Freshman perspective: No, no, Glen Coco
[Columns, letters or cartoons published are the work of the attributed author and do not necessarily represent the official views or opinions of “The Highland Echo.”]
Dear Readers,
I would like to apologize to all the people whom I may have offended with my
past two columns. I assure you that it was never my intention to do so. I recognize
that many people tie a special significance to their tattoos and piercings, and I never
intended to downgrade that importance of that. It was my intention to make an
observation in a lighthearted and tongue-in-cheek way, and, unfortunately, it came
off less well than I had hoped.
I should have adapted my tone, as I had no idea that I came across as
condescending. I hope to hone my skills in written communication as a writer for
“The Highland Echo” and as a student at Maryville College.
That being said, I would like to thank each and every one of you for your
comments, both positive and negative. You have each helped me to gain a new
perspective on this issue and change my attitude as to how I address sensitive
topics.
As many of you have recognized, I am a freshman here at Maryville, and I have a
great deal of maturing to do. It is my hope that as a student here at MC, I will be able
to achieve much of that maturation, but I cannot do so without making mistakes.
I recognize that my choice to write my previous column about such a debatable
subject may have been a mistake, especially considering that I was unable to relate
my thoughts in a way that was universally appropriate.
On the other hand, I would like to say that I am very pleased with the amount of
discussion that my last column generated. While I wish I had been more successful
at conveying my thoughts in a less aggressive tone, I am overjoyed that people
have been led to discuss this topic, because, as part of a liberal arts institution, it is
imperative that we generate discussion.
One of the main reasons I was drawn to MC is the liberal arts curriculum and
intellectual community one can find here. In my search for a college, I wanted to find
somewhere that I could share opinions and have others share theirs in an intelligent
and thought-provoking way.
When I took a world history class my freshman year of high school, a quotation
by Plutarch stuck with me. He says, “The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire
to be kindled.” It was my hope that by remarking on such a disputable topic, I could
fuel that fire. I hope to find that kind of discussion in my columns in the future and
throughout the community at MC.
In conclusion, if any of you would like to speak with me personally about how
I have offended you or what I can make up for my mistake, I am entirely open to
conversation. Please accept my most sincere apologies.
I guess I am now a prime example of what not to do as a freshman on a college
campus!