February 21, 2006Tech student claims she was misquoted in ethnicity storyA colleague of mine has a quote posted next to his computer that reads: "I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant." It's a great quote for anyone in my profession to remember. Because a story I wrote in today's Roanoke Times may be an example of that happening. I received a call this afternoon from Lauren O'Neil, chairwoman of Tech's College Republicans. I quoted her in the story, which was about how more Tech applicants are checking the box marked "other" when asked about their ethnicity in applications. In the story and in my notes, I have O'Neil quoted as saying: "The college campus is a place for diversity of ideas, not diversity of ethnicity." That quote got O'Neil the Trent Lott leadership award for mildly inappropriate racial remarks on truthcaucus.com. She called me this afternoon because she felt she was misquoted. She insisted that she said, "The college campus is a place for diversity of ideas, not JUST diversity of ethnicity." She was concerned that the remark, minus the "just" painted her as a racist. She insisted she never said that and asked for a correction. I told her I would check my notes. The notes matched my memory of our discussion and the article's quote. O'Neil said her real issue was not with me, but with the way the Internet has taken what she said and misinterpreted it. She was clearly rattled by some of the things people were saying about her on the web. "The blogs are really nasty," she said. O'Neil said today that she thinks college campuses can be diverse in both ideas and ethnicities. She just doesn't feel race should play a factor in who is admitted. I've spoken with O'Neil once before and I appreciate how willing she was to talk to me when I called her out of the blue on her cell phone Monday. I certainly didn't come away from my conversation with her thinking she was a racist. I still think I got the facts right, but I'm blogging here to give O'Neil a chance to get the truth across about what she meant and how she feels. |
About this blog
Rhode Island native and Virginia Tech reporter Greg Esposito posts on everyday college life, trends and issues affecting the 35,000-plus students in the New River Valley and beyond.
Tim Thornton, who is old enough to have children attending college, is still taking classes and is still fascinated by colleges, the students who populate them and the bureaucrats who operate them. His reporting beat is Radford University.
West Virginia native Anna Mallory blogs on student life topics at Virginia Tech, Radford University, New River Valley Community College -- and beyond.
.....Advertisement.....
|
...Advertisement...
...Advertisement...
No comments yet