In addition to Christian Oberle's steps to professional and proper journalism, I, too, have a few ingredients I'd like to add to his list regarding Ms. Wong's poor choice in publishing her article on Asian discrimination at Bates. Since I and professor Wagner were the focus of her article, I should have something to share with the community regarding the incident.

Although I do recognize Ms. Wong's attempt to explore racial issues at Bates, the strategy she chose to pursue the incident was absolutely wrong and unprofessional as a journalist. The first issue that needs to be addressed here is journalistic responsibility. If the subject of your Forum story repeatedly asks you not to run the story -- his insistence added to by similar requests from a Dean of the college -- then aren't you, Ms. Wong, violating certain rights of members of the student population here? Aren't you behaving like literary papparazzi in denying someone the right to privacy by relentlessly pursuing that story and insisting on publishing it? I did not ask for Wagner's comment in the first place, and I certainly did not ask you to publish your story. Despite my wishes, you continued to do so, and now you have blown the incident way out of proportion. I suppose you were trying to ignite once again, what I call, the "Myrna Morales phenomenon." It always takes a very heated, explosive incident to get the Bates community to address racial issues. And to me, that is sad. It also bothers me that you chose to pursue this incident in that fashion -- a bad choice Ms. Wong.

The other issue to consider, Ms. Wong, is what makes a story a newsworthy story? Is my encounter with Professor Wagner anywhere near on par with the Asian beating incident or the hate crime involving Chopsticks last year? I think not... Moreover, you make allegations that "isolated incidents" like the one involving me, "happen often at Bates." Prove that -- and if you cannot, then don't muddy the relatively untroubled waters at Bates. We are a friendly group here. Lighten up.

Sincerely,

Peter Kawada '98

Note: After Peter Kawada spoke with a dean, the dean contacted me later that evening, during newspaper production. But the dean did not request that I not run my opinion piece. Kawada's assumption that he had is incorrect. -- Michelle Wong