Longtime readers of this magazine and people who have been at ASU for more than two years might remember that way back in 2004, when we got into a little trouble for an image and its accompanying story, that we printed. I don't want to go into details; they're all in the archives online if you really want them. I simply want to use this example to make a point: a good editor doesn't back down when she's in the right.
This might be one of the only things myself and Len Munsil, the subject of this week's cover story (Political Passion, page 8), would agree upon.
Munsil is as conservative as I am liberal. Maybe I'm not supposed to openly admit my political leanings in print, but hey, you guys aren't stupid and my beliefs are probably pretty obvious to anyone who's ever picked up this publication. Yet, Munsil and I share a few commonalities -- we're both children of the desert, born and raised in Arizona, and we've both spent time in the dingy basement offices of the State Press.
We both know the frustration and the fun of putting together a publication. And we both know what it's like to have to fight the powers that be to keep your job and do what you know is right.
When Munsil was editor of The State Press in the '80s, he was almost removed from his position because a professor found his ultra-conservative, Reagan-era political values offensive. I found this rather surprising because I doubt it's something that would ever be an issue today (and that's not because we're all "raging liberals" down here these days). Today, our editorial board is chosen based on talent and experience, and I cannot recall a single instance where any of us have felt our jobs were in jeopardy because we hold unpopular opinions.
So I really have to respect Munsil for standing his ground. It's nice to know that people on all sides of the political debate face adversity, and overcome it, at some point during their careers.
Megan Irwin is the editor-in-chief of SPM. Reach the reporter at megan.irwin@asu.edu.
