Editor’s note: Editor-in-Chief Gina Cole addressed the Senate at the meeting covered below. Cole took no part in the reporting or editing of this story.
About 35 students, professors and staff members from the journalism department flocked to the Student Senate meeting Wednesday, Nov. 2 to express their concerns about a resolution that would allow the removal of student information from Western publications’ archives.
Student Senate Chair Kendall Bull introduced the resolution after being approached by a student concerned about her words remaining available online. He said the student, who wishes to remain anonymous, felt her appearance in a Western Front story has hindered her ability to get a job.
The Student Senate, which is strictly an advisory board, will vote on the resolution at its next meeting on Nov. 9. If passed, the resolution would move to the AS Board of Directors, who would also review it before voting.
Student Publication Council Chair Peggy Watt said she found the resolution problematic because the only time a student publication would remove archived material is in cases of plagiarism. Western Front policy also states that only a “severe ethical violation, such as the fabrication of a story” is grounds for removal of online material.
“For all journalists, whether student, professional or citizen, credibility is their currency,” Watt said. “And if people realize that things can be changed, back-edited, omissions made without explanation, it damages the credibility of any publication.”
Senator Felipe Espinoza brought up the issue of context, saying a journalist may correctly quote an individual, but if it is taken out of context, that quote isn’t truly accurate. He suggested allowing sources to see drafts of an article before publication to ensure their words aren’t misrepresented.
Western Front policy dictates that the full text of an article is not shown to anyone outside of the staff before it is published. Instead, staff members adhere to a strict fact-checking policy, calling all sources and looking at relevant documents to verify the accuracy of the story’s content before publication. Other Western publications practice similarly strict procedures.
Editor-in-Chief of The Planet Becky Tachihara said student journalists strive to make sure everything is accurate and fair for everyone involved.
“Personally, I find this resolution not only violates the First Amendment and has legal issues, but is severely unethical and against my moral code,” Tachihara said.
The First Amendment states “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press…” The Student Publications Charter has a similar clause, stating the press must be “free of all forms of external interference designed to regulate its content.”
Marya Purrington, editor-in-chief of Klipsun Magazine, said a person always has the right to refuse an interview.
“It’s always very clear to people who are interviewed [for Klipsun], especially while they’re being interviewed and when they’re fact-checked with, that this is going to appear in a publication and its online edition,” Purrington said.
Senator Evan Fowler highlighted that a student would only be granted removal in cases “where damage to professional reputation can be shown.” He inquired as to what process a concerned student might take to remove an article that they felt damaged their reputation.
The Student Senate advises the AS Board, but the AS Board does not govern Western’s publications. According to the Charter, the Board of Trustees has the legal right and duty to govern any action of student publications, and the Board may delegate these responsibilities to the Student Publications Council.
Watt said she encourages anyone with a complaint to go The Western Front, Klipsun or Planet first and talk with editors and advisers, and then come to the Student Publications Council. However, unless the story was falsified, it would probably not be removed, Watt said.
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