violation occurs in their own house, and there is proof, they sit idle. How much of our student fees are being spent to publish this embarrassment?

Just saying to Just sayin'

Tue Feb 7 2012 22:12

Which has nothing to do with anything

Just sayin'

Tue Feb 7 2012 21:51

Dan Shattil, the DAILY NEBRASKAN GENERAL MANAGER, made it clear both publications anticipate continuing the print editions for the time being. ..." Shattil said. "We are requesting the same amount for both the Daily Nebraskan and the DailyER Nebraskan."

Greg Bright

Tue Feb 7 2012 18:42

I was neither encouraged nor am closely affiliated with the DN. In fact I'm only "facebook friends" with one member of the DN and he's a sports writer who had nothing to do with either the DN Editorial board or the DN's bedbug coverage. I'm just a reader of the DN who is of the opinion that Ellen overstepped her bounds as a Vice Chancellor. That's it. There is nothing sinister going on here. If you disagree, as several people do, that's fine, good for you! If we all agree, life gets pretty freaking boring.

Just Curious

Tue Feb 7 2012 17:52

Thank you for the clarification, Mr. Bright. The DN is at fault for neglecting to acknowledge your role as a writer for the Dailyer. The DN probably should have done clean-up on the letter, but I have to admit I find it frustrating when an editor applies proper titles to a political figure when I refuse to use their honorary prefix as a statement of disrespect, so I can't criticize you for addressing her by her first name.

As far as an editor asking to publish a letter written to an authority figure, I've had that happen when I have CC'd the editor and the reporter for a newspaper covering a hot local issue. My letter to the authority figure was published as a letter to the editor, with edits to shorten it in accordance with space limitations. In this case, the topic was not relevant to the newspaper's quality of performance. The DN's choice to publish your letter raises some important questions on ethics, but at least it is clear how the decision process happened.

Anonymous

Tue Feb 7 2012 17:15

Wow, the DN asked to publish the email? How often does the editor of a real newspaper approach a random person and ask them to publish their personal correspondences? It is as if you are admitting the previous complaints are correct. The DN should have reported that you are a member of a closely affiliated organization and that they encouraged you to write a letter. Perhaps your next staff editorial should be calling for the editor of the DN's resignation.

Anonymous

Tue Feb 7 2012 13:11

Perhaps the DN is stretched to find worthy news to discuss five days a week in the paper. This might explain why they have stooped to publishing trash. If students wish to stop this, they should vote to cut the funding to the DN. Perhaps if it were only published biweekly they might be able to devote more able and ethical reporters to covering real news stories. (facebook movement anyone?)

Greg Bright

Tue Feb 7 2012 13:07

The problem with Cole's critique is that he doesn't address my concern. I didn't disagree or agree with the DN's bedbug coverage, my concern was that a Vice Chancellor coming down to criticize a paper's coverage was an overuse of her authority. If Cole, or myself, wants to criticize the paper's coverage that is within the realm of the stated goal of the paper to be a paper by the students, for the students. I will agree that in the context of a letter to the editor, the concerns Cole has with the my rebuttal (that it was petty) would be correct. However, since my rebuttal was given to Ellen in an e-mail and I had no intention of having it published in the DN while it was being written (the DN asked to publish said e-mail), I disagree that it was petty.

Rudy Giuliani

Tue Feb 7 2012 01:32

I suppose the views expressed by Mr. Mickens.