The Eyeopener is refusing to retract and apologize for a story it ran about alleged culturally insensitive remarks made by Ryerson women’s basketball coach, Sandra Pothier.
On Oct. 10, the paper received a notice from a lawyer representing the coach’s union demanding a retraction and apology for a story that ran on Aug. 30, in the Frosh Issue, about players’ allegations that Pothier made culturally insensitive remarks.
The story also said “similar allegations were made in 2001 and 2003” – a statement that the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), which represents Pothier, says is false.
“OPSEU is asking for a retraction for misinformation. The misinformation is untrue allegations. The 2001 and 2003 complaints never happened. This is untrue. No complaints of discrimination or racism have ever been made against Ms. Pothier,” Kate Hughes, the lawyer for OPSEU said.
The story was written by Eyeopener sports editor Amit Shilton with a sidebar about coaching scandals by news editor Maurice Cacho.
“I can’t talk about it until our lawyer is done with it,” Eyeopener editor-in-chief Robyn Doolittle said on Monday.
The notice named both reporters, the paper and Rye Eye Publishing Inc., asking for a full retraction and apology from the paper – something that they have no intention of doing, according to a report written by Doolittle for the Rye Eye Publishing’s monthly board meeting on Oct. 12.
In Doolittle’s report to the board, she said that the story had been reviewed by Canadian University Press (CUP) lawyer Carlos Martins before it went to print.
“He said it was a calculated risk, but a fabulous story and we had the notes/tapes to back it up,” Doolittle’s report said.
“The masthead discussed this (case) last night (Oct. 11) in length at our editorial meeting, and we are united behind the story and what it stands for,” Doolittle’s report continued.
The Eyeopener is required to cover the legal fees.
The Eyeopener will pay for this out of their contingency fund, which McLarty said had more than $60,000. The contingency fund is contributed to by 8 per cent of the paper’s student fees yearly.
The story was also printed in other student papers belonging to CUP, including York University’s Excalibur and University of Alberta’s The Gateway.
“We pulled it (the Eyeopener article) from the CUP website and we advised our other members to do the same,” CUP president Erin Millar said.
“This is a very rare case. Student papers have smaller circulations, so its harder to make a case that you have experienced libel,” she said.
Pothier was unable to comment about the case on her lawyer’s advice.
The Ryersonian ran stories on the controversy on Sept. 13 and Oct. 4, which were written by Meghan Hurley. While reporting on a women’s basketball game last weekend, Hurley was told by one of the team’s trainers, that Pothier and her staff will not give quotes for stories. They would only agree to speak with The Ryersonian if the sports editor and managing editor sign a letter agreeing not to publish anything more on the team’s situation.
The Ryersonian refused to accept those demands, and therefore the story written by Hurley on pg. 16 contains no quotes from the team.
No legal action has been taken against The Ryersonian.
The story was also picked up by the Toronto Star. Morgan Campbell, who wrote the story, said no legal action has been taken against the Star by OPSEU.
Ryerson’s administration and departmental staff, when contacted, would not comment.
Ann Whiteside, Ryerson's discrimination and harassment prevention officer, would not confirm or deny that an investigation was taking place into the Pothier allegations.
