Response to "Here for us or not?"
LETTER
Issue date: 10/19/06 Section: Opinion
I was always taught to read all you can, understand all you want, but then only take a quarter of all of that with you into life, and I believe that to be true of mostly everything I read and hear. This was not the case when I read "Here for us or not?" an editorial written by Ian Abreu in the September 21, 2006 issue.
First, I would like to start off by stating my credentials to the readers. I am a senior here at Bridgewater State and I have been involved in mostly anything I could fit into the short 24 hours of the day. My biggest involvement would probably have been this past year as the Student Trustee where I had the opportunity to work with some many individuals associated with the college - students, faculty, administrators, supporters, town members - and especially President Mohler-Faria.
My biggest issue with this editorial was that I felt the wording and slant was an infringement on the reputation of President Mohler-Faria and Ms. Barbara Knox. After reading such an editorial, in order to get the correct facts, I went to the President's office where I viewed an e-mail request for the President from Abreu. Maybe this was a miscommunication, or maybe the wording on Abreu's part wasn't exactly what he meant to say.
I was going to let this whole situation fizz out, thinking that in the most recent issue, there would be some great defenses for the President. I found some good ones; however, I was surprised to see that after reading the responses [in the "Downtime" section of the October 5, 2006 issue], three people thought the President should be more available to students. This means they read Abreu's article and believed it to be true. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but I don't really consider them fair opinions when they are based off of something that I consider to be falsely written.
Abreu requested a photo spread of the President's house for The Comment as one of his highlights. That was not mentioned in the editorial and surely, anyone who appreciates privacy could clearly see that asking to enter into a private home. President or not, to take pictures and to publicize them, is a breech on personal space. He is the President of the college and is a great guy. An interview, he would have done…but let's not forget that he is also a person, with a family and that is his own personal home! On another point, I can assure all that Barbara Knox is one of the most professional administrators on this campus and I know, and anyone else who has had contact with her knows, that she would not just respond with, " President Mohler-Faria doesn't have time to meet and do something like that." If ANY good writer is quoting another person - the quote should be accurate, otherwise it is hearsay.
There are many points in this editorial that really bothered me, but one of the biggest was the direct insult against President Mohler-Faria, saying that he only acts all smiley and a certain way around colleagues. I know plenty students have seen the President around and/or have been in meetings with him and can attest that the President is all smiles all the time - regardless of who he is or isn't around. I bet you when he is sitting alone at his desk working on a million and one things from his schedule, he is probably still smiling! And students, if you don't know him or haven't met him, please do yourself a favor and before you graduate, go talk to him; he's a good guy and you should form your own opinion about him.
-Kaitlyn Greeley, Senior
First, I would like to start off by stating my credentials to the readers. I am a senior here at Bridgewater State and I have been involved in mostly anything I could fit into the short 24 hours of the day. My biggest involvement would probably have been this past year as the Student Trustee where I had the opportunity to work with some many individuals associated with the college - students, faculty, administrators, supporters, town members - and especially President Mohler-Faria.
My biggest issue with this editorial was that I felt the wording and slant was an infringement on the reputation of President Mohler-Faria and Ms. Barbara Knox. After reading such an editorial, in order to get the correct facts, I went to the President's office where I viewed an e-mail request for the President from Abreu. Maybe this was a miscommunication, or maybe the wording on Abreu's part wasn't exactly what he meant to say.
I was going to let this whole situation fizz out, thinking that in the most recent issue, there would be some great defenses for the President. I found some good ones; however, I was surprised to see that after reading the responses [in the "Downtime" section of the October 5, 2006 issue], three people thought the President should be more available to students. This means they read Abreu's article and believed it to be true. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but I don't really consider them fair opinions when they are based off of something that I consider to be falsely written.
Abreu requested a photo spread of the President's house for The Comment as one of his highlights. That was not mentioned in the editorial and surely, anyone who appreciates privacy could clearly see that asking to enter into a private home. President or not, to take pictures and to publicize them, is a breech on personal space. He is the President of the college and is a great guy. An interview, he would have done…but let's not forget that he is also a person, with a family and that is his own personal home! On another point, I can assure all that Barbara Knox is one of the most professional administrators on this campus and I know, and anyone else who has had contact with her knows, that she would not just respond with, " President Mohler-Faria doesn't have time to meet and do something like that." If ANY good writer is quoting another person - the quote should be accurate, otherwise it is hearsay.
There are many points in this editorial that really bothered me, but one of the biggest was the direct insult against President Mohler-Faria, saying that he only acts all smiley and a certain way around colleagues. I know plenty students have seen the President around and/or have been in meetings with him and can attest that the President is all smiles all the time - regardless of who he is or isn't around. I bet you when he is sitting alone at his desk working on a million and one things from his schedule, he is probably still smiling! And students, if you don't know him or haven't met him, please do yourself a favor and before you graduate, go talk to him; he's a good guy and you should form your own opinion about him.
-Kaitlyn Greeley, Senior
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Sara DeLeo
posted 10/25/06 @ 4:55 PM EST
Kaitlyn is absolutely right. I am also a senior and a former member of the SGA. On several occasions the President met with the SGA to discuss current happenings on campus. (Continued…)
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