This has gone on too long. I have been disappointed with articles and columns in the Justice in the past but usually chalk up my disappointment to difference of opinion. However, when a writer breaks what I consider to be the three of the most important rules of journalism, I cannot remain silent. In the review of the False Advertisement show in the November 5th edition of the Justice, the reviewer broke one rule after another. First of all, she clearly did not research the group she was reviewing or would have known that False Ad always has fake advertisements and love to laugh at the people who actually believe them. That she would both believe it and print her disappointment that it wasn't true shows that she broke the rule of knowing what you're talking about. Next, she broke a general rule of writing that I blame both her and her editor for not correcting. Referring to a Late Night Players joke as "masochistic" she showed that in fact, she has no idea what the word means. Please, do not use words you don't understand just to sound smarter. Finally, she broke the biggest rule of them all which is exaggerating or completely falsifying the facts. Her review mentioned that the hip hop group "only managed to get about 10 people out of their seats." This is an out and out falsehood. By the end of their set, the hip hop group had nearly three times that number dancing. If she didn't like them she can say so, but exaggeration weakens an argument.
I wish this was the first review in the Justice where the actual text of the argument and not the opinions upset me, but it isn't. Last year, a review of "Boris' Goes to War" by Dave Weil used similar tactics to attack a show. While this review didn't sink to the levels of Weil's review because it avoided actually insulting the actors, it nevertheless demonstrated a disturbing trend in the Justice. I don't think it's unreasonable to demand some level of excellence in the newspaper of one of the top ranked schools in America. Demand that your writers do even the minimum research, that they convey the facts truthfully, and that they write at a level fitting of college students.