It’s generally thought in journalism that the shorter and more direct a piece of writing is, the better.

A journalist who has mastered the skill of concise but informative writing is heads above those who haven’t.

But one student journalist from Colorado State University got a little carried away with his editing when he ran a four-word editorial piece in The Rocky Mountain Collegian a few weeks ago.

J. David McSwane, editor-in-chief of the student-run newspaper printed “Taser this: Fuck Bush” in large font across the top of the editorial page.

How’s that for concise? It’s certainly the shortest opinion piece I’ve ever seen.

McSwane said he published the editorial to “spark debate on campus,” according to a story on CNN.com.

The spark has ignited a national blaze after outrage at the editorial caused the newspaper to risk losing $50,000 in advertising revenue. Petitions from community members are calling to remove McSwane from his position and everyone is wondering what will happen to the young editor-in-chief.

There are a lot of things to consider here.

First, using obscenities in a college newspaper isn’t all that unusual. Considering the audience, college newspapers can usually get by with some racy language. A lot of people on CSU’s campus are upset about the use of the word.

While McSwane’s free speech is protected under the First Amendment, it might not be protected under school policy.

The Board of Student Communications, which appointed McSwane as editor-in-chief in the first place, will consider school policy that states, “students cannot publish obscene materials but that ‘indecent or vulgar language is not obscene,'” according to Fox News.com. However, the story also said the “same policy prohibits the use of obscene and vulgar language in editorials.”

The board is scheduled to meet this week to discuss what, if anything, should be done to McSwane.

Now rules and policy aside, many comments have been made regarding McSwane’s editorial judgement.

I have to say I was confused when I first heard about the editorial. I thought the four words were a headline for an editorial, which left me searching the Web to find what else McSwane had to say. I soon found out that there was nothing else.

Apparently, there was a Page 1 story about free speech and the college student who was tasered in Florida at a John Kerry speech.

But that doesn’t do much to explain why these four words were printed and why they deserved so much space on a page.

Bold statements have to be backed up by facts and logic. Yes, a newspaper is a forum, but college or not it should still exhibit and uphold journalistic integrity.

McSwane should have been more specific about the discussion he wanted to start on campus. Now, instead of discussing important political issues, everyone is talking about McSwane and his four-word editorial.

A lot of good that will do his campus in the long run.