The opinionated way of The Volante
DAVID WHITESOCK — I find it interesting that when the issue of of abortion is ever discussed in the media, especially newspapers, the paper is oftentimes put at fault for bringing it up. Mostly this angst comes from people who don’t feel the overall tone or direction of the conversation is in their favor, but that is neither here nor there.
If you are looking at pointing fingers for why this issue is “back in the news” look at the groups of people who continue to bring up referendums in South Dakota to either ban abortion outright, or to revise the current law on the books. Within the last week a new referendum was introduced and will most likely be on the ballot in November for the people to vote on — again!
Don’t blame the opinion section of The Volante for discussing the issue, it is certainly relevant. Come next semester, you’re likely to see more of it.
Lastly, in defense of all opinion editors before me, and those to follow, the opinion section is at the mercy of which writers show up. This year, the majority of writers tended to lean a little more to the right and the ones that did lean to the left chose not to write partisan political columns. From day one, and I told Angie this when I took over for her, I would not dictate to any of the writers what they could and could not write about. I urged them to consider that what they chose to opine on was first to be relevant to this community, then to move regionally, then nationally, and finally internationally, if they wanted. For the most part we lived up to that billing and I commend all the opinion writers this semester for that.
The First Amendment is a wonderful thing, and if The Volante Opinion section did anything this last semester it was to fully use that right. This time it’s abortion. Next it will be the death penalty, as South Dakota is going to kill someone again this summer. I will be in Verm and doing work for The Volante over the summer, and you bet your Bill of Rights that I will be giving my opinion on that topic.
For the most part I have enjoyed my U. experience, but if there is one thing that has disconcerted me the most about this campus, it is the sheer lack of individuals willing to join the conversation, any conversation. There will be an Iraq War protest tomorrow outside I.D. Weeks — WOW, on the last regular day of classes. Nice timing. Pardon my French, but where the fuck were you people all semester long? Or even those who favor the war? Where were you? Where’s the lively debate that is supposed to exist on college campuses? I know this is not the 1960’s, but if you take a look around, we have a disastrous war (as if there is any other kind), rising gas prices, and an increasing food demand in the world — not to mention Hyperion in our back yard — looks familiar if you know anything about 60’s and 70’s history.
I’ll say it again, if you don’t like the opinions in The Volante, then join the staff. The opinion section does strive very hard to be “the student’s voice,” but we cannot satisfy everyone all the time.
