When faculty members arrived on campus Monday morning they might have thought they were transported back to 1997.
“The news of our death has been greatly exaggerated,” jested Chris Sidebottom ’11, the newly elected Editor-in- Chief of The Wabash Commentary.
After bringing to campus 20/20 reporter and libertarian John Stossel on April 14, Mr. Sidebottom, along with Commentary staffers Ricky Ritter ’11, Jacob Stump ’11, Patrick Griffith ’10, and Josh Harris ’08, distributed Sunday night the group’s first magazine since their demise in 2007.
The current magazine is full of articles, including a scathing history of The Commentary from the opinion of Mr. Harris, a dedication to conservative giant William Buckley, an interview with Dr. David P. Kubiak, and even a parody juxtaposing Professor Baretto’s departure with that of Cuban President Fidel Castro.
Needless to say, this small staff intends to make a large impact on campus conversation.
“Jacob, Ricky and I were told by Pat and Josh that The Commentary was a group that supported right leaning conversation and a traditional Wabash,” Sidebottom said. “That’s what I was sold on when I came to the College. I saw there were issues that needed to be discussed and were being discussed and, being the presumptuous freshman I was, said ‘Well, I might as well get in on this conversation.’”
Sidebottom said he wasn’t completely aware of the controversy surrounding the 2007 departure of then-Editor Brandon Stewart ’08 and his successor Royce V. Gregerson’09.
“I knew that they weren’t as prominent as they once had been,” Sidebottom said. “I didn’t know all of the drama that preceded their flight from campus. By the time I heard the story – and keep in mind I haven’t heard all sides of the story yet – I was already sold on promoting campus discussion toward a better Wabash.”
On Tuesday night the Student Senate voted to recognize The Wabash Commentary as a student organization. One of the concerns of the Senate last year was the control that the Foundation for a Traditional Wabash, a not-for-profit organization comprised of both Wabash alumni and certain current students, had over the choice of The Commentary’s Editor-in-Chief. Sidebottom presented the Senate with a statement of non-interference, which outlines that only its student members choose the leadership of the organization. The Commentary’s request for recognition was agreed upon without any objections.
“We accept advice,” Sidebottom said. “The Foundation is full of prior editors who are of similar mindset, but we do have unique standpoints as writers and thinkers and members of the Wabash conversation. We accept advice and [former Commentary editor] Morgan [Knull] knows what he’s doing. He’s provided some really interesting insight into what I should be doing as editor because I haven’t had any experience in this role before.”
“It’s been nice to have somebody who’s played the game before and knows the ins and outs and the tricks,” Sidebottom said. “It’s also been comforting to know that we as a staff have our own autonomous play on things. In fact, there have been several instances where I have gone to Morgan and Josh for advice and they said, ‘It’s your ship – run it.’ Our relationship is amiable, but it’s not particularly overbearing or authoritative.”
He noted the group’s choice of him as Commentary Editor- In-Chief was almost by default, as others took themselves out of contention almost immediately.
“I like to say I’m suave and debonair,” he said, “but that’s not the case. Jacob thought it would be a conflict of interest for him because he’s on the Bachelor staff and stepped aside. Josh wasn’t going to be in the running, Patrick was going overseas next semester, and Ricky said he’d rather be a workhorse. It just seemed to work best for all of us.” Sidebottom noted that the rebirth of the Commentary will be characterized by strong discussion, but without the ad hominem attacks that characterized some of the Commentaries of old.
“Making ad hominem attacks is and will be neither our prerogative nor purpose,” Sidebottom said. “That’s not to say we won’t step up and tackle some weighty issues whenever they arise. Our pursuit of advocating and supporting an intellectual Wabash isn’t one that has anything to do with personal attacks on anyone. We will not resort to name-calling or belittling people, but if we feel somebody is advocating a poor position, we won’t be afraid to attack that position. And I am certain that we will be subject to that same treatment.”
“It’s a dialectic.”