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DTH blames Greek system, ignores other problems

2 comments
September 23, 2009
Letter to the Editor

TO THE EDITOR:

With news of only a few members of the Greek community stepping out of line and the entire body being held responsible for these actions, I find it ironic, yet unsurprising, that The Daily Tar Heel has failed to report on itself.

Several Daily Tar Heel staff members were cited for underage drinking this weekend, according to police reports.

I would venture to say that every organization on campus does some form of illicit behavior to a certain degree.

When so many step out of line, The Daily Tar Heel chooses to find these activities unnewsworthy. When few step out of line (in other words: a few within the Greek community involved with cocaine) the news makes the front page day after day. And the names of fraternities and sororities that these few were involved with are likewise slandered.

There is an obvious incongruence that the entire University should be aware of: If the Greek community is to face repercussions for its actions (in the form of Winston Crisp’s address and strained University relations), why should The Daily Tar Heel not also?

Why should every campus organization not also?

Benjamin Brumley
Junior
Psychology

Editor’s note: During a party Friday night not sponsored by The Daily Tar Heel, eight DTH staff members were among 25 people cited for underage drinking. Due to the frequency of the offense, The Daily Tar Heel does not generally report on individuals cited for underage alcohol consumption. Editor-in-Chief Andrew Dunn will explain the rationale for the DTH’s coverage of incidents involving the Greek community in a column to appear later this week.

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DTH, please evaluate yourself

Submitted by TarHeelAlum on September 23, 2009 - 13:07.

And I'm certain that the cocaine incidents you've been busy reporting recently were not "sponsored" (to use the editor's words) by Chi Omega or SAE. So why blast these organizations when the actions of certain individual members do NOT reflect the organization as a whole or the entire Greek system?

You wouldn't want someone do that for your organization. Clearly. That's why you instated "rules on reporting" after the fact to protect the DTH. That's poor ethics, and also in your case, poor and shoddy journalism.

Commenter's Note: I had

Submitted by MoreThanAwesome on September 23, 2009 - 08:30.

Commenter's Note: I had heard people (one of whom was, I believe, involved) discussing this event at length (and their legal defense strategy) while walking back from class, and was wondering if: a) it was true, and b) if the DTH would make mention of it.

It'll be good to have the 'rule' published for whether or not someone is cited for underage or drug offenses in the DTH, and whether their student affiliations are noted. Having a third of those cited for underage drinking being members of the same student organization isn't -really- noteworthy, but it is interesting timing with all the mentions of student affiliations and illegal activities in the paper.