To the Opinion staff of The State News: Congratulations.

Certain Spartans will snort and wonder why in the world I would want to send feelings of good will to a publication that employs writers, according to letter writer Jonathan Strong, who "have no concept of what liberty and freedom really are."

The reason for my glad tidings is in celebration of a writer's right to publish his or her opinion in a public forum such as a newspaper. This is necessary for writers such as columnist Matt Treadwell, to whose column Strong was referring in his letter ("America's unalienable rights include selfishness, greed, power," SN 1/15), and myself. It is perfectly clear to me the editorial staff of The State News is neither "shameful" nor "inaccurate," as Strong stated.

An opinion column is just that - the writer's opinion put down on paper. Treadwell wrote his column with the same idea Strong used when writing his letter - expressing an opinion.

If The State News' staff did not understand liberty and freedom, Treadwell's column, your letter and my letter would never have been published in the first place.

Heidi Renee Jury
journalism and women's studies senior