Headline disservice to retiring president

"Headlines can make or break a story," cautioned my high school newswriting teacher way back in 1948. You've proved it again by inaccurately tagging Wheaton College President Duane Litfin's long-planned retirement a resignation ("Wheaton College head will resign"- March 21). There's a big difference. Those who didn't take time to read past the head may incorrectly assume the departure is eminent or - as is the case every day in today's news - under pressure or forced by others.

Nothing could be further from the facts, as the excellently reported article details. After a stellar tenure, President Litfin has given his institution generous lead time to find a successor, even as it has been commonly known for almost two years that he intended to retire toward the end of the school's current "Promise of Wheaton" capital campaign.

He will be greatly missed. But thankfully now there may not be someone reminding Duane his schedule doesn't allow for that round of golf. We will be waiting at the first tee.

Ray Smith

Wheaton