Lake Norman High School yearbook photo story correction and retraction

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — BEGINNING ON MAY 23, 2012, WE PUBLISHED SEVERAL ARTICLES REGARDING A CONTROVERSY OVER A PHOTO OF A YOUNG LADY WHICH APPEARED IN THE 2012 LAKE NORMAN HIGH SCHOOL YEAR BOOK. THESE ARTICLES INCLUDED THOSE TITLED: Racy photo found in local high school yearbook; Racy yearbook photo blown out of proportion, other parents say; $100 high school yearbook tainted with 'porn' photo, parents say; District says student baring genitals in yearbook was 'accidental' or 'illusion'; AND School system issues second response to yearbook photo controversy.

SOME OF THESE ARTICLES CONTAINED STATEMENTS TO THE EFFECT THAT THE YOUNG LADY STOOD AND LIFTED HER GOWN WAIST HIGH AND INTENTIONALLY EXPOSED HER BARE GENITALS AND PRIVATE PARTS IN ORDER TO MAKE A LASTING IMPRESSION AND LEGACY AT HER ALMA MATER; THAT THE YOUNG LADY THOUGHT ABOUT MAKING THIS LASTING IMPRESSION VAGINA FIRST; THAT THE YEAR BOOK CONTAINED PORNOGRAPHY; AND THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME CONSIDERATION BY THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL CHARGES OR POSSIBLE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES.

UPON CLOSER EXAMINATION, THESE STATEMENTS ARE IN ERROR.  IT APPEARS THE STATEMENT THAT THE YOUNG LADY INTENTIONALLY RAISED HER GOWN WAIST HIGH AND EXPOSED HERSELF WAS MERELY THE UNSUPPORTED OPINION OF ONE OF THE PARENTS OF A STUDENT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND THAT THERE ARE OTHERS WHO DO NOT BELIEVE THIS TO BE TRUE.  MOREOVER, THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY EVIDENCE THAT THE YOUNG LADY WAS STANDING, LIFTING HER GOWN OR INTENTIONALLY EXPOSING HERSELF; ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LASTING IMPRESSION AND LEGACY AT THE SCHOOL; CREATING PORNOGRAPHY; OR THAT THERE IS ANY CONSIDERATION BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OF BRINGING CRIMINAL CHARGES.

WE DEEPLY REGRET THESE ERRORS, HAVE REMOVED THE FORMER POSTED ARTICLES AND COMPLETELY RETRACT AND CORRECT THEM. WE OPENLY AND FULLY APOLOGIZE TO THE YOUNG LADY SHOWN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH AND TO OUR READERS FOR THESE ERRORS AND ANY EMBARRASSMENT OR DISCOMFORT THEY MAY HAVE CAUSED.

WSOC