TO THE EDITOR:
I am appalled that The Daily Tar Heel made Courtland Smith’s 911 tape available. Making something like that public does way more damage than it does good.
Yes, people want to know what happened, but actually releasing the tape on the Daily Tar Heel Web site seems purely selfish and for shock value.
Smith’s friends and family will inevitably hear the tape — can you imagine them knowing that everyone in Chapel Hill has access to such a private and personal conversation? Can you also imagine the kids at the camp he taught at having this 911 tape as their last memory (obviously they aren’t the DTH’s audience, but come on, by publishing it here you are hurting hundreds of his friends and family)?
It is obvious that no one at the DTH knew Smith or it would not be acting in such a disgusting way.
