Exponent editor-in-chief apologizes

WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (WLFI) - Purdue's Exponent Newspaper took some major heat over the weekend. Some said that with the September 17 edition of their regular  feature "Sex Position of the Week," the paper was advocating rape.

( Read previous story. )

After three days of getting what editor-in-chief Zoe Hayes called a "flood of phone calls and emails," an apology was run on page 6 of the Purdue Exponent. It was on the same page where you can find the Sex Position of the Week every Friday.

Here is just part of Hayes' apology: "We erred and we’re sorry – not because of your response, but because we were wrong and would’ve been wrong even if nobody had said so."

Freshman Tahany Najera said she has mixed feelings about the feature.

"I see the intentions were to be humorous, but at the same time it is The Exponent,” said Najera. “Everybody sees it. Maybe if it was to a more specific audience, maybe a smaller group instead of the whole school it would not be as bad."

Najera admitted she was not offended, but was glad to see an apology for the people who were.

"It is good that they took the initiative and responded to the people's reactions,” added Najera.

Sophomore Alec Turner had a similar opinion.

"If people are upset it does warrant an apology, but as far as I am concerned, it is funny, it is a joke,” said Turner.

Fellow sophomore Nate Romine said illustrations like this one would be better served in the comics section.

"I think people just need to take it just a little bit lighter and just maybe take it for what it is worth and not so seriously so we will not have this problem," said Romine.

That was his opinion. Exponent Editor-in-Chief Zoe Hayes said she and the newspaper staff consider the illustration a major issue, one they are extremely sorry for printing.

You can read the full text of the apology on The Exponent's website .