I would like express my sincere dismay in which the entire story of the false beating of Deantrious Mitchell has been handled.

The Daily has exhibited poor journalistic ethics and methods in reporting the “racial tensions” on campus.

The very first Daily that came out with the news of the Mitchell beating was a fair one, giving the necessary facts and police details that the general public has a right to know.

Seeing that this was a supposed violent “white on black” incident, you reported the next day of the reaction of the African American community on campus.

But all the quotes you took were from some member of the BSA or other African American activist.

True, these people have a right to voice their concerns, but can you call that an unbiased cross-section of the student body?

The next day, you “reported” more and more the fear of minorities and the overall prejudice of the white population, taking quotes from, once again, members or leaders of minority groups on campus.

These people do not stand for a peaceful inter-racial community, but instead look for the instances in which they can blow up a small disturbance and start flinging accusations around.

Why then does the Daily take a biased approach, especially on a racially-sensitive issue such as this?

Why does the Daily pick leaders and members of an African-American activist group such as BSA to represent the African American community?

Would you guys go running to the leader of the Ku Klux Klan if it were eight black men beating on a white guy? I should hope not.

The fact is that there are minimal “racial tensions” on campus. Dispel the myth that the white community has some plot to put down all minorities.

Even the minimal tensions are a result of a predominantly Caucasian college community trying to get accustomed to diversity.

The only time the tensions became noticeable was when this story came about and the accusations started flying.

Meron Wondwosen, BSA president, said people believed the beating happened because the racial tensions were high. I think that if we didn’t believe him, then there would be reason to believe that ISU has a race problem.

But we did believe him, and all of us were angered by it. That says a lot about ISU.

Mitchell, as much help as he needs, may be a genius. His false story just shows how easily we can be influenced by biased media such as the Daily.

The Daily even has the nerve to condescend to us, stating on yesterday’s opinion page “It’s important…to remain calm, remembering we are at an institution of higher learning.”

But in the story of Mitchell, the Daily took every chance to exploit those tiny fears that come naturally along with a diverse community. That is the mark of a tabloid.

I would like to ask the Daily to please use better judgement in reporting socially-sensitive issues. Don’t take an angle, just give us some unbiased facts.

It is not necessary for you guys to stir up controversy. Leave that to the Rikki Lake show.

Nick Mostek

Freshman

Physics