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COMMENTARY FEBRUARY26, 2004 Page 9 How free is McDaniel Free Press? Breslin in too deep Independence still reigns Behind A curriculum based stu- Over Most of the staff has dent-run paper, it can never be the superfi- dent media undermines the the past few embraced Breslin's role and fully independent of the insti- cial changes foundations of free press. semesters the enthusiasm she has tution that funds it. This year, to the paper Where once students voluntar- something brought to the newsroom, thanks to Sam 'Case, the paper of name, pub- ily wrote pieces for the paper has been but some students have had now owns a digital camera, and lisher,and ad- based upon their own enter- missing reservations about her in- thanks to Information Services', vertising, is a prise, now Advanced Journal- from the volvement. Can she offer ad- new software that improves the faculty inva- ism students are forced to par- McDaniel vice and training, and at the paper's design. sion, a proverbial coup de'tat. ticipate in the paper. No free c a II e g e same time, will The Ultimately, we have toask As the usual media ad- will, no unhampered consci- newsroom. Now that we McDaniel Free Press remain ourselves is the paper better? visor, Professor Terry Dalton, have put the first issue to bed, a student newspaper? While Areweable to write stories, de- is on sabbatical this semester, Here is the gist of I can honestly say that the working with Breslin from sign layout, sell ads, and dis- Lisa Breslin, administrator of Breslin's argument: she plans something that was missing the initial planning stages to tribute a good product with a the Writing Center, isoversee- on making the necessary was actually a newsroom. the first issue, 1 can say re- little more ease? And at the ing (overhauling) his respon- changes and then stepping off. ln the past, a handful of soundingly, yes. same time does the paper re- sibilities. This is indeed a noble admis- dedicated students put out This partnership be- flect students' perspectives? The Student Handbook sion considering her position the paper. That handful of tween faculty and students Join the staff and see for promises that the student me- is temporary and she inevita- students did everything, mirrors partnerships at other yourself; the answer to all these dia is an independent organi- bly must step off. Unfortu- assign and edit stories, write schools. As the co-editors, questions is yes. zation. [Note: Number 7. Stu- nately, she will not be "step- stories, layout pages, and get Katie Martin and I are in- dent Media of the General Col- ping off" before making her the paper to a few spots volved in every aspect of the BRIAN PATIERSON, lege Regulations and Policies mark. around campus for distribu- paper. We choose the best CO-EDITOR states, "Srudentmediashall be Breslin's clutch on the tion. Needless to say, it was people to fill the staff posi- free from censorship and ad- student media is threefold. difficult - if not impossible - tions, select what the.paper vanced approval of copy. Edi- She grades her advanced jour- to put out a quality paper. will cover, the look of tors will be free to develop nalism students based par- Toss in countless computer the paper, and what their own editorial and adver- tially upon their performance problems and missed dead- stories will run. While tising policies and news cov- in the paper. She is the media lines, and you get the com- Breslin requires her erage."] As such, neither fac- advisor, which means she plete "before" picture. students in the ad- ulty member nor administra- grades all students participat- This semester we're vanced journalism tor has the right to govern the ing in an independent student shaking things up. class to submit their paper. But this has not of the paper. Together, this The paper is now called stories to the paper, stopped Breslin from control- comprises virtually every staff The McDaniel Free Press, and Katie and Ihave final ling the paper. member of the paper, includ- as Katie's A1 column ex- say about what Before Breslin, students ing me. Lastly, she is the self- plains, the changes reach far makes the cut. could brag that their paper appointed media policy- beyond the name. The main Anyone who was non-curriculum based. maker, a direct violation of col- reason for these changes is still balks at Breslin's That is not the case today. lege policy. the fact that we now have an involvement should Breslin, as interim professor The contemporary phi- active faculty advisor. Li~a remember that the for the Advanced Journalism losopher, Michael Foucault, Breslin has embraced her role college contributes as class, has declared that all her wrote, "People know what as the newspaper's advisor much $7,000 annually students must participate in they do; they frequently know and helped us facilitate to publish the paper. the student media, thereby why they do what they do.but change. So while it is a stu- abolishing the paper's inde- what they do not know iswhat pendent status. they do does." I give Breslin Whereas an indepen- the benefit of the doubt. Ido _::"".....ae.'rP . S dent student organization has not thinkshe realizes the threat " ....,d\~.p' n.el( '"cL .. . the right to self-govern, a cur- her changes pose to the stu- ~-. "'4"''Z/~- --.~--- .- riculum based organization is dent media. Nonetheless, stu- . .,,;*" ....~ " 1I~>f< tied to the college and thus dent rights are scarce enough vulnerable to faculty and ad- without the abolition of a free Turnlhq/8ack tiWPirqes- ministrative censorship [see student press. Forget the Hasty vs. Governors State whales, save the student me- University}. Good-bye First dia! 10 years ago this month ... Amendment. The restriction • At the February 1, 1994 faculty meeting, the faculty approved a 4-course load student of prior restraint and the right ~chedule .and the freshmen seminar requirement. A proposal that was passed, but no longer ex- to be free from "advanced ap- IStS,required students to attend 18 cultural events by the end of their junior year. proval of copy?" Good-bye BRADLEY GROOVER, . •. The school has always had an on and off again relationship with ice hockey and in 1994 free press. STAFF WRITER Enc Disharoon resurrected the club team that folded in 1990. Interest in creating a team was ~;~:z;~~~~I~ month ... After two years of pro- ~;;;;;;~;;;~;;;;;;;;;;;;~~;;;;;;;;;;;;;:;;;;,~ sparked as a result of intramural floor hockey games. I And 20years ago this ~~~~~»~"""",__oSkJncare was hospitalized due to alcohol poisoning. The reaction to this <, < r..-Makeup decision was mixed, both by and Much Morel ~ the faculty and Inter-Fraternity ~ Council. i e//~A "'" -ri{o,-.wdnud' 'rC_O_-E_D_IT_O_R PATIERSON, -, ~ Students with ID Receive lO% Offl ~ COMPILED BY .• BRIAN . I ~ ".",'q/,f'57'CtJ95 _j; ; . Story Ideas? email to 1 Westminster, MD 21 157 Center .... . ~ phoenix@mcdaniel.edu Shopping 10 wes.tminst.er ~._~iJn:1~~~~~~ 1itIi:!"'i __