CSL member stands for change, attacks editor

By Emily Tuttle

There has been talk lately of change for Winthrop’s student government, Council of Student Leaders (CSL), and as a representative, I am strongly in agreeance with these ideas for change.

The student group, Winthrop Student Congress, (WSC) is working toward a democratic student government where we, the students, can have the voice our country has given us and our university has denied us.

WSC hopes to rewrite the constitution so that the CSL chair and vice chair will be elected by the student body. The new government will also have an elected congress verses CSL’s annual members that are voted onto the council by the representatives.

WSC has been gaining support from Winthrop students, but I must disagree with opinion editor Eddie Scarry’s assertion that they are trying to “trash” CSL.

CSL and WSC have been in contact for a while now and there has been much cooperation between the CSL Chair, Sydney Evans, and the founder of WSC, Devang Joshi. Although there were some flared emotions and inappropriate comments made in the beginning, CSL and WSC are working on forming a committee with three representatives from each organization to start mapping out constitutional changes.

Evans also reported at last week’s CSL meeting that she has met with the Board of Trustees, who support any constitutional changes the student body has in mind.

This movement will give students the opportunity to speak more freely than ever before. I welcome that whole-heartedly and look forward to seeing the ideas of WSC and CSL. CSL has been hoping for student interaction since the beginning of the year and I truly appreciate such a dedicated group of students coming forth.

As much as I welcome free speech and opinion, I am not a fan of those who have an opinion that do not have the facts to back those opinions up.

Eddie Scarry, editor of the Opinion section of the Johnsonian, always has so much to say on the downsides of this campus, yet I do ask that he stop hiding behind his laptop and get out on campus and do some research.

Never have I seen Scarry at a CSL meeting, made note of an interview he has conducted, or truly found anyone in full agreeance of what he has to say. Since I have been here, Scarry’s articles have consisted of him whining over things that he has not researched. Yet he chooses to comment about how dissatisfied he is with the world or Winthrop.

I assume he just likes seeing his name in the paper. My recommendation: Midol.

Scarry has consistently complained throughout the entirety of this school year about student government, his classes, his professors, and anything else that could possibly pop into his head.

If he is honestly that unhappy with his education and  situation at Winthrop, he should do us all a favor and pack his bags and move on. At least spare us the pain of reading his column every week.

If he does plan on continuing his career at The Johnsonian, I recommend he get the facts straight. It is understood that he is not a news reporter and he is entitled to his opinion, but he should not mock certain organizations or individuals that he has not researched or met with.

I hope after he reads this, he will take heed it is not nice to name call and that if he would like some respect, consider giving it.

I read the Johnsonian every week and with the exception of Scarry, I enjoy the articles and appreciate the talent of the journalists on campus.

I want to thank the rest of The Johnsonian staff for all of its hard work.