By The Beacon Editorial Board
Recently, Reed College's student-run humor newspaper, The Pamphlette, published a satirical story which joked that Lewis & Clark college students rounded up and killed Jews.
Poor taste aside, the article does more than just prod the already sensitive issue of anti-Semitism at Lewis & Clark, where swastikas were found in the library bathroom. It does more than cause trouble for The Pamphlette's editors, who have been apologizing profusely. It does more than give Reed College President Colin Driver, who personally apologized to Lewis & Clark's interim president Jane Atkinson, a headache.
It makes it harder for student journalists all over the country - this story was picked up by the Associated Press - to do their job.
College leaders at Reed have no plans to censor the paper, since it's against Reed's principles. The Pamphlette should be thankful their administrators seem to see this as a learning experience.
Freedom of expression is protected not so we can spout off whatever we want. It's protected to make sure its responsible practitioners are protected from censure. When college newspapers, evem humor papers, pull off stunts like this, it makes it harder for college journalists all over the country to be taken seriously.
Pamphlette staffs of the future will feel the sting of this staff's action as well. The Beacon still smarts from the mistakes made by staffs decades ago; potential sources clamming up when we come knocking.
Responsible journalism can cause a headache or two, but that should only be when it's the truth that hurts.
