Controversy at Saddleback College Paper

Shame on Richard Sneed, chancellor of Saddleback Community College!

The college’s newspaper, the Lariat, has received more than 100 journalism awards in the past four years. Despite this accomplishment, Sneed threatened to redirect their funds? The only thing more absurd than this is his motivation for doing so.

In the Lariat’s Dec. 7 edition, an article and cartoon was published in the opinion section that the college chancellor found offensive. Although the authors intended it to be an anti-nuclear article, many misinterpreted it to be anti-Semitic. The Lariat staff was quick to explain the misunderstanding but refused to apologize for the article, as Sneed directed them to do.

I would like to commend these young people, first, for their efforts and willingness to excel and produce an award-winning publication, and second, for having the integrity and good sense not to bow to such low and unjustifiable blackmail. A good opinion section is essential to a good newspaper. It is not meant to please everyone. If it did, nobody would read it. No one has the right to censor opinions. No one should be forced to apologize for his opinion.

Had the Lariat staff done as the chancellor had directed, what would these students have learned? That the almighty dollar controls freedom of the press? Censorship in the form of financial influence is a hard lesson these students should not be taught. I am certain of one thing: If Sneed does in fact have the influence to pull the plug on this newspaper, we the community will find a way to pull the plug on him.

BRUCE CARTER

San Juan Capistrano