Letter: Bryant Pritchett about Sterling Atkins

Dear editor:
I am writing in response to the coverage of the death of Sterling Atkins with this week’s [Feb. 14] edition of the Eagle.

As I approached the Kent Hall Front desk on Thursday morning, I was appalled at the image of Sterling’s family member carrying his personal belongings out of the residence hall. While I understand the need to cover the story, the front page lacked professionalism and tact. An image of Sterling as the great young man that we knew him as would have been respectful. Instead you chose to put that on the front page for shock value. This campus has been through enough in learning of the death of a close friend and classmate without the Eagle covering his death in poor taste.

Also, in reading the Editorial about the reevaluation of the notification plan, there was a line in the article that is purely disrespectful. The quote reads, “Most would agree that waiting to publicly release information prior to the family being informed is in bad taste.”  If editorial staff believes that the campus has a right to know of a classmate’s death prior to their family, only raises more questions about your integrity.  If that is how you feel, then I think your desire to report the news story is taking precedent over being a respectful and decent human being.

Based on this coverage and the overall direction the paper is taking, do not count on me wasting my time in the future to read the garbage and bashing of the campus that you proceed to put into press weekly.

—Bryant Pritchett, Kent Hall Assistant Director