Editorial: The truth matters

Only part of this debacle is clear. A man was beaten hard enough to shatter his jaw. He was found choking on his own blood in the street. Scott Morrison and Jeremiah Dominguez were with friends, among hundreds of other tourists, in Cabo San Lucas when it happened.

Everything else boils down to unanswered questions.

Did Morrison and Dominguez ever meet Kyle Meagher? Did Morrison punch him once? Did he damage Meagher’s face enough to put him in the hospital? Did he punch him at all?

Meagher is adamant in his claims that Morrison was the attacker. Morrison is just as adamant when he says he does not know Meagher, and he believes the attacker could have been anyone.

Friends of Morrison and Dominguez say the star basketball players are innocent, adding that the duo never acted abnormally during the two days before they were arrested. Meanwhile, Meagher’s family, who pushed to release the PSU athletes from prison, stand by his side.

Will we actually know what happened? Probably not, unless one of the groups admits it’s lying or further evidence is unearthed. But with the media frenzy surrounding the events, it’s difficult to tell what is true.

Mexican authorities released Morrison and Dominguez from prison without pressing charges. All three men are with family members. It may seem that the worst damage this situation caused is the temporary pain Meagher will suffer, and that Morrison and Dominguez are suspended from the Vikings basketball team.

The worst consequences, however, will haunt the two athletes for the rest of their lives. Whether media coverage was fair or unfair, their names have been dragged through the mud.

For the most part, media outlets reported information as accurately as possible, some of it incorrect because the story was still developing.

But people across the continent, media outlets included, defamed Morrison by assuming that he was involved. In the same light, the possibility that he at least punched Kyle Meagher cannot be denied.

The unfairness of this situation came to fruition when John Canzano wrote an uninformed, baseless and offensive column on Wednesday. He used Morrison’s situation as an impetus to make a larger point about the dangers of spring break partying, but his lack of knowledge turned the column into nothing more than an uncalled-for attack.

Because there are so many unknowns that may never be answered, the situation must be put into perspective. Morrison may have punched Kyle Meagher, or he may not have. Until the facts of the situation surface, everyone must remember that we cannot pass judgment before we know the truth.