Anonymous party defaces student newspaper

Between noon Thursday and Friday morning, about 75 issues of The Eagle placed in the Student Center were defaced with the word “sucks” in bright red ink.

Laure Sinn, coordinator of student activities, said, “If you have a problem go to the person or the group. Don’t be a coward. That was rude.”

After discovering the graffiti, the editorial staff, and Michael D. Kennedy, adviser for The Eagle, decided to leave the defaced papers in place, citing the First Amendment.

Kennedy said, “It’s clear this person has an opinion but not the courage to take credit for it.”

Opinion columns in The Eagle include the author’s name and headshot alongside his or her opinion.

The Eagle’s editorial disclaimer, printed each week on the last page of the Opinion section states, “Guest editorials, guest columns, and letters to the editor are strongly encouraged.”

The editorial staff will gladly consider for publication, in print or on The Eagle’s website, any reader or group’s input the paper sucks—or doesn’t.

Of the graffiti’s negative tone, Kennedy said, “It’s okay, the First Amendment protects the opinions of everybody, including the pathetic and cowardly. That’s the best thing about the First Amendment, it protects everyone’s right to his or her opinion.”