The following errors and/or omissions appeared in last week's Windy City Times' article on Northeastern University's Coming Out Ball:
1. Original article text: 'Northeastern Student Body President Gary Gaspard agreed to approve (the Coming Out Ball) after being strongly urged by both the Dean of Students and the Director of Student Affairs to drop his vociferous opposition.' The corrected text should read: 'Northeastern Student Body President Gary Gaspard shared his concerns about the Coming Out Ball with Assistant Dean of Students and the Director of Student Activities, but ultimately decided to approve the event without urging from the administration.'
2. Original article text attributes to Robin Matthies the quote that 'Northeastern is not really that gay friendly. I wish it was safer here.' Matthies clarifies her statement: 'Northeastern is a fairly safe space for GLBT students, however, we are continually working towards educating all at Northeastern University about GLBT issues.'
3. Original article states says that Anthony Jenkins is the Dean of Students at Northeastern. Jenkins' title is Assistant Dean of Students.
4. Original article stated that Gary Gaspard, Student Body President, is Asian. Gaspard's nationality is Haitian.
5. Original article stated that 'Last week, (Anne) Mothkovich who has been receiving anonymous anti-GLBT hate mail for some time —discovered a poster outside the offices of the GLBA. It read: 'Beware all new and old students—the queers are recruiting.' According to Anne Mothkovich, neither she nor the GLBA received hate mail. This error was the result of miscommunication during the interview.
Additionally, Mothkovich and Robin Matthies, the other source for the information used in the article, say WCT published information requested to be off-record in this article when the text of an anti-GLBT leaflet appeared in the article. Writer Lori Weiner states: 'As requested by Ms. Mothkovich and Ms. Matthies, I left the last sentence of the leaflet—relating to the alleged conduct of a specific individual at Northeastern University —off-record per the subjects' request. It was my understanding during our conversation that this was the only material to be kept off-record. I apologize for any misunderstanding which may have taken place regarding which material was intended for the article.'
In a letter to WCT requesting corrections and clarifications to the article, Mothkovich and Matthies state: 'Our purpose in contacting the Windy City Times was to promote the Coming Out Ball and Northeastern Illinois University's diverse community in a positive manner. Although we encountered obstacles along the way in planning another successful event, ultimately we feel that Northeastern has been most supportive of GLBT students and the Coming Out Ball. We feel that the article in your paper may have given readers the wrong impression of Northeastern, and are concerned that the 'negative' statements which were in the article may actually decrease attendance at our event.'
Northeastern Illinois University's 'Coming Out Ball' will be held Oct. 10, 8 p.m. till 1 a.m., $8 for all area high school and college students with a school ID and $10 for other community members. Northeastern students get in free. All proceeds will benefit the Lesbian Community Cancer Project and Test Positive Aware Network. For more information about the 'Coming Out Ball' go to www.neiu.edu/~glba. Northeastern Illinois University is located at 5500 N. St. Louis Ave., Chicago. If you would like to make a donation for the blind auction please contact Anne Mothkovich at (773) 442-4550.