During my first 18 years growing up, I heard a lot about newspaper writing from my parents. Just as I have argued on the pages of this newspaper, my father fought his political battles in college on the editorial pages of William & Mary's Flat Hat. He fought communism and segregation in his columns -- topics that make issues like student self-governance and fraternity rush seem insignificant.
Several years later he met my mother while they were both writing for a newspaper on Capitol Hill. My mother, whose father and grandfather were writers, had been bitten by the literary bug as well. At the dinner table growing up my brother, sister and I frequently would hear excerpts from the latest column, and we always were accompanied on our vacations by a typewriter, which my father would set up while we were on the beach, or out sightseeing.
Perhaps I too have this bug. Maybe there is a certain degree of inevitability to the path I have taken thus far. Yet more than just family background has driven me to write for this paper over the last four years. I searched out this newspaper in the first week I arrived at the University, and I have written once a week since that time. I have sought to use this space to advance ideas that I thought would better the University, although frequently readers have not agreed with my vision.
As I hang up my pen, at least for this newspaper, I have many great memories. Some revolve around my positive columns, such as those reflecting on the amazing opportunities we are afforded at the University. This is something that we as students should never forget. It is something we should take advantage of in the brief four years we have in academia, before we head out to the job market, which increasingly is the very specific world of technology and business. Being able to walk down the Lawn with great literature and great ideas dominating our thoughts is an experience we may never have again.
However, more often my memories revolve around my critiques of the University. I am not sure my writing has led to much change, but hopefully it at least has raised awareness about some issues. Despite my columns, the University continues to support racial separation through institutions that focus on only one race, such as the Office of African American Affairs. Dean M. Rick Turner's rhetoric has not become more reasonable, but rather more ridiculous. The Athletic Department, while recruiting sports stars, continues to forget that this is first an academic institution and only secondarily an athletic one. And the Office of Admissions still focuses inordinately on race rather than on SAT scores or grades. These issues remain salient and hopefully others will continue to fight these battles.
One of my favorite column topics was that of the Confederate Flag -- an issue as complicated as the South. As the NAACP has employed a policy of cultural and historical revisionism to recast the true meaning of the flag, it's unfortunate that many people have failed to spend the time necessary to understand truly the different things this symbol has come to mean. This lack of understanding can lead to the simplicity of name-calling. And instead of intelligent debate, the uninformed attempt to silence the opposition with epithets like "racist" or "traitor."
These have been some of my issues, and I hope other voices will appear on these editorial pages to echo my concerns.
We are all fortunate to attend the University, but there is much that needs to be done to ensure that the University maintains its current standard. It is up to us to make sure this happens. As society and the University changes, we must also be careful that we do not allow infringements upon our traditions and the autonomy that Jefferson envisioned for us.
I was born into a family full of writers. And I was raised in a household where two old Underwood typewriters were always clicking. It seems that writing is in my blood, and my experience at this paper has accentuated this interest. So while this may be my last byline in this paper, for better or worse, there is more to come.
(Peter Brownfeld's column appeared Mondays in The Cavalier Daily.)
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