After the recent publication in The Guilfordian of a sexually provocative article, Samantha Kittle’s “Sam Takes a Stand on Size,” the paper received some harsh criticism. Some believe that such articles have no place in our publication, but we disagree. Some of the concerned parties are worried that prospective parents will be upset by something so sexually explicit. They think prospective students will be offended and decide to not come to Guilford.

However, if someone is offended by the mention of genitals or sexual positions in our newspaper, maybe Guilford isn’t the place for him or her.

At Guilford, students streak at exam time. They attend dances like the Coming Out Ball almost naked. They take part in FYE activities like a sex talk that includes a race to put a condom on a dildo. If people are offended by reading about such things, imagine how they will feel once they get here.

The most important issue involved in this situation, though, is that we, as the editors of The Guilfordian, are not here to serve as moral censors of the community. Our forum section is a place for all people from our community to express their views. Obviously, since a member of our community wrote the piece, it is an issue that someone is thinking about.

The reality is that this is college, and that college students have sex. We produce The Guilfordian for college students, and as a progressive school, students should be able to write about sensitive subjects.

This does not mean that we will print anything submitted to us. We believe this article was decently written, and we edited it for grammar, spelling, and style. The author presented both sides of the issue, analyzed them, and provided her personal input.

We would not print a forum piece in which the author did not support his or her opinion, nor would we print anything libelous or discriminatory. This article, though, is not guilty of anything except being controversial; and here at Guilford, we love debate.

We understand that members of our community may have found the article distasteful, and that they may have disagreed with some of the things Samantha wrote. However, we ask that these people respond in a manner that reflects our Quaker heritage.

Explain your views. Write a forum piece. If you present your argument in an intelligent manner, we will be happy to print it. Don’t, though, deny the right of others to express, in public, things that are on their minds.

Remember the words of Voltaire: “I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend, to the death, your right to say it.”