The Sun Journal’s article, “Bates rates poor for town-gown” Sun Journal was an unfair portrayal of town-gown relations (Aug. 29).

First, the article perpetuates a myth about a fence surrounding Bates that, unfortunately, started on the campus and has been repeated so often that it is widely believed. At no time was the campus, or any one of its buildings, ever “surrounded” by a chain-link fence.

Second, the public should take the Princeton Review’s ratings with a grain of salt. In its introduction it states, “Our survey is qualitative and anecdotal rather than quantitative…this approach sometimes means we blow the result …” (Pg. 11).

Finally, the article’s most disturbing aspect is the reporter’s choice to highlight one negative rating and to de-emphasize two positive ratings. Buried near the end of the article and not mentioned in the headline or the subhead were the higher ratings. Bates was rated the 12th in the nation in the category of “Best Overall Academic Experience for Undergraduates” and the 10th in the category of “Great Campus Food.”

At times in Bates’ history, town-gown relations have not been the best. Over the last decade, Bates and the Lewiston-Auburn community have taken unprecedented strides to build better bridges between the college and the community. It is unfortunate that an article is printed that contains inaccuracies and highlights only the negative from a mostly positive review. The students of Bates and the community deserve better from their local newspaper.

Jeffrey D. Sturgis, Minot