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Clinton News-Record, 1983-06-01, Page 4PAGE 4 —CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, The Clanton Iaocas-Noaare to Poobteohod notch MeaoBrec+aday of P.O. ®am 59. Creaseon- Oaterem, Cont dm, 332132 10.9. Tel 2312.2243. lbooesscrOption dote. Canada °16-22. 8r. Clttnan • `13.62. per year E9 Beret®n . •22.22 par yaar 11 Bs rrr®t®earcd an soutond dodo mesio € y Who pout (Mkt, vndar ,he patron nouao@vr Tho Itows-Racard Boucorparvaled en 1952 The (saran luras-atentord. e®nN®ad lo. T 1, and Oro CBBnoan Itaor Gra, Pmnatdiod Bn 1223. Total pr@etj ran 4,2G2. .U' lncorp rating THE BLYTII STANDAR .1. HOWARD AITKEN - Publisher SHELLY McPHiEi - Editor GARY HA13T - Advertising Manager MARY ANN HOLei<NBEClt - Office Meneger 4 MEMBER MEMBER D isplay advertising rotas o vattoboe on requestelsto ear (Gate Cord Oda, 12 after rive Oct 1, 1m®1 CHSS gets good coverage This past week the News -Record editorial department has been flooded with a charge of criticisms and complaints from the local high school. The comments stem from a Huron -Perth final soccer game held on May 24 in Clinton. Sports Editor Rod Hilts covered the game and reported facts pertaining to an unfortunate incident when a scuffle broke out between the two teams, Clinton and Stratford, and the game officials. We have been accused by CHSS of biased, negative reporting. That, we feel, is totally unfair. In reporting the facts regarding the disagreement that occurred at the game, Rod Hilts contacted the people who were in charge of the game, the referees and the convenors. It is their job to give an unbiased, professional viewpoint of the game. Coaches of both Clinton and Stratford teams were also asked to comment on the game. The facts were obtained in the same way we would research a story regarding a motor -vehicle accident, a theft, a criminal charge. The police are the profes- sionals who are contacted to give fair, correct reports, not the prosecutor or the defendent. The most unfortunate criticism arising from the incident came from CHSS Prin- cipal Herb Murphy. He commented that other "outstanding events" at the school receive only "scant recognition by the press." must disagree with that. News -Record files from the beginning of September 1982 until May 1983, show that CHSS received coverage nearly every week, through photos, stories and the weekly CHSS Chronicle, a student submission, encouraged by the News -Record. For the record here is a listing of events covered at CHSS from September 1982 to May 1983 through photographs and stories. Sept. 22 - football photo; Oct. 6 - Grub Day (front page); Oct. 13 - Mafia Day photo; Oct. 13 - football photo; Oct. 13 - CHSS Souvenir Commencement Edition; Oct. 20 - football finals; Dec. 6 - Janet Tench literary award winner (features page); Dec. 15 - basketball tournament; Dec. 22 - basketball photo; Dec. 22 - CHSS Band Christmas concert' Dec. 29 - Drama Club's The Soapy Murder Case photo. Jan. 12 - basketball photo; Dec. 9 - Carnival Week (front page); Feb. 16 - Basketball photo, grad game promotion; Feb. 16 - student teacher hockey game photo; March 21 - choral workshop (front page); March 16 - basketball WOSSA playdowns; March 23 - Forum For Young Canadians; April 13 - top math students (features page); April 27 - soccer photo; April 27 - full page CHSS music features; May 4 - spring concert; May 11 - formal (front page); May 25 - Drama Club's June Groom photo. 0 refuse to call that "scant recognition." Mr. Murphy noted that "the school band and choir...hardly rates a line." Please note that the April 27, 1983 edition of the News -Record included a full feature page on the band and choir to promote their upcoming spring concert and com- munity activities. Music director Robb Parr volunteered the photographs and stories, we glady gave them a prominent spot in the newspaper. A report in July, 1982 regarding the 11 Ontario Scholars at CHSS was small, but it was certainly not overlooked. Attempts were made to obtain more information and photographs of the students who earned the awards. We did not succeed and as a result only a basic press release naming the students was run. It is important to hote however, that it is the News -Record policy to give On- tario Scholars prominent photograph and story coverage. We will continue to do this to the best of our ability. Mr. Murphy also wrote, "only after some pressure was applied by the school," did the News -Record report on "recent successes by our mathematics students." 1 wouldn't term a telephone call from the CHSS math department to arrange an interview and photo session with the students, "pressure." call it co-operation and communication and I believe that the News -Record has strived to maintain this excellent rapport with the local high school. The editorial department has always been more than willing to co-operate. We regularly telephone the CHSS front office for information regarding upcoming events. We also appreciate the assistance given to us by the CHSS newspaper correspondent Janet Tench, Communication to the public, of the students' accomplishments and achievements, are a vital part of the regular News -Record reporting. We have of- fered this more than 99 per cent of the time. I find it distressing to think that one not -so -pleasant story deserves such harsh criticism. - by S. McPhee. Dear Editor Principal wants positive coverage Dear Editor: The power of the media in shaping the perception of institutions by society has never been greater. It behooves the press to wield this power astutely. By failing to balance news reporting. a distorted view of events can be created leading people to inferences which are not valid. I refer to the news article regarding a soccer game held at CHSS on May 24 which was reported in the Clinton News -Record of the 25. While I do not dispute that an unsavory incident did occur at !ham end of the game, nor do 1 condone such displays of unsportsmanlike conduct, the reporting of the events has left me distressed. There are many outstanding events which occur in this school which result in scant recognition by the press and. therefore, by the public. The recent suc- cesses of our mathematics students in con- tests was reported only after some pressure w as applied by the school: the ex- traordinary showing of our graduating students in earning 11 Ontario Scholar- ships last June was reported in an article so minute that it was necessary to have the press find the article for us. the eontrlhu- (loris of the school t)anu anu cram ua con- certs around the community, at church services etc. hardly rates a line; in short, the successes of the school are seen to be not newsworthy. Why then is an unfortunate incident given such big press'. Where were the ma- jor reports in the paper when the same soc- cer team went undefeated in nine previous games? Where is the balance? i do not for one moment intimate the in- stitution of censorship. What is negative rnust be made known, but only to the degree relative to the positive. You have done a great disservice to the students and staff of this school. in future 1 must insist that fair, balanced reporting occur. 1 am proud of this school and its ac- complishments. The staff and students are proud of this school. The public should be proud of this school but they can be so only when complete, balanced information is disseminated. The press has a major role to play. It's time to do the job Yours truly, H.J. Murphy, Principal Dressing -up for the fair behind the scenes Conservative party at the moment. The It is sadly typical of our cynical time that while leading contenders for the Conservative party leadership pack meetings and manipulate delegates, no one is surprised at the poor showing of David Crombie. Many people in the party may shake their heads and say too bad because David,, is a nice guy but the saying that nice guys finish last has come to be accepted as truth.' Crombie, who once collected 95 percent of the vote in 'Toronto when he was mayor, isn't even getting support from Toronto delegates. Some polls have shown his support in the same league as John Gamble, the man known only as the guy who fronted the movement to dump Joe Clark. Despite his credentials, his long years of proven ability, the press gives him less credibility than Peter Pocklington who hasn't proven he can do anything in the political world except grab headlines. The fault lies partly with Crombie and his lack of a strong organization. As one of the first candidates into the campaign, he should have been able to get a head start, but he didn't. The largest part of the failure of the Crombie campaign to the present, however, comes from the nature of the Dear Editor keith roulston party has become a reactionary one, reacting against 15 years of Pierre Trudeau rather than setting out a positive vision of what the future for Canada could be. The right wing politicians like Brian Mulroney, John Crosbie and Peter Pocklington are getting the most fanatical support from people who not only want to top current trends of government but follow Ronald Reagan and lead us back to the 1950's. If the party continues to move in that direction, there is no place for David Crombie in it. "If Canadians find out that we mean to fix the country by doing great things for big business while we starve the widows and pensioners, they would run us out of Parliament," he said. "And so they should." I admit to being prejudiced toward David Crombie. I've known him for 17 years and never found many faults in him. He was in charge of student affairs at Ryerson Institute when I was a student there in the '60's, a time when students showed disrespect for nearly all leaders, yet he was admired and liked by students. I sat in a student parliament for which he was speaker. Later, he changed the face of Toronto as mayor of the city. He refused to agree with big business that any development was by T. Marr good development and wanted what was best for the people of the city. He made it a city of neighborhoods and made it a world- class city attracting attention from abroad. Through the years in opposition in Ottawa, he refused to play the game of opposing for opposing's sake. He always supported the party but he didn't rant and rave about the horrors of the government and the danger to democracy of every move by the Liberals. He saved his breath for when there was something he really believed in to fight for. In a party led by the snake -like presence of an Eric Neilson, that may not have won hire friends. It Crombie does not win the party leadership it will be a sad day for the party and the country. Unlike the reac- tionaries, Crombie is a positive force. He has the vision that Pierre Trudeau once gave the country without the personality faults that accompanied that vision. He wants to do for Canada what he did for Toronto, make it a world leader. He might do it. Certainly he's got a better chance of doing that than any of the other candidates. And he's probably got a better chance to convince Canadians that they can do it. First, though, he's got to con- vince Conservatives to think ahead, not back. Soccer manager is proud of his team Dear Editor: I think your article on the senior soccer game in Clinton between Central Huron Redmen and the Stratford Northwestern Huskies in the May 25 edition of the News Record was a very biased report. In the article, what your reporter didn't receive from the Stratford Northwestern coach, he received from the three officials who were all from Stratford. The descrip- tion of the fight omitted some major details. On the Stratford team No. 16, John Keolewyn put four Clinton players out tem- porarily with his kicking tactics. The fight began when Keolewyn went down the field from center with the ball shot and scored after the whistle had been blown at center. Koelewyn thought it was a big joke wasting our time. At this point Keith McClure dumped this player. The Clinton bench cleared, The referee split the fight with the linesman at his side. A Clinton player Bill Tugwell came around the circle of players to give his comments when linesman Rick Maz- zanti struck him on the head. Tugwell didn't strike the Stratford linesman back. At this point the referee announced the game was over. The question 1 ask is how a player can kick four guys, put them out of the game temporarily and still the Stratford team gets the free kick when their team caused the infraction? Brad Forbes was arguing with the referee asking why the game was over. Forbes came as close to Striking the official as possible but didn't strike the of- ficial. The potential winning goal shouldn't have counted because the Stratford players rushed the goalie knocking him down allowing another player to head the ball into the net. The rule says you can't rush the goal or even interfere with the goalie. The goal was scored on a corner kick. kaleidoscope Please show the hospital you care. Be sure to attend the official dedication ceremony and tours of the new Clinton Public Hospital wing, this Thursday starting at 2 p.m. The official ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. and will be attended by many local dignitaries. Tours of the new facilities will be held from 2 until 8 p.m. To honor the hospital's modern facilities the News -Record will be publishing a special edition next week. + + + And don't forget that this weekend (Tinton celebrates it's 129th Spring Fair I thought some calls were questionable but we seemed to receive all the bad calls. I think in any playoff game in the future, neutral referees should be brought in to of- ficiate the game. Perhaps it is significant that without the Stratford Referees, Strat- ford Northwestern was defeated 11-0 the next day by the Clarke Road Trojans in l,ondnn. We shouldn't have acted the way we did at the end of the game. Our Team should have shaken hands and wished the Huskies well for it was not their fault that the officiating was had. Although we last to Stratford and the referees. we are st ill proud of our season in that in 10 games this season, we lost one garne. Yours Truly i'aill East -Manager Senior Redmen Soccer Team It's still the least expensive entertainment that you and your family can enjoy. + + + But before you head to the fair on Saturday, bundle your old newspapers and put them by the curb for the 1 ondesboro Lions. The Lions will be making their monthly pick-up, bright and early. + + Happy birthday wishes this week go out to Clinton's Charlie Brown. Charlie was 76 - years -young on May 26 and a surprise party was held by family and friends to honor him. A song composed by Mary and Nina's "re -cycles" provided great en- tertainment for everyone. Thank you this week goes nut to the (linton ( alis and Scouts for their applause of appreciation to the News -Record, at their Father and Son banquet. And also to our Rayfield photographer George ('hapman and his wife Margaret, for the special jams they sent in if by chance my rasherry hushes grow, i may even attempt my own jam making this year But let's not Balk about gardening, let's not talk about the weather I only know that come hell or high water, I'm going to get my garden planted this week' See you in the lr,ud patch ecide write getters t neutral refs for ga;ales Dear Editor • I was very surprised to read the article in your May 25 paper about the Central Huron Redmen's soccer game against the Stratford Northwestern Huskies. I would have thought, since it was our hometown paper that they would have at least talked to the Clinton team and printed their view of the game as well as Stratford's view. The article said that the penalties Clin- ton took were the cause of the loss temper but the reporter didn't find out real reason for the anger. The goal which put Stratford into the lead was illegal because our goalie had been charged - The article also said that Redmen player, Bili Tugwell, "suddenly struck" the linesman after he was "pulled off" the Stratford player. There were many witnesses who saw the linesman strike Billy Tugwell and later deny that he had touched him. Perhaps "the fighting was uncalled for" as linesman McArdle said but that is because there never should have been three officials from Stratford when the Stratford team was playing and the linesman's son was on the team. This is especially true in a game such as the one played on Tuesday that was to decide who was going on in the playoffs and who was to be eliminated. Surely with all the referees and linesmen in the area they could find three people who were not from the same city as the op- posing team. I feel that our school should not have to take the punishment for the bad officiating by having our reputation as a fair school marred. We're not ashamed of our Redmen for their actions because we feel they weren't totally uncalled for and we feel that our paper should be proud enough of our school teams not to publish a biased report. They should have highlighted the fact that we had a no loss record until we went into this prejudiced game. Yours truly, Debbie Flynn C.H.S.S. student Paper should be proud of CHSS teams Dear Editor: I am writing this letter concerning an ar- ticle in the News -Record on Wednesday, May 25. The article about the Central Huron Redmen Senior Soccer team was absolutely disgusting and biased. Most of the article was against Clinton, but Rod Hilts did not mention an incident caused by Stratford. Throughout the arti- cle comments were made on how our senior Redmen's performance was simply unsportsman-like. Your reporter received only one "remark from the Redmen coach, Joe DeGroot, but emphasized many ab- solutely distasteful remarks from the Stratford coach Keegan and some even more crude remarks from the referee and linesmen. Perhaps it is significant that our coach made no rude remarks since our team, we as Redmen believe, made none of the blunders they were accused of. Your reporterso omitted some major details from his article. Firstly, there was no comment made about the time one of the linesmen hit Bill Tugwell on the back of the head. The reporter also mentioned that Brad Forbes hit linesman McArdlie. It was witnessed by many people that neither one struck the official. Thirdly, nothing was mentioned about the linesman's son being on the Stratford team. Did he not find that may have had some kind of significance to the game? Central Huron is a proud school and we are also proud of our teams. We as Redmen are proud to be winners, but we are not poor warpath losers. Yours truly Mike Taylor C.H.S.S. Fair reporting Editor's note - In any story, an authoritative figure's comments must be given priority over any other group or individual. In the case of the CHSS, Huron - Perth final soccer match, the officials' view of the incident was considered by the News -Record to be objective and un- biased. To add to the validity of the story, Huron -Perth Convenor Jack Mali gave his comments on the issue, also from an authoritative point of view. Allegations saying the officials were biased toward Northwestern because Linesman James McArdle's son played for the team are unfounded. In fact, Mr. McArdle's son plays for another high school team, Stratford Central, according to Convenor Mali. Convenor Mali also noted that any in- timidating gesture toward an official will result in an automatic two year suspension from organized soccer. He said that the accused CH55 players will not receive a hearing and their penalties will be officially handed out at the Huron -Perth sports meeting to be held .1 une 15 at the Mitchell Public School. In summary, the May 25 game report on the Huron -Perth Final, stated that the (IISS Redmen played, "a fine 60 minutes of soccer but ran into temper problems." The bottom line is - that's exactly what happened. in response to ('IISS Principal Herb Murphy's question, "Why was this un- fortunate incident given such big press "- It was the Huron -Perth final eame. it warranted coverage Unfortunately some unhappy incidents occurred at the May 24 game. however these are rare to the game of snorer