Thursday, March 11, 2010
Though Wednesday’s Student Senate finance committee proceedings did not transpire as we hoped, The University Daily Kansan will continue to fight to receive funding.
The committee voted 7-3 in favor of slashing the student media fee by $1.70 and eliminating any future funds to The Kansan. This decision will appear before the full senate March 24 for a final vote.
The student body has voted on and approved the student media fee. You have told Senate where you want your money to go. Before it changes the distribution of your money, Senate should put this fee back in front of the student body for another vote, else it go against the wishes of its constituency.
Also disappointing was the absence of Student Body President Mason Heilman, who initiated this proposal and who said in a prepared memo that he would not have voted for any other item had this fee cut not passed.
The statement, read by Student Executive Committee chairman Alex Earles, was unsatisfactory. It lacked the respect and consideration that legislation with consequences of this magnitude deserves. At the very least, Heilman should have been present to represent and listen to the student body, which voted him into office.
Citing in his memo an “inappropriate relationship” between The Kansan and Student Senate, Heilman again used the analogy of Congress stepping in and funding The New York Times while expecting favorable coverage.
This comparison is laughable.
The Kansan has never allowed any outside factor to affect its coverage, let alone student government. It is likewise becoming frustrating to repeat that Senate does not provide these funds — it merely distributes funds that students provide.
We would appreciate the continued support of the student body as we work to resolve this issue and as we prepare to go before the full Senate. We will need even more support because this issue will be put to a full senate vote after break.
I urge you to contact your Student Senate representatives to let them know that you value The Kansan and the unique service it provides to the student body. Use social media to get the word out. Do not settle for inadequate representation from your student body president.
This issue is not over. It is not going away. However, we can easily lose this battle through inaction. A setback such as this should never deter us from sticking to our ideals and defending our rights as student journalists and media consumers.
We hope those ideals — a free press for students produced by students — are consistent with yours.
Lastly, The Kansan is not going anywhere. It will continue being the student voice of the University of Kansas, as it has been for the last 107 years. At this time we cannot be certain as to what might be sacrificed if these changes pass, but we will continue to cover issues that affect KU students to the absolute best of our ability.
We are here every day of every semester, and we appreciate those of you who have stuck with us as this situation developed.
Quality, unbiased journalism means something to those of us here in the halls of Stauffer-Flint, and it is something we work towards, as students and as journalists, every day. We think it is something worth protecting, and we ask you to join us in making our voices heard.
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Comments
Letter from the Editor: Kansan won't stop fighting proposed cuts
Hang tough, guys. What Heilman's trying to do is illegal — student governments can't withhold funding based on coverage and content. Period. Get lawyers involved if you must, but legal precedence is on your side. I know this because of the rock-steady First Amendment education I received through KU's J school. For Heilman to insinuate that favorable coverage for Senate can somehow be bought is incredibly insulting and offensive, and completely disregards our hands-on education on the Kansan and our ethics education in the J School itself. Funny that Senate doesn't seem too concerned about conflicts of interest when it takes advantage of bargain-priced advertising in the newspaper. And for him to not even bother showing up to this debate reeks of cowardice and disrespect. If it's his initiative, let HIM discuss it. Sending a lackey with a memo? Please. Remember too that all issues of funding ultimately rest with the chancellor. That's how the women's and non-revenue sports fee has survived this long.
Letter from the Editor: Kansan won't stop fighting proposed cuts
The Kansan was represented in full force, and Heilman no-showed. He is a coward, no doubt about it now.
Letter from the Editor: Kansan won't stop fighting proposed cuts
Quit attacking Mason. He is a person with a life to live and cannot be in every location all of the time. Let it be known that this is one of the very few times he has been unable to attend committees. During his term he has shown utmost dedication to the student body. So, you could attack him for being unable to attend one meeting this year - after spending 8+ hours (on a saturday) to draft this legislation. I doubt any of you have worked as many hours as he has for this great University.
Letter from the Editor: Kansan won't stop fighting proposed cuts
Heilman was on a KU sponsored study abroad trip.
Your vile, malicious, and ill-informed insults of him exemplify the reason this fee needs to be cut.
Ya know, not much brings together the different coalitions in student senate. But the vote last night was truly bipartisan. Apparently, everyone except the Kansan, sees the issue here.
Letter from the Editor: Kansan won't stop fighting proposed cuts
"Vile, malicious, and ill-informed insults" don't stand as justification to violate the First Amendment.
These comments are not those of bullies picking on some kid on the playground; these are the feedback of your constituents and all- agreeable and otherwise- should be respected as the opinions of the student body you serve.
Letter from the Editor: Kansan won't stop fighting proposed cuts
The Student Senate funding makes up less than 10% of the Kansan's overall budget. Quit acting like this would limit free speech or destroy the Kansan.
So many other groups whose only source of funding is Student Senate have received cuts of WAY more than 10%. Apparently, the Kansan thinks they're more important than campus safety (whose fee was eliminated completely), scholarships for economically disadvantage students (whose fee was also reduced) and the countless other university entities that have already sustained these cuts. What arrogance.
Letter from the Editor: Kansan won't stop fighting proposed cuts
Like the campus safety fee, they are trying to eliminate the Media fee for the Kansan completely too, "enough." And no one is saying this would "limit free speech," the bill is illegal BECAUSE of the constitutional right to free speech.
Letter from the Editor: Kansan won't stop fighting proposed cuts
Hey everyone,
My name is Matt Shaw, I'm the communications director over at Student Senate. Just want to clarify a few things:
A. Mason was a "no-show" last night because he had a prior engagement in London and was flying there last night as the meeting took place. He did however leave a memo with his statements.
B. It is not our goal to in any way limit free speech, in fact we are attempting to fight potential sources of censorship by getting rid of the (very strong, it would seem) connection that the student government currently has with the press. If this money is removed, there will be no financial tie between the two institutions, elimating the presence of moral hazard within the system.
C. As the elected government of the student body we are charged with responsibly and ethically appropriating funds. The action being considered is a non-malicious, earnest attempt to fulfil that mandate to the best of our ability.
Feel free to contact me with any further questions or comments!
Thanks.
mattshaw@ku.edu
Letter from the Editor: Kansan won't stop fighting proposed cuts
p.s. I should clarify, my job is to speak on behalf of the executive branch and not the student government as a whole. Individual student senators may or may not hold the views above expressed.
Letter from the Editor: Kansan won't stop fighting proposed cuts
You might want to do some research into legal precedent, there, Matt. What you're trying to do is unconstitutional. I'd expect government officials to have a little more knowledge/care of the court system.
I don't fault Mason for studying abroad. But if this was that important to him, and especially considering that it's apparently his pet project, he should have (and I'm sure could have) scheduled the debate at a time when he could attend. Regardless of why he wasn't there, the fact that he wasn't looks bad.
Letter from the Editor: Kansan won't stop fighting proposed cuts
KU_J_alum: He actually couldn't have. They are scheduled far in advance and he has no power to change the date.
Letter from the Editor: Kansan won't stop fighting proposed cuts
Again, I would welcome an e-mail explaining specific concerns of the legality or constitutionality of these bills. Our research indicated that government, regardless of the level, is charged with not obstructing freedom of speech. However, this does not confer upon government the responsibility of providing funds for organizations that wish to have their opinion heard in the public arena.
Letter from the Editor: Kansan won't stop fighting proposed cuts
I am curious as to the rationale for why this is unconstitutional... In my mind, providing funding to the press is more constitutionally questionable than the other way around.
Letter from the Editor: Kansan won't stop fighting proposed cuts
First of all, this is not unconstitutional at all. I have no idea how you came up with this. There is no restriction of free speech, Student Senate just doesn't want to subsidize the payroll over at the UDK.
Can anyone in fact tell me why these people should be paid to write in the paper? If they are getting "real-life" experience in the field of journalism, shouldn't that be payment enough? And if anyone puts that asinine, "they put so much time in at the paper that they can't get jobs elsewhere" argument...all I have to say to this is tough cookies, get a real job if money is so tough.
I'm ashamed of the editor-in-chief, he calls out Mason Heilman for not being physically present at the meeting; however, why do you feel he should be present? His position is quite clear and he even reiterated that stance with a memo which also clearly states his current position.
Furthermore, as I previously stated, perhaps this is a push in the right direction. Why must the students pay a fee to subsidize the payrolls of UDK student-staff? Plus, the only way the UDK could even trick students in paying a "subscription" fee for the paper would be burying it within this media fee. I know I wouldn't pay any amount of money for picking up this 16 page piece of paper.
I'm sure people will be upset and the paper will attempt to get a referendum in front of the students. However, do any of you think the editor-in-chief will actually allow someone who thinks the cut should go through to write an editorial in the UDK? I highly doubt it will happen.
Letter from the Editor: Kansan won't stop fighting proposed cuts
Rooney10, I've already left novels worth of comments regarding most of the topics you address above, so I will just respond to your question of why Mason should have been present last night. You are correct in that his position was made quite clear through his interview with the UDK and his memo. However everybody else who spoke their opinion on the matter had to engage in discussion with those who disagreed and answer questions to credit their argument. This is a big move on Senate's part and as our president and a major supporter of the bill, I feel that Mason absolutely should have been available to answer questions about his stance, as everyone else did.
Serving in office isn't about making your position known. Anyone with a megaphone can do that. Public office is about working for and with the student body to accomplish collective goals in the best interest of the students. Of course, there is never going to be unanimous agreement about what that might be but I was definitely eager to hear him speak more in depth on the reasoning behind his view point and answer questions to support it.
I understand he was out of town. Nothing to be done about that. It doesn't curb my disappointment but I look forward to hearing his stance AND having the opportunity to get some questions answered at the meeting on the 24th. I definitely plan to attend.
Letter from the Editor: Kansan won't stop fighting proposed cuts
Matt Shaw and amolalampara:
Mason's engagement with study abroad begins tomorrow. That's when the trip he's involved in officially starts. Right now, as far as I'm aware, he's traveling in Europe with a friend.
I don't know if he's there on business (highly doubt it), or just for fun. But it does say a lot. If he's going to propose something this controversial why would he do it a couple of days before he leaves? It shows a complete lack of professionalism.
And I reiterate, he was not away because of a prior commitment with Study Abroad. Whoever says that is wrong, and if he's giving that as an excuse, he's lying.
Letter from the Editor: Kansan won't stop fighting proposed cuts
cmfive-
A. Mason defended his position against opposition for a solid hour and a half at campus fee review. Do not call him a coward. You can disagree with his decsion, you can disagree with his views, but do so respectfully, not by cutting him down with libelous and personal attacks.
B. This measure will be tabled for the meeting on the 24th due to the majority of the Executive Staff being gone to lobby in DC for more important issues- such as funding for higher education. This asinine issue is very low on the totem pole of issues that effect students, and the only reason that students or anyone cares is because the UDK has made suck a hissy fit about it. Hey Kansan- how about you cover things like funding for higher education, student rights, and national legislation that is effecting us here in Lawrence. I don't care if you are the "best college newspaper" in the nation. Raise your standards. Use your "legitimacy" to DO SOMETHING. You aren't advocating for anyone but yourselves, nor have you ever really.
C. If you didn't understand Mason's viewpoint, which was about as clear as can be, you are an idiot. His views have been expressed in 8 different articles and two different forums.
Letter from the Editor: Kansan won't stop fighting proposed cuts
correction- such*
Letter from the Editor: Kansan won't stop fighting proposed cuts
"Can anyone in fact tell me why these people should be paid to write in the paper?"
Oh, oh, I know! Because it makes good economic sense! Also, because without paying them, you might see something like a paper full of "The Best of Pantheon Comments". Quiver in fear, worm.
Letter from the Editor: Kansan won't stop fighting proposed cuts
http://www.splc.org/legalresearch.asp?id=9
I believe any questions about legality and constitutionality can be found here.
"Student government officials are subject to the same First Amendment restraints as school administrators. For example, they cannot punish a paper's staff or advisor or withdraw a publication's funds for content-based reasons."
Letter from the Editor: Kansan won't stop fighting proposed cuts
First of all, it's about time the student senate cut at least one fee, the sad part is that it's something that most students use and was only about $2. Now I can finally buy that cookie I always wanted! I could make a whole list of student fees that most students do not benefit from.
Second, this newspaper most of the time is horrible. Most all of the stories are from the associated press! I keep on seeing very poorly written stories that have not been fact checked. I think the only thing that keeps the demand from the Kansan not being a weekly paper instead of a daily paper is the demand for sodoku.
Letter from the Editor: Kansan won't stop fighting proposed cuts
Everyone (except the government) is making cuts and reducing their standard of living. How arrogant is the Kansan to think that you don't have to make changes as well. I say grow up and put aside child like thoughts. Even the NYT, ABC, NBC, and et. al. are making cuts.
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