When students went home for winter break, leadership from both The Spectrum and the Student Association (SA) were hoping that a resolution to the current crisis brewing between the two organizations would come to fruition.
Unfortunately for the student body, that gift wasn't found under the Christmas tree.
On Jan. 4, Stephanie Sciandra, editor in chief of The Spectrum and chair of publication's Board of Directors (BoD) offered a final proposal to SA President Peter Grollitsch concerning approximately $37,000 from the Mandatory Student Activity Fee. The amount in question is usually put aside for the publication in the form of a subscription fee.
In past years, SA has transferred $1 per undergraduate student per semester to The Spectrum.
Prior to the final proposal, both sides met with the hopes of rectifying the situation. Grollitsch and SA Treasurer and Spectrum BoD Treasurer John Martin have agreed to sign a contract concerning the funds in question only if SA would receive half of the seat representation on the newspaper's BoD, changing the seat ratio from four Spectrum representatives and three SA representatives to either three or four representatives for both parties - a 50-50 split.
Sciandra has explicitly stated that she is willing to compromise, but will not allow SA to hold half of the seat representation on the BoD.
"The Spectrum would have to fear financial retaliation when considering publishing editorial content about the SA," Sciandra said. "I think it doesn't reflect the American tradition of the press. Government shouldn't have a say in the content of a newspaper."
Both sides met with SA Director of Communications, University Council member and former Spectrum Editor in Chief Robert Pape with the hopes that he could act as a mediator so both sides could come to a resolution best for the student body.
"The current and future undergraduate bodies benefit more if we can come to a solution without the help from outsiders," Pape said, in an interview with the newspaper on Nov. 12. "It'll be a true testament to student leaders if we could come to a solution and as a student leader, I'd like to help any way I can."
The proposal made on Jan. 4 did not settle the debate, but created a new foundation on which talks could possibly further improve the situation, according to Grollitsch.
"I was glad to see that Stephanie rethought everything and proposed this new option... I think it's a step in the right direction," Grollitsch said. "... I don't think that this is going to be the final answer; We're going to have to meet a few more times."
If an agreement is not reached on this proposal, Sciandra said that The Spectrum will continue to pursue legal action against SA.
"We'll negotiate as much as we can, but The Spectrum's editorial board is very adament about the fact that it would be unwise for the students to support SA's demands, and it would be unwise for The Spectrum to give in," Sciandra said. "The newspaper is a check on the government, not a propaganda machine for it. I intend to preserve that journalistic integrity of The Spectrum in any agreement with SA," Sciandra said.
See future issues of The Spectrum for continuing coverage of the situation.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
