To the editor:

I am disappointed with Monday’s edition of the Daily.

I would like to criticize the Daily’s staff for not giving equal coverage to the Women’s basketball team after the end of their stellar season.

The women’s team deserved equal photo coverage. Perhaps adequate photos were not available, but the photo space given to the men’s team was unnecessary.

I understand that the photo of Paul Shirley during the final minutes of the men’s game was a great photo op, but how can you defend giving that photo half of the front page?

The photo did display the very honest reaction that Mr. Shirley was experiencing after their devastating loss, but you have done an adequate job of completely exploiting Mr. Shirley’s feelings as well.

Just because that photo was printed in many newspapers in Iowa and the Midwest does not give you the right to further exploit him.

Labeling his expression as “grimacing” completely denies his emotional reaction. Anyone who watched the game on Saturday knows that Mr. Shirley was crying, and VERY rightfully so.

For you to label his emotion as anything but is just further perpetuating society’s very negative view regarding real men showing real emotion.

His reaction was the most honest portrayal that I have ever seen of commitment, sacrifice and dedication; all of which were pivotal to the success of both the men’s and women’s teams this season.

This issue has made me further question the Daily’s commitment to honesty and ethics, as well as the nature of humanity in the media.

Brenda Crawford

Graduate student

Psychology