Editor's Note: In an effort to maintain the highest standards of journalistic integrity and objectivity, The Spectrum asked an editor from Generation to write the following piece for The Spectrum. The Spectrum thanks Frauenhofer for his time and effort.
After several weeks of hearings, a Student Association committee decided Monday to recommend The Spectrum continue to receive funding.
The SA Senate Allocation Review Committee will recommend to the SA Senate during the spring semester that The Spectrum's student subscription fee be earmarked specifically for paying the newspaper's annual accounting costs.
"The intention is to keep the funds neutral," Committee Chairman Dan Smith said. He pressed for greater accountability for the subscription fee, yet noticed steps had been taken to improve the current financial situation, such as stipend and budget cuts.
SA currently has no restrictions over student subscription fee usage, and the group will issue the recommendation in order to make SA's contribution to The Spectrum as non-influential over editorial content and production of the newspaper as possible.
Smith praised The Spectrum for its effective management. He singled out Erin Shultz, editor in chief, saying she is a "phenomenal leader," and the paper has "realized its weaknesses and has made necessary cutbacks" to meet its fiscal goals.
"It's been a really hard semester, but our ultimate goal has been to stay afloat," Shultz said.
Smith said the subscription fee is student money, and therefore as an allocation from SA, the student government would like to see more active student control over the money spent to achieve "financial responsibility."
Committee member Jessica Dangler said that labeling the money "is not purposeful, even though it puts the SA Senate at ease," adding that the proceedings are "no big deal."
After gathering enough information at the group's first meeting on Nov. 17, the review committee convened again on Monday to make the decision on the recommendation.
Although the recommendation is merely a suggestion, Shultz said she thinks the proceedings went well, and the "committee offered interesting suggestions that (The Spectrum) might take into account."
The goal of the committee is not just to investigate The Spectrum - according to Smith, it will review other groups to which SA allocated funds.
In this particular case, Smith said, "clarification of how The Spectrum works," and proof of The Spectrum's debt cleared up previous notions and made it an obvious choice to endorse the Spectrum.
"Had I gone on (previous notions)," said Smith, "I would've said no to funding."
Smith also said he would like to see some of The Spectrum's bylaws reviewed and changed to prevent further financial mishap, including putting a cap on student stipends and revamping the paper's advertising department.
Smith acknowledged this recommendation was a security blanket for SA, saying that the committee worked "as a body of knowledge," and its suggestions should change the paper for the better.
Shultz said she hopes the SA Senate will continue funding The Spectrum.
"All in all, everybody is looking for a newspaper as autonomous as it can be," she said, adding that this precedent sets a standard for the future so neither party has to go through another process like this unless entirely necessary.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
