Letter: Weldon won’t be a party

Re: ”Weldon goes 24 hours,” (Nov. 24, 2010)

To the Editor:

I must confess that I have been very skeptical that the Gazette continues to cite “partying at Weldon” as a major issue pertaining to Weldon’s later opening hours during the exam period.

The article mentions that there was “evidence that parties took place during later hours.” The article also mentions “wine bottles” throughout.

Personally, I was under the impression that only one wine bottle had ever been found, and in the article only one wine bottle is actually mentioned — although “partying at the library” is still a problem.

I find the implication that Weldon’s later hours result in more parties to be dubious at best. Libraries are not — and have never been — synonymous with “wild parties,” and the implication that inebriated party-goers flock to Weldon during the tense exam period only to be mercilessly “shushed” by their more studiously-minded peers is an argument that, to me, doesn’t hold much water (never mind liquor).

Personally, I think that the Gazette usually does an admirable job of reporting and is an invaluable publication on campus, but that the Gazette is occasionally guilty of sensationalizing its news. As the primary resource for the bulk of students on campus interested in the goings-on at their university, the Gazette must always remember it has an important obligation to report responsibly.

—Paul Craig
MIT II