Who We Are from Vol. XIX, No. 1, 2000
THE PRIMARY SOURCE is the magazine of conservative thought on the Tufts campus. Our motto is “Veritas Sine Dolo,” which means “truth without sorrow,” and it is a motto upheld since our inception. THE PRIMARY SOURCE owes no allegiance to any group or person on the Tufts campus, and as such, we publish honest criticisms regardless of political ideology. Whether it be a student, teacher, or administrator who oversteps their authority and tramples on the rights of others, THE PRIMARY SOURCE will be the first voice to condemn such an action. We do not bow to political pressure or political correctness, and our opinions are never blunted by the fear of retribution.
Incoming students may hear bad things about the SOURCE from returning students. In its tenure, the SOURCE been accused of being both sexist and racist because we have made fun of politically correct terms and concepts, and because we have taken a stance against programs such as affirmative action. We make no apologies for our positions on these issues, and if you are someone who equates objection to a social policy with dislike of an ethnic group, then this magazine probably is not for you. If, however, you are a student who believes in freedom of thought and expression of all forms, who believes that government should be limited, power reserved to the people, and individual rights to be among the most important concepts in human history, then this is the magazine for you.
THE PRIMARY SOURCE is composed primarily of freedom-loving conservatives, those that believe government has a place in our society, but a small one. We hold individual liberties, such as freedom of speech and property rights to be of the utmost importance. We believed that the government derives its power from the people, and that government is subordinate to the people. We reject the notion that a group’s rights are more important than those of the individual, and that simply because something is popular amongst 51%, 80%, or even 99% of people, then it should be automatically accepted.
THE PRIMARY SOURCE remains committed to the principles of self-government and liberty that this country was founded on. Therefore, we make a pledge to our readers to always challenge those who value fleeting security and peace over freedom and liberty.
Why We’re Here by Brian Kelly and Dan Marcus, 1982
Heaven knows Tufts has enough publications already. So why do we need THE PRIMARY SOURCE?
As a hypothetical situation, let’s say you want to write an article supporting Congressman Jack Kemp and his efforts to implement a strict supply-side economic policy. Most likely:
You would recognize that people only read the cartoons and try the crossword puzzle in the Daily, so that wouldn’t suffice. You would be wary of the Observer, since last year it was less than equitable when publishing articles. When the president of the College Republicans submitted a half-page article supporting Reagan’s military programs, it was supposed to be printed with an anti-Reagan article on the other half of the page that week. Instead, the next issue contained a full-page rebuttal of his contentions. Also, you would remember that when the Observer addressed conservative ideas such as pro-defense positions, it usually defaced the article with a derogatory cartoon.
Your conclusion is that you need a separate vehicle through which to express your conservative thoughts. After all, conservatives are a political minority on campus.
That’s exactly why we, the founders of THE PRIMARY SOURCE, are presenting a conservative editorialized journal. THE PRIMARY SOURCE is here at Tufts to provide a unified, distinct voice for conservative ideals. It is an opportunity for everyone to support the philosophies of the conservative movement and write freely in support of these ideas. Of course, we’re not so naive to believe everyone will support our beliefs, so THE PRIMARY SOURCE is also an opportunity for you to respond with letters to the editor if what we say irks you.
THE PRIMARY SOURCE will continuously provide a voice for conservative students and help create an understanding of conservatism, today’s political reality. Ultimately, Tufts will come to understand that THE PRIMARY SOURCE is not just another newspaper amongst publications at Tufts, but rather an integral, representative journal with a distinct viewpoint. After all, isn’t the goal of higher education to expose us to the ideas that shape the world? We believe these ideas are the conservative viewpoints that we present to you today and in years to come.
We hope you decide to participate.
Disclaimer
THE PRIMARY SOURCE is a non-profit, student publication of Tufts University. The opinions expressed in articles, features, photos, cartoons, or advertisements are solely those of the individual author(s) or sponsor(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors or the staff. Tufts University is not responsible for the content of THE PRIMARY SOURCE, nor is THE PRIMARY SOURCE responsible for the content of Tufts University.
