Spring Break
Student Media separation means behind-the-scenes changes
Erik Myers
Issue date: 6/18/08 Section: News
As Student Media undertakes historic changes this summer, separating from the university to reform as a not-for-profit corporation, it'll be up to Larry Steward, a former director of the organization, who was charged with heading the transition by CSU's governing board.
But it will be anything but easy for Steward, who plans to reorganize the behind-the-scenes operations of the paper before his Aug. 1 deadline.
"These startup parts are very awkward," Steward said. "It's going to be clumsy, there's no way around it."
The shift comes after a tumultuous year for Student Media, during which a controversial editorial and the potential of corporate buyouts stirred students and university officials into rethinking the organization's connection to CSU.
Weeks of discussion among a committee of university officials, community members and student representatives resulted in a recommendation to the CSU System Board of Governors to separate Student Media from the university and reform as a private entity. The board unanimously approved the recommendation earlier this month.
When asked if there would be any significant changes to Student Media, Steward said most students probably wouldn't notice a difference at first glance, save for a name change: Student Media will tentatively become the Rocky Mountain Student Media Corporation in August.
Steward said offices and equipment likely won't be relocated, and current professional staff will be invited to join the new corporation for the same salaries and benefits they received as university employees, though they will be required to reapply for their positions.
He added that the 2008-2009 fiscal year budget approved last spring by the Board of Student Communications, the current overseer of Student Media, will be honored.
Steward said student employees could expect freedom of expression to remain an "absolute cornerstone" of the corporation.
Blanche Hughes, vice president of Student Affairs, said beside securing freedom of expression for Student Media, the separation allowed for transformation.
But it will be anything but easy for Steward, who plans to reorganize the behind-the-scenes operations of the paper before his Aug. 1 deadline.
"These startup parts are very awkward," Steward said. "It's going to be clumsy, there's no way around it."
The shift comes after a tumultuous year for Student Media, during which a controversial editorial and the potential of corporate buyouts stirred students and university officials into rethinking the organization's connection to CSU.
Weeks of discussion among a committee of university officials, community members and student representatives resulted in a recommendation to the CSU System Board of Governors to separate Student Media from the university and reform as a private entity. The board unanimously approved the recommendation earlier this month.
When asked if there would be any significant changes to Student Media, Steward said most students probably wouldn't notice a difference at first glance, save for a name change: Student Media will tentatively become the Rocky Mountain Student Media Corporation in August.
Steward said offices and equipment likely won't be relocated, and current professional staff will be invited to join the new corporation for the same salaries and benefits they received as university employees, though they will be required to reapply for their positions.
He added that the 2008-2009 fiscal year budget approved last spring by the Board of Student Communications, the current overseer of Student Media, will be honored.
Steward said student employees could expect freedom of expression to remain an "absolute cornerstone" of the corporation.
Blanche Hughes, vice president of Student Affairs, said beside securing freedom of expression for Student Media, the separation allowed for transformation.
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