Talk:North Central University
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[edit] Removal of Equality Ride information
Edits were made to this page on 5-24-06 to keep this entry focused on general subject matter about North Central University. The addition of a "Significant Events at North Central University" portion was created to keep this page up to date. NPOV applies in this instance.
[edit] Response and restoration / NPOV dispute
Sometimes schools receive publicity they don't want. This is the case with the stir in response to the Equality Ride visit, but it needs to be talked about in this article. North Central is not very well known, and gained greater attention (though negative) due to the events deleted by the NCU Webmaster.
Neutrality can include information pertaining to the topic of North Central University outside statistics. The removal of an entire section explaining the presence of the Equality Ride at the University severely undercuts the integrity of a fair and balanced system. North Central University should not use Wikipedia as a positive publicity venue. Used that way, it is no longer a neutral or all-encompassing forum.
Furthermore, such a significant event in the life of the institution is worth detailing. Given the amount of attention given to the North Central because of the Equality Ride, some information-seekers will visit this article for information about the Equality Ride visit.
A link to a NCU press-release does no justice to the paragraphs of information deleted. (I added a link to the Soulforce press release to balance it out.) The point is to provide information and links. Four major television news affiliates aired stories on this event, as well as the Star Tribune which covered it from several different angles before, during, and after the event.
Thus, I find it necessary to restore it and to add a "neutrality" disclaimer at the top. Since the presence of this part of the article is in dispute, then it should be talked about in the forum, not unilaterally removed. That -might- be considered Wikipedia vandalism.
Note: the only press release quoted in the article has now been removed from the NCU website.
[edit] Response to "Response and Restoration" Post - 5-30-06
I have made the edits to the article that I think fit within Wikipedia guidelines.
I completely agree with having a neutrality flag at the top of the article.
Observations regarding the above post.
1) "Four major television news affiliates aired stories on this event."
Five local broadcast affiliates ran video pieces on the Equality Ride visit to North Central on April 17 and 18.
2) "North Central...gained greater attention (though negative)"
This is a subjective statement. North Central received an outpouring of positive support from alumni and friends during this time. Media portrayal of this event was balanced, in the opinion of the Media Relations office. In at least three published articles/editorials/broadcasts by the external media, North Central's actions and policies during the event were praised and/or the other party was criticized.
3) "Such a significant event in the life of the institution is worth detailing."
Again, this is a subjective statement. North Central University just celebrated its 75th anniversary this year. Although relatively unknown, the University has had several newsworthy events and people tied to the University during those 75 years, either favorable and unfavorable in a public relations sense.
Some of these past events received national media attention, much more so in comparison to the event in April. And these past events have done much more to shape the history and reputation of the school than the event in April.
4) "...the Star Tribune which covered it from several different angles before, during, and after the event"
The Star Tribune ran four stories dealing with the Equality Ride. In those stories, coverage of North Central ranged from simply mentioning our name, to pictures of our campus and interviews with our administrators and students, to an interview that focused on the story of one alumnus.
5) "Given the amount of attention given to the North Central because of the Equality Ride, some information-seekers will visit this article for information about the Equality Ride visit."
Other colleges and universities were visited during this Ride. In the interest of fairness and unbiased perspective, will you be adding Equality Ride sections to those schools' articles as well? If not, why not?
"North Central University should not use Wikipedia as a positive publicity venue."
This statement and subsequent argument is erronious. I challenge the author of the disputed content to their claim of neutrality by asking, are you in any way connected to the website, "nlnews" or its author(s)? If yes, then the inclusion of this web site in this article and your intentions are most certainly biased. Are you in any way connected to the Equality Ride or Soulforce? If yes, do you really consider yourself NPOV? Could the posting of so many links to other organizations, not affiliated with the University at all, be considered using Wikipedia as a positive publicity venue?
The Equality Ride occurred, but so did many other events over the school year that impacted thousands of people. It is appropriate to post such content.
Again, I have made the edits to the article that I think fit within Wikipedia guidelines.
And I completely agree with having a neutrality flag at the top of the article.
Susan Detlefsen
NCU Media Relations
[edit] Just Add the Relevant Information, then!
The main reason NCU Media Relations seems to give for not including the entire original section about the Equality Ride visit is this: ". . . the University has had several newsworthy events and people tied to the University during those 75 years . . ."
Include that information too. Don't take away from the quality of the information already provided, just because you feel there are more important details not covered.
Is there information about important people within the Assemblies of God who attended North Central? If not, add it. I can think of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, for one. Thomas Trask?
As for the relevance of this part of the article as opposed to something important that happened thirty years ago, of course this is more worthy of mention now. Relevance has a bit to do with timeliness.
Everything was added with a neutral style of writing, neither condemning nor praising the University.
[edit] Disclosure
I don't intend to make this entry an all encompassing history of North Central University. Frankly, I don't have the time. I do intend to add information to this entry that is factual. More information and history can be found at the NCU web site.
My point still stands as justification for my editing. NCU has 75 years of history that has shaped and molded the people and policies connected to it. In my opinion, dismissing the relevance of an event because it might have happened five, ten or twenty years ago dismisses the significance of history. Relevance is often independent of timeliness.
I've revealed my identity, position and biases in the interest of disclosing the origin of the content I add and why I add it. Would you be willing to do the same? It is encouraged in Wikipedia's policies.
Susan Detlefsen
NCU Media Relations
[edit] Proposal: Addition of Section about Notable Students
I am proposing a section devoted to important or relevant students who have attended or graduated North Central University. Some of these include: the Assembly of God General Superintendent, & Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. I am guessing there are plenty more noteworthy people to include, also. Thoughts?
[edit] Edit on June 12, 2006
A deletion was made to the page where it indicated that nlnews.org is the URL of the NCU student newspaper. According to this web site, "Nlnews.org is a privately owned website and is not affiliated with North Central University. The purpose of the website is to unofficially represent the university's student newspaper, The Northern Light."
Additions were also made to the Equality Ride portion of the page.
Susan Detlefsen NCU Media Relations
[edit] Response to June 12 Edit
Your addition is clearly in the good spirit of Wikipedia. It also helps balance the information a bit, I think. I temporarily removed one part though: the uncited quote by Jake Reitan. “This is what we came to do,” said Jacob Reitan. Got a link for it? It should stay if we can find that quote.
