The Student Newspaper of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Volume XVI, Number 36 Charlotte, North Carolina Monday, January 26, 1981 Olsen’s Ruling Reversed Newspaper Return O.K.’ed By SAFC By David E. Griffith and Chip Wilson During a closed meeting of the Stu dent Activity Fees Commission (SAFC) Thursday, Jan. 22, a 10-day freeze on the Carolina Journal funds was lifted, allowing the student paper to publish. The Carolina Journal funds were frozen by executive order of Student Body President Ron Olsen on Jan. 12 during a special meeting of SAFC. At this meeting the results of a financial investigation ordered by Olsen were discussed. According to the report given by Student Attorney General Deb Dellinger, the paper was operating at a yearly deficit of $3,411.12 as of Dec. 31. Carolina Jour nal Editor Rick Monroe, returning from Christmas break, said he was unprepared to answer any question concerning a deficit because he had not been aware of one. After a short discussion, Olsen issued the order freezing the funds. The executive order stated, “This freeze will remain in effect until a rul ing by SAFC or until appropriate ac tion is taken to correct the financial Photo by Debbie Miller Monroe procedures of the Carolina Journal.” Through lengthy deliberation, the Carolina Journal’s Business Manager Steve Pounds, Advertising Manager Joel Gilland and Monroe overhauled the paper’s annual budget, and its ac counting and control procedures. The situation at the student news paper was the major topic discussed at the semester’s first Student Legislature meeting held Jan. 20. In an address to the legislators Olsen said he initiated the investiga tion by Dellinger in December. Olsen said his action came in response to early findings of an official audit of the newspaper’s finances. “The audit is still in progress, but the preliminary report does not look good,” Olsen said. “The management of finances is poor. No one seems to know where all the money goes. They have spent the entire amount ap propriated to them by SAFC. “My decision was a prudent one. I have a responsibility to the students to see that their money is not wasted,” said Olsen. Legislature Chairperson Barry Brown, who serves on SAFC, took questions concerning the fund cutoff and explained the conditions he BSU President Files Against Editor By Chip Wilson Black Student Union (BSU) Presi dent Mike Kemp has filed a complaint against Rick Monroe, editor of the Carolina Journal. Kemp initiated the charge of abuse of trust on the part of Monroe. The UNCC Code of Student Responsibili ty states such “violations include, but are not limited to, the knowing abuse of any elective or appointive position of trust or responsibility, in cluding a misuse of a student organization’s funds or properties, or a conflict of interest involving the ac tivities of a student organization.” Ed Hausle, chief legal defense counsel, with whom the complaint was filed, said no further action will be taken “until I review the case with Kemp.” He said the citation of abuse of trust was tentative. Neither Hausle nor Kemp would give details of specific complaints listed in a memorandum on file in the Student Legal Defense Counsel’s of- Photo by Debbie Miller Barry Brown Chair of Student Legislature and Student Government representative to SAFC argues for closing Thursday’s meeting as Student Attorney General Deb Dellinger looks on. wanted the Carolina Journal business staff to meet. Brown said he expected the newspaper to do more than submit a new budget to the commission. I want to see the restructuring of business operations so that these financial problems will not occur again.” He also proposed an SAFC review of the financial affairs on a month-to- month basis, possibly allocating their funds monthly.” The Carolina Journal business staff presented its case during the Jan. 22 meeting of SAFC. Brown made a motion that the meeting be closed; the motion was seconded by UPB Chairperson Mac Ritchie. Monroe said, “I strongly ob ject to closing this meeting. We have a responsibility as student leaders to support free discussion.” fice. Prior to his appeal to the judicial branch, Kemp went to the Student Legislature after the Carolina Journal published a picture of Andrea Robin son, the 1980-81 homecoming queen. Robinson was representing the BSU in the competition. Due to a production problem, no cutline identified Robinson as the homecoming queen, though her pic ture appeared as part of a centerfold detailing activities of that weekend. Kemp did not mention the missing identification in his address to the Student Legislature. Instead he call ed for an investigation into the editorial practices of the Carolina Journal. The legislative campus affairs com mittee is currently considering that request. In the days following publication of Robinson’s photograph, BSU members circulated a petition calling Brown said the meeting should be closed because the presence of televi sion news cameras might intimidate the commission, and some things could be mentioned in the meeting that should not go any further than the conference room walls. In a 3-1 vote, SAFC voted to close the meeting. The Carolina Journal’s business staff presented a revised budget of operations calling for substantial cuts in many areas, and a list of eight new accounting and control procedures. With no revision, SAFC voted unanimously to accept the Carolina Journal’s proposal and voted unanimously to lift the freeze. Monroe answered the charges of mismanagement, saying, "It waS mismanagement to the extent of the billing not being sent, but this was corrected at the end of last semester.” for the impeachment of Monroe from his position as newspaper editor. Shredded copies of the homecoming issue of the Carolina Journal were found at the entrance to the Cone Center media offices. The newspapers were taken from distribution points in classroom buildings. It is not known who was responsible for the litter. Kemp would not comment on the reasons for his allegations against Monroe. His only comment to a reporter: “I’m tired of all the opi nionated reporting down there (at the Carolina Journal).” Should the Student Court hear Kemp’s charge Hausle would present the case against Monroe, while Stu dent Attorney General Deb Dellinger would provide the defense for the editor, who is elected by the student body. According to Hausle, that plan for legal counseling is “tentative also.”

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