I have some concerns about the story published on the clothing drive last Wednesday. I was interviewed for the story by a student reporter. We talked for a while, and I told her why FAC decided to sponsor the clothing drive. She asked me various questions, and I was happy to answer.

However, whenever I got the accuracy check from Merlin Mann I noticed a few things were wrong. I immediately e-mailed the Optimist back with the corrections and asked for them to be changed. They were not.

I understand that your staff has deadlines to meet, but when that story was published I was a bit embarrassed.

Several students who attend ACU go to church at Impact. They are middle to upper class students that grew up in downtown Houston. The story sounded like everyone who went to church down there was homeless or dirt poor. That is not true.

Saying that there are kids that go to church there that can’t afford nice clothes, and saying that the kids down there can’t afford clothes are two totally different statements. One is true, and the other is very stereotypical.

I was very careful in my wording when talking to the reporter because I did not want to come across as stereotypical to the students that attend ACU from Impact.

I would appreciate it if in the future when student reporters turn stories in you would be extra cautious before printing them. Thank you.

Nikki Addison
freshman broadcast journalism major from Magnolia

Editor’s note: stories from students in a Basic News class are submitted to their instructor and checked for accuracy with sources before running.