Medill Dean John Lavine told a group of Medill graduates gathered at a Chicago hotel that he should have kept his notebook containing the names of the students he quoted, the Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday.

Two months ago a columnist for the Daily Northwestern questioned Lavine's use of anonymous quotes from students who detailed positive experiences with Medill's new curriculum.

"I really blew it. There is really no other way to say that," Lavine told alumni at Medill's annual spring fling in Chicago Tuesday night.

Alumnus Ben Jackson told the Tribune that more than a dozen alums have been discussing Lavine's mistake through an e-mail group.

Jackson, who received a master's degree in 2000, said the use of anonymous quotes was a violation of journalistic ethics.

He and others who graduated from the journalism school worry that Lavine's actions have hurt Medill's reputation.