I worked at the Iowa State Daily for almost three years, first as a contributor to the opinion section and then as the section’s editor. During my time there, at least three editors-in-chief served over the paper, each with their own distinct vision of what a college newspaper — our newspaper — should be. I didn’t always agree with them. Heck, my reputation as an editor was that of being a hard ass who would rather write something myself at 30 minutes until deadline than something I deemed subpar from my writers.

But I still made mistakes. We, as a team, made mistakes. And as often as people will forget it, that’s partly why the Daily is there. It’s there so you, I and everyone else can learn. Students can learn and stay informed of what’s going on around campus and the Ames community. Journalism majors can learn the ins and outs of print journalism: reporting, editing, design, placement, etc. People like me can learn that we’d rather be writers than actors — no offense to my friends in performance arts.

But just as important as learning from what we do well, we must learn from where we have failed. I can personally assure you that I failed on several occasions. Depending on who you talk to, I probably failed on every occasion. Mistakes happen. It’s what we do after the fact that shows our true colors.

Yes, in allowing racist comments to be printed, the Daily has indeed failed. But that doesn’t mean it cannot correct its path, which I believe it will do under Jake Lovett’s leadership. Regardless of how I or any other member of the Daily have felt, feel or ever will feel about the “Just Sayin” section, racism (be it intentional, implied or even accidental) is not to be tolerated. Ever. In that respect, I believe it is the right thing to remove a section that, while not explicitly condoning derogatory behavior, is certainly a favorable venue for it.

Before people get up in arms about censorship, realize you may be as racist, homophobic, sexist, etc., as you wish. You still can say these things. But you do not, and in fact never did, have a Constitutional right to have them printed in an independent paper. That’s what Facebook and Twitter are for. At least there all of your prospective employers can see what kind of person you are.

I haven’t read the Daily on a regular basis since I left its employment in the summer of 2010, and even less so since my graduation. But I still check in from time to time with my old friends, still poke my head around the corner to see who’s left, who’s new and what the current vision is for the paper. And I still hold my experience at the Daily as a valuable part of my life. One I have never — and even under the scrutiny of the publication’s current dilemma — do not regret.

The Daily will be facing difficult times in the near future. I ask you, readers, as one who took the utmost joy and pride in her work, to not give up on it. There’s still so much good to come from within the Daily’s walls. Good that maybe even you yourself can help influence.

Good luck to the Daily in the future, and my personal condolences to anyone who has ever felt as though you were not welcome at Iowa State. It is a feeling I am familiar with. But you are all my peers and my family. You are welcome here.