Editor – Houghton STAR

To the Editors of the Star,

Last week, Hannah Smith wrote an excellent opinion about Metz, targeting students who claim that Metz is the sworn enemy of student satisfaction. And that has been the most controversial opinion in the Star this year.

For contrast, find a copy of the Star from five or ten years ago and turn to the opinions. You’ll find thought-provoking responses to issues like immigration, carbon taxes, sexual education, the March for Life, the Republican primary, and Houghton’s handling of racism. Where are those issues in the Star today?

We claim to be an institution that values hard conversations, yet we no longer represent those conversations in our student newspaper. Maybe those conversations happen privately; maybe we’re overly sensitive to others’ opinions; maybe we’re tragically apathetic. In any case, students do not engage with hard issues in a way that contributes to the common good. We cannot be the institution we claim to be when our public discourse is watered down by disengagement.

We must be brave enough to use forums like the Star to broach those issues, learn from one another, and engage with the world beyond the Houghton Bubble. Surely, students have opinions that go deeper than the menu in the dining hall. I hope they will use the Star to share those opinions and contribute to our public discourse so we can be the institution we claim to be.

Cody Johnson ’24

Cody,

Thank you for your letter. The Opinions Section of the STAR has always been a place where students can freely express their thoughts in a public setting. While we cannot explain the shift away from controversial opinions over the last decade, we want to make it clear that we have never closed the door to these types of opinions. The STAR would love to publish articles on the topics you discussed if any student wished to work with us to publish them.

Our only requirement for Opinion pieces is that they do not unjustly attack an individual person or group. For example, “Christian is a terrible human being, and everyone should hate him” would not be accepted, but “I do not agree with Christian on X because he never considered Y” would be a perfectly valid response. As long as you are considerate of the other side, we are willing to publish your piece.

So, to the Students, Staff, and Faculty of Houghton, if you are willing to express your opinion on hot-button issues facing either Houghton or the world at large, we are willing to help you do exactly that. Please feel free to send either a Letter to the Editor or an Opinion Piece to either star@houghton.edu or Victoria.Arndt25@houghton.edu.

Thank you,

The STAR Editors★

We scroll through our Facebook feed, sighing at our racist uncle that’s sharing an opinion written by one of his friends, riddled with inaccurate facts and stereotypes. On the flip side, we shake our head at an article we read, although accurate and factual, because it clashes with our view of the world, irritating us. We make one crucial mistake when we continue to scroll though, we encourage a lack of dialogue and discussion that has the potential to help us grow and educate ourselves.

I could go into a rant about how we need to listen to one another with love and compassion, but we’ve all heard that before, and more than once. Once we’ve made the decision to listen, we need to take the next step and make the decision to respond. Response is a crucial part of educating ourselves and playing our part in bettering society, both as people and as Christians.

We should take every opportunity for discourse presented to us as a chance to grow and challenge our views. Challenging your views solidifies that you not only, are firmly grounded in your beliefs, but also that you have a rounded, educated opinion. If we are privileged enough to have opportunities and sources to grow our knowledge, then we shouldn’t waste them.

webquote This, fellow students, is my challenge to you from myself as editor-in-chief of The Star. I would ask that you use The Star as a platform to educate yourself and others through educated discourse. If an opinion published in The Star challenges your personal convictions, ask to write an opinion, comment on the article online, or, better yet, write a letter to the editor.

While The Star may not have an opinion written by your racist uncle, it is just as easy to ignore. Stars practically litter the campus, you don’t give it a second thought as you toss the version you got after chapel in the garbage or leave it on your table at lunch. It’s easy to vent to your friends, or complain via Yik Yak about how ridiculous someone’s opinion is. Instead of forgetting about it, leaving it behind, or letting your voice be lost in the anonymity of an app, use the paper to remind yourself to develop your opinions and strengthen your beliefs.

Don’t be afraid to be challenged and grow. The Star serves as a place for voices of students, staff, and community members to be heard. My hope is that The Star to be a vehicle for a variety of opinions and perspectives, whether they be similar or contrasting. Don’t be afraid to stir the pot, ruffle some feathers, and most importantly, promote discussion. So go ahead; comment on that racist uncle’s Facebook post, just make sure it is educated, thoughtful, and compassionate.