We all have opinions concerning our college and the life that we lead here. Every time a group of girls gets together the conversation, if not primarily, eventually leads to the great thing we have in common — Sarah Lawrence itself. Often the discussion is criticism, and even more often praise or appreciation. One of the aims of The Keynote is “to intensify a special Sarah Lawrence quality,” and it is this quality that outsiders seek in our magazine. An opportunity for each member of the community — students, faculty, or staff — is found in the Open Forum for expressing these criticisms or praises, or for offering suggestions. This section is perhaps the most democratic part of The Keynote and by its content it will emphasize the special Sarah Lawrence quality in which so many are interested. All suggestions and problems, it is hoped, will be here discussed from month to month from all points of view. The Open Forum is almost a debating section in this respect. If any original suggestion or criticism is made, your feelings on it may be here expressed. Have the courage to back the opinion if you feel that it is a good one, or to disagree if it is contrary to the aims and ideals of the college. In this way the real opinions and desires of the college will be discovered so that they may be dealt with in the best way. This is the purpose of the Open Forum.
It is necessary for each one of us to express her own opinions. Unless this is done the section will not fairly represent the college as a whole and will hence fail in its primary object. A concrete example of college spirit is to make each and every voice heard through the Open Forum, thus making the section an instrument for true democracy. Have you the spirit to stand up for and to express your own convictions?
This piece was first published in Issue 2 of The Keynote, an early student journal, in December 1928.