Letter's message is downright ironic

Starting in early 1994, I worked for my first-ever newspaper, The Northern Student, the student newspaper at Bemidji State University, where I attended and received my bachelor's degree in mass communication. Over three years, I would be a staff writer, news editor, managing editor and editor. I wrote everything from news stories to feature stories to sports stories to opinion pieces. It was the greatest training ground a journalist could ever have, and I am grateful to the many talented people I worked alongside in my years at The NS.

Sept. 27, 1995

NOTE: This column was published on the newspaper's opinion page.

By Devlyn Brooks

In our collective mind at the Northern Student, we believe that newspapers have many responsibilities, but two of the most important are to inform, and with the knowledge that they purvey, they try to create a deeper need for more knowledge.

In the tradition of intellectual commentary, professor Gerald Schnabel took a step in the direction of offering solid commentary on issues that affect our campus last week. He wrote a commentary that both informed and created a desire to know more.

Speaking for the Northern Student staff, I can honestly say that were excited about the discussion Schnabel's column sparked. That is the purpose the opinion/editorial pages serve, to be a public bulletin board for reasonable, ongoing discussions about topics that affect BSU. These pages are meant to throw out ideas, problems and even sometimes solutions.

So, by judging from the comments the NS staff has heard throughout the week, we judge Schnabel's first column as a success. He did what he intended to: raise some intellectual thought about the leadership of our university. This was exciting to see.

It was overheard by our staff that some thought he was just a disgruntled faculty member spouting off. Others voiced the opinion that he finally spoke out for many professors that can't, or don't take time to, find their voice to speak out. Still others commented that maybe it was just a natural extension of Schnabel's feistiness, and this would just make things worse for all faculty members.

Setting Schnabel's intentions aside, it is correct to say he consciously raised the level of debate of conversations on this campus for one week. Period.

And, as for myself, I can say that Schnabel's ability to transform a childhood fable into a metaphor of BSU's current situation, greatly entertained me. His fable of the emperor's new clothes led me to an understanding of our campus that I never would have envisioned of had it not been for his commentary. I have known Gerry for some time and think I'm entitled to say that he is never afraid to voice his opinion. If the emperor is indeed naked, Gerry will not only say so, he will explore that nakedness in the true academic sense. BSU needs more shepherds, such as Gerry, to speak out and fewer sheep mindlessly bleating to the administration's every whim.

And judging by the amount of talk his commentary generated, he must have touched upon more than just my heart strings. In fact, he raised such good arguments, and spoke out for so many beleaguered, if not disgruntled, faculty members, he received a congratulatory letter to the editor in this week's NS from a professor emeriti. However, I must sadly report that this letter was not written in the true spirit of Schnabel's forthrightness. In fact, the letter is downright ironic.

Am I the only person that sees the inherent irony in the anonymous salutation? Is this not just a blatant disregard for Schnabel's whole thesis in his commentary: to stop bleating like sheep and speak out?

I am sorry if I have offended our letter writer because we really do appreciate the time they expended in responding to the Schnabel commentary. Being that this person is retired, it is logical to assume they made a special trip to campus to deliver the letter, and we appreciate that. My point is not to belittle their contribution. My point is that it inadvertently belittles Schnabel's commentary. As one more anonymous sheep bleats for change, I must ponder when BSU will produce another shepherd like professor Schnabel.

In most circumstances, the NS' policy is to not print articles received anonymously, and I do apologize to past authors whose letters were rejected on the basis it was anonymous. This exception will be just that, an exception, and in the future, there will be limited exceptions made.

I must remind readers that we request that you submit with your letter your name, some biographical information (i.e. year in school, major, employed position, etc.), a handwritten signature and a telephone number, which will not be printed but only used for verification of the author.