Newspapers / North Carolina School of … / Oct. 1, 2006, edition 1 / Page 6
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October 2006 opinion the stentorian I ncssm Withholding of truths will destroy society By Amy Bryson Truth is the conformity to fact or actuality. Some individuals spend their lives digging for the truth, whether they are researching in a laboratory or studying ancient history from documents. In a world based on free flowing information, whM happens when that information is held hostage? What happens in a society where the truth will not be told? Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya spent her life uncovering the truth and some of the brutal realities Russia is faced with. She wrote a critical book on Russian President Vladimir Putin and his campaign in Chechnya, documenting widespread killings, tortures and abuse of civilians by government troops. As a direct result of her work, Politkovskaya lived her life under constant threat. In 2001, Politkovskaya fled to Vienna for several months after receiving e-mail threats alleging that a Russian police officer she had accused of committing atrocities against civilians was intent on revenge. On Oct. 7 Politkovskaya was shot to death in the elevator of her apartment building in Moscow, in a killing prosecutors believe could be connected to her investigative work. Is this the fate that those who seek and tell the truth must face? On a smaller scale, the results of truth can lead to the loss of a job or a reputation. The truth is withheld across the United States, across North Carolina and even across om campus. As a journalist I am constantly seeking the truth, my work is defined by my ability to sift through information, different sides and various opinions and find the truth. I cannot find the truth when it is withheld by a decline to comment or through imtimely release of information. Is information withheld because it cannot be given? We feel that the truth threatens our livelihood. In order to save ourselves we omit the truth; we disregard the facts. We would rather be ignorant than face the truth and endure the consequences. Through these means, we are folding to injustices and throwing away our right to freedom given to us by our founding fathers. The truth is necessary for our country to function. Without truth there is no system of checks and balance in our government, there is no justice in our court system. Our society is nothing without the truth. We need to believe that the truth will set us free. ■'V to say? Write it down and send it to us at stentorian@ncssm. edu. We are accepting letters to the editor of up to 250 words. Make your voice heard. All letters are subject to editing for length, clarity and grammar. Unsigned or anonymous letters will not be printed. Art by Cody Hughes Successful beginning SGA members work to address student concerns, include students in process the stentorian the north Carolina school of science & mathematics 1219 broad street, durham, nc 27705 stentorian@ncssm.edu Editors-in-Chief: Amy Bryson, Mary Kohimann and Max Rose Advisor: John Kirk News Editor: Hattie Chung Features Editor: Grace Kim Opinion Editor: Whitney Baker Photography Editor: Luis Zapata Sports Editor: Nancy Yang Lifestyles Editor: Laura Chao Staff Writers: Kathleen Boudreau, Elizabeth Cutrone, Olivia Lamontagne, Katherine Wikrent Proposals to administration, a newsletter to inform the students and online forums to increase feedback are just a few of the many ways SGA has sent the message to the student body that they are going to spend the year productively serving the school community. Faced with a plethora of policy changes at the start of the school year, SGA has already begun making proposals to present to administration. Possible compromises include in-room invites from 10- 12 instead of 12-2, privilege-based allowance of computers in Super Study and much more. The members of SGA are actively addressing issues that students have expressed concerns or complaints about. These 13 students have shown the ability to act and vocalize for all of us. SGA is working not only to address problems, but also to bring about positive changes in the school that can enrich student life. Recent pursuits include providing varsity letters and the opportunity to purchase letterman jackets through the school store. Besides working for the student body, the members of SGA plan on performing a monthly community service project to give back to the school and city. Most recently, members worked at the Geek-a-thon. Previously, SGA has held their weekly meetings and made minor contributions to campus life, but Staff Editorial this year they have been actively pursuing the fulfillment of their mission statement, to “focus on the individual as well as collaborative needs of the NCSSM community.” The SGA encourages more students to get involved in the decision-making process though offering representative positions for both classes and the residence halls. The approaching hall representative elections will fill all elected positions for the SGA, but students are encouraged to attend the weekly meetings and keep up with new actions and ideas. SGA’s presence on campus is defined by the students involved. For SGA to better serve student needs, students must first show an interest. This year’s SGA has done a imusually commendable job of making themselves a known student group through advertisements and other outreach. The members of SGA have made it clear that they will serve the students to their fullest potential as they pledged during their campaigns last spring. They have started the year off strong, and we believe that the team led by Michael B. Jones, president, and Dorian Britt, vice president, will continue to impress us with their work for the remainder of the year.
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Oct. 1, 2006, edition 1
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