From The Editor's Desk

Some letter writers have complained that The Helmsman’s coverage of West’s visit was lacking because we failed to mention that Alpha Phi Alpha sponsored West’s visit.

I agree that we should have mentioned that in the article. The editor should have noticed that the Alpha’s were left out of the article and included their name.

However, I must point out that the story was written on a tight deadline. And to make things a little more difficult, the program started about an hour late. And when our reporter approached members of the fraternity — she was ignored and treated rather rudely. That is no excuse for leaving the Alpha’s out of the story. It is just an explanation of the difficulties our reporters sometimes face when covering stories.

Now, lets move on to the Mr. And Miss U of M letters.

I am happy for the winners. Rashawn Ray and Laketha Murphy, the winners of this year’s contest, deserved to be rewarded for their hard work and contributions to The University and community.

However, just because they, or their family or friends find their activities so important, it doesn’t make them front-page news. News judgment is a crucial element of journalism. I think the capture of two suspects in the shooting death of a U of M student is far more important than the coronation of what some would consider a simple popularity contest. I’m sorry if you felt slighted.

I’m sorry your friends and family could not read about you in a front-page story. But think about how the family and friends of John Stambaugh feel.

I find it highly offensive that members of the University community are asking ‘what about me?’ and "where is my name?" in a not too thinly disguised attempt for self glory and promotion at the expense of a fellow student who can no longer speak for himself.

Others questioned why the newspaper ran such a small article on Mr. and Miss U of M and why it was placed on page 8. The answer is simple: it was a busy news day. The article appeared on the day after the mid-term elections. Would you rather us not cover important political news?

Some letter writers wondered why this year’s winners garnered less attention than last year’s winners. Different staffs cover events differently. And I could not find a story about last year’s Mr. U of M. Was that anti-male bias? It may have been a poor job by this paper covering both winners, but there was no bias.

And some letter writers had to drag race into the issue.

Some writers said that The Helmsman’s story on Mr. And Miss U of M was smaller than it should have been because of some type of racial bias at the paper.

That is absurd. The Daily Helmsman prides itself on being such a diverse working group. I, the editor-in-chief, am white. The managing editor is Asian-American and our sports editor is African-American. Nearly half of our news/editorial staff is non-white. Are all non African-Americans out to get you? I think not.

And you should be careful when you use race to paint such a broad stroke. It may come back to bite you.

Some editors in the past have refused, because of space, time and personal reasons, to grant coverage to Mr. And Miss U of M. Was that racially motivated? I highly doubt it.

Other letters suggested this newspaper does not give enough attention to its African-American readers or the accomplishments of African-American students at The University.

We try to cover student issues and achievements as evenly and fairly as we possibly can. We cannot satisfy everybody. Neither can we read the minds of every group on campus. We need you to tell us if a student or group has received some sort of award or recognition. And we need you to cooperate after you contact us. Return our calls. Have phone numbers that work. And start meetings or programs on time.

Letter writers also said this paper’s decision to print the two pictures of Stambaugh’s suspected killers on the front-page of the paper displayed racial bias.

Had his accused killers been white, blue or green we would have run those pictures on the front page too. There were also questions about the use of color in the mug shot photographs. We used color because an advertiser had already paid for a color advertisement on the back page and when that happens we get color on the front page for free. If the story about the murder suspects did not run that morning — another color picture would have taken the place of the mug shot photos.

There can be serious consequences when allegations of racism spring up over such misunderstood and, I would say, trivial topics.

When frivolous claims of racism abound — the pleas of those who have experienced the real, gut-wrenching agony of racial discrimination and bigotry will be met as cries from Chicken Little.