The Student’s Role in Campus Dialogue

The opinion section of The Student is intended as an open forum for the entire Amherst community. This includes students, faculty, and alumni. As such, we aim to publish a diversity of views and voices. We will not, however, publish hate speech. We instead require articles to include unique, well-reasoned arguments that add to conversations on campus — regardless of political affiliation.

During the editing process, The Student does not alter opinions or arguments. Rather, editors provide feedback to clarify and enhance points made by writers. We fact check, and we also aim to eliminate unnecessarily inflammatory language and discriminatory language. We publish these articles in order to promote productive dialogue on campus, and ensure that all voices of the community, even controversial ones, are heard. As our mission statement states, “The Student aims to amplify student voices and opinions, from multiple perspectives, while acting as a forum for discourse and campus conversation. We strive to live up to the essential role we play in binding the community, recognizing that we are the sole news publication centered on issues pertaining to Amherst College.” As such, we encourage students to engage productively with the diversity of opinions on campus, whether writing to The Student, discussing articles with friends, or even respectfully reaching out to writers.

We welcome and encourage disagreement with the arguments voiced in these articles. We hope that readers will engage with them, discuss them, and energetically respond to them. We are concerned, however, about (sometimes anonymous) harassment of and threats to writers. When conversations about opinion articles become personal attacks, turning attention away from the argument and onto the person, we lose the vital opportunity to address ideas we may vehemently disagree with. Arguments that may be unpopular at Amherst may nonetheless be very powerful narratives in our broader political and social context, and thus doubly require our engagement and thoughtful response. In an era of extreme political turbulence and uncertainty, a lack of serious dialogue only furthers political polarization and thus promotes dangerous, anti-democratic ideas. Our college campus — and our college paper — thus provide us with a unique opportunity for engagement and debate that we must not take for granted.

Our hope is to encourage these valuable conversations and fight back against threats to our democracy such as the avoidance of difficult discussions.

If you are interested in writing an opinion piece, or have any further questions or comments, reach the editors at astudent@amherst.edu.

Unsigned editorials represent the views of the majority of the Editorial Board — (assenting: 12; dissenting: 0; abstaining: 0).