I have to give credit to the Daily for candidly writing the article, “Three editors fired” on Monday’s front page because I believe most people that first saw this picture and article in Toons would disapprove of the Daily’s decision. I felt genuine sorrow for the three students fired for what was clearly a humorous elaboration by the Toons editor. I think more readers would believe that a mascot was making donuts in Bobby Labonte’s car while Bobby and Rich Eisen talked about shampoos and conditioners (see ESPN.com commercials). Please don’t underestimate the intelligence of the Toons readers and of your readers.

Secondly, it is obvious that the three editors were not trying to slander the Daily. It seems they were actually poking fun mostly at themselves and perhaps a bit at the Daily, but in a warm-hearted manner. Where is the Daily’s sense of humor? The Daily publishes a critical joke in the form of a cartoon Poison Ink, why can’t the Daily take a little light-hearted joke itself?

Unless the Daily implicitly told these students this behavior was unacceptable, I can’t see why a warning would not have sufficed, especially since they were apologetic when they learned of the distress it caused the Daily. I don’t know them, but to see an apparent injustice like this makes me wonder if the Daily is more interested in its student workers or its “image.” It seems Toons most aptly captured the real truth with its caption “three nice girls.”

Ed Wilhelm

ISU Alumnus