The Daily Campus recently published an article titled “Looking for Diversity: Greek System Remains Segregated.”

Lauren Atkinson wrote the article and quoted Lauren Brundage. Brundage was not part of the group interviewed by Atkinson and asked that this correction be made. Her request was refused.

Atkinson subsequently sent an e-mail to Brundage that included an apology to the members of Kappa Alpha Theta for misrepresenting them and “to specifically apologize to Lauren Brundage for misquoting her.” She intended this to be published, but was apparently blocked by Nicole Jacobsen, Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Campus.

When her repeated requests for a correction were ignored, Brundage asked me, her father, for help. I called Jacobsen and asked if she would please issue a correction. Jacobsen acknowledged that she had the e-mail but said it was not enough. She needed to hear the information directly from Atkinson.

Following their conversation, Atkinson apparently decided to change her mind. I will let the reader surmise what caused this change.

Jacobsen then decided to take this a step further. In a letter from the editor on March 18, she accused me of saying I would shut down the paper if the correction was not issued. I never hinted at anything so preposterous.

Let me offer the following for the readers to judge: in a 30+-year business career, a career involving hundreds of transactions, I have never sued anyone, been sued, threatened a suit, or been threatened by one.

In addition, I am a passionate supporter of S.M.U. and enjoy many friendships there. I hope that the thought that I would suggest anything this ridiculous sounds as far-fetched as it is!

Sadly, some individuals at the school’s newspaper seem willing to compromise their integrity rather than acknowledge a small mistake. In journalism or life, this is a terrible compromise.

-Peter Brundage