It is your turn to harass us. I’m sure The Red & Black has pissed you off or made you smile, and I want you to tell me about it tonight.

For instance, in the second issue of The Red & Black this school year, seven mug shots were spread across the front page. The article beneath was on back-to-school partiers, including seven freshmen, who were arrested and charged with alcohol-related violations before the first day of classes.

Top editors thought the article and its accompanying photos were newsworthy because this school year marks the first year the University administration required freshmen to complete an online alcohol awareness program prior to the first day of school.

The article illustrated the ineffectiveness of that policy, as University Police Lt. Lisa Boone told The Red & Black the 25 arrests measured up to previous years.

And so the buzz around campus began, saying the campus’ daily newspaper had turned into a tabloid and the likes of birdcage liners.

We’ve written about our Greek friends’ arrests at parties, the ineffectiveness of student government, the pharmacy scandal and the mother of them all: the sexual harassment series.

You may picture Red & Black reporters rummaging through trash cans around the campus and prowling downtown like TMZ reporters to find story ideas.

That’s not the case. As your collegiate watchdogs, most of our articles began as ideas from people like you, through letters to the editor that suggest stories and posts on our Web site that raise concerns. We cover the good, the bad and the ugly of the University because we feel its employees, students, alumni and parents have a right and a need to of know the affairs in their community.

I would like to share this and my other logics with you tonight during Meet the Press. This open forum is an opportunity for readers to meet, question, criticize and challenge our coverage of the University community. Take a tour of our newsroom and see how your event or concern becomes an article. Learn how to get involved with the campus’ daily newspaper.

At the very least, have dinner on us.

This newspaper and all of its staff pride themselves on journalistic integrity. This is evident as our staff is decorated with numerous journalistic awards, such as 16 Society of Professional Journalists awards from this year alone.

We are not afraid of controversial campus events and topics. We will continue to cover them and share our opinions on hard-hitting issues on page four of every edition of this newspaper.

We hope you aren’t afraid to visit us tonight.

- Juanita Cousins is editor in chief of
The Red & Black.