Review Editors Should Resign

To the Editor:

The last of my long list of worries in being a part of the Vagina Monologues was to be given ALL the credit for the four additional pieces for the performance. In fact, I did not see this coming at all. My very first reaction to the article was that of astonishment and then of anger. On a rudimentary level, I was upset because proper credits were not given to the proper people. Wrong information was printed with the pretense of being the truth. But as I thought about the situation more, I realized what the consequences of such mistakes could eventually evolve into.
Student writers will make mistakes, and I am understanding of that situation. But what needs to be realized by the Review as a whole is that such distorted information can lead to harm (be it physical or mental) to individuals and/or communities. The article on the Vagina Monologues stated that I wrote the piece “An Ode to Sally Hemmings” on African-American issues. I am a South Asian international student. How can I EVER begin to comprehend African-American women’s issues, let alone write about it? Most people who read the article knew that it was a mistake, but there might be some individuals who for the first time came across the performance through this article in the Review. Those individuals may take the Review’s word for “fact” that I wrote the piece on African-American women. This adds to unnecessary and false ideas as to who I truly am and what I stand for. Some people may interpret my concerns as paranoia, but please try to understand the seriousness of such a comment: to say that I wrote a piece on African-American women is to say that I gave a voice to the African-American women. That is a serious underlying allegation.
One could also argue that how can one predict the problems that may arise from such “harmless,” “legitimate” mistakes. That is why the credibility and responsibility of the editors are of such importance. There is a reason why there are individuals in the position of editors –– to look out for mistakes, to make sure the information is as accurate as it can be, to make sure that such problematic scenarios are avoided to a maximum. As easy as it would be for anyone and for me to concentrate the blame on the writer of the article, but the truth of the matter is that the editors are the ones who I personally hold accountable for this misinformation and thus the false allegation. The editors failed in correcting the article before it went to the press. I see that such “harmless” and “legitimate” mistakes are constantly being made by the Review. If the Review wants to be viewed as a serious journalistic attempt, the staff as a whole needs to shape up and be more aware of the consequences of such writings. Someday, such a misprint may cause serious damage to someone’s reputation and status. To be quite blunt, if the editors are unable to do their jobs right, I advise them to quit and find a new set of editors who are truly committed to their journalism and who are basically more responsible, rational, logical human beings.
Please note, that I wrote only ONE additional monologue that was untitled, while TWO of them were written by hiroshi including “?” and Dominique Atchison wrote “Ode to Sally Hemmings.”

–Shahana Siddiqui
College first-year