To the Editor-In-Chief Maggie McVey and Managing Editor Winta Mebrahti,
We, the undersigned, students, faculty, workers, and associates of SUNY Plattsburgh have come together to demand your immediate resignation from your editorial positions in Cardinal Points.
On Friday, October 23, 2015, Cardinal Points featured an objectively racist and extremely offensive blackface image portraying a Black student in a dilapidated neighborhood. The dismissal of Jonathan Zajac, who produced the image, is not sufficient to restore our trust and confidence in Cardinal Points. Either through gross negligence or malicious intent, you have allowed this image to appear on the front pages of your paper. We believe it is a matter of basic decency and journalistic ethics that you resign from your post. Both of you are just as liable for the imagery used for the article. The usage of the image to appear on the front pages of your paper. We believe it is matter of basic of basic decency and journalistic ethics that you resign from your post. Both of you are just as liable for the imagery used for the article. The usage of the image for the article was ultimately your responsibility for publishing the image, claiming lack of communication or knowledge.
We no longer trust in your ability to fulfill your editorial obligations and seek your swift and public resignation.
Sincerely,
Updates
October 28, 2015
The silence from the leadership at Cardinal Points is deafening but it proves exactly why we cannot let this go. I have been spending my time meeting with other students who were hurt by this image and their pain reminds me why this resignation is non-negotiable.
October 28, 2015
Seeing this level of support confirms that our campus community will not tolerate the normalization of racism in our student press. This momentum proves that the editorial staff can no longer ignore the betrayal of the trust we placed in them.
9 Comments
This is not acceptable. The picture misrepresented the African American community . If you are running a paper which aims to represent local news , and views of the student ,you should know that you carry a certain level of responsibility on your hands. If the level of responsibility is not met and if sentiments are hurt it is only fair and just to step down from the position.
This is not the first time your paper has been racist to a certain group. Not long ago there was an article of Donald Trump and how he is America guilty pleasure and is right about immigrants, that they need to get out and other things that were unacceptable The only reason there was no action against it was because it wasn't on the front page but had it been you would've probably got the same response as the picture
While I'm sick of the ghetto kids at this college I don't support racism.
This is the 21st century people; grow up, be civil, and learn good behaviour. This type of mentality is unacceptable, especially on a campus that is supposed to be a home away from home for many students. Not only was the publication a disgrace to the African-American community, but also to all other successful black in the world. As an international student I do not feel welcomed and safe in this community. How can there still be people with this type of thinking? As a black international student I have worked too hard to come this far to be treated this way, my ancestors blood had been shed for my rights to be where O am, and have the sucess I have. We should demand the resignation of the editor, he does not deserve the right to make unproductive and harmful contributions, and belittle the black communities efforts in the fight for equal rights.
Smh huge disgrace
Bye bye
This is not right. I even did a practicum with CP, this is not journalism.
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To the Editor-In-Chief Maggie McVey and Managing Editor Winta Mebrahti,
We, the undersigned, students, faculty, workers, and associates of SUNY Plattsburgh have come together to demand your immediate resignation from your editorial positions in Cardinal Points.
On Friday, October 23, 2015, Cardinal Points featured an objectively racist and extremely offensive blackface image portraying a Black student in a dilapidated neighborhood. The dismissal of Jonathan Zajac, who produced the image, is not sufficient to restore our trust and confidence in Cardinal Points. Either through gross negligence or malicious intent, you have allowed this image to appear on the front pages of your paper. We believe it is a matter of basic decency and journalistic ethics that you resign from your post. Both of you are just as liable for the imagery used for the article. The usage of the image to appear on the front pages of your paper. We believe it is matter of basic of basic decency and journalistic ethics that you resign from your post. Both of you are just as liable for the imagery used for the article. The usage of the image for the article was ultimately your responsibility for publishing the image, claiming lack of communication or knowledge.
We no longer trust in your ability to fulfill your editorial obligations and seek your swift and public resignation.
Sincerely,
Updates
October 28, 2015
The silence from the leadership at Cardinal Points is deafening but it proves exactly why we cannot let this go. I have been spending my time meeting with other students who were hurt by this image and their pain reminds me why this resignation is non-negotiable.
October 28, 2015
Seeing this level of support confirms that our campus community will not tolerate the normalization of racism in our student press. This momentum proves that the editorial staff can no longer ignore the betrayal of the trust we placed in them.
9 Comments
I am very angry the fact that not one person of the Cardinal point thinked that this was wrong .
This is not acceptable. The picture misrepresented the African American community . If you are running a paper which aims to represent local news , and views of the student ,you should know that you carry a certain level of responsibility on your hands. If the level of responsibility is not met and if sentiments are hurt it is only fair and just to step down from the position.
This is not the first time your paper has been racist to a certain group. Not long ago there was an article of Donald Trump and how he is America guilty pleasure and is right about immigrants, that they need to get out and other things that were unacceptable The only reason there was no action against it was because it wasn't on the front page but had it been you would've probably got the same response as the picture
While I'm sick of the ghetto kids at this college I don't support racism.
This is the 21st century people; grow up, be civil, and learn good behaviour. This type of mentality is unacceptable, especially on a campus that is supposed to be a home away from home for many students. Not only was the publication a disgrace to the African-American community, but also to all other successful black in the world. As an international student I do not feel welcomed and safe in this community. How can there still be people with this type of thinking? As a black international student I have worked too hard to come this far to be treated this way, my ancestors blood had been shed for my rights to be where O am, and have the sucess I have. We should demand the resignation of the editor, he does not deserve the right to make unproductive and harmful contributions, and belittle the black communities efforts in the fight for equal rights.
Smh huge disgrace
Bye bye
This is not right. I even did a practicum with CP, this is not journalism.
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I am very angry the fact that not one person of the Cardinal point thinked that this was wrong .