Posted on 09/15/2002 8:54:15 AM PDT by Cynderbean
Today: September 15, 2002 at 8:30:11 PDT
Chicago Writer Quits for Sex Conduct
ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO- Chicago Tribune columnist Bob Greene resigned after acknowledging he engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with a teenage girl, the newspaper said Sunday.
In a note on the paper's front page, editor Ann Marie Lipinski said Greene, 55, acknowledged the sexual conduct with a girl in her late teens whom he met in connection with his column.
"Greene's behavior was a serious violation of Tribune ethics and standards for its journalists," Lipinski said. "We deeply regret the conduct, its effect on the young woman and the impact the disclosure has on the trust our readers placed in Greene and this newspaper."
The Tribune first heard of the allegation after receiving an anonymous complaint last week, prompting an inquiry by editors and other Tribune officials, Lipinski said in the note. The conduct occurred "some years ago," she said.
Greene was suspended by the paper, which then sought his resignation. He submitted it Saturday night.
Gary Weitman, a spokesman for Tribune Co., said the newspaper and company would have no further comment. He said Greene did not leave a statement and he did have a phone number to reach him. Greene did not immediately respond to a email message Sunday from The Associated Press.
Greene's column on social issues and American life appeared in the Tribune four times a week and was syndicated, appearing in newspapers around the country. He also has written several books and provided commentary on Tribune-owned WGN TV.
Did you read this story? He is IN trouble for doing this. Whether you think it is OK is irrelevant. It obviously was not and he should have known that.
I don't think we are getting the whole story. There is something else here that is going unmentioned. Was she the 17-year-old version of 'late teen'? Was she an employee of the paper and this became Sexual Harassment? Did he do things on company property or time?
Something else here is going on that they are not mentioning. A May/December romance would not be sufficient to cause dismissal; Certainly not in a Chicago newspaper.
This is the crux of the matter. The woman who wrote an expose on Jack Welch for some magazine had to resign when it was revealed she was having an affair with him at the same time (which affair is going to cost Jack Welch a bundle after his wife filed for divorce).
I'm not a big fan of journalism, but there's an unwritten rule about not getting involved emotionally or otherwise with subjects of stories or columns.
I simply disagree.
Where do you get 'nineteen?' The Chicago Trib story said she was in her "late teens." Why didn't they just give her correct age? Because if they had, Greene might very well be in jail right now?
I believe the phrase they used at the time was "as old as his daughter."
Well, I am assuming that if he was a 'kiddie diddler' that there would be some more severe ramifications than just a firing. Child molestation is no longer a crime people just wink about. There are serious charges lodged and astronomical civil suits levied after almost any iteration of these sort of things, especially with a person who has some fame.
No, it is not irrelevant. If he committed crimes, I would like to know. If he was improper with a collegue, that would be good knowledge. And so on. I want to understand what it is that he did that was so bad it got him fired.
He bopped a teenager. You are confusing legal with moral.
That's 20 years ago. And before Greene got married. A 30 something single guy in a bar is quite likely to proposition some gal - and he would have no reason to believe she was in her teens. The bar was supposed to card the customers.
I'm beginning to wonder who has targeted Greene, and why? And who is next? These things usually don't stop at one.
Provided the teenager was legal and of-age, I don't see any immorality. Perhaps you can quote me the bible verse that lets us know the number of years of age a couple can differ, and still remain moral?
An assumption I'm not prepared to share, since the exact age of the child was conveniently left out of the story. I agree that he probably wouldn't be hauled off to prison if the kid were 19 going on 38, but I guess we'll never know either way.
No, judging from the story here, he gets off on younger women...
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