Editorial: Los rumors pale in comparison to other issues

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Created on Wednesday, 25 April 2012 20:30

Editor's Note: This editorial represents the majority views of the editorial board, and was written collaboratively between those members. Feedback can be sent to the editors at letters@theappalachianonline.com.

We have more than 1,700 Twitter followers and more than 1,500 Facebook fans. We use both accounts to disseminate information about a number of issues that should be of intense interest to students at Appalachian State University.

But we received more feedback and engagement than we ever have when we mistakenly tweeted that Los Arcoiris Mexican Restaurant planned to close.

Here's what happened. The Appalachian called the restaurant to ask about the rumor and an employee confirmed the closing. But after hearing concerns from readers that the information might be false, we called again and management confirmed that the restaurant is not currently planning to close.

We're always happy to admit an oversight in our reporting process, and we'll use the incident as a learning opportunity. Social media reporting is brand-new. There are still plenty of mistakes and lessons in our future.

All the same, however, we're disappointed. Throughout the morning Wednesday, our Twitter timeline exploded with feedback. We even received a string of phone calls to our office.

All of a sudden, people cared - and it was all about a Mexican restaurant.

Sorry burrito lovers, in a list of the most important issues covered this year, the potential closing of Los wouldn't even make the top 10.

We have never seen students engage with our content the way they did today. And frankly, we think there are things that deserve your attention more.

Instead of suddenly mobilizing when your quesadillas and margaritas are at stake, start engaging with issues that actually affect you - and the thousands of dollars you pay this university each year.

We'd expect to see more engagement when Appalachian athletes are accused of sexual misconduct or when the student-funded Association of Student Governments raises stipends for its officers. We'd like to see social media involvement when it's time to elect a student body president and vice-president, who will represent you before the faculty, the administration and the Board of Trustees.

There are plenty of important issues you should engage with and care about and make phone calls to our office to discuss. Whether or not Los Arcoiris remains open is not one of them.