2008 Woodie Awards
EMERSON OF ROCK HILL AD
Letter to the Editor
Issue date: 2/13/08 Section: Opinion
On August 15, 2007 Dr. DiGiorgio addressed the students and faculty. He mentioned that the school was honored by The Association of American Colleges and Universities in part due to the schools commitment to:
1. Achieving excellence by doing one's best in all aspects of college and life
2. Cultivating personal and academic integrity
3. Taking seriously the perspective of others and,
4. Developing competence in ethical and moral reasoning.
I assume that when The Johnsonian takes money from advertisers that the school is hoping that the readers will support those advertisers. After all if the students and faculty support the advertisers they will continue to advertise in your paper.
I fail to see how a student's support of Emerson of Rock Hill is in conformance with Dr. DiGiorgio's wish list as set out above. Promoting women as, "all nude, all the time" and as being, "bare as you dare" degrades women. The school and this paper must share the blame because you both take their money and promote their product to cash-starved students with promotions that read, "half off cover with this ad."
I am 64 years old. I have practiced law in Chicago. I have represented some nasty people. In short I have been around and am no prude. This is not a free speech issue. It is just bad taste and beneath the dignity of Winthrop University.
Michael Fortune
-
Dear Mr. Fortune,
The Johnsonian is not forcing any Winthrop student to visit Emerson of Rock Hill. When I made the decision to allow to ad to run, I knew that we could possibly face some disgruntled members of the Winthrop community.
However, I felt that Emerson is just as much a part of Rock Hill as law firms, apartment complexes and pizza joints, all of which also advertise with us.
As far as the ad being derogatory to women, I disagree. The picture featured in the ad was tasteful, only showing a females face. Plus, the majority of the Johnsonian staff is female, and none of us found it to be offensive. Women of the Winthrop community are old enough to make their own decisions and know right from wrong, whether it pleases anyone else or not.
From what I hear, the advertisement has been a success. Apparently, some Winthrop students have been enjoying the benefits of the half off coupon.
Keri Todd, Editor in Chief
1. Achieving excellence by doing one's best in all aspects of college and life
2. Cultivating personal and academic integrity
3. Taking seriously the perspective of others and,
4. Developing competence in ethical and moral reasoning.
I assume that when The Johnsonian takes money from advertisers that the school is hoping that the readers will support those advertisers. After all if the students and faculty support the advertisers they will continue to advertise in your paper.
I fail to see how a student's support of Emerson of Rock Hill is in conformance with Dr. DiGiorgio's wish list as set out above. Promoting women as, "all nude, all the time" and as being, "bare as you dare" degrades women. The school and this paper must share the blame because you both take their money and promote their product to cash-starved students with promotions that read, "half off cover with this ad."
I am 64 years old. I have practiced law in Chicago. I have represented some nasty people. In short I have been around and am no prude. This is not a free speech issue. It is just bad taste and beneath the dignity of Winthrop University.
Michael Fortune
-
Dear Mr. Fortune,
The Johnsonian is not forcing any Winthrop student to visit Emerson of Rock Hill. When I made the decision to allow to ad to run, I knew that we could possibly face some disgruntled members of the Winthrop community.
However, I felt that Emerson is just as much a part of Rock Hill as law firms, apartment complexes and pizza joints, all of which also advertise with us.
As far as the ad being derogatory to women, I disagree. The picture featured in the ad was tasteful, only showing a females face. Plus, the majority of the Johnsonian staff is female, and none of us found it to be offensive. Women of the Winthrop community are old enough to make their own decisions and know right from wrong, whether it pleases anyone else or not.
From what I hear, the advertisement has been a success. Apparently, some Winthrop students have been enjoying the benefits of the half off coupon.
Keri Todd, Editor in Chief
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 6
Jon
posted 2/14/08 @ 4:13 PM EST
I will admit up front, I didn't see the ad, and I didn't even see the issue of the paper in which it appeared. So I hope this will come across with humility. (Continued…)
Chantelle Nutz
posted 2/14/08 @ 4:38 PM EST
Dear Johnsonian,
Though I respect the right or the Johnsonian to run any ads you choose, and the right of the people to enjoy whatever form of entertainment they see fit, I hesitate to support their position on this one. (Continued…)
Patrick Turney
posted 3/02/08 @ 11:34 PM EST
Dear Editor in Chief, Keri Todd. Here's the headline in every national news source, "Underaged Winthrop University Students Gets Arrested at local Gentleman's Club. (Continued…)
Oh dear God! The paper advocates boobies!
posted 3/05/08 @ 11:26 AM EST
You people do realize that this is like saying if The Johnsonian ran a mortuary Ad, that the newspaper would be advocating death?
Several of you speak of values and the effect it has on Winthrop and i tell you that you misunderstand the purpose of the newspaper. (Continued…)
Why one sided
posted 4/03/08 @ 2:48 PM EST
I think that the problem is that some people just refuse to believe that anyone who would be at the same university as them would never go into that type of establishment. (Continued…)
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