Joan SAPPLESERVE calls me out as unethical for printing under a pseudonym in the Cal Patriot.

This is my first inter-blog war! I'm very excited.

I think the question hinges on whether or not readers would take the column as actual reporting, or as a gossip piece. I think the odds of anyone taking anything in the Patriot as serious journalism is unlikely. Not only that, but I consciously wrote it as a gossipy, column-like thing, under the obviously-slanted title of 'ASUC Insider.' That's not the title for a disinterested outsider. And I should point out I wasn't too slanted towards APPLE, mainly because I think all the Senators and Executives this year have been disappointments. (My highest rated Executive is Fryday, actually.)

Not only that, but there's no difference between Anna Poole and Kevin Deenihan in the minds of everyday Berkeley students. They don't know who I am. It would've been slightly more truthful to print something like 'BTW, I'm an APPLE partisan,' but I could've printed that under either name without it making a difference. It certainly didn't make a difference in the ASUC; it's no secret who writes that column.

Back to you, Joan!Email This Post!