Right or Wrong?

Journalism professor, Mark Tatge, is under review by the Depauw University after he used a student's public records and information as a lesson in his reporting class. The student, Alison Stephens, and her parents were outraged when they heard Tatge was making an example of her. Stephens is an athlete at the University and was arrested for DWI.



I believe once Stephens was arrested, she gave up all her rights of privacy. Her being arrested was a public record and anyone could have seen it themselves. Local papers even put arrests in the paper on a daily basis. Any student in Tatge's class could have found out about what happened. 


Kelly McBride, Poynter ethicist, says Tatge “had alternatives that could have minimized the harm to this particular student,” and could have made the lesson about a larger number of cases instead of just Stephens' case. This is true. However, by focusing on one single case Tatge was providing a better learning experience for his students. In real life we don't look at several cases when we are reporting. We focus on one case and put all of our hard work into it. 

Stephens and her family blamed the wrong person. She brought it on herself. If you don't want to be exploited for drunk driving, you simply don't do it. Celebrities are put in the spotlight everyday for every bad thing they do. Their only way out is to not commit crimes. People like Stephens, or even you and me, should not be any different. If Morgan Freeman can get arrested for DWI and be talked about all over the United States, so can Stephens. Especially a case like Stephens where there is no excuse for a student athlete to be drinking and driving. Tatge saw an opportunity that could connect to his students and he took it. There has to be a reason why he has won several awards in the past. 

In the case of Oliver Sipple, who saved President Ford's life, his life was over when a journalist reported that he was gay. In comparison, Stephens has no reason to be angry. The biggest thing that could've came out of this is that students know she drinks now. There was never any harm to the reputation of a college student who drinks. If anything she brought more attention on herself. Now people are really talking about her story.  She should have cracked down and took responsibility for her own actions instead of blaming Tatge. 

MY FINAL VERDICT: Tatge did nothing wrong.

Mark Tatge has been cleared of all charges in the case. 

See: Jim Romenesko's Blog for more info