THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 15, 1995 TAG: 9510130228
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
SOURCE: Ronald L. Speer
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
My colleagues in the First Flight Rotary Club gave me a lesson in civics the other day.
I was asked to talk about newspapering and decided to see how they would have dealt with a sensitive story: The suspension of 11 players from a high school football team for allegedly violating school rules involving alcohol after a game at Asheville.
I asked them whether they would have gone after the story after getting a tip, and if they would have published the names of the players.
There were about 30 of us at the luncheon, and only 2 said flatly that they wouldn't have published. Most of the others said that the story had to be reported:
``It is a tax-supported school and anything that happens there is the taxpayers' business.''
``If the paper doesn't report the real news, the rumors run wild and make it a lot worse than it really is.''
``The paper's job is to tell people what is happening in the community, and this was certainly news.''
``If a paper sits on the news and people know it, how can they trust the paper not to cover up something else?''
Those opposed to publication contended the incident was a minor violation and a story could hurt the youngsters, who shouldn't be penalized just because they are football players.
``They're only teenagers, after all,'' said one critic of our decision to run the story. ``If a couple of kids get caught drinking beer and weren't on the football team, would you publish that?''
Responded a pro-publishing member: ``It involved 11 kids, and it happened during an official school function. That makes it news.''
Another said that football players are given accolades and perks that don't go to other students, and as role models must learn that responsibility goes with fame.
``I'm very conservative,'' said another. ``But as soon as we start covering things up, we're in trouble.''
There was unanimous agreement with our decision not to try to get and publish names.
``Nobody was charged with a crime, and they are teenagers,'' said one member. ``They shouldn't be overly punished.''
``And maybe something good will come out of this,'' said another. ``I think the suspension policy needs changing. A 10-day suspension in the speeded up curriculum means the student will flunk.''
That policy was changed to five days by the Dare County School Board during a long and painful meeting Wednesday night in which suspensions were lifted against eight of the players, who returned to the team with clean slates.
The whole incident was painful. But the openness with which it was handled by school authorities helped keep it from being blown out of proportion, according to some of the Rotarians.
I shared their thoughts with reporter Paul South, who loves football and reluctantly wrote the stories. The calls Paul got at home had nothing to do with civics but were nasty personal attacks from people who lacked the courage to give their names.
I ask those callers to think about all the rumors that still would be flying around Manteo if nothing had been published about the incident.
And the public awareness of what had happened probably prompted the changes on the suspension policy. It led to a study of whether overnight trips financed by outsiders should be allowed, and resulted in a pilot program to make coaches and players more aware of the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
My Rotary pals, who know their civics, were hoping for that.
By the way, civics for those of you who weren't around when it was a staple of every high school curriculum, is defined as ``a social science dealing with the RIGHTS and DUTIES of citizens.'' by CNB