Post by DerekBrower on Apr 23, 2005 19:24:11 GMT -5
I emailed Mike Harrington from the Buffalo News regarding his article on how Tyler Relph may never play a game in the RC, and named Williams as the student who committed plagarism. As much as I dont particularly care for him, or the Buffalo News, I have to give him some credit for responding to my email. It is a lot longer than the original email I sent him:
I appreciate your email. We never mind when readers object to a piece.
If we evoke passion such as what you displayed, that's good.
So give me a minute or two to break down your points. First off,
distance yourself for a minute. You're obviously a Bona
fan/student/alum...someone connected to the school. Reporters don't let allegiances color
their stories.
Now let's think objectively. Tyler Relph -- the player Bona has
promoted as its best for next year -- is arrested TWICE and that's not
newsworthy?
How have I decided to cause controversy? He's been arrested TWICE for
underage alcohol violations. TWICE. At a lot of schools, he would
ALREADY BE GONE. So it's 100 percent accurate that it's possible he may never
play in the RC and it's inconceivable Bona would keep him if he didn't
go to counseling or if there was a third incident. That's not causing
controversy. That's just common sense.
As for naming Paul Williams, I assue you that was a decision we did not
take lightly. The school is investigating many students for academic
matters. But Williams' status as a basketball player gives him
prominence. He is a sort of public figure, especially in Olean. He is, remember,
essentially being paid $30,000 a year to be a student there. And the
fact of the matter is that EVERYONE on campus knows it was him. The
professors are in revolt over the situation. So how "secret" is the whole
situation anyway?
And what do you mean his name is not supposed to be revealed? I'm not
bound by student privacy laws. The school is. They didn't reveal it was
Williams, I found out through other means. Maybe the folks there should
mind their own store of all the loose lips that are around.
And let's not forget Bona and any other school is quick to bring out
the marching band when someone gets an all-academic honor but they love
to hide behind "privacy" when things go awry. You can't have it both
ways.
Were Tyler and Paul's names "dragged through the mud"? That may be your
perception. My feeling is this: Don't BREAK THE LAW and don't COMMIT
ACADEMIC FRAUD and you don't get embarrassed in the newspaper. I didn't
commit those offenses. They did. If I had a child involved in such
foolish shenanigans, I would expect them to pay the consequences and not
continually get coddled by those around them.
Don't shoot the messenger. Instead of criticizing The News for doing
the job that any other paper in America would do in this case, you should
be disturbed this is how these two students are representing your
school and your basketball program.
That's my view. We agree to disagree.
Thanx for your interest in Big 4 basketball and The News.
MH
Mike Harrington
Buffalo News Sports Reporter
I appreciate your email. We never mind when readers object to a piece.
If we evoke passion such as what you displayed, that's good.
So give me a minute or two to break down your points. First off,
distance yourself for a minute. You're obviously a Bona
fan/student/alum...someone connected to the school. Reporters don't let allegiances color
their stories.
Now let's think objectively. Tyler Relph -- the player Bona has
promoted as its best for next year -- is arrested TWICE and that's not
newsworthy?
How have I decided to cause controversy? He's been arrested TWICE for
underage alcohol violations. TWICE. At a lot of schools, he would
ALREADY BE GONE. So it's 100 percent accurate that it's possible he may never
play in the RC and it's inconceivable Bona would keep him if he didn't
go to counseling or if there was a third incident. That's not causing
controversy. That's just common sense.
As for naming Paul Williams, I assue you that was a decision we did not
take lightly. The school is investigating many students for academic
matters. But Williams' status as a basketball player gives him
prominence. He is a sort of public figure, especially in Olean. He is, remember,
essentially being paid $30,000 a year to be a student there. And the
fact of the matter is that EVERYONE on campus knows it was him. The
professors are in revolt over the situation. So how "secret" is the whole
situation anyway?
And what do you mean his name is not supposed to be revealed? I'm not
bound by student privacy laws. The school is. They didn't reveal it was
Williams, I found out through other means. Maybe the folks there should
mind their own store of all the loose lips that are around.
And let's not forget Bona and any other school is quick to bring out
the marching band when someone gets an all-academic honor but they love
to hide behind "privacy" when things go awry. You can't have it both
ways.
Were Tyler and Paul's names "dragged through the mud"? That may be your
perception. My feeling is this: Don't BREAK THE LAW and don't COMMIT
ACADEMIC FRAUD and you don't get embarrassed in the newspaper. I didn't
commit those offenses. They did. If I had a child involved in such
foolish shenanigans, I would expect them to pay the consequences and not
continually get coddled by those around them.
Don't shoot the messenger. Instead of criticizing The News for doing
the job that any other paper in America would do in this case, you should
be disturbed this is how these two students are representing your
school and your basketball program.
That's my view. We agree to disagree.
Thanx for your interest in Big 4 basketball and The News.
MH
Mike Harrington
Buffalo News Sports Reporter
