We hear you, loud and clear
WC Editorial Board
Issue date: 10/21/09 Section: Opinion
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You may remember recent incidents when fences were defaced, music was too loud and people were disrespectful to each other. Both sides of the coyly named "town-gown" problem feel they are justified in their actions. Both sides feel they have been wronged in some way, or that they have taken the correct course of action to this point.
At the WC, we feel that this is an issue, but we have decided not to take a side on it.
We have received letters and phone calls, you have made your comments on our Web site and voted on our online poll, which has shown that 78 percent of you think there is a divide between students and residents. You have all but screamed your opinions to us.
This issue is to say yes, we hear you. We want your voices to ring through these pages. Part of being a fair newspaper is acknowledging the fact that our readers want to interact with us. Another part is reporting both sides of a story for the whole truth.
As a result, Issue 25 of the Western Courier is devoted to the town-gown divide Macomb has experienced for decades. We have listened, and we will continue to listen.
We take no stance. We are not pro-resident or pro-student; we are pro-everybody. It isn't our job to point fingers and run away; when a problem rears its ugly head at us as this one has, we take the opportunity to find a solution. This editorial is a little different - we want your responses. We want your answers.
It's easy to highlight what is wrong and to call out problems, but it takes some more thought and effort to develop workable solutions. With an issue as charged as this one, we want to know what you think.
We call on all residents of Macomb - students, professors, homemakers and other workers - to discuss your concerns. The numbers have shown that there is a problem - we encourage all sides to begin to resolve those issues through open communication.
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