On Sep 24, 2007, at 5:37 PM, Wilson Ii, Clint C. wrote:
George:
I concur with your conclusion that this issue should be approached as an
ethics matter. Since you are a former editor-in-chief of The Hilltop and I
served as the paper's adviser for five years (and I also teach ethics at
Howard) perhaps we could serve together on a panel on this topic.
-- C. Wilson
-----Original Message-----
From: FOR THE MINORITIES AND COMMUNICATION DIV. OF AEJMC
Sent: 9/24/2007 3:36 PM
Subject: Re: Teaching Panel Possibiltiy-- Campus newspaper--racism,
misogynism
MAC members,
This is an issue that generated a considerable amount of discussion
among
the officers of the Society of Professional Journalists. As a member of
the
SPJ Education Committee, I reviewed the articles at issue and some of
the
debate as we are deciding how to respond as an organization.
The sticking point here is how to remain steadfast in defending
students'
First Amendment rights while reminding the students of the ETHICAL
manner in
which real journalists should operate. The SPJ Convention is next
week
and I suspect this matter will come up-- perhaps even in the form of a
resolution.
As is always the challenge with convention planning 9 months in advance,
by
next August, this particular incident may have resolved itself...
depending
on what happens to the editor and/or a new editor takes over next year.
I
think Diana's question goes more to the role of the status of the
publication adviser-editor relationship.. How much training/teaching is
going on in the area of diversity/cultural sensitivity? When I was at
Georgia a few years ago, I used to conduct a diversity session at the
national workshop for college newspaper editors. I'm not sure if they
still
offer that session.
Given the Ethical concerns, this panel would seem like something MAC
could
co-sponsor with the Ethics Division.
George Daniels
U. Alabama
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2007 12:58 PM
Subject: Re: Teaching Panel Possibiltiy-- Campus newspaper--racism,
misogynism
Sounds like a good panel discussion. I just finished speaking with
Karlo
Ruiz, public information officer with the State of Connecticut Latino
&
Puerto Rican Affairs Commission. He's an alum visiting campus today.
He
says that his office is fighting this issue in Connecticut. I might
can
get him to Chicago, if anyone is interested in organizing a panel.
Sharon B. Stringer, Ph.D.
Associate Professor Journalism and Mass Comm
Lock Haven University
603 Robinson Bldg.
Lock Haven, PA 17745
570-484-2092
570-484-2436 (fax)
-----Original Message-----
From: FOR THE MINORITIES AND COMMUNICATION DIV. OF AEJMC
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2007 1:18 PM
Subject: Teaching Panel Possibiltiy-- Campus newspaper--racism,
misogynism
Absolutely. This is a great topic for someone to take off with and
create
a panel proposal. This could be a Teaching Panel for some interested
people.
Here are some possible titles--
"Campus News, Radio, TV: Freedom of Expression or Racism-Misgynism?"
"Campus News, Radio, TV: If we hate you, we have the right to say it"
"The Future of Student Media: The Dark and Enlightened Sides of
Freedom of
Expression"
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Mon 9/24/2007 12:55 PM
To: Rios, Diana
Subject: Re: Campus newspaper--racism, misogynism
Thanks, Diana.
Maybe the topic of campus newspapers (and radio & TV) should be a
topic
for a panel proposal.
Meta
Meta G. Carstarphen, Ph.D., APR
Gaylord Family Endowed Professor &
Associate Professor
Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication University of
Oklahoma
395 W. Lindsey Room 3510C
Norman, OK 73019-4201
PHONE: (405) 325-5227
FAX: (405) 325-7565
************************************
On Sep 23, 2007, at 10:29 AM, Rios, Diana wrote:
We should be aware of the lack of ethics, lack of common sense, the
racism and misogynism at this campus newspaper at Central Connecticut
State University.
This makes us ask the question, How are our campus newspapers doing?
Sincerely,
Dr. Diana I. Rios
Associate Prof. of Communication Sciences and Institute for PRLS
Dept. Communication Sciences, U-1085 University of Connecticut
Storrs,
CT 06269
860-486-3187
----------------------------------------------
PLEASE SEND LETTERS. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
courant.com/news/opinion/columnists/hc-
reyna0921.artsep21,0,7243759.column
Courant.com
Tolerating A Climate Of Hostility
Bessy Reyna
September 21, 2007
Publication of a racist and misogynistic cartoon depicting a 14-
year-old Latina, hungry, bound, locked in a closet and apparently
being urinated upon casts a pall across the celebration of Hispanic
History Month in Connecticut.
Printed by the Central Connecticut State University student paper,
The
Recorder, the cartoon has caused an understandable uproar on campus
and off. Is CCSU teaching its students to be tolerant of those who
make fun of victims or humiliate and belittle others because of their
ethnicity or gender? I wonder. This is the same paper - under Editor
in Chief Mark Rowan - that caused an outrage on campus last winter
with the publication of a piece suggesting that a rape could be a
"magical experience" for an ugly woman.
At that time, the CCSU administration's response was to create a Task
Force on Journalistic Integrity and "sensitize" Rowan by having him
join. Obviously, that effort has failed. Rowan and his staff
published
this cartoon, which is not only intrinsically hateful toward Latinos
and women, but also features the commission of crimes including risk
of injury to a minor, assault and unlawful restraint. I'm sure they
thought that their addition of a disclaimer beneath the cartoon -
"The
Recorder does not support the kidnapping of (and subsequent urinating
on) children of any age or ethnicity" - was a clever and funny jab at
the task force.
One highly disturbing element is how little the students at the
newspaper seem to care about the fact that hate crimes against women
and minorities are an extremely serious social issue. One that we
need
to deal with as a society, not make fun of.
I couldn't help but think about Megan Williams, the 20-year-old
African American woman, who recently was found after being locked up
and brutally tortured by six people in West Virginia, or the 14-
year-old runaway from Bloomfield who was found a year later locked in
a small closet in a West Hartford house.
The publication of this cartoon seems to be a symptom of a much
bigger
problem at CCSU. The response by university President Jack Miller
leaves much to be desired. He wrote that the cartoon "demonstrates
[the students'] lack of understanding of how words can hurt and of
how
their editorial decisions to publish deeply offensive materials can
undermine the civility that should bring us together as a campus
community." Miller sounds like a disappointed father, not the leader
a
college president should be. He is only now, in the face of more
controversy, recommending implementation of some of the proposals
that
were presented last May by the task force on journalism.
In a letter to the CCSU community, Professor Serafín Méndez-Méndez,
chairman of the communication department and a member of the task
force, said that Miller has exhibited poor leadership by failing to
create an inclusive and tolerant environment for women, African
Americans, Latinos, gays and others.
Psychology Professor Francisco Donis, president of the Latin American
Association at CCSU, told me the problem is a climate that fosters
such obnoxious behavior. Underrepresented groups on campus feel
threatened and unwelcome. He noted that "CCSU is the only CSU
[Connecticut State University{rcub} campus without Latino
representation in the administration or at the dean level."
Miller should consider that the lack of Latino administrators and
deans in his administration demonstrates his lack of understanding of
how invisibility can hurt and of how hiring decisions can undermine
the civility that should bring a campus community together.
This year, Connecticut citizens observing Hispanic History Month
should celebrate the Latino students at CCSU and their counterparts
throughout the country for having the strength and fortitude to
continue to strive for an education in the face of such hostility and
harassment.
Bessy Reyna is a free-lance writer whose column appears the third
Friday of every month. To leave her a comment in English or Spanish,
Copyright © 2007, The Hartford Courant
Bessy Reyna
www.bessyreyna.com