After pulling its fall issue following negative student feedback, La Voz magazine should focus on continuing further dialogue about diversity issues facing Syracuse University.

The fall issue of La Voz, a student-run magazine that focuses on Latino culture, featured pieces on “ratchet” culture, including “twerking.” Students reacted negatively on social media about the culture it discussed, saying it was racist and inappropriate. The magazine’s staff decided to pull the issue with support from the Latino Undergraduates Creating History in America, and without any pressure from faculty or university administrators. The staff will hold an open forum on Tuesday night to discuss the topics featured in the magazine.

Students responded accordingly to the edition of the magazine. Their passionate responses showed their concern for what is produced by campus publications. This incident proves that whatever is published in student media is vulnerable to public criticism.

Still, it is important to remember that the magazine is a student publication — it is bound to make mistakes.

La Voz was at fault for publishing an offensive edition, but its staff has learned a valuable lesson. The editors are holding themselves accountable for their error in judgment of the topic they chose to highlight. Now, La Voz must move forward.

With the forum on Tuesday, the publication’s staff should grasp the opportunity to discuss the controversy at hand: campus diversity.

Diversity is known as a core value of the university. Unfortunately, self-segregation still plagues the school. La Voz’s public forum provides an opportunity for discussion on ways to improve knowledge and support inclusion of the diverse backgrounds and identities at SU. This could help prevent future incidents like the one La Voz currently faces.

To move forward, it is critical that La Voz takes this chance to remedy the problem and promote positive change among the student body through open discussion — only then will the magazine prevent itself from falling victim to another lapse in judgment.

Published on December 3, 2013 at 2:34 am

Contact: opinion@dailyorange.com