Dear Megan,

I know it's been a couple of years since you wrote that one little article about us Cougs. Sure, you probably didn't appreciate all the attention you received from it, considering it was negative, but I think you learned a good lesson.

If you are going to diss on any school, especially Washington State University, you have to make sure you are basing your argument on facts, not rival football team assumptions. As a junior in the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, I know where you were "trying" to go with your article, but sadly you missed the mark completely.

I know you've graduated now, and I hope you are doing well in your career, but I'm happy us Cougs got the opportunity to teach you a thing or two about journalism. Criticism is always good, but you need to have facts and proof behind everything you say as a journalist, especially if it's controversial.

I'm sorry you're not a Coug because at the Edward R. Murrow School of Communication you would have definitely learned to reevaluate that article and probably would have changed it to where you would not have had as much negative backlash. But something U of A must have lacked to share with you was the fact that every action causes a reaction, and that's why smart journalism is so important.

I've read your article multiple times, trying to evaluate it using the ethical theory of the veil of ignorance. Even with that, though, I find it hard to think this article was written tastefully or with good intentions.

I'm sorry you're not a Coug because you would be able to see how much of a family we all are. It doesn't matter who it is or where they are, we all would drop anything to help out a fellow Coug.

As a girl who was bullied a lot through middle and high school, I never thought there would be a college where people treat each other with respect and love until I visited and started to attend WSU. You really missed the mark on saying we don't have any tradition or identity.

We Cougs have a close-knit school, and I'm not sure how they do things U of A. But I do know that my mom and best friend both attended there and that the community was less than that. Being close is a bonus of being a Coug, that and going away to the small but awesome town of Pullman! We learn the true meaning of friendship, family, and respect, which obviously a lot of other schools can't say the same.

This article is not here to bash you or make you relive the mean comments some of my fellow Cougs said, but just know they said it because they are passionate. They loved WSU and still do. That sure says a lot, especially when people who are alumni are so passionate about their alma mater and stick up for it, even if it's not in the best manner.

Oh, and also I just wanted to let you know that we won the Sun Bowl this season! Our record was 9-4 overall and 6-3 in conference, and U of A was 7-6 and 3-6 in conference, but I'm sure you already knew that.

Thank you for that article, though. I think it put a fire under us Cougs and made us get to where we are now. Now onto the conference title next year! Again, we are all sorry you are not a Coug, Megan, but we promise to move forward and be kind when we speak of you in the future. Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,

Fellow Cougs