TCNJ

2 The College of New Jersey Magazine TALK UP " MY DEGREE IS FROM THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY AND NO LITIGATION FROM SOME COLLEGE IN OHIO CAN CHANGE THAT! @ TCNJ " — @poptartdaddy BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE I was pleasantly surprised to see your profile of Congressman Chris Smith ("Voices of the people," spring 2022), particularly because one of the congressman's signature issues is the right to life. Unfortunately, many of our institutions and corporations are signaling that there is only one correct view on the abortion debate. I was heartened to see my alma mater allow for a differing opinion. There are millions of Americans who agree with Congressman Smith, and the story was done in an unbiased manner with no additional editorial comment. It was refreshing to see. SHEETAL WERNEKE '93 As an alum who was heavily involved in TCNJ's journalism program and on-campus feminist organizations, I must address your profile of Rep. Chris Smith. While I strongly believe that people with uteruses should have the right to choose, that's not why the article was disappointing. Just as Roe v. Wade was being overturned, your magazine cele- brated how Smith champions "the rights of the unborn" and defends society's "most vulnerable." Although you were quoting him, I believe it is your editorial responsibility to not take words at face value and supplement quotes with facts. Those facts include that a majority of Americans support abortion and would argue he is stripping reproductive rights. (He also voted against the Right to Contraception Act.) Additionally, I question whether he is actually defend- ing the "vulnerable," as he voted against protecting the LGBTQ+ community and reducing young people's access to weapons. As I learned in class at your very school, a good journalist shares the whole truth, instead of painting someone's potentially harmful policies as heroic. I absolutely understand abortion is a hot-button issue. However, I believe it's the responsibility of TCNJ as an insti- tution, which mostly serves individuals of reproductive age, to be brave enough to stand up for their rights and acknowl- edge that abortion is health care. JAMIE PRIMEAU '13 A HOME RUN I want to thank you for the article, "Play ball" (spring 2022). It was very flattering, and the cover was over the top! I have been getting text messages and phone calls from TCNJ baseball alumni I have not heard from in 40 years. While I was in lockdown in Shanghai, these calls were magic. We plan to reconnect the next time I am back in the United States. RICK DELL '82

• Cover