Prior
to joining the Herald, I worked on public policy issues from within political
campaigns. I deferred college for a semester to work on an ill-fated
gubernatorial campaign in Minnesota (yes, we lost to Jesse Ventura).

After
a semester of school, I began reporting for the Herald to study the political
process from the other side of the microphone, first as a reporter and later as
an editor.

Since
joining the Herald, I’ve grown to respect journalists’ role in democracy. I
believe the media must hold decision-makers accountable. As an editor, I aim to
give people a platform to propose and respond to new ideas. Only through free
and unfettered debate can society advance better public policy. As a journalist,
I hope to foster that debate.

As
editor in chief, I am responsible for maintaining and improving the day-to-day
quality of the Herald, as well as for setting the paper’s long-term editorial
direction. I am the paper’s chief spokesman, advocate, defender, and when
appropriate, apologist.

I
am continually dumbfounded with people’s lack of understanding of the press’
rights and responsibilities. While some of the challenges to free speech draw
national interest — such as the Horowitz-inspired protests last spring — I
feel even more threatened by the day-to-day lack of respect for academic and
journalistic freedom on this campus.

To
that extent, I am a tireless defender of civil liberties and a constant champion
of the First Amendment.