I Hate Anonymous Opinions

Talia Cutler ’27

Executive Opinion Editor

As Executive Opinion Editor, it is a request I get on a weekly basis: “I would LOVE to write for the Opinion page,” this amalgamated Trinity student tells me, “but can I not have my name on it?” Spare me the diffidence — the answer is going to be no. Cue the boos and hisses!

To preface, I would like to be clear that the Tripod’s stance on anonymous opinion articles is posted on the website, linked on Instagram and listed in print copies. It is the same policy as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and almost all other major newspapers in the country. I am not claiming the Tripod to be of that caliber, but simply that this is the norm — our policy is not groundbreaking. In case you still are confused, the guideline is best summed as follows: “The Tripod will permit anonymous opinions under a very limited set of circumstances, determined on a case-by-case basis. Simply not wishing to subscribe your name to an opinion for political purposes or for fear of ridicule from students are not sufficient grounds for anonymity.” These limited sets of circumstances are further described as “never […] unless an extensive, legitimate explanation is provided. What constitutes this ‘legitimate explanation’ is at the discretion of the Editorial Board.” 

There have been 4 anonymous opinion articles in the past 7 years at the Tripod. I say 7 because that is the time frame in which the anonymity policy was put in place. One example of such an article is “Hong Kong, China, and the Meaning of Democracy,”  a 2019 opinion where a student who was a Chinese citizen who feared putting his family in danger by attaching his name to the critical article. While nameless opinions have been published more frequently recently (3 in the past academic year), all of these articles had to do with controversial events on a global scale and each had a disclaimer explaining why they were unattributed. 

When I express frustration with this request for unfounded anonymity, I am rarely dealing with the genuinely controversial. Most of these appeals are for simple topics — this is the most infuriating part. Why would you care if your name is attached to an opinion about club soccer or Mather etiquette? It is indicative of faithless and insecure writing. Contrary to what your mother may be telling you, you are not bridging divides or changing lives in this college newspaper. Why do you deserve anonymity? 

Anonymity in general is a losing game for newspapers. It presents an incredible amount of liability and is nearly impossible to fact check. Publishing an anonymous opinion is also a huge ethical minefield. Former Tripod Editor-in-Chief Brendan W. Clark ’21 and former Executive Editor Kip Lynch ’22 said it best in their November 20, 2023 Letter To The Editor: “Anonymity is among the most dangerous tools in the public sphere—it shields authors from accountability, invites opinions that misstate or disregard contrary facts, and stifles discourse. At base, an opinion is only as strong as its author who stands behind his or her own words.” 

More importantly than morals and probity, I despise it on a personal level. I lose respect for the article and the author in tandem. This overwhelming request has me concerned for the integrity of the student body’s belief systems. If claiming your own opinion publically is so frightening, I ask you to reflect if it is something you truly believe in. The very request for anonymity implies a lack of conviction — something essential to the essence of opinions. Why should I respect an opinion if the author does not respect it enough to sign their name to it? Why should anyone? 

Many cite fear of administrative retribution or peer judgment as their reasoning for wanting to leave their names out. I need not remind you that “fear of ridicule from students (is) not sufficient grounds for anonymity.” Yet, let’s put that aside for a moment. An opinion by definition is an individual judgment. It is wholly what the author believes. It leaves no space for other people — that corrupts the integrity of the opinion. This opinion may offend people. I wouldn’t be surprised, seeing as how easily my articles tend to anger. Yet, my name is still at the top of this article. That is a certification of belief. Opinion writers, I make this appeal to you: No one is after you. JBS is not hiding under your bed waiting to strike for writing something critical (trust me, I’ve checked. Twice.) Administration, while not the best-humored in my experience, won’t seek out personal vengeance. As for students, most can’t even remember their weekend, much less last week’s Tripod. At the end of the day, the point of publishing your perspective is to start a dialogue. Why does this dialogue inspire so much fear?

Perhaps it is not the fault of these droves of self-conscious college students. I can always blame their parents for not reassuring them enough or making them feel oh-so-special. I can also blame the Tripod itself. “Never, with exceptions” is an oxymoron. The waffling nature of anonymity in the Tripod has potentially created a culture where students believe anyone can have it. Three anonymous articles in one year is unprecedented when only one such article can even be recalled in preceding decades. There was simply never a need to publish at such a volume. The onus of this widespread desire to hide is on all of us — writers, editors and faculty at Trinity. 

I can confidently say I am disappointed with the quantity of opinion submissions so far this semester. I know this sentiment is shared. The Tripod often receives feedback on narrow viewpoints — particularly a lack of right-wing representation. To that, I urge readers to put on their big-boy pants and thinking caps. We suffer not from a paucity of perspective, but a paucity of certitude. If you don’t like the opinions being represented in the student newspaper, then by all means, write your own! The only irrevocable condition is that your name is on it. 

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of accountability and conviction when expressing opinions, and how severely anonymity undermines the credibility and impact of someone’s viewpoint. To reiterate the words of Clark and Lynch, “an opinion is only as strong as its author who stands behind his or her own words.” At its core, an opinion without a name attached is an empty and soulless stance. If a thought or idea will not be claimed by its creator, why should I claim it for the Tripod? In short, we have no space for recreant authors in the opinion section. Try journaling instead!