 "Photo: Matt Andrew/The Quad News")
Every day, thousands of students file through the first floor of the Carl Hansen Student Center past the bookstore, the bank, and through the table-lined walkway leading to Tator Hall. And every day there are at least three, often times more, student organizations and vendors sitting at those tables, collecting donations, selling tickets, or peddling scarves, hats and other collectibles. Those tables represent some valuable real estate on campus for both students and vendors.
School administrators, however, have contradicted themselves as to the value and qualifications of obtaining such real estate. With their recent refusal to grant this organization, The Quad News, space at one of those tables, the school continues to put a limit on free speech and students’ rights on campus.
We at the Quad News have reached this conclusion after four long months of e-mails and meetings during which we saw the same hesitancy and received the same answers from administrators. When we first called to request space at a table on Jan. 4, 2010 we felt fairly confident that our request would be granted. During the phone call we were given the specifics of who was able to rent a table and what the requirements to do so were. We provided them with an employer identification number, identifying ourselves as a legitimate business, but a week later we were notified that this was not good enough.
After that initial refusal, we asked for a meeting with the university’s senior vice president for academic and student affairs, Mark Thompson. Weeks later, we met with him and were told that a decision would be made in a timely manner. A month and a half later, after he spoke with Vice President and Dean of Students, Manuel Carreiro, we were informed that the answer was still ‘no,’ because the university did not want to set a “precedent.”
Created in the spring of 2008, the Quad News represents the values we as student journalists hold to the highest degree. It was founded as a means for students at Quinnipiac University to have an independent media outlet where they would not face censorship and would be able to practice and gain experience in their specific area of study. Since our inception, we’ve worked diligently to abide by all university protocol—no co-sponsorships, no selling merchandise on campus, no funding from student government. The Quad News is a group made up solely of students who pay tuition and fees just like the rest.
It has also been clearly stated by the administration, that the Quad News is not, and never will be considered a university-recognized student organization. It wasn’t until January that it became apparent we wouldn’t be recognized as an outside media organization either.
Today, the university defines us as a “student run organization not recognized by the university.” What does this mean? We get all the baggage of corporate companies, but none of the benefits? We are considered students but not treated as such? Dear administration, wake up! Like some of the vendors in the student center, we are asking to be recognized not as a university organization but as an incorporated business. This does not and should not give administrators an excuse to change the meaning of rules or create new policies on a whim.
Quinnipiac prides itself on three core values: academic excellence, possessing a student-oriented environment and emphasizing a sense of community. How then, do these values translate to the administration’s handling of the Quad News? They have not. The fact that a university is refusing a group of students the opportunity to use its facilities, an opportunity which they give non-students, is simply hypocritical.
43 comments
It makes me question why anyone would consider getting a communications/journalism degree at a school which doesn't embrace 21st century communications. Blogging, Journalism, Public Relations are all fine and dandy to be taught by great faculty- as long as they are not done objectively in a way that could possibly be practiced against Big Brother (Quinnipiac)?Also ironic that students often seek real-life experience and internships to prepare for their future careers - yet these budding entrepreneurs who took it upon themselves to obtain real-life experience are met with nothing more then standoffish behavior. As alumni - I read Quad News from time to time and I think they are doing a fairly good job. My Point: I think the school should commend these students (dare I say - leaders?) for what they are doing - and do everything they can to foster their continue journalistic aspirations. They are not asking for money or anything outrageous, just a level playing field. Hopefully, Big Brother can take this to heart and loosen their grip (and get one at the same time)