MONDAY, JULY 9, 2012
PAGE 9
X
FREE FOR ALL
Text your FFA submissions to 785-289-8351
I'm celebrating by listening to punk rock and playing video games, because I'm an American.
Come on, the bike guy never left Wescoe. He is still there.
When your friends all turn 21 around the same time how do you stay sober?
Wow, who knew the FFA was so needy. Editor's Note: Only in the summer. You guys aren't doing your job.
Girl walked up, gave me a sugar packet and said, "here, you dropped your nametag." She had that with her at least all day. Maybe even weeks.
4th of July and my mom bought taco shells and Tostitos.
Just watched some children's TV. Learned the following: horses can jump. Cars, however, cannot.
Q: Who did I just wave at on Jayhawk Blvd? A: Hopefully someone I know!
As George Washington once said, "USA! USA! USA!"
Pet peeve #237: old people listening to every ringtone of theirs in a public place.
SPACE JAM IS ON TV!
Of the things that I like, grammar is not one of them; however, I do know that you shouldn't put a preposition near the end sentence, of.
I hate when I print in the sign area and sign in the print area.
MEDIA
Student media deserves support
The college student newspaper is a legitimate source of campus news.It's also the testing ground for tomorrow's reporters, from political muckrakers to entertainment tabloid writers. It's a chance for students to exercise their rights to free press, granted by Supreme Court interpretation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments.
But one look at the Student Press Law Center's website will show that the rights of student journalists and their publications are being challenged nationwide by university administrations and student governments in the form of adviser removals, editorial takeovers, newspaper thefts and threats to cut funding.
It's vital for a student newspaper to maintain independent control, both for its credibility and to be responsible for its own content. Student reporters are legally held responsible for their content and can be sued for libel; so they should have the ability to control their own voice without pressure from outside the
newsroom.
Editorially independent student newspapers, and radio and television stations are college students' only hope for a strictly student voice.
In June, the student newspaper for the University of Nevada - Las Vegas narrowly avoided having its editor picked by the student government. The SPLC also reported thefts of 12 different college newspapers since January.
Within the past year, College of DuPage's (Ill.) Courier student newspaper — a paper I ran as editor from 2010 to 2011 — has been sacked by an administration that was upset
over years of critical coverage of the college president and board.
College of DuPage administration removed the newspaper's adviser, replaced it with a part-timer who attempted to tamper with the editorial process, and debilitated two successful subsidiary publications of the newspaper. The Courier's oncevied advertising power is now rubble.
But the biggest loser is the college's student body, which will not see the same in-depth coverage of the college for many years to come.
It's folly to think this can't happen to the Kansan.
The Constitution of The University Daily Kansan states that this newspaper serves as the official newspaper of KU students. A board that includes representatives from the School of Journalism, Kansan management and the Student Senate governs it. It's a pretty safe system.
While enjoying relative independence over the past 10 years, the Kansan had its moments.
In 2010, Student Senate proposed to cut a $1.70 student fee allocated to the Kansan, a decision based on the newspaper's coverage of Senate. This never passed. But if it did, the Kansan would have lost 8 percent of its $1.1 million budget — a sizeable loss for a college newspaper.
The Kansan covers everything KU, from men's basketball to campus crime. It keeps you updated on changes to the enrollment system, and gives you the lowdown on student elections. And the freedom a college newspaper runs on is tied to the same rights given to you.
So when you hear or read about any student newspaper dealing with unjust censorship, give the newspaper your educated support. Because having that happen to the Kansan would really suck.
Shanker is the editor-in-chief of The University Daily Kansan. He is a senior from Naperville, Ill.
CAMPUS CHIRPS BACK
What would you like Wescoe Beach to add during the summer renovation? Follow us on Twitter @UDK_Opinion. Tweet us your opinions, and we just might publish them.
@keepitlacey
@keepitacey
©UDK Opinion Palm trees interesting, but I just want seating back!
@Ashwenis
@Ashwetsis
*uUDK_Opinion* A pool-boy to feed me grapes as I lounge in a hammock.
@Timmy_Hewitt
@UDK_OpinionA water feature like a fountain or a lazy river.
@Rachel_ELF
@UDK Opinion wifi and water.
Ross Newton, Business Manager
864-4358 or glent@kansan.com
Vikaas Shanker, Editor
864-4810 or editor@kansan.com
@brendanbegley
@UDK_Opinion Can our opinions include
bulldozing Wescoe?
CONTACT US
Elise Farrington, Sales Manager 864-4477 or keland@kansan.com
Matcolin Gibson, News Advisor and General Manager 864-7667 or mgbison@kansan.com
Jon Schmitt, Sales and Marketing Advisor
844-7656 or jschmitt@ansan.com
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Members of the Kanaan Editorial Board are Vikaas Shanker,
Megan Human, Kelsey Cipolla, Megan Boxberger, and Jessica
Janasz.
2