Overwhelming examples of gossip in the press
I'm writing in response to Brendan Reardon's letter criticizing The Weekly's "Social Diary." Honestly, I just can't understand why he's so incredulous that The Daily would print such a section. My first thought was to tell him to lighten up. I mean, it's not like The Daily is The New York Times or something.
Of course, then I read the New York Times' feature story on Senator John McCain's supposed ties to a female lobbyist from Thursday's edition. For "the dumbest, most sophomoric and most unauthentic writing" ever, look no further.
You want lots of anonymous and frivolous gossip about sex and bad behavior? It's right there. The crux of the story - that McCain had an affair with lobbyist Vicki Iseman - rests upon the word of two "former campaign associates" (whatever that means) who were "disillusioned" and "convinced the relationship had become romantic."
It may be totally devoid of facts, but it's chock full of rumor and juicy gossip, so who cares! They might as well have followed The Weekly's lead and written something along the times of "OMG! You won't believe it! I heard that John and Vicki might be hooking up! No, I don't actually know for sure, but I heard it from this guy who swears it's true!"
With examples like this to look up to, it's no wonder that Northwestern's aspiring journalists find it prudent to print something as vacuous as the "Social Diary." Perhaps The Daily and The New York Times aren't so different at all.
- James Small Weinberg senior
The Weekly a bigger disgrace than Lavine
As the Dean John Lavine debacle unfolds, there are increasingly more students, faculty and alumni worried about the embarrassment and negative press this scandal is bringing to Medill.
Amidst this chaos people are overlooking a far more glaring humiliation for Medill: The Weekly insert in The Daily. This magazine is an absolute joke and has no place in a sophisticated college newspaper. While I appreciate the cultural aspects of The Weekly (the music reviews, upcoming concerts, art exhibitions, etc.), the majority of The Weekly is an embarrassment to NU. Why should The Daily be printing stories about some over-the-top horny sorority girl looking for a "coke hookup" while plenty of parents, alumni, and Evanstonites are reading? Though it certainly looks bad if the Medill dean fudged a couple of quotes in a letter to alumni, personally I am much more embarrassed to think that someone in the outside world (namely my parents) is reading The Weekly and thinking that this magazine represents NU. If Medill students, faculty, and alumni seek to end the humiliation for their school, they should start by cleaning up The Weekly.
- Paul Beck Weinberg junior
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