Argonaut Online Opinion

TUES, 11 MAR 2003

All opinions are equal

In the United States, we have always been told everyone’s opinion counts, and everyone has the right to express their opinions. At the Argonaut, we try to reflect this by letting our staff write reviews and commentary on topics they may be inexperienced in.

In the case of a negative review of Russell Malone and Benny Green’s “Jazz at the Bistro,” we caught a lot of flack. Jazz artists and fans ridiculed the Argonaut for allowing Annie Gannon to review a jazz album in spite of her statements she doesn’t know a lot about jazz.

The complaints ranged from saying Gannon has not learned enough about music to appreciate the album, to Malone’s off-color comments we need not print again.

We believe anyone is qualified to review music, theater, art and literature. Granted, not all reviewers are created equal; critics more experienced with their subject matter are often more highly respected. Yet every moviegoer disappointed in a well-reviewed film knows there is a better place for Ebert and Roper’s two thumbs.

There is likely correlation between education and the appreciation of the higher arts. But this doesn’t mean uneducated or highly educated—individuals must be stupid for not liking opera, classical music and stuffy 19th-century British novels.

Malone and others who wrote to the Argonaut suggested just that and more. Not only were we stupid, but our stupidity is going to hurt the feelings of visiting performers and hurt the reputation of the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival.

Yet most of these performers are professionals, and should be able to withstand bad reviews. Argonaut staff members are better at taking criticism than these jazz artists, and we’re even putting material we wrote ourselves on the line. We allow our staff members to voice their own opinions and we stand behind our right to print them. UI students have a wide spectrum of views, and as The Student’s Voice, we want to reflect that.

For a town the size of Moscow, we are blessed with such a variety of events, and encourage all students and community members to get involved. Go to, or participate in, plays, concerts, films, art galleries and museums.

A negative review doesn’t mean what people are doing isn’t worthwhile. It just means one person disliked it, and hey, at the very least, the event is in the paper. The response we get to negative reviews shows readers care about what we think, and more importantly care about their own work.

The scene is strong in Moscow. Be open to criticism, and use it to make future events better. Don’t let bad reviews get under your skin; we try not to.

If the Argonaut had bad coverage of your event—or we didn’t cover your event at all—write us a letter. We’ll print it and use it to try and make future editions better.

M.M.

Opinion Editor: Jennifer Hathaway Webmistress: Amanda J Hundt
UI Argonaut, 301 Student Union, Moscow, Idaho 83843 208.885.7845

QUESTION:
Would you trust an American TV audience to choose your future spouse?

“No way! I'm pretty sure I would like to be the judge of who I marry. It's crazy to think that people would actually let an American TV audience choose the person they will spend the rest of their lives with and expect it to work out.”

Jessi Bacon
visual communications
sophomore
Enterprise, OR

“Yes, because I know how superficial America is. At least she'd be a hottie.”

Blake Bowyer
marketing
sophomore
Boise