Feeling a bit homesick for local news I stumbled across an article on LifeSiteNews.com about a Minnesota school in Albertville that allegedly denied a pro-life club official status. While other student-led-groups such a Diversity club, an Anime club and an Environmental club were allowed, a Pro-life group known as "All Life is Valuable" (ALIV) was not given the full approvel by the school. Or was it?
After reading this article, I checked out other state news including CBS Minnesota and msnbc.com and found that the the superintendent and the assistant superintendent said this student group had not been denied access after all.
This made me think, if the student group is being accepted, then why are they still suing the St. Michael-Albertville school?
Going back to LifeSite, I realized how incredibly the story was one-sided. I will admit LifeSite gave much more information regarding the allegations of the school; explained in detail the mission of the pro-life student group; and included the Alliance Defense Fund who filed the lawsuit on the student group's behalf.
However this story seemed to present accusations toward the school's faculty. The writer quoted only the ADF senior counsel, while the other two stories only had comments made by the superintendent and assistant superintendent. LifeSite attempted to be fair by presenting the principle's alledged decision but the writer never quoted him.
"Yet, Dale Carlson, principle of St. Michael-Albertville High School, has denied ALIV equal treatments. ADF pointed out that District Policy 801 requires equal access for clubs for 'religious, political, or philosophical reasons during non-instructional time. "
From this quote, it almost seemed like the article assumed that the highschool principle was not giving the pro-life group fair treatment however I believe the principle was not getting the fair treatment.
Under or over reporting is also a form of bias. The CBS Minnesota article makes the student group look somewhat negative by not including all of its character traits or missions.
"The club focuses on issues like abortion, abstinence and politics."
It failed to add that the group also deals with a life issues, personal responsibilty, leadership, community service, peer pressure and promoting respect and dignity for all others, as was printed in LifeSiteNews.
After reading several publications I still do not think I have the full story about this Minnesota highschool, but what I have gathered thus far is ADF is suing the school for denying a pro-life group official status within the school which the superintendents claim it already has. This is quite confusing. Reading these articles show that extreme bias do nothing for the reader but confuse them.
I look forward to watching this story either develop or fall flat. Until then the mystery remains.
May all stories be fair and factual. Let peace and equality dominate this world!
Posted by: Vegas Skidmore | March 05, 2013 at 01:40 AM
This is interesting. It makes me wonder what's behind that story. I'm excited to read some more.
Posted by: Schanz Reiter | March 05, 2013 at 03:36 AM
Well. This story is not alone in this worsen world because this is already rampant in every sides of the world. This is a kind of disease that nobody knows when to cure.
Posted by: Pettie Underhill | March 16, 2013 at 08:21 PM