Show W. W Va p paper pe r is embroiled em b ro i I ed r in controversy yet yet- again ag a in t John Williams CPS MARSHALL University's president formed a amedia amedia amedia media board to oversee the student student stu stu- dent newspaper after it printed the name of a rape victim earlier earlier earlier ear ear- lier this year The situation has gotten so contentious that a journalism professor at the Huntington university has sued President President dent J. J Wayne Gilley The newspaper also is considering a lawsuit claiming its First Amendment rights may have been violated The journalism departments department's faculty members who acted as advisors to the paper were removed by the media board They're worried that the newspaper could be managed by people who dont don't have a background in journalism and constitutional lawI lawI law I dont don't know if there are any positive lessons o out t of this said Kevin Melrose editor of The Parthenon It has had a chilling effect It is an obvious obvious obvious ob ob- punitive action for us stepping out of line I dont don't think Gilley's way is the right way Our policy its Js the root of the controversy i The dispute germinated in September w when eo the papers paper's I editorial board voted to publish a story about an off-campus off rape and identify both the vic vic- vic vic- tim Urn and where she lives Campus Campus Campus Cam Cam- pus organizations criticized the disclosure saying it violated the wom womans woman's ns n's right to privacy but Melrose stood by his decision saying the paper would publish a rape victims victim's name again On Thursday Oct 29 Gilley established a student media board that not only is charged with the oversight of The Parthenon Parthenon Parthenon Par Par- thenon but also the university's university s yearbook and FM radio station University spokesman CT Mitchell said Gilley wanted more campus participation in overseeing the media than just from the journalism and communications communications com com- ons departments The board is made up of three three- faculty members including including including ing one from the journalism department three students including including including in in- one majoring in journalism journalism journalism jour jour- a staff member and two representatives named by Gilley The primary responsibilities ties of the board according to Gilley Gilley Gilley Gil- Gil ley include acting as publisher her herand and upholding the First Amendment adopting policies and laws by-laws approving budgets appointing editors station managers and news directors consulting with the he journalism department on ap appointing appointing ap- ap p- p pointing n faculty cul y a advisors and evalu evaluating tin g th fhe l performance err rin nd of board members The journalism faculty voted not to be represented o oh on th the board Deborah an associate journalism professor said that while the rape victim victim- disclosure issue has died down t the media board is perceived as threatening the integrity of the paper papeL There is apprehension It is isa isa a rather anxious time for lor the paper said Mark Goodman executive director of the St Student dent Press Law Center in Washington said Gilley may have violated due process since the journalism journalism journalism jour jour- advisors ess essentially n were ousted from th their ir The president didn't wan wanto want to do this by himself so he he created a board that he believes he-believes believes will do his bidding Goodman said The board legally cannot control content decisions It seems clear it was created to try to censor the publication Dwight Jensen an associate professor of journalism sued Gilley in state court on accusations accusations accusations of not following univ university university r- r sity procedures and violating First Amendment rights A judge refused to grant an in in- junction Jensen doubts he will appeal They sug sugar coated coated r-coated it but it is still a veiled attempt to control the newspaper Melrose said The Th board can cari c n do irreparable parable damage to the school of journalism journalism journalism jour jour- and communications |