The opinions expressed on this page or in any of the editorials printed are not necessarily the opinions of the East Tennessean or its staff. The student newspaper adheres to a code of ethics that allows us to enjoy the freedom of the press. It also encourages feedback which is very helpful to our goal of becoming a newspaper by and for the students.
The Law of the Student Press states, “The fundamental principle behind the concept of free expression is that all ideas and voices no matter how objectionable they may be to the general population, have a right to be heard.” Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes also argued the point, saying, “There must be freedom for those who we agree with us, but freedom for the thought we hate.”
The rights given to us under the First Amendment can and should be enjoyed by all Americans. The First Amendment keeps us informed, keeps our government in check and helps us develop new ideas. Without freedom of expression, none of us could be directly involved in the American way of life.
If you feel like you have something to say about a topic, a response to a editorial or a fact that we may have missed, please feel free to write to us at Campus Box 70688 or to etnews@etsu.edu. Letters to the editor may be edited for space, spelling, libel and length. Please include your campus box and phone number for verification purposes. We will not print letters without this information. Thank you for your readership and patronage.

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