Our View: Collegian is not for sale
Issue date: 1/23/08 Section: Opinion
CSU President Larry Penley shocked student leaders, staff and faculty Tuesday when the Collegian got wind of a meeting with the Coloradoan -- a Gannett company -- and his office.
Without ever attempting to talk to anyone outside his office, including our student government, he met to discuss the sale of the Collegian, the only student-run daily in the state.
While Penley met with leaders of our local media scourge, Student Media staff sat outside, wondering what would become of the newspaper that's served CSU for 117 years.
The stories we've heard are scary and conflicting. Minutes prior to the meeting, Penley told J. David McSwane, editor in chief, that he was simply accepting a meeting with the editor and publisher of the Coloradoan -- a friendly chat, if you will. We were told minutes later by Brad Bohlander, a CSU spokesperson, that it was a preliminary meeting to discuss a "strategic partnership" between the university and the Coloradoan. And later, an e-mail from Greg Luft, chair of the journalism department, detailed that the Coloradoan planned a takeover per his discussion with Coloradoan Editor Bob Moore.
Amid the secrecy, mistruths and rumors, one thing is certain: To our president, a businessman by trade, the CSU student voice has a price. And it's a dish best served mum, in the final hour and while students are still trying to find their classes.
Dr. Penley, you've been at CSU since 2003. We've been at CSU since 1891. Well, technically, we were at the Colorado Agricultural College (CAC), Colorado A&M and then CSU, but let's not split hairs.
Every day for more than a century, CSU students find news, analysis, entertainment and a forum for discourse in our pages.
The Collegian is not for sale, not interested in a "strategic partnership," a one-night stand or any other form of fraternization with corporate media. We prefer independence, and we'll fight for it.
We're students, representing students, working for students. Who do you work for?
Without ever attempting to talk to anyone outside his office, including our student government, he met to discuss the sale of the Collegian, the only student-run daily in the state.
While Penley met with leaders of our local media scourge, Student Media staff sat outside, wondering what would become of the newspaper that's served CSU for 117 years.
The stories we've heard are scary and conflicting. Minutes prior to the meeting, Penley told J. David McSwane, editor in chief, that he was simply accepting a meeting with the editor and publisher of the Coloradoan -- a friendly chat, if you will. We were told minutes later by Brad Bohlander, a CSU spokesperson, that it was a preliminary meeting to discuss a "strategic partnership" between the university and the Coloradoan. And later, an e-mail from Greg Luft, chair of the journalism department, detailed that the Coloradoan planned a takeover per his discussion with Coloradoan Editor Bob Moore.
Amid the secrecy, mistruths and rumors, one thing is certain: To our president, a businessman by trade, the CSU student voice has a price. And it's a dish best served mum, in the final hour and while students are still trying to find their classes.
Dr. Penley, you've been at CSU since 2003. We've been at CSU since 1891. Well, technically, we were at the Colorado Agricultural College (CAC), Colorado A&M and then CSU, but let's not split hairs.
Every day for more than a century, CSU students find news, analysis, entertainment and a forum for discourse in our pages.
The Collegian is not for sale, not interested in a "strategic partnership," a one-night stand or any other form of fraternization with corporate media. We prefer independence, and we'll fight for it.
We're students, representing students, working for students. Who do you work for?
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 15
Craig Hawley
posted 1/23/08 @ 5:00 AM MST
A paper that has served CSU for over 117 years. Exactly. And now it serves no one except the selfish , narcissistic , editor in chief and his self described underlings. (Continued…)
DamnYouJenkins
posted 1/23/08 @ 9:15 AM MST
Am I the only one that thinks it's funny that when Fort Collins has its largest and most important news story in years (The Tim Masters release) that the Collegian's main focus is a story about themselves. (Continued…)
P
posted 1/23/08 @ 11:29 AM MST
The Collegian may not be for sale, but I think the students are willing to offer McSwane to the highest bidder.
Brian
posted 1/23/08 @ 12:32 PM MST
The editorial board response was quite predictable. If the Coloradoan takes over, McSwane is out of a job. The Coloradoan will rightly take care of what CSU would not- eliminating the dead weight from the Collegian staff whose primary function has been to decrease ad revenue for the paper and bring shame to our school. (Continued…)
RobC
posted 1/23/08 @ 7:58 PM MST
The content of the majority of the posts here prove to me once again that the small minded among us are the most vocal in the anonimaty of the blog post. (Continued…)
Megan
posted 1/24/08 @ 3:52 PM MST
Personally, I admire editor McSwane for fighting for the rights of students to have a voice in a time where dissenting opinions have been discouraged. (Continued…)
Ron Johnson
Ron Johnson
posted 1/24/08 @ 6:42 PM MST
To those of you clamoring for the administration to take control, be
careful for what you wish.
When the city newspaper and the campus administration are in
partnership, the campus paper will be little more than their tool. (Continued…)
Justin
posted 1/24/08 @ 9:00 PM MST
Ron hits it perfectly on the head. The media needs to act as a check and balance to those in power. If it weren't for the Collegian who would have found out that doors weren't being locked at night on campus? or that Penley was trying to go behind students back to raise tutition? or that he was having secret meetings with a corporate giant to sell off the independent student voice?
Secrecy will get Penley nowhere. (Continued…)
Megan
posted 1/24/08 @ 11:53 PM MST
To Craig:
I don't know what "young lady" you met at CSU but I doubt it was me. To start with, I don't at all see us getting along.
You can tell me to fuck off all you want. (Continued…)
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