page 2, Feb. 2,1979
EDITODIALS
The power of the press in the past has been, for the most part, within
the realms of what are basically constitutional issues. Most of what we know
as “student rights” was a product of the hell raising of the 60’s. Now that
most of the furor has died down , very subtle changes have taken place. The
issue now is money, big buckets full of money that the Administration is
holding on to for dear life.
Tlie Publications Board, for all of its good intentions, has a real strangle
hold on the Ridgerunner and the Sununit. Last year’s Publications Board
decided to close down the Summit for one year to get the thing out of debt.
This year, the Summit was reopened, and Carl Mott was chosen as Editor.
Carl resigned to go on to bigger and better things, and now the Summit is op
erating without an Editor, without a budget, and with the unsteady approval
of the Publications Board. The problem, of course, is money. It appears that
when the Board revived the Summit, no one took into account the fact that
there niay not be enough money to allow for two publications. As it turns
out, there is not enough. The former Editor (Mark West), not only left a
carry-over debt of S1433.45, but also spent S925.13, for a grand average
of S500.00 for each of the 4 issues he printed. The Publications Board did
not call Mr. West to the carpet for some kind of account for his actions,
but rather have decided not to allocate any money this semester in order
to pay the debt. It is as though they are saying,“We know you are not to
blame for what happened, but we are going to make you pay for it anyway.”
There were several other alternatives that the Board never seemed to con
sider. For example, when the Board was in much the same position last year,
they appealed to the Campus Commission for the money and received it. It
does not appear that this possibility was considered. Regardless of the fact
that the unpaid debt is rather large, the money could have been scraped
together without withholding anything from the present publications. It’s
a very tricky situation all around due to the fact that there is a slow, steady
attempt on the part of the Board to move into what has been, in the past,
considered the business of the Editor.
Despite the fact that Mr. West spent so much, there is no doubt about the
fott t\mt the piacc where he chose to pilnt the paper, and how much he
chose to spend, as Editor, is none of the Publication Board’s business, pro
vided that he did not spend over what he was allocated, which he did not. In
all probability the Board will attempt to hire someone to do nothing more
approve and oversee all student organization expendatures and accounts.
That’s all well and good, except for the fact that it insults the Finance Com
missioner for Student Government, the Business Manager for the Summit
and the Business Manager for the Ridgerunner. On top of that the proposal
hits CO me a little bit late in the game.
The next few weeks should be interesting for all parties concerned. And
don’t be suprised if when it conies time to choose a new Editor for both the
Ividgcrunner and tlic Summit, there is a motion on the floor to shut down
both publications-permantly.
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41
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/TflFF BOX
Editor Maureen C. Bigelow
Secretary Kathy Beatty
Layout Editor Brett Pangle
Sports Editor Matt Connolly
News Editor Alison Phillips
Features Editor. Ron Caldwell
Arts Editor John Covey
Writers; Qiarlene Bayles, Chris Mangum, Ben Hood, John Baum-
garten,Steve Finley, James Doonan,Kim Heritage, Steve Johns.
Anne Dosier Proofreader
Many thanks to: Marilyn B. Powell, Sammy Kent and Terri Stuart
Special Thanks to Gail Sn)ith
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4*
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May I take this opportunity to
thank all the many students, facul
ty, and staff who with their prayers
and concern helped my daughter
Marcelyn and my family during her
10 weeks in intensive care at Memo
rial Mission Hospital. Marcelyn is
home convalescing now. May I also
take this opportunity to thank Ur.
William Morgan, her Pediatric Sur
geon, and his staff, for saving her
life.
God Bless you all,
Marcel Andrade
Maureen
I had been frustrated seeking
people who have initiative and do a
good job. My search has ended. I
am impressed with the ad you cre
ated, your paper and you. You’ve
given me hope (even if I haven’t
gotten a response from the ad).
Thanks for everything !
Cordially,
Bess (Baird)
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\ I THIAJK /
. v53M'r-
A journalist is a grumbler,
a censurer, a giver of advice,
a regent of sovereigns,
a tutor of nations.
Four hostile newspapers
are more to be feared
than a thousand bayonets.
Napoleon Bonaparte