From the editor:

This week, both The Spectrum and Generation continued a long-time tradition for our respective publications: we printed our endorsements for the Student Association elections.

After interviewing and examining the entire field of candidates vying to be our next leaders, our editorial boards decided on who we believe to be the best men and women for our collective future - and we shared our opinions with our readers.

Even though we both went through a similar process, SA saw our two publications very differently; The Spectrum was considered an approved organization to endorse candidates, Generation was not.

Here's why.

SA policy mandates that candidates running for office may only be endorsed by groups that have SA's prior approval. The approval process is an easy one - all it entails is notifying the Elections and Credentials chair of intent to endorse. The Spectrum did just that last month.

After campaigning begins, candidates are only allowed to get the backing of those pre-approved groups. Since Generation was not approved, those running were told that soliciting their support would result in a penalty (community service hours).

Candidates from all three parties met with the magazine's staff anyway. In doing so, they chose to suffer any consequences from the terms they agreed to when they entered the race.

So did SA try to stop Generation from publishing endorsements this year? Editor in Chief Peter Scheck says yes; I say not quite.

SA has no authority over Generation, and as a relatively independent publication, they can print whatever they please; the threat to the magazine was not only baseless, it was nonexistent.

The policy and handling of the whole issue by SA, on the other hand, was anything but impressive.

SA never reached out to on-campus editors telling us how to declare our intent; The Spectrum only sent a letter as a courtesy. It might not be censorship, but Generation and all of the candidates have every right to be upset. A process that should be free and open has once again been overcomplicated and convoluted by the organization that is meant to be for all of us, and reform is long overdue.