Dear Editorial Board,
I would like to praise your efforts in covering the Student Government Association impeachment story.
As a former Student Publications editor-in -chief, I know how difficult it can be to cover these issues. I applaud your commitment to both the student body and journalism.
For the rest of you reading the paper this week, you may be wondering why this is such a big deal. I’m sure you’ll hear form several members of the Student Senate that the paper is just trying to stir up trouble.
I can assure you that is not the case. The editors don’t enjoy these stories. In my tenure, two Student Senate presidents were almost impeached for misuse of funds and a large portion of the governing body was the subject of a misconduct investigation.
No one relishes reporting on their peers’ mistakes. However, for more than 100 years The Campus’ mission has been to be an advocate for the readers. The latest reporting from the Student Publications staff raises important questions about the due process for impeaching an SGA president.
The Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics calls for journalists to “be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable” and to “recognize a special obligation to ensure that the public’s business is conducted in the open.”
So no, the coverage in today’s paper and what you’ve read on MediaOCU.com is not the editorial board sensationalizing the news. This reporting is how they’re fulfilling their ethical obligations as journalists.
I for one am glad to see students taking their journalistic commitment so seriously.
Nathan Altadonna
Class of 2008
View a letter to the editors from the student senators here.
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