Soapbox: Integrity includes admitting flaws
I used to want to run for office. Maybe someday I still will, but if I do, I hope to develop a solid code of ethics first.
One of the most important things for both journalists and politicians to do is be honest and represent the people and opinions expressed in their area. They have a very similar goal in mind, but the reason both professions get a bad reputation is because they often forget who they are supposed to represent — real people whose lives aren’t perfect. And pretending that your life, board or council is perfectly harmonious does not increase your integrity; it’s minimizes credibility.
When I was little, my parents didn’t make the best team. They are amazing individuals, but when friends would say things like, “The Nobles have no problems,” I knew on the inside they were wrong. As a child, I wouldn’t correct people. I felt like I had to pretend to be perfect so I was a good example. A couple of years ago, my parents got divorced, and though it was embarrassing to have people approach us and say, “I had no idea,” I’ve never felt more honest. I know as an adult I don’t have to pretend to be something I’m not.
Our paper is not perfect. We have discussions in editorial board meetings where different and sometimes conflicting views are expressed. We follow policies and support decisions made by the board, even if they aren’t what we would have chosen individually. When I hired my board, I was encouraged to recruit those who have ideas different than my own who would call me out if I did something that wasn’t in the best interest of students. Of course I have an ego — I’m a journalist. But I never want my ego to get in the way of the paper’s success. Sometimes that means holding back and other times, it means ruffling feathers.
Likewise, student officers are appointed by the students to represent them. The constitution of USUSA states that officers are, “elected and appointed to conduct all operations for the purpose of improving the quality of student life at Utah State University.” Later it says officers represent the student association to administration, faculty and staff. However, it mentions the word “student” 50 times.
Neither of our organizations would exist without administration. They’ve fought for and defended us in the past. But both the student government and the student media have a responsibility to answer to students, even if decisions we make or issues we cover are unpopular with those who manage us. Sometimes those in power seek the approval (or disapproval) of those who advise them more than those who are affected by their decisions.
When student leaders back down on initiatives or when student journalists don’t publish an important story, it should raise a red flag. There are always reasons for whatever decisions are made, but students need to hold us accountable for those things and find out why. Voice your opinions on what is covered in the newspaper. Approach people with offices on the third floor from USUSA about why they made a decision. Tell us what’s really going on, and let us know if we’re getting it right or not. I also invite those in office to be open with each other and willing to give someone else’s idea a shot.
We all have good intentions. Overall, we’re good people. But that doesn’t mean we’re always right.
— Mariah Noble is the editor-in-chief of The Utah Statesman. She is studying journalism, Spanish and multimedia and plans to graduate in May. Please contact her at statesman@usu.edu.
Mariah, I appreciate this article and your desire to do things right. I hope this will help.
In your article titled “Life shouldn’t go according to your plans” I believe you may have done something you didn’t intend to do. You championed the need to be understanding and that was great. But what you also did is establish yourself as LDS and then proceed to imply if not directly state that LGBT cannot live healthy lives in a mixed-orientation relationship… which is exactly what the leadership of the church would suggest be done.
I greatly espect your opinion and right to one, and am glad that you’re so bold as to put it out there, but I see one glaring problem with doing so the way you did. You (perhaps unintentionally, but really) established yourself as an unofficial voice of the LDS church and then proceeded to misrepresent it. There exist few greater injustices that could be done to a value-based organization like a church, particularly one that goes to such great lengths to ensure that it’s doctrine remain consistent.
Furthermore, you yourself could be disciplined in the church for it. Not for disagreement. But for doing so publicly, and, more or less, in the name of the church. I myself am not a church leader, I just hoped to help you out with this. If it appears that I’ve way overstated it, and if what I’ve previously mentioned was simply an accident on your part than it probably will appear so to you, my apologies. I’d say to just keep it in mind then.