In last week’s edition of The Bona Venture, contributing writer Luke Nolan took to the opinions section to pen his thoughts on birth control pill usage. As unpopular opinions usually do, this one spread like wildfire around campus and online. I’ve heard debate from every person I’ve seen since last Friday afternoon. On Monday morning, it was the first thing we spoke about in my classes.
It’s been over a week since I read the first draft of Nolan’s article and I still can’t stop thinking about it, or the social media debacle that followed.
On Friday, I published a public statement on The BV Twitter account emphasizing that we (meaning “The BV” as a publication) do not have any political opinion. We seek to report for our entire audience. Writing that pubic statement was mentally exhausting, but nothing compared to the ethical dilemma raging in my head all weekend.
Honestly, I struggled with my emotions a lot. As managing editor, I was dutifully trying to keep the peace, reminding readers of “freedom of speech” and the “opinions of a Catholic university.” As a woman, I felt like a complete failure. Why should I actively defend the decision to publish this story? I blamed myself personally for making so many of my classmates feel inadequate about their health decisions. I felt sick to my stomach; how could I stand by and let this happen?
After hours of screaming irrational, incoherent half sentences like “freedom of the press” and “woman’s reproductive rights” at everyone that came within 20 feet of me, my brain was exhausted. I think it was the combination of true ethical dilemma and sleep deprivation that brought me clarity.
My identity as a woman is infinitely more important to me than my identity as co-managing editor of a student-run newspaper. And, in this case, my identity as a woman is more helpful. At first, I had thought I was in an endless cycle of contradiction. I realized that my personal attachment to the issue isn’t a conflict; it can only help us improve.
Nolan’s story was disgusting. That’s not the publication’s opinion, it’s mine. I shouldn’t have to explain the legal, constitutional, ethical or even the personal choices that went into the opinion piece or it’s publishing. They aren’t even close to the questions we should be asking.
If you were upset, hurt and confused by Nolan’s comments, consider asking “What can I do?” Instead of trying to bolster up your “Social Justice Warrior” credentials on Twitter, make a change.
Yes, the content of the opinions section is right-wing heavy this semester. No, we do not do it intentionally. We are all committed to ethical, responsible reporting by students. Our political and religious opinions are strictly for the opinion section, and never taken into consideration in-regards to assigning stories.
The only thing you, the reader, can do, is make your voice heard.
We shouldn’t have to explain that we have no right to bar Luke Nolan from publishing in The BV, because his opinion, however under-researched and archaic, is legal.
We shouldn’t have to read Luke Nolan’s opinions on birth control pills, because he doesn’t use them.
We shouldn’t have to write op-eds explaining how furious, confused and upset we are that a man thinks he knows more about our bodies than we do. The problem isn’t that Nolan isn’t taking women seriously, the problem is that society isn’t taking women seriously.
Critiquing this does nothing. In order to truly have the respect we deserve we need to be vocal.
Writing isn’t for everyone, I know that. To change the content of our current opinion section, we do need your help. We want The Bona Venture to be as objective as possible, not just for equality but to educate our readers. People who have opinions like Nolan’s will not change at the drop of a hat because someone critiqued them on the internet. The best way to change the opinions of others is to educate the people around you.
Even if you hate writing, or even if you hate The BV, we encourage you to always voice your concerns and stand up for what you believe in. Talk to your friends, talk to people you disagree with. Most importantly, have confidence in your thoughts.
rootcm14@bonaventure.edu
