Flint Expatriates: Higher Education

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Higher Education

Ah, the joys of being a student journalist.

Michael Stechschulte, the current editor of The Michigan Times, UM-Flint's student newspaper, is apparently getting the cold shoulder from university administrators. He writes:

Two weeks ago today, the Blue Ribbon Athletic Commission received a report from a consulting group on the possibility of varsity athletics here on campus. Despite two weeks of trying, The Michigan Times has yet to get a copy of that report. We’d really love to know, as I’m sure you would, whether we can soon be cheering for our school, but I suppose that will have to wait for the chancellor’s big press release.
Other than being stonewalled trying get that report, we’ve been locked out of provost meetings, student judicial hearings, staff council meetings...you name it. If it’s of interest to students, it’s being blocked.

Michael, you have my sympathies. Administrators often promote openness and dialogue, except when it comes to topics they'd just rather not discuss. Give the Student Press Law Center a call and find out which meetings you're legally entitled to attend. Don't give up the fight.

1 comment:

LarryPruneApril 21, 2009 at 9:16 AM
Can you file a FOIA request? UofM is a public institution, and supported by tax money. And maybe you can file a suit if they are violating the open meetings act.
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