(Note the following is a response to both Scott Hennessey's article in the Voice, and the Review article about the alleged theft of the Voice.)
To the Editor,
My, my. That Scott Hennessey is so brave in his pursuit of accountability. He even printed his name in big bold print, along with all the respect and privilege that are attached to it. Where did he print it? On the end of an article whose entire point was to call a group of students cowards for not printing their names in the magazine they put together for prospective students that was (in my opinion) often brilliant, incredibly honest, at times painfully challenging, and (to anyone who read it) very threatening to those in charge of Oberlin's image. Never mind that the writers addressed the issue of anonymity and accountability at the beginning of their magazine, and Scott merely dismissed what they said, rather than engage it. Never mind that backlash and repercussion come in many forms that may not have occurred to Mr. Hennessey. Never mind that such repercussions are a real concern if you have decided to address yourselves to prospective students, when SO much money and effort is spent trying to keep them seeing Oberlin as a paradise. Never mind that threatening the college's "yield" because that is the only way to get certain issues addressed or recognized might have different risks than calling those trying to change things cowards...
The campus discussion over Trembles Our Rage should not be reduced to a decontextualized furor over the choice/need of its authors not to print their names, even if the reasons for that choice/need are something worth discussing. It also should not be all about how the Voice is supposedly now a martyr for truth because a bunch of its copies disappeared and the blame was assigned (through an anonymous informant! Go figure.) on people associated with Trembles.
Regarding the content of Trembles, there has been one editorial, and one letter in the Review about a few disturbing lines in one of the pieces. And a bunch of name calling. Has anyone, student or faculty or administration, taken on the unmistakable challenge that this writing presents? Not only that, but has anyone asked admissions what they think of this magazine for their precious darlings? That might make a decent front page story for the Review.
Related Stories:
Critical packet given to prospies
- May 2, 1997
Copyright © 1997, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 125, Number 24, May 9, 1997
Contact Review webmaster with suggestions or comments at ocreview@www.oberlin.edu.
Contact Review editorial staff at oreview@oberlin.edu.