2007-2008 senate, president inaugurated

SGA resolution to "preserve editorial independence" of The University News

By: Lisa Watson

Posted: 5/4/07

The final meeting of the 34th General Assembly of Saint Louis University's Student Government Association took place this Wednesday.

In addition to presenting end-of-the-year awards and swearing in new members, the Senate granted a spot-funding request, passed a resolution to enhance SLU's environmental sustainability and passed a resolution to modify the Grand Shuttle's route. A resolution was also passed requesting the Board of Trustees to table its proposal to rescind The University News' charter until its next scheduled meeting in September, so that administrators and students can have more time to come to a compromise on a replacement charter.

The Mary A. Bruemmer Award was presented to Matthew LeBlanc for his dedication to students; Chris Pingel received the Joseph Hodes Student of the Year Award for his years on SGA, in the Department of Housing and Residence Life and as financial chairperson for Relay for Life; and Megan Heeney received the George D. Wendel Civic Leadership Award for her work in Campus Ministry. New members of the Great Issues Committee, Black Student Alliance and International Student Federation were confirmed, as were the associate justices for the Student Conduct Board.

A committee to oversee the use of the technology fee was established, which will include students, faculty, staff and ITS administrators among its members.

A spot-funding request of $1,490 was passed for the Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapeutics Club. The funding will help cover hotel costs for the club when they send several students to a conference in Washington, D.C., this summer.

The senate recommended to the SLU Department of Transportation that the number of stops on the Grand Shuttle route be cut for the next semester, decreasing the running time from 30 minutes to 20 minutes.

Senator Sonal Oza presented an update on the Environmental Task Force's progress, explaining SGA's work with Chartwells, the Department of Residence Life and other groups. The ETF aims to make students more aware of current recycling opportunities on campus, as well as to increase the number of recycling locations. The task force also worked with Chartwells to change cold beverage cups to "greenware," a material that is more environmentally friendly than normal plastic. Another goal is to target next year's freshmen, to educate them of ways to save energy and recycle.

Senator John Carroll introduced a bill urging the administration to preserve the editorial independence of The University News. The paper's editors were given the option on Monday of either accepting a new charter or moving their operations off campus. Carroll said that the bill was still relevant despite the fact that conversation on the charter had developed on Wednesday.

Though no administrators were present, a letter from Kent Porterfield, vice president of student development, was made available. "There is absolutely no attempt to control the newspaper's content," said the letter.

Outgoing Editor in Chief Diana Benanti and Katie Lewis, the EIC-elect, spoke on behalf of the newspaper. "We just want to be a part of the conversation, and as of yet we haven't been invited to do so," Lewis said.

Senator Jared Walsh referred to the University's move to rescind the charter in the final week of classes as a "spring surprise," comparing it to other controversial moves in past years such as the graduation fee, the firing of Fr. Doody and Fr. Barry and the revocation of the FACHEX scholarships.

"Since August, I've been told off the record [that the University might make changes to The University News]," said Benanti, "I haven't been allowed to write about it or talk about it."

However, both editors stated that they didn't realize that the paper's charter was the primary problem. "As of 4:30 Monday, all this is news to us," said Lewis.

President Evan Krauss said that the issue was not brought up in any President's Coordinating Council meeting he had attended. However, results of an audit that took place in February had raised red flags to him, prompting him to urge Benanti to start revising the charter.

The editors' problems with the revised charter that they were presented with on Monday include the power it gives to the Department of Student Development to dismiss editors. Lewis pointed out that the advisory board could dismiss the editors if they consider something the paper printed to be libelous, but the members of the board are not necessarily journalism professionals.

"I don't think the dismissal of a student editor should be done by anyone other than the other editors," said Benanti. She further said placing the editors' jobs under control of the Department of Student Development would threaten the editorial independence of the paper.

"I think we would definitely lose all credibility we once may have had," she said. "I think we've lost some credibility this year, and you have nothing as a journalist if you don't have credibility."

Benanti also said that creating a committee to hire editors, rather than having it done by the EIC, is a mistake. "You need to know the people you're choosing and you need to know how they work … I think that animosity would be fostered [under the revised charter]."

Lewis pointed out that many other colleges, such as Georgetown University and Boston College, allow their editors in chief to choose the other editors. Under the new charter, the EIC would be on the appointing board, but would not have a vote.

Pingel said that the main problem was a lack of time. "We need to send them [the administrators] back to the table with The University News editorial board, so that they can compromise," he said.

Senator Ben Corrado introduced an amendment to the resolution, saying, "It's addressing the administration, and we need to address the Board of Trustees." The Board of Trustees was scheduled to vote on Saturday whether to rescind the current charter. Corrado's amendment urges them to table the issue until their next scheduled meeting, which was said to be in September.

Senator Hillary Clark urged the editors to take steps to improve the quality of the paper. "Make some of the changes so the administration doesn't have the reason … to provide more checks," she said.

The resolution passed unanimously, with the inclusion of Corrado's amendment.

To end the evening, outgoing President Evan Krauss swore in President Andrew Clifton, who in turn swore in the new members of SGA.