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More Letters!

In Defence of Jim Lai

On Tuesday morning, October 2Ist, the embar- rassing incident concerning the offensive material in the October 16 issue of The Gem was made public over the CBC.

Regarding the letter titled “In defense of Jim Lai”:

I checked with the Gem staff to see if indeed any members were consulted in the decision to print the offensive material included in the October 16, 1986 issue of the Gem.

Several staff members indicated that they had offered to assist Mr. Lai in the as- sembling of the paper, but he had told them that everything was under control.

I myself, the production editor, was not notified that a layout session would be taking place on the 14 October; I was informed after the fact that the paper had been sent to the

The CBC story put the blame squarely on the shoulders of Mr. Lai.

This was not improper, since Mr. Lai had the ultimate re-

printer.

I had no input whatsoever, nor did any of the other staff members.

I agree that there should be collective decision-making in setting the editorial policy of individual papers within the general guidelines provided by CUP. To that end, I am endeavouring to consult the staff — before the paper goes to print — for their views on the material which has been submitted for that week’s issue, so that their input is taken into account in the decision-making process.

Sincerely Lori Anne Heckbert Editor

Editor: 3

In response to the furor surrounding the contents of the October 16th edition of The Gem, I was moved to write a letter to the then-editor en- couraging him to perserve in the face of attacks.on him and his policy.

At that time, given the facts I was aware of, I felt I was justified in doing so.

Since the, however, new facts have surfaced which substan- tially altered my opinion on this issue. When I wrote that letter, I was under the impression that the editor fixed his own policy. I now know that to be untrue and thus the entire basis of my previous letter is invalid.

Given that there already existed an editorial policy that specifically prohibited the publication of material under question, and that the editor acted in a manner contrary to the stated policy, I must now agree that the attacks levelled at him were justified.

While I remain a determined advocate of freedom of the press, I feel that the fully re- vealed facts in this specific case leaves me no choice’ but to reverse my previous position.

Mr. Lai seriously erred in this case and his resignation was a logical conclusion.

Gordon Stewart Education Senior

sponsibility for the paper’s content.

However, was. he the only member of The Gem staff to see and pass the article ‘““‘Why Beer is Better Than Some Women?” I doubt this is the case.

To my knowledge, there are approximately six women who work on the Gem staff. Did any of the rest of the staff object to the degrading article?

I am certain that there is collective editorial input when

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like it when it rains ... because no-one can tell that I’m crying.

a weekly newspaper is published. There is also a collective responsibility.

If there were no objections, or, if Mr. Lai was pressured to print the article by other staff members, then Jim is being made the scapegoat for other people’s demented attitudes.

Jim Lai did the mature and proper thing when he resigned over the issue. The “buck” stops at the editor’s desk when it comes to content.

However, unless the better judgement of other staff members was overruled by Mr. Lai, then more apologies to the student body are in order.

Without a published apology, signed by these staff members who saw and did not object to the article, then I fee! the students will not be able to regain confidence in the staff of this year’s Gem.

Signed Ian Hogg

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STOP THE Tea oe

REMEMBER THE WORLD'S FORGOTTEN CHILDREN .. .

AND GIVE TO UNICEF THIS HALLOWE’EN

@) UNICEF

HOME, SWEET HOME!

DEBBIE HABA 4 GOOD PLAN!

THEORETICALLY, DR. SNEER CAN'T GET US BOTH AT ONCE!

WHEN HE DOES, I'LL FIND OUT WHERE HES

HIDING! THEN T'LL TAKE HIM OUT OF

BUT I WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT FOR A WHILE YET! SS a

PNOT EVEN

DR SNEER

MOVES THAT