On February 28, a report about excessive college drinking was released by the Greensboro CBS affiliate, WFMY News 2. The report, available on the stations Web page, www.wfmynews2.com, was the most viewed report for four days. This report has generated ill sentiment among the students, as much for the poor reporting as for the multiple aspersions cast upon Elon University.

First, we would like to rectify some misinformation presented in the report. Logan Smith was shown standing in front of a police SUV with a minor hand laceration from having fallen against a brick building. The report shows him being questioned, but chooses to omit that Smith had approached police for assistance. Upon viewing extra content on the WFMY Web page, one can see Smith, obviously coherent, is seen approaching police looking for “a Band-Aid and Neosporin.” After some questioning, and a simple scolding for underage drinking, he is allowed to proceed back to his residence. This information is never mentioned by WFMY and neither are his unheeded requests for videotaping to cease.

As for the main body of the report, one person was focused upon. Kevin Ware is shown to as visibly intoxicated, using profanity liberally, and wearing a grass skirt. WFMY asserts that Ware had become well-known to the police. “Police nickname him FBI and tell him sarcastically he's off to a fine start for his chosen career,” according to the WFMY report. Again, upon viewing WFMY’s full footage, Ware is seen introducing himself to police, as well as mention his intent to join the FBI.

Ware is then seen in front of the Acorn Coffee Shop, with a bloodied forehead, handcuffed. Although not shown in the televised report, Ware claims that he was repeatedly harassed by Alcohol Law Enforcement, and omitted from WFMY’s report is an unnamed person, presumably the ALE agent, telling a paramedic that he tackled Ware into the sidewalk, knocking him into the bricks. WFMY omits this information in their televised report. WFMY failed to mention that Ware is in fact 22 years old. WFMY also preferred to omit the fact that Ware has a speech impediment, adding to his slurred speech.

To assert that this is the first generation to push limits with drugs and alcohol, as a police officer does in the WFMY report, is folly. Our parent’s generation was the first to experiment with drugs, in fact coining the term. It is a fact that Elon students regularly drink in excess, and marijuana is commonly used, but this is common among any other school community.

Upon viewing WFMY’s own uncut footage, one is forced to the realization that WFMY had the ability to present the facts in their entirety, instead of omitting crucial information. The multiple “sins of omission” force one to admit that WFMY intended to skew their coverage for sensationalist reasons.

Despite the fact that shoddy and sensationalist journalism conducted by WFMY should unsettle us all, why are Elon students so angered by this report?

If WFMY had not engaged in lazy journalism, and had attempted to go “investigate” other parties around campus, or gone to the Loy Center, would they have found the same events occurring? Most likely.

Chuck Gantos, director of campus safety and police, said that “drinking has become a problem on Elon’s campus, however, this problem is not unique to Elon. We see the same problems occurring in other schools.” Gantos also takes issue with the assertion made in the report that problem drinking begins in colleges.

“Social habits are formed during a students high school years and are modified when arriving at college,” he said

Although it’s report was poorly done and sensationized, WFMY did hit upon a truth that we ourselves do not like to admit: college students, on average, drink too much. Underage drinking is a common occurrence on any college campus. It is unfortunate that our campus was chosen for this sensationalist report, but it was chosen.

We have a choice of whether to dwell on this report and attack it with anger, or to dismiss its poor journalism and to accept its truth.

Despite the many great things that Elon does, and no matter how poorly WFMY represented our university, we must admit that students do engage in dangerous tendencies when it comes to drinking. This fact is not unique to Elon by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a truth. A truth that perhaps we are uncomfortable with, but a truth just the same.

Staff: - 03/08/07