???It's been six months since a disagreement began between The Spectrum and the Student Association (SA) over approximately $37,000.
???Nearing the middle of the spring semester, no end is in sight.
???Since a failed arbitration attempt in November, talks between SA and The Spectrum have halted over the funds. In previous years, one dollar from every undergraduate student per semester has been transferred from SA to The Spectrum in the form of a subscription fee.
???While three meetings between leadership from both organizations have not led to a solution, both sides are working towards a resolution.
???On Jan. 4, Stephanie Sciandra, editor in chief of The Spectrum and chair of the publication's Board of Directors offered a final proposal to SA President Peter Grollitsch after mediation failed to bring an answer to the table.
???"I spoke [to Spectrum officials] a week or two after [receiving the proposal] and I thought it was a step in the right direction," Grollitsch said Tuesday. "I appreciate her concessions and I think we are moving forward. This call to action is interesting and that's where we stand now."
???In The Spectrum's Feb. 9 issue, the publication published a "Call to Action" asking undergraduate students for help in the situation in the form of signing a petition asking SA to transfer the funds.
"We have representatives of SA who support The Spectrum and have encouraged us to find an alternative route to going to court," Sciandra said. "Make no mistake, we're not afraid to go to those lengths, but we're looking for what's best for the students. We'll see if [SA Treasurer] John Martin and Peter Grollitsch can ignore hundreds of signatories representing the undergraduate student body."
Grollitsch said he respects Sciandra's decision in researching the situation and pushing for student signatures. Nonetheless, Grollitsch and the student organization are also doing research of their own.
"She [Sciandra] is more than entitled to do what she wants to do," Grollitsch said. "The Constitution allows that. That's her prerogative. On our end, we've done a lot of research on case law over the past couple of years with student associations versus state governments and what not."
???Sciandra is very pleased with the outpouring of support since the paper's Call to Action was initially published one week ago.
???"We know that we are approaching 1,000 signatures, which is half our goal," Sciandra said. "We've gotten there in less than a week's time, so the student body is obviously speaking loudly on this issue."
???Irina Dmitriyev, a sophomore psychology major, is one of those students.
???"I think that's kind of wrong, because the money that goes to The Spectrum belongs with The Spectrum, and SA shouldn't take it in order to try and control what is printed by the paper," Dmitriyev said. "It doesn't seem fair that they would try to censor or whatever it is they plan on doing with the paper."
???For Sanel Sadibasic, a junior biochemistry major, his decision to support the newspaper is solely based on the First Amendment.
???"I think that SA is indirectly against freedom of the press," Sadibasic said. "They will have the power over the paper in censoring things. The goal of the newspaper is to get information across to the student body, no matter if it is good or bad."
???According to Joann Pan, parliamentarian for The Spectrum's editorial board, member of the Board of Directors and managing editor of the publication, support from across the campus is still coming in.
???"We've had amazing support from students who have come in to sign the petition and we've gotten responses from departments and clubs," Pan said. "It is unfair because students decide the fate of [The Spectrum] getting a part of the mandatory fee. This year, they haven't had the opportunity because SA did not allow them to vote, but their decision not to hold a vote was based on false pretenses."
???For Erin Weaver, a junior speech and hearing science major, SA is ignoring what is best for students by crossing the line with The Spectrum.
???"They shouldn't take away funding we pay for because they want an extra seat on the Board of Directors," Weaver said. "That's crazy. What is best for the students is for The Spectrum to report unbiased and uninfluenced news and that horrible decision would be going against our right as Americans to read the truth."
???Another major issue for students is the fact that their money, which was initially allocated for a subscription fee for the publication, is now floating in the student organization's bank account.
???"That dollar is so I can read about student issues and interests," Weaver said. "It's my money and I want it to go where it is supposed to go."
???Abbi Meade, a sophomore linguistics and Spanish major, agrees.
???"The student body's paper should be able to write about whatever they want," Meade said. "If they don't want to give the paper the money, then they should give the students their dollar back."
???With the support of many students behind the publication, Sciandra feels that her goal will be attained very shortly.
???"Our goal is to attain signatures of 10 percent of the student body by March 1," she said. "SA wants this to go away before their elections-that's not going to happen, unless we reach an agreement that leadership at this paper can live with. The subscription fee does still exist-no vote doesn't mean no money. The law has never been that convenient for anyone."
???Grollitsch's main concern is to deal with the situation and come to a solution prior to him graduating, thus leaving SA.
???"I want to make sure that everything is all set," he said "I don't want to put pressure on the new e-board coming in. I don't want them to inherit a problem that they don't know the whole story behind it. I want to resolve it as quickly as possible."
???While Sciandra is eying the judicial system for assistance, Grollitsch doesn't believe that those lengths will have to be reached.
???"I don't see this situation going to court," he said. "I think that, given the information we've found out, it shouldn't. It'll come down to a couple factors in the next month or two."
???Regardless of Grollitsch's opinion, Sciandra is adamant in doing what is best for the undergraduate student body in the long run.
???"This organization should not be at the financial mercy of SA when they are contributing a fraction of our budget that is not their money to put stipulations on," Sciandra said. "Their allegations of irrespirable spending are false, but regardless, this organization can spend money how it chooses, which is a very important component of freedom of the press. We're going to get the subscription fee back - plus interest."
???Students can still sign The Spectrum's petition in the newspaper office, 132 Student Union.
???Look for additional coverage of the situation in upcoming issues of The Spectrum.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
