Sensationalism
It is very upsetting for me to
have to severely criticize a
reporter and defend myself
against distortions of truth, as I
must do with Mr. Bacque and
his story on security at the
University printed on Nov. 16.
I was pursued for an
interview by Mr. Bacque, and
reluctantly gave my permission
to it, because I felt there was
something to say on the topic.
From there it proceeded that
Mr. Bacque wanted me to say
that the University was being
lax in dealing with women's
security. To this I could only
say that we did not get all the
information in regard to
incidents, but that we did get
many of the rumors, such as
the example I gave of "police
telling the girl, 'Yeah, well you
probably asked for it.'" I
repeat, I was using that quote
as an example of a rumor.
Also, I most definitely did
not come out with a blanket
statement that "The University
will not print what is true."
What I said was that I could
not say that the University was
wrong in their dealings with
incidents because they often
did not release all the facts
surrounding the cases.
I had hoped that the article
would bring out the major idea
of my points–that the girls still
do need to be informed that
somewhat of a danger exists at
the University (and that also
means in Charlottesville).
Also, I had hoped that the
article would make people
realize that this is a social
problem that affects a majority
of the population in the United
States and that no easy
solutions to it are possible. I
thought an article was a good
idea–but I fear the recent
trend in sensationalism The
Progress has taken up has
thwarted an opportunity for a
good article or series of articles
initiating a dialogue on this
social issue.
I am deeply disappointed
with the level of journalism in
that news sheet, and have
learned a lesson that perhaps,
sadly, many other people
should learn: that "no
comment" may be a necessity
in dealing with The Progress at
this time.
