An apology to the Lady Prairie Stars

February 03, 2010
By Michael Omenazu
Assistant Editor for Sports

In last week’s issue, the newspaper’s sports section displayed a schedule for the Women’s Basketball team. It included previous contests, their results, scores and upcoming matches. However, the Journal accidently printed losses for games the team had yet to play.

As the Assistant Editor for Sports, I would like to both assume full responsibility for the misprint and also extend a sincere apology to each member of the Women’s Basketball team.  The schedule was in no way a prediction of the games’ outcomes but rather a simple error.

Being a journalist I have a duty to maintain high standards of truth and integrity. As a member of the Journal, this obligation is clearly outlined in our code of conduct, which regulates our behavior. In a section titled Responsibility and Accuracy it demands, “Staff must be fair, accurate, honest and adhere to mainstream journalism ethics and principles.” Thus, I also apologize to my fellow staff members.

As a sports reporter and student, I have had the fortunate opportunity to witness UIS’ dramatic transformation as both an academic and athletic institution within the last few years. In the first year of competition at the NCAA Division II level understandably there has been a fair share of adversity.

However, just like in sports, the university has both been afforded and taken advantage of the opportunity to display virtuous qualities that translate to other aspects of life, even writing. These characteristics include integrity, honor and character.

Former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, a man forever remembered for his legacy of established dominance, wisely advised, “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”

While some readers of the paper may have seen the mistake as an indictment of the team’s skill or talent, an unfortunately irreversible consequence, Wooden’s words remain resounding.  Any negative perception created from the misprint is unfounded and irrelevant.

Current UIS sports squads are creating a legacy that will never be accurately reflected in any box score, statistic or newspaper graphic. Rather, each is laying down groundwork for future and sustained development. This growth will outlast even the longest of games and overtimes, surviving far beyond these players athletic and academic careers.

As pioneers for the university’s athletic program, chartering in the unknown territory of the NCAA and Great Lakes Valley Conference, the Women’s basketball team should take comfort in the fact that although I made a discouraging mistake, they are the ones who are making history.