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Correction and apology

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By Daily Lobo | New Mexico Daily Lobo
Last updated: 12/03/09 12:43am

From the editor-in-chief

The caption published Wednesday with the photo of Crystal Quiñonez was inaccurate. Quiñonez is, in fact, a U.S. citizen who was studying at El Centro de la Raza on Tuesday.

I apologize on behalf of myself and my staff for this error. I apologize to Crystal, her family, the staff and interns at El Centro de la Raza, and all UNM students for the distress this has caused.

El Centro de la Raza, an invaluable part of UNM, serves more than 1,000 students on campus each year. Though it targets Latino and Latina students, the department welcomes anyone who comes in the door. The caring staff at El Centro de la Raza helps students with any problems they might have related to school, work or family. The organization encourages students to bring their lives with them when they come in, to be a complete person and a student.

The consequences of the error on Wednesday’s front page are far-reaching, to say the least. The Daily Lobo strives for accuracy, and changes in procedure have been made to ensure that no such error can happen again.

The error occurred because several mistakes were made in the editing process for Wednesday’s edition. Every person involved in this process will be disciplined, according to his or her level of responsibility, in the form of suspension without pay.

The caption was originally dictated by the photographer, who had no part in the error. The mistake began in the next step of our caption process: an editing session with the news editor and photo editor. The news editor requested the opportunity to write his own apology and explanation of what happened, which can be found at right. However, the managing editor who read and approved the caption after the news editor wrote it should have questioned the caption. The copy chief who edited the caption after the managing editor should have questioned it as well.

All who were involved apologize. We have spoken with Crystal Quiñonez and representatives from El Centro de la Raza to express our sincere regret.

Upon further reflection, I believe the photo of Quiñonez should not have been published to announce this multimedia series, and the headline above the photo was also misleading. This mistake I also regret deeply, and will discuss with my staff. The multimedia series will not be published.

In sum, we have learned a valuable lesson. Though every single person who works at the Daily Lobo is vigilant, ethical and serious about journalistic integrity, we must try harder. Our goal is to provide you, our readers, with factually accurate information about your community and its leaders so that you can be an effective member of society with the tools you need to voice your concerns and change the world as you see fit.

Thank you for giving us that opportunity.

Sincerely,
Rachel Hill
Editor-in-chief

From the news editor

I take responsibility for writing that Crystal Quiñonez was an undocumented student. Quiñonez is actually a U.S. citizen.

Every video multimedia piece promoted on the Daily Lobo’s front page this year used a photo taken as a still from the video itself. In this case, however, the image used to promote the piece was a photo taken separately of a student studying in El Centro de la Raza. I operated under the assumption that the young woman in the photo was featured in the movie and, therefore, was an undocumented student who gave permission for her likeness and name to be printed. As a result, I wrote that she was an undocumented student.

Quiñonez gave permission to have her photograph taken, but she was not in the multimedia piece and she is not an undocumented student.

I take the issue of undocumented students seriously. I understand that students are not protected from questioning and potential deportation because they are on campus.

The decision to label Quiñonez as undocumented came from simple, sound reasoning.

However, by failing to check and double-check the information, I did not meet the journalistic standards I strive to uphold. I deeply regret my carelessness, and I understand the implications of my action. I am confident that the news section in every single issue of the Daily Lobo printed under my tenure was produced with care and attention to detail, and my commitment to accuracy and fairness will be reflected on the front page throughout the rest of my journalistic career.

Respectfully,
Pat Lohmann
News editor

Published December 3, 2009 in News

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38 comments

Hank Wilson

December 3, 2009 at 2:23 AM
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My, my, my – look just how quickly the tide has turned on the “Daily Low Blow.” Perhaps a bit of karma for all that your publication has done to ensure that student morale at UNM remains at all-time low? From the latest Garbiso/athletics fiasco (which in itself is fascinating how the Locksley/Gerald incident devolved into a completely separate story) to your lack of coverage of important campus-wide events and to your biased commentary on everything else, we, the students, are sick of your “kick ‘em when they’re down” attitude.

It’s pretty sad when over 90% of students who pick up a Daily Lobo use it simply for the comics, sudoku, and crossword. But I can’t say I’m very surprised; my middle school offered a better quality, more objective, and more accurate paper than your campus-wide tabloid. Heck, so does Fox News! And, quite frankly, even the crosswords are worse than semesters past.

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Please take a look at your readers – yes, the same people that are paying for you to write these nonsense articles which are aimed to do nothing more than pin students against students, students against administration, administration against faculty, faculty against faculty….you get the point. These students have a right to be angry. Very angry.

It’s bad enough when your inaccurate articles tarnish the reputations of individuals on campus who are being misquoted and misrepresented in your publication on a daily basis. But it’s outrageous when your pieces threaten to ruin the lives of students and their families. Just what exactly was the point you were trying to make by publishing Quinones’ photo? Even if she were undocumented, was the point to have her deported? And was the Spanish-English dictionary strategically placed at the forefront of the photo meant to suggest that those that are undocumented are ignorant and/or illiterate?

If you still want to continue with your mavericky, Pulitzer-prize winning antics, please do so without wasting student fees. Any school newspaper should be a PR firm for the school, not a receptacle for dirty laundry. Maybe you can take some hints on ledes from a respectable source, like UNM Today. Is the fact that the FSAE program was reinstated no big deal? Its potential downfall was great enough to feed your presses for a few days. How about the recent Gerald May Award announcements, recognizing UNM’s top staff members? Perhaps the fact that UNM recently boasted two Rhodes scholarship finalists?

Perhaps I shouldn’t mention the fact that your paper is sitting on $300,000 revenue laying around unutilized. But I will, simply because you seem so quick to jump on stories in regards to budget cuts around campus. Perhaps ASUNM should reroute some of that 8.5% of student fees that you’re getting on top of that $300,000 and the revenue gained from charging students and student groups to publish ads in the paper to worthy causes – causes that boost student morale, UNM’s national reputation, or student well-being. Perhaps to more respectable student publication such as Conceptions Southwest or Best Student Essays?

Each day, Lobos on campus are doing remarkable things and fail to be recognized by your paper. Until you begin covering such news actually worth reading, I look forward to reading the article that covers the NAACP suing the socks off of your paper for your latest debacle.

slowhike

December 3, 2009 at 6:12 AM
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Rachel and Pat,

Don’t be too hard on yourselves, but it is good to print a retraction. Hopefully you did not do so out of fear that your reader/student base are made up predominantly of illegal immigrants and sympathizers. One only has to look at the enlightened antics of any socialist activist group to remember that this is an anti-USA movement. As they are in any country where immigrants believe in “gimme mine” instead of “individual freedom and hard work”. Of course many use the blank excuse of Texas joining the Union, and include New Mexico as cannon fodder for their lowly goal of breaking the law of the land and benefitting from a system they have contributed nothing to.

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Again I commend you for publishing a retraction and apology, you’ve probably unwitting done the opposite and recognized illegal immigrants as citizens many more times.

I agree with Hank Wilson that a different direction is optimal for the entire Lobo publication. One with an upward and supportive tragectory rather than the dribble of a few political issues.

Rhian Hibner

December 3, 2009 at 7:48 AM
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To the Daily Lobo staff: I’ll admit, a retraction was necessary. I think an outright apology is a noble gesture, albeit one that this particular error doesn’t warrant.

In general: If an illegal immigrant gets deported because of a photo in a newspaper, I’m not going to lose any sleep over it. The fact that this particular student was not actually an immigrant has no bearing on my opinion on that.

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To Hank: So, you would prefer a newspaper that is controlled by the University, never able to print anything contreversial? You must have been a big fan of the state run papers in the Soviet Union. Since you clearly are a myopic ass that prefers feel good propaganda and doublespeak to free press, I’ll end with this:

Screw you, Hank.

Maria

December 3, 2009 at 7:55 AM
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Verónica Méndez-Cruz,

I do not understand how your organization could allow a photographer into your facility to take what was obviously a staged photo. El Centro should be a place where students can feel safe. It should never be a place where students are exposed to dangers that could destroy their life. It is imperative you understand the break down in process that lead to this unfortunate problem. If you do not, what will prevent another lapse? If any student is forced out of UNM, you and your staff should resign from your positions.

Loyola Chastain

December 3, 2009 at 8:17 AM
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Rachel and Pat~
I commend you for taking responsibility for your actions and bringing the truth to the light as soon as you knew a wrong had been committed. I hope the UNM community recognizes that taking immediate responsibility for harming another is the right thing to do. We seem to have gotten away from those ethics.

Thank you

December 3, 2009 at 8:26 AM
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“A school newspaper should be a PR firm for the school” What???? This does sound like the Soviet Union.
Thank you for the apology; it was an ethical action. What I would like to see is the same level of ethics — and an apology from individuals like Pres. Schmidly, Mike Locksley, and the s m sex worker-with-students Prof. Lisa Chavez – all of whom have brought such shame to UNM. Particularly by not acknowledging their wrongdoing. Or by offering such a tiny apology, it is laughable. They should learn from your maturity.

JD

December 3, 2009 at 8:57 AM
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Slowhike…why am I always inspired to reply to your ignorant, hateful ravings?

Sigh.

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Probably because you are SO ignorant and SO hateful. Can you just shut the hell up about immigrants for once? Are they really impacting your life that much so that it becomes a freakin’ OBSESSION? Sad.

And it’s clear from your posts that you do not cherish or love freedom as you claim. You only want freedom for you and those pathetic souls who agree with your fascist ideology.

You are worst than a fascist, because you aren’t even aware that you ARE one.

I think I understand your “philosophy” however. it appears that you are one of those wannabe ‘FAMILY’ cult members who feel it is your God-given duty to rule the country because only rich white people are qualified. The fact that you brag about your high-level contacts at the DA’s office lead me to believe that you are one of those deluded individuals who absolutely feel it is your right to rid the country of undesirables so that you and your white trash ilk can siphon more of the nation’s wealth into your greedy little Luciferian hands. And you hide this desire behind the mask of piousness.

For those of you who’ve never heard of THE FAMILY, according to Jeff Sharlet, author of: “The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power,”

The FAMILY is “…an international network of evangelical activists in government, military and business. The Family is dedicated to this idea that Christianity has gotten it all wrong for two thousand years by focusing on the poor, the suffering and the weak.”

Am I right, Slowhike? The poor and the needy are that way because it’s God’s will that they should suffer. According to you, we should not sympathize with anyone because they don’t deserve it, huh? You think all immigrants should be deported, homosexuals should be locked up, women are property, and everyone else should only serve the needs of the elite, because God ordained it.

Sick, twisted, evil, and REALLY STUPID.

Don’t worry, Slowhike, your ‘illuminated’ buddies will cut you loose, too, as soon as your purpose has been served.

Good luck with that.

Cait R

December 3, 2009 at 9:17 AM
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Pat and Rachel

I’m not gonna say anything about the general situation, ‘cause I’m in England for a year and didn’t even see this photo when it was published in the newspaper, and anyway I don’t feel like starting a debate. I admit it seems like a bad idea to print a picture of a student and say they’re undocumented, but hey, I wasn’t there and I don’t know anything about the situation, so I’ll avoid passing too much judgment on that.

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But thank you both for apologizing. It’s something I think people really don’t do enough, and to take responsibility for your actions is also a very noble thing to do. Hopefully these mistakes won’t be made in the future, and hopefully this problem gets ironed out sooner rather than later (and to the satisfaction of all parties). But thank you for setting an example that when you screw up, you NEED to take responsibility and own up to it.

news.commenter

December 3, 2009 at 9:29 AM
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The issue is Daily Lobo’s decision against considering how this impacts students. Not foreseeing the possible problems and not understanding the emotional and legal implications for your reporting is repugnant. Where is your integrity?

You apologies seem inauthentic.

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Take an ethics class. All of you.

Maritn

December 3, 2009 at 9:36 AM
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I would also like to commend the Lobo for taking responsibility. Please continue to put pressure on the Administration. Maybe, just maybe, they will learn from the students and take responsibility for the current condition of UNM.

Randal Bottomfeeder

December 3, 2009 at 11:09 AM
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I’m interested in just how many of the students who go to the La Raza building are actually legal citizens…Such a center is a safe haven for criminals who came to this country illegally. Anyone using that building for whatever purpose should be REQUIRED to present some proof of US citizenship or be investigated by the proper authorities. Though if such a thing were to take place I’d estimate that UNM would lose a good 5% of the total enrollment. You mexicans are so proud of your country waving that flag around and speaking spanish – why don’t you go live over there and utilize their education system?

US Citizen

December 3, 2009 at 11:30 AM
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Thanks for putting it so clear Randall. I agree. There are many United States citizens who cannot afford a college education. Money seems to be the predicting factor often for college opportunity. Id La Raza caters to illegal aliens, then La Raza should be banned from campus activity or other activities on campus. First and foremost, studenta at UNM should be following the laws which are in effect which protect and support the United States. Anything less, then maybe UNM should not receive federal monies, grants and research opportunities as a sanction for aiding and abeiting criminals to be in the United States of America illegally. Regardless of the picture and caption were, being in error, the truth is what it is…this particular student may of been harmed by the printing of photo and caption, but the bigger focus should be on the idea of illegals receiving an education in the United States of America, without ptoper documents which allow residency or citizen status. Now there would be a story worth reading.

brown pride

December 3, 2009 at 12:58 PM
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Ha, great comment JD.

For all you twits that think La Raza is a front for various nefarious brown activities, why don’t you grow a pair and go in there and ask you wannabe barney fifes. Cretans like you walk around with a frown on your face, mad at the world and blaming all the minorities for your sad lot in life. Minorities didn’t make you average and mediocre at what you do. Life haters…

To Randall Bottomfeeder andUS Citizen

December 3, 2009 at 3:38 PM
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While the both of you may be a tad extreme in your views, you cannot be denied in the validity of your statements. Illegal Immigrants do not deserve a education at the expense of taxpayers. Any civil minded person should be able to agree with that statement. If they want an education they should pay out of country tuition just like all the other foreign students do. And if that’s narrow minded, asking people to pay their dues, then call me such. I don’t care.

Rakotzu

December 3, 2009 at 4:09 PM
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To Randall Bottomfeeder and US citizen:
I think your comments are ignorant. If u did come to El Centro u would know that the majority of the students there are in fact legal citizens. Maybe you are not even a UNM student, because if you were, then you would notice Asian people speaking Chinese/Korean/Japanese, Europeans speaking French/Italian etc. What if they want to speak Spanish? is it affecting your life? or are you so eager to know what they are saying? (and if you are then take Spanish classes). El Centro is a “safe heaven” for anyone who wants to be there, whether you are Latin, European, Asian, Anglo. Come see it for yourselves. Please stop being so ignorant because anyone living in this country and specially this state should know about and be respectful of the cultural differences.

wrong facts

December 3, 2009 at 4:09 PM
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First of all I would like to say that Veronica Mendez-Cruz and the staff at EL Centro do a great job of helping students with anything they need. El Centro de la Raza is a safe place for many students, and everyone is welcomed. Undocumented immigrants do not take the tax payers money. To Randall Bottomfeeder undocumented students are not criminals they are trying to further themselves in their education just as all university students are. Also, I am mexican and I’am proud of it.I was born here so I

do you know?

December 3, 2009 at 4:58 PM
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El Centro Por La Raza means “The Center for The Race”?
Is that racist? Just wondering…

Rakotzu

December 3, 2009 at 6:30 PM
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Mhhh, I think they are called ethnic centers because they are primarily aimed for a specific ethnicity. There is the Indian American Student Services, African American Student Services,and the Office of International Programs & Studies. Of curse they have a name that is specific for a given ethnicity, why wouldn’t they? Does that make them racist? (by the way although they are for a specific ethnicity anyone from anywhere can go and receive services from them).

Sam Duro

December 3, 2009 at 6:58 PM
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I’m curious. Exactly what services does the Center for the Race have to offer this gringo?

IndependentThinker

December 3, 2009 at 7:49 PM
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The term “RAZA” is meant to be symbolical of the people not one certain “race” (in quotes since there is no such thing in the human population) but one that is universal. If you do some research you will easily find the origins of the word. It takes into account the mixing of the European, native, and African peoples of Latin America. Its very infuriating how certain people jump to conclusion without doing any research, I mean if you are getting a college education then learn how to use the thing we call a brain. El Centro is a place that serves all students who come through their doors and if you don’t believe that then get off your butt and go there yourself. As far undocumented students taking money maybe you should learn to use a Library, which by the way we have many on campus, and do some proper research. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, the great thing about this country. However don’t be an idiotic zombie and take someones bitter hateful opinions as facts make sure its your opinion and comes from your own research.

Matt

December 3, 2009 at 8:57 PM
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@ independent thinker: so if we employ your logic, its perfectly fine to have a white pride center on UNM’s campus with the title of the building in German, all at taxpayer and private donor’s expense? As long as there is an open invitation to all students, and some form of “services” are offered there? Would you be comfortable or supportive about THAT?

You talk about using your education, how about learning the meaning of the word “ethnocentrism”, and how it can apply to members of any ethnicity…

Skeptical

December 4, 2009 at 12:32 AM
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So what sort of penalties were doled out? Highly likely, there were none.

dyk

December 4, 2009 at 12:55 AM
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@ independent thinker: I don’t need a college degree to know what the phrase means. And “symbolical” is not a word.

slowhike

December 4, 2009 at 6:39 AM
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JD my heart soars when I see that my posts have disturbed you, that is indeed one of my intentions. Mudslinging and illogical rants about God are definitely diverse oppositions for you. The mudslinging that you are fairly talented mixed with the comments of God that you seem to know little about. It is quite a stark contrast. For enlightenments sake I will mention a simple truth that you can ponder. Every human experience and situation we have, without exception reveals that for ordered societal complexity to occur and remain stable, some aspect of the environment must cause it’s retention. For example if you place pieces of paper, each with one of the letters of the alphabet loosely in a basket and shake the basket some of the letters may fall into the bottom of the basket and form a word. That word would be an example of an ordered societal complexity. But that word is lost as soon as the basket is shaken again because there no glue or tape holding it together.

God created the universe, man , nature etc. And as is obvious in the Bible, gave man free will. Meaning that it is up to man to work with what’s available (God’s creations) and define society. No race is intended to be dominant (Israel was God’s test tube) but a race or “races” can become dominant.

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On another topic, there is not a more clear example of discrimination in NM than La Raza or any other Hispanic support organization for that matter. La Raza may be a fine organization, run by good people, etc. but any attempt to defend it as not being discriminatory is folly.

JD

December 4, 2009 at 8:24 AM
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Another bizarre, symbolism-laced response from SLOWHIKE.

Your pseudo-masonic commentary confirms in my mind that you are exactly what I described.

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So, what degree are you? Oh, yeah – you can’t talk about that.

You know you don’t believe in the God of the Bible. That’s for the uninitiated…all of us “unwashed masses” as it were. Why don’t you come clean?

And of course, we all know that the only discrimmination that still exists in this country is REVERSE DISCRIMMINATION against white people. If you live in goddam fantasy world.

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