BRASH AND ARROGANT--
It takes a dash of those two qualities, if we can call them qualities, to be a journalist.

I wrote an opinion piece (which can be read at hillsdale.edu/collegian/articles/2002/February/safeand) for the school paper here where I work as a reporter. I said the work of our art department is safe, boring and predictable. I said it well. And now I'm taking some heat.

This is a small school so the art department isn't that big but three art majors have disagreed with me (despite my efforts to hide from them for the next few weeks). I've had a few profs and a few administrators disagree with me. Conservative Catholic students have disagreed with me. Today at lunch the school president came over to my table to disagree with me.

Being brash and arrogant really helps when the heat is turned on. I stand by what I said and am a little proud to have gotten the reactions.

Some students did offer me their support, which was certainly appreciated. But then, when talking to someone (like the head of the school) who thinks you don't know what you're talking about it, self-confidence is all you've got.

Davy Crockett said "Be sure you're right, then go ahead." That is the best advice anyone could offer to a journalist.