Summary: The Kansas
City Press Club, which recently took a stand against the Kansas City Royals
revoking of press credentials of two radio reporters, is now examining the
controversy surrounding Johnson County Community College's student newspaper.
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE (7/15)
Contact: Dick Nelson Secretary
785 864-0601
816 756-3683
[email protected]
KC Press Club monitors student newspaper
controversy
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City Press Club board of
directors has expressed its concern about a recent decision by the Johnson
County Community College board of trustees not to authorize the publication of a
summer edition of the student newspaper.
The JCCC trustees indicated that it based its decision on budgetary
considerations, but the newspaper's adviser, Anne Christiansen-Bullers, told the
Press Club board that there was a surplus from the spring semester that would
more than cover the cost of two summer editions. The trustees also expressed an
unwillingness to set a precedent by publishing during the summer.
The Press Club's concern stems from the adviser's statement that the action felt
like retaliation on the part of JCCC board chair Elaine Perilla, who presented
the budget information to the board before its vote. In editorials, the Campus
Ledger had asked for Perilla's resignation for her role in the handling of
sexual harassment charges against JCCC President Charles J. Carlsen. Carlsen
retired April 20. Kevin Mimms, one of two student editors, said at a news
conference June 16th that the board’s action was punishment of the Ledger's
staff, according to news reports.
“We are concerned about the charges of inappropriate interference by the board
of trustees in the publication of an independent student newspaper,” Dick
Nelson, secretary of the Press Club said. “Such a voice is important both to the
training of the future of the student journalists on the newspaper's staff, and
to well-informed students.”
Nelson said the Press Club wants to do everything it can to insure the Ledger's
independence and continued publication, and that it will monitor the situation
closely into the fall semester.
The Ledger has not published summer editions in the past, but wanted to do so
this summer because of continuing developments surrounding Carlsen's retirement
and the appointment of a successor, Christiansen-Bullers said.
The Kansas City Press Club is the local chapter of the Society of Professional
Journalists.
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