Attn: Laura Hathaway,

Roughly one-third of Americans under the age of 40 chose satirical news programs such as the Daily Show and the Colbert Report as their primary news source instead of some other more serious nightly news program, and after reading your article, “Two Athletes Charged” on April 21, it is overwhelmingly obvious to me why.

Your article seemed to be nothing more than a cheap attempt to demonize two young men who you have never met, based on an incident you know nothing about. I am surprised that as a journalist you chose to put your faith in a source who has nothing to fear from the truth or the individuals you accuse, and yet declined to be named because “she still feels at risk.”

My name is Brett Hamilton-Koll, I am a 23-year-old male, I live at 2015 S. High St., and I was at the January “brawl” which you so poorly narrated in your article. Easily verifiable facts, such as the charges against the accused or disciplinary action from the Athletic Department, were flat out incorrect.

I feel no risk saying that your article was grossly incorrect, and in my opinion slanderous. I am not afraid of people knowing the truth. I am, however, sick and tired of hypocrites who on one hand admonish universities for special treatment of student athletes (based on presumed revenues or notoriety), and on the next hand jump at the chance to use those same student athlete’s notoriety in an attempt to incite interest in a newspaper and themselves.

Truthfully I am quite sad that you would be so quick to write such an unfounded and accusatory story. I am not going to comment on specific facts of the case because it is pending, and I am sure within time that you will learn you were grossly negligent in writing your article and plastering it on the front page of your paper. (When you do, I hope your apology will be written with the same gusto as your accusation.)

What concerns me the most is how eerily similar this situation is to one that occurred in March 2006, when another investigative journalist (Nancy Grace) and an ambitious District Attorney (Mike Nifong) tried to increase their own popularity and notoriety at the expense of three Duke lacrosse players. Both Grace and Nifong pronounced the three young men guilty without trial or any legitimate evidence. Much to Grace’s chagrin, the charges were found to be fraudulent and were dropped, but not before the lives and reputations of the student athletes were tarnished beyond repair.

It is, I suppose, some comfort to know that the Nifong quickly found himself out of a job, but unfortunately Grace did not receive the same justice. I am disappointed in this article because to seek out a credible source, or to discern any legitimate facts, and as a result I have completely lost respect for you and your paper.

I respect this university and its students (athletes or not). I respect the education I have received here, I respect the instructors who teach here, and I respect the diploma that I will receive upon graduation in May. I expect more intelligence and integrity from DU’s students than your article conveyed to the public.

I am, quite frankly, embarrassed that upon your graduation, your diploma will carry the same weight as mine. Perhaps you will show yours to Grace, she may be hiring. Please let me know if it is possible to get published because I think someone needs to speak to Ilija and Brendan.

Sincerely,Brett Hamilton-Koll