BGI: The Right-Wing Rag, Part II

Dear Sirs:

BGI claims to be America's foremost authority on Fighting Irish football. So when did it also become a forum for individual readers to promote their own personal agendas?

In his February 2005 letter to BGI, Jim Finnegan clearly spells out his opinion of Notre Dame President, Monk Malloy (It's Professional, Not Personal). The context of Malloy's comments on the Willingham firing is understandable, and along with many other Notre Dame alumni I am concerned about the timing and necessity for such statements. Yet ironically, Mr. Finnegan goes well beyond football in deriding other actions occurring under the Malloy administration such as an on-campus film festival and other progressive theatrical performances. These comments have absolutely no place in your newspaper. The opinions, whether valid or not, are personal to Mr. Finnegan and are wholly unrelated to BGI's purpose of sports journalism. Furthermore, the events he noted are a direct reflection of the values and interests of today's Notre Dame students, whom the University is committed to serving. Was the author as despondent when Notre Dame first admitted women under Fr. Hesburgh's watch? Or would he rather ND still be a small, Catholic school comprised solely of white males?

To borrow a line from the author, I would expect that you owe your readership more than to subject them to this level of "self-serving" promotion.

Chris Fillio '90
Alexandria, VA