Classes have finally finished here at Cornell. The last tests have been completed, everyone (except the seniors) are packing their bags and heading out. It’s very nice to finally relax and have everything finished.

On the political scene on campus there is sad news. Cornell’s two right of center newspapers — The Cornell American and the Cornell Review — have decided to merge into one paper. The new paper will start publishing next fall, will take the name of the Review and the slogan of the American — Limited Government. Traditional Values. America First.

Although perhaps it’s good that the Review will no longer be ashamed of traditional values, I still think this development is on the whole very bad for the conservative scene on campus. Competition is good. If a conservative didn’t feel at home or like the people in one paper, he or she could join the other paper. There was room for diversity and there was the ability for both papers to focus on different aspects of the campus left. The more conservative groups that can host speakers the better.

I also can’t understand why either newspaper would think it is in their best interest to merge, or why Eric (the old editor and chief and one of the founding members of the Cornell American) signed off on the deal. Maybe they just want to split up the work?

Although we often didn’t agree, I was always very proud that Cornell had two conservative papers on campus. Unfortunately that is no longer true. . .