LETTER: Self-glorifying photos reveal poor journalism

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by Haley Robertson

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To the editor:

The journalistic standards of your publication never cease to enrage me.

I thought that the photo featured on the front page of the issue preceding spring break ("Iskander wins decisive re-election victory," Thresher , March 1) might have been an oversight.

Certainly you would not have condoned running a picture of the news editor himself on the front page of his own section, in which he counts ballots for an election in which he himself was overtly active.

At the price of poor judgment, I hope this man's ego is now sufficiently rectified.

The folly continued in that issue with Tony Tran's asinine remarks on Cancún -- "We're talking white beaches, authentic Mexican food and college women! Cancún all the way, baby!!!" ("Head to Head," Thresher , March 1).

I find it hard to believe that students at Rice learn anything at all, if Tran's views are representative of the way they think.

And finally, you should have bridled your idolatry of Packy Saunders in last week's issue.

Two pictures of him on consecutive pages plus that cute Smoothie endorsement is excessive, even for this funnyman.

This newspaper allows its staff members more pomp than they warrant. Consider a check on the amount of personality that you publish.

And to those who hope to seem larger than life, please try to be smarter than it as well.

Haley S. Robertson

Jones '96

This item appeared in the Opinion section of the March 22, 1996 issue.

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