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As a recent Reed Graduate (Class of 2006) I found the WWeek Article to be offensive because its utter lack of journalistic integrity. It is replete with factual errors to the point that I think it is basically about value. WWeek's editors were reckless to have published such a sensational tabloid quality story. This isn't news-this is a mix of fabrication and recklessness that does no one a service.

Reed is a school of great rigor where students are asked to think for themselves and strive to understand the world around them. A vast majority of students take responsibility for their actions and act with a reasonable level of caution and care. Throughout our society a small slice of all groups use drugs, people in every profession and every socio-economic status fall prey to addiction. If Pitkin was a journalist with any shred of integrity he would have checked his facts and wrote a far different story. To take one tragedy and us it as a chance to assault Reed is a sad commentary of Mr. Pitkin's character and skill as a reporter.

In my time at Reed I was NEVER pressured to use drugs and was supported both by my peers and the institution. Lets not forget the the student who died was addicted when he came to Reed and was fighting difficult battle before he was touched by Reed.

If you want to encourage safety Reed is doing a great job. Enforcement will only drive drug usage underground where it will become more dangerous. Remember, in this article there were wild claims about Renn Fayre and a public party culture, yet this death happened in the students residence when he was alone. Mr. Pitkin and WWeek have done a disservice to Reed, Portland and to the debate about drugs with there sensational reporting.

posted 5 years, 1 month ago
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