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Journalists often over-quote one Presidential aphorism more than any other: Thomas Jefferson’s declaration of the importance of newspapers in the United States of America.

“Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter,” Jefferson said.

Friday afternoon, unknown persons went against the wise words of Jefferson, by attempting to censor ACU’s award-winning student newspaper, the Optimist, when they stole several hundred newspapers and destroyed them. These immature thieves emptied the newsstands surrounding Moody Coliseum and the Campus Center not because our Special Sing Song issue published incorrect or inaccurate information, but because they were offended by the words and opinion of one person.

Every year it is a tradition for one student writer to pen his or her predictions of the outcome of the Sing Song competition. This year our Editor in Chief Daniel Johnson-Kim gave his thoughts on the top three acts for each division of the 2009 competition.This was not printed to belittle any of the students who have spent the past weeks perfecting their shows, but to launch a platform of discussion among the ACU community and its visitors this weekend and challenge them to choose their favorite acts. In fact, the newspaper spread included information about every act on stage and encouraged those who disagreed with Johnson-Kim to give their opinion at the Optimist Web site, www.acuoptimist.com.

But one group of students chose rashness over reason.

The juvenile Sing Songers were so appalled they did not earn the Optimist endorsement, they took it upon themselves to destroy not only the newspapers, but the ACU community’s opportunity to gather information about the weekend’s events and campus news. These fools let their emotions overtake them and robbed the university of a fine product more than 20 students sacrificed sleep, schoolwork and free time to produce. This staff worked until 4 a.m., making sure our 20-page paper was the best it could be and guaranteeing it was a proud representation of this university and its strong journalism and mass communication program to guests who filled Moody Coliseum.

Had the students simply written a letter to the editor or commented on our Web site, we gladly would have welcomed their opinions. We do not censor students’ opinions; we provide a platform where the entire ACU community can read them.

How would they feel if the Optimist staff stole their props or sabotaged their show on stage? How would they feel if we spat in their faces while they sang their songs? Their thievery is the equivalent of these infantile actions.

Unfortunately this is not the first time na’ve students emptied the Optimist newsstands in protest of Sing Song predictions. Future students should not follow in the footsteps of this senseless Sing Song tradition; instead they should show they value the freedom of the press at their university.

Oftentimes the only feedback we receive reeks of negativity, but this is commonplace in the journalism world. Newspapers and their staff are used to criticism and take it in good nature. The First Amendment protects all opinions.

Re-apply the author of the Declaration of Independence’s words to ACU, and we proudly would say were it left to decide whether we should have a Christian university without a newspaper, or a newspaper without a Christian university, we would not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.

After the Sing Song stage is tore down, this newspaper will remain. This staff will continue to do its job. And hopefully, this university will continue to be a place where the First Amendment is valued.

I have never seen or participated in Sing Song in my three years at ACU, and – as a rule – I try to practice a courteous neutrality toward something I have no vested interest in. Even so, the actions of those students who stole the newspapers reveals what appears to be an inordinate spirit of competitiveness regarding what ought to be a fun and fair-minded performance put on by a diverse variety of groups within the same (Christian) university.

Censorship (especially by underhanded theft) is a terribly inarticulate way to communicate a viewpoint. Instead of destroying the media, one might refute the opposing viewpoint in a civilized and rational manner(unless the disputer has no leg to stand on, in which case he may hold his peace and practice good sportsmanship).

All that AND I missed reading the paper on Friday. C’mon!

“Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.”
–1 Thessalonians 5: 12-15

With respect to the Optimist staff, I want to encourage all involved in this event to be forgiving toward one other. Let us not be spiteful or negative about our differences in opinion. I, too, work very hard but do not always receive appreciation for it. That does not, however, give me the motivation to attack or blame others. Our Savior Jesus Christ himself was scorned by those who he loved and died for. I hope and pray that this incident reminds us that we always have the choice to act kindly toward our oppressors.

In Christ,
Clinton Morgan

This response by the Optimist staff was disturbing to me on several levels.

First, I thought the article in question was offensive. It is one thing to voice your opinion about which act is better, it is another thing completely to do so in a snide and disparaging manner. Maybe at a real newspaper that would have been ok, but for a paper that represents a small community, what you say is going to be taken personally, even if that is not how you intend it. That being said, if someone really did steal papers, there is no excuse for that kind of behavior either.

Second, the paper seems to be operating under the assumption that the papers were indeed stolen. I saw the issue, it obviously took a lot of work and it showed. It was a fine issue, yet the Optimist immediately jumps to the conclusion that they were stolen, not taken by real readers. I don’t know any details about that either way, but since no one has been implicated, why is the paper gracing this “action” with a response.

Third, you, the Optimist, are not martyrs. This is not the grand arena, you are not dying noble for a just cause under attack by evil-doers who seek to pull down truth, justice, and the American way. It’s a school newspaper. Some students may have acted in a highly immature and dishonest manner, but I feel the Optimist acted with unprofessional in the content of the article in question, and their handling of the situation after. Was what they did wrong, yes. Did you deserve it no. However, I hardly think using your public platform to whine that you were treated unfairly is the way to go about garnering support from the Student Body. Maybe a response saying that no matter how you were treated, you would stand by what you print and that this kind of behavior will not affect how you run your paper would have been preferable to what amounts to a journalistic temper tantrum.

One last bit, on the whole, I find the Optimist to be professional and to exemplify what a newspaper at a Christian school should be, so it greatly disappoints me not only to see those hard-working students treated so, as well as to see them respond in this manner.

Dear Optimist Staff,
After reading your drama-filled article about your supposed newspaper thieves I felt compelled to post a few comments.

First, your article states that “unknown persons” emptied the newstands in Moody of the ACU’s award-winning student newspaper. If, in fact, the thieves were “unknown” how do you validate your story? Please…do tell…your readers would love to know. A true journalism professional would print the facts and only the facts with regard to such an accusation.

Second, and most importantly, DO NOT over estimate the value of your newspaper. As an Alumnus, you should know that I chose to attend ACU because it was a Christian University not because it had a student newspaper.

Optimist Staff,
First, I appreciate the long hours and hard work you dedicate to our school paper. I am sorry that someone trashed your paper. However,I believe that it was an inappropriate response to label the perpetrators as “fools.” Even though you and I both disagree with their actions, as a Christian newspaper you should have avoided using that derogatory term.

While I understand the anger expressed at the childish actions taken against the newspaper, I urge you to read Mat 5:22 before publicly calling the offenders “fools.”

In the article you stated, “these fools let their emotions overtake them and robbed the university of a fine product more than 20 students sacrificed sleep, schoolwork and free time to produce.”

Matt 5:22 says, “…whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whoever shall say, You fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”

As someone who works in the media and PR field I’m aware how my work can offend people and cause them to say and sometimes do rash things, but something I have found is that drawing attention to their doings is exactly what they want. By getting angry and saying, “look what you did to me, I’m so angry,” I have let them win.

I’m in no way in support of the offenders, but I hope that the Optimist will use this as a learning experience. I know your advisors are great leaders and will have some wisdom and experience to share with the students.