LETTERS: STORY CLARIFICATIONS

To the editor:

I would like to correct a few of the comments made, supposedly by me, in your article about the three finalists for the presidency of Southeast Missouri State University ("Southeast finalists all faced campus hurdles," March 7). I said, when taken in context, that I could not meet entrance requirements in applying for Louisiana State University and when discussing New Orleans and a 60-mile drive, that students were inclined to attend Southeastern Louisiana University because the school meets the needs of the wide-open region. Why would students drive 30 miles to LSU and the University of New Orleans when SLU is in their back yard? That is what I said.

I never said Dr. G. Warren Smith II disagreed with those who felt campus quality could be raised only by raising admission standards, I want a retraction, because it is included in the section of the story where my comments were taken out of context and appears to be my comment.

If a little more digging had been done, the SLU football program was done away with before Smith was president. An attempt to bring football back by Smith was made in 1988. I never said Smith did away with the football program.

I said there were a lot of people at the board of trustees who were not happy with Smith and, since he would not play the political game, wanted him out. Words were left out, and it sounds like many people at the university were not happy with him, and this is not true.

I hope you have this conversation taped, because I would love to hear the comments I really made about Smith. I said he was open to students, and the times I met with him he was a very competent man.

You never did quote the Hammond Chamber or the board of trustees, who had a huge role in Smith's resignation.

I would like a retraction for the above-mentioned items.

CRAIG SIMMONS, Editor

The Lion's Roar

Southeastern Louisiana University

Hammond, La.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Mark Bliss, who interviewed Craig Simmons, and the Southeast Missourian believe the March 7 story accurately reflects the remarks made by Simmons during a telephone interview. It appears Simmons was pressured to recant some of his remarks. Concerning the SLU football program, Dr. G. Warren Smith II ended the SLU football program because of financial problems as well as NCAA concerns. He also dropped the baseball and basketball programs, but they later were restored. Smith has said he would like to have brought back the football program as well.