JILLIAN COLLETT | editor-in-chief

Last week I chose to run an opinion article titled “Where are the MEN?” A lot of people were angry, and in the past week the Clause has received more responses and backlash than after any opinion article we have run this semester.

Regardless of whether or not people believe the opinion was valid for the paper or whether the editing of it was justifiable, I would like to ask: why did this article gain so much attention?

I am in no way diminishing the feelings of the men who were offended, or the women who feel incorrectly portrayed. I am, instead, attempting to bring light to the fact that next to this article, and throughout the paper, were articles of substance that went unnoticed.

First there was the lead article about junior high students receiving birth control at their schools without their parents’ knowledge.

Next there was an article about a personal experience that left a student conflicted about supporting an AIDS Walk that pushed propaganda and alternative lifestyles.

And then, there was the article about the scientist who discovered DNA and his claim that there is scientific evidence to prove people of African descent are less intelligent.

There was also a centerspread on genocide, the slaughter of thousands of people that happens all over the world even today.

Three readers wrote a combined response to The Clause that began with mentioning the deaths in Iraq, the persecution of monks in Myanmar and the homeless children who sleep on the streets in Azusa.They then chastised my decision to publish the “men” article.

They said “Are there not more important worldwide subjects to talk about than relationships, or the lack thereof, at APU? Or more importantly, does anyone care?”

I agree with them. There are more important things to talk about. But what the problem seems to be is not the abundance of light-hearted stories, which I will argue do in fact have their value for college readers. The problem is that our energy and emotion in reacting seems misplaced.

If there are bigger issues at stake, read the other Opinion pieces. Get swamped in the articles that matter most. Read the World section. Respond to articles about your fellow students’ creativity highlighted in Arts and Culture.

Instead of grumblings on campus about dating, the ratio, or ‘ring by spring,’ let’s hear big responses to the articles that were intended to have an impact. Let’s hear the students of APU use their voices in the way I know they can.