All Missouri Southern State University President Bruce Speck had to do was say his director of enrollment services Derek Skaggs was wrong when he had copies of MSSU's newspaper, The Chart, removed from a student recruitment fair.
He did not even have to say Skaggs was wrong. He could have said Skaggs should have used better judgment or Skaggs was misguided. Instead, Bruce Speck took exactly the path those who were hoping for a more open era at MSSU should fear. He told the Chart and the Joplin Globe it was something the lawyers would have to decide.
Now that's leadership and it sends exactly the wrong message to those who already have concerns about the Speck regime.
Love it or hate it, the Chart has brought capable young journalists from all over to Joplin, a place where none of them would likely have ever been drawn had it not been for the newspaper's sterling reputation. Many of those students have stayed in this area, providing the only quality that is left in newspapers that have been bled dry by profit-hungry chains.
What intelligent First Amendment-loving students are going to be attracted by a school that prefers to sweep its problems under the bed? In fact, this situation is even scarier. You have an official who removes newspapers because they have a story, a completely accurate story, that is embarrassing to him. If that is something Dr. Speck thinks should be left to the lawyers, it doesn't offer much hope for a future occasion when something truly controversial is featured in the Chart.
This was an opportunity for Dr. Speck to usher in a new, open era for Missouri Southenr State University.
He blew it.
Randy, you hit the nail on the head with this editorial.
ReplyDeleteDr. Speck obviously made the wrong decision and I question his judgement.
These students were reporting facts. For an administrator to remove the newspaper from a recruitment fair because a factual story is embarrassing is itself embarrassing.
And you're right about the Chart: It has produced a number of quality journalists, many of whom stayed in the Four States. Our own newsroom contains four Chart alums, myself included, out of a staff of five.
Instead of touting what could be an asset to the university, Dr. Speck instead treated the Chart like dirt. He, indeed, did blow it.
And love him or hate him, I don't think Dr. Julio Leon would ever have taken the route of just letting the "lawyers decide it."
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately this is the least of Dr. Speck's problems. He has a faculty that doesn't respect him or trust him. The feeling is that he's merely a henchman for the chairman of the Board of Governors.
ReplyDelete*Clap, clap* go Randy...but one thing you didn't mention was that in order to have an open era at Southern you need intelligent decision makers. And I can't leave alone that kiss on the arse for Leon from Jeff Billington. Our experience with a matter in which Leon could have made things right was that he refused to act at all. And ditto for that do nothing Bored (sic) of Governors.
ReplyDeleteI would bet a million dollars Speck didn't make this decision without consulting a lawyer before ordering the removal. If he didn't, he is not very current on the first amendment since it would mean he saw no possible problem. If he did , maybe he should find a different lawyer. Oh wait, he can't. A lawyer, Dwight Douglas, hired him. Was it Douglas he consulted?
ReplyDeleteWow, John.
ReplyDeleteWay to go. You said it. Rick Rogers is from St. Louis. John Hacker is from the Kansas City area. If I remember right, T.R. Hanrahan is a Kansas City guy, too.
Noppadol Paothong was from North Idaho and he is now the top photog for the Missouri Conservation Society. Down in Northwest Arkansas, Central Kansas product Chad Hayworth and another St. Louisan, Jeff Slatton, have carved out fine careers.
Going back a little further, Chris Clark, who runs the Associated Press office in K.C., is from K.C.
It goes on and on.
I understand there are three Idaho students there, now. And the paper looks better than it has in several years. Maybe this program is a draw? We know it is.
Chart alumni should speak up. Soon.
Call me an ass-kisser if you want, which I'm not, since I have nothing in the least to gain from Julio Leon. But at least I have the dignity to put my name on my comments.
ReplyDeletehttp://southernwatch.wordpress.com/
ReplyDelete