Letter to the Editor: Regina

Editor,

Simply stated, I was aghast and deeply offended when I saw the Editorial Cartoon in The Skyline View’s publication dated October 2, 2014. First and foremost, The Skyline View has provided a wealth of opportunity for many learners to fully understand the many facets of journalism and to comprehend the power of an independent press best exemplified by the notion of being a Fourth Estate. That being said, the art of messaging is completely lost when an author or illustrator crosses the line and misinforms or misguides the reader – overtly or inadvertently – and simultaneously attacks, defames or denigrates the subject(s) of the article or, in this instance, cartoon.

While The Skyline View strives to inform its readers in a fair, balanced and unbiased manner, in this circumstance, you got it completely wrong in every aspect. The faculty do not view themselves as elitists or prestigious, but rather dedicated, hard-working and committed educators serving well-deserving students. Furthermore, students do openly engage and actively participate in a variety of extracurricular events on campus that greatly enhance their overall learning experience at Skyline College – including attending a recent lecture delivered by Dr. Cornel West! Lastly, I surmise the individual on stage in the cartoon is meant to be Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud? If so, this is the most deprecating and egregious inaccuracy committed by the illustrator. Obviously that person doesn’t know Dr. Stanback Stroud. So I would like to help “educate” that individual on exactly who she is and what she’s done to advance teaching and learning on a national level as well as cultivate a climate of trust, openness and steadfast conviction to first-rate academic opportunities for the countless students who attend Skyline College. More specifically, Dr. Stanback Stroud has been a leader in public higher education for more than twenty five years and, earlier in her career, a highly regarded and deeply respected member of the California Community College’s faculty who also served as their Statewide Academic Senate President. Furthermore, Dr. Stanback Stroud is recognized throughout the country for her insightful knowledge and acute awareness of student equity/diversity initiatives, anti-poverty tactics, community workforce and economic development/empowerment activities and, due to that vast skillset, was recently appointed by President Barack Obama to the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability.

Dr. Stanback Stroud modestly performs all of her duties, functions and roles with the utmost integrity and devotion to her craft and has never exemplified anything close to a narcissistic or egotistical persona. In reality, which obviously escaped the illustrator and any other ill-informed party who authorized publishing the cartoon in question, Dr. Stanback Stroud is a kind, caring and considerate person who has always placed students at the center of her universe. For the cartoon to speciously and deceivingly portray her as a self-centered individual is grossly negligent and the illustrator should formally apologize to Dr. Stanback Stroud for that pejorative misrepresentation of an outstanding leader and brilliant college president.