Spartan Daily - Serving San Jose State University since 1934

Issue date: 5/8/08 Section: Opinion

Your article regarding the visit of presidential candidate Elizabeth Grobsmith was extremely poor journalism. The article was labeled as a "commentary," and the headline certainly suggested that an editorial was forthcoming. However, the article that accompanied it contained no editorial commentary, nor did it contain any evidence whatsoever that Grobsmith "lacked a focus on students." To the contrary, the article discussed her desire to improve undergraduate advising and to do other things to improve the lives of students. So I am wondering how you reached the conclusion that she lacked a focus on students. It seems like you merely invented it out of thin air.

Furthermore, the articled noted that not a single undergraduate student bothered to attend the open forum for this candidate. Rather than criticize

Grobsmith for her lack of focus on students, you should have criticized the students for their "lack of focus" on the selection of our new president.

In the future, your editorials should be confined to the editorial page. More importantly, your conclusions should have some basis in reality, rather than merely being invented by the editorial staff.

James Brent
professor and chair, department of political science

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