College Editors

Frequently during the course of the college year the editors of the Columbia Spectator, the Harvard CRIMSON, and the Yale Daily News and other leading publications will burst into print, and incidentally the front pages of the nation's newspapers, by writing editorials of a radical and violent nature. These editorials, while sometimes limited to severe criticism of some college activities or officials, often invade the fields of national and international politics and problems. This invariably raises the question of the province that should exist or does exist with respect to the editorial ambitions of the college editor.

We believe that no limit should be placed upon the initiative of the college editor. Every field of human activity should be open to his editorial ruminations. We base this belief upon our conception of the editorial as merely a thought provoking medium, and not, as some have come to view it, as something akin to an oracle. Practical journalists have derided these admittedly radical college editors and have cited them as valid reasons for a literal "chaining" of the college editor. We, in turn, could easily find in this history of American journalism many examples of prejudiced, radical editors and editorials. Would that justify our consequent demand for curtailment of the liberty of the press with regard to editorials?

The liberty of the press is an American ideal and an American Institution which should and will always extend to the college editor. The value of his work and the reception accorded it is a sufficient limitation. Polytechnic Reporter.