Editorial : 40 years of independence has taught DO staff number of hard, valuable lessons

Lessons. Hundreds, thousands, countless lessons — some small and technical, others with grave consequences — string together the history of The Daily Orange’s 40 years of independence, which we celebrate this weekend.

The D.O. provides its editors, writers, designers and photographers with more than exposure to reporting and writing. As the sole independent publication on this campus, The D.O. has the role of instilling the passion and determination to uncover pertinent stories. We create a space where students can discover their love — or hate — for practicing one of democracy’s most important and protected professions.

An independent D.O. teaches journalism for the sake of seeking out and telling the truth, not for the sake of a grade in a class or the amusement of peers. The weight of sustaining a 108-year tradition and nonprofit corporation inspires and drives the journalism at this paper.

Each day for the past 40 years, two-dozen editors have set the agenda for thousands of readers without the oversight of advisers or the fear of censorship. It’s a privilege we often take for granted, and it means we have the ability to write something as simple as a critical story when warranted about the basketball team or the Connective Corridor.

The history of our independence has not been without challenge. As recently as 2003, university officials wished to re-evaluate SU’s relationship with the paper, possibly ending our distribution on campus and taking away the house we rent. And today’s administration has shown its willing to shut down student speech.

But censorship — or the threat of it — stifles journalistic integrity. Censorship makes mistakes impossible and learning abbreviated, at best. Through 40 years of independence, The D.O. has certainly made its share of mistakes, such as distasteful comics or hasty reporting. But independence gave us the power to respond to them as we saw fit and pass the lessons from our mistakes down to our legacies.

Ultimately, The D.O. provides the campus with a forum through which all members can practice responsible free speech without fear of punishment and with unabated encouragement to seek and tell the truth.