Today in Independent Media class Jeff Cohen , my professor, went into depth about a controversial article written by Emily McNeill 08', an IC alum. the article received 30 comments--a rarity in IC View Magazine's history in terms of how many comments articles usually receive. No offense icview, but let's be honest here. ..
But this was not the big shocker for me. McNeill, a fantastic and honorable writer and journalist, wrote a poignant recollection of her experience in Palestine.
It is shameful to see that Emily's piece was torn to shreds by the IC View Magazine editor Maura Stephens and worst of all, Mr. Thomas Rochon, Ithaca college's new president. What does this say about Ithaca college as a whole? what does this say about the new school president and how he is introducing himself and representing who he really is? I understand that Mr. Rochon definitely had to go through a lot of pressure to try to appease those that were upset by the article. however, it only goes to show that Rochon made a terribly wrong move by reacting against the article and criticizing it. His statement is nonsensical. You submit to pressure and then you act by trying to say that the article only represented one view of the conflict.

I believe that your actions and the rest of the college administration's actions lately with the Margo Ramlal Nankoe tenure problem show that YOU and the rest of the college admin are the ones who are being one sided. the college, in my opinion, does not actively engage in an honest, educational, and constructive two sided Palestine-Israel debate. It is highly disappointing to be associated with a college that is currently creating such a problem for a well-reputed professor to receive tenure.. but I will talk about this issue at another time...another blog post.
what i want to say in regards to the Emily McNeill article is that it is in every way a fantastic, well written article that should be lauded, not criticized.
this is real journalism. this is the kind of journalism--bravery, honesty, and courage that we need.
A note of apology by the editor and the school president is not what we need. two sides need to be shown for there to have positive progress.