While we are often reluctant to comment on ourselves as members of The Recorder, especially so for matters that we regard as internal issues, it is no longer acceptable for us to remain silent.

We are under the impression that some or part of the campus community may be misled by rumors circulating via email that the former Opinion editor of The Recorder was fired under false circumstances. This is not the case and we seek to comment upon the matter, regardless of whether those individuals want to listen or not. 

In the most direct language we can assemble to address the former Opinion editor of The Recorder, we must emphasize that she was not fired for her personal beliefs, values, political leanings or otherwise. Likewise, this is not a free speech issue, nor was the Opinion Editor’s removal from office an attempt to quiet an individual. 

The facts are these: The Recorder, as a newspaper with an accepted code of ethics – one that we use daily as a guide to steer us away from potential conflicts of interest and harmful decisions – abides by such a code and we enforced it the day we chose to remove the former Opinion editor from office. As a position that must guide and direct individual opinions and the editorial stance of the paper, it is not acceptable for that editor to act on any political leanings, lest it create a real or perceived conflict of interest.

Much like professional journalism outlets, The Recorder subscribes to the idea that as an editor of a newspaper, whose function is to report on and provide commentary for issues of relevance to CCSU, they should labor to make himself or herself transparent and thoughtful, as well as work to eliminate all conflicts of interest.

As The Recorder strives for objectivity, something that all journalists should work towards, the former Opinion editor thought objectivity as an idea below the position and the editorial board decided to remove her for such reasons. When a member of the paper, an editor no less, represents herself or himself as such in public – from rallies or protests to political events or panels – it creates the opportunity for all viewers and readers to believe that the paper has a certain leaning.

We also encountered problems on a weekly basis with the former Opinion editor’s performance in terms of completing work relevant to CCSU. We firmly believe that if she had strictly covered CCSU events, something we repeatedly ask all editors to do, then many of the issues we have recently discussed would not be problems today. We also came to the unanimous consensus that certain op-eds needed to be scaled back and made relevant to CCSU.

It was time for a change in the direction of relevant, meaningful and well-written op-eds, and we believe that removing the Opinion editor was a part of achieving those goals.  

Several times the Opinion editor signed her name as such on petitions and for protests that The Recorder was not aware of, which, we believe, is absolutely grounds for firing. It was a clear violation of the code of ethics, which she had been given months to read, review and ask questions about.

Let us explain further that it is not a single or set of personal beliefs, values, religious attitudes (or lack thereof), race, gender, sexual orientation or any other labeling factor that determines whether or not a person can become a part of The Recorder. However, we would be remiss if we did not point out that as an editor, political beliefs and leanings that are acted upon in public are not tolerated. In the past, other Recorder editors have been forced to choose between organizations such as the Student Government Association and the College Republicans, and have chosen The Recorder because their eyes were open to the perceived or real conflicts of interest.

 In an attempt to be fair and open about the situation, executive editors of The Recorder gave the former Opinion editor the opportunity to dismiss her political and external activities and focus on her position at The Recorder and covering and commenting upon local events, as the position entails. She left us no choice, after no response, but to terminate her.

On a side note, we are aware that the terms “fire” or “firing” can be confusing and misleading, since these are not paid jobs in the strictest sense, but we would like to take the opportunity to clarify the language. The Editor-in-Chief fired the former Opinion editor, which was supported by the entire editorial board. We use the term “fire” because we feel that no other word accurately describes what happened: it was not a forced or willing resignation; the former Opinion editor was not “let go”; and “removal from office” is a close second, but there is room to interpret that the events happened amicably, which they did not.

Furthermore, The Recorder gave the former Opinion editor fair warning in the form of several discussions that her external activities were not welcome or acceptable while holding a position with The Recorder.

While we also understand that our response or explanation will be refused by some, The Recorder will not abandon its stance and the former Opinion editor will remain as such. As a member of the CCSU community, she is eligible to submit op-eds, articles, photos or any other form of content to The Recorder, and is welcome to.