Dear readers of The Statesman, 

Mr. Portnoy’s perspective offers a glimpse into the diverse range of opinions within our community. It is essential to us that our publication serves as a platform for various viewpoints and voices the concerns of our campus community, even if we do not necessarily endorse or agree with them. 

The views expressed by Mr. Portnoy in his letter to the editor underscore the complexity of discussions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly on college campuses. We believe in fostering a space for open dialogue and understanding diverse viewpoints and we also acknowledge the importance of responsible journalism. 

Regarding the concerns raised about our editorial policies, we strive for balanced coverage and objectivity in our reporting. We recognize the need to represent all voices in our community — including those of Jewish and Palestinian students — in a fair and respectful manner. 

Distinguishing between showcasing diverse points of view and making news decisions is vital. We acknowledge that our responsibility goes beyond presenting various opinions; it extends to the choices we make in our news coverage. While we strive for balanced reporting, we recognize that there is room for improvement in ensuring that our news articles accurately represent the perspectives of all relevant parties — particularly in sensitive issues such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

We would also like to remind our readers that context is a crucial element of journalism. Our publication never aims to excuse acts of terror or violence; however, it is our duty to provide the history and connection of events to best inform our readers. 

We do acknowledge that a Jewish student was not interviewed in our article about the pro-Palestinian protest which Mr. Portnoy references, which was our only coverage of the issue at that time. To rectify, since that piece was published, efforts have been made to contact various Jewish student organizations and others with relevant perspectives on the issue for all future articles. 

As student journalists, it is crucial for us to learn from feedback and continuously improve our editorial standards. We will work diligently to provide a platform where different perspectives can be expressed while upholding journalistic integrity and promoting understanding among our readers.

In light of this, we encourage our readers to submit letters to us voicing their concerns and opinions. To that extent, we have a designated category on our website for them, where students can voice public concerns. We sincerely hope our readers will use this platform to write to us, about us and to address their concerns with the greater Stony Brook community. This platform is an open invitation to our community to actively engage in a dialogue with us, allowing us to address your concerns, learn from your insights and continuously enhance our editorial standards.

The Statesman Editorial Staff