McMaster Student Union Dismisses Student Newspaper Executive Editor
Joey Coleman reports that the Board of Directors of the McMaster Student Union (MSU) has laid off the Executive Editor of The Sil, the student newspaper of McMaster University. This layoff was apparently in violation of the Operating Policies of the MSU, which give the power of hiring and firing to the Board of Publications, an entity that includes representatives of the student newspaper as well as student politicians. The layoff was conducted by the four-member Board of Directors without consulting the Student Representative Assembly of the MSU, which is the primary governing body of the student union. The Editorial Board of the MSU released a statement asserting that their "autonomy has been jeopardized."
The Eyeopener, student newspaper at Ryerson, has an editorial on the subject.
Meanwhile, the MSU Board of Directors has released a statement claiming "that the decision to dismiss the Silhouette Executive Editor has nothing to do with the content of the Silhouette," and further stating that they would not provide a reason for the Executive Editor's dismissal as "employment procedures are dealt with in closed session" to protect the "confidentiality" of the process.... Hmmm, where have I heard that before....
Joey Coleman reports that the Board of Directors of the McMaster Student Union (MSU) has laid off the Executive Editor of The Sil, the student newspaper of McMaster University. This layoff was apparently in violation of the Operating Policies of the MSU, which give the power of hiring and firing to the Board of Publications, an entity that includes representatives of the student newspaper as well as student politicians. The layoff was conducted by the four-member Board of Directors without consulting the Student Representative Assembly of the MSU, which is the primary governing body of the student union. The Editorial Board of the MSU released a statement asserting that their "autonomy has been jeopardized."
The Eyeopener, student newspaper at Ryerson, has an editorial on the subject.
Meanwhile, the MSU Board of Directors has released a statement claiming "that the decision to dismiss the Silhouette Executive Editor has nothing to do with the content of the Silhouette," and further stating that they would not provide a reason for the Executive Editor's dismissal as "employment procedures are dealt with in closed session" to protect the "confidentiality" of the process.... Hmmm, where have I heard that before....
Labels: mcmaster, student_press
10 Comments:
...and people were wondering why student journalists aren't covering CFS and student union scandals???!!!
Yes, you are correct that this is a reason.
There has been a movement since April to make the Silhouette independent of MSU control We, the movement, have mobilized and are working on holding this politicians (some of whom are no longer students nor will be returning to studies) to account for their actions. Students want and need a free press, we are fighting for it here.
This reminds me of the Canadian Medical Association Journal a few months ago.
Gina
I don't mean to grand-stand, Titus, but I believe the Varsity broke the story first: http://www.thevarsity.ca/news/2006/11/09/News/Silhouette.Editor.Fired-2450572.shtml
(Tip of the hat to Joey Coleman.)
My question is: where are the CUPpies at? Why are they so slow in covering student union scandals? (The Varsity is non-CUP).
As reprehensible as MSU's actions might be, they're chicken feed in importance. It's a little embarassing for student journalists step forward to praise themselves for taking on student unions at *other* campuses on issues of press freedom (how dangeous is that? not very), when they have yet to take on what is apparently the single biggest case of fraud in Caadian student union history and CFS' seemingly integral role in it.
You want tips of the hat? Earn them. Apart from the Peak (who unfortunately caved after the first SLAPP suit), no one has touched this story. Get off your asses and get this story.
The Peak is *fighting* their SLAPP suit! They have filed a defense and are willing to see Joey Hansen in court, if need be.
...yes, but they aren't exactly following up the story, are they?
The CUP National President has written a great letter to the fired Sil Editor. You can read it in its entirety at:
http://www.joeycoleman.ca/archives/2006/11/22/cup_letter_on_silhouette_situation.html
The CUPpies have actually covered all of these stories including the SFU impeachment, the firing of the Sil editor, the ruling in the U of Sask case that recognizes that the CFS's bylaws governing referendums are invalid, and so on... These stories don't come without risk. The CFS doesn't hesitate to sic their lawyer on CUP each time something unfavourable is published. And for the record, the Peak has published stories about Douglas since the suit (which have also run on the CUP wire).
If you really want to criticize a paper for not having the balls to cover this stuff effectively, pick up an issue of the Other Press at Douglas College.
Also, the self-importance and arrogance of the Varsity never ceases to astound me.
I think the point of the Varsity comment was to point out they managed to cover this story immediately.
They do have a point. The CUP reporter did not stay around for the entire SRA meeting this past Sunday.
Mike, from the Varsity, did. It was a 8 hour session most of which was closed to the public.
BTW, the Silhouette has extensive coverage of the issue on their website today: www.thesil.ca
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