Seeing copies of the Orient scattered across the tables in Thorne on Friday mornings still gives me chills. There is something very intimidating and empowering about seeing my words physically in print; students can fold them, open them, close them...and, even more frightening, read them. Publishing is rewarding but certainly not easy. I have met so many good writers at Bowdoin, pontificators and introverts alike. Both have the responsibility to contribute to the newspaper but often do not act.
The pontificators accuse the Orient of being "official discourse." The weight of tradition and the breadth of off-campus readership are undeniable sources of pressure. But these constraints are not sufficient reasons to refrain from contribution. Translating an emotional tirade into organized prose that can be digested by a universal audience is a useful academic exercise. Yes, you might lose a bit of that "personal flare" when you can't rely on profanity to express your anger, but you might discover some juicy new words in the process.
And who says you have to take the personality out of your articles, anyway? Has your letter been rejected for publication? (Have you even written it?) If you feel the Orient needs to be pushed, then push it. Take ownership and commit your beliefs to the public space. There are so many strong voices on this campus that can make us question ourselves. I hear them alright, but I don't always read them.
Others are too shy to publish. It took me three and a half years to find the courage. Joan Didion accurately describes writing as the "aggressive, even hostile act" of "imposing oneself upon other people." The first of the "four great motives for writing," according to George Orwell, is "sheer egoism." For many, lack of confidence is an obstacle.
Personally, I crafted a stereotype that columnists necessarily needed to be pretentious and political. Not true. Orwell is an enemy of "pretentious diction;" such writing consists of "gumming together long strips of words which have already been set in order by someone else...making the results presentable by sheer humbug." This writing is "easy."
Clear meaning is harder to come by. Composing a sincere, observant, concise letter to the editor is far more of an accomplishment than submitting a congested piece with ostentatious vocabulary. Additionally, articles need not be political in order to be insightful and provocative. As a student on campus, you observe and analyze your surroundings every minute of every day. You are thus qualified and obligated to engage the Bowdoin community in self-awareness and self-reflection.
I am asking you to write not only because literary culture at Bowdoin needs to be invigorated, but also because the process will serve you, as a writer. Writing holds you accountable for your own opinions. Do you think you believe in a cause? Write about it, publish it, defend it, and then I will be impressed.
Writing also forces you to justify personal opinions that appear evident; this exercise is especially important on a campus where liberal views often escape criticism. Agonizing over words in order to accurately articulate my beliefs has been an interesting form of self-exploration and has made me a more confident speaker.
Furthermore, contributing to a conversation whose reach surpasses that of dorm room banter is enterprising. I always knew that newspapers were a powerful form of communication but I never appreciated their influence until alums, strangers, and friends began responding to my ideas.
Though Didion would claim that this column is my act of saying "listen to me, see it my way, change your mind," writing has actually made me more in tune with campus issues and student opinion than ever before. I routinely turn to the person at a neighboring computer (be they friend, fellow writing assistant, or stranger) and toss them a couple of ideas. Often, surprising debates ensue, leaving me with both a new perspective and a new acquaintance.
Cultivating good conversation is one of the most important functions of a publication. The act of writing this column has encouraged me to pursue discussion with students, experts and other sources while synthesizing my own opinions. In an effort to impose my voice, I became attuned to hundreds more, which is why I consider this space a gift to me from the College.
It is time you started your own conversations. Kudos to all those who have made an appearance in any of Bowdoin's publications this year. If you haven't yet, sit down with Orwell's "Politics and the English Language" and write. You owe it to the campus and to yourself.