The matter under discussion included two introductory letters written by John Lavine, the dean of Medill School of Journalism, one of the country's premier journalism schools. The use of unnamed sources in his letters brought Lavine to the forefront of the school debate.

A columnist for The Daily Northwestern, a student newspaper, said he took one quote to the class involved and no one would admit saying it.

Lavine, 67, told the Chicago Tribune that the quotes "came from real people," though he couldn't recall whether they came by way of e-mail or by conversations.

He defended his use of anonymous quotes by drawing a distinction between a news story and a "letter" to alumni in a magazine.

"Context is all-important. I wasn't doing a news story. I wasn't covering the news," Lavine said. "When I write news stories, I am as careful and thorough about sources as anyone you will find. ... This is not a news story. This is a personal letter."