WE WILL NOT BE BLACKMAILED
Issue date: 3/1/07 Section: Editorial
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On Tuesday, Feb. 20, at 7:30 p.m., the Knight News had the opportunity to sit down with the top leadership of the current student government under the auspices of the United People (UP) party. The meeting was intended as a get-together to hammer out the last details of a press conference the newspaper wished to conduct with leaders from both UP and the Democratic Student Alliance (D.S.A.). Instead, the meeting was a colossal eye-opener, providing insight into a student government that is afraid of transparency and views this very newspaper as a personal organ whose purpose is ostensibly to refrain from asking tough questions and unconditionally support UP.
During the course of the meeting, the Knight News was informed that it was "not in our best interests" to endorse a candidate for the upcoming student elections in April. The threat is quite serious because, at this time, Queens College governance is set up in such a way that the president of student government has the majority vote over budget allocations to different clubs, including the Knight News.
The very notion of a newspaper's editorial board supporting a candidate - something that is done at The New York Times and The Harvard Crimson - seemed alien to the student government leadership present. Moreover, the Knight News was asked to censor elements of op-ed pieces that contained rhetoric that was critical of the current student government which is led by the UP party. Asking a student newspaper to censor opinions pieces in one's favor is no small matter. The fact the request was made rather nonchalantly is troubling. Do our current student leaders not understand the very meaning of venality?
Additionally, the Knight News presented the possibility of creating town hall meetings where students could ask questions to leaders of both UP and D.S.A. - something that can help foster better communication between students and their leaders. The Knight News was rebuffed and, instead, student government proposed that an event be created where students ask questions to President Muyskens and Vice President Bertollino. The rationale offered for student government's reluctance was that it was not a good idea for "the average Joe" to be asking party leaders questions, as if "the average Joe" does not deserve a say in shaping his stay at Queens College.
During the course of the meeting, the Knight News was informed that it was "not in our best interests" to endorse a candidate for the upcoming student elections in April. The threat is quite serious because, at this time, Queens College governance is set up in such a way that the president of student government has the majority vote over budget allocations to different clubs, including the Knight News.
The very notion of a newspaper's editorial board supporting a candidate - something that is done at The New York Times and The Harvard Crimson - seemed alien to the student government leadership present. Moreover, the Knight News was asked to censor elements of op-ed pieces that contained rhetoric that was critical of the current student government which is led by the UP party. Asking a student newspaper to censor opinions pieces in one's favor is no small matter. The fact the request was made rather nonchalantly is troubling. Do our current student leaders not understand the very meaning of venality?
Additionally, the Knight News presented the possibility of creating town hall meetings where students could ask questions to leaders of both UP and D.S.A. - something that can help foster better communication between students and their leaders. The Knight News was rebuffed and, instead, student government proposed that an event be created where students ask questions to President Muyskens and Vice President Bertollino. The rationale offered for student government's reluctance was that it was not a good idea for "the average Joe" to be asking party leaders questions, as if "the average Joe" does not deserve a say in shaping his stay at Queens College.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Joshua D. Rubin, presidential candidate, DSA
posted 3/04/07 @ 12:27 PM EST
It is important for all of the students at Queens College to understand the severity of the actions exhibited by the current student government.
President Richard Nixon attempted to silence the media during his reign as president. (Continued…)
James Raymond
posted 3/04/07 @ 1:27 PM EST
The spectrum newspaper stands by your fight for free speech. You should sepearte that paper from SA. We have and serve the student population with unbiased opinion. (Continued…)
Ari M
posted 3/04/07 @ 11:59 PM EST
Good for you guys!
I can't decide if QC's student government more closely resembles Tammeny Hall or the Politburo. Make sure you hold their feet to the fire!
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Justin R
posted 3/05/07 @ 10:21 PM EST
Party machines serve only the interests of those on the "inside," and it is unfortunate that United People has chosen that path of governance. The Knight News editors are to be applauded for their unrelenting commitment to bring about the open discourse so desperately needed in order to restore democracy to the Student Association. (Continued…)
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